Chapter 31: Thirty-One: I Still Prefer the Way Your Younger Brother Is Rebellious and Unruly (Happy New Year, Handsome Guys~)

Thirty-One: I Still Prefer the Way Your Younger Brother Is Rebellious and Unruly (Happy New Year, Handsome Guys~)

Liu Ziwen was about thirty years old, his appearance utterly unremarkable, dressed in a round fur hat and a gray satin robe, the typical attire of an ordinary wealthy gentleman.

He was the kind of man who blended into the crowd on any street.

He could not be compared at all to the outstanding bearing of Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang, who stood out like cranes among chickens in the crowd outside the hall.

Yet, the moment Liu Ziwen arrived with his lame servant, he became the second most focal figure after County Magistrate Ouyang Rong, constantly watched by the surrounding gentry and wealthy merchants.

And in this world, some people, even upon first meeting, can determine exactly what kind of person the other is with just a single glance.

The two of them were precisely such people.

The young county magistrate and the mild-mannered patriarch exchanged a glance and immediately sensed a familiarity—not from any prior acquaintance, but from… themselves.

The familiarity of encountering a kindred spirit… a fellow intelligent person.

Before Liu Ziwen had even reached Ouyang Rong’s side, he bowed respectfully: “Your humble subject, Liu, greets the County Magistrate!”

Ouyang Rong stepped forward warmly to greet him: “Lord Liu, you’re too modest—you’re no mere subject; you’re the Imperial Sword Envoy, personally appointed by Her Majesty the Empress. It should be I who addresses you as Lord.”

Liu Ziwen shook his head and waved dismissively: “It’s merely an honorary title. Her Majesty appoints dozens of ‘Envoy of This’ and ‘Envoy of That’ every month—there are plenty in Lingnan: the Lychee Envoy, the Banana Envoy, the Wood Carving Envoy. You, County Magistrate, are a direct student of the Son of Heaven; I am nowhere near your stature.”

Ouyang Rong smiled and gestured with a slight bow: “Let’s not argue over titles. Please, Lord Liu, come in.”

Liu Ziwen immediately grew serious: “I cannot enter yet. I must first apologize to the County Magistrate.”

“Oh? What crime have you committed?”

“I failed to discipline my younger brother. He openly defied you and Miss Xie on the street, causing you both distress. I am guilty!”

“Ah, Lord Liu, you still don’t understand me. Your younger brother has character—vivacious and spirited. I truly admire his rebellious nature. A little beating is affection, a little scolding is love. The other day in court, I was so carried away by emotion that I accidentally let my men administer a few extra lashes. I beg your pardon, Lord Liu, and I hope your brother soon returns to his rebellious self.”

“…”

Liu Ziwen was momentarily speechless, but still waved his hand sincerely:

“My third brother is unharmed, thank you for your kindness. But regardless, he is still too unruly. As his elder brother, I should bear his punishment. I have no valuable gift to offer, but since today’s event is a fundraising banquet, please allow me to contribute modestly—to be the first to donate, and give you a auspicious start!”

“Excellent, Lord Liu, you’re straightforward.” Ouyang Rong was deeply pleased.

The surrounding gentry and wealthy guests erupted in applause, creating a scene of warm hospitality.

Amid this lively atmosphere, guests took their seats and the noon banquet began. Soon enough, the much-anticipated fundraising segment arrived.

…

“…My esteemed guests! Repairing waterways is not a private family matter, nor is it my personal ambition for performance metrics. It concerns every citizen of Longcheng County—scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, noble or slave alike. Under a capsized nest, how can any egg remain intact?

“You all know the difficulties faced by the imperial court and the county office; you’ve also been informed by Commissioner Diao of the rewards and benefits offered to those who actively aid disaster relief—I won’t repeat them. Longcheng stands on the brink of collapse, the people are hanging by a thread. Let’s not waste time—let the fundraising begin. I will lead by example: I donate my entire four-year salary!”

After Ouyang Rong “spoke briefly,” the hall erupted in thunderous applause, cheering him off the stage.

The young county magistrate stepped down from the podium and sat in the front row, then turned and gestured with the inked paper and red pen in his hand toward the dozen or so gentry and powerful men.

He flashed a bright smile, slightly embarrassed:

“I’ve prepared a list. Those who generously open their purses today will be properly recorded…”

Liu Ziwen suddenly stood: “County Magistrate, I have a humble suggestion—whether or not I should speak it, I’m unsure.”

“Speak. Nothing is off-limits.” Ouyang Rong met his gaze directly, showing great patience.

“I believe that besides the disaster-relief waterway donation tray, another donation tray could be added. Your Honor loves the people as your own children—you’ve rushed about tirelessly since your arrival to manage water control, exhausting yourself. We cannot bear it. We wish to offer you a modest contribution for ink and paper expenses. Please, do not refuse.”

Ouyang Rong considered, then nodded: “Not impossible. But since this is for my personal ink-and-paper expenses, how I use it—whether to keep it, give it away, or turn it over to the public—you all agree, correct?”

Liu Ziwen nodded calmly: “Your Honor is upright and incorruptible. Naturally, we have no objection.”

“Then very well. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness.” Ouyang Rong said lightly, then turned and signaled his two clerks to fetch another red-clothed donation tray and place it on the stage.

After all, everything raised today would go to water control. Beyond the expected three thousand taels minimum, more silver was always better—wasn’t it just a matter of selling a few more favors?

Someone else who shared Ouyang Rong’s sentiment sat in the second row behind him: Xie Lingjiang.

Seeing Liu Ziwen flatter her senior brother, her impression of the Liu family improved slightly. She had previously assumed the entire Longcheng Liu clan were wicked tyrants like Liu Zilin—but now, it seemed not all were so.

Xie Lingjiang had never been particularly sensitive to money, yet now, whether due to Ouyang Rong’s constant recitation of disaster statistics or her own innate sense of justice driving her to empathize with the refugees, she had begun to privately monitor rice prices on Longcheng’s streets and took special interest in this fundraising event. She fully understood the great, sincere concessions and tireless efforts her senior brother had made for this banquet.

On that evening when she first went to the city outskirts to search for someone, Ouyang Rong had revealed his disdain for local gentry and powerful clans.

Yet now he sat calmly in the front row, watching the two donation trays on stage, every moment a contradiction to his own words.

So why did he still do this?

Xie Lingjiang silently asked herself if she could lower her pride. Suddenly, she remembered something her father had once said.

When a person suddenly abandons what he once cherished, it is surely because something more important lies behind…

At that moment, Xie Lingjiang noticed someone approaching. She looked up—it was Yan Liulang, whom she hadn’t seen in days. He had rushed in from outside, dusty and weary, and without glancing at the whispering gentry and landlords behind the hall, he hurried to her senior brother’s side and whispered rapidly. Her senior brother merely nodded slightly, showing no reaction.

Yan Liulang, returned from his mission, crossed his arms and waited nearby, still nodding politely to her in return.

It must mean the grain transport from Jiangzhou went smoothly… Xie Lingjiang nodded back.

Finally, the two clerks brought a new red-clothed tray and placed it on the donation stage.

Besides the donation trays, there was also a serving girl assigned to record and announce donations—a special arrangement by Ouyang Rong.

Everything was ready. The fundraising officially began.

Liu Ziwen was indeed the first to rise in the hall. He walked straight to the stage, smiling like spring wind as he took the money from his lame servant and neatly divided it between the two trays on the table, then smiled and stepped down. As soon as he led, every other gentry and wealthy merchant in the hall followed in turn, each stepping up and placing money into both trays. The recording girl, since Liu Ziwen’s donation, began announcing each donor’s amount without omission, so everyone in the hall could hear exactly how much had been donated.

Soon after, Xie Lingjiang watched as the smile on Ouyang Rong’s lips gradually vanished… no, it didn’t vanish—he still smiled—but to her, it was indistinguishable from not smiling at all. After listening to a few more of the girl’s announcements, he quietly set down his pen, meticulously folded the red paper meant for recording generous donors into perfect squares, then… tossed it directly into the trash bin beside his foot.

Then, Xie Lingjiang watched as the smile on Ouyang Rong’s lips gradually faded… no, it hadn’t vanished—he still smiled—but to her, it was no different from having no smile at all—after listening a while longer to the maid’s report of contributions, he calmly set down his pen, meticulously folded the red paper meant for recording active members as if compelled by obsession, then… tossed it directly into the trash bin at his feet.

The full hall fell silent, save for the clear, melodious voice of the serving girl echoing like a golden oriole:

“Liu Family of West City: donated ten taels to Longcheng waterworks, fifty taels to the County Magistrate’s ink-and-paper expenses…”

“Cheng Family of West River: donated ten taels to Longcheng waterworks, fifty taels to the County Magistrate’s ink-and-paper expenses…”

“Li Family of South City: donated ten taels to Longcheng waterworks, fifty taels to the County Magistrate’s ink-and-paper expenses…”

“Gongsun Clan of Dingshan: donated ten taels to Longcheng waterworks, fifty taels to the County Magistrate’s ink-and-paper expenses…”

“The Gongsun clan of Dingshan donated ten guan for Longcheng’s waterworks, and fifty guan for the county magistrate’s paper and ink expenses…”

Every family’s donation amount was identical,

Every announcement was perfectly uniform.

Below,

The tyrants smiled,

The scholars smiled too.

The scholar also smiled.