[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful":3,"chapter-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-60":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Even a Gentleman Must Be Careful",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2268680,4429,"Chapter 60: Sixty, Turning Enemies into Friends","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-60",60,"\u003Cp>Sixty, Turning Enemies into Friends\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, the county magistrate’s hall was bustling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the corridor, servants constantly came and went, bringing tea and pouring water; the threshold of the hall was nearly worn flat, and occasionally a few unlucky souls stumbled and fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The county magistrate, known for his frugal ways, had suddenly thrown a grand banquet—naturally, everyone must be treated with proper courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The county magistrate’s hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the major outside grain merchants active in Longcheng’s rice market, along with the twelve long-established local gentry landowners, gathered together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Magistrate Diao, Constable Yan, and the Xie family’s female private secretary—who had lately been frequently seen at the young magistrate’s side—were all inside the hall, keeping the guests company with tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in the eyes of the grain merchants and gentry present, two most important figures were missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why hasn’t Lord Liu come? Did we not invite him…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s the magistrate? Wasn’t he supposed to announce something important…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the hall, voices buzzed with chatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Magistrate Diao rose and smiled: “Gentlemen, please remain calm—the magistrate has been called away on urgent business and will arrive shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cao and the other grain merchants and gentry felt somewhat reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet because Liu Ziwen was absent, several gentry who had been hastily summoned looked uneasy, exchanging glances, hesitating whether to make an excuse and leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hurried, bustling figure burst into the hall, strode straight to the dais, reached the magistrate’s desk, snatched up a teacup, tilted his head back, and drank it down in one gulp, then wiped his mouth with a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a man lost in the desert who had finally found water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone’s here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall fell silent; no one answered, all staring in stunned silence at the young magistrate’s peculiar attire:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t wearing his official robes; his whole body was slightly dirty, one sleeve of his regular robe rolled up to mid-arm—likely forgotten when he entered—and a white bandage wrapped around his right middle finger, with faint dry traces of blood on the fingertip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one could fathom why the county magistrate spent his days doing such dirty, exhausting work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some grain merchants and gentry in the hall muttered under their breath, but Xie Ling, Yan Liulang, and others clearly took it for granted, their expressions unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just finished a small matter. Didn’t expect you all to arrive so early. By the way, nothing was lacking in hospitality, I hope?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the young magistrate’s signature sincere smile, his warm, enthusiastic demeanor… still the same recipe, the same flavor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reactions in the hall varied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet those who had witnessed the young magistrate’s methods—Wang Cao, Master Ma, Master Li—could not help shrinking back, fearing this smiling young magistrate might “accidentally” drop his teacup with a clatter, whereupon five hundred axe-wielding guards would leap from behind the hall and chop them into mincemeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why were they still here, despite their fear? Because they were driven to desperation by soaring grain prices, and also because Master Li’s lost grain had been recovered—offering a faint glimmer of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no, no lack of hospitality at all! Deputy Magistrate Diao, Constable Yan, and Secretary Xie have all been most hospitable. Coming here feels like returning home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cao quickly waved his hands, urging everyone to agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong glanced at them, smiled reassuringly, and without further delay, called out: “Ashan, bring the grain up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall, stoic man standing outside immediately turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, following the young magistrate’s gaze, everyone looked straight through the open hall doors—and there, outside the county magistrate’s gate, ten carts, heavily laden with bulging rice sacks, had slowly come to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the entire hall of grain merchants and gentry, Ouyang Rong smiled gently at the stunned Master Li:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li the Chief, would you like to count them? Your nine hundred and twenty-one shi of premium rice, lost on the city outskirts, are all here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, his expression apologetic: “Sorry it took longer than expected, but I keep my word… Also, the involved refugees—I personally reprimanded and educated them. Here, I apologize to you on their behalf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to apologize, no need at all! Your Excellency is too kind—this humble subject cannot bear such favor…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Li leapt from his seat as if scalded, waving his hands frantically, twisting away to avoid the young magistrate’s bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scene of benevolent official and dutiful subject instantly formed in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Ma stared blankly for a moment, then rose to ask, “What about mine?”—but Wang Cao quickly pulled him back, his hand swift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glared at Master Ma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’re the club, Master Li is the jujube—why are you rushing in?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young magistrate seemed not to notice the tug-of-war between Wang Cao and Master Ma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, Master Li got his grain back, yet still looks gloomy. And you all too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong looked puzzled; Master Li stammered, unable to speak. Ouyang Rong turned to survey the grain merchants and gentry in the hall—all of whom looked embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh right…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong’s expression cleared; he quickly set his teacup back on the desk and turned to all the guests with the kindly face of a paternal official:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you all troubled by the recent grain prices in Longcheng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed, nodding sympathetically: “Five cash per dou… you’ve all worked hard to transport them here… it’s far too low.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expressions of the foreign grain merchants and local gentry who sold grain grew even more awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Among you, some are distant guests, others are law-abiding citizens of Longcheng. As county magistrate, I must care not only for refugees, but also for you all—equally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong finished speaking, lowered his head in thought, walked to the magistrate’s desk, and Xie Ling began grinding ink and laying out paper for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rolled up his sleeves, picked up a brush with his bandaged middle finger, and asked directly before the entire hall:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Li, how much grain do you have left to sell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sound of his name, Master Li jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other grain merchants all winced—don’t you already know how much grain we have? You probably know more than the rats in the granaries…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet under the young magistrate’s gaze, Master Li gritted his teeth and answered honestly: “Your Excellency, four… forty thousand shi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong’s expression remained calm; he wrote it down, then looked up again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Wang the Young Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cao forced a stiff smile, not daring to call his brother-in-law so casually before Secretary Xie: “Your Excellency, also around forty thousand shi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and recorded it, continuing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Ma?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fifty-eight thousand shi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Lord Cheng?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seventeen thousand shi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young magistrate had an excellent memory—he called out every guest’s name, and finally questioned every single one, leaving none out, including the Liu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the paper, raised an eyebrow, and said: “Huh, altogether you’ve got nearly three hundred thousand shi stored—enough to feed the entire population of Longcheng County for three years without doing a thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with thick skin, hearing this spoken aloud by their own county magistrate, everyone flushed with embarrassment, coughing to explain—but then came a light, casual remark from the young magistrate:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. I’ll take it all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hall fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some grain merchants’ legs trembled; some gentry prepared to turn and flee. Ouyang Rong realized what they were thinking and added softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll pay. Not free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hall erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voices clamored:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The magistrate wants it all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why does the magistrate need so much grain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this true? How much will you pay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tease us, Your Excellency…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong rubbed his temples, as if the noise gave him a headache. He extended his right hand, and his little sister, thoughtful and dutiful, handed him the wooden gavel. Instantly, the grain merchants and gentry fell silent, obedient and well-behaved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong glanced at the quiet crowd, nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not joking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And on behalf of the county office, I offer a fair price: eight cash per dou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment those four words were spoken, the hall fell into stunned silence. Everyone stared as the young magistrate lifted the paper bearing the record of three hundred thousand shi of grain, blew gently on the still-wet ink, and smiled lightly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take all thirty thousand shi on this paper. Any grain you’ve concealed, handle it yourselves. Oh, and the deadline is before dinner. Think it over carefully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the heavenly words “eight cash per dou,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cao, Master Ma, Master Li, and the other sixteen grain merchants, along with the twelve attending gentry, were left speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though still slightly below their cost price, this was already far higher than today’s market rate in Longcheng!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from the young magistrate’s tone, he intended to buy it all at once—allowing them to offload this burning hot potato in one go!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every additional day these stocks sat meant steep warehouse fees, spoilage prevention costs, and the ever-present risk of spontaneous combustion—leaving them in constant dread. And now, in the young magistrate’s smile, they saw the dawn of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency… you’re not joking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, I—I—I’ll sell! I’ll sell!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, no need to think—do it now! Let’s sign the contract immediately! It’s a deal—I’ll go fetch the grain right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd surged forward; had it not been for the table, someone might have been buried under them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong leaned back slightly and smiled, tapping his left palm with his right index finger, signaling them to calm down:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there’s one small condition. Please hear it before deciding whether to sell to the office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, please speak!” Everyone held their breath, leaning forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not serious—just that payment may need to be deferred. You’ll need to sign an IOU.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong smiled apologetically, took from the desk a long-neglected imperial decree, and gestured to the crowd:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Assuming we ultimately collect three hundred thousand shi of grain, the Longcheng County Office can only pay you all one-tenth in silver now; the remaining nine-tenths will be temporarily owed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But there’s no need to worry about defaulting—look here, this is the official imperial decree issued after the Jimin Granary was robbed, granting our county magistrate discretionary authority and various tax incentives and protections...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thus, this debt is guaranteed not only by my personal word, but also by the authority of the Longcheng County Office and the imperial court—rest assured.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grain merchants and local gentry exchanged glances; some calmed down, while others still looked tempted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s all I have to say. Consider it yourselves—this is the last thing the Longcheng County Office can do for you all. Remember the deadline: before I return to eat dinner. No extensions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong gently folded the parchment in his hand and tossed it to his junior sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd gathered before the magistrate’s desk hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Cao, Li the Merchant, Ma the Merchant, and others exchanged glances, nodded, and stepped forward. But the twelve local gentry families, lacking a leader, still looked hesitant and lingered at the back of the crowd... unwilling to move forward while someone was absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Ouyang Rong seemed to remember something and looked up, speaking casually: \"By the way, regarding this debt... the county office may soon undertake a highly profitable construction project. If you’re interested later, you may use your debt as equity to invest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of project?\" Everyone leaned forward, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young county magistrate smiled without answering, continuing to write.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gentry who had been hesitating grew even more eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My junior sister’s character card finally surpassed Auntie’s likes—my brothers’ tastes are finally less alien to me...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1954,"2026-06-19T21:28:25.445Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d528bfbebc9e0e3cf0a17f055e1566b8c47b30912443def389cd144de1959087","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-61","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-59",864,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feven-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-cover.jpg"]