Chapter 156: Hope

In the small courtyard of the Tianjin garrison, Liu Minyou sat alone by the stone table in a daze. The simple-minded monk was devouring a roast chicken with great relish, occasionally lifting a wine flask to gulp down a few mouthfuls.

The first batch of two companies from the Wendeng Camp had already departed on the ships of the Zhenhai Battalion. Over half of the Zhenhai Battalion's sailors had scattered before the new year, and they still had only half their crew now; the ships were also poorly maintained, so only seven hundred men were sent off at a time. The remaining soldiers and the wounded were all quartered in the Zhenhai Battalion barracks.

After arriving in Tianjin this time, the two of them began to set about matters concerning the trading shops. Their plan was to establish five points in Yangzhou, Linqing, Tianjin, Tongzhou, and Jingshi, all along the Grand Canal north of the Yangtze, starting with the sale of southern goods.

These past two days, Chen Xin had been busy paying visits to the Provincial Governor of Jinmen, the Vice Prefect of the Military Clearance Circuit, and others. Chen Xin had originally intended to open shops along the Grand Canal together with Wen Tiren, in order to evade the customs taxes, but after a tentative probe, Wen Tiren showed no reaction. Chen Xin guessed that Wen Tiren planned to open his own shops; given his current power and influence, ordinary people could only send him money if he was in the mood to accept it. As long as he dispatched a few household servants, the local officials would naturally offer up shops and silver. Therefore, he was unwilling to let Chen Xin get involved.

This forced Chen Xin to personally smooth things over with the local officials. Fortunately, Wen Tiren still looked after him somewhat and sent a household servant over with Wen Tiren's visiting card, who went first to Tongzhou. Yang Guodong treated Chen Xin like a superior, repeatedly assuring him that no one would dare touch Chen Xin's shops.

Then he made a round of visits to the various government offices in Tianjin. Chen Xin now deeply enjoyed Chongzhen's trust, and there was no one in the official circles around Jingshi who did not know this. Although the local civil officials could not be said to curry favor with a military officer, they still had to extend some consideration. After this recent Jianzhou Bandit incursion, many traveling merchants from the south had left Tianjin, leaving quite a few shops along the canal vacant, and prices had fallen. Chen Xin quickly purchased two shops, and transferred two shop assistants who had been trained for a period from the clothing store. The matter of setting up shop went relatively smoothly.

These past few days, Liu Minyou had deposited all the captured silver taels in the military camp, and had also gone over the accounts for the copper coin business and the maritime trade purchases with Song Wenxian. Once again idle, he did not go with Chen Xin to socialize, preferring to simply stay in this small courtyard, visiting with some of the old neighbors.

The simple-minded monk, his mouth stuffed full of chicken, asked some questions indistinctly. Liu Minyou answered absently, just passing the time, until Deng Keshan knocked and entered.

Deng Keshan now always knelt when paying his respects. Well-informed, he had inquired in Tianjin about Chen Xin's current power and prospects, and his attitude was far better than before; by extension, he was also exceedingly respectful toward Liu Minyou.

Liu Minyou hurriedly helped Deng Keshan up. This local ruffian was the same as ever, with a slick, smiling face, his eyes darting about when he looked at people. This familiarity felt very warm to Liu Minyou, who went to find a cup and poured tea for Deng Keshan himself.

After accepting it, Deng Keshan turned his head to look around, then said to Liu Minyou with a grin, "Brother Liu, you are now both noble and wealthy, yet you still remember us old neighbors. You truly cherish old ties. Zhou Shifa, following Lord Chen, has also made something of himself, serving as some sort of military judge. This evening he is hosting a banquet for the neighbors at his home, and he asked me to come and inform Brother Liu."

Liu Minyou agreed with a smile, then said, "Brother Deng flatters me. When the two of us came to Tianjin, it was thanks to the care of all the neighbors that we were able to gain a foothold here. A man should not forget his roots. In the future, if I can be of any help, Brother Deng, please do not stand on ceremony."

Deng Keshan's eyes swiveled. "Brother Liu, I hear Lord Chen is going to sell southern goods in Tianjin. You know me, I always like novelty. I've grown tired of the clothing store business and am thinking of getting into the southern goods trade, especially sugar. I know some traveling merchants from Hejian Prefecture; they always come to Tianjin to buy goods. I could act as the broker for this."

Liu Minyou guessed that he probably knew the profit margin on sugar was high, or perhaps he had heard Zhou Shifa mention there were sugar products among the southern goods and wanted to gain some benefit. But brokers existed everywhere; when Liu Minyou was originally looking for work in Tianjin, he had even considered doing this line of work himself. Competition among the canal shops in Tianjin was fierce, and having a local boss like Deng Keshan act as broker also had its advantages.

He agreed on the spot, saying, "It's a matter of mutual convenience. I can agree to this on behalf of Brother Deng right now, and Lord Chen should not object either."

Deng Keshan rubbed his hands together, as if seeing a bright future ahead. There was absolutely no worry about finding a market for sugar in Tianjin; he was certain to profit from this brokerage. He looked at Liu Minyou, recalling the things Lao Cai often muttered about in private, and decided to properly repay this man.

"Brother Liu, for your new shop, will you be transferring people from the clothing store? A few days ago, I went to the clothing store, and there were many more accountants and those, what do you call them, Assistant Shopkeepers. In all my years in Tianjin, this is the first time I've ever heard of an Assistant Shopkeeper."

Liu Minyou said, "Yes, we will need to transfer people."

Deng Keshan said mysteriously, "Then Brother Liu, don't transfer Shen Lou's wife."

"Why?"

"The beatings she gets are terrible. I consider myself a tough old scoundrel, but I'm nothing like that cripple Shen. Shen Niangzi is someone everyone in the clothing store now admires, a capable hand at both work and accounting. To let a cripple bully her is a pure slap in the face to our Lanhua Clothing Store. Brother Liu, Shen Niangzi and I are colleagues, and neighbors too. Every time I see such things, I truly can't stand it. Should I get some brothers to set a trap for this cripple Shen at a gambling den, force Shen Lou to divorce this wife of his? Otherwise, I fear this woman won't live long."

Liu Minyou hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Shen Niangzi is a person who cares deeply about face. If she were divorced, I'm afraid she would be even less able to go on living."

Deng Keshan chuckled, "Mister Liu, you may not be right about that. Shen Niangzi has been at the clothing store for over two years; she's seen much and is knowledgeable, no longer comparable to those women secluded in the inner chambers. She has her own monthly wages, so she might well wish for it. Besides, Brother Liu could dispatch her to open a shop elsewhere, and then there'd be no need to fear the idle gossip of these neighbors."

Liu Minyou gritted his teeth and asked, "Can she be divorced at any time? Does the Great Ming Code have any fixed rules on this?"

Deng Keshan looked at Liu Minyou as if he were a monster for a good while before finally answering, "I've heard those pettifoggers say that according to the Great Ming Code, the husband's paternal aunt or maternal uncle must serve as witnesses to divorce a wife. But this cripple Shen has no such relatives, so there's no need for such trouble. Moreover..." Deng Keshan swallowed and continued, "Brother Liu, nowadays, where is there any Great Ming Code? Having silver and power is the Great Ming Code. Brother Zhou says you're going to be promoted to an official this time too. With Lord Chen's current power, even if he killed Shen Lou, no one would dare let out a fart."

Liu Minyou shook his head. He was about to become an official himself, but he had not yet developed that kind of awareness. He said nothing more for the moment. Seeing his lack of response, Deng Keshan took his leave resentfully and headed out the door. Just as he reached the gate, Liu Minyou suddenly called out to him, "What you mentioned just now, you can go ahead and do it."

Deng Keshan was stunned for a moment. Only after he realized what was meant did a slight smile appear on his face, and he left the courtyard.

Liu Minyou stared at the gate and muttered to himself, "I can't save the whole world, but I can always save those beside me."

Two days later, the sound of Shen Lishi weeping came from Shen Lou's courtyard. Shen Lou's mother was nagging and scolding Shen Lou incessantly. This time, Shen Lou said nothing inside. The surrounding neighbors were all gathered at the doorway, discussing animatedly. It was said that Shen Lou had lost a great deal of silver and had even agreed to use his wife to settle the debt. Liu Minyou, bringing Zhang Erhui, was also mingling in the crowd.

A man with the look of a street tough stood grandly at the doorway holding a sheet of paper. Deng Keshan was still there, pretending to plead for mercy. The tough just shook his head, paying no heed to Deng Keshan.

"Deng Er, it's true I know you, but this matter involves fifty taels of silver. No one's face is good enough here." The tough then shouted loudly toward the inside, "Cripple Shen, this is the fifty taels of silver you owed me yesterday. If you can't pay it back today, then your wife belongs to me. It's written here in black and white. Do you dare to renege? If you don't come out now, I'm going to smash the door down."

Deng Keshan hurriedly said, "Brother, you can't do that. This is my family's door. Shen Lou doesn't have a door."

The tough was relentless. He picked up a stone and insisted on smashing the door. The two of them began to scuffle and argue outside the door, creating an uproar. Just then, the door creaked open. Shen Lishi, her face covered in tears and holding a sheet of paper, walked out expressionlessly and stood blankly beside the tough.

Liu Minyou scrutinized her carefully. Over these two years, she seemed to have become much more haggard, and there were even a few strands of white hair on her head.

The tough took the paper, looked it over, and laughed heartily. Grinning cheekily, he moved to grab Shen Lishi. Lao Cai, mingling in the crowd, shouted, "Stop!"

The small, thin Lao Cai stepped forward to block the tough and said angrily, "Shen Niangzi is the Assistant Shopkeeper of our shop. How dare you two buy and sell her!"

The tough waved the paper in his hand and said, "What Shen Niangzi? Shen Lou has already written the divorce papers. She now belongs to me and should be called Tang Niangzi. Tomorrow I won't let her go to your shop anymore. Since when is it your place to stick your neck out?"

Lao Cai was surprisingly brave. He stretched out his hand to block the way and said, "You won't be taking the Assistant Shopkeeper away today."

"This is the first time I've ever heard of some damn Assistant Shopkeeper. If you don't get out of my way, I'm going to start something."

The surrounding neighbors, having lived together for over two years, were all very sympathetic toward Shen Lishi. Seeing her about to meet such a fate, they could not bear it in their hearts and all began shouting curses at the tough. Seeing that he had provoked public anger, the tough shrank back a little. Deng Keshan quickly shot him a meaningful glance, and the tough immediately shouted, "What are you all howling about? What's there to howl about? Anyway, the divorce papers are written, and the IOU is here. Even if I sell her to a brothel, it's none of your business. If you've got the ability, then buy her from me for eighty taels. I'm setting the price at eighty taels..."

"I'll buy her!"

Shen Lishi and all the neighbors turned their heads in surprise simultaneously. Liu Minyou stood proudly among the crowd. A silence fell over the neighbors for a moment, then suddenly a burst of cheering erupted.

Li Ranzhu — that was Shen Lishi's original name. No one had called her by it for so long that she herself had almost forgotten it. But the moment Liu Minyou bought her freedom, she suddenly remembered it with perfect clarity.

She left the household with nothing, taking not a single thing with her, and gave all the dozen-plus taels of silver she had hidden away to Shen Lou's mother. It seemed as if what she handed over was not silver, but all the past suffering. Li Ranzhu followed the figure ahead, passing through the noisy crowd. The sunlight spilled down, shining on her face, warm and bright. In Li Ranzhu's eyes, everything around her was so beautiful; even those slightly peculiar gazes did not feel harsh.

Liu Minyou's gentle voice came from ahead, "Stay at the clothing store for now. In a few days, you'll go to Weihai to be the Shopkeeper. A new life awaits you there."

Outside the fortified village of the Plain Blue Banner, Zhang Zhongqi, dressed in a satin robe, rode his horse, brimming with pride as he followed behind the Niru Ejen. The shadow of the fortified village lay just ahead, and a feeling of urgency and excitement suddenly surged in Zhang Zhongqi's heart.

He muttered to himself, "What's so great about a dumb mute?"

Then he touched the cloth bag slung over his shoulder. Most of the silver inside had been distributed to the Niru Ejen and Taketan, leaving a few dozen taels, which should be enough to buy the mute back. A smile reappeared on his face. This Niru Ejen had held the barbican at Luanzhou, and was only dragged down from the gate tower after being wounded and losing consciousness. After verification by multiple armored soldiers, he was not punished and retained his original post. They were all allowed to keep the gold, silver, and cloth they had looted. Under this master's patronage, Zhang Zhongqi had opened a household register, which meant he had been raised to banner status. He now had the qualification to buy the mute woman.

There was no one at the village entrance. The Niru Ejen flicked his whip and took the lead, heading toward the wooden stockade in the center of the village. Seeing this, the others all dispersed, hurrying home. Zhang Zhongqi arrived at his own family's courtyard together with Taketan. Zhang Zhongqi jumped off his horse, and after Taketan and his father had performed the greeting ritual of embrace, he also knelt to pay his respects to Taketan's Ama. Then, taking advantage of the time while father and son were talking, he hastily excused himself and went out. He took the cloth bag and slung it over his shoulder, felt out two flatbreads from his bosom, and hurried off toward Uncle Yilantai's house. After turning a few corners, he finally saw the gate of Yilantai's courtyard.

Excitedly holding up the flatbreads, he arrived at the door and pounded on it forcefully a few times. The one who opened the door was Yilantai's daughter, Hailan. She seemed to have already forgotten who Zhang Zhongqi was and said coldly, "Dog slave, what are you pounding for?"

Zhang Zhongqi bent his body and said to Hailan, "Master, your slave has been raised to banner status. I wish to buy a woman from you, Master."

Hailan's face was full of disdain as she cursed, "You dog slaves, my father died in the Ming country, yet you lot came back alive. The heavens are blind. You Nikan, even raised to banner status, are still dog slaves."

Zhang Zhongqi carefully kept a fawning smile on his face. "What the Master says is true. Master Hailan will forever be the master of this slave."

Hailan looked at him expressionlessly for a long while before finally asking, "We have no food to spare anyway, so I'll sell one to you. Which woman do you want to buy?"

Zhang Zhongqi freed one hand, fished out two ingots of silver from his cloth bag, and presented them ingratiatingly before Hailan. "That mute woman."

"Dead."

Zhang Zhongqi stood frozen on the spot and repeated mechanically, "Dead?!"

Hailan made a move to close the door. Zhang Zhongqi abruptly blocked it and asked urgently, "Was she bought by Master Taketan..."

"I know. What other mute could it be? She died a few days ago."

"How could she have died? When I left..."

"My Ama died too, and no silver came back. Where was the food for her? Get lost!" Hailan roared impatiently, kicked Zhang Zhongqi away, and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Zhang Zhongqi immediately threw himself at the door again and shouted through the crack, "Master Hailan, where is the body?"

Hailan's cold voice came back from inside the courtyard: "Fed to the dogs at the west end of the village!"

Zhang Zhongqi dropped the flatbread and the silver ingot and ran frantically toward the west end. He no longer knew what he was looking for; he just instinctively picked out the village paths, stumbling all the way to the western edge of the village, where several wild dogs were tearing at something by the small grove.

Zhang Zhongqi drew his smooth saber and charged at the wild dogs with a howl. The dogs, having eaten too much human flesh, were far fiercer than ordinary domestic dogs. They only retreated a short distance before stopping, their eyes blood-red, barking madly at Zhang Zhongqi.

As if he heard nothing, Zhang Zhongqi turned around and looked at the ground. Scattered on the ground were some tattered shreds of clothing and a few white bones. He knelt down and picked up a piece of the clothing — it was the very garment the mute wore every day. He dropped the shred and, hands trembling, stroked the bones.

"How could you just die... I told you to steal food whenever you had the chance... I even brought you the flatbread..."

A moment later, a low, mournful wail slowly rose by the edge of the grove, like the sobbing of a wild beast on the wasteland. The wild dogs seemed to fear this creature before them; they whimpered a few times and vanished into the woods.