Chapter 22

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

When mountains end and waters run out, one doubts there is a path; then willows darken and flowers brighten, revealing another village.

Song Miao was overjoyed and hurriedly took the book with both hands.

But after flipping through only a few pages, she sensed something was wrong.

This book was very thick, even difficult to roll up; opening the first page, the table of contents alone had twelve juan, two hundred and thirteen men, and afterward there were explanatory legal commentaries, decrees, statutes, formats, and edicts, the small print densely packed—even if Cheng Zijian had three heads and six arms, he could hardly copy it all in a single day.

And the further back she flipped, the more she saw that the handwriting varied.

Thinking of what the other party had just said, "we," and seeing this book, Song Miao thanked him profusely, but could not help asking: "Young Master, did you also call in personal favors and ask others to help copy this? I... truly do not know how to thank you properly!"

"No, no!" Cheng Zijian hesitated for a moment, his face showing some apology, "It can hardly be called asking favors; it's just that I did not have permission and accidentally mentioned the Song Stall Owner's family matters, I am very sorry..."

It turned out that yesterday he learned Song Miao herself was anxious to see that Xing Criminal Code, and also knew her family had encountered trouble; although he was too embarrassed to ask in detail face-to-face, after returning he secretly sought out a classmate living in Jingcheng to inquire.

Song Dalang's drowning had already caused a great commotion; the Song Family Eatery was right next to Nan Lu Academy, so quite a few people knew about it, and the incident where Nan Lu Academy teachers and students encountered bandits in Hejian was even more widely known, with everyone in the capital's academies aware of it.

That classmate found it familiar, and taking advantage of the noon break, went home to make inquiries.

But Liao Qingjiao was determined to force Song Miao to submit, had already arranged subordinates to spread many rumors outside, and brought up Wu Yuanwai, saying this great household was kind-hearted and wanted to help Song Xiaoniangzi repay her debts, give her a place to go, and when she was carried home in a small sedan, she would enjoy the best food and drink, with endless benefits.

This person's home was not far from Suanzao Alley; with just a little asking, he found out everything, and became angry on the spot.

When he returned to Taixue and repeated what he had heard, the more he said the angrier he got, and his voice naturally grew louder.

The classmates in the zhai heard the commotion and inevitably gathered around.

Taixue students were mostly young scholars, with hot blood and hard spines; how could they tolerate such powerful bullies oppressing commoners?

Moreover, the one being pressured was a young lady, and that young lady's elder brother was a student at the neighboring Nan Lu Academy—hearing the name, he seemed to have had some literary reputation, and died tragically in a foreign land—this struck close to home, and who could sit still when seeing their own kind suffer?

And when they learned from Cheng Zijian that this young lady was actually the one selling Song's Green Bean Paste Glutinous Rice in Food Alley these past few days—that rice was truly delicious—it was simply unbearable!

Everyone immediately wanted to help.

Some said to go find the xuezheng or teachers; some said the food shop must have been forcibly bought, the sale probably couldn't stand, so they should go to the Capital Prefecture Office to file a complaint; others said Song Dalang died suspiciously, and they should go check the original coroner's autopsy records.

Cheng Zijian had to explain Song Miao's request; since he had not obtained the original owner's consent and did not know what she meant, he would ask her when he delivered the copied book.

Everyone was full of fervor.

Someone who had read the "Wei Xing Tong" said that much of the book's content—if Cheng Zijian copied it alone, when would he finish? He feared the young lady's tears would run dry by then, and who would make glutinous rice for us to eat?

So a whole group gathered together, went into the bookshop, borrowed books, took the bindings apart, divided portions among themselves, and some went out to call friends.

Such passionate action—when students heard it, they truly embodied benevolence and righteousness, with the spirit of drawing swords to help when seeing injustice on the road; who would not come? Soon more and more people gathered, and there were hardly enough tables and chairs in the bookshop to seat them all.

Many hands make light work; sure enough, when everyone gathered firewood the flame rose high, and they quickly copied it all through.

Only when night fell was some content left; Cheng Zijian feared too many people would cause trouble, so he hurriedly drove everyone away and copied until dawn, just finishing—no need to mention it.

At this time he repeated everyone's suggestions to them, and again said: "We all mean well; though we have little ability, we all want to help, Song Xiaoniangzi..."

Song Miao hurriedly performed a formal bow, but said: "My family's situation is known to all the neighbors; I am not afraid of it spreading. You all naturally mean well, but the matter is quite troublesome; I must first get things clear. It won't be long before there will certainly be a place where I need your help. Right now... I truly don't know how to thank you!"

She also bowed and thanked Cheng Zijian repeatedly.

But Cheng Zijian stepped aside, hurriedly returned the salute, and said: "Everyone copied it together; it wasn't just me alone. Moreover, if it weren't for Song Xiaoniangzi..."

Unexpectedly knowing Han Li, and receiving his guidance, Cheng Zijian had been very excited yesterday and had long wanted to tell someone, but feared classmates would hear and one or two would run to find him, which would instead annoy that person. Now meeting Song Miao, he felt she was a very suitable person to share with, so he chattered on about the whole matter, and said: "If it weren't for the young lady's mutton buns, if it weren't for lending books to the young lady, how could I have encountered such good fortune?"

"I just revised my essay and was worried about going empty-handed today; who would have thought Song Xiaoniangzi had already prepared a good gift for me! Song Stall Owner, you are truly my great noble person!"

He spoke very seriously, still stringing together refined phrases.

Song Miao, however, was thoughtful.

Hearing what Han Li had done, she was moved in her heart, and asked a few more questions.

Cheng Zijian held nothing back, telling everything he knew.

He had received Han Li's help and truly felt great favor toward him, praising him to the heavens and earth, and said: "Surely 'three men make a tiger'—outside they all say this person is hard to deal with, but I feel this person truly practices justice and has the generous spirit of ancient Yan and Zhao, far better than those who only talk with their mouths and don't know what's good!"

If at this moment full marks were only ten, Cheng Zijian would truly give Han Li ten thousand points—the extra nine thousand nine hundred ninety points were his private addition, added with all his heart.

Words follow the heart's movement.

Song Miao saw his conduct, and knowing her completed book also relied on Han Li's guidance, besides thanking the many students, she naturally gave him several extra points of thanks.

After a while the two parted; Song Miao closed her stall, pushed the cart home, and after tidying everything, she was not in a hurry to go out and buy things, but took out the newly obtained book and carefully consulted the table of contents.

In the past eighty years, the "Wei Xing Tong" had been revised once, but the basic legal logic continued; only minor branches were adjusted.

Song Miao first read the Household and Marriage Law, then the Theft Law, and finally the Miscellaneous Law.

She remembered that after Song's Mother died, one day Song Dalang had a big argument with his elder brother.

Afterward, Song Dalang took advantage of his son being at the academy, took the household register, and secretly slipped out, even asking his daughter to help cover for him.

The original person had experienced too little and trusted her father too much, so naturally did not think much of it; but after Song Miao arrived, she always felt something was wrong.

Song Dalang had passed the seventh day; by rights he should go to the government office to cancel the household registration, but she was not in a hurry; instead, she first took out the household register.

Sure enough, according to the household register, Song Dalang had already secretly changed back to his original surname and gone to the government office to exchange documents.