Chapter 82: Arrogance and Domineering

Yang Ze and the others finished their deliberations, and Hou Dingguo, leading his group of trusted followers, headed straight for a Li family timber business in Fengyang Prefecture. The shop assistant greeting customers at the entrance of the lumber store didn't recognize Hou Dingguo, but seeing a young man in a three-peaked hat and green round-collar robe swaggering down the street with a dozen or so sword-carrying men toward the shop, he instinctively sensed trouble. He quickly turned back and shot a meaningful glance into the store, and another clerk inside hurried toward the back courtyard.

The shop assistant cupped his hands and bowed to Hou Dingguo, grinning as he asked, "Has the honored guest come to look at timber? Are you building a house or making furniture? This shop has every kind of wood available—the honored guest may go to the back courtyard to inspect carefully. Once you've made your selection, pay half the silver in advance, and our shop will deliver to your door. The remaining silver is settled upon arrival of the goods. Should any problem arise with the wood itself, our shop will transport it back and compensate you at full price! Honored guest, please sit inside and have some tea—our manager will be here shortly!"

Hou Dingguo saw that this clerk, only a few years older than himself, had a glib tongue, and he was already displeased. He had always considered himself eloquent, but this clerk was far slicker with words than he was.

In a shrill, impatient voice he said, "I hate people who talk too much. A timber-selling shop boy—why do you need to say so much? Do you believe I could have your tongue cut out? Hmph!"

The clerk's heart tightened in fright at these words, and he hastily shrank to one side, thinking to himself: I just make my living this way—the manager put me on greeting duty because I'm sharp and well-spoken. So many customers have praised me, and this is the first time I've met someone who dislikes me for being too talkative!

Just then, Manager Xu of the Li family business hurried over from the back courtyard upon hearing the news. Seeing his usually perceptive clerk cowering to one side, and then taking in the young man's attire and the ferocious look of his gang of followers, he understood at once: these visitors meant trouble!

Manager Xu cupped his hands with a beaming smile and said, "This young master looks quite familiar. May I ask your esteemed name? Last month, when Prefect Li's venerable mother celebrated her sixtieth birthday, I accompanied our shop's Master Li to the prefectural office to offer congratulations, and I believe I had the pleasure of meeting this young master briefly! Hehe! May I ask what business brings the honored guest to our humble shop today? Whatever you need, please just give the order—our shop operates on integrity with fair prices, and we will surely send the honored guest away satisfied!"

Hou Dingguo curled his lip and said in a sharp, high-pitched voice, "Don't try to scare me with Li Qimei! I work for the palace—what's a petty Prefect like him worth?"

Manager Xu was startled by this. The other's voice, tone, and manner had already revealed his identity completely. Though his own master had some connections, they were nothing compared to this one's. He didn't know what purpose had brought this person here today, but the matter was unlikely to be simple.

Manager Xu hastily bowed with cupped hands and said, "This eunuch has an extraordinary bearing—clearly no ordinary person! Please, come inside and have some tea!" As he spoke, he gestured invitingly for the guest to enter.

Hou Dingguo gave a smug snort, then turned and ordered his followers, "Two of you come in; the rest wait outside the door!" With that, he swaggered into the shop first, with two sword-carrying attendants following close behind.

The shop's interior was swept clean and tidy, with a fairly spacious main hall. Since timber inspection was done in the back courtyard and storage grounds, this area served as a reception space for ordinary customers. When major clients came to negotiate purchases, they were received in a separate courtyard further back, furnished more comfortably and elegantly. The business's owner was at that moment in that courtyard negotiating with a client from South Zhili; hearing there was trouble up front, he had sent Manager Xu to investigate.

Manager Xu attentively invited Hou Dingguo to sit in a rosewood armchair, and a clerk brought hot tea, setting it on a small side table beside the chair. This little square table was also made of purple sandalwood, finely crafted and of distinctive design. The two attendants took positions flanking the chair.

After sitting down, Hou Dingguo looked around and said to Manager Xu, who stood a few paces away with a face full of smiles, "Who are you? I've come today to discuss a big business deal with this shop of yours—can you make the decisions?"

Manager Xu cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "This humble one's surname is Xu; I am the manager of the Li family business. May I ask this young eunuch's esteemed name? And what value might this business deal be worth? How would settlement be arranged?"

Hou Dingguo tilted his head back to look at the ceiling and said disdainfully in his shrill voice, "I hadn't planned to tell you who I am, but since you've been sensible enough so far, I'll let you know: I am the adopted son of Eunuch Yang, the eunuch in charge of the imperial tombs—Hou Dingguo! Today, on my godfather's orders, I've come to this shop of yours to buy some timber for repairing the imperial tomb buildings that were burned by the roving bandits. My godfather said that since the imperial tombs were destroyed by bandits, all subjects of the Great Ming have a duty to contribute to their restoration. But the palace, out of compassion for your hardships, will settle payment for all needed materials in precious notes, so that you won't suffer any loss!"

Manager Xu felt shock, anger, and fear all at once. This wasn't buying at all—it was outright robbery! Precious notes were no different from waste paper. Fine words about not letting merchants suffer losses—taking a pile of scrap paper to buy timber! Where in the world was there such unreasonable behavior? But the young man had come under the banner of doing business for the palace, and that was not someone one could afford to offend.

Suppressing his anger, he cupped his hands and said, "Eunuch Hou, this humble one has been in business since childhood and dealt with all sorts of people. No matter the business or the customer, settlement has always been in gold and silver. Our humble shop is afraid it cannot accept precious notes. If the eunuch truly wishes to purchase timber, it would be best to pay in genuine gold and silver—I can offer a suitable discount on the price!"

Hou Dingguo flew into a rage at this. He leaped up suddenly, crossed the distance to Manager Xu in one stride, and swung his arm in a vicious slap across the man's face. A sharp "crack" rang out, and Manager Xu cried out in pain—five red finger marks immediately appeared on his left cheek. He hastily raised his hand to cover it, waves of burning pain radiating through him.

The owner of the Li family business, Li Shiqun, came from a prominent household in Nanjing; his family ran various enterprises. Li Shiqun had specialized in timber for many years and enjoyed considerable renown throughout South Zhili. He kept close relations with official circles in both Fengyang and South Zhili. Manager Xu had been with the Li family for many years and, following his master, had witnessed many scenes. He was a man with some pride of his own—and to be slapped in public by a mere youth today was a first in all his years.

He trembled all over with rage but had not lost his senses. Covering his face with one hand and pointing at Hou Dingguo with the other, he shouted, "If you have a grievance, argue it out—why strike people? The Li family is not one to be bullied in South Zhili!"

Hou Dingguo gave a sinister laugh and waved his hand, shrieking, "Beat him for me—beat him to death!"

The two attendants rushed out from behind him; one kicked Manager Xu to the ground, and then both began raining punches and kicks on the prostrate man. Manager Xu curled up to protect his vital areas but still could not suppress his cries of pain. One quick-witted clerk hurried toward the back courtyard. Outside the shop, Hou Dingguo's followers heard the commotion inside and surged in all at once; seeing what was happening, they immediately crowded around to join in the beating. In an instant, Manager Xu's screams ceased—he had lost consciousness.

Though there were several clerks in the shop, they were all honest folk from modest households who had never witnessed such a scene. Hou Dingguo's followers were all local Fengyang ruffians and scoundrels—fighting, bullying the innocent, and extorting merchants was their daily business. A dozen or more of them raised a racket, shouts and curses filling the air, terrifying the clerks into shrinking like quails into the corners of the room, trembling.

Hou Dingguo stood to one side, clapping and laughing shrilly. Seeing Manager Xu still lying silent, his anger remained unappeased. A mere shop manager—a person as insignificant as a weed—had dared to argue openly with him! It was sheer audacity, and word of it would surely make people laugh at him. He shouted his orders loudly: "Smash it! Smash everything in this room for me!"

These followers were already in high spirits from the beating, and upon hearing the order they immediately set to work smashing the furniture and furnishings in the room. The few clerks cowering in the corners, after taking a few blows, fled in panic into the back courtyard.

One follower felt this still wasn't satisfying enough. His eyes rolled, and he went over to Hou Dingguo's side and said, "Eunuch, there's nothing valuable in here besides the furniture. Why not just set a fire and burn the place down?"

Without a moment's thought, Hou Dingguo nodded excitedly and said, "Good! Good! Setting a fire is good! How dare they not show me respect! Burn it! Light it up and burn it!"

That follower laughed loudly and called for others to find kindling materials, preparing to set the shop ablaze. By now, a crowd of passersby and neighboring merchants had gathered outside the shop, all bewildered, pointing at the establishment and discussing among themselves.

Just as Hou Dingguo's followers had gathered their kindling and were about to set the shop on fire, a great shout rang out: "Hold!"