Chapter 144: Could This Qin Official Have Some Peculiar Fetish?

Among the three village officials, Heifu had a clear measure of Chen Ping's potential and talent, and Zhang Fu's impression of the young man had also greatly improved; only the fat Zhang Bo lacked the eye to recognize ability and remained thoroughly impatient.

The fourth month was already rather hot, and the entrance to the village school was packed airtight by a crowd of villagers, making it even more stifling. Zhang Bo, huge in frame, was sweating profusely from the heat and could not wait to end this farce, so he pointed at Chen Ping and said, "Chen Ping, enough idle chatter, state your testimony at once!"

Chen Ping responded, "Ping's testimony is the same as my brother's and sister-in-law's. This so-called 'sister-in-law violation' is utterly groundless slander — Ping cannot even bear to speak of it! Here, I can only tell you gentlemen that although Chen Ping is unlearned and unskilled, and though my family is poor and lowly, I have never let men and women sit together indiscriminately, never shared a clothes rack, never shared a towel or comb, and never passed things directly from hand to hand. The rites that forbid a younger brother and sister-in-law from exchanging words or passing objects between them… Chen Ping fancies himself a man of letters who understands propriety, and in all these years, I have never once transgressed!"

He turned around and loudly declared to everyone, "Chen Ping has always revered his elder brother as a father and respected his sister-in-law as a mother — how could I commit such a deed that offends heaven and conscience? As for those rumors and slanderous whispers, I hope you fellows will not repeat them. Anyone who speaks recklessly again shall be Chen Ping's sworn enemy!"

The villagers who had swarmed here to hear the lawsuit, especially the ones who had been wagging their tongues, were all somewhat tongue-tied, and some even looked ashamed.

At the same time, the village elder Zhang Fu was quite astonished by what he heard. "Chen Ping, I heard that what you went to the neighboring county to study was the art of Huang-Lao. I never imagined you also understood the rites of the Confucian scholars?"

Chen Ping knew that this line, deliberately inserted, would catch the attention of Zhang Fu, who was fond of Confucian learning. He immediately said, "Allow me to inform the village elder: whether Huang-Lao or Confucianism, their essence is the same — the rites of Heaven's way and the constant bonds. It is only the expression that differs slightly. If one cannot even uphold the most basic ethics, then one has lost the very qualification to be human — how could one then pursue learning?"

"Good! Very good!"

In Wei, Confucianism and Huang-Lao were still on fairly amicable terms — not as mutually intolerant as Confucianism and Legalism, nor as irreconcilably hostile as Confucianism and Mohism. Although the Zhang family did not regard Huang-Lao as true learning, they would not go so far as to call for the death of those with different views.

And so Zhang Fu looked at Chen Ping with growing fondness. "Confucius said, 'In assessing a man, observe his words and examine his deeds.' Previously, people in the village often slandered you, saying you grew nothing but a handsome shell, empty inside. And that you loafed about idly, paying no heed to your family's livelihood — a disgrace to the village. I once believed that to be true, but seeing you today, I now know those were all slanderous words."

Seeing such a fine jade of a talent in the village, Zhang Fu's mood — he had just lost his fifth grandson-in-law — suddenly brightened, and he blurted out in praise:

"Chen Ping, you not only have the outer form, but the inner substance as well!"

Chen Ping was overjoyed to hear this and immediately bowed in thanks.

This praise, coming from the mouth of the village elder, carried great weight and seemed to reverse the ill repute Chen Ping had suffered in the village for years.

"Not good."

Seeing that if this continued, the entire lawsuit was about to turn into a public-opinion showcase steered by Chen Ping, Heifu quickly rose and offered his own opinion.

"The village elder's words are very good."

Heifu clapped his hands and said, "When I first met Chen Ping, I sensed he was no ordinary man. Could someone so proper in speech and bearing truly be a beast in human clothing? As expected, this was a misunderstanding brought about by rumors."

As he spoke, Zhongming translated for him sentence by sentence. Finally, Heifu even slapped his sword onto the table and threatened:

"I do not know how this village customarily deals with those who spread slanderous rumors, but in Qin law, there is a crime of defamation! Those who defame the policies of the sovereign and the government are made convict laborers. Those who defame and injure another's reputation, if brought before the county or village and the facts are verified, the defamer will also be pursued and sentenced for the crime of Poisonous Words!"

"Poisonous Words" — meaning a tongue that carries venom.

In Qin, minor matters like quarrels between neighbors were generally mediated by the hamlet chief and the village elder. As long as you did not come to blows and fight privately, it would not constitute a criminal lawsuit. But if resentment bred hatred and you defamed another, harming their reputation, or even falsely branded someone a criminal — even if you merely spoke the words and did not lodge a false accusation, and thus would not be sentenced under "false accusation reversed onto the accuser" — there was still a crime called "Poisonous Words" specifically designed to deal with these loose-tongued people.

"For this crime, the light punishment is a fine; the heavy punishment is penal labor and exile! You fellows had best remember: idle gossip may feel satisfying for a moment, but when Qin law arrives, every word from your mouth must be weighed in your heart — is it true? Is it false? Will it cause another to suffer a wrongful stain on their name? You cannot just speak recklessly anymore!"

After this speech, inside and outside the village school, everyone fell utterly silent.

They had all heard of the harshness of Qin law, but none had imagined it would even govern village gossip. Fear rose in their hearts. In particular, those village women who loved to wag their tongues all touched their own mouths, a lingering dread creeping over them.

Heifu intended to give them a preventive inoculation. Over in Chenliu and Waihuang, they had already begun tightening control and implementing Qin ordinances. Once Wei was destroyed, it was only to be expected that control over Huyou Village would be tightened as well.

That said, he currently lacked the means to find the original rumor-monger. The matter had already spread through half the village settlement, spoken by hundreds if not thousands of people. Trying to follow the vine to find the root? Far too difficult. Heifu merely wanted to do Chen Ping a favor in passing; he had no desire to launch a major operation and disrupt local order.

All Heifu could do was define the nature of this affair and lift the black pot from Chen Ping's head.

Finally, he summarized on behalf of the three officials: "Since Chen Bo and Chen Ping, the three of you, have now clarified the matter — that this so-called 'sister-in-law violation' by Chen Ping is a fabricated affair — this case is hereby concluded. From this day forward, no one is permitted to speak recklessly again and ruin Chen Ping's reputation!"

…

After Zhang Bo impatiently announced the adjournment, Chen Ping asked his elder brother and sister-in-law, now reconciled, to leave first.

He himself stayed behind. After answering a few of Zhang Fu's questions, he looked up and saw Heifu approaching, so he took his leave from Zhang Fu and walked over with quick, short steps. Bringing both hands together, he bowed deeply to Heifu!

"In today's matter, had the Patrol Chief not enforced the law impartially, this humble one's wrongful grievance could never have been cleansed."

His attitude was very clear: Chen Ping wanted to convey, "I know it was the Patrol Chief who helped me!"

Chen Ping was a clever man. From the moment the Qin army had garrisoned here, he had been quietly observing — observing the struggle between the Qin officials and the Zhang brothers. His family was poor and lowly, so he was not qualified to attend that banquet, but he had heard about what happened that day and could not help but praise two men in his mind.

One was Zhang Fu. Chen Ping believed that Zhang Fu understood the times and knew when to yield. Facing the tough Qin officials, it was wise for the Zhang clan to bow their heads for now and preserve the family under the Qin swords.

The second was the Qin official named "Heifu." One had to understand that not every outsider could overpower a local bully. When Heifu received the invitation, he did not bow his head and compromise because of the Zhang clan's power. At the banquet, he was neither servile nor overbearing, gradually reversing a disadvantageous situation, and used a sword dance to tell the Zhang brothers: the sky has already changed.

It was this that had led to Heifu's dominance over village affairs for the past half month and more.

But what Chen Ping had never, ever expected was that when he was smeared with the stain of "sister-in-law violation" and was racking his brains for a way out, it was this Qin official who extended a helping hand.

Although in the end, he still relied on his own intelligence and wit to turn public opinion around, without this trial arranged by Heifu, Chen Ping would never have had the chance to save himself.

No matter how great one's talent, one needs a stage to display it. On his own, Chen Ping could not have built that stage.

So Chen Ping did indeed feel gratitude toward Heifu.

But it was only gratitude — even mixed with a measure of wariness.

Because, to this day, he still had not figured out why this Qin official named Heifu, without any cause or reason, would want to give him a hand.

But by now, there was no time to ponder it carefully. Chen Ping could only lower his head and say, "The Patrol Chief's kindness — Chen Ping will surely remember it!"

Heifu studied Chen Ping, whose eyes were full of gratitude, though he could not tell how sincere these words were. He smiled and said, "Just now you told your brother and sister-in-law that from now on you would earn your own living. May I ask what you plan to do?"

"I…"

After Zhongming relayed the question, Chen Ping hesitated. Today, all his energy had been spent on reconciling his brother and sister-in-law and reversing the villagers' impression of him. As for the future, he had not yet had time to think.

He gave a bitter smile. "What I studied was Huang-Lao, but I also have a rough knowledge of some wedding and funeral rites. Perhaps when there is a funeral, I could go help out and earn a bit of compensation."

Heifu, however, shook his head. "You are literate and possess talent and strategy — why stoop to that? Besides, funerals do not happen every day."

"How about this: recently, quite a few official documents have come from General Wang's place in Daliang and from the Yangwu county seat. They need to be translated from Qin script into Wei script and posted in the town to inform the villagers. But in my camp, we happen to lack someone who can write Wei script…"

As Chen Ping listened to Zhongming's relay, he sensed something ominous. But before he could refuse, Heifu clapped him on the shoulder and said in a commanding tone, "Then it's settled. Starting tomorrow, you will come to the camp to work as a clerk and help translate the script. I will pay you three Wei shi of millet grain per month!"

…

"Three shi of grain a month! That's a good thing!"

When Chen Ping returned home and told them the matter, Chen Bo was overjoyed. Their family land was only thirty mu — and Wei mu at that, measured at two hundred paces square. The annual grain yield was only about sixty shi. After paying the land tax, it was barely enough to keep a family of three alive. From one year's end to the next, even adding a new garment was difficult.

But this post of Chen Ping's could earn three shi a month! That was equivalent to a month's rations for the two brothers. Moreover, he would only need to go to the Qin army camp and write — no heavy labor. Though they did not know how long it would last, it was indeed a fine post.

Chen's sister-in-law, who had already sheepishly followed Chen Bo home, also showed Chen Ping a rare pleasant expression. "If you can get this post, you'll finally be earning your own keep! All these years, this is what I've been waiting for! Though those Qin people look fierce and their speech is hard to understand, it's still better than you loafing around at home eating for free every day."

Chen Bo slammed the table, eyes wide. "You shrew! What are you saying?"

Chen's sister-in-law put her hands on her hips and met him head-on. "Did I say anything wrong?"

Seeing this quarrelsome pair about to start bickering again, Chen Ping hurriedly placated them both and said with a smile, "Brother, sister-in-law, do not argue. This is indeed a fine post. Since the Qin official has already spoken, I cannot refuse. I will go, that is all. Brother and sister-in-law, just wait for me to carry the grain home."

Yet beneath that beaming smile, Chen Ping harbored a faint worry.

The script of Qin and the script of Wei, though sharing a single origin — both derived from the Zhou royal house's bronze-inscription greater seal script — had, after centuries of parallel use, diverged considerably. Thus, any public notice written in Qin characters had to be translated into Wei characters if the locals were to understand it; otherwise, even the literate would stumble after a few words.

These times were nothing like later ages, when sentences grew concise. Here, one wrong character could twist the meaning of an entire passage completely.

Moreover, working as a clerk in the Qin camp would bring Chen Ping substantial benefits.

The immediate benefit was the three dan of grain Heifu had promised as recompense.

The long-term benefit was this: once Chen Ping mastered the Qin script, when the Qin people formally established their rule over this township, he would hold a greater advantage over others, with more chances to be selected and rise to stand above his fellow men…

This was precisely what Chen Ping, after years of study, had been tirelessly striving for.

But then the question arose: that Qin clerk was neither kin nor acquaintance — why would he treat Chen Ping so well? Clearing his besmirched name, and now handing him a livelihood and a future.

Chen Ping's performance at the village school today had been nothing short of flawless, and so he had perfectly concealed his true nature…

In truth, aside from his brother and sister-in-law, whom he knew deeply, he was also a man who never hesitated to speculate about others' intentions with the utmost malice!

The Dao of Heaven teems with all things, each ultimately returning to its root.

He studied the teachings of Huang-Lao, and believed that everything in this world follows cause and effect — there is no love without reason, and no hatred without cause.

So, as his brother and sister-in-law bickered their way into the kitchen to prepare the meal, Chen Ping let his smile fade. He walked to the water vat, gazed at the reflection of his handsome face, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly his expression shifted to one of horror.

"That Qin clerk — could it be that, like the late King of Wei, he has the taste of Longyang?!"

PS: Chapter 3 will be up in the evening.

(End of chapter)