Chapter 135: Going Alone to the Door

135. Chapter 135: Going Alone to the Door

Ye Wenshi naturally wanted Ye Wenshu's help, but the influence of a Provincial Graduate Yang was not something a mere unranked clerk in the yamen could compare to. Ye Wenshu tried pulling strings everywhere but got no results; the most charitable response he received was simply to go negotiate with Graduate Yang himself.

Ye Wenshu, who did not even hold an examination degree, was as far beneath Graduate Yang as the earth is beneath the sky; he could not even get through the man's front gate.

Having worked in the yamen for so many years, Ye Wenshu had a few methods of his own. He asked someone to contact Graduate Yang's steward, hoping to privately offer him ten taels of silver so the steward would bend the rules and buy Ye née Wu's house at market price. He never expected the other side to ignore him completely, and even send back the message: "Doesn't he ever look in a mirror and see what sort of thing he is?"

Both helpless and furious, Ye Wenshu had not wanted to get too deeply involved, but now he was provoked into fighting this to the end.

Ye Wenshu thought it over from every angle. Graduate Yang's juren status was a resounding golden signboard, not to mention he had Cloud Mountain Temple backing him from behind. The only hope for help lay with Zhao Jin.

"Young Master Jin, if my ill-fated aunt were even the slightest bit in the wrong in this matter, I would never have come to you. It is simply too infuriating—who does things so ruthlessly, cutting off all means of livelihood?" Ye Wenshu said through gritted teeth.

"Can't the title deed be reissued?" Zhao Jin asked with a smile. Ye Wenshu worked in the yamen's Revenue Office, so matters of contracts and deeds should not be difficult for him.

At this, the hatred on Ye Wenshu's face deepened. "Young Master Jin, you don't know—Clerk Zhang of the Revenue Office married his younger sister to Yang Zhongping as a concubine, so he won't bend the rules at all."

Zhao Jin nodded. Beside him, Wang Zhaojing shook his head with a smile and opened his book again to read. Seeing Zhao Jin deep in thought, Ye Wenshu hurriedly said, "Young Master Jin, if you help me with this matter, I am willing to offer ten taels of silver!"

Hearing this, Zhao Jin smiled and raised his head to glance at him. Ye Wenshu's face reddened slightly; during this period, the benefits he had gained from helping Zhao Jin recruit household guards amounted to about ten taels of silver. Ye Wenshu gritted his teeth and spoke again: "I will offer twenty taels, only begging Young Master Jin to help with this."

Ye née Wu, who had been wiping tears to the side, was startled by these words and quickly said, "Kun'er, let's just forget about that house..."

"Aunt, it is only right that your nephew supports you in your old age and sees to your burial, but we absolutely must fight for our dignity in this. Otherwise, we won't be able to find a foothold in Xuzhou City from now on," Ye Wenshu said resolutely.

Zhao Jin looked at Ye Wenshu and asked with a smile, "I am the son of a constable, and at best I might hold the rank of a Hundred Households Commander in the future. Uncle Ye, do you think I am in any position to go and say something to a Provincial Graduate?"

"From now on, just call me Xiao Ye. Xiao Ye has come begging to you, Master Jin, precisely because I believe you can uphold justice. Xiao Ye is willing to offer fifty taels," Ye Wenshu said through gritted teeth. As an unranked clerk, no matter how much he exploited his position, he could not skim too much; these fifty taels were likely his life savings.

Zhao Jin shook his head with a smile, then said calmly, "I don't want your silver. Tell me where this Graduate Yang lives. I will go and ask about this matter for you. But don't pin your hopes too high—a Provincial Graduate is precious, and it's entirely possible he won't even acknowledge me."

Hearing these words from Zhao Jin, Ye Wenshu was immediately overjoyed and quickly said, "Many thanks, Master Jin. Xiao Ye will surely repay you generously in the future."

Zhao Jin stood up and said, "I don't need your generous repayment. Just be filial to your aunt. You will hear from me."

Over on the other side, Ye née Wu still did not understand what had happened; she only saw her nephew bowing and scraping as he gave his thanks.

After seeing the two off, Zhao Jin returned to his room. He changed out of the rough homespun robe he wore for training and into the clothes he had arrived in.

"Brother Zhao, you're going to stand up for him just like that, without seeking any reward?" Wang Zhaojing asked with a smile.

Zhao Jin picked up his long spear, then set it down again, only tucking his short blade at his waist. He answered with a similar smile, "He will remember this favor. It will be useful in the future."

Wang Zhaojing nodded. Seeing Zhao Jin about to head out, he could not help but ask another question: "Brother Zhao, should we call everyone to go together?"

"I'm not going to fight; I'm just going to reason with them. What would I need so many people for?" Zhao Jin said with a smile as he said his goodbyes.

All these years, his days had been spent practicing martial arts, and the only place he went often was south of the city. Zhao Jin rarely had the chance to stroll so leisurely down the street.

Desolate and dilapidated—these words were often mentioned, but walking along the road, looking at both sides of the street and the passersby, one felt it even more deeply. Few shops were open, and those that were open had few customers. There were few people coming and going, and it was extremely rare to see anyone wearing new clothes. Within Xuzhou City, only a small area in the north of the city was somewhat better; that was where the officials and gentry lived, so naturally it was different.

It had been over half a month since Zhao Jin had killed those dozen or so desperate bandits. Everyone of sufficient status in the city had visited Zhao Jin, and the shopkeepers of various establishments had all come to "forge good karma" and greet him; they recognized Zhao Jin.

Shopkeepers were all sharp-witted characters with eyes that saw in all directions and ears that heard everything, paying close attention to passersby. The moment they saw Zhao Jin walk by, they would hurriedly step out of their shops with beaming smiles to greet him and invite him inside to sit for a while and have a cup of tea.

Zhao Jin treated them with a smiling face, responding politely a few times, though his walking speed slowed considerably as a result.

When the shopkeeper of one establishment came out, the neighboring one, even if they had not noticed, would be drawn over. Once they saw it was this young master, how could they dare be remiss?

Walking and stopping, Zhao Jin smiled wryly to himself. He was clearly out on business, yet it felt as if he were inspecting his territory.

The pedestrians on the road, seeing the merchants so deferential, wondered what important personage had arrived. Only after hearing the shop assistants talk did they learn that this was that young hero of recent days. Then the pedestrians also gazed from afar, which began to make Zhao Jin somewhat irritated.

After walking a few streets, Zhao Jin simply found a restaurant and went in to have lunch first. The moment he sat down, he was recognized by the restaurant's owner, who hurriedly wanted to arrange a private room for Zhao Jin. Having a private booth would be good too—at least he would not be gawked at. Zhao Jin went along, ordering only a bowl of hot soup and a flatbread, wanting to finish eating quickly and leave.

Unexpectedly, not long after, a full spread of four cold dishes and four hot dishes was brought up. The owner also came in carrying a jar of wine, saying with a grin, "This humble shop just brought in some fine wine from Jining the day before yesterday. Knowing that Young Master Zhao enjoys a good drink, I've specially brought it out to entertain you."

Zhao Jin truly did not know whether to laugh or cry. During that period, he had asked people to buy and sample wines, so it was no surprise he was taken for a drunkard. He cleared his throat and said, "I have business to attend to this afternoon, so I'll pass on the wine. I came here just to have a simple meal. Why did you go to so much trouble and expense? Zhao is not the sort of person who takes petty advantages. Leave one dish and take the rest away."

The owner thought Zhao Jin was merely being polite, but when he realized Zhao Jin was speaking seriously, his respect deepened a few degrees. He then said with a smile, "Allow me to inform Young Master Zhao, this meal has already been paid for by Steward Wang. This humble shop will have to wait until next time to curry favor with Young Master Zhao."

Zhao Jin was taken aback, then shook his head helplessly. He did not do these things to swagger through the streets and be fawned over.

After finishing his meal, Zhao Jin did not make a show of false modesty by insisting on paying; he simply gave his thanks and left.

This time, he turned directly into a small alley, walking through secluded areas. Although it was a roundabout route, his traveling speed was much faster without anyone coming up to fawn over him with pleasantries.

Graduate Yang's old residence was in the east of the city. The eastern part of the city had originally been where the officials, servants, and related merchants of the Revenue Branch Bureau and the Great Granary lived together. However, at the beginning of the Wanli era, Xuzhou's granaries began to be relocated to Jining and Yangzhou, and the area gradually grew desolate. Later, when the hereditary officers of Xuzhou Guard and Xuzhou Left Guard began purchasing properties here, it slowly regained some signs of life.

Graduate Yang's old residence, however, was in an area where local natives lived, all poor commoners. It looked extremely dilapidated and chaotic. The Yang house was easy to find because a neat and tidy compound in this rundown area was far too conspicuous; even the road in front of his gate was different from the surrounding ones.

Zhao Jin could understand this mentality—it was simply the idea that returning home without displaying one's wealth and glory was like walking in brocade robes at night. Except this man did not bring benefit to his hometown but instead brought disaster to his fellow villagers. His character was truly too poor.

The poor ate two meals a day, and at this hour they were all out busily making a living. The area was very desolate now; occasionally someone passed by, casting a puzzled look at Zhao Jin. Not being figures of the marketplace, they naturally did not recognize him.

The Zhao house was indeed not large. That especially dilapidated thatched hut to the right of this compound should be Ye Wenshu's aunt's place. The one on the left had already been torn down, and some people were busy working over there.

Zhao Jin stepped forward and knocked on the door a few times. A man who looked like a gatekeeper opened it. Seeing it was just a half-grown kid in his teens, his face immediately darkened, and he asked gruffly, "What do you want, knocking on the door?"

"I am Zhao Jin, here to request an audience with Graduate Yang," Zhao Jin said clearly.

At the address "Graduate Yang," the gatekeeper's brow immediately furrowed. If a scholar or student came to visit, they would usually use terms like "senior" or "mister." If it were someone of status, they would present a name card. Looking at Zhao Jin, dressed entirely in plain cloth, his skin tanned dark by the sun, aside from being neither servile nor overbearing, he showed no sign of having any status whatsoever. The gatekeeper looked him up and down a few times, too lazy to even speak, and directly shut the door.

He had given his name and there was no reaction at all? It seemed his fearsome reputation was not so intimidating after all. Zhao Jin smiled self-deprecatingly. The servants of a grand household did not have many chances to go out, let alone those holed up here at the Yang house.

Zhao Jin began pounding on the door forcefully again. After a few knocks, the gatekeeper opened the door once more. Seeing it was still Zhao Jin, his face immediately turned black. Pointing at Zhao Jin's nose, he said, "You know this is Master Yang's residence, and you still dare to act wildly? How can you have such nerve? What does your family elder do?"

"My father is a constable at the yamen..." Zhao Jin answered with a smile. He was cut off mid-sentence as the gatekeeper's hand swung toward Zhao Jin's face, cursing angrily, "A little black dog pup dares to be so insolent? The family on the right also claimed to have someone in the yamen, and they were still taught a lesson. What are you supposed to be? Get lost..."

The gatekeeper's words were also cut off mid-sentence. Zhao Jin shifted his body to the side, dodging the slap, and slammed a heavy punch right into the gatekeeper's chest. The blow struck so hard that the gatekeeper's mouth gaped open, unable to even draw breath.

Zhao Jin smiled, grabbed the gatekeeper by the hair with one hand, and dragged the man inside through the gate. Once inside, he took advantage of the momentum and flung him into the courtyard; the gatekeeper went tumbling away.