Chapter 49: Do Good People Always Receive Good Fortune?

The woman’s heart-wrenching screams swiftly drew a crowd of onlookers.

There, at the center of it all, was a woman in her early thirties. She wore nothing but a thin, tattered garment, her delicate features marred by despair. She clung desperately to a man whose face was flushed with drink and malice, sobbing uncontrollably. Beside her, a girl of fourteen or fifteen, her beauty still untouched by suffering, wailed with a grief that tore at the soul.

The man, either lost in a drunken stupor or simply devoid of humanity, raised his hand and struck the woman across the face with brutal force. “You filthy whore, get out of my sight!” he bellowed. “If you keep screaming, I’ll beat you to death right here!”

The blow sent the woman sprawling to the ground. Her once-fair cheek swelled rapidly, the imprint of his fingers clearly visible. That single slap seemed to shatter the last vestiges of hope within her. Her tears ceased, her gaze grew vacant, and she stared up at the sky, lifeless and numb.

“Wang Youfa!” a voice roared. “You damned cur, what the hell are you doing? Are you trying to kill someone?”

Master Ma, with years of grassroots experience behind him, immediately recognized the gravity of the scene. His temples throbbed with rage. He turned to Li Yuanjing and, after a quick word, moved to intervene.

Li Yuanjing, witnessing this indescribable tableau, could only sigh deeply, at a loss for words. The heavens care not for man, treating all creation as mere straw dogs.

But as he saw Master Ma’s barely contained fury, a sudden thought struck Li Yuanjing. He hurried forward to intercept him. “Master Ma, it’s just a minor affair. Is it really worth upsetting yourself over? Allow me to handle this.”

He patted Master Ma’s shoulder reassuringly and strode toward Wang Youfa and his family.

Master Ma was about to protest but then paused, a realization dawning. Most likely, Li Yuanjing had taken a liking to the young woman...

Since Li Yuanjing had spoken, he could hardly refuse him this face. He stood aside, ready to step in should anything go awry.

“Enough of this racket!” Li Yuanjing’s voice was cold as ice as he fixed Wang Youfa with a piercing stare. “Do you plan to sell your wife and daughter? How much are you asking?”

For those truly driven to desperation, forced to sell their children to survive, Li Yuanjing felt genuine sympathy. But for a man like Wang Youfa—dressed in a thick cotton coat, reeking of wine, while his wife and daughter shivered in rags—he felt nothing but contempt.

“Who are you?” Wang Youfa straightened, suddenly alert, as if seeing a fat sheep stumble into his snare. “You want to buy my wife and daughter?”

Before Li Yuanjing could reply, Zhang Kun stepped forward, his hatchet at his belt and a club in hand, flanked by a dozen burly men. “Who do you think you’re talking to, Wang Youfa? Are you blind? This is my master, Scholar Li! Looking to die, are you?”

Nearby constables shouted at Wang Youfa, then immediately turned obsequious toward Li Yuanjing.

Li Yuanjing watched this play out, unsure how to feel. It was as if his life from another time had returned…

He had no desire to waste more time on this minor affair. “If you want to sell, do it quickly. If not, get lost! I guarantee I’ll pay more than they will.” He nodded toward the slave traders gathered not far away.

The slave traders had, of course, noticed the commotion. But seeing the dozen fierce men at Li Yuanjing’s side—and the constables currying favor—they had no intention of crossing an obvious local power for the sake of two women treated as livestock.

“How much will you give me?” Wang Youfa, cowed by Li Yuanjing’s cold resolve, dared not show insolence. He had no trouble bullying his wife and daughter, but he knew better than to cross a man of obvious means and influence.

Li Yuanjing, seeing his submission, grew colder still. “Those traders over there would give you two and a half taels of silver for your wife and daughter. I’ll give you three. Think it over.”

“Three taels?” Wang Youfa’s eyes lit up. “Master Li, there’s no need to think! I’ll sell! Three taels and they’re yours…”

Though Li Yuanjing had anticipated this outcome, hearing it spoken aloud still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Yet what else could he say?

He quickly composed himself and beckoned to a nearby constable. “Prepare the contract, and have him sign it.”

“At once, Master Li.” The constable hurried off to make arrangements.

Soon, the documentation for the sale was complete. Both parties signed and pressed their fingerprints, and Li Yuanjing paid the silver. The wretched mother and daughter became his property.

He then distributed a few hundred copper coins among the constables, and all was settled.

Wang Youfa, clutching his silver, went straight to the tavern to drink, while Li Yuanjing and Master Ma entered the office. Liu Gang felt his scalp prickle with unease, but quickly forced himself calm...

...

“Ha.” Li Yuanjing smiled as he passed the contract for the daughter, Wang Baiyu, to Master Ma. “Master Ma, I’m giving this girl to you. A man of your standing shouldn’t be without a maid to warm your feet.”

Master Ma started in surprise, finally understanding Li Yuanjing’s intentions—he was trying to win his favor.

He couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “Brother, I appreciate the gesture, but you must not know—my wife at home is quite the shrew…”

Li Yuanjing was taken aback for a moment, then laughed wryly. Who would have thought that after a lifetime of clever dealings, he’d end up offering a gift to the wrong man?

But he quickly recovered. “No matter, Master Ma. We’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Master Ma was shrewd and immediately caught the deeper meaning—Li Yuanjing was saying that once he had more power, securing a concubine for him would be no trouble at all.

Delighted, Master Ma clasped Li Yuanjing’s hand, and the two shared a cup of tea.

During this time, Li Yuanjing gleaned much information about Yicheng County, especially about Lucun Town and Huangniwa, and began to form a plan.

Seeing that the time was right, Li Yuanjing broached the subject that had brought him here. Master Ma burst into hearty laughter. In the past few days, he had already squeezed nearly ten taels of silver from Wang Cuihua and Liu Gang—he was more than satisfied.

“Brother, it’s no trouble at all. Wait here, I’ll have them released right away.” With a shout, he summoned a constable and ordered him to free the prisoners.

Moments later, Wang Cuihua, who had clearly lost a great deal of weight, was released. She clung to Liu Gang, sobbing uncontrollably.

Master Ma gave Li Yuanjing a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said quietly, “Brother, I’ll need you to keep an eye on them. If they cause any trouble, let me know in advance.”

Li Yuanjing sighed inwardly, well aware of Master Ma’s intent, but outwardly he smiled and replied, “Rest assured, I’ll handle it.”

After finishing his business with Master Ma, Li Yuanjing turned to gather the still-weeping Wang Cuihua and Liu Gang for the journey back to Quanzi Village.

Just then, Zhang Kun hurried over and spoke quietly: “Master, I’ve looked into that mother and daughter’s background. Wang Baiyu was betrothed to a family in Tieniu Town, but just a few days ago, they found out about Wang Youfa’s character and broke off the engagement. Her mother, Wang Liushi, is from Huangniwa in Lucun Town, Yicheng County. Her father and brothers are all dead. For years, she’s survived by spinning thread at home...”

Li Yuanjing hadn’t thought much of it before, but upon hearing that Wang Liushi hailed from the neighboring Huangniwa, he was suddenly startled.

Could this be the legendary reward for a good deed?