Chapter 7: Xue An, the Third Steward of the Xue Family

"Yuanjing, I’m truly sorry…”

“Back when Uncle Li and Aunt Li were around, your family helped us so much, but my mother…”

The visitor was a man of twenty-seven or twenty-eight, tall and broad-shouldered, yet the empty sleeve hanging at his side robbed him of half his former presence. In this bitter cold, he wore only a thin, ill-fitting shirt, which made him seem even more diminished in spirit.

He appeared weighed down, awkward, and timid.

It was none other than Zhang Kun, the eldest son of Aunt Zhang, who had previously come to collect a debt from Yuniang.

In Li Yuanjing’s memory, Zhang Kun had spent the past several years serving alongside his father in the army in Liaodong, full of youthful vigor.

But everything changed earlier this year when his father died in a major battle and he himself lost an arm to the Tartars…

“Brother Zhang, it’s all right. I know what your family has been through. Please don’t worry.”

Li Yuanjing sensed that Zhang Kun’s visit was not solely to apologize for his mother. He smiled, patted Zhang Kun’s shoulder, hoping to put him at ease.

Clearly feeling Li Yuanjing’s goodwill, Zhang Kun relaxed a little, though still visibly troubled, words caught in his throat.

Li Yuanjing, though surprised, showed nothing on his face. He smiled and said, “Brother Zhang, we’re like brothers. If there’s something you want to say, just say it. If there’s any way I can help, I will.”

These words finally allowed Zhang Kun to breathe easier. He looked up at Li Yuanjing and spoke softly, “Yuanjing, I didn’t come for my family’s troubles this time. It’s… it’s about you…”

“There was a funeral in town today. While I was helping out, I happened to see the Xue family’s third steward, Xue An, talking to Wang Cuihua and Hou Wu from our village. It seems the great philanthropist Xue has set his eyes on Yuniang, and they’re plotting against you…”

As soon as he finished, Zhang Kun hurried away like a thief.

Li Yuanjing leaned against the mud wall, brow deeply furrowed.

No wonder Zhang Kun had chosen such a discreet moment—so it was about him!

He had thought that after his last lesson, Wang Cuihua would have restrained herself for a few days, yet she’d only escalated her schemes.

That third steward, Xue An, was in charge of the Xue family’s moneylending operations. Over the years, this scoundrel had driven countless people to their deaths in the neighboring villages; the local folk had long wished to tear him apart.

Li Yuanjing pondered in silence for a long while before finally heading home.

That night, he and Yuniang went fishing by the river again.

Their haul was once more considerable. Though there was no giant catfish like before, they caught nearly twenty sizable fish, each about a foot long, and fifty or sixty smaller ones.

Yuniang’s face was bright with excitement, but Li Yuanjing was already considering a strategic shift—preparing to craft weapons and traps to hunt game.

After all, the river’s resources were too limited, hard to convert into cash and difficult to store, whereas the vast mountains held far deeper potential.

…

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

“Open up! If you’re still alive, get out here and open this door, now!”

Early the next morning.

Li Yuanjing and Yuniang, exhausted from fishing the night before, had not yet risen when a furious pounding sounded from outside.

“Brother…” Yuniang was terrified and tried to get up.

Li Yuanjing stopped her and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. You stay inside while I go see what’s happening. If the sky falls, your brother will hold it up for you.”

Yuniang was slightly reassured, but before she could say more, Li Yuanjing had already dressed quickly, tucked the hatchet behind his back, and stepped outside.

“Well, well,”

“Scholar Li, you’re living the good life, aren’t you?”

“It’s a fine day—shouldn’t you be out chopping wood to make money to pay back our master’s silver? Hmm?”

Li Yuanjing reached the gate. Outside, six or seven men were waiting. The leader wore a steward’s uniform—his long, oily face unmistakably that of the Xue family’s third steward, Xue An.

Without a word, Li Yuanjing slowly opened the gate. Xue An and his men began to enter the courtyard, but Li Yuanjing blocked the way and said,

“Steward Xue, if you have business, speak it here. My wife hasn’t risen yet; it’s not convenient for you to enter.”

There were still many fish in the yard to be dealt with, and he couldn’t let them discover this secret.

“Damn you, Li! You mangy pauper, who do you think you are, talking to Third Master like that?!”

Before Xue An could reply, the village ruffian Hou Wu, standing nearby, spat out a curse.

“Third Master, why waste time with this beggar? Let me give him a beating—he’ll soon learn to behave!”

Hou Wu made as if to rush forward.

Not far away, Wang Cuihua watched from behind a large tree, delighted.

Hmph! Did that penniless Li really think he could oppose her? She’d see him ruined!

But in the next instant, Wang Cuihua froze, eyes wide with disbelief.

Before Hou Wu could take two steps, Li Yuanjing, without a word, drew his hatchet with swift decisiveness and swung it straight at Hou Wu’s face.

“Ahhh…”

Hou Wu was so frightened he nearly wet his pants. He had never imagined that Li Yuanjing would draw a blade without hesitation.

He tripped over his own feet and fell flat on his face, cold sweat pouring from him.

“Scholar Li, what are you doing?”

“We’re just here to talk—why draw a knife? If you don’t want us in, fine. Put that down now.”

Seeing Li Yuanjing poised to strike again, Xue An was terrified and shouted from the side.

“Get out!” Li Yuanjing barked at Hou Wu, ignoring Xue An.

Hou Wu finally came to his senses, grinding his teeth in humiliation. Who would have thought he’d suffer such a setback at the hands of that penniless scholar?

He wanted to rush up and fight back, but caught the cold warning in Xue An’s eyes and had to back down, gnashing his teeth.

Only then did Li Yuanjing put away the hatchet and say,

“Third Master, what brings you here so early?”

Xue An’s eyelids twitched before he forced a smile.

“Scholar Li, you’re a reasonable man. I’ve come, of course, to collect my master’s silver. So, have you prepared the money?”

Li Yuanjing frowned. “Third Master, as I recall, the IOU from my parents’ funeral states in black and white that the debt is due on the fifth of next month. Today is only the twenty-fifth—there are still ten days left. Isn’t it against the rules to demand payment now?”

“Rules?” Xue An sneered.

“Scholar Li, it’s true the note says the fifth of next month. But my master worries that you’re a weak scholar—if you can’t pay when the time comes, what then? So he sent me to check in advance.”

Though Xue An spoke righteously, Li Yuanjing knew exactly what he meant.

These bastards were here for Yuniang!

Li Yuanjing replied coldly, “Steward Xue, there’s no need for such talk. Since there’s a written note, if I, Li Yuanjing, have to sell my house and land, I’ll still pay what I owe. You needn’t worry yourself over it.”

“Li Yuanjing!” Hou Wu seized the opportunity to shout,

“You mangy pauper, don’t push your luck!”

“Sell your house and land? The whole place isn’t worth two taels of silver! Take my advice—be smart and sell your little wife to our great philanthropist Xue. Otherwise, you’ll regret it!”

At the door, Yuniang, worried for Li Yuanjing, was about to step out to help, but when she heard their threats and realized they were here for her, she shrank back like a frightened quail, terrified that Li Yuanjing might abandon her with a single word.