Chapter 238: The Enforcer Takes the Stage (3000)

Chapter 238: The Enforcer Takes the Stage (3000)

"Before we begin, because many young readers don't read the author's notes, I will make up for the word count—some of you have questioned why Qiao Baoyuan suddenly likes Xianjin? In fact, in previous chapters, Qiao Baoyuan has always been in a state between friendship and admiration towards Xianjin. Two years of living on the edge have magnified the good and bright aspects of the past, and these two young girls have almost become his spiritual pillars to keep going. Baoyuan's experiences and mental journey will be gradually revealed in subsequent chapters, so please be patient."

Spreading rumors about someone's sexual life is a common practice in later times.

If this woman has a bit of a temper, then spread a rumor to mess with her;

If this woman looks a bit innocent, then spread a rumor to play with her;

If this woman is close to me, spread a rumor;

If this woman isn't close to me, spread a rumor;

If this woman is so rich, she must have slept her way to the top, so a rumor must be spread;

...

Due to innate physiological and psychological reasons and certain cultural factors that have been passed down for thousands of years, spreading such rumors has become the most convenient, simplest, and fastest means to attack women. In later times, as women became more aware, those who maliciously spread such rumors could be held accountable through legal action.

But what about now?

In this feudal era, where there are no sanitary pads and women can only use reusable menstrual cloths during their periods, what can she do if such rumors are spread about her?

Xianjin was thinking, more puzzled than angry.

Anger cannot solve problems, nor can it achieve an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth; it would only lead to more breast lumps and serve no purpose.

During the few days Xianjin spent thinking, the excerpt from the play and the storybook based on it were widely circulated. Xianjin asked Suo'er to buy a copy from outside to read together.

After reading it, Suo'er cried.

The excerpt performed in the play was still relatively clean.

But the storybook was much more explicit, not only mentioning that the female protagonist was born to a concubine and rose to become the head of the household through less-than-honorable means, but also detailing her inappropriate relationship with a short and fat local official. She used this relationship to wield power and influence in the area, and in the end, was discovered by an incognito imperial envoy, who sent both of them to the execution ground. The book did not specify the official's rank, the female protagonist's name, or the location of the story, but anyone could tell who it was referring to.

The language in the storybook was subtle yet arrogant, standing on the side of dark malice, with every word and sentence filled with wild imagination. It even provided detailed descriptions of some disgusting and lewd scenes.

It was unbearable to read.

It resembled a bizarre and vulgar erotic story, and the excerpt Xianjin heard at the teahouse was derived from this storybook.

Oh, there's even a film adaptation!

Xianjin closed the book and threw it heavily onto the table.

Suo'er clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, ready to charge out like a black, muscular missile to kill the rumor-mongers.

Xianjin grabbed Suo'er by the back of the neck and pulled her back, "Who are you going to find?"

"The Bai family!" Suo'er's dark face turned red, "I'll go with Dog Brother! I'll cut off his hands, Dog Brother will cut off his feet! We'll tear him apart!"

Xianjin shook her head, "Do you have evidence that the Bai family wrote it?"

Suo'er was stunned.

Xianjin's expression remained calm, "Since you don't have evidence, on what grounds are you going to kill the Bai family?" Xianjin smiled, "Even if you had evidence that it was the Bai family, if you went to their door,"

Her gaze swept over the book on the table, her expression indifferent, "people would think you are guilty—if you weren't guilty, why would you take it personally?"

Suo'er wiped away her tears, "If this happened in a village, and it was someone else, everyone would point and gossip. If the girl didn't commit suicide, her family would throw her into the river! The person who wrote this book has a heart of stone! So cruel! He's forcing people to die!"

Just as Xianjin was about to say something, someone from the front courtyard came to inform her that Prefectural Magistrate Xiong had summoned her. The officials had arrived, causing a commotion in the house. Lady Qu, hearing the commotion, urgently sent someone to ask what was happening, and for a moment, Yiyuan was bustling with activity.

Xianjin's tone grew serious, cutting through the chaos, "Suo'er, come with me to the prefecture. Mama Zhang, tell the old lady it's nothing serious, and not to worry about me."

Mama Zhang hesitated: She's not worried about you... she might be worried about what trouble the officials might bring...

Xianjin walked quickly, intending to enter the prefecture through a side gate quietly, without anyone knowing. However, the attendant who came to invite her opened the main gate and bowed, inviting her to enter openly.

Xianjin smiled; this old bear, who seemed smooth and always sought harmony, actually had quite a temper. Now he was determined to show those who spread vicious rumors that innocence and purity could stand tall and proud.

Xianjin lifted her skirt and walked into the prefecture office with her head held high.

As soon as she entered the hall, she heard Prefectural Magistrate Xiong speaking to someone. Two people were seated to his left. When he saw Xianjin, he put down his teacup and nodded slightly, greeting her. Then he shifted his gaze to the two men and introduced them calmly, "...You all know each other, right? Mr. He from Chen's—Mr. Zhen from Longchuan Creek dock and his son Sanlang."

Mr. Zhen hurriedly bowed, "Of course, of course! I've known Mr. He for a long time!"

He slapped his son's back, "My son and Mr. He are close friends!"

Zhen Sanlang trembled at the slap.

Xianjin: ? What's going on here?

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong didn't give Xianjin a chance to ask, smiling, "You've taken on such a big job from Yingtian Prefecture, and our Xuancheng should naturally cooperate fully. I remember you only have three strong men who are truly useful? One is called Dog... Ergou? And the other two are brothers?"

"Zhou Ergou and the Zheng brothers?" Xianjin, confused, completed the sentence, "There are also about ten new ones, but they're quite young."

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong nodded, "Newcomers need to be trained before they can be useful, but three is too few—Mr. Zhen has sixty to seventy loyal and strong men at the dock. If you need any, just ask him, and he will help you."

Xianjin still didn't understand.

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong smiled warmly, turning to the Zhen family father and son, but pointing casually at Xianjin, "This girl is good in every way, but she is too pure and kind. Her father protected her before, and later, Scholar Qiao protected her, making her as white as rice paper."

Mr. Zhen hurriedly bowed and smiled, "That's Mr. He's good fortune!"

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong put down his teacup, and an attendant immediately dragged out a middle-aged scholar dressed in a shabby robe, looking dejected.

The man trembled with fear, and as soon as he was pulled out, he fell to his knees, crying and kowtowing, "I was wrong, I was wrong! I shouldn't have written that storybook! I was greatly wrong! Please, Your Excellency, be merciful! Spare me!"

All those without official titles, regardless of age, are students before the officials.

This scholar must be sixty, right?

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong's expression remained unchanged, "Writing is something every scholar does. The fear is that what one writes isn't what one truly wants, and it ends up being a favor for others."

The scholar wept bitterly, "Yes, yes, you are absolutely right! The Bai family... the Bai family... has given far too much!"

Magistrate Xiong cheerfully interrupted the scholar's words, his face kind, "You're not left-handed, are you?"

The scholar hurriedly shook his head, "Your Excellency, I write with my right hand properly!"

Magistrate Xiong nodded in understanding, waved his hand, and the attendant led the scholar away.

The scholar cried and confessed as he struggled out of the Prefecture, vaguely realizing what Magistrate Xiong intended to do.

Then, Magistrate Xiong said earnestly, "Zhenfu, as an elder, you should guide and teach the young ones in Xuancheng Prefecture. You will have to pass on your baton eventually; don't keep anything back, understand?"

Master Zhen bowed deeply and nodded repeatedly.

The Zhen family, father and son, stormed out of the Prefecture with Xianjin. Zhenfu sneered, exuding a manner forged from the rough-and-tumble life at the docks, "Where is he?"

Several burly men emerged from a side alley and gruffly replied, "He was thrown out the back door! We picked him up!"

"Cover him with a burlap sack and take him to the teahouse in the west of the city," Zhenfu turned, his face beaming with a warm smile, "Mr. He, would you like to come along?"

Xianjin: ? Can I not go? It feels like it’s going to be... bloody...

Indeed, it was very bloody.

The scholar in a long robe trembled on his knees, blindfolded, drooling in fear.

The door to the private room was tightly shut, and no one inside spoke a word.

With a glance from Zhenfu, the dock brothers swarmed forward, two holding the scholar's back, two pinning his arms, another grabbing his right hand, and one wielding a large iron pliers.

They peeled off each fingernail on the scholar's right hand, one by one.

The scholar's screams echoed throughout the building.

The dock brother who had been doing the 'manicure' casually removed his belt, rolled it up, and stuffed it into the scholar's mouth.

The scholar fell silent.

Soon, Xianjin saw a pool of yellow, foul-smelling liquid spread beneath the scholar.

Zhenfu frowned in disgust, waved his hand, and his subordinates dragged the scholar, who had fainted from pain and incontinence, into an inner room.

Zhenfu stood up, personally poured a cup of tea for Xianjin, and presented it to her, "...My point is, little girl, don't make it too bloody..."

He placed it right in front of Xianjin, smiling, "But Lord Xiong has his own considerations. He says your path will only broaden from here, and this is nothing. Your hands shouldn't get dirty, but your eyes must see, and your heart must know, so you can handle things better in the future."

Xianjin took a sip of tea.

To be honest, she wasn't really uncomfortable.

In her previous life, she had undergone many surgeries, not knowing how many incisions had been made on her body. Blood, flesh, and bones... were not enough to cause her physical or psychological discomfort.

Moreover, in this time and place, since there were no laws to restrain the scholar's actions, it all came down to whose blade was faster.

A scholar's pen could sometimes turn into a flower of praise, and sometimes into a weapon of death.

If it were any other girl, the scholar might have incurred a blood debt.

The tea left a sweet aftertaste in Xianjin's mouth.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhen and Third Brother," Xianjin smiled, "Tonight, there's another matter that will require both of you and the dock brothers."

Zhenfu laughed: This girl is truly "innocent"!

...

A dark and stormy night.

In a narrow alley of Xuancheng, Bai Dalang stumbled out of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, drunk, and climbed onto a mule cart.

The alley was crowded.

On the opposite side, another mule cart began to move.

Xianjin sat calmly in the cart, her voice steady, "Crash into him."