Chapter 21: Doing Business

Chapter 21: Doing Business

Feng Shaoping had traveled all the way from the county town to Zhaojia Village, not only to instruct Hu Sheng to avoid the city for the time being but also to conduct some business with Zhao An.

However, he kept this latter purpose private, not wishing to discuss it in front of the assembled villagers. Instead, after riding up to Zhao An, he cupped his hands and asked, "Has something happened, Young Master Zhao? Is there anything Feng can do to assist?"

Zhao An grinned, pointing at Zhao Fuxiang who lay on the ground. "Young Master Feng, your timing is impeccable. This fellow climbed over my wall, intending to steal, but my dog bit him. Now he's lying here, trying to extort money from me. I was just about to report him to the authorities."

Feng Shaoping, having a favor to ask of Zhao An, immediately adopted a stern expression and addressed the surrounding villagers, "Who is the village chief here? With such a scoundrel, why hasn't he been handed over to the officials yet?"

The village chief of Zhaojia Village, an elder clansman of Zhao An's and a *xiucai* (county-level scholar), emerged from the crowd. However, the Zhao family was small, and the Liu family constituted the vast majority of the village. The Liu family, when faced with issues, never approached the village chief but instead sought out their own clan leader, Liu Huan. Consequently, the Zhaojia Village chief held very little authority.

Despite his weak position, he still leaned towards Zhao Tongming' and spoke hesitantly, "It's merely a young, foolish member of the family. He didn't manage to steal anything and even got injured. Young Master Feng, please show mercy and let him off this time."

His support for Zhao Tongming wasn't due to any tangible benefits, but rather a rigid adherence to Confucian principles of protecting one's kin, making him unwilling to see a junior member of the Zhao family face legal proceedings. Furthermore, he didn't want any criminals among his clansmen. Seeing Feng Shaoping's unyielding expression, he bowed again in earnest supplication, then turned to Zhao An. "Zhao An, how about I enforce the clan rules and give Zhao Fuxiang a thorough beating as an apology? Would that suffice?"

To be fair, he wasn't entirely devoid of a sense of justice, but he preferred to handle matters through private punishment rather than involving the yamen (magistrate's office).

Zhao An's objective was to expel Zhao Tongming's entire family, so he was naturally reluctant. However, Feng Shaoping had urgent business with Zhao An. Hearing that the clan intended to resolve the matter internally, he waved dismissively and said, "Alright, but make sure he gets a severe beating."

The moment he spoke, he felt a sharp gaze upon him. Turning, he met Hu Sheng's displeased expression and immediately realized his misstep. Just as he was about to try and amend his words, Hu Sheng interjected, "I don't trust your clan to handle this yourselves. What if you go easy on him and let him off lightly? I will administer the punishment on Zhao An's behalf."

"No!" Zhao Fuxiang was the first to object. Although he hadn't personally witnessed Hu Sheng subduing the wolf with just a few punches, the two hunters perched on the wall had vividly recounted the events in the courtyard to those outside. Zhao Fuxiang, lying on the ground, had heard every word clearly.

Having personally experienced the wolf's ferocity and having been beaten by Hu Sheng before, Zhao Fuxiang knew full well that he wouldn't survive more than a few blows.

Terrified at the prospect of being beaten by Hu Sheng, he screamed, struggling to push himself backward with his hands while shaking his head. "I don't want you to hit me! I'd rather go to jail!"

Even if he were sent to the yamen, his father could pull some strings, and he might even live comfortably in prison. But if Hu Sheng were to beat him, even a single punch could cost him his life. This thought sparked a glint in his eyes, and he immediately cried out, "I'm willing to go to jail! Stay away from me!"

Given this, Zhao An temporarily set aside his plan to drive out Zhao Tongming's family and waved to Liu Huan. "Send two men to escort him to the county."

Liu Huan truly wished to avoid this entanglement, but under Feng Shaoping's gaze, he could only wipe his brow and nod. "Rest assured, Young Master Feng and Young Master Zhao. I will personally handle this matter."

With that, he gestured to his second and youngest sons, instructing them to lift Zhao Fuxiang from the ground and carry him away.

Zhao Tongming and his other two sons attempted to intervene, but with Hu Sheng standing before them, they dared not make a move.

After Zhao Fuxiang was carried off, Feng Shaoping waved to the onlookers. "The matter is settled. Everyone, return to your homes. There's no need to linger and watch."

The villagers dared not defy the county magistrate's son; even the usual village ruffians obediently dispersed.

Zhao An actually wanted Zhao Tongming's family to compensate him for the damaged door, but Feng Shaoping clearly had something important to discuss. He could only temporarily put the matter aside and lead Feng Shaoping inside.

Upon entering, Feng Shaoping's gaze immediately fell upon the wolf tied to the veranda pillar. He then recalled Zhao An's comment about his "dog" biting the thief and thought to himself that someone favored by Hu Sheng was indeed extraordinary—keeping a wolf at home yet insisting it was a dog.

Of course, the highly skilled Feng Shaoping was not afraid of the wolf. Instead, he approached it with interest and flicked its nose. After provoking the large wolf, he used his *Qinggong* (lightness skill) to leap several yards away. Seeing the wolf restrained by the rope and unable to reach him, he laughed heartily.

"Alright, out with it. What's the matter?" Hu Sheng displayed a hint of impatience, a stark contrast to the concern he had shown when Zhao An had nearly been bitten while petting the wolf.

Unaware of the differential treatment, Feng Shaoping straightened his expression upon seeing Hu Sheng's annoyance and said, "A procurement eunuch from the Imperial Household Department has arrived from the capital. He specifically requested to buy the strawberries sold at Ruyi Restaurant."

"How did you manage to transport strawberries to the capital?" Zhao An was puzzled. Even in the pre-spiritual revival era, when resources were abundant, transporting strawberries across provinces was no easy feat; it required meticulous packaging and air transport.

Feng Shaoping shook his head wryly. "My father is merely a minor county magistrate. How could he possibly have connections to the Imperial Household Department? He was ecstatic when he learned of this. It seems a talented scholar from Shu Province once visited Ruyi Restaurant, tried the strawberries, and loved them so much that he wrote several essays and poems praising them. Later, when he went to the capital for the imperial examinations, these writings somehow reached the palace. That's why the emperor specifically dispatched a procurement eunuch to purchase them."

From Feng Shaoping's tone, it seemed this matter had no connection to Zhao Qingcheng, which somewhat relieved Zhao An.

Zhao An led Feng Shaoping to his strawberry patch, pointing at the wilting vines. "Look, these strawberries are almost out of season. Besides, strawberries are highly perishable. If we pick them and transport them to the capital, they're sure to spoil."

"Do you have any other strawberry plants? We absolutely cannot let the Imperial Household Department leave empty-handed this time," Feng Shaoping's tone was stiff. He feared Zhao An might be unwilling to part with the strawberry plants over a small profit. As the manager of Ruyi Restaurant's accounts, he knew exactly how many strawberries Zhao An had sold them and was certain he couldn't have only this small patch of plants.

Sure enough, Zhao An replied, "However, I had the villagers plant strawberry seedlings in their communal ancestral fields some time ago. They are just now beginning to bear fruit. How about letting the villagers sell some to the Imperial Household Department? By the time they reach the capital, the strawberries should be perfectly ripe for consumption."

Feng Shaoping was satisfied, and so was Zhao An. After this, when the village's strawberries were transported to the prefectural or provincial capital for sale, they could be marketed as "imperial tribute," ensuring even better business.

His plan to help the entire village prosper would also advance significantly. Once the entire village benefited from his efforts, he believed that if anyone like Zhao Tongming's family opposed him again, the other villagers would not stand idly by as they had today but would instead rally behind him.

Zhao An believed that with sufficient incentives, even illiterate villagers would know which side to choose. He didn't trust human nature, but he did believe that enough self-interest could unite everyone.