Chapter 15: Reeking of Copper

  Deng Quansheng coughed heavily, and the conversation in the room came to a halt. He then slowly lifted the door curtain and walked in, bowing his head to pay respects to Zhong Shizhong: "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Honor."

  Zhong Shi Rong looked at him with a glance, the anger on his face gradually subsiding, nodding: "You've come just in time, take my place and teach this unfilial son a lesson!"

  Deng Quansheng chuckled and glanced at Zhong Wenbo standing beside him, smiling: "I've also heard about this matter. Wenbo, your father was right, it's just a test of poetry skills, don't take it too seriously. Just because you lost this round doesn't mean you can't win the next one. Now, if you show some magnanimity, that would be more fitting for someone known as the number one scholar of Yizhou."

  Zhong Wenbo looked up at him, just about to speak, but saw that he was winking non-stop. He knew Deng Quansheng very well and understood that this was his way of saving face for his father, not what he truly meant. So he just nodded in agreement without refuting him.

  Zhong Shiren heard his son listened to Deng Quansheng's advice, and his anger dissipated a little. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, we're talking, you go out!"

  Zhong Wenbo turned around and left. Deng Quansheng looked at Zhong Shihong for a moment, then said: "I'll go persuade him again." He chased after Zhong Wenbo and whispered to him: "Don't worry, I will definitely help you regain your dignity!"

  Zhong Wenbo stopped and turned around, looking at him with some confusion.

  Deng Quansheng smiled with a few points of complacency and said, "Just wait and see the excitement, I will definitely make that surname Xiao look good. Don't worry!"

  "You're not going to find someone to beat him up, are you?"

  "We are civilized people, how can we do such a vulgar thing! It was he who bumped into my palm himself. I'll tell you the details later."

  "Ah! Thank you, County Magistrate."

  "No need to thank me, we're family and shouldn't speak of two different households!" Deng Quansheng patted his shoulder and said with a scowl: "Bullying you is like bullying me! Even if you can swallow this tone, I won't be able to!"

  Zhong Wenbo nodded and walked away with a sullen expression.

  Deng Quansheng returned to the study and saw that Zhong Shirong was still frowning, so he smiled and said: "Children, after all, have not experienced much, they will understand slowly."

  Zhong Shiren sighed and said, "I'm annoyed that he can't even withstand a small setback. What will happen in the future? I still hope he can enter officialdom, but with his temperament, how can he interact with others and read people's faces on the path to officialdom? Alas! He really disappoints me!"

  "Slowly persuading, it will be okay. Actually, I understand this matter clearly, and can't blame Wenbo for being so angry. That scholar surnamed Xiao was too arrogant, actually setting up a banner in front of the Cuiyu Building saying 'Five carts of poetic courage, eight dou of literary talent', and boasting that he could compose poetry in seven steps, today wanting to trample all the scholars of Yizhou under his feet. Wenbo saw him being so presumptuous and was furious beyond measure, which is why he came out. Who knows where he copied those crooked poems from? Originally they weren't even better than Wenbo's, but Wenbo let him win, and he took advantage of the situation to climb up the pole, actually saying that Wenbo lost and wanting to force Wenbo to crawl through a dark ditch! If it wasn't for the scholars present shouting in protest, he would have really forced Wenbo to crawl through a dark ditch! You say this Xiao fellow is overbearing or not? No wonder Wenbo got angry."

  Zhong Shi Rong did not know the truth at that time, so he also did not know that Deng Quan Sheng was completely reversing black and white. He listened and couldn't help but slowly furrow his brow, hummed, and said: "What's the background of this surname Xiao? So arrogant?"

  "I heard that he is a distant nephew of a vegetable farmer in the city named Xiao Lao Han. What good people can there be among merchants! They are all thieving, deceitful and treacherous!"

  "Hmm..."

  "Don't worry, we can't let someone like this make a scene in Yizhou. I'll take care of it."

  " No! Zhong Wenbo lost the poetry duel to him, this is something many people know, the whole city is talking about it. If you deal with him, no matter what reason, others will immediately know it's us who did it, that wouldn't be good. He's just a poor scholar, sharpening his poetry skills, being arrogant and speaking loudly, don't take it too seriously. Scholars are like this, those with some talent are often proud, aren't they? Just bear with it, don't make a fuss, or people will gossip about me."

  Deng Quansheng said with a smile: "What Master Fa said is right. I am ashamed of my limited vision."

  Zhong Shi Rong said slowly: "The case of Zhao's family that I told you last time will be returned for retrial soon, and you must handle it well."

  "Don't worry, I'll definitely get it done flawlessly!"

  "That's good! --- Ah, you were right just now. Those merchants are indeed uninteresting, with their cunning and deceitful ways. But the large amount of silver in their hands is still interesting. If it weren't for this aspect, I wouldn't even bother to deal with these rotten affairs."

  "Ah, yes! This kid is full of nonsense, so vulgar, only knows how to cause trouble for the law clerks. If it weren't for his two coins, who would bother with him!"

  After chatting for a while, Deng Quansheng stood up and bid farewell, leaving the Zhong family and returning to his own mansion.

  After changing into casual clothes and having dinner, Deng Quansheng was joking with his newly acquired concubine when a servant came to report that there were visitors calling on him, presenting their visiting cards.

  Deng Quansheng opened it to find that it was a visiting card from his old subordinate, Du Daliang, the prison clerk. This old fellow had come to visit before, but he never sent any visiting cards. What's going on today? Is there something else?

  Deng Quansheng ordered the flower house to be invited, and after joking with his concubine for a few sentences, he stepped out and arrived at the guest flower house.

  He walked into the house and saw Du Da hidden with a young scholar on two sitting couches, with two brocade boxes of different sizes on the table. When they saw him coming in, both stood up to pay their respects.

  Deng Quansheng knew that the two brocade boxes were definitely gifts, as too many people had come to his house bearing gifts. He was already numb to it and thought this was another case of someone trying to curry favor with him through connections. With a smile, he said to Du Daren: "Du Lao Tou, how are you? It seems that after leaving the yamen, you're living an even more comfortable life than before!"

  "Ah, yes, it's all thanks to County Magistrate Deng's good fortune." Seeing Deng Quansheng sitting comfortably on the couch with his arms resting on the armrests, he smiled and said: "It's been a long time since I've seen you, County Magistrate. Today, I brought a young brother to visit you, and I'm afraid we're being too presumptuous. This young brother is named Xiao Jiading, from Jiulü County. He has long admired your great name, so he followed me here to pay his respects to Your Honor."

  Xiao Jiading

  Deng Quansheng's originally smiling, slit-like eyes suddenly opened wide and became two small green beans. He looked up and down at Xiao Jiading and said: "Yesterday I heard that a scholar from outside the region who made friends with poetry in front of the Emerald Jade Building was also named Xiao Jiading, could it be you?"

  Xiao Jiading hastily cupped his hands and said: "It's indeed me, I was reckless and made a fool of myself in front of the county magistrate."

  "It's really you, it's great!" Deng Quansheng exclaimed, clapping his hands. He was truly delighted, and it was indeed a case of "treading on iron shoes without searching for a place", where everything came easily! "After hearing about this matter, I have been thinking about what kind of elegant and refined scholar this is. Today, seeing you in person, you are indeed extraordinary in demeanor and overflowing with talent!"

  "The county lieutenant was overly generous."

  "It's not flattery, your poem has been read by officials too - 'Unaware of the new song last night, still echoing in someone's painted beam.' And 'As long as the host can get the guest drunk, who knows where is a foreign land?' They are all good poems, especially those lines about Wang Zhaojun, 'One goes to the purple platform and connects with the vast desert, alone leaving the green mound towards dusk.' It's truly a divine brush, looking at it makes people not only shed tears. Good! What a good poem!"

  "A few lines of poetry, can get the county magistrate's appreciation, is really a blessing for me."

  They were laughing and chatting, but Du Da was secretly sweating on his forehead. As soon as Deng Quansheng mentioned this matter, he regretted it in his heart, how could he have forgotten about this? This Deng Quansheng is the father of Zhong Wenbo, who was promoted by Zhong Shihong himself! He didn't think of this, and today's affairs might be ruined!

  Xiao Jia Ding didn't know the inside story, smiled and opened two boxes on the table, revealing a sum of money and the warm jade pendant. He said: "This is a small token from me, please accept it with a smile, County Master."

  Deng Quansheng's eyes gazed at the jade pendant, and suddenly his eyes lit up. Even his thin Adam's apple was moving wildly, as if he was swallowing saliva. Just one look and you could tell he was a greedy guy! Xiao Jiading secretly smiled to himself, thinking that this matter should be no big deal now.

  It just so happened that Xiao Jiading took Zhong Wenbo's jade pendant to bribe Deng Quansheng, but unfortunately Deng Quansheng didn't notice Zhong Wenbo's personal ornament and had no idea what this thing was.

  Deng Quansheng reluctantly withdrew his gaze and looked at Xiao Jiatian, saying: "Young brother sent this official such a generous gift, is there something going on?"

  "No, it's just a gesture of goodwill towards the county magistrate. I've been studying law since childhood and have always had an ambition to judge right from wrong and uphold justice, so I want to join the government office and work in the criminal department."

  "Oh?"

  As soon as Xiao Jiading proposed to go to the yamen and serve under his own men, Deng Quansheng immediately laughed, his eyes rolling a few times. The prefectural law officer, Zhong Shirong, had already said not to move him openly, so he could only think of a sinister plan, first lure him in, and then find an opportunity to deal with him thoroughly.

  Deng Quansheng clapped his hands and laughed: "This is great! Xiao Gongzi has such talent, he can handle affairs in the yamen, and heroes have a place to use their skills. Haha! This official welcomes you very much! However, you want to go to the prison department to do things, that must understand criminal law, this official wants to test you on the spot, how?"

  "Alright, Sheriff, go ahead and ask your question."

  "Hmm..." Deng Quansheng stroked his beard thoughtfully and said: "What are the five punishments that our great Tang Dynasty has abolished?"

  Xiao Jiading smiled in his heart, this question was too simple, even if he didn't answer it himself as a graduate student of legal history, an undergraduate student of law who had studied the general history of law would know. However, he naturally wouldn't foolishly show off how capable he was, and after thinking for a moment, he cupped his hands and said: "It seems to be... flogging, caning, penal servitude, exile, and death."

  "Not bad!" Deng Quansheng nodded in satisfaction, thought for half a day, and then tentatively asked: "How many levels are divided into each category?"