The next day, Duan Yan paid a visit to the smithy. He meant to see where Chen Hu was and whether there was any way to get hold of the prescription Chen Hu had given the town overseer. That way, Song Fengsui could take a look and determine whether there was anything wrong with it.
Given Old Daoist Hu’s usual way of doing things, no one could feel entirely at ease with a prescription that had come from his hands.
He and Gou San’er hurried over, only to find Chen Hu already at the smithy. The man was dressed in a brand-new blue official uniform, with pointed black leather boots on his feet and his hair wrapped in a square blue cloth cap. He had the unmistakable bearing of a government officer.
A black leather belt was fastened around his waist, from which hung a wooden badge. The words “Inspector” had been painted on it in bright red lacquer, clearly marking his new position.
“Brother Hu, what kind of act are you putting on? If it weren’t for that familiar face of yours, I’d have thought a government officer had shown up!”
Tie Da and Tie Er dropped their blacksmithing tools and hurried over, circling Chen Hu once.
“That badge looks so real it nearly fooled me. Brother Hu, making and wearing an outfit like this in private is against the law. Have your fun wearing it around the smithy, but don’t go strutting about outside and let anyone see you!”
Chen Hu rested one hand on the official saber hanging at his waist, looking every inch the proud man.
“I’ve no time to wear a fake uniform just for amusement! Magistrate Kong personally appointed me to this post. From now on, I’m the Inspector of the Town Market Office. Anything happening in town or its surrounding villages can be handled and supervised with my assistance!”
The moment he said this, everyone at the smithy was stunned. Then, one after another, they broke into delighted smiles.
“How did Brother Hu manage to secure such an important post? Old Third Qian, that butcher, has fawned over the town overseer for ages, and all he got was a position collecting taxes. Yet he’s been so smug about it every day, acting as though he’s a head above our Brother Duan. Now that Brother Hu is an Inspector, does that brat still dare act so arrogantly toward us?”
“We heard a long while ago that Old Third Qian had his eye on the Inspector’s post. When the epidemic broke out in the village, that good-for-nothing, who usually did nothing but shirk and cheat, actually buried his head and helped the town overseer handle matters—clearly hoping to earn another favor. How did Brother Hu manage to leapfrog him and get the post? Hurry up and tell us!”
The men crowded around Chen Hu, showering him with flattery and praise. The pride he had been barely able to contain swelled even further.
“As for what has been worrying the town overseer most these days, I naturally found a way to solve it.”
Zhou Wang immediately said, “Brother Hu, did you find a way to cure the epidemic?”
Chen Hu lightly brushed the dust from his sleeve.
“I found a miracle physician. He and I came up with a prescription.”
Tie Da blurted out without thinking, “So you went and offered the prescription yourself? You didn’t tell Big Brother?”
For a moment, the smithy fell silent. Not a single person spoke.
Chen Hu looked at Tie Da, narrowing his eyes slightly.
“The epidemic is an urgent matter. How could I have had time to discuss it in detail with Big Brother? Besides, he’s obtained such a treasure now. What else could possibly catch his eye?”
The others kept silent, not daring to say a word.
Tie Da and Tie Er, however, remained completely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere and continued, “But we’re all Big Brother’s people. For something this important, Brother Hu should’ve told Big Brother before taking action on his own. That wasn’t right, was it?”
Chen Hu ignored Tie Da and Tie Er’s remarks and said, “The reason I came today to share this good news with everyone is to tell you brothers that, from now on, none of you will go without. Once you follow me, you’ll have good food and drink for certain.
“Magistrate Kong thinks highly of me. Sooner or later, all the businesses connected with the government will be under my management!”
Tie Da and Tie Er were somewhat bewildered, unable to fully understand what Chen Hu meant. The others who were a little sharper, however, naturally realized that Chen Hu was extending an invitation. He had already made it clear that he no longer intended to remain beneath anyone else.
“So you mean to take complete control of the iron shop in the future? Or are you saying you intend to take over my exclusive operating rights from the town overseer?”
Duan Yan’s voice rang out, cold and cutting.
“Big brother…”
When the men in the shop saw Duan Yan enter, they were all startled. Tie Da and Tie Er immediately went forward to greet him.
The others, meanwhile, stood rooted to the spot.
Chen Hu looked at Duan Yan’s stern, cold face. Perhaps because he felt guilty at being caught in the middle of his treachery, or perhaps because Duan Yan’s imposing presence was genuinely intimidating, he was momentarily stunned. His instinct was to come up with a lie to smooth things over.
But he quickly recovered. Thinking that he now possessed the government’s backing—that he stood above Duan Yan, while Duan Yan stood below him—he wondered what there was left to fear from the man. The brief trace of dread in his heart immediately vanished.
Since he had dared to come openly to the shop and say these things to the others, he had already prepared himself to sever ties with Duan Yan. With only half a life left and an appearance strong on the outside but weak within, Duan Yan was no longer capable of threatening him.
“Big brother, what are you saying?” Chen Hu replied with a fawning grin. “The two of us are blood brothers. What difference is there between my power and yours?”
His eyes shifted as a sly idea sprang to mind. With pointed meaning, he added, “And likewise, aren’t your influence and mine one and the same?”
Duan Yan naturally understood the implication behind his words. He looked at Chen Hu without getting angry. Someone had already warned him earnestly not to lose his temper or experience violent emotional fluctuations.
He had known for a long time what sort of person Chen Hu was. There was no reason to let the man anger him into damaging his own health again.
Duan Yan said coolly, “You certainly have a fine plan. But there is nothing in this world that can account for every possibility. Tiger, I advise you to rein in your sharpness.”
Chen Hu’s eyes flickered. Duan Yan clearly knew that he had obtained the government’s backing behind his brother’s back, and had even caught him openly recruiting the men beneath him. Yet Duan Yan had not flown into a rage or attacked him.
Instead, he was still able to remain calm and say such things to him. This was astonishing, and at the same time, made Chen Hu unable to fathom what he was thinking.
Chen Hu found it exceedingly strange. For a moment, the man before him seemed like a complete stranger.
But before he could provoke Duan Yan again, the latter spoke first:
“Today, your Brother Hu has certainly proven himself capable. With the favor of the town overseer, he now wears an official robe and carries an official token, yet he has not forgotten his former brothers.
“Everyone knows that working for the government is a fine opportunity. We are all brothers here. Since your Brother Hu has come openly to recruit you, I am a magnanimous man as well. If any of you wish to follow Brother Hu and serve the government, you may make your choice now. I will not stop you!”
The moment Duan Yan finished speaking, everyone in the shop froze for a moment. Beneath the surface, their eyes passed back and forth among one another.
Chen Hu was even more at a loss to understand Duan Yan’s intentions after seeing him act this way.
But inwardly, he sneered. Did this man really think he was some kind of benevolent big brother, with every one of his subordinates blindly devoted to him? He must be trying to use their loyalty to humiliate him today. How utterly laughable.
Since they had laid everything out in the open, Chen Hu no longer bothered to spare Duan Yan’s feelings. He said bluntly, “Life is long, and everyone has their own path to walk. Some people are content to remain as they are all their lives, muddling through in mediocrity. Others have vision and courage. When opportunity comes knocking, they don’t let something as meaningless as sentiment hold them back, and in the end, they make something of themselves.
“Since our big brother has spoken, everyone can decide for themselves whether they’re staying or leaving. State your choice!”
Biaozi and Hanzi immediately went over to Chen Hu’s side without a word.
Zhang Wang glanced left and right. He did not dare meet Duan Yan’s eyes, and with his back slightly hunched, he took two steps toward Chen Hu as well. “Big brother, you know my father has always hoped I could secure a position in the government. He used to work for the authorities…”
“Bah! You ungrateful traitors!”
Tie Da and Tie Er stared with their huge, bull-like eyes, utterly unable to understand how things had suddenly come to this. Just yesterday, everyone had still been as close as brothers. Yet after only a few words this morning, without drawing a blade or raising a fist, they had actually split into two factions.
Only after they saw the two sides taking shape did the brothers finally come to their senses. They immediately spat toward Chen Hu and the others, cursing, “If it weren’t for big brother’s protection, would any of you have what you do today? Damn you all! Today, we’ll have to break your arms and legs before you learn that traitors never meet a good end!”
As they spoke, Tie Da and Tie Er reached for their weapons. Biaozi and Hanzi were broad-shouldered and sturdy, with no fear of a fight, but Zhang Wang immediately shrank back, looking for somewhere to hide.
Just as the situation was about to turn violent, Chen Hu cast a sidelong glance, preparing to spring his trap. But Duan Yan suddenly reached out and grabbed the two men.
“Stop fooling around. We’ve already agreed to part on good terms, so let it be.”
“Big brother, you’re being far too lenient with them!”
Duan Yan instead asked, “And what about the two of you? What do you intend to do?”
“Even if those ungrateful wretches get the finest positions in the world and become the Jade Emperor himself, we still wouldn’t stoop to following them!”
Seeing Duan Yan ask them that, Tie Da and Tie Er immediately thumped their chests and declared, “Big brother, no matter whether things turn out good or bad, we brothers will recognize only you!”
Gou San’er had been glaring viciously at Chen Hu and the others all this while. Naturally, he had no intention of professing his loyalty to Duan Yan. Even if Duan Yan had not promoted him today, he could never have gone along with Chen Hu and the others after the way they had excluded him before.
Chen Hu saw that, despite his repeated attempts, he still could not provoke Duan Yan into striking first. His spirits sank. He sneered at Duan Yan, Gou San’er, Tie Da, and Tie Er.
“Then it’s settled.”
He flicked his sleeve. “Come on, brothers. Pack up and come with me to handle matters for Magistrate Kong!”
Before leaving, Chen Hu deliberately brushed close past Duan Yan.
“My dear big brother, you’d better keep a close eye on that blacksmith’s shop. Otherwise, those brothers who’ve chosen to follow you will all end up with nowhere to go.
“When they come crawling to me for help, I certainly won’t take in such short-sighted fools.”
Duan Yan remained impassive, but Tie Da leapt to his feet and cursed, “Bah! In your dreams! I’d sooner dig up dirt and eat it than beg Chen Hu for so much as a bite of food.”
Chen Hu did not spare Tie Da a glance. Instead, he fixed his eyes on Duan Yan. Seeing that Duan Yan was ignoring him just as he would ignore two brainless fools like Tie Da and Tie Er, Chen Hu found himself growing increasingly furious. His attempt to provoke them had failed, and Duan Yan was plainly determined to remain calm, so in the end he could only give up.
He gave the broadsword at his waist a swing and swaggered out of the shop.
Even the most arrogant top scholar parading through the streets after coming first in the imperial examinations would probably fall short of a third of his haughtiness.
“Big Brother, you’re really going to let that heartless bastard walk away so carefree? And you’re even allowing those who want to follow him to leave without a fuss? What happened to the fire in your belly?”
Unable to contain their anger, Tie Da and Tie Er crowded around Duan Yan. “If it were up to us, we’d knock out one set of teeth for each of them! If we didn’t beat those rotten-hearted wretches until they spat out every last tooth, all these muscles of ours would have grown for nothing!”
Duan Yan looked at the two large men, both anxious and furious, and said, “The two of you had better put those thoughts away. If you lay a hand on them now, it would count as assaulting official personnel, and the punishment would be even heavier. Are you so eager for them to catch us in the wrong that you’re practically delivering the evidence to them yourselves?”
Knowing that the two hulking fools were none too quick-witted, he patiently explained, “Those who have already turned against us—what good would beating or cursing them do? We might as well make things clear today and let them leave, so they won’t stay here and cause trouble.”
“Anyone who follows Chen Hu today will not be used by me again in the future, no matter what happens. The men under us have been growing disunited these past few years. We can take this opportunity to sort them out.”
Tie Da and Tie Er seemed to understand, though only vaguely. “The smug look on Chen Hu’s face is enough to make us sick. We can’t even punch him with our iron fists, and the anger’s just boiling inside us!”
Duan Yan turned to Gou San’er and said, “These two have too much fire in them. Have them drink some chrysanthemum tea to cool down in this hot weather. I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold them back—within a few moves, they’ll have Chen Hu behind bars, and then I’ll have to spare the time to get them out.”
Tie Da and Tie Er hurriedly waved their hands. “We’re not drinking that stuff! Since Big Brother has made up his mind, we’ll do as you say.”
Gou San’er smiled and let the matter drop, though he was especially surprised by how Duan Yan had handled things today.
He had originally thought that, given Duan Yan’s temperament, he would fly into a rage. There was a good chance he would draw his blade right there in the shop. Gou San’er had been afraid that things would turn out that way—that when the time came, no one would listen to his attempts to mediate, and he would not be able to pull them apart even if he tried.
They were all blacksmiths with fierce tempers and hot blood; the slightest spark was enough to set them off. If a fight broke out, setting aside whether they would actually vent their anger, they would certainly fall straight into Chen Hu’s trap.
Yet Duan Yan had seen through their intentions at a glance. Not only had he refrained from starting a fight, he had even dealt with the matter so calmly.
Gou San’er felt that ever since Song Fengsui had come along, Duan Yan had visibly grown steadier in the way he handled things. He wondered whether having a family had made Duan Yan think more carefully and consider all the consequences before acting.
“Big Brother, now that things have come to this, judging by what Chen Hu was implying, he’s probably got his eyes on our ironworks too. Losing the shop would be a small matter. I’m afraid what he really wants is the right to deal in ironware.”
That was merely what he thought, but Gou San’er couldn’t help worrying. “If he really takes it from us when the time comes, I’m afraid we won’t have any territory left. What are we supposed to do next?”
How could Duan Yan not understand that? But worrying would do them no good. He said, “First, find someone to keep an eye on Chen Hu’s movements. And, if possible, get us a copy of the prescription he intends to offer the town overseer.”
“Yes, sir.”
Meanwhile, Chen Hu led his men out of the forge. Thinking over Duan Yan’s attitude that day, he felt that it was vastly different from how the man had acted before, and a sense of unease lingered in his heart.
He tried his best to convince himself that he had merely grown accustomed to bowing and scraping before others. Now that he had openly fallen out with Duan Yan and shattered the old balance, it was only natural that he would feel unaccustomed for a while.
Still, it was always best to be cautious. As long as Duan Yan remained, Chen Hu feared he would never truly feel at ease.
So he sent Biaozi to fetch Wang Quan, who hadn’t been present that day. A few days earlier, Wang Quan had stopped paying for his mother’s medical treatment, and the boy was probably still weeping beside her bed. He had missed all the excitement that morning.
Yet there were advantages to missing it. If Wang Quan had been there and immediately followed Chen Hu away, things would have been harder to arrange.
“Congratulations, Brother Hu, on landing the Inspector’s position! Congratulations! This is a truly tremendous opportunity!”
By the time Wang Quan was summoned to Chen Hu, Biaozi had already been boasting along the way about how his man had obtained an official post. Wang Quan’s heart lurched when he heard it, knowing that this would put Duan Yan at a serious disadvantage.
For the moment, he followed Duan Yan’s instructions, concealing his thoughts while continuing to ingratiate himself with Chen Hu.
“Of course it’s a fine thing. Duan Yan and I have already made our falling-out public in front of the brothers at the forge. You weren’t there, so I’ve come especially to ask what you intend to do.”
“Brother Hu, do you really still need to ask what I intend? You’ve known my position for quite some time.”
Chen Hu’s smile did not reach his eyes. “Oh? Is that so? I still remember the task I gave you last time. You kept putting it off. I assumed you were siding with that lot, so I didn’t dare vouch for you.”
Wang Quan immediately fell to his knees. “Brother Hu, I truly didn’t dare do it. If something happened to me, I’d have no one left in this world and nothing to worry about. I wouldn’t have minded dying for you—but my mother… Brother Hu, you understand, don’t you?”
“These past few days, your mother hasn’t been feeling well, has she? It’s not that I’m heartless and unwilling to help. Old Daoist Hu has been busy with the prescription for the epidemic and hasn’t had the time to visit her.”
Chen Hu squatted down in front of Wang Quan. “I understand your concerns before, and I haven’t blamed you for them. But things are different now. I have an official position and the momentum behind me. I’ll have your back—what are you afraid of?”
“Go over there and pretend to throw in your lot with him. He’ll certainly be moved by your change of heart. When the time comes to act, won’t things be much easier than before? I already promised you: once this is done, Tianshui Village will be yours to rule. Wouldn’t it be easy enough to take care of your mother then?”
Wang Quan knew that Chen Hu had already made his meaning clear. If he refused again, he would surely suffer for it. What was more, Chen Hu now had the authority of the government behind him.
All he could do was agree for the moment. Then he turned around and went to find Duan Yan, to see how he planned to handle the situation.
Wang Quan knocked his forehead against the ground. Chen Hu had forced him into this at every turn, and the hatred in his heart could barely be contained, yet all he could say was, “I will go through fire and water for you, Brother Hu.”
After giving a few simple instructions at the smithy, Duan Yan intended to head down to the village to find Song Fengsui. While there, he could also check on the tenant farmers at the estate who had taken the medicine yesterday and see how they were doing today, as well as find out what was happening in the village.
He had only just reached the main road outside Liu Village when he ran into a familiar figure. The person had wrapped a kerchief around his head, covering half his face.
If Duan Yan had not recognized that figure, he would never have identified him at a glance.
He hurriedly leaped down from his horse and went to meet him. “Why have you left the village? Has something happened?!”
When Song Fengsui saw Duan Yan, his expression was anxious and hurried. “There really is something wrong with that prescription! Of the villagers who took the medicine in the first batch last night, three died during the day today!
The uproar in the village is even worse than it was last night. I slipped out in the confusion because I wanted to bring you this news!”
