Chapter 242: The Li Family Makes Its Move
The magistrate's office in Chengcheng County.
Liang Shixian frowned, his gaze fixed on the two men kneeling before him.
The pair had just been hauled in by a shopkeeper, who accused them of stealing two steamed buns from his shop.
In years past, Liang Shixian wouldn't even bother with a formal hearing for something as trivial as stolen buns. A few swift strikes of the cane and they'd be tossed out, problem solved.
But now, with grain prices skyrocketing, a *dou* of rice could fetch a thousand cash. Two steamed buns were a fortune. A mere caning was no longer appropriate; such an offense would likely be classified as a "theft crime," punishable by decapitation.
But...
Beheading someone for two stolen buns... was that truly appropriate?
Liang Shixian felt it was wrong, yet he couldn't conceive of an appropriate judgment. He agonized, a common lament echoing in his mind: "The more desperate the people, the bolder the bandits! Alas!"
His aide leaned closer, whispering, "Esteemed master, we can't keep dragging this out. A judgment must be rendered."
As the two deliberated, a scholar entered from outside. Liang Shixian didn't recognize him, but a yamen runner nearby did. "Ah, Mister Wang from the Chengcheng Bookstore!"
Mister Wang cupped his fist in salute to Liang Shixian. "Your Honor, I am the proprietor of the Chengcheng Bookstore. My name is Wang. I used to teach here in Chengcheng County, and everyone calls me Mister Wang. I was just passing by and saw Your Honor looking quite troubled. Might I be permitted to offer a solution?"
Caught in his dilemma, Liang Shixian eagerly welcomed any counsel. He quickly replied, "Mister Wang, please speak."
Mister Wang began, "To execute a man for two steamed buns would offend heavenly harmony. Yet, to avoid severe punishment would risk dissatisfying the victim..."
He had perfectly articulated Liang Shixian's very dilemma.
Mister Wang continued, "Why not resolve it thus: I shall provide a sum of money to compensate the shopkeeper on behalf of these two individuals, thereby appeasing the wronged party. As for the two men, they can be brought to my bookstore to handle book transport and cleaning. Their labor shall serve as repayment for the two buns, and thus their punishment."
Liang Shixian was instantly overjoyed by the suggestion. "This plan is excellent!" he exclaimed. "Though it does inconvenience you, Mister."
Mister Wang smiled faintly. "No inconvenience at all, I assure you. My bookstore truly is in need of some extra hands. To employ two workers for a few days' labor, all for the price of two steamed buns? I am quite pleased, in fact."
Liang Shixian nodded. "Then we shall proceed according to your plan, Mister."
Having instantly resolved a vexing problem, he felt quite pleased. He waved his hand, instructing a yamen runner nearby, "Escort these two to Mister Wang's bookstore and order them to work diligently. Should they show any laziness or negligence, bring them back, and I will have their dog heads chopped off!"
Mister Wang bowed, paid the shopkeeper for the two buns, and departed with a leisurely air.
Liang Shixian leaned back and sighed softly. "The solution Mister Wang just offered is truly the best way to handle these thieves. However, such a method requires sufficient funds. Otherwise, how could we possibly afford to keep so many criminals alive?"
In the Ming Dynasty, criminals generally languished in prisons awaiting execution. If a crime didn't warrant death, the perpetrator might receive dozens of cane strokes and be exiled for thousands of *li*. Long-term imprisonment was simply not an option, as the imperial court couldn't afford to feed so many prisoners.
Liang Shixian harbored reservations about this practice, but he was powerless to change it.
As he indulged in a moment of melancholy, the Shaoxing aide leaned forward, whispering, "By the way, seeing Mister Wang reminded me of something."
Liang Shixian inquired, "What is it?"
The Shaoxing aide whispered, "In recent days, the Chengcheng Bookstore has been selling a peculiar picture book. It costs a single copper coin, and buyers receive two *liang* of flour as a gift."
Liang Shixian froze at the words. After a stunned silence of several seconds, he managed, "One copper coin for a book, and two *liang* of flour with it?"
Isn't that just distributing gruel to save the people?
The Shaoxing aide whispered, "Indeed, it's no different from distributing gruel. Many in the city have benefited, and secretly commend Mister Wang as a benevolent proprietor. But if he continues this way, he'll surely lose his entire family fortune. The bookstore will likely go bankrupt in mere days."
Liang Shixian sighed. "To squander one's entire fortune merely to save the populace? Alas... Now that you mention it, I find myself rather interested in the book he's selling."
The Shaoxing aide reached into his sleeve and produced a copy.
Liang Shixian was astonished. "You actually possess one?"
The Shaoxing aide's elderly face flushed slightly. "Forgive me, esteemed master, my wife also went to buy a book..."
Liang Shixian paused, then a realization dawned. The price of a *dou* of rice for a thousand cash—even someone of his aide's income level couldn't bear such a burden.
How many common folk in Chengcheng County could still afford grain? What was to be done? Alas!
Liang Shixian's spirits sank. He took the book from his aide and casually glanced at the cover.
Eh?
The sacred image of Dao Xuan Tian Zun on the cover captured his attention.
This god's face... I seem to have seen it somewhere before?
He then glanced at the title beside it: *The Legend of Dao Xuan Tian Zun Exterminating Demons*.
Dao Xuan Tian Zun?
That name, too, seemed vaguely familiar.
I must think carefully!
Liang Shixian, a man of vast learning, immediately activated a memory search in his mind. Everything he had ever seen, every scene he'd witnessed, every book he'd read, every deity he'd worshipped, flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. Finally, with a soft "ding," his thoughts settled on a towering, fortified manor.
In the ancestral hall on the first floor of the watchtower at Li Family Fortress in Gao Family Village, a family deity was worshipped. That deity's name was "Dao Xuan Tian Zun," and the face of its statue was identical to the cover of the picture book in his hand.
Liang Shixian now had a clearer idea. He slowly opened the book, revealing it to be a pictorial album. He flipped through it, page by page, reading very quickly, and the story within became starkly clear.
And the story *outside* the book became equally clear.
Liang Shixian murmured, "This official understands now."
The Shaoxing aide was greatly surprised. "What does the esteemed master understand?"
Liang Shixian explained, "Behind this Mister Wang, it is the Li Family providing support. For over a year, they have been supplying me with grain to distribute as gruel, saving our people. But this only earned *me* a reputation as an honest official; the Li Family, however, gained no discernible benefit. Now, it seems they've decided to take matters into their own hands."
The Shaoxing aide interjected, "But isn't the Li Family a reclusive, influential clan? What good would a reputation do them? The greater their renown, the harder it will be to remain hidden behind the scenes, won't it?"
Liang Shixian replied, "That's why they aren't publicizing the Li Family itself. Instead, they've invoked a family ancestor, their very own family deity: Li Daoxuan, a Tang imperial clansman! While distributing gruel to save the populace, they are widely disseminating the legend of their family deity. If this story is crafted well enough, and their deity finds a place in the shrines of all Daoist temples across the land, wouldn't that bring immense glory to their ancestors?"
The Shaoxing aide suddenly had an epiphany. "So that's how it is! The esteemed master's foresight is truly comprehensive; I hadn't thought of it at all."
Liang Shixian concluded, "This story is rather chaotic and not worth reading, but the Li Family is performing good deeds. What harm is there in fabricating a tale about an immortal? Let them invent whatever they wish. As long as they distribute grain to the common people, even if they weave this official into their story, I'll be happy to oblige."
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