Chapter 18

After saying these words, Song Jing-gong didn’t make another sound as he lowered his head to drink the tea there.

Steward Zhang inwardly saying, ‘Indeed, it’s come,’ also feigned drinking a few sips of tea and waited until more water was refilled before he asked: “Don’t know the matter of making a fortune that Mister Song spoke of, what it is in detail?”

“This… Ai~! So be it. I’ll speak of it for Steward Zhang to hear. This Song heard people say that those barbarian1 lands has a kind of strange item and thought that if it were transported to our Great Tang, it certainly could be sold for a high price. So I first gave a bit of a down payment for around 1,000 dan [stone]2 with each dan [stone] at 200 wen [cash]. That object appears to be bright red, mouthwateringly tender and beautiful3with green leaves on top that is brilliant and rich in color.4

It was originally said to be 1,000 dan [stone] but who would have thought that being transported over here would be 2,000 dan [stone]? The financial wealth on hand that this Song has isn’t enough; therefore, came here to find Steward to discuss whether or not to make a fortune along with this Song and purchase these 1,000 dan [stone] in goods?” Song Jing-gong said with a face full of a.s.surance.

“Don’t know what item is actually so precious? This 1,000 dan [stone], if eating it up, would need 200 silver tael, ~ah. It really isn’t a small sum and you haven’t even seen the item. This…”

Steward Zhang revealed a pained expression. In fact, he wasn’t a bit afraid. No matter what was said now, it wouldn’t be finalized so he could only follow up with talk.

“Yes, ~ya, 200 silver tael, it’s not good for Steward to decide. Why not wait for your n.o.ble manor’s Mistress to return before having a discussion?” Song Jing-gong goaded.

Steward Zhang really did reveal an unhappy facial expression as he lightly placed the tea bowl onto the table and said: “200 taels might be a lot but it’s not that this Zhang can’t make the decision. It’s only that haven’t seen what item it is and it’s not good to just take it out. If it’s convenient for Mister Song, then please present the physical object for a look to let this Zhang be rea.s.sured.”

“Steward Zhang needn’t worry about that item, either. This Song still has a method here that could solve this Song’s trouble and it can also let Steward Zhang gain some benefit, too.” Song Jing-gong seeing Steward Zhang speak like this, smiled as he spoke.

“Oh? There’s another way? Quickly, Mister Song, please speak of it. If it’s feasible, 200 silver taels can still be brought out.” Steward Zhang played along.

Song Jing-gong with no hurry or delay took out several sheets of paper from his person to gently unfold in front of Steward Zhang, motioning for Steward Zhang to see.

Steward Zhang carefully picked up these sheets of paper, turning one page after another. After a long while, he revealed his incomprehension: “This is a store deed; I wonder what Mister Song brought this out to use for?”

“Correct, it is a store deed. It is the store deed of that antiques and art store in Sanshui of this Song’s. The entirety of the goods inside added to the property there is valued at 300 taels of white silver. Here is a doc.u.ment as proof from the broker5 that gives even more detail; every item each have their values indicated.

If Steward Zhang could take out 200 silver taels to lend to this Song, this Song is willing to use this store as well as the goods inside as a mortgage. Wait until this Song has received the goods, I will immediately return the money. Let’s calculate it based on 3% interest. By that time, that share of the benefits for Steward Zhang naturally won’t be less.”

Song Jing-gong explained all of his intentions; no matter from which side, it made people feel that it wasn’t bad.

“So that’s to say if the princ.i.p.al and interest hasn’t been repaid, that store including the goods within will belong to us?” Steward Zhang asked again.

“That’s right.” Song Jing-gong nodded in confirmation.

“Then, don’t know why Mister Song doesn’t seek other people to borrow from? There are specialized places dedicated to these matters of loaning money and also I wonder when those goods will arrive?” Steward Zhang asked in puzzlement and some disbelief.

As if Song Jing-gong had already known Steward Zhang would have such a question, he smiled as he replied: “That barbarian trader’s sole goal is profit; this Song is afraid that in seeking someplace else to borrow money, they will not only not lend to me but instead independently find the barbarian trader. At that time, this Song will not be able to get even 1 dan [stone] of cargo.

Having heard that Zhang Manor’s people are all those belonging to the ilk with a kind and honest heart, thus did I arrive at your n.o.ble manor for consultation. My thinking was that even if your n.o.ble manor doesn’t lend me the money and partner with me, you still wouldn’t do pull the kindling out from under the cauldron,6 that sort of dishonest business.

As for those goods, their arrival time nears; estimating it won’t be more than half a month, thus this Song’s inner heart was full of anxiety.”

When he said these words, Song Jing-gong himself felt that it was contrary to his heart. Staying here these several days, he had been cheated quite a bit. It was like this yet if they were still kind and honest, then this world didn’t have any good people. Recalling that worn quilt, his resentment burned.

“Well said, well said. These two points Mister Song raised, this Zhang feels is feasible. How about this, wait until this Zhang thoroughly calculates some, then I will elaborate with Mister Song. If it’s like how Mister Song put it, regardless of success or failure, I won’t go and do that damaging thing. Attend here, ~ah, order the kitchen to make a seat’s share and to serve Mister Song well.

Mister Song, please abide in this hall for a moment. This Zhang is a person short on calculation.7 Wait for me to return and discuss it a bit with my father, is that fine? ” Steward Zhang asked after making the arrangements.

“All right, then I’ll have to trouble Steward Zhang to take care of it. Regardless of whether this matter succeeds or not, this Song will remember Steward’s one favor. If it really succeeds, wait until the day this Song makes money as I’ll definitely compensate Steward Zhang thoroughly.”

Song Jing-gong was inwardly happy. If Steward Zhang hadn’t spoken this way and had immediately promised it with pleasure, then he’d be worrying, ~ne.

Steward Zhang didn’t continue speaking. After saying a word to wait, he hurriedly left the parlor room, rushing straight to where Zhang Xiaobao was. As for his father there, he had no relation to this matter at all so going there would be of no use anyway.

At this time, Zhang Xiaobao was currently with w.a.n.g Juan rolling around in the sand, ~ne. A couple days ago, they’d had people make a ball out of pig bladder8 with leather pasted on the outside. The two of them kicked it back and forth, using this to exercise their bodies, which could even train their physical coordination.

Seeing Steward Zhang rush over, they stopped and asked: “Steward Zhang knows what that Swindler Song wants to do?”

Steward Zhang repeated the conversation he just had with Song Jing-gong, intact and unedited, to Little Mister once again and then didn’t make another sound as he quietly awaited Little Mister’s orders. At this time, Little Mister’s measure in his heart was not low; the things that Erniu’s family was doing, Mrs. Zhang-w.a.n.g did not conceal from him.

While he was touched by that type of trust from Mistress, he was also astonished by Little Mister’s methods. As for whatever claims of celestial sages and monsters, he fundamentally didn’t care.

His family had served as stewards at Zhang Manor for generations. It could be said that alive, he was Zhang Manor’s man; dead, he was Zhang family’s ghost.9 If Little Mister was a monster, then his son would be a monster’s steward; there was no difference.

Zhang Xiaobao, upon hearing these words, sank into deep thought. Over there, w.a.n.g Juan also followed in contemplation; she had handled quite a few cases and prepared to pick out a similar type to make a comparison.

Without waiting for Zhang Xiaobao to speak, after thinking for a while, w.a.n.g Juan spoke up: “I understand. That Swindler Song wants us to take in all of that cargo. Then, when it can’t be sold, a big sum will be lost. How can there be something so expensive—100 wen [cash] for 1 dan [stone]? Talking like it sounded so good, whatever contrast-rich red and green.

Why not just lend money to him and obtain that 300 tael store of his. With a broker acting as insurance, it presumably wouldn’t be cheated. Let’s see how he talks by then? ”

“That’d really be getting taken in and deceived, ~ne. A broker guarantee10 has an effect? The store can be guaranteed; how can the stuff inside be guaranteed? Antiques and art, this stuff can be said to be faked just to be faked. Song Jing-gong can when seeking the broker guarantee use real objects and then wait after he’s signed the doc.u.ment with us to switch it out with fakes.

At that time, who will you go to? The broker really did guarantee the authentic article, how will you sue? When you think of finding Song Jing-gong, then it would also be said that it was just those items. You’ve already seen it; haven’t there been times that these antiques and art were wrongly identified?”

Zhang Xiaobao picked out the flaws within w.a.n.g Juan’s words. w.a.n.g Juan considered it so, too. Not even talking about the broker’s original guarantee being authentic, even if they saw the items that had been switched, they could still say it was genuine, which was also a possibility. So she said:

“Then, it’s that there are simply no items that have been transported here from elsewhere. He only wishes to sell that store to us; we can say we’ll partner up with him to take on those 200 silver taels of cargo—see how he talks, then.”

“How do you know there’s no cargo, ~ne? If it were me, I’d get some cargo shipped here; this way, no matter which is chosen, you’ll be taken in. That cargo should be very cheap; if you bought it, it would be 100 wen [cash] for 1 dan [stone]. Of course, maybe they’ll let you bargain down the price.” Zhang Xiaobao reb.u.t.ted once again.

w.a.n.g Juan, hearing this, also had no solution. After all, the work she did before mostly had a vast amount of intelligence to support it as well as the law as a weapon; you could easily be able to find expert personnel in this area. Having come to the Tang dynasty, if she as an individual were to, say, command some troops, she could still get some results after adapting but with just this little information, there was basically no way to judge.

“Then, you say how to do it? Treat him to a meal just to release him to go back?” w.a.n.g Juan looked at Zhang Xiaobao as she asked.

“Treat him to a meal and release him? He’s dreaming, then. Treating him to a meal doesn’t cost money, ~ah? Since he dares come swindling, then let’s let him know about formidability. Steward Zhang, come here; I’ll speak while you listen. Do as I say.” Zhang Xiaobao gave a scornful smile as he called Steward Zhang to come closely in front of him.

w.a.n.g Juan, Zhang Xiaobao, and Steward Zhang huddled their heads together and whispered for a quarter-hour before Steward Zhang, bearing an expression of seeming comprehension and seeming puzzlement, left.

“Real dumb. When you mentioned it once, I understood it all; why doesn’t he understand?” w.a.n.g Juan here was now rea.s.sured. As she spoke, she reached out to pinch that chubby face of Zhang Xiaobao’s once. Tilting her head to observe him for a moment, she then said:

“Impressive. Today, I’ve finally witnessed it; an International Criminal Swindler really can’t be compared to those petty swindlers. If there were people like you in that Special 2 Division11 of mine, then it would be a swindler getting nabbed whenever a swindler was getting spotted. Let me thoroughly check—could it be that this head of yours was naturally born for the sake of swindling? ”

“That’ll do, the saliva has all been squeezed out. Don’t you know a child’s face can’t be constantly pinched—this counts as what? All right, get down to business. Arrange the people well. I’ll let that Song Jing-gong know what swindling is called.” Zhang Xiaobao batted away w.a.n.g Juan’s little hand and summoned Xiaohong to start making the arrangements.

A quarter-hour later, while Steward Zhang and Song Jing-gong were eating and drinking, a few of Zhang Manor’s people left and a few of w.a.n.g Manor’s people also left.

Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan restarted anew the ball game, their contest evenly matched in wins and losses.

Song Jing-gong and Steward Zhang were also drinking wine as they spoke happily, chatting with great enjoyment.

When Zhang Xiaobao and w.a.n.g Juan had been playing for 1 hour and prepared to take a rest, Mrs. Zhang-w.a.n.g had also rushed over and upon seeing the two children, she let out a sigh. This child’s heart really was too ruthless. Walking in front of Zhang Xiaobao, she touched her son’s face as she said:

“Xiaobao, you here are going to force Song Jing-gong to death, ~ah. Men should be spared when men should be spared.”12

“Mom, no, you [honorific] rest a.s.sured. Son13 has a personal plan—definitely won’t force people to death. Son lacks people, ~ah. Just now, Steward Zhang listened to Child’s14 method but simply couldn’t comprehend it. Son doesn’t want such a dumb person. Wait until Song Jing-gong is at the end of his rope,15 Son will give him a hand up so he can better work later on. Son can’t always personally manage every matter, right? ”

Zhang Xiaobao, knowing that his mother’s heart wasn’t that bad, gave an explanation.

Said like this, Mrs. Zhang-w.a.n.g was set at ease as she said: “My Baolang speaks correctly. Baolang is a great talent; commanding from the rear is fine—there are others to lead the charge to break the enemy formation.”