C11 When They Saw Injustice They Would Cut down the Willow

"Yeah, Jia, have you got a death wish or something?"

"Exactly, exactly. A moment of patience may ward off great disaster, and a step back may open up a whole new world!" The uncle was imparting his philosophy of life.

Lee Er screamed at the top of his lungs, "Ah! I, Lee Er, have ruled this street for years. I'm the biggest deal around here! No one's ever dared to lay a hand on me, not my parents, not my great-grandfather, not even the county official or the law itself. And who do you think you are, daring to hit me today? You can't control me!"

"I can't control you, huh?" Jia Jiucheng echoed the young man's words, then gave him a sharp slap. "Do you think you're the toughest guy on the street?"

"Ah! I'll take you on!" Lee Er, brandishing his knife, charged at Jia Jiucheng, intent on giving him a stab to prove just how tough he, the Street Rascal, really was.

"You'll take me on?" Jia Jiucheng repeated the challenge, his hand never pausing as he delivered another powerful slap to the wrist. Jia Jiucheng, a master of Stage Eight External Strength, possessed a force beyond that of an ordinary man.

With a "ding," the knife clattered to the ground. The whipping left the youth's hands burning as if scorched by the heat of June, quickly swelling and turning a mottled purple.

For every shout from the youth, Jia Jiucheng had an echo, each time accompanying it with a fierce strike from the willow branch.

...

Until the youth, pained by every lash, fell silent, sobbing without a sound, Jia Jiucheng lost count of the number of blows he had delivered. Lee Er realized that his screams and tears were futile against the man before him; they only brought more punishment. So, he ceased his cries, whimpering softly instead. Now truly frightened, he would shudder at the mere sight of Jia Jiucheng lifting the willow branch.

Seeing the change, Jia Jiucheng ceased his punishment and told Lee Er, "Get lost!"

The young man stumbled away, glancing back at Jia Jiucheng as if to etch his image into memory, then headed home.

As soon as Lee Er departed, the crowd came alive once more.

"That Lee Er sure took off fast. If he hadn't, I would've given him a beating myself to teach him a lesson!" exclaimed a man with a gaunt face.

Aunt Lee dismissed the comment with a scoff, "Please!"

Many in the crowd were familiar with Jia Jiucheng.

"Way to go, Jia! He did what we all were too scared to do!"

At the breakfast stall, Mr. Liu advised, "You better run fast. If the Lee family catches wind of this, even as a Captor, you'll be in hot water. Rumor has it they're kin to the County Magistrate. You might just lose your new job as a Captor."

"Ding... Dingyuan Street Side Line Mission 1: You've decided to draw your sword and assist in the face of injustice."

Mission Reward: 300 Righteousness Coins, one Vitality Potion (capable of restoring both stamina and endurance. If either value is below 50, it can be fully replenished).

Jia Jiucheng intended to search for the woman who had been harassed, but she had vanished without a trace.

He inquired, "Mr. Liu, what happened to that woman? Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Mr. Liu replied. "She slipped away quietly while you were fighting. The situation has blown up quite a bit; she's probably scared. You need to prepare yourself, Jia!"

"Good to hear she's okay!" Jia Jiucheng adjusted his Captor uniform, retrieved his Captor token and Wooden Fish Bag from the tray, and strode confidently toward the County Yamen. Having been appointed to the position, it was time to start his duties.

Along the way, Jia Jiucheng examined his token. Crafted from fine copper, the front boldly featured the character for "Captor," with "Dingyuan" deeply engraved beneath. The back displayed two fish in relief, symbolizing the balance of Yin and Yang, akin to the Tai Chi diagram – signifying safety and deterring counterfeits. This token was proof that Jia Jiucheng was no longer a mere civilian; he was now a young Captor, serving the royal court and working for the Prefecture Yamen.

The County Yamen was situated at the far end of Dingyuan Street in the northern part of the county city, bustling with the comings and goings of seven carriages. It was the grandest mansion in the county, with the imposing name "Dingyuan" emblazoned above the main gate. Below, two exquisitely carved stone lions stood guard, their lifelike presence symbolizing the formidable power of the government, majestic and awe-inspiring.

As Jia Jiucheng stood at the entrance of the County Yamen, he couldn't help but compare the opulent building before him to his own dilapidated home. The stark contrast struck him hard, souring his mood—it was like comparing a palace to a hut. Indeed, it seemed that officials had always been flush with wealth.

...

Upon spotting a man dressed in a fresh Captor uniform approaching from a distance, the gatekeeper's face broke into a warm, welcoming smile. "Hey there, are you the new official? What's your name?"

"My name is Jia Jiucheng, I'm new here. I hope you can show me the ropes, Uncle!"

"A newcomer, you say? Well, that's wonderful. Just head inside and turn right to find the main hall of the County Yamen. Captor Wang is in there; go report to him. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. You're still young, and it's not easy starting out. And don't be a stranger—come and visit me sometime. I've got fruit and tea aplenty!"

"Thank you very much, Uncle!" Jia Jiucheng replied, appreciative of the warm reception.

Passing through the main gate, Jia Jiucheng followed the uncle's directions and made his way into the bustling main hall of the County Yamen, where all the Captors were gathered.

"Extra! Extra! Read all about it in the latest bulletin! Renowned actress reported for tax evasion—fined 8 billion by the Ministry of Finance!"

The term "bulletin" was also known as "imperial manuscript," and it went by various names such as "morning report," "brief report," and "miscellaneous report." All these terms incorporated the word "report" and served as public announcements, disseminating state affairs and political intelligence from the Imperial Court. The bulletin was the collective term for ancient Chinese newspapers, a nomenclature that originated during the Soong Dynasty. Thus, the bulletin was akin to today's newspapers.

Elder Sister Peng from the Yamen gang was excitedly distributing the latest edition of the Gazette. "Look at this, everyone! Huge news today! The renowned actress has been accused of tax embezzlement! The Ministry of Finance has slapped her with an 800 million fine!"

"Eight hundred million? Good heavens, how can she manage that? Can she even pay?" The captors murmured among themselves as they passed around the newspaper.

"She's paid it! And probably without breaking a sweat!"

"No way!" Gasps of astonishment echoed through the hall. They were stunned by the sheer amount of the fine—800 million was beyond the wildest dreams of ordinary folks. And they were in awe that she had managed to pay it all off.

"My God, eight hundred million!" exclaimed a plump captor, his features squished together in disbelief as he turned to address the crowd.

To put things into perspective, a thousand coins were equivalent to one tael of fine silver, ten taels of fine silver equaled one tael of gold, and 800 million amounted to eighty thousand taels of gold.

In the Soong Dynasty, the welfare system was top-notch. A captor's salary was typically five taels of fine silver per month, which was quite generous. Without spending a dime, one could save up to sixty taels of fine silver in a year. It would take an unimaginable ten thousand three hundred years to match the actress's fine.

"I'm done being a Wood Fish Captor," grumbled the second son of the Lee family, Mr. Lee, the younger brother of Captor Lee. "Risking my life is one thing, but always being the first to face criticism? I've given my all for ten years, and I'm still just a Wood Fish Captor, earning a mere five taels of fine silver a month, which is barely five thousand coins."

"She was fined 800 million. I save up sixty thousand coins a year, but to reach 800 million, I'd have to work for ten thousand three hundred years!"

"Damn, ten thousand three hundred years! Even if my descendants were captors for generations, each serving the country faithfully for fifty years, it would take the combined effort of two hundred sixty-six generations to equal the fine paid by one actress."

"This job is tough. I endure hardships, face danger with a knife in hand, shed blood in battle, and if I can't crack a case, the guilt weighs heavily on me!"

He tossed the captor uniform onto the table and declared, "I've been itching to open a brothel for the longest time. Let those entertainers and prostitutes work for me. It's quick money, and the living is easy."

In ancient times, running a brothel was legal. With Captor Lee's background in the yamen, he's likely to have a smooth start.

Captor Lee, standing by, was startled and urged with concern, "Brother, don't act on impulse. Think it over. Once you've cooled down, I'm sure you'll make a better decision. Our family has been in the captor profession for generations. It's a tremendous honor."

"Cool down? I am cool. Honor? What's the price of honor? What's it good for? Does anyone respect me? Has anyone ever asked what I truly want? Before, I was just going through the motions, forcing myself to love the job."

"Brother, if you care about me, don't hold me back. When I started out, the neighbors and friends sang my praises, and I basked in the glory and vanity. But when it came time to risk my life against criminals, who was there to stand in for me? What did I gain? Is a life worth just a bit of praise?

I'm over 30 now, and I want to live the rest of my life on my own terms. I'm not after billions; I just don't want to be on call, risking my life against villains for a measly salary. And yet, we're supposed to claim we don't care about the money. Who would choose to be a captor without it? Today, I realized how undervalued I've been. From now on, I'll earn my own money and spend it as I please!" Li Chaoqun proclaimed.

Captor Lee watched him, impassioned and resolute, at a loss for words to convince him otherwise.

"Mr. Lee, wait, don't leave. Xiao Guowen here, I've been by your side for years, sharing meals and drinks, and we haven't saved much. I don't want to be a constable anymore either. Look at me, don't I look sharp?" A constable stepped up behind Li Chaoqun.

"Handsome guy, if you're opening a brothel, count me in for the investment. I'll be your matchmaker, introducing those famous entertainers. They rake in the cash, and we'll take our cut. Sounds good, doesn't it?" Another captor stepped forward, ready to join the venture.

"Hahaha, you're here! How could I not welcome you?" Li Chaoqun spread his arms wide in a grand gesture of hospitality.

"Who else is with you?"

"Mr. Lee, I'm here too."

"And me, and me!" Two figures emerged from the crowd, one tall and one stout.

"Tall Guy and Fatty, I knew you'd come. We're brothers on the same team; it's the same wherever we go!"

Jia Jiucheng exclaimed, "Oh no, why are people resigning on my first day, with five already gone? Isn't being a Captor considered the most coveted job in the county?"

An elderly Captor advised Jia Jiucheng, "Young man, don't follow in Mr. Lee's footsteps. He treats these folks to meals every year, gets along well, has a wide circle of friends, and knows plenty of beautiful women. If you team up with former Captors to open a restaurant, you might just make it big."

"Are you new here? You wouldn't understand, and explaining it to you would be pointless." Mr. Lee, hearing the conversation, turned and grinned at Jia Jiucheng.

"Is the name of my brothel not catchy enough? Anyone have better ideas?"

Jia Jiucheng, recalling something from Earth, chimed in, "How about 'Heavenly World'?"

"Heavenly World, that's a fantastic name; it's sure to be a hit. New guy, I'll remember you. If I make money, you'll be rewarded."

"What's your name?"

"My name is Jia Jiucheng, and I wouldn't change it for the world!"

"I'll remember you, Jia Jiucheng. We'll meet again someday." Lee Xiaoyao, along with his four brothers, cheerfully left the County Yamen.

What was happening today? "Why are people resigning on my very first day? Isn't this a good place to work? All the uncles and aunties I passed by seemed so envious."

"That doesn't make sense. In my past life, everyone was clamoring to get into government work, all for the sake of money, right? We're here to ensure the safety of the county's citizens. This place is safe, stable, offers a secure job, and pays well. Working here earns you respect and admiration from everyone. Isn't that something to be proud of?"

"Brother, you're out of the loop. Last night, a heinous crime shook South City. A deranged predator struck, leaving two young women bound and murdered in their own home. Meanwhile, in North City, a notorious rapist left a taunting note expressing his desire for a wealthy man's daughter. The whole team caught flak for it, and the pressure's mounting, especially with the news spreading like wildfire."

Captor Lee spotted Jia Jiucheng and gestured for him to come over. "What brings you here? You could've taken a few more days off."

"I was eager to lend a hand at the Yamen and live up to the captor's uniform," Jia Jiucheng replied, although he was really looking forward to diving into the action.

"Well done, you're just in time; we're short-handed," Captor Lee then announced loudly to the group, "Everyone, take note. This is our new member — Jia Jiucheng, son of the valiant Jia Yong."