33. Swords Drawn, Bows Bent

The second day of the Lunar New Year brings blessings: celebrate the New Year with firecrackers; enjoy a savory reunion dinner; gather with loved ones in joyous spirits; find peace and prosperity at home; draw a lucky charm for the coming year; may everything go well in the year ahead!

"Young Master Zeng, there is really nothing this humble shop can do. Young Master Zhang insists on coming upstairs; I truly have no way to stop him."

The innkeeper had already hurried to the table, carefully explaining the situation to Zeng Yuanshu. After all, Zeng had reserved the entire third floor for the day, yet the innkeeper had been unable to hold back the young master of the Zhang family.

Zeng Yuanshu had recognized the arrogant voice from downstairs early on. In Pengze County, there were few who dared to show him such disrespect, and the person downstairs was one of them.

Glancing at the pale-faced Miss Xiangyun, Zeng knew they were merely caught in the crossfire. Still, he had not expected Zhang Haochu to be causing trouble even during the New Year. Usually, their bickering and scuffles were one thing, but to come looking for a fight before the holiday was even over was quite another.

"Let them come up."

Zeng Yuanshu did not want to make things difficult for the staff of Jingshui Tower; that was not his style.

Meanwhile, after a whispered explanation from Wu Dong, Wei Guangde realized who had arrived. They were from one of the prominent families in Pengze County. The three great families of the county were the Zengs, the Chens, and the Zhangs. This Zhang Haochu was the eldest of the current younger generation of the Zhang family. Though usually arrogant, he did not typically bully the common folk. When he and Zeng Yuanshu crossed paths, while they were not exactly on good terms, they at least maintained a superficial civility.

However, their relationship had soured significantly over the past two years. As scholars, they naturally competed over academic prestige. In the last imperial examination, both had passed the county level, which was a cause for celebration. But things changed at the prefectural level.

After the results were posted, Zeng Yuanshu, Wu Dong, and Ma Xiang had all successfully passed to become students of the imperial academy, but Zhang Haochu, who had been so certain of his own success, had failed.

Failing was common—over ninety percent of candidates failed every exam—and everyone knew it. The trouble started because the day before the results were posted, while a dozen scholars were discussing the exam questions, Zhang Haochu had mocked the essays written by Zeng and Wu, claiming they had no hope of passing. When he failed the next day, the humiliation was total, and he had left Jiujiang Prefecture without a word.

Normally, the matter would have ended there. But when Zeng and his friends returned to Pengze County, they discovered rumors spreading that they had bribed the prefectural instructors to secure their status. These rumors spread like wildfire. In truth, the status of a primary student in the Ming Dynasty was of little value; it carried no special privileges, only the qualification to participate in the provincial examinations. Generally, local magistrates and prefects would turn a blind eye and let the sons of prominent local families pass without setting unnecessary hurdles.

Zhang Haochu likely assumed his own success was a foregone conclusion for this reason, never expecting the Jiujiang Prefect to deviate from the norm. Zeng Yuanshu had investigated the source of the rumors and discovered they had originated from the Zhang family’s servants. Whether it was at Zhang Haochu’s instigation was impossible to say.

Everyone understood the situation implicitly. Members of great families rarely started such rumors, as it risked implicating the Prefect. Wu Dong and the others had spoken to Zeng about it, but they couldn't be sure if it was Zhang Haochu’s doing or merely his sycophants trying to curry favor, with the servants mistaking their master's bitterness for the "truth" of his failure. Zeng had confronted Zhang privately, but Zhang had simply laughed it off, claiming that "the upright fear no shadows," leaving Zeng fuming.

The subsequent rumors grew even bolder, claiming they had bought their way into the provincial exams as well. It reached a point where, regardless of whether they passed or failed, they would be branded as cheaters. The conflict finally erupted after Zeng and his friends failed the provincial exam. The two groups met at a restaurant in Pengze, exchanged barbs, and eventually broke into a brawl.

Fortunately, these scholars were not particularly adept at fighting. Though they ended up bruised and battered, they suffered no serious injuries. Afterward, both men began traveling with an increasing number of attendants, leading to frequent skirmishes whenever they met. The elders of both families chose not to intervene, seemingly wishing to toughen up the younger generation. At least, that was Wei Guangde’s theory; he knew they had fought just before the New Year.

Wei Guangde glanced at his cousin, who was destined to be a future military officer, yet showed no hint of combat prowess. It was hard to say what to make of it.

"Does the magistrate not care that they are fighting like this?" Wei Guangde asked in surprise.

"Care? If no one files a formal complaint, the officials don't bother," Wu Dong whispered. "If they break something, they pay for it. As long as no one dies, it’s fine. Our magistrate is a true practitioner of the 'Way of the Gentleman.' He advocates for 'governing through inaction.' If someone comes to complain, he just sends them back to settle it with the village elders. If they insist on a trial, he’ll have them flogged first, regardless of who is right. In his eyes, troublemakers are just obstinate peasants who lack humility and respect for social order."

Wei Guangde was speechless. "Then how are disputes handled now? Just settled in private?"

"Of course. Whoever has the bigger fists and the stronger backing wins. I hear there are fewer than ten official lawsuits in our county per year. The report sent to the higher-ups claims the magistrate is a brilliant administrator and the people are refined and content. We are supposedly a place where no one picks up what is dropped on the road and doors are left unlocked at night." Wu Dong chuckled at his own words.

The Zeng and Zhang families fought almost every month. Sometimes, when Wu Dong encountered them, he would have his own attendants—who were highly skilled household guards—join the fray.

"They aren't resting even during the New Year. Will they fight today?" Wei whispered. His older brother, Wei Wencai, was already watching with excitement.

"Under normal circumstances, yes, they should fight." Wu Dong’s answer left Wei feeling stunned, though even Wu seemed eager for the confrontation.

As they spoke, the people arrived. Not only did Zhang Haochu and his entourage appear, but the men Zeng and Wu had brought with them also crowded onto the third floor. The entire space was packed. The innkeeper stood to one side, wiping sweat from his brow, bracing for the impending chaos.

Without waiting for Zhang Haochu to speak, Zeng Yuanshu slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Zhang Haochu, I didn't teach you a sufficient lesson last time. You dare to come looking for a beating during the New Year?"

Having said this, he turned to the madam and Miss Xiangyun. "This no longer concerns you. Go downstairs."

Facing the two hostile groups, the people from the Fanghua House had been trembling in fear. Hearing Zeng’s command, they bowed hurriedly and fled down the stairs.