Free Web NovelChapter 34: Chapter 34: Carrot and Stick
Seeing Wang Lei point at him, Wang Ergou leaped to his feet.
"You, Wang Shitou! You’re the clumsy one, but you’re trying to pin this on me!"
Wang Lei’s eyes widened, his face flushing red.
"Th-that was your job! You said you had an upset stomach and asked for my help, that’s the only reason I moved the vase! I never touch these things!
"I was being extra careful, and what happens? You bastard, you sneak back and trip me! You goddamn Wang Ergou, why would you do this to me? Why?!"
He started to charge forward as he spoke, but Xie Yuan firmly held him back.
Wang Ergou shrank back, intimidated by Wang Lei’s fury and feeling a pang of guilt. But standing next to the Shopkeeper, his courage returned. He jabbed a finger at Wang Lei.
"Well, aren’t you something, Wang Shitou! You’ve completely lost your conscience! I brought you into the city to work because we’re from the same village. I put in so many good words for you with the boss, I vouched for you! And what happens? You cause this huge mess and then try to pin it on me! Bah! I, Wang Er, must have been blind to help an ingrate like you!"
Wang Lei heaved for breath, his eyes shot with blood. He was so furious he could barely form a coherent sentence.
"You dare talk about being kinsmen... You dare! I came to the city to find odd jobs, I never wanted to work in a restaurant! You’re the one who insisted, who dragged me here saying you’d take me under your wing...
"You son of a bitch, you slack off every day, and I’ve done so much of your work without saying a thing! But with these expensive items, you asked me to move them time and again, and I refused. This one time, you insisted you had an upset stomach. For the sake of us being from the same village, I helped you, and the result... the result..."
Wang Lei was trembling with rage. Wang Ergou rolled his eyes and cut in.
"Don’t talk nonsense, Wang Shitou! I didn’t slack off. All the chores here are shared. I never asked for your help. You did it on your own, so don’t try to say you were covering for me.
"Boss! Look at him, repaying my kindness with accusations! I was just trying to help him, suggesting he could just pay with his land deed. That worthless plot of his is hardly worth a fine vase! Maybe we should just report this to the authorities?"
The Shopkeeper, arms crossed, nodded slightly.
"Wang Er has been working here a long time. He’s always been diligent and reliable, never made a mistake. As for Wang Lei... the vase did indeed fall from his hands."
He addressed this remark to Xie Yuan.
Xie Yuan listened for a long moment, his eyes sweeping over the Shopkeeper and Wang Er. A cold smile touched his lips. ’He already had it all figured out.’
’What kind of person was Wang Ergou?’
’They were from the same village, so Xie Yuan knew perfectly well what he was like. He ran with Li Mazi’s crowd; "diligent and reliable" were the last words anyone would use to describe him.’
’On the other hand, Xie Yuan had known Wang Lei since childhood. The man was honest and quiet, a tireless worker who never complained. Xie Yuan had never known him to lie.’
He remembered a time in their childhood when Xie Lun had taken Wang Lei and Li Lan to steal melons from a field. The other two had bolted, but Wang Lei was caught. He didn’t run, and he didn’t lie.
’He was pretty sure he knew what had happened here.’
Xie Yuan calmed Brother Shitou, who was too emotional to win the argument, and fixed his gaze on Wang Ergou.
"Why did you trip him?"
"Trip... I didn’t trip him! He stepped on my own foot! How is that my fault?"
Wang Ergou found himself growing nervous under Xie Yuan’s calm gaze, and his words began to tumble out faster.
’The guys said Yuanzi had changed, that you shouldn’t mess with him. They were right! This is nuts... looking at him feels just like looking at Brother Zhang...’ freeweɓnovel.cøm
Xie Yuan lowered his gaze and nodded.
"Alright, Shopkeeper. Thirty taels, was it?"
Hearing this, both the Shopkeeper and Wang Ergou looked delighted.
"The land deed will suffice. Out of consideration for Wang Er, I won’t make things difficult for you." freewebnovel.cσ๓
"That’s more like it! Just hand over the land deed and we can avoid blowing this out of proportion. What if you end up in jail? Shitou, I’m doing this for your own good. If you go to prison, people will start getting ideas about Huwa... and Orchid!"
Wang Ergou said with a sly grin.
At this, Wang Lei’s eyes bulged wide, looking terrifying.
"You dare! You... Yuanzi, you can’t give it to them!"
Xie Yuan patted his shoulder, signaling him to calm down.
He swung the bundle from his back and set it down.
"Are these things worth thirty taels or not?"
The Shopkeeper and Wang Ergou’s eyes went wide when they saw.
Wrapped inside the bundle was a bearskin pelt and four perfect bear paws.
"This..."
The Shopkeeper’s eyes lit up. Just as he was about to speak, Wang Ergou discreetly nudged him with his elbow.
The Shopkeeper snapped out of it. He cast another reluctant glance at the goods, then shook his head.
"We’ll take the land deed."
Xie Yuan’s expression didn’t change as he asked:
"What’s this? Is the land deed the only thing that can cover the cost of your vase? You’re set on getting this land, aren’t you?"
"Er, what are you saying? I’m not from your village, what would I want with land? We just... already agreed. The value is about the same, and it’s hard to put a price on these things of yours."
The Shopkeeper’s expression flickered at Xie Yuan’s words.
Xie Yuan said nothing in response, merely stroking the bearskin and paws.
The room fell quiet. The Shopkeeper and Wang Er watched Xie Yuan, wondering what he was thinking. A sense of unease began to creep over them.
"Yuanzi, what’s your game? Say something!"
Wang Ergou blurted out, unable to stand the silence.
Xie Yuan ignored him, his eyes fixed on the Shopkeeper.
"These items are certainly worth more than thirty taels. I have my doubts your vase was even that expensive—but let’s not get into that. It’s not important.
"Shopkeeper, there are so many restaurants in Yunzhao County. Your establishment isn’t very large. Competition must be tough, right?"
The Shopkeeper remained silent, waiting for him to go on.
Xie Yuan continued:
"Bear paw is a delicacy. Even the best restaurants here could use it as a signature dish. But none of them have it right now. In the middle of winter, where would they find a bear?"
He fixed his gaze on the Shopkeeper.
"I’ll give you these four bear paws. Use one for your new signature dish and the other three to draw in high-paying customers. Between now and the New Year, right through to the start of spring, your restaurant will be the most famous establishment in all of Yunzhao County."
The Shopkeeper listened, stunned for a moment, and then his heart suddenly began to pound.
Seeing his reaction, Xie Yuan’s lips curled into a faint smile as he added:
"But if you insist on the land deed, that’s fine. I’ll take these bear paws and gift them to others. To the magistrate, perhaps, or a prominent lawyer. I’ll tell them how you use your restaurant as a front for illegally seizing land. It’s a conviction waiting to happen. Wouldn’t a lawyer jump at a case like that? Wouldn’t the magistrate love such a mark on his record?
He leaned close to the Shopkeeper and whispered:
"When that time comes, do you think the person who put you up to this will be able to help you? By then, you won’t be a middleman anymore; you’ll be a local tyrant who seizes land. And that person in the county yamen, not only will he not speak up for you, he’ll work twice as hard to make sure the charges stick."
The Shopkeeper imagined the scenario. His face paled, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
Seeing that he’d struck the right chord, Xie Yuan fell silent.
The carrot and the stick were both on the table. Anyone would know which to choose.
The Shopkeeper’s expression shifted, then slowly settled. He looked at Xie Yuan, stroking his beard.
"Sigh... Young man, I’ve thought it over. These items of yours are indeed worth about that much. I’ll..."
Wang Ergou grew anxious and immediately cut in.
"Hey, Shopkeeper, they’re not worth that much! This is nothing! Look at the quality—it’s just junk! They’re fakes, he’s trying to trick you! Besides, don’t you forget..."
"Shut up! Are you the shopkeeper or am I?"
The Shopkeeper’s expression soured as he snapped.
He reached for the bundle, but a hand pressed down on his.
The Shopkeeper looked up at Xie Yuan in confusion, only to see him smiling.
"Not so fast, Shopkeeper. Just two small things. Don’t worry, it won’t be any trouble.
"First, my Brother Shitou hasn’t had a full meal in days. And I’ve been traveling all night, so I’m a bit hungry too."
The Shopkeeper clapped his hands and immediately ordered the kitchen to fire up the stove. He then personally helped Wang Lei to a seat.
"Xiaowang, my boy! It was all just a small misunderstanding. I’m glad we could talk it out! Here, drink some water."
Wang Lei was stunned into silence, seeing his once-haughty boss acting so deferentially.
Once Xie Yuan and Wang Lei had finished two huge, fragrant bowls of noodles with fried egg and lard, Xie Yuan wiped his mouth and asked with a smile:
"Brother Shitou, are you full?"
"Yeah, I’m full..."
Seeing his chance, the Shopkeeper pushed aside Wang Ergou, who was still muttering at his side, and asked urgently:
"Young man, what was the second matter?"
"Shopkeeper, reconsider! Can’t you see how greedy he is? He’s just trying to take advantage of you. Ignore him! Shopkeeper, think about how long I’ve worked here, and think about... *that other person*. You need to think this through carefully."
Wang Ergou persisted, clamoring at the Shopkeeper’s side.
"As for the second thing, Shopkeeper, you’re not short on staff, are you?"
"Hm? We are... oh, no, we’re not short."
"Then you can let Wang Ergou go."
The Shopkeeper and Wang Ergou were both stunned. They exchanged a glance.
The Shopkeeper considered this for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright."
