Chapter Forty-Four: This Is the Rule

When Madam Zhou heard that the headman had arrived, her face instantly turned as pale as paper. If not for Zhou Lüyun supporting her by the arm, she would likely have collapsed to the ground already. Zhou Lüyun herself wore a terrified expression, looking blankly toward the courtyard gate.

Her little brother Zhou Shaocheng, being still young, probably did not yet understand the gravity of the situation. He gazed up at his elder brother Zhou Zhi with admiration, his small hands gently rubbing his stomach, which clearly still ached.

At this moment, aside from worrying about his mother, Zhou Zhi's expression remained calm. He was already prepared to face the headman. In his mind, if the headman was a sensible and compassionate man who cared for the common folk, things might not turn out too badly. After all, it was Wang Qun, the group leader, who had been making unreasonable demands and deliberately causing trouble.

If the headman turned out to be as vile and petty as Wang Qi, then a confrontation would be inevitable. No matter how things unfolded today, there was no need to fear the headman. At worst, he had struck the group leader, so the matter would be taken to the county office, and he would accept his time in jail.

Of course, if he went to jail, life at home would become even more difficult, making him seem irresponsible for his family. But in this feudal Ming Dynasty, how could anyone expect every matter to be handled perfectly?

Though he was a transmigrator who still hoped to study and take the imperial exams in Ming China and make a name for himself, circumstances did not always allow one to choose; sometimes, one simply had to go with the flow.

He had also considered that this was the Hongzhi era, a period renowned for peace and prosperity—surely, he thought, he would eventually encounter a good official, someone who truly stood up for the people.

“Headman, please see for yourself, it was this brat who just struck me! His family's official horse had diarrhea, and not only did he not accept punishment, he even dared to lay hands on me. He simply has no respect for the law!” Wang Qi had barely stepped into the courtyard before he jabbed a finger viciously at Zhou Zhi, addressing a middle-aged man.

At that moment, Zhou Zhi's gaze fixed upon the middle-aged man. The man wore a gray cloth headscarf and a blue robe, his features upright and dignified. He was, in fact, the very same man Zhou Zhi had encountered a few days prior when taking his little brother to see the physician Qiu Huichun.

The middle-aged man also looked at Zhou Zhi with surprise.

Standing beside Wang Qi was Zhang Hudaner. He had run into Wang Qi on the road before reaching his house. Wang Qi, leading the headman with great bluster, had at first been polite to Zhang Hudaner, but upon hearing that Zhang was here to plead for Zhou Zhi, Wang Qi turned on him at once, emboldened by the headman's presence.

He declared that today the Zhou family would not only have to sell their property and pay a five-tael fine, but now the fine would be increased to nine taels, and Zhou Zhi would be handed over to the county magistrate for punishment.

A ten-tael fine was the penalty for an official horse’s death; Wang Qi's fine was nearly as severe, all over a case of diarrhea. Small as his official post was, Wang Qi had never suffered such humiliation before, so he was determined to take revenge.

The inspection of official horses fostered among the people was entirely overseen by the group leader, while the headman only acted on the group leader’s reports. Only when the group leader encountered something he could not handle personally would the headman intervene.

Though the headman was a minor official, he held an air of authority. Especially in the countryside, the headman’s position, however humble, was enough to inspire fear among the villagers, as he was closely connected to the county’s grain and horse supervisor.

In truth, the headman had rarely visited Baiyue Village on horse business, so few people had seen him, least of all Zhou Zhi.

Even though he had met this middle-aged man once, now learning he was the headman, Zhou Zhi stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said respectfully, “This boy greets the Headman.”

He planned to show courtesy before anything else.

The middle-aged man seemed to regain his composure, stopping Zhou Zhi and turning to Wang Qi, “You say he struck you?”

“It was this dog of a brat!” Wang Qi spat, jabbing his finger at Zhou Zhi, as if he would devour him whole.

Smack! Smack!

Two crisp slaps rang out, the sound carrying far into the distance.

At first, the villagers outside thought it was the headman striking Zhou Zhi. When they looked more closely, they were stunned.

Wang Qi stood there, both hands clutching his cheeks, staring in terror at the headman.

The headman said coldly, “Wang Qi, do you know why I struck you?”

“I... I truly do not know,” Wang Qi stammered, his voice trembling.

“I ask you, did his family’s official horse die?”

“No!”

“Then why did you deliberately make things difficult, demanding a five-tael fine?” the headman pressed.

Wang Qi wanted to argue that the horse had diarrhea and was sick, which was grounds for a fine, but in the end he held his tongue. He was not a fool; in the past, the headman always supported him in such matters. On the way here, the headman had even said he would help teach this troublemaking horse keeper Zhou Zhi a lesson.

Yet now, seeing Zhou Zhi, the headman’s attitude changed completely. Clearly, there was some connection between him and Zhou Zhi.

Wang Qi thought to himself, No wonder Zhou Zhi dared to strike me last time and actually did so this time. So this kid has powerful backing after all.

Alas, it was my own fault for not investigating beforehand. Zhou Zhi is not someone to be trifled with, and I was blind to provoke him. I can’t complain about this beating.

With this realization, Wang Qi wasted no time; he strode forward and bowed deeply to Zhou Zhi, saying, “Young Master Zhou, I, Wang Qi, was much too forward just now. I beg your forgiveness.”

The situation changed in an instant, leaving the crowd of onlookers outside the courtyard utterly baffled. Madam Zhou herself was confused, unable to process what had just happened. Zhang Hudaner was equally stunned, though secretly delighted. With the headman standing up for Zhou Zhi, the Zhou family had passed this hurdle. Who could have guessed that Zhou Zhi knew the headman? It was unbelievable—Zhou Zhi was becoming more and more of an enigma.

Zhou Zhi, however, quickly grasped the situation, and a faint smile played at the corners of his lips. It seemed this headman was a man who repaid kindness. An unintentional act at Physician Qiu’s house had unexpectedly saved him from trouble.

Seeing Wang Qi’s improved attitude, the headman warned him, “Hmph! In future, use your head. If anything like this happens again, you’ll be relieved of your position.”

He had the authority to dismiss the group leader, though the headman himself was appointed or removed by the county grain and horse supervisor.

Only then did the headman turn to Zhou Zhi, offering a formal clasped-fist salute. “Brother Zhou Zhi, Wang Qi was indeed out of line just now. For my sake, please let him off this time. Heh! Brother Zhou, perhaps you do not yet know my name? I am called Lü Xingchuan, the headman of the surrounding villages.”

My goodness! Zhou Zhi didn’t even know the headman’s name, yet the headman was willing to go to such lengths for him. No one could imagine how Zhou Zhi had established such a connection. It was truly enviable!

When Lü Xingchuan clasped his fists to Zhou Zhi just now, he gave him all due respect. Zhou Zhi responded warmly, “Brother Lü, since you honor me with a visit, please come inside and have a cup of hot... hot water.”

He had wanted to offer tea, but suddenly remembered how poor his family was and that there was no tea to offer, so he changed it to hot water.

Lü Xingchuan was quick to respond, “Brother Zhou, you are too kind. Even a bowl of well water from your home is as sweet as nectar to me.”

If you give someone face, you must do so thoroughly—such is the custom, after all.