Volume One: River City Song Chapter 21: Debts Settled, Yet Unease Remains

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Li Ling barely slept the entire night. It wasn’t excitement over settling the pressing debt that kept him awake, but rather his busy efforts to make the accounting books of the Gu family bookstore look more presentable. Although this was a familiar task for him, converting the financial data from future records into the expression methods of this era required considerable thought and time. He only finished thoroughly as dawn was breaking, then rested briefly before heading out at the transition between the hours of Chen and Si.

Li Ling did not go to the bookstore but to a well-known grand restaurant called “Drunken Fragrance Residence” on Yaqian Street. This was a famous establishment in Jiangcheng County and the only legitimate business owned by Zhuang Qiang. Every morning, Elder Zhuang would come here to sit briefly, enjoying some dim sum and tea—a fact known to everyone in town. Thus, if one wanted to find him, this was the most convenient place at this time.

However, when Li Ling entered the restaurant briskly, carrying a parcel and intending to go straight upstairs to see Zhuang Qiang drinking tea, he was stopped by two burly men with short blades at their waists, looking fierce. One of them glared and said, “What do you want? Don’t you know the second floor isn’t for idle visitors at this hour?”

“I’m here to see Elder Zhuang... I still owe him some silver,” Li Ling replied calmly, stepping back slightly and patting the parcel on his back.

“Come to repay your debt? Let me see it.” Another man reached out his hand. Li Ling did not dodge but confidently handed over the parcel. The man casually opened it and scanned the contents, then asked, “What’s your name? When did you owe Elder Zhuang this money?”

“Li Ling, son of Li Tong. The debt was incurred last year. It was agreed to be repaid before the Mid-Autumn Festival this year—two hundred taels.”

“Wait here.” One of the men turned and went upstairs to report. After a moment, he nodded and let Li Ling ascend. Li Ling gave them a slight nod in return, holding the silver as he went up the stairs. Once upstairs, his eyes immediately landed on a burly man with a scar near his eye, seated at an imposing central table, leisurely sipping tea and holding a half-bitten pastry.

The man was alone at the table, while four or five others stood by the sides—clearly, this was Zhuang Qiang. Li Ling bowed slightly and said, “Greetings, Elder Zhuang, I…”

“So you’re that son of Li the gambler?” Zhuang Qiang interrupted mockingly, scrutinizing him. “I never thought he’d have a son with some semblance of talent. In just a few months, you managed to repay the two hundred taels that scared him into fleeing from his debts.”

If this had been the original Li Ling, he might have been terrified by Zhuang Qiang’s presence or enraged at the insult to his father. But now, Li Ling remained composed and unruffled, smiling faintly with a slight fist salute: “You flatter me, Elder Zhuang. I just had some luck.” He sensed something odd about Zhuang’s attitude, a forced smile that concealed something beneath.

“Being able to write ‘Fengshen’ is your true skill. I’ve read your book and found it quite good. I hope you’ll produce more fine works in the future.” With these polite words, Zhuang Qiang waved a hand: “Hand over the silver.”

Li Ling promptly presented the silver, and an underling stepped forward to weigh it. In this era without electronic currency or paper money, transactions were inconvenient. After some time, someone announced the weight: “Sir, a total of two hundred and one taels and three qian…”

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“Hmph, you’re honest. Indeed, you’re more reliable than your father. Since the debt is repaid, let’s consider this matter closed. You may leave. From now on, my men won’t bother you.” With a wave, an attendant handed over a promissory note recently found.

Li Ling quickly took it and examined the handwriting—it was unmistakably his father’s. After confirming, he tucked the note into his sleeve and bowed again: “Thank you for your kindness, Elder Zhuang. I take my leave.”

Though everything seemed smooth, and Zhuang showed no intention of cheating or making things difficult, Li Ling felt something was off. Yet, no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t pinpoint the problem; perhaps it was just his overactive suspicion.

Feeling a bit troubled, Li Ling was careless upon leaving the restaurant and collided head-on with a man entering from outside. Losing balance slightly, Li Ling quickly grabbed the man’s arm, causing the man to raise one hand but steady himself by clutching the doorframe.

The man snorted in displeasure and shook off Li Ling’s hand. Li Ling stepped back apologetically, but then his gaze caught a faint green tattoo on the man’s wrist.

Before Li Ling could get a clear look, the man brushed past him and went straight upstairs. Clearly, he was someone close to Zhuang Qiang, with free access inside.

After a brief pause, Li Ling recovered and quickly left the restaurant, picking up speed until he was out of Yaqian Street. Only then did he exhale a long breath, his expression shifting repeatedly as his heartbeat refused to calm.

“If I’m not mistaken, that tattoo… I’ve seen it before. It matches about eighty percent with the tattoo on the thief who broke into my house that night, injured me and Yue’er, and stole our silver!” Li Ling’s eyes filled with suspicion. “He’s that thief—no doubt! The physique matches, and there’s the tattoo…”

“But why? Since he’s with Zhuang Qiang, he wouldn’t risk being a thief for mere money, and hurt people! The only explanation is that he was acting on orders—that he was sent by Zhuang Qiang to target us! But why? Why would they do this?”

Before, Li Ling never suspected anyone was targeting his family. Even with massive debts, he thought it was just his worthless father gambling recklessly and causing trouble. But now, after just repaying the two hundred taels, he felt the situation was far more complicated.

“The way Zhuang Qiang looked at me today was strange—like he couldn’t accept something but had no choice. Is this how a creditor acts upon receiving a debt? And more importantly, Zhuang Hong’s reaction back then!” Li Ling slowly connected the dots—everything seemed linked, clearly a grand scheme set by Zhuang Qiang and his brother against his family. Thinking deeper, even his father’s sudden gambling spree might have been manipulated. Could that also be a trap laid by others?

“But why? Why target the Li family so meticulously? In terms of wealth and status in Jiangcheng County, even at our peak, we couldn’t compare to them. No way did we offend them. And if we had, with their power, they wouldn’t need such elaborate schemes to set traps…”

The more Li Ling thought, the more he felt something was hidden from him. But now, where could he start investigating? The people involved were few; his father was missing, and he certainly wouldn’t dare question Zhuang Qiang. As for the thief, even if he knew something, Li Ling couldn’t hope to get information from him by force.

The only consolation was that, for now at least, Zhuang Qiang seemed unlikely to use extreme measures against him—this was evident from returning the promissory note today.

“And I’m no longer the old Li Ling. If they make a move, I’ll find their flaws and squeeze every bit of their secrets out of them!” Li Ling vowed fiercely in his heart, then resumed his brisk pace toward the Gu family bookstore.

By then, Gu Yuezi was growing anxious, fearing something had happened to Li Ling. They had agreed to depart early today, yet noon was approaching with no sign of him. They had even sent a clerk to inquire. When Li Ling finally arrived, they hurried to ask.

Li Ling remembered he hadn’t informed them and apologized quickly before mentioning that he had repaid the debt but withheld the uncertainties.

Gu Yuezi laughed: “Then congratulations, Brother Li, a heavy burden off your shoulders. I was worried you wouldn’t make it back before the Mid-Autumn Festival, but now that’s settled. This is a good omen; your trip to the prefectural city should go smoothly.”

Li Ling nodded and agreed to depart in the afternoon, then hurried home.

When Yue’er heard the debt was cleared and Zhuang Qiang’s men wouldn’t trouble them anymore, she was overjoyed. But she soon grew downcast upon hearing Li Ling would be away for several days. The little girl looked at her brother pitifully: “Brother, how many days will you be gone? Why not take me with you?”

During these days, whenever she made this face, Li Ling rarely denied her requests. But this time, it didn’t work. He turned serious: “I’m going on official business, and the journey will be hard. You should stay home and wait for me. Don’t worry, Tong Uncle is here to watch over you, and I’ve repaid the silver, so you’ll be safe.”

He had planned for Yue’er to stay at the Gu family these days, but with Li Tong’s arrival, it saved much trouble.

“Alright…” Seeing her brother was earnest, Yue’er stopped begging and sniffled in acceptance.

“That’s better… I’ll bring you a gift when I return.” Li Ling smiled and ruffled the little girl’s hair, finally feeling completely at ease.

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