Chapter Thirty-One: Entering the Game

"Wait! According to what you just said, even if today is the fifth day, it should be sixteen taels of silver, not twenty!" Wang Wu frowned, immediately seizing upon the inconsistency in Ma San's words.

Ma San gave a contemptuous laugh and replied, "You’re being a bit unreasonable with that question. Do you think my brothers and I made this trip for nothing? Don't we deserve a little compensation for our hard work?"

Hearing this, Wang Wu was so incensed he was left speechless. He pointed at Ma San and his men, shouting, "Scoundrels! You are nothing but scoundrels!"

Ma San remained unfazed. "Heh! Only just realized I’m a scoundrel? I am a scoundrel, so what are you going to do about it?"

As the words fell, everyone in the courtyard was deeply angered. It was clear that Ma San hadn’t come to collect a debt today—he had come to extort them!

Zhao Mu’s brow furrowed tightly; he sensed that the matter was far from simple. There were issues with Wang Wu's earlier logic as well; whether it was sixteen taels or twenty, it was a sum Wen Zhi could never afford to repay. Even with usury, it was impossible for a debt to balloon twenty-fold in just four or five days. Strictly speaking, this was pure extortion. Since it was extortion, there should have been room to negotiate, but by arguing the specific amount, Wang Wu had implicitly accepted the validity of this unreasonable high-interest loan. The opportunity for leverage had diminished significantly. However, one could hardly blame Wang Wu; as an upright man, he lacked the guile to consider such maneuvers.

Yet, this was not what worried Zhao Mu the most. Wang Wu and Wen Zhi might have believed that Ma San was merely there to extort them, but Zhao Mu had a faint, lingering feeling that the situation was far more complex.

"I’ll kill you!" Wen Zhi roared, his rage boiling over as he raised his fist to strike.

Wang Wu immediately grabbed his arm, shouting, "Wen Zhi, don’t be impulsive! He’s trying to provoke you into attacking him on purpose!"

At these words, Zhao Mu’s mind reeled. Awakened by Wang Wu’s exclamation, he realized the day’s events were indeed a setup—a trap designed specifically to drive Wen Zhi out of Taiping County! He just couldn't guess yet who was behind it. He turned his head, his gaze sharpening. Up until now, Wen Zhi’s wife hadn't made an appearance. She was either a coward or she was involved. But he recalled that day when she had stood in the courtyard cursing at the top of her lungs; she certainly didn't seem like the cowardly type.

Perhaps she was all bark and no bite?

Seeing Wen Zhi restrained by Wang Wu again, a flash of disappointment crossed Ma San’s face.

"Gatekeeper Wen, didn't you brag about fighting the Hu tribesmen back in the day and killing more than just one or two of them?" Ma San sneered, goading him further. "If you’ve got the guts, kill me right now! Otherwise, you’re just a son of a bitch!"

"How dare you!" Wen Zhi cursed, preparing to swing his fist again. Wang Wu held him back with all his might, struggling to keep him under control.

Zhao Mu hurriedly shouted, "Brother Wen, check if there are any yamen runners outside!"

The onlookers were stunned. They couldn't understand why Zhao Mu would ask them to check for officials. This was a private debt dispute between Wen Zhi and Ma San; why would the yamen be involved?

However, Ma San, who had been blocking the gate, saw his expression shift instantly. He looked at Zhao Mu in shock, his face filled with astonishment and resentment. They were one step away from baiting Wen Zhi into the trap, only to have it exposed by this inconspicuous man.

Wen Zhi, still restrained by Wang Wu, asked, "Brother Mu, what do you mean by that?"

Zhao Mu shook his head. "Even though this man is blocking the gate, Brother Wen can still climb the wall to see if there is an ambush outside."

Wen Zhi looked toward the gate, but with Ma San and his men blocking the way, he couldn't see anything. Wang Wu immediately released Wen Zhi and hurried to the wall, climbing a stack of firewood to peer over. A single glance was enough to make his expression change drastically.

Just as Zhao Mu had predicted, a squad of yamen runners was waiting outside. Had Wen Zhi flown into a rage and struck out, he would have been caught red-handed. Seeing the look on Wang Wu’s face, Wen Zhi knew Zhao Mu had guessed correctly. He stared coldly at Ma San and asked, "Who sent you?"

Since the ruse was exposed, Ma San dropped the pretense. "What does it matter who sent me?" He tilted his head back, looking arrogant. "You only have two choices today: pay up, or get out of Taiping County!"

Zhao Mu’s heart sank. Ma San was indeed there to drive Wen Zhi out. He and Wang Wu had traveled thousands of miles to find Wen Zhi and had finally found a moment of peace after entering the city, yet after only a few days, they were already being forced back into their previous life of hardship.

Seeing Ma San’s triumphant demeanor, Wen Zhi’s anger deepened. He knew he had fallen into a trap, and were he alone, he would have beaten Ma San to a pulp, regardless of being kicked out of the city or thrown into a dungeon. But now that Wang Wu’s entire family had come to seek refuge with him, he could not afford to be impulsive for their sake.

"Just wait!" Wen Zhi glared at Ma San with hatred and turned to walk into the main house.

Wang Wu watched Wen Zhi’s retreating figure, his fists clenched tightly. He understood Wen Zhi; he knew he was choosing to compromise for the sake of his family. Otherwise, when had Wen Zhi ever swallowed such humiliation? He wanted to take his family and leave, but since Wen Zhi was already ensnared in a trap, leaving now would be a betrayal of their brotherhood. Yet, he was currently unemployed and relying on Wen Zhi for survival; how could he possibly help him break free from this predicament?

"Brother Mu?" Wang Wu looked toward Zhao Mu, who had been the first to see through the trap.

Zhao Mu sighed and said, "Don't worry, Brother Wang. Things haven't reached the worst-case scenario yet."

Wang Wu paused, feeling a sudden sense of unease. From Zhao Mu’s tone, it sounded as if something else was about to happen. Sure enough, shortly after Zhao Mu spoke, the sounds of an argument between Wen Zhi and his wife drifted out from the main house.

Wang Wu’s expression shifted, and he moved to intervene. He had already caused enough trouble for Wen Zhi by coming to stay with him; the last thing he wanted was for Wen Zhi’s marriage to fall apart because of him.

"Brother Wang, wait," Zhao Mu said, pulling him back. "Let them settle it themselves for now."

Wang Wu looked at him, bewildered and trembling slightly. "W-what is going on?"

Zhao Mu looked at Ma San before whispering, "Wen Zhi is facing such a crisis, yet his wife hasn't even shown her face. Don't you find that strange, Brother Wang?"

Wang Wu’s pupils contracted in surprise. "Are you saying she has something to do with this too?"

Zhao Mu replied noncommittally, "I hope I am just overthinking it."