The tranquility did not last long. When news spread that Yu Shun Fishing Firm had been shut down, everyone dropped what they were doing and rushed over.
The Sixth Prince observed their expressions—some showed the relief of suppressed grievances finally released, others wore twisted faces wanting to laugh but shedding tears instead, and some wept openly with fulfilled vengeance... Among all these, there was no trace of pity or reluctance.
As more people gathered, Chen Zhen and his brother shielded the prince, stepping back cautiously.
But this retreat was only the beginning. It seemed as if the entire village was converging here—the crowd grew larger, the cries louder, and even the sky cooperated by dimming the bright sun, with dark clouds gathering and distant thunder rumbling.
Yet, the flow of people continued unabated.
Wu Zheng emerged from the main entrance of Yu Shun, where one half of the door hung askew and the other lay fallen. Behind him, An Tai’s assistants supported individuals—men and women, old and young—all gaunt and sallow. Several women kept their heads bowed, wearing ill-fitting clothes, their faces ashen.
They had no way out—only a choice of where to die. But seeing their families one last time before death was enough.
"Ahem." Wu Zheng cleared his throat, masking his triumph as he declared loudly, "Anyone with unsettled accounts at Yu Shun, bring your proof to settle them. Those who usually supply goods to Yu Shun need not worry—after discussing with Shopkeeper Li of Shunchang, I will provide a solution. I won’t cut off your livelihoods. But you all know my rules: I’ll take your goods, but they must be fresh. If I find substandard goods even once, I’ll never buy from you again. I, Wu Zheng, am not Cao Dahai—I won’t tolerate such..."
"Let’s go." These were just words to win hearts, and the Sixth Prince stopped listening. Sister Hua had asked him to observe the people’s reactions, and he had seen enough.
But what use was seeing this? Did Sister Hua want him to benefit the people in the future? The Sixth Prince couldn’t help but wonder. In just one village, there were so many troubles. The world was vast, and beneath its apparent peace lay countless injustices. His father would never know how many commoners suffered oppression, for no one would report these "trivial matters" in the eyes of officials.
He wouldn’t speak of it either—it was useless. He knew his father couldn’t handle everything personally. Seated high on the throne, he couldn’t manage so much from afar.
But he could!
He didn’t need to sit so high. If Sister Hua wished for him to be a good official, he would ask his father for a post once he could leave the palace. He would stay away from that lofty position and the stifling palace. The Daqing Dynasty was vast—where couldn’t he go?
The Sixth Prince halted and looked back at the converging crowds, thinking: He would remember this lesson. When his aspirations were fulfilled one day, he would never allow such things in his jurisdiction!
Unaware that the seed she had planted was already sprouting, Hua Zhi drafted a new list. After inspecting An Tai Fishing Firm’s current stock, she realized her initial estimates had been too conservative. She added several more items to the original list, along with some less common seafood. The prices, of course, were incomparable, but good products never lacked discerning buyers.The negotiations tomorrow should go very smoothly. Once the contract is settled, we can return to the capital.
Hua Zhi felt somewhat dazed. It must have been nearly a month since they last met. In this era without WeChat or telephones, maintaining relationships was truly difficult. Half a month had already passed—Yan Xi should have returned by now.
The wind picked up, rattling the doors and windows. Soon, rain poured down in torrents, drumming against the windows like falling beans. The long-quiet street suddenly erupted with angry shouts, the fervor palpable even from a distance.
Stopping Bao Xia from stepping forward to close the window, Hua Zhi moved closer and leaned lightly against the windowsill to look outside. Glancing down, she happened to see the guards escorting Little Six as they hurried into the inn.
"Prepare some dry towels."
Shortly after, there was movement behind her.
"Sister Hua, I'm back."
Bao Xia promptly handed over the dry towels. Hua Zhi turned her head but remained by the windowsill, not moving away. The wind carried a slight chill, but it felt refreshing against her skin.
"Has Wu Zheng taken control of the situation?"
"Yes, he brought quite a few people out from Yu Shun Fishing Firm. It seems they’ve all suffered quite a bit." Little Six wiped his face and hair absentmindedly, a puzzled expression on his face. "Why doesn’t the village chief do anything about Cao Dahai’s tyranny? Even if the village chief can’t handle it, aren’t there higher authorities like the district chief or township head? They could report it further up. At the very least, they could make Cao Dahai rein in his behavior, so the people of Shui Guang Village wouldn’t have to suffer so much."
Hua Zhi smiled and beckoned Little Six over. Together, they gazed at the crowd in the distance, which hadn’t dispersed despite the heavy rain.
The Daqing Dynasty was much like the ancient times she knew. Although administrative divisions like districts, townships, and villages existed below the county level, their presence didn’t always mean much in practice.
"In Shui Guang Village, the Wu and Li families are the dominant clans. Probably seventy to eighty percent of the villagers belong to these two families. If the village chief is from one of these clans, it’s one thing. But if he’s an outsider, he’s merely a figurehead. Although the Daqing Dynasty operates under a centralized authority, in remote places like this, the real power lies with the clan elders and senior figures. A single word from them carries more weight than a cartload of words from the village chief. As for confronting local bullies and tyrants—without any armed force, they’re not even paper tigers. And as for reporting to higher authorities…"
Hua Zhi chuckled. "Who would dare? After all, very few people in this world have no family or attachments. The moment someone reports Cao Dahai, their family might suffer retaliation. To us, Cao Dahai is nothing but a stray dog driven out of the county town. But to the villagers of Shui Guang, he’s a vicious bully who must not be provoked. So, in the end, it all comes down to perspective. They’re intimidated by Cao Dahai."
Little Six listened intently, absorbing every word. After a moment of thoughtful silence, he asked, "So, the village chief is useless?"
"Not entirely useless, but his authority is limited. When the court issues decrees, don’t they have to be passed down layer by layer?" Hua Zhi watched the child deep in thought and gently patted his shoulder. "You should think carefully about whether there’s a way to solve this problem, Little Six. The common people have never asked for much—they’re content as long as they can live peacefully."
"Understood."Hearing his confident response, Hua Zhi laughed again. Truly, the newborn calf fears no tiger. If the problem were so easily solved, why would this system have been adopted throughout successive dynasties? Unless, like in later generations, everything became electronic, and a single ID card could take you anywhere across the country.
But then a new problem arose: first, there must be electricity, and then computers...
For a moment, Hua Zhi couldn't stop laughing.
PS: After checking the sources, I discovered that only border garrisons were called "towns" in ancient times—there was no such administrative unit elsewhere. Yet so many novels feature towns! Fiction has misled me!
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