Outside the Zhao Family Rice Shop, Manager Zhao had counted the stock early in the morning and was waiting anxiously inside the shop for “Li Young Master” to arrive.
A hundred dan of polished rice was a huge transaction no matter where it took place.
If it went through, his monthly bonus for the next few months would surely increase, so before dawn he personally came to receive the goods, then prepared the finest tea, waiting for their arrival.
When a shop assistant came in to report that Li Young Master and his party had arrived, he sprang up at once, a look of urgent anticipation plastered on his face as he went out to greet them.
“Li Young Master, you’ve finally arrived.”
Manager Zhao cupped his hands toward Fu Tian, bowing slightly as he invited him inside.
After a perfunctory sip of tea, Fu Tian, seeing that he was as restless as if he had lice crawling on him, finally spoke coolly, “Manager Zhao, have you prepared the rice we requested?”
“It’s all been prepared long ago. Would you like to see it now?” Manager Zhao nodded repeatedly.
Fu Tian gave a nod, stood up with his hands behind his back, and lifted his chin at him, “Then I’ll trouble Manager Zhao to lead the way.”
The group followed Manager Zhao to the courtyard behind the rice shop. In the open space of the yard, nearly twenty sacks of polished rice were lined up neatly, all packed in the most ordinary cloth bags.
Fu Tian narrowed his eyes, the corner of his mouth curling ever so slightly. “I’ll inspect the goods first. If the rice isn’t up to standard…”
“Please rest assured, it’s all top-quality polished rice!” Manager Zhao said anxiously, “You’re welcome to inspect it as you please.”
Fu Tian gave him a meaningful smile, “Then I’ll have someone check it.”
With that, he walked over to the pile of rice and casually pointed at one sack, saying to Chu Xiangtian, “A-Tian, pour out this sack of rice.”
Chu Xiangtian: “…………”
Fu Tian put on a show of authority, pointing at the rice bag and giving his order, then withdrew, hands clasped behind him, his pointed chin held with a dignified air, eyes glancing askance—no doubt still angry about last night.
“Yes, Young Master.” Chu Xiangtian rolled up his sleeves, resigned to playing the servant this time. He easily lifted the sack, untied the cord, and poured all the rice into a bamboo basket at the side.
The white grains piled up in the basket, sparkling under the sunlight. The grains were short and plump, their color lustrous and fresh—indeed, this was top-quality, newly harvested polished rice.
Fu Tian stepped forward, casually stirring the rice with his fingers. Then, unexpectedly, he picked up the rice sack that had been tossed aside.
He pulled open the sack and glanced at the markings on the bottom. The corners of Fu Tian’s mouth slowly curled up.
He turned the sack inside out, exposing the lining, and pointed at a tiny “Fu” character printed on it, asking, “Manager Zhao, what’s this?”
From the moment Fu Tian started inspecting the sack so unusually, Manager Zhao had a bad feeling. But after thinking it over, he couldn’t recall any mistakes.
Now, with the nail-sized black “Fu” character on the sack thrust in front of him, he finally realized where things had gone wrong.
These people were setting him up together.
Manager Zhao’s face darkened, panic flashing in his eyes. He forced himself to suppress it and barked harshly, “You’re not here to buy rice at all! Men!”
As he shouted and tried to run out to call for help, Chang Xi, who was closest to him, stepped forward and kicked his knee, twisting his arms behind his back and forcing him to kneel on the ground.
“Don’t move, or don’t blame me for being rough.”
The difference in strength was obvious. Held down by Chang Xi, Manager Zhao panted heavily, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Fu Huo, “Who are you people?”
Fu Tian gave him a smile, “You’ll know soon enough.”
He had barely finished speaking when Fu Ji hurried over with four constables. “Young Master, the authorities have been notified as you instructed.”
Manager Zhao, kneeling on the ground, stared wide-eyed at Fu Ji, then at Fu Tian, standing with his hands behind his back. His face went instantly pale.
He recognized Fu Ji—he was the Wen Family’s steward, and had accompanied Madam Wen on shop inspections before. The Fu Family steward had also spoken to him in advance.
***
Later, after they took the account books, they left. He’d thought they hadn’t noticed anything, but now it was clear—they had noticed, and had been waiting for them here all along.
Leaving Zhou Chuanqing to deal with the constables, Fu Tian led Fu Ji, Chu Xiangtian, and Chang Xi to the Fu Family Rice Shop.
This time, he did not hide his identity, striding into the Fu Family Rice Shop with the steward in tow.
The shop assistant from yesterday was absent; only a man in his forties was hunched over the Bead Abacus, focused on his calculations.
“Li Steward.” Fu Ji gave a light cough, reminding him of their presence.
Li Steward looked up and was surprised to see Fu Tian, but quickly smiled and came to greet them, “Wen Steward, what brings you here today?”
Fu Ji tucked his hands into his sleeves and said coolly, “There’s no more Wen Family from now on—only the Fu Family.”
Without minding Li Steward’s awkward smile, he stepped slightly aside, making way for Fu Tian. “This is the Young Master. From now on, all matters of the shop will be under his charge.”
Li Steward’s face twitched, forcing a stiff smile. Looking at Fu Tian’s still-young face, his eyes held a hint of disdain, but his tone was respectful, “Greetings, Young Master.”
Fu Tian nodded, stepped past him to the counter, and strolled casually for a moment before speaking slowly, “From now on, the Fu Family’s business will all be managed by me. I’m here today to check the inventory.”
Li Steward’s face froze, and he forced a laugh. “There’s a huge stockpile in the warehouse. Checking it all won’t be a quick matter.”
Fu Tian gave him a half-smile, “I’ll arrange the manpower. For now, Li Steward, take me to the warehouse.”
Li Steward bent at the waist, sweat beading on his forehead, his mind racing for an excuse to muddle through.
“Li Young Master, what brings you here? Is the rice all counted?”
A shop assistant, tidying up in the back courtyard, entered and immediately saw Fu Tian, hurrying over to greet him. Everyone’s gaze fell upon him.
The atmosphere in the room was strangely quiet.
The shop assistant hesitated, stopping in his tracks, his face confused as he wondered why everyone was staring at him.
“Li Young Master?”
Li Steward’s face lost all color, and his lips trembled as he uttered those three words. Of course he knew “Li Young Master”—the little master from the Li Family who had bought a hundred dan of polished rice.
Yesterday he’d been delighted at the extra income from the deal; the profit from that single transaction was more than a year’s salary as steward.
The happier he’d been yesterday, the more terrified he was now at the sight of Fu Tian’s cold face.
Unable to control his trembling legs, he fell to his knees with a thud, pleading to Fu Tian, “Young Master……”
“What are you doing, Li Steward? Get up and take me to the warehouse.”
Fu Tian’s face was expressionless, but in his beautiful eyes there was a hidden blade. Li Steward felt that if he looked even a moment longer, he’d faint on the spot.
Seeing him kneeling and unmoving, Chang Xi stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar, impatiently saying, “You’re a grown man, stop dawdling. You’re told to lead the way, so get moving!”
Li Steward shakily straightened up, whether he heard or not unclear, his legs trembling like noodles as he headed toward the warehouse in back.
The bewildered shop assistant finally realized what was happening, his gaze filled with terror as he looked at Fu Tian, his lips trembling, not even daring to beg for mercy.
Recalling what he’d said to the Young Master yesterday, his eyes widened in fear. Seeing the steward being coerced ahead, he felt as if he’d fallen into an ice cellar.
Chu Xiangtian’s gaze followed Fu Tian, clicking his tongue inwardly. The little Young Master really was full of surprises—his stern act was unexpectedly endearing.
Roughly dragging the shop assistant, who had collapsed to the floor, Chu Xiangtian then followed along.
The group arrived at the warehouse entrance. Li Steward untied the keys at his waist, but his hands shook so badly that after several attempts, he couldn’t get the key into the lock.
Chang Xi impatiently snatched the key and deftly unlocked the door.
The warehouse doors groaned open with a heavy creak, swinging slowly to both sides. Dust rose in the dim interior, but Fu Huo didn’t mind and walked straight in.
The rice shop’s warehouse was large. In the old days, when business was good, they’d stockpile plenty of grain.
Since it was far from the estates, restocking took time and effort, and as other shops closer to Shangming Town also came here to purchase rice, the rice shops in Shangming Town always received the freshest rice first every year.
The stocks from two rice shops could fill more than half the warehouse.
But now, the warehouse was almost empty, with only a little rice piled haphazardly in a dark corner.
Fu Tian stepped forward, picked up a hollow awl nearby, and stabbed it into a rice sack—rice poured out in a rush, spilling onto the floor.
The color was yellowed, with a musty smell—it was all old rice.
Fu Tian’s face turned cold, his gaze like a blade stabbing at Li Steward. “Will you confess now, or wait until you’re at the yamen?”