TTTQF Chapter 13

Clearing the Injustice

“I wonder if this big brother has ever heard of the saying, ‘There are always people better than you, and there are always higher skies’?” Jiang Miao looks at the speaker, Xu Sheng, and says, “Just because you can’t make delicious buns doesn’t mean others can’t. It’s easy to wrongfully accuse others, but I ask you, can you provide evidence that I put meat in my buns?”

The stall owner Xu Sheng replies, “I naturally can’t provide evidence, but this customer here revealed your secret with just one bite. I’m sure he can provide proof.”

“That’s right, you may deceive others, but you can’t deceive me!” the customer naturally continues, “I grew up by the sea, and my family makes a living from fishing. I’ve eaten plenty of seafood, especially shrimp!”

Jiang Miao and Daniu are both startled. This person specifically mentions shrimp, clearly coming prepared. It seems someone overheard their conversation that morning. Daniu feels a bit ashamed; if he hadn’t asked, Brother Jiang wouldn’t have answered, and no one would have overheard, and naturally there would be no such trouble.

But Jiang Miao doesn’t see it that way. He thinks these people are out to harm him from the beginning and have set him up after overhearing a few words. Now that he knows their tactics, he feels relieved. He had been worried they might secretly stash some meat in his bun stand.

“Are you saying I put shrimp in my buns?” Jiang Miao asks, a slight, playful smile on his lips.

Seeing Jiang Miao unfazed, Xu Sheng suddenly feels something is off. He must be pretending! Xu Sheng reassures himself, seeing Jiang Miao’s assistant looking guilty, convinced they have indeed used shrimp.

“Of course, you think because Liangjing is inland and people rarely eat shrimp, you can secretly put it in the buns? You thought no one would notice, but today you happen to meet me! Normally, it might be fine, but these days you shouldn’t be adding it, especially when everyone comes here with sincere hearts to worship Buddha. What’s your intention by giving them meat to eat?” The customer speaks righteously, as if exposing a great social evil.

At this moment, customers who have bought buns but haven’t finished eating them begin tearing them apart to check for shrimp. Inside, there is only dried tofu and radish, nothing else.

Seeing the doubtful looks from everyone, the customer says, “Of course, he didn’t put whole shrimp in. He used shrimp powder, just like the noodle stall owner who used meat oil two years ago.”

“No wonder. I’ve seen him for the past couple of days, pouring something from a small paper packet into the filling. It turns out to be shrimp powder. You ground shrimp into powder on purpose and put it in the buns so that everyone would break their dietary restrictions and fail in their worship!” Xu Sheng exclaims, acting as if he has a sudden revelation. His righteous accusations against Jiang Miao immediately stir up the crowd.

“This is just too immoral!”

“Yeah, how can someone be so wicked?”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s flip his stand and see if he dares to sell here again!”

Jiang Miao sneers. Perhaps the noodle vendor two years ago was framed in the same way.

He looks around and sees that the people around him seem ready to make a move, as if they are persuaded. He immediately speaks loudly, “Everyone, calm down. Even in court, the accused has the chance to defend themselves. How can you just rely on the words of these two and decide to wreck my stand? People say there are gods three feet above our heads. You fear breaking dietary rules, yet here, at the foot of Puling Temple, in front of Buddha, you’re willing to commit such heartless acts. Aren’t you afraid of angering the Buddha?”

His eyes, clear and intense, stare down the customer and Xu Sheng, making them uncomfortable. The other customers, too, are silenced by his firm words, and no one dares to step forward.

“Stop trying to confuse everyone. You did use shrimp powder. If you want us to believe otherwise, take it out and show us!” the customer demands, struggling to maintain his stance.

“Okay, I can take the things out. But I won’t be wronged for nothing. Tell me, if I prove there is no meat, what will you do?” Jiang Miao retorts.

The customer glances subtly at Xu Sheng and says, “If there’s no meat, I’ll apologize to you.”

“Ridiculous. Do you think your words are worth a thousand gold? You have tarnished my reputation, and an apology is worth nothing. Let’s make it a real bet: ten taels of silver. If I’ve used meat, I’ll give you ten taels and promise never to set up my stall here again. But if it proves you wronged me, you must compensate me ten taels. The customers here will witness this bet. How about it, dare to bet with me?” Jiang Miao’s smile is cold, his eyes sharp.

Under Jiang Miao’s intense gaze, the customer turns pale, sweat beads on his forehead. He looks around and sees that the people he has conspired with earlier are now avoiding eye contact, afraid to be dragged into fulfilling the bet. Even Xu Sheng, who had come up with the idea, stands farther away as if it has nothing to do with him.

The customer, looking embarrassed, says in a panic, “Crazy! Who wants to bet with you? You know what you did!” He pushes through the crowd and flees as if his pants are on fire. The crowd, realizing what has happened, feels ashamed.

“I dare to swear before Buddha that I, Jiang Miao, have not added any meat to my buns in the past two days. If I am lying, may my intestines rot and may I die a terrible death!” Jiang Miao makes this vow in front of everyone to clear his name. He then turns to Xu Sheng and asks, “It seems this vendor also doubts me. Do you want to bet with me as well?”

Xu Sheng immediately puts on a troubled expression, feigning heartfelt remorse as he sincerely apologizes to Jiang Miao, “Oh, I, Old Xu, was fooled today. I didn’t expect to be deceived by that scoundrel and nearly misunderstood you, Brother Jiang. I truly apologize! I believe many others were also misled by that person. I suggest everyone come forward and apologize to Brother Jiang since we almost wronged him.”

“…” Shamelessness, thy name is Xu Sheng. Jiang Miao almost laughs in anger. So now, not only have they been performing a two-man act, but they are also trying to escape responsibility by hiding in the crowd.

Jiang Miao says, “Even if others had their doubts, they didn’t voice them. Only you kept echoing that customer’s accusations, as if you wouldn’t be satisfied until I was punished. I understand that competition exists between peers, but I never intended to ruin anyone’s reputation or livelihood. Of course, you can insist you were deceived, but let me remind you, if you encounter such situations again, don’t be so quick to trust others and rush to be the ringleader.”

Xu Sheng’s face turns red and then white. Being scolded like a young boy by this young man in front of everyone is extremely humiliating. Yet, under the current circumstances, he has no choice but to submit.

…

“Hmm, this bun seller speaks quite clearly.”

The crowd is so engrossed in the commotion that no one notices a carriage quietly parked on a nearby slope. The carriage bears no distinctive patterns, looking like any ordinary vehicle. But judging from the curtains on the windows and doors, it is not something an average person can afford.

The speaker’s surname is Han, given name Qin. True to his name, Han Qin possesses a pair of enchanting eyes that seem to convey deep affection no matter who he looks at, making people blush unknowingly. He is lazily reclining in the carriage, his slender fingers lifting a corner of the curtain, watching the scene down the slope with great interest.

And the person he is talking to is sitting on the other side. Dressed in simple blue attire, he maintains a straight posture even in the carriage, resembling a steadfast pine on a snowy mountain, not relaxing in the slightest. He holds a chess manual in his hand, seemingly focused on studying a difficult endgame. But a closer look reveals that his gaze is not on the book but following Han Qin’s line of sight to the eloquently speaking bun seller among the crowd.

“Ah Che, I’m talking to you!” Not getting a response, Han Qin, unwilling to be ignored, reaches out to snatch the book from Pei Che’s hands. However, Pei Che dodges and, with a quick movement, smacks Han Qin’s outstretched hand with the book.

Hearing Han Qin cry out in pain, Pei Che frowns slightly and finally puts down the book he has been holding the entire journey.

“I’m too harsh? All you’ve been saying is nonsense, disturbing everyone’s peace. You should be grateful it’s me accompanying you down the mountain. If it were Su Jin, he would have gagged you and thrown you out of the carriage by now.” Seemingly recalling something, a faint smile appears on his lips. With this smile, the carriage seems to be illuminated by a beam of light, and it is much brighter than before.

People often praise that the young master Pei of the Duke of Zhongguo’s Mansion is extremely good-looking. Yet, describing him as “handsome and dashing” or “gentle and refined” seems too superficial. Once, a renowned painter wants to capture his likeness, but after observing him for a long time, the artist regretfully sets down his brush, lamenting that his skills are insufficient to fully capture Pei Che’s elegance. Given this, he decides it is better not to paint at all.

Han Qin, holding his hand that has been hit, is momentarily dazed by Pei Che’s smile. Snapping back to reality, he sighs inwardly, wishing Pei Che’s sharp tongue could be a bit gentler. How could such a handsome face belong to someone so oblivious to romance? Pei Che is willing to accompany Han Qin down the mountain just to avoid a lady’s advances, which seems like a waste of his looks!

…

Jiang Miao has no idea that the person he went through great lengths to see yesterday is now right above him. Even if he knew, he wouldn’t have the mood to look up.

Because right in front of him, a large and a small figure are making him feel quite at a loss.

“Are you Brother Sanshui? Why haven’t you gone back yet? Little Stone is about to be sold!”

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