Chapter 134: Young and Promising

"Xu Mo, what is the difficulty?" asked Xu Mo.

Master Qi immediately explained the problem of low commercial tax revenue in Xinzhou County. After finishing, he asked, "Young Master Xu, do you have any way to attract merchants from the Western Regions?"

Xu Mo smiled slightly and replied, "Master Qi, as the saying goes, one should not concern oneself with matters outside of one's own position. Isn't this something the Magistrate should be considering? Why are you asking me instead?"

Master Qi shook his head in frustration. "Young Master Xu, to be honest, the Magistrate has been wracking his brains over this for more than two years. But those Western merchants act as if they are bewitched; no matter how we try to persuade them, they refuse to pass through Xinzhou. The Magistrate and I are truly at our wits' end!"

Having said this, Master Qi cupped his hands in a salute and added, "Young Master Xu, please help the Magistrate. I, Qi Sheng, thank you on his behalf!" He then bowed deeply, nearly at a ninety-degree angle.

Xu Mo hurriedly stood up to support him. "Master Qi, please don't do this; I cannot accept such a gesture."

Master Qi pleaded once more, "Young Master Xu, please, just give it a try! Even if you don't succeed, the Magistrate will not hold it against you!"

Xu Mo pondered for a moment, then said with a very serious expression, "Master Qi, since you have put it this way, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse." Master Qi was instantly delighted.

Xu Mo continued, "However, Master Qi, this is not something that can be resolved simply by offering a couple of ideas. I need time. I must first fully understand the specific situation of Xinzhou and Heyang, analyze them comparatively to find the root of the problem, and then formulate a targeted solution. This cannot be done in a day or two."

Master Qi nodded in understanding. "I certainly understand that! Don't worry, Young Master Xu; as long as you agree to help, the Magistrate will surely grant you ample time!"

Xu Mo nodded. "Very well. I will come back another day to discuss this in detail. I have urgent business to attend to today, so I must take my leave now!" With that, he cupped his hands and departed in a hurry.

As soon as Xu Mo left, Magistrate Hu entered the room, holding a piece of calligraphy.

"My lord, you must have heard everything, right? Young Master Xu has agreed!" Master Qi said, feeling quite happy.

Magistrate Hu, however, could not muster a smile. He walked to the head seat, sat down, and tossed the scroll onto the table. Seeing this, Master Qi realized the Magistrate was displeased.

"My lord, please don't be angry. Young Master Xu had urgent business, which is why he didn't wait for your return. Please don't mind it!" Master Qi assumed the Magistrate was upset about that.

Magistrate Hu did not answer. He took a sip of tea before saying, "Master Qi, the more I think about what Xu Mo said just now, the more I feel he was just brushing me off."

Master Qi was slightly taken aback. He recalled the scene and said, "My lord, surely not? I found Young Master Xu to be quite sincere."

Magistrate Hu set down his teacup and said coldly, "Whether he was brushing me off or not, we will know by whether he returns." Master Qi nodded, deciding not to say anything more.

Just then, several people passed outside the second hall—it was Xiao Jinzhong and a few bailiffs, talking amongst themselves. Upon seeing Xiao, the Magistrate called out, "Registrar Xiao, come here for a moment..."

Seeing he was summoned, Xiao Jinzhong trotted into the hall and bowed respectfully. "I am at your service, my lord. What are your instructions?"

Magistrate Hu asked, "Registrar Xiao, have you heard of someone named Xu Mo? The young owner of the Peony brand soap?"

Xiao Jinzhong nodded. "My lord, I haven't just heard of him; I have dealt with him more than once!"

"Oh? Is that so!" The Magistrate had only asked on a whim, never expecting to hit the mark so well. He continued, "How much do you know about this man's background?"

"I know his situation like the back of my hand!" Xiao asserted.

"Then tell me!" the Magistrate urged.

Xiao immediately began, "Xu Mo lives in Jiming Lane. His family once had a modest fortune, and he was a student at the Xinzhou Academy. But later, he became addicted to gambling. He borrowed money everywhere in the academy and refused to pay it back, causing a terrible reputation. Eventually, the academy could bear it no longer and expelled him!"

"What? He was expelled from the academy?" The Magistrate was shocked and glanced at Master Qi, as if questioning what kind of person he had recommended. Master Qi, unaware of this dark history, began to panic. However, he remembered that about seven or eight months ago, the academy had indeed sent a notice of expulsion. He had forgotten the name, but he could not have been mistaken about the event, as such expulsions were rare.

Xiao Jinzhong continued, "My lord, that’s not all. After being expelled, he spent his days in gambling dens. It didn't take long for him to lose his entire family fortune. Then he started selling his wife's dowry. In the end, blinded by his losses, he even signed his own wife into an IOU. This man is truly terrifying!"

The Magistrate was stunned into silence. Master Qi, also panicked, asked, "Registrar Xiao, is what you say true?"

"It is absolute truth, Master Qi. How would I dare to deceive the Magistrate?" Xiao replied with a grave face.

Magistrate Hu sighed and waved his hand. "Very well, Registrar Xiao, you may return to your duties."

Xiao bowed and retreated from the hall. As he turned away, a triumphant smile crept onto his lips.

After Xiao left, Magistrate Hu slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Master Qi, you... you are ruining me!"

Master Qi hurriedly said, "My lord, please calm your anger. It was my dereliction of duty for failing to investigate Xu Mo's situation first. However, I feel it may not be as outrageous as Registrar Xiao described."

"Xiao Jinzhong is the Registrar of this county; do you not believe his words?" the Magistrate countered.

Master Qi replied sternly, "My lord, to my knowledge, Registrar Xiao and Xu Mo have had unpleasant encounters in the past, so..."

The Magistrate frowned. "Are you saying the Registrar is slandering him?"

Master Qi shook his head. "My lord, that is not my meaning. I only mean that the Registrar's words are one-sided. I must verify the situation myself; perhaps there are hidden circumstances we are unaware of."

The Magistrate pondered for a moment before saying, "Master Qi, go verify it immediately. If it is as the Registrar says, I will certainly not employ him!" He then grabbed the scroll from the table and threw it angrily into a corner. He stormed out of the hall.

Only then did Master Qi dare to frown, thinking to himself: one thing is one thing, why take it out on the calligraphy? As a man of letters who cherished fine art, he was deeply displeased by the Magistrate's behavior. He walked over, picked up the scroll, and carefully blew off the dust.

He then unrolled it. When he saw the characters written on it, he immediately understood why the Magistrate was so angry.

The scroll read: "A Young Man of Great Promise."