Chapter 17: Have You Never Thought of Reporting to the Authorities?

“Ah!” Lin Gui sighed helplessly, lowering his head, his heart heavy with bitterness. Just as he was about to pack up and leave, a calm voice abruptly spoke from ahead.

“How much silver do you want in exchange for yourself?”

Lin Gui looked up to see Shen Xuan, who was only slightly older than him. Then he lowered his head again and answered softly, “Not much. I just want my father to be buried properly, with a decent coffin.”

“You don’t demand an exorbitant price, so why have I stood nearby for so long without seeing anyone come to inquire?”

Shen Xuan, hearing Lin Gui’s request, grew even more puzzled and directly asked, “My father was a gambler. Because he couldn’t repay the casino, he was beaten to death a few days ago. Debts pass from father to son. Since my father is gone, I must repay his debts.”

Lin Gui did not hide anything and told Shen Xuan the whole story.

“I see,” Shen Xuan nodded. His father’s debts must have been considerable. If he took this boy in, he would have to pay off the debts attached to him. It was no wonder no one was interested in such a losing deal.

“Your father was beaten to death. Didn’t you think of reporting it to the authorities?” Shen Xuan asked again.

“Of course I did! How could I not? But those officials said it’s only right to repay debts. My father’s death was deserved. I didn’t even get into the government office before being thrown out.”

Lin Gui’s voice choked with emotion as he clenched his fists tightly. He understood this simple truth. Yes, his father was a gambler and a deadbeat who treated him badly, always hitting or scolding him when things went wrong. But no matter what, his father was dead. No amount of grievance or resentment could change that.

He was still his father, and that alone was enough. Filial piety is the foundation of all virtues, and as a son, Lin Gui wanted to give his father a final dignity.

“Why don’t you run away? Since you have no family left here, you could leave the capital. Life might be harder, but at least you wouldn’t have these debts to pay.”

Shen Xuan’s tone remained calm as he looked at the boy. Lin Gui lifted his head, his expression stubborn, and said firmly, “I can’t run away. I can’t be like my father. Those officials are right—debts must be repaid. If I run, I become a person without integrity.”

Shen Xuan met his unwavering gaze and felt a stirring in his heart when he saw the boy’s youthful determination.

“How much did your father owe the casino?” Shen Xuan asked again.

Lin Gui was taken aback. He thought Shen Xuan would be like others, walking away after hearing his story, unwilling to get involved with the casino.

“Six hundred taels of silver.”

At last, Lin Gui spoke the number.

“I’ll pay off your six hundred taels of debt, but from now on, your life belongs to me.”

Shen Xuan said this without a flicker of change in his expression.

“Is that... really true?” Lin Gui was startled and hesitated before asking.

“Of course.”

Shen Xuan’s voice was certain.

Lin Gui’s face lit up with joy, ready to agree, but the words caught in his throat. Looking at Shen Xuan’s calm face, a strange doubt crept into his heart.

Originally, Lin Gui thought that if someone bought him, even if he had to serve them for the rest of his life, he would accept it. But now that someone actually offered to pay his debts, he felt unworthy of such a price.

“Forget it, I won’t sell myself.”

After thinking for a moment, Lin Gui changed his mind.

“Why?” Shen Xuan’s expression lost its previous calm, a flash of surprise crossing his face as he asked curiously.

“I appreciate your kindness, sir, but I’m not worth that much. I have hands and feet to work hard. One day, I’ll repay my debts.”

Lin Gui stood up from the ground, bowed deeply to Shen Xuan, and spoke resolutely.

“Have you thought this through?”

Shen Xuan looked at the honest boy before him and felt a strange admiration rising within him.

“I have thought it through. Sorry to have wasted your time. When I’ve paid off my debts, I’ll invite you for a drink.”

With that, Lin Gui turned and walked away without hesitation or delay.

“An honest man,” Shen Xuan murmured, watching the tall youth’s retreating figure with growing respect. But he had his own principles and would not force the matter.

Shaking his head regretfully, Shen Xuan left the place.

---

“Heavens! Brother Chen Ren, are you sure such exquisite couplets were composed in a place like Flower Full Tower?”

“Yes, Brother Chen. I know Li Qiunian well enough. With such talent, it’s not surprising. But who exactly is Shen Xuan, to come up with the third line of the couplet?”

In a classroom at the Taiping Academy, a dozen students surrounded a young man, discussing endlessly the three pairs of couplets in his hands.

“Pfft! Can there be any doubt? I saw the whole thing myself. That Shen young master is extraordinary.”

“After Li Shizi’s two lines stunned everyone, Shen Xuan’s third line came out like a god descending from heaven—truly earth-shaking and soul-stirring.”

“You weren’t there. You can’t imagine how breathtaking the scene was.”

Chen Ren’s face was flushed with excitement, pride brimming in his words as he praised Shen Xuan to the skies.

“Chen Er, aren’t you exaggerating? If Shen Xuan were really that amazing, how come he never had a reputation before?”

A fair-faced student nearby voiced his doubts.

“Hmph! You must be ignorant. Shen Xuan just changed his surname. His former name was well known throughout the capital.”

Chen Ren’s face remained unchanged, his tone mysterious.

“Who?”

“Come on, Chen Er, stop teasing us and just say it!”

The other students urged eagerly.

“This Shen young master’s original surname was Qin—Qin Wunian, the current Prime Minister!”

Seeing everyone’s excitement rise, Chen Ren spoke plainly.

“Surname Qin? Qin Xuan? That was the spoiled brat from three years ago? Chen Ren, are you joking? With Qin Xuan’s past behavior, how could he produce such couplets?”

A student next to Chen Ren exclaimed in disbelief, his face full of incredulity.

“Just rumors! How can you believe that? Don’t you know seeing is believing, and hearing is not?”

Chen Ren snorted, looking down on the skeptic.

“Anyway, I don’t believe it. A spoiled brat having such talent is absurd.”

The student sneered, flicking his robe.

“Hey, I’m hot-tempered! Today, I’ll debate this with you properly.”

Chen Ren frowned, pointing at the student as he prepared to argue.

“Who do you want to debate with?”

Suddenly, an elderly voice sounded behind them.