Chapter Sixty-Two: Sun Bo'an, Disdained by His Own Father

Human relationships may well be the most intricate and unfathomable principle in this world. Sometimes, no matter how much you humble yourself or spend a fortune to seek favors, you may not obtain them. Yet at other times, if you seize the right moment and apply a bit of wit, those very favors might come seeking you.

As he walked toward the magistrate’s office with the military officer, Wu Ning made small talk along the way.

"I recall that day—didn’t my fourth uncle call you Wei Dalang, Brother Captain?"

The officer bent at the waist repeatedly. "Young master, you have a sharp memory. Just call me Dalang."

"How could I be so disrespectful? Of course I should call you Brother Wei."

They exchanged no further meaningful words on the road, and soon arrived at the office gates.

Outside, the bailiff idly counted pebbles with his head down. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the two approaching. "Hey, isn’t this Wei the cook? What’s up? Here to share a drink with us today?"

The magistrate’s office often relied on city guards when short-handed catching thieves and bandits, so faces were familiar. The bailiff was warm, but Wei Dalang kept a straight face and shot him a few warning glances.

Clearing his throat, he asked, "Is the magistrate in?"

"He is!" The bailiff toned down his attitude a bit, but still seemed oblivious.

Wei pointed to Wu Ning at his side. "This is the general’s nephew. He’s here to see the magistrate on business."

"Oh?" Only then did the bailiff look Wu Ning up and down.

This one... didn’t look the part at all!

Dressed in rough linen, old cloth shoes, hair tied up with a wooden pin, sleeves rolled up—he looked every bit the weathered farmer fresh from the fields.

This was... the general's nephew?

He leaned over to Wei Dalang. "Is this for real? He doesn't look it."

"Of course it’s real!" Wei Dalang snapped, lowering his voice and glaring.

"Hurry and announce us—delay official business and we’ll both be in trouble!"

"Alright, alright!" The bailiff thought, You’re the boss here. He figured Wei wouldn’t risk bringing a fake to the magistrate’s office, so he scurried off to report.

At that moment, Magistrate Sun was at work in the back. On hearing that Wu Changlu’s nephew sought audience, he was taken aback, furrowed his brow, and thought for a moment. "Let him in."

After the bailiff left, Sun Hongde tapped the table, pondering. Why would Wu Changlu send his nephew?

He couldn’t make sense of it, but decided to meet first and ask questions later.

Soon, noise came from outside.

"This way, young master. The magistrate is waiting inside."

Sun Hongde hesitated, then decided to rise and greet the guest. But before he could step out, another commotion erupted.

"Hmm? You scoundrel, it’s you?!" His son, Sun Bo’an’s voice.

As luck would have it, the two adversaries—Sun Bo’an and Wu Ning—ran into each other.

"Peasant! I’d left you alone, but you dare come to the magistrate’s office?"

...

"So it’s Young Master Sun. My respects," Wu Ning replied, bowing.

"Who needs your respect!?" Sun Bo’an fumed. "You dared strike me last time. I’ll settle that score sooner or later!"

...

Listening from inside, Sun Hongde grew less inclined to step out. He stood at the door, eavesdropping.

He expected the two youths to argue, which would let him judge the character of Wu Changlu’s nephew and his purpose in coming.

But to his surprise, he learned nothing at all from their exchange.

...

———

...

Wu Ning was exasperated. Damn, the magistrate’s son truly had free rein here—bumping into him as if this were his own backyard.

He wanted to retort to Sun Bo’an, but thought better of it; this was Sun’s turf, and he had come on official business. Best not to stoop to the rake’s level.

So he clasped his hands behind his back, relaxed his posture, and simply smiled at the magistrate’s door in silence.

No matter how Sun Bo’an raged and roared, Wu Ning didn’t answer a word.

Sun Bo’an’s handsome face flushed to a liverish purple from anger; in the end, he found himself shouting into a void.

Arguing takes two. What was the point of leaping about on his own? Couldn’t the other at least say something?

But Wu Ning just kept smiling at the door, unmoved.

Let him rant all he liked—it’s as good as wind passing by.

Wu Ning wanted to see how long the magistrate inside could endure.

...

———

Inside, Sun Hongde peered through the crack in the door, meeting Wu Ning’s mischievous, almost devilish smile. The only word that came to mind was:

"What a rascal!"

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Indeed, a consummate rascal. After so many years in office, Sun Hongde saw it plainly: Wu Ning was testing his patience, seeing who would break first.

But the magistrate was no match for him—because he had a fool for a son.

Sun Bo’an, now thoroughly impatient, ordered the bailiff, "Throw him out!"

Well, Sun Hongde had no choice but to intervene. If Wu Ning were thrown out, what meeting would there be?

He pushed open the door and immediately shot Sun Bo’an a fierce glare.

"You disgrace!"

Sun Bo’an, seeing his father, cried out, "Father! So you were in there! Why didn’t you come out sooner?"

With renewed energy, he pointed at Wu Ning. "It’s him! He’s the one who hit me last time!"

"Get out!" Sun Hongde barked. "Stop shaming me here!"

His face darkened; he looked at Wu Ning with even greater vexation.

That infuriating smile—however he looked, it seemed to mock him.

"You’re Wu Changlu’s nephew?"

Wu Ning kept his pleasant demeanor and bowed formally. "I am Wu Ning. Greetings, Magistrate."

"Hmm." Sun Hongde grunted.

He clasped his hands behind him and turned back into the room. "Come in."

...

———

"Wu Changlu has raised his family well!"

They sat, host and guest, and even in front of the city’s leading authority, Wu Ning remained composed, which Sun Hongde, irked as he was, had to admire.

"Who would have thought the Wu family had such promising young talent?"

Wu Ning responded with his usual light smile. "You flatter me, Magistrate. In truth, I had little choice."

Candidly, he said, "At sixteen or seventeen, who isn’t rash? Whatever friction I had with your son was unintentional."

"But..." he said with a look of resignation, "as you saw just now, beyond holding my tongue, there was little else I could do. No offense meant, Magistrate."

Sun Hongde nodded slowly. The words found favor with him.

But then he caught himself—wait, what do you mean, ‘as you saw’?

"I am devoted to my duties," Sun Hongde said, "and by the time I came to myself, you had already been arguing for a while. I heard nothing."

Wu Ning only smiled.

"Speak, then," Sun Hongde waved a hand. "Why are you here today? If it’s just about your quarrel with Bo’an, you may leave."

As Wu Ning had said, boys will be boys. He had the magnanimity to let such youthful squabbles go.

"Magistrate, your kindness is well known," Wu Ning replied, offering due praise.

"Then why have you come?"

"There is a favor I wish to ask, and I hope Magistrate will lend his aid."

"Help?" Sun Hongde was dumbfounded; he hadn’t expected the young man to seek his help.

"What is it you wish me to do?"

Wu Ning smiled. "It’s nothing grave. The merchant Qin Wenyuan, with whom I have some acquaintance, has been imprisoned for a crime. I cannot stand by and do nothing."

"So I ask if you might show some leniency."

Sun Hongde was speechless.

He was as exasperated as Wu Ning had been earlier. To be frank, even he and Wu Changlu were not close. Yet this boy had the gall to ask a favor outright. What nerve.

Yet, thinking further, perhaps it was not so simple.

He asked suspiciously, "Wasn’t Qin Wenyuan’s case settled some time ago? Why come to me only now?"

Wu Ning only smiled in response.

Sun Hongde drew a sharp breath.

"So you want me to release Qin Wenyuan?"

"Release him? That wouldn’t do," Wu Ning replied calmly. "Wang Hongyi is just waiting for him to get out."

"Besides, with the capital’s envoy here in Fangzhou, your reputation must be kept intact."

Sun Hongde regarded Wu Ning with a meaningful look.

Why couldn’t this boy be my son?

"How about a sentence of exile?" he suggested. "Three years in Yizhou, to begin after the spring. What do you think?"

Wu Ning rose and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Magistrate, for your mercy!"

Sun Hongde stood as well, accepting the gesture.

He said sincerely, "My son Bo’an has been spoiled from childhood. If you don’t mind, perhaps you could keep his company more often."

"If your esteemed son bears no grudge, I would be honored to associate with your family."

Sun Hongde nodded with satisfaction.

Wu Ning had spoken not of Bo’an and himself, but of the two families.

"You may go now. Tell your uncle I will remember this favor."

"Then I take my leave."

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Wu Ning bowed again and departed.

Just like that, it was done.

———

No sooner had Wu Ning left than Sun Bo’an burst out.

"Father! Why help him?!"

How did that upstart get the nerve to ask my father for a favor?

"Because you’re a pig!"

Sun Hongde cursed, jabbing his son’s forehead.

"How did I end up with such a useless son, nearly ruining my plans!"

Sun Bo’an was bewildered.

"What’s going on?"

"You, you, you!" Sun Hongde continued to berate him. "If you had half the sense of Wu Ning, I’d offer incense in thanks!"

Sun Bo’an was speechless.

"Go! Go home and study!"

"But father..." Sun Bo’an felt so wronged. "What’s really happening?"

"What’s happening?" Sun Hongde snorted, glancing in the direction Wu Ning had gone. "That boy is here as Wu Changlu’s envoy!"

...

To put it plainly, Wu Ning had chosen the perfect moment—when Sun Hongde and Wang Hongyi had fallen out—and the most suitable pretext: Qin Wenyuan.

To Sun Hongde, Wu Ning was sent by Wu Changlu to propose an alliance.

He hadn’t arrived saying, "Let’s join forces and topple Wang Hongyi." If Wu Changlu had been that direct, Sun would have hesitated.

But Wu Ning only asked a favor for Qin Wenyuan, and therein lay the intrigue.

Why seek a favor now, and not sooner?

If Qin Wenyuan were truly important, why hadn’t Wu Changlu intervened when Wang Hongyi schemed against him? Why not protest when he was arrested?

It showed that Qin Wenyuan might be significant, or not at all; what truly mattered was the magistrate himself.

Now, as Wang Hongyi was after Qin Wenyuan, Wu Changlu wanted to help, but also cared for the magistrate’s dignity. The meaning was clear:

We bear no grudge; indeed, there is friendship—let us associate more in future.

At this moment, when Sun Hongde most needed allies, Wu Changlu was invaluable.

...

Looking at Sun Bo’an, then at Wu Ning, the magistrate could not help but be dissatisfied with his own son.

"Look at him, then look at yourself!"

Never mind Wu Ning’s shabby clothes—he was just passing a message for Wu Changlu.

But in conduct and composure, he outstripped Sun Bo’an by miles.

"You said the boy who hit you opened an inn?"

"Yes," Sun Bo’an replied, aggrieved, feeling outdone by a mere country bumpkin.

"Visit him more often!"

Watching Wu Ning depart, Sun Hongde couldn’t help but sigh, "That young man is destined for greatness."

Sun Bo’an craned his neck, watching in the same direction, his handsome face nearly pressed to his father’s.

"Father, I am your own son. Is he really that impressive?"

"Out!" Sun Hongde shoved his son aside.

"Get home!"

"Oh," Sun Bo’an trudged away in disappointment.

"Come back! Tonight, the capital envoy is hosting a banquet for Fangzhou officials. You may bring family. Change into something proper!"

"Yes!"

"Speak little and observe much. Don’t cause trouble!"

"Yes..."

...

———

Nearly four thousand words—let’s call it a double installment.

To all taking the college entrance exam tomorrow: may you recall everything you studied, guess right on what you didn’t, and go wherever you wish!