Chapter 9: A Chance Encounter

Early the next morning, Liu Shen inquired among a few acquaintances and learned that Wei Dafu’s family lived in Weijiazhuang, a village in Xikou Town, Heyang County, about thirty miles from the wharf.

If there was anything plentiful at the wharf, it was mule and horse carts coming and going. After a bit of asking around and spending a small coin, he managed to hitch a ride on a cart returning after unloading its goods, and by noontime he had reached the outskirts of Xikou Town.

It happened to be market day, when people from neighboring villages would flock to the town either to sell homegrown vegetables or to purchase daily necessities such as rice, flour, or cured meats. As a result, the streets of Xikou Town bustled with activity.

Walking along the street, Liu Shen couldn’t help but feel, perhaps it was just his imagination, that the matrons and aunties passing by were giving him odd looks. With a glance, he saw that those women who sneaked peeks at him even seemed too “shy” to meet his gaze.

“What a fine, sturdy young man. Aside from his dark skin, he’s rather handsome, isn’t he?”

“What’s wrong with dark skin? Look at those arms, that waist—so strong! If my old man had half his build, I’d laugh myself awake from my dreams.”

“If only I could spend a night with him—tsk, tsk.”

“In your dreams…”

…

Perhaps his heightened senses from the mark between his brows were to blame, but Liu Shen could clearly hear the women whispering about him. His face stiffened, temples throbbing, as he silently cursed his ill-fated luck with women—was this what it meant to be “plagued by romance”?

This was more like a curse.

Feeling a chill run down his spine, he hurried his steps, eager to escape the crowded street and deliver Wei Dafu’s money pouch.

With so many people about and his own pace quick, he failed to notice as he suddenly collided with a half-grown child.

The boy was perhaps twelve or thirteen, thin and frail, his clothes patched in many places. When he was knocked down, he let out a cry and landed hard on the ground.

“Sorry, I’m so sorry…” Liu Shen, feeling guilty for knocking the boy down onto his backside, quickly stepped forward to help him up.

“I was distracted, lost in thought. I truly apologize—are you all right?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine…” The boy grinned through his pain, shook off Liu Shen’s helping hand, and waved him off. “Go on, go on, I’m fine.”

“As long as you’re not hurt.” Liu Shen breathed a sigh of relief, but still, out of concern, he offered, “Would you like me to take you to the clinic just in case?”

“I told you I’m fine! No need for a clinic.” The boy seemed impatient, shot him a glare, and stalked away with a snort.

…

Just as Liu Shen was congratulating himself on the simple, honest ways of local folk, he suddenly paused, frowning—something felt off.

He quickly checked his pockets and discovered that the money pouch he’d just had was now missing!

Lost it? No—the money pouch had been stolen!

Coming to his senses, Liu Shen turned and caught sight of the very boy he’d bumped into, now glancing back at him from a distance.

Their eyes met.

The boy’s face reflected a flash of panic—clearly, he hadn’t expected Liu Shen to realize so quickly. Without hesitation, he took off at a run.

“The local gangs really have no manners!” Liu Shen shouted, realizing at once who the thief was. Gritting his teeth, he gave chase.

“Stop, thief!”

The boy was a native, darting through the streets like a slippery eel. Once he left the crowded main road, he ducked into a winding, narrow alley, hoping to shake his pursuer.

But Liu Shen had worked as a porter at the wharf for four years; his strength and stamina were both formidable, and he kept close behind, relentless.

After all, the stolen pouch wasn’t his own—it belonged to Wei Dafu.

He had promised Wei Dafu just the other night to return this very pouch, and now, after coming all this way, to lose it at someone’s doorstep to a petty thief—he was ashamed and furious.

The boy ahead didn’t dare look back, running until his legs gave out, finally stopping to catch his breath against a wall and stealing a glance over his shoulder.

Seeing no one behind, a relieved smile broke out on his face. He hefted the pouch in his hand, delight shining in his eyes, and hurried straight home without delay.

He had just reached the door of a dilapidated thatched hut when he felt a sharp pain behind his knee and toppled to the ground with a cry.

Terrified, he turned and saw the man he had tried to outrun approaching, a stone in his hand.

“Quick on your feet, aren’t you, brat?”

Liu Shen let out a heavy breath, pleased that his stone had hit its mark. Seeing the boy still trying to scramble up and escape, he strode forward and pinned him to the ground.

“Still trying to run?”

Liu Shen pressed his knee into the boy’s back, twisted his arms behind him, and yanked the pouch from his hand.

“You little rascal! I helped you up, even offered to take you to the clinic, and you repay me by stealing my money pouch? Has a dog eaten your conscience?”

Pinned to the ground, the boy glared up with fierce defiance and shouted, “Kill me if you want!”

“Still got some fight in you?” Liu Shen sneered, patting the boy’s cheek. “I’m not going to kill you or skin you. According to Da Qian law, theft of more than fifty strings of cash earns forty strokes; over one hundred and twenty, it’s one hundred strokes and exile three thousand miles. That sleight of hand—clearly, you’re no amateur. Forty strokes at least, maybe more; let’s see what the magistrate decides!”

“You…”

Fear of the authorities runs deep in every thief. The boy’s face turned ashen at Liu Shen’s words, yet he still managed to shout, “I’m not going to the magistrate! Kill me if you dare!”

Before Liu Shen could reply, a timid little girl stepped out of the rundown hut.

She looked about eleven or twelve, limping as she walked. The moment she saw what was happening, she dropped to her knees in terror. “S-sir, can I go to the magistrate in my brother’s place?”

Hearing her voice, the fierce defiance on the boy’s face instantly turned to fear. He struggled, turning his head, eyes red as he shouted, “Who told you to come out? Didn’t I say not to come out no matter what you heard? Get back inside!”

The girl only shook her head, lips quivering. The boy glanced anxiously at Liu Shen, then screamed, “If someone must pay, I’ll pay! I stole your money, so whatever punishment you want—kill me, take me to the magistrate—it has nothing to do with her!”

Liu Shen’s expression shifted. “You two are siblings?”

The boy clenched his teeth in silence, but the girl timidly nodded. “Yes.”

“And your parents?”

“They died a few years ago in the flood.” The girl pressed her lips together, her voice quivering as she pleaded, “My brother took me in and raised me. He only stole to buy food for me. Sir, can I go to the magistrate for him?”

“Who’s your brother?” The boy shouted, eyes red. “You’re just a waif I picked up, a skinny little thing—raise you up and maybe I can get a good price for you. Get out of my sight and stop making trouble!”

The girl bowed her head, biting her lip to stifle her tears.

Yet Liu Shen could clearly sense that the boy’s voice trembled with every word—a reflexive sign of lying. The boy was not telling the truth.

Perhaps it was the mention of “parents lost to the flood” that struck a nerve with Liu Shen, or perhaps the girl’s crippled leg lowered his guard.

He eased his grip, glanced at the dilapidated hut, and asked, “Is this where you live?”

The girl nodded. “Yes.”

“Get up.”

Releasing the boy, Liu Shen stood and walked toward the girl.

The boy, feeling the pressure lift, scrambled upright but, instead of running, stood protectively in front of the girl, glaring at Liu Shen. “What do you want? Aren’t you afraid I’ll run?”

“You dare run?” Liu Shen gave him a cool glance. “If you try, I’ll break your legs.”

…

“Take me inside. I want to see your home.”