The innkeeper looked Liu up and down. He hadn’t showered in days, had the painting stuck out from his backpack, and he carried a broken umbrella. Fearing that the guy couldn’t afford the lodging, he insisted that he paid for the room up front. Liu debated trading things in his bag, a brush pen and two books, for a room. He didn’t want to exchange them, especially to a man who had no interest in their worth. So he handed over his umbrella hoping it would be enough to cover a night of lodging and a small meal.
The inn-keeper looked at him contemptuously and asked, “What if it rains?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. This is my destination.” “So you plan to starve to death here?”
“Any chance you know Mr. Du, the magistrate,” he asked, ignoring the innkeeper’s comment.
“Of course. Who doesn’t? He is hosting a banquet for the officials in the city tomorrow night.”
“I am his son-in-law.”
At this the inn-keeper laughed out loud. His eyes were surveying Liu for a second time. But Liu held a straight face and stood his ground.
“So you are the son-in-law of Mr. Du. Luckily you mentioned this. Come over quickly and read the bulletin written by your father-in-law.” The innkeeper dragged him to the wall and pointed to a piece of paper on it.
Beware of fraud. My estate was robbed and there may be a man going around claiming to be my relation. I have no sons or nephews, and my only daughter never married. Arrest this man if you find him.
The bulletin was signed with a scarlet stamp.
“Now you read it with your own eyes. There’s nothing more you can say. If you leave now, I won’t call the police.”
He was driven out of the inn. Hungry and penniless, he was a complete stranger to this city. In his desperation he couldn’t help but cry. It was dark by now, and he was so tired all he could do was huddle underneath the eaves of nearby house and wait for morning to come.
With the rising sun, Liu was up and hurrying towards the magistrate’s office. There were dozens of people coming and going from the building that was decorated with lanterns and streamers in preparation for the banquet the innkeeper had mentioned. The dinner was to celebrate the withdrawal of the enemy troops. The government officials and despotic gentry were all dressed up for the occasion. He managed to get to the gate of the building. He told the guard his story, in hopes it would get him inside. The gatekeeper could hardly believe that this shabby looking guy was the son-in-law of the magistrate. They thought he was just kidding. The gatekeeper was not willing to waste any of his time.
“All the officials are just inside and everyone is busy. Why don’t you wait outside for awhile?”
Liu nodded at the guard and sat on the steps, waiting. “It was noisy outside,” he thought. “When everyone got in, it was a mess inside. My father-in-law must be busy entertaining his guests. OK, I wait.” It was about noontime and he was growing hungrier.
The gatekeeper still refused to let him inside. Liu kept begging him to inform the people inside of his coming. Seeing that the guy lingered around and was reluctant to leave, the gate keeper began to worry that maybe he was in fact telling the truth and was indeed the son-in-law of the magistrate. “The high ranking officials may have poor relatives,” he thought. “What by any chance if this priggish pedant had any relation with the magistrate and he blamed, then it would be too much for me to take on.” Suddenly fearing for his job he quickly rushed inside and reported Liu’s presence to his boss. At this, he quickly went in and reported to his boss.
The magistrate just received an imperial edict transferring him to the capital where he became Prime Minister for his effort to end the war. He was walking among his officials when the gatekeeper rushed up to him and reported that his son-in-law was waiting outside.
“I don’t have any son-in-law!” he shouted. “Have you not noticed the bulletins I’ve sent all over town? How can you bother me with this? Needless to say, this guy is a swindler. Get rid of him!”
The gatekeeper felt stupid for his mistake. He returned to his post, grabbed Liu and dragged him out of the courtyard without a word. Liu began screaming at the guard and a loud argument soon broke out. Liu broke out of the guard’ grip and ran inside the building. Chaos erupted. The guard and servants chased after him. Du, who was trying to celebrate, grew quickly annoyed by the noise.
“Who the hell is this man? Catch him and send him to Lin’an. I will deal with him after I arrive in the capital.”
After so many hardships, Liu finally arrived at Huaian. But he never expected his father-in-law would have him arrested. He hardly had any place to vent his grievances.
