Chapter Forty-Four: The Tooth Merchant

Liu Heng sat astride his horse, skillfully grasping the reins to urge the mount forward.

This body had once nearly become a guerrilla guard. However, he was denied the position for refusing to change his surname, which offended the guerrilla leader. As a result, he was relegated to the lowest rank in the firearms battalion. Yet, he possessed all the skills a guard should have—only his archery was somewhat lacking.

“So, you’re saying Shi Yunhu and Ma Yunjiu are already dead?” Liu Heng asked Yang Yuan, who rode another horse nearby.

Yang Yuan could not ride by himself and had to share a horse with another rider who guided him.

This time, when leaving the bandit camp, Liu Heng brought only Yang Yuan and three other horsemen who could ride. Five men on four horses set out toward Lingqiu.

“The bulletin said so. Not only Shi Yunhu but also the head of the family and Li Tou are named,” Yang Yuan replied, clutching the waist of the rider in front of him and tilting his head to speak.

Liu Heng smiled. “Surprising that I’m already declared dead. I just don’t know if Shi Yunhu and the others really are.”

“They’re definitely dead,” Yang Yuan said, tilting his head. “Surrounded by thousands of troops, even if Shi Yunhu grew wings, he couldn’t escape.”

The rider carrying Yang Yuan spoke up, “Since the government believes we’re dead, traveling to Lingqiu should be much safer. Boss, should we still change our names?”

Liu Heng answered, “No need for such trouble. It’s common for people to share names.”

The swift horses sped toward Lingqiu. They camped outdoors overnight and entered the city the next day.

Lingqiu was not large, divided into east and west sections. They entered through the east gate, flanked by dilapidated houses on both sides. The main road was covered with furnace ash and gravel, bordered by drainage ditches that emitted foul odors in the summer heat.

Near the east gate stood an open-air teahouse with several benches where a few men dressed in short clothing sat.

Behind them was a pawnshop, its bright sign hanging from a wooden pole. The men were pawnbrokers who swarmed around Liu Heng and his group as they rode into the city.

“Gentlemen, need iron ingots? Finest iron smelted in the best furnaces! Tap it with your hand and it rings crisp and clear. Weapons forged from such iron cut through hair like nothing,” one pawnbroker said, eyeing the sword hanging from Liu Heng’s waist. Seeing a man skilled with blades and spears, he immediately brought out weapons.

Warriors wore swords; scholars hung swords too, though not all knew how to wield them. But anyone who wore a blade at the waist certainly knew how to use it.

“No thanks,” Liu Heng said without stopping, urging his horse onward.

The pawnbrokers did not give up, quickening their pace to catch up.

“Sir, judging by your face, this is your first time in Lingqiu. Whether buying, selling, or finding someone, whatever you need, we can arrange it,” one said.

Liu Heng pulled the reins, and the three horses behind him halted.

He turned his head toward the pawnbroker beside the horse. “Can you really arrange anything? I want to find someone.”

The man patted his chest. “As long as the person is in Lingqiu, just ask. If I don’t know, look at that sign over there—you can smash it or burn it if you want. From today on, this pawnshop will change its name and close down.”

The sign was the triangular banner hanging upside down from the wooden pole outside the door.

Liu Heng glanced at it and smiled. “I won’t burn your banner or smash your sign. I just want to find someone. He’s from Lingqiu County and runs an ironworks over by Dongshan.”

“There are many ironworks over at Dongshan, but the most famous is the Xu family. Which one are you looking for?” the pawnbroker asked. “If it’s the Xu family, even if I knew, I wouldn’t dare say.”

“I don’t know if it’s the Xu family. I don’t need you to do anything, just tell me the name and where he lives.”

“All right, ask away. I know every ironworks owner over at Dongshan.”

Liu Heng said, “A few days ago, someone here swindled a thousand taels of silver, didn’t deliver any iron ingots, and even beat someone. Is that true?”

The pawnbroker thought for a moment. “To be honest, yes. The swindler was an ironworks owner from Dongshan, but his operation is small—only two furnaces. The victim was a young outsider. After the incident, those outsiders vanished...”

He stopped at that.

Liu Heng took a tael of silver from his pocket and tossed it to the man, who carefully caught it with both hands, weighed it, and slipped it into his sleeve.

“You’re generous,” the pawnbroker bowed slightly. “That ironworks owner’s name is Chen Dafu. He lives at the first house at the alley near the west gate. He lives alone and has wasted most of his family fortune on drinking, gambling, and women. The ironworks has long been abandoned. His wife was sold to a brothel. The neighbors avoid him, even dogs wouldn’t come near.”

When he finished, Liu Heng threw another tael of silver. “You understand what I mean?”

“Don’t worry, sir. Even if someone were to chop me with an axe, I wouldn’t open my mouth,” the pawnbroker grinned, pocketing the silver.

Liu Heng ignored him, nudged his horse forward, and rode on, followed by Yang Yuan and the other three riders.

Once they were out of earshot, another pawnbroker approached the first and whispered, “Third brother, these men don’t look easy to mess with. Listen, they’re probably the helpers of the man Chen Dafu swindled recently.”

“This has nothing to do with us. Do you think not talking will stop them from finding Chen Dafu? Go back and tell everyone to keep their mouths shut for the next few days. Though we’re not afraid of these outsiders, we shouldn’t get ourselves into trouble.”

“Understood. I’ll pass the word,” he said, turning back.

The first pawnbroker glanced at Liu Heng’s departing group, pinched the silver in his sleeve, and hummed as he headed back to the pawnshop.

Riding farther away, Yang Yuan asked in confusion, “Boss Liu, why did we spend silver to ask the pawnshop about Chen Dafu? We could have investigated on our own.”

“The pawnshop has the best information network. Others might not know, and it’s easy to alert Chen Dafu if we ask around directly,” Liu Heng said, urging his horse into a slow trot. “You lead. Take us to that blacksmith shop you mentioned.”

Yang Yuan pointed ahead. “The blacksmith is in the east city. Turn at the next alley.”

They turned, and after twenty steps, reached the blacksmith’s door.

Dismounting, Liu Heng and Yang Yuan entered, leaving the other three outside to watch the horses.

A wave of heat greeted them inside. The road outside was already hot, but the blacksmith’s shop was several degrees warmer.

A young man dressed as a shop assistant approached. “What can I help you with?”

Yang Yuan said, “We want to see your master. Tell him we have business.”

The assistant glanced at Yang Yuan, then at Liu Heng, who was intently eyeing the ironware inside, before replying, “Please wait a moment.”

The blacksmith’s shop was connected to a room beside it. The assistant lifted the curtain and shouted inside, “Master, someone’s here to see you.”