Nine Lives of Unjust Suffering Chapter 9

Chapter 9: A Virtuous Mother Pitied in Poverty; A Silken Scarf Ends a Noble Life

The mention of “Zong-kong” made Lady Zheng’s eyes snap open with fury. “What has that devil done now?!” she demanded.

The servant Kei-fu reported that Zong-kong had led dozens of men to Yellow Mud Ridge to dig up and carry away the entire harvest of taro plants belonging to the Leang family. When Kei-fu tried to stop them, he was beaten and kicked.

Note on Cantonese Custom: During the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is a local tradition in Guangdong to boil taro as a seasonal offering and snack alongside mooncakes.

Tin-loi, ever the peacemaker, sighed. “If they dug them up, let it be. Why argue over taro? We can simply buy what we need for the festival.”

Lady Zheng was stunned by Tin-loi’s passivity. “Nephew, you are far too soft-hearted! If you keep indulging them, they will only grow bolder! It makes me lose my appetite just sitting here.”

As the meal ended, Lady Zheng made a request to Lady Leang: “Aunt, most of the Ling men are becoming violent and lawless. I fear for Yi-hang being influenced by them. I am just a woman and cannot watch him every second. I want him to leave this place. Could Tin-loi find him some manual labor at the sugar firm in the city? It doesn’t matter how little it pays, so long as he stays away from the ‘dye vat’ of the Ling clan.”

Tin-loi agreed immediately, promising to take Yi-hang to the city the very next day. Lady Leang, moved by Zheng’s plight, gave her two taels of silver and several sets of old clothes. The daughters-in-law followed her lead, adding their own gifts. The couple left, overwhelmed with gratitude.

Historical Spoiler: Later, when the “Nine-Case Murder Mystery” is finally brought to justice and the gang of thugs is executed, Yi-hang is the only one spared, purely because his wife’s wisdom kept him away from the crime.

The Mid-Autumn Festival and a Sudden Visitor

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets were alive with music and celebration. In Guangdong, families hoisted colorful flags—some featuring the Seven Stars or flying dragons—atop their roofs. At night, countless lanterns were lit, creating a sea of light.

Lady Leang was enjoying the moon in the courtyard with her family when Kei-fu announced a visitor: Miss Ling.

It was Kwai-sin, the younger sister of the villain Kwai-hing. The Leang family was shocked; the two houses had been at war for months. Kwai-sin entered, paid her respects, and immediately burst into tears.

“Aunt,” she sobbed, “when my father made his fortune, it was through honest means. But my brother… I watch his actions every day and I am terrified. I fear he will not stop until he brings about the destruction of our entire clan!”

Lady Leang tried to soothe her. “Surely you exaggerate? He has a grudge against us, but to destroy the clan?”

“You don’t understand,” Kwai-sin replied. “My sister-in-law and I watch him constantly. The earlier harassments—the empty coffin at the grave, the White Tiger painting, the breaking of your back wall—those were Zong-kong’s ideas, and my brother only found out afterward. Back then, we could still reason with him when he was sober. But since the day he robbed the silver on the road, everything has changed. He sits there like a general, surrounded by Zong-kong and that ‘dog-talent’ Au Cheuk-hing…”

“Which Cheuk-hing?” Lady Leang asked.

“Our cousin from the Au family,” Kwai-sin explained. “I call him a dog-talent because of the poison he pours into my brother’s ear.”

Kwai-sin continued, “My brother sat in the center with those two (Cheuk-hing and Zong-kong) at his sides. The ten or so others were below them, lined up like the wings of a wild goose. With a single word, my brother gave them each ten taels of silver. They all stood as one, made a deep formal bow, and shouted in unison, ‘Our thanks to the Great Master!’ He just sat there, motionless. Only after they had finished did he let out a great laugh and stand up. Aunt! What kind of display is that?”

“Good heavens!” Lady Leang exclaimed. “He’s putting on a theatrical play in his own home!”

“Aunt, isn’t this exactly how mountain bandits and outlaws behave?” Kwai-sin sighed. “I didn’t understand why he changed so suddenly until I questioned his servant, Hei-loi. I found out that ‘dog-talent’ Cheuk-hing bought a book for him called The Water Margin (Shuihu Zhuan). My brother read it once, and now that scoundrel comes over every day to discuss the characters.”

“He tells my brother: ‘Song Jiang, the “Timely Rain,” sat in the first chair at Liangshan Marsh simply because he was generous and befriended the world’s heroes. Even Lu Junyi, despite his millions in wealth, had to settle for the second chair. If Lu had acted sooner, that top spot would have been his! Eventually, even the Emperor feared them and issued a pardon, giving them all official ranks. So, if you want to be a great official, you must first start a rebellion…‘ Aunt! How can anyone speak such nonsense? My brother listens to this and acts like a madman. He used to only bring around poor cousins; now, strangers with thick outside accents are being welcomed into the house.”

Kwai-sin lowered her voice. “I came tonight with urgent news. My brother hosted a moon-viewing party just now and boiled several loads of taro. From behind the screen, I saw two fierce-looking strangers. He told the crowd that when the new rice is ripe, they are to go to your fields at North Sand and harvest the grain by force. He said, ‘Whatever you steal, divide it amongst yourselves; I don’t want a single grain. If trouble comes, I, your Master, will take the blame!‘ I rushed here to warn you so you can prepare.”

Lady Leang asked her to stay, but Kwai-sin refused. “I slipped out in secret; only my sister-in-law knows. I must return.” She stood up and bowed deeply. “Aunt, I have one request. If my brother truly brings disaster upon us, please, for the sake of my father’s memory, show him some mercy.”

“He treats me with such cruelty; how could I possibly be the one to protect him?” Lady Leang sighed.

“Consider my words spoken and keep them in your heart. I plan to counsel him one last time tonight. If he listens, all is well. If not… I cannot bear to watch him anymore. This may be the last time I see you, Aunt. Please, remember my father.” She wept and kowtowed. Lady Leang hurried to help her up, offering words of comfort, and Kwai-sin departed in the night.

The next day, Lady Leang sent Hon-chiu to the military Yamen to ask for protection for the North Sand fields. However, the Captain, surnamed Huang, laughed them off. “The Imperial Army is here to defend the borders, not to act as private security for your rice paddies! If I guarded every field in my jurisdiction, I wouldn’t have enough men. If someone actually starts a riot, come back and tell me, and I’ll bring troops to arrest them.” Hon-chiu returned defeated, and the family was left helpless.

Back at the Ling house, Kwai-sin and her sister-in-law, Lady He, tried to reason with Kwai-hing. At first, he was silent, but then he began to argue. When Kwai-sin finally called Cheuk-hing a “dog-talent,” Kwai-hing exploded. “Rebellion! This is a rebellion! You call your elder cousin a dog? You’ve lost all sense of propriety! And you dare to lecture me?” He stormed out to rejoin his gang.

That night, under a beautiful moon, the wine flowed again. Cheuk-hing decreed that from now on, everyone must address Kwai-hing as “Great Master” (Dà-yé). Kwai-hing was so pleased he was practically dancing with joy.

But in the midst of this merriment, a series of desperate screams for help erupted from the inner chambers. The gang froze in shock. Kwai-hing turned and ran toward the back of the house.

What has happened? You must read to the next chapter to find out.

Translator’s Note:

The Dye Vat (靛缸 – Diàngāng): This is a famous Chinese metaphor. “He who stays near vermilion becomes red; he who stays near ink becomes black.” Lady Zheng fears that if Yi-hang stays in the village, the “black ink” of the Ling clan’s corruption will inevitably stain him.

The Mid-Autumn Atmosphere: The description of “flags and lanterns” highlights the “Rising Peace” (Shengping) of the era. This was the early Yongzheng period, shortly after the “Revolt of the Three Feudatories” had been crushed, and South China was finally experiencing stability—making the Lings’ local violence even more disruptive to the social order.

Kwai-sin’s Perspective: Miss Ling (Kwai-sin) serves as the “moral witness” within the villain’s house. Her fear of “Clan Destruction” (Miezu) refers to the ultimate Qing punishment where an entire extended family could be executed for the crimes of one member.

The Water Margin (水滸傳): This is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It tells the story of 108 outlaws who gather at Liangshan Marsh to fight corrupt officials. While a masterpiece, it was often banned in imperial China because it was seen as a “how-to” manual for rebellion and banditry. Kwai-hing is literally trying to role-play the book in real life.

The First Chair: In the novel, the ranking of the heroes is a major plot point. Cheuk-hing is using this to manipulate Kwai-hing’s ego, suggesting that his wealth gives him the right to be a “bandit king.”

“Great Master” (大爺 – Dà-yé): In the Qing Dynasty, this title was usually reserved for the head of a wealthy household or a high-ranking official. For a group of thugs to use it in a “bandit camp” setting is a direct mockery of social order.

The Captain’s Refusal: This highlights the “Reactive” nature of Qing law enforcement. Soldiers generally didn’t prevent crimes; they only responded once a crime was officially reported, which left many rural families vulnerable to local bullie