Chapter Thirty-Four: Investigating the Salt Merchants

County Magistrate Bai graced our humble establishment with his presence—how remiss we were not to greet him properly. Truly, that is our fault, Han Qing said, his face full of polite composure.

He was not startled by the scene before him; instead, he observed them calmly.

Han Qing, you’ve changed greatly of late, and I had always admired you. But of all things, you should not have violated the laws of the imperial court! Magistrate Bai spoke solemnly, evidently ready to have Han Qing apprehended then and there.

I am not aware of any such violation, so I seek your guidance, Magistrate Bai—could you tell me what law I have broken?

Selling edible salt without authorization is punishable by death, Magistrate Bai declared.

The customers gathered nearby were instantly frightened, their faces blanching as they realized the gravity of the situation.

I understand, but what has that to do with me? Our establishment has never sold improper salt, nor have we used any salt supplied directly by the court.

What? The more they listened, the more confused they became.

Magistrate Bai was also bewildered.

Then where did your salt come from?

Ah, I nearly forgot to tell you—we make it ourselves. Take a look at my staff; every one of them is a key contributor to the process.

Impossible! Magistrate Bai refused to believe such nonsense. How could anyone produce edible salt themselves?

Nonsense—arrest him immediately, he ordered. Surely the man must be mad, speaking such wild dreams in broad daylight.

Little Li, fetch our merchant's certificate. We operate legitimately, under imperial direction. How can you claim otherwise?

The attendant moved quickly, presenting the certificate for all to see—not just Magistrate Bai but the onlookers as well.

The document bore the official seal of the Ministry of Works, and even a jade token from the Salt Department.

This is genuine—I have a distant relative in the court who has seen such jade tokens before, one of the crowd murmured.

No wonder they dare to sell salt openly—what is there to fear?

This salt shop truly benefits the common folk. The salt sold by the Bai family is expensive, short in measure, and rough in quality—nothing like what this shop offers.

With such murmurs rising from the crowd, Magistrate Bai’s dignity was swiftly undermined, his face alternating between red and pale.

Who could he blame? He was old, yet still so impulsive.

So it’s like this; my earlier words were ill-considered. Since you operate through proper channels, you have our support, Magistrate Bai said, swallowing his pride.

After all, theirs was a legitimate enterprise, with the backing of officials from the capital. If he, a mere magistrate, tried to obstruct them, he could jeopardize far greater matters.

Old Master Bai had held his post for many years—his ability to read the room was considerable.

You seem dissatisfied?

Young Master Zhu, upon hearing of the incident, hurried over. Seeing the situation, he understood at once.

Not at all—it was just a misunderstanding, Old Master Bai replied, unable to argue before so many townsfolk. Still, in his heart, he bore Han Qing a grudge. So many people had left him, the county magistrate, humiliated—how could he assert his authority in Beijun City after this?

Since you support our salt shop wholeheartedly, then should anything happen to us in the future, it will surely have no connection to the Bai family.

This was a veiled warning: if anyone acted against them in secret, it would likely be the Bai family’s doing. But with so many people’s welfare at stake, Old Master Bai was not foolish enough to go that far.

He maintained a pleasant demeanor. Of course—it is a boon for our citizens, and we will ensure its protection.

With those words, Han Qing felt reassured. Yet, after this incident, the reputation of Magistrate Bai would surely decline.

You didn’t report this in advance because you foresaw the Bai family would try to cause trouble? Young Master Zhu asked, astonished at Han Qing’s foresight.

Every step he took was carefully planned.

Selling edible salt meant taking a share of their profits—they were bound to stir up trouble.

They spoke calmly.

After such a public confrontation, producing the prepared certificate not only quelled the dispute but also won over more customers, who now trusted their salt as officially sanctioned.

With imperial approval, what was there to fear?

A plan with dual benefits.

Now things should be quiet for a while; Old Master Bai has already conceded, so no one will dare make trouble behind the scenes.

Too simplistic—those envious never heed such constraints.

Vigilance was still necessary. Should anything untoward arise, one must respond swiftly.

Old Master Bai returned home, furious, and scolded his sons.

Look at what you’ve done—reporting to the authorities without evidence nearly cost me my post as magistrate, he growled.

His children dared not utter a word. Truly, they had not considered things thoroughly, allowing others to exploit their oversight.

After this debacle, he could not sit idly by.

And you—keep your sons in line. They’re always causing trouble, he admonished his brothers, who could only stand there, not daring to breathe.

Second Young Master Bai heard of the matter and nursed a deep resentment. He had ordered the steward to investigate thoroughly, yet had found no source for their salt. In a moment of rashness, he thought only of the court’s restrictions on selling salt.

How had they managed to obtain the salt merchant’s privilege?

Once again, they gained the advantage—he could not stomach it.

Young master, perhaps we should wait and see. They may have the proper certificates, but who can say their salt will not cause problems? a retainer ventured.

You mean we can make an issue of the salt they sell?

Precisely, but that's not all. There are also the customers who buy their salt.

Second Young Master Bai instantly grasped the meaning, his face brightening with delight.

He summoned several trusted servants and discreetly revealed his plan, instructing them to act within the next few days.

The Han family’s salt business, with its low prices, had earned Han Qing the reputation of a great benefactor among the people of Beijun City.

More and more visitors came to Tinglan Garden, all eager to forge connections.