When Xu Yi picked up the handkerchief, Old Woman Li was filled with terror. She reached for her empty sleeve pocket and realized that during the scuffle with Ah Jin, the handkerchief had accidentally fallen out.
“You… what nonsense are you spouting, young man? I don’t understand what you’re saying…”
Old Woman Li’s breathing grew heavy, her earlier composure completely gone.
By now, neighbors from the surrounding streets had come out to watch the commotion. Old Woman Li panicked and tried to flee.
The neighbor standing beside her hadn’t expected this turn of events. In these times, everyone despised kidnappers. He now clearly understood that this old woman was indeed a kidnapper.
“Don’t run…” The neighbor tried to stop her.
But Old Woman Li knew some martial arts. Earlier she’d been caught off guard and took a punch from Ah Jin, but now she wouldn’t let this neighbor catch her. Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, she forcefully shoved him aside and tried to escape…
At that moment, Xu Yi stepped forward.
Old Woman Li wasn’t afraid of him. This thin, tall young man probably wasn’t even as strong as her.
She threw a punch with a shout, but failed to hit anyone. Instead, Xu Yi lightly raised his hand to block her fist, then swiftly seized her shoulder. Immediately, a powerful force transmitted through her shoulder bone.
“Ah—”
Old Woman Li cried out in pain. Her shoulder hurt so much that she lost all strength and collapsed softly to the ground.
Xu Yi released her shoulder blade and looked down coldly as she played dead.
“Old woman, you’re running in the wrong direction. The county yamen (court) isn’t that way.”
Old Woman Li no longer had her previous arrogance. She trembled as she opened her eyes, begging for mercy and admitting her mistake.
“I just saw the child had good features and developed this wicked thought. I’ll never dare do it again.”
“Good young man, please show mercy. Just spare me this once. From now on, I’ll eat vegetarian and chant Buddhist prayers, seeking Buddha’s forgiveness. I’ll never do such things again.”
Old Woman Li’s tears flowed freely, her words seemingly heartfelt, as if she were truly repenting.
The neighbors who had come out to see the commotion felt their hearts soften upon hearing this. Some even urged Xu Yi to show leniency, saying everyone had done bad things before, and since she hadn’t succeeded, why not forgive where forgiveness was possible?
“Doctor Xu, she doesn’t seem like that kind of evil person. Why must you report her to the authorities?”
Xu Yi looked at the speaker and said concisely, “Auntie, bad people don’t write their wickedness on their faces.”
“Well…” The person didn’t know how to respond, so she said, “This old woman looks to be past fifty. Shouldn’t she be accumulating good karma? If she gets hurt or dies, wouldn’t that damage her blessings?”
This time Xu Yi didn’t answer.
As others continued to plead, Old Woman Li saw an opportunity to escape. She cried loudly about how difficult her life was, how bitter her days had been, claiming she was now all alone. She said dying would end everything, so she might as well go bang her head against a wall.
Such a huge commotion had been created. Ah Jin, with her small frame, shrank her shoulders in the crowd, hanging her little head and not daring to look at Xu Yi. She felt she had caused trouble and brought difficulties to her master.
“Master, I…” Her eyes were red, her lips trembling, wanting to say she didn’t mean to.
Xu Yi pulled her to his side, patting her shoulder reassuringly and saying softly, “Ah Jin, don’t be afraid of her. Your master will protect you.”
The surrounding neighbors continued their discussions, but Xu Yi paid them no mind.
He asked the uncle who had helped catch the woman earlier if he had any rope at home.
“I’m taking this person to the yamen today. She doesn’t look like a first-time offender, more like an experienced kidnapper. She might even have children who haven’t been sold yet. We need to let the authorities decide.” Xu Yi told him.
The neighbor uncle also felt this was appropriate. He’d just been deceived by Old Woman Li, and though he saw her crying pitifully now, he no longer felt the same sympathy.
“Doctor Xu, wait a moment. I’ll go get some rope.” Without another word, the neighbor uncle went straight to his house.
Soon he came out carrying a bundle of rope.
Now Old Woman Li’s heart sank to the bottom. She started shouting “Murder!” and “They’re going to kill an old woman!”
Still shouting, she scrambled up from the ground, trying to escape in the chaos.
Xu Yi stepped on the joint of her leg, causing her to fall with a cry of pain. Her leg felt both sore and numb, unable to get up for the moment.
Xu Yi had used just the right amount of force; not enough to truly injure her, but enough to prevent her escape.
He tied her up with the rope. Even then, Old Woman Li wasn’t ready to give up: “Young man, you know martial arts?”
Xu Yi ignored her.
Old Woman Li kept talking: “You’re quite ruthless and merciless, willing to attack even an old woman like me. You don’t look like a doctor who saves lives.”
“Finished?” Xu Yi looked up at her, meeting her slightly clouded yet still vicious eyes, and said calmly, “Medicine can give life or take it. You used a handkerchief soaked in lindera root to drug children. You’re not even human.”
When he’d picked up the handkerchief, Xu Yi had already identified what drugs were used on it.
There was plenty of wild aconite growing in the Shu region. Anyone who knew herbs could distinguish between aconite and prepared aconite.
Raw aconite was highly toxic, with cold-dispersing and pain-relieving effects. Used properly it could save lives, but used improperly it could kill.
Consuming the right amount of aconite could numb a person’s nerves and induce deep sleep. Who knew how many times Old Woman Li had perfected this formula? One could imagine she had kidnapped many children. Perhaps even young women and matrons were among her victims.
Such an evil person. Xu Yi felt deep disgust from the bottom of his heart.
No matter how she tried to curry favor, beg for mercy, or attack with words, it had no effect on him whatsoever.
“What happened?”
At that moment, Madam He’s voice rang out from the crowd.
Xu Yi turned around to see her anxiously pushing through the crowd toward them.
“Madam He.” Xu Yi stood up and asked why she’d come.
Madam He looked at him, then at Ah Jin, and breathed a sigh of relief: “I went to your house to find you. Ah Xu said you’d gone to look for Ah Jin. When you didn’t return after quite some time, I got worried.”
She then asked what had happened.
Xu Yi briefly explained about Old Woman Li’s attempt to kidnap Ah Jin.
When Madam He heard about such a serious matter, she was so angry her fingers trembled. Seeing Old Woman Li slumped on the ground, she cursed furiously: “You wicked old parasite! How dare you try to kidnap such a good child as Ah Jin? Aren’t you afraid heaven will strike you down!”
Hearing these harsh words, Old Woman Li spat on the ground with a “ptui.”
“You… you!” Madam He’s chest heaved violently with rage.
The neighbor uncle advised her not to get so upset she made herself ill, adding that Xu Yi was about to take the woman to the yamen and wouldn’t let this old hag continue her arrogance.
Hearing they were escorting her to the authorities, Madam He froze momentarily, then quickly reacted: “I’ll go with you.”
“I’m going too,” said the neighbor uncle. “I saw how this old woman used sweet words to deceive people. I can testify.”
Seeing this, Xu Yi first thanked the neighbor uncle. Having him there to corroborate would make it easier to convict Old Woman Li. However, it wasn’t appropriate for Madam He to go.
He said to Madam He: “Ah Jin is a witness, so I’ll take her along. But Ah Xu is still at home waiting. Someone needs to tell him what’s happened. I don’t feel comfortable entrusting this to anyone else. Madam He, would you be willing to look after my home for half a day?”
…
An hour later.
Xu Yi’s group brought Old Woman Li to the county yamen entrance.
Two solemn and imposing stone lions stood at the yamen gate. Xu Yi stepped forward and knocked on the large door, reporting that an old woman had tried to kidnap a child on the street and they’d caught her in the act.
Child trafficking cases were considered major crimes even in Yanting County. Upon hearing the report, the county lieutenant immediately summoned Xu Yi and the others for questioning and held a court session in the yamen.
The current county lieutenant of Yanting County was named Pan Wenji. Seeing that the person reporting the case, Xu Yi, was a doctor, he was fairly polite and asked if there was evidence to prove Old Woman Li was a kidnapper.
Xu Yi stepped forward and bowed, saying composedly, “In response to Your Honor, this Old Woman Li first tried to lure the child with sugar cakes. When that didn’t work, she attempted to use a handkerchief soaked in lindera root to cover the child’s face. This is the evidence I collected at the time. I ask Your Honor to examine it.”
When bringing Old Woman Li to the yamen, Xu Yi had not only picked up the handkerchief but also brought the trampled sugar cake and the bamboo basket.
He had already examined everything. The sugar filling in the cake also contained drugs. Anyone familiar with medicines could detect something wrong by smell.
After listening, County Lieutenant Pan Wenji had a bailiff bring up the evidence Xu Yi held. He happened to know some medical theory. Though he couldn’t treat illness, when he smelled the handkerchief, he immediately detected a medicinal odor.
Looking again at Old Woman Li kneeling on the ground, seeing her panicked expression, he knew this case was pretty much certain.
Pan Wenji’s expression darkened slightly as he shouted angrily, “Old Woman Li, quickly confess everything!”
Old Woman Li immediately cried injustice: “Your Honor, this old woman is innocent! I would never do such things…”
Hearing her denial, Xu Yi said, “Reporting to Your Honor, there were others present at the time who can testify that this handkerchief belongs to Old Woman Li.”
After he spoke, the neighbor uncle stepped forward, saying he’d been at the scene and personally witnessed Old Woman Li using pitiful words to deceive him. He also mentioned that when her kidnapping attempt failed, she’d tried to extort money.
Pan Wenji told Old Woman Li to produce evidence of her innocence.
Old Woman Li couldn’t produce anything. With both witness and physical evidence present, she could only hope for lenient treatment.
The Song Dynasty took the protection of minors quite seriously. For crimes involving child trafficking, legal sanctions were extremely strict. Anyone involved in trafficking faced severe punishment.
However, trafficking was divided into abduction and enticement, with enticement carrying a lighter sentence, usually exile.
But Old Woman Li was already so old that if truly sentenced to exile, she’d surely die even if she didn’t die.
So she resolutely refused to admit she’d tried to entice Ah Jin, sticking to the same story she’d told on South Street.
Pan Wenji, as county lieutenant, wasn’t so easily fooled. He had Old Woman Li report her home address and sent bailiffs to investigate. They found there was indeed an Old Woman Li from Rooster Cry Village.
The bailiffs made the trip and returned to report that Old Woman Li didn’t actually live in Rooster Cry Village. She was from there originally but had moved away long ago.
Moreover, she wasn’t alone at all. She had two sons and two daughters, and apparently lived in Goose Stream Town.
Hearing the bailiff’s report, Pan Wenji was so angry he was ready to use torture immediately.
Only then did Old Woman Li realize she couldn’t escape. She kowtowed on the ground begging for mercy, willing to sign a confession.
Seeing this, Xu Yi bowed and said, “Your Honor, I have one more matter to report.”
Pan Wenji looked at him: “What else do you have to say?”
Xu Yi said, “This Old Woman Li doesn’t seem like a first-time offender. She should have a hideout where she keeps people. I hope Your Honor will interrogate her about this. If there truly are children she’s kidnapped, they can be rescued.”
After hearing this, Pan Wenji stroked his beard: “What you say makes sense. Old Woman Li, quickly confess all your crimes, or you’ll receive no mercy.”
Old Woman Li kowtowed: “I’ll tell, I’ll tell.”
…
As it turned out, Old Woman Li really did have a hideout. She didn’t work alone. Her sons and daughters-in-law were all her accomplices.
Because of her age, Old Woman Li easily gained children’s trust. And despite being over fifty, carrying a seven or eight-year-old child was no problem for her. Over the years, they’d collaborated to kidnap many children, women, and matrons. Women and matrons were lured to their home, then drugged and sold to brothels.
Children were sorted by quality. Those with some looks, like Ah Jin, were sold to brothels. Lesser ones were sold to wealthy households as servants.
Some families found legitimate brokers’ slaves too expensive and would buy from illegitimate brokers. Old Woman Li’s daughter-in-law worked as an illegitimate broker.
Naturally, among the kidnapped children, those who were disobedient were beaten into submission and denied food. Within a few days, they’d become docile and obedient.
Hearing her account, everyone present thought her truly vicious.
County Lieutenant Pan Wenji burned with fury. He slammed the gavel, startling Old Woman Li into silence.
“You poisonous hag, to so flagrantly disregard the Great Song’s laws—you truly deserve death.”
He called for bailiffs and said angrily, “First throw this poisonous hag in prison. After we arrest the rest of her accomplices and complete the retrial, we’ll pass final judgment.”
The next steps didn’t require Xu Yi and the others to remain.
After court was dismissed, Pan Wenji came down from the bench. Looking at Ah Jin being protected at her master’s side, then at Xu Yi who was not yet twenty, he found this young man rather interesting.
“In recent years, these kidnappers have been lawless. Every year the county yamen receives many reports from families, yet it’s difficult to catch the criminals. How did you determine at once that this person was a kidnapper?”
Could it be merely from the child’s words?
If Xu Yi knew what he was thinking, he would definitely nod in agreement. He’d previously educated Ah Xu and Ah Jin about what kidnappers were like. When he heard what Ah Jin said, he’d immediately locked onto Old Woman Li.
Xu Yi lowered his head slightly and bowed: “In response to Your Honor, this Old Woman Li’s words and actions were inconsistent, her speech contradictory, and she carried a handkerchief soaked in lindera root. It was hard not to be suspicious. I would rather wrongly accuse someone than let such an evil person go, which is why I came to the yamen to report.”
Pan Wenji listened to these words while squinting slightly, trying to probe his true nature.
But he saw someone neither servile nor overbearing, with a calm and steady expression showing no hint of arrogance. He couldn’t tell what the young man was thinking.
Pan Wenji: “…” Were young people nowadays all this composed?
The day was getting late. Pan Wenji didn’t say much more. As a dignified county lieutenant, the prefect’s second-in-command, he wouldn’t waste time on a doctor not yet of age.
Now that Old Woman Li had confessed and revealed her other accomplices, once Xu Yi and the others confirmed everything was settled, they could return home.
On the way back, the neighbor uncle was extremely excited. Being able to participate in such a major case and personally escort a kidnapper to the yamen for trial was incredibly face-saving to talk about.
When they reached South Street, neighbors from South Street all came to ask them questions.
“Was that old woman really a kidnapper?”
“Heavens, her sons and daughters-in-law were all in on it, and they kidnapped so many people…”
“Have her sons and daughters-in-law been caught yet?”
“Why don’t you know anything?”
…
By the end, the neighbor uncle got annoyed and muttered, “You all said that old woman was good earlier, but now you’re turning on me. Go, go, go, I won’t talk to you anymore.”
“Hey, don’t leave…”
…
Xu Yi took advantage of the crowd to bring Ah Jin home early.
After this ordeal, Ah Jin was clearly quite frightened. Her whole little face was pale, and she seemed listless, not as lively and adorable as before.
He first talked to Ah Xu, who had been anxiously waiting at home for a long time, then went into the kitchen to select a few calming herbs to brew for Ah Jin.
“Master.”
Before long, Ah Xu appeared at the kitchen doorway, lips pressed tight as he looked at Xu Yi.
Xu Yi called him in and asked, “Why aren’t you keeping Ah Jin company?”
Ah Xu said, “Little sister said she wants to be alone for a while and told me to come help you, Master.”
After saying this, he paused before asking, “Master, what happened to that person?”
Xu Yi said, “She’s already admitted her crimes and been thrown in prison. Once all her accomplices are arrested, the verdict will be handed down.”
Ah Xu asked, “Why was she so bad? Why did she want to kidnap my little sister?”
Xu Yi sighed and called him over: “Evil people’s evil has no reason. You and Ah Jin needn’t blame yourselves for others’ wickedness. Later, tell Ah Jin that her master doesn’t blame her. In fact, I’m going to reward her.”
Ah Xu’s eyes suddenly widened, instantly filling with light.
Xu Yi smiled at him and told him to return to the room to keep Ah Jin company.
Not long after, he brought a bowl of calming soup for Ah Jin to drink. Afterward, he told her to rest well and not think about anything else.
Calming soup, as its name suggests, was very suitable for those with insomnia, mental confusion, excessive fright, and other nervous conditions. It had sedative and calming effects.
After drinking it, Ah Jin slept dreamlessly through the night until dawn the next day.
Seeing the bright daylight outside, Ah Jin immediately sat up. She’d overslept! After dressing, she came out to find her master teaching her brother boxing in the main hall.
Seeing her awake, Xu Yi said, “Since you’re up, practice boxing together.”
Ah Jin immediately replied, “Yes, Master.”
As usual, after the siblings practiced boxing, they ate breakfast with Xu Yi.
Today’s breakfast was quite abundant: meat buns, quinoa congee, fried dough, and boiled eggs.
Not only did they have portions, but Little Huang had one too.
Nowadays, Ah Xu and Ah Jin ate at the table with Xu Yi. Little Huang’s food bowl was outside the main hall, but at mealtime he’d carry it inside, insisting on eating with them.
Three people and one dog, all neat and orderly.
After the meal, Xu Yi rewarded Ah Jin with one string of cash as a reward for bravely facing the bad person and not being kidnapped.
Seeing that heavy string of copper coins, the little girl was completely stunned.
So much! So much money!
It was the first time she’d seen so much money. She truly couldn’t believe this money was a reward from her master.
“Brother, pinch me awake. Am I dreaming?” Ah Jin took a deep breath and pulled at Ah Xu.
Ah Xu only knew his master would reward his sister, but hadn’t expected this kind of reward. His surprise was no less than Ah Jin’s.
Ah Xu raised his hand and pinched his own cheek flesh, crying out “Ouch” from the pain. It hurt, not a dream.
Ah Jin reached out to touch the copper coins, then shook her head at Xu Yi: “Master, it’s too much. Ah Jin can’t accept this.”
Xu Yi said, “What I give you is yours. There’s no question of whether you can accept it.”
He’d thought for quite a while last night about what reward to give Ah Jin. Clothes? Jewelry? Something else? Nothing seemed quite right.
Men couldn’t casually give women jewelry in this era, even in a master-servant relationship. Although Ah Jin was still so young, Xu Yi already knew he should avoid such things.
Since none of those were appropriate, he’d give something practical.
What could be more practical than money?
The answer was nothing.