Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 47

47: Take a Beating for Nothing? Not a Chance!

In the original host’s memory, whether it was Tomb Sweeping Festival or Ghost Festival ancestral rites, the Jiufang family took them extremely seriously. Even someone like the original host, who only needed to show up in person, ended up feeling physically and mentally exhausted by the end.

Tian Qingyi had personally experienced this once when she went to the ancestral home for worship. Though Jiufang Lai handled all the preparations and trivial matters, as the main officiant, she was still worn out after a full day. Fortunately, by the time she transmigrated, Tomb Sweeping Festival had already passed, and now the Ghost Festival was being observed in Huating County—escaping two ordeals.

But thinking about how seriously Yun Jingchu took family rituals, Tian Qingyi grew a little worried. Thankfully, they weren’t in Kaifeng with its ancestral hall, so the rites would have to be simplified. Suddenly, she found simplicity quite appealing.

The two first went to an incense and paper offerings shop, buying plenty of incense, paper ingots, and paper clothing. Then they visited dried fruit shops for sacrificial offerings. As they stepped out of the last store, they saw two men harassing a flower-selling girl of about fourteen or fifteen.

Tian Qingyi moved to intervene, but the shopkeeper—busy directing his clerks to load their purchases onto the donkey cart—hurriedly blocked her path and whispered, “I advise you not to meddle, sir. Those two are trouble. The skinny one is Master Wang, related by marriage to the Pu family. The fat one follows his lead. We can’t afford to provoke them.”

What the shopkeeper didn’t say was that while these two often arrogantly haggled prices—sometimes paying only 50-60% or 70-80% of the actual cost—at least they paid something, unlike the Pu family’s son, who never paid at all. However, since the new magistrate had publicly beaten the Pu family’s men, that son hadn’t been seen on the streets.

Even these two troublemakers had lain low for a while. Who knew they’d revert to their old ways today—right outside his shop! If not for this gentleman and lady buying so much, earning him a tidy profit, and looking like a perfect couple, he wouldn’t have said anything.

Yun Jingchu, who had initially thought Tian Qingyi, as the magistrate, should handle this, suddenly remembered they hadn’t brought any servants, while the two men had four—six people in total. They were clearly outmatched. Worse, these were repeat offenders. Fearing Tian Qingyi would suffer, Yun Jingchu quickly grabbed her hand and shook her head, signaling not to interfere.

It wasn’t that she was heartless, but their own safety came first. If rescuing a stranger endangered them, it wasn’t worth it. Had they brought attendants, regardless of Tian Qingyi’s stance, she would have stepped in—her conscience wouldn’t allow otherwise if they had the means.

Meanwhile, the harassment continued. The girl in a blue dress, holding a flower basket, was surrounded by four servants. The skinny and fat men stood with their backs to Tian Qingyi and Yun Jingchu. The fat one was doing the talking, while the skinny one watched smugly, clearly enjoying it. When coaxing failed, the fat man threatened, “You’d better agree to be Master Wang’s maid. Otherwise, your family will be ruined—and the result will be the same.”

He laughed triumphantly, as if refusal would bring immediate disaster.

The girl trembled with anger and fear but refused to yield. Glancing around, she saw many onlookers but no one offering help. Summoning courage, she stammered, “I… won’t do it! I’ll report you to the yamen for forcing commoners into servitude!”

A clear voice chimed in, “Well said! How dare you coerce a free person into bondage in broad daylight? Have you no fear of the law?”

Under dual persuasion from Yun Jingchu and the shopkeeper, Tian Qingyi had been ready to leave. Though it went against her conscience, she was outnumbered. If a fight broke out, she feared she couldn’t protect Yun Jingchu. But the girl’s words reminded her of her duty. If even she, the magistrate, didn’t act, who would? Who would seek justice for them?

Without turning, the fat man impatiently glanced at his servants. Two stepped forward and lunged at Tian Qingyi. Caught off guard, she barely managed to shove Yun Jingchu aside and dodge one punch by instinct.

Since transmigrating, Tian Qingyi had neglected martial training. One-on-one was already a struggle; two-on-one was hopeless. Within moments, she took two punches to the back and shoulder. Yun Jingchu, having just steadied herself after being pushed, watched in horror and shouted, “A hundred cash to whoever reports this to the yamen! Ten strings of cash to whoever helps my husband!”

Hearing of easy money, a loafer near the yamen sprinted off. Others were tempted by the ten strings but hesitated, recalling the skinny man’s connections. Better not risk their lives for money.

The flower girl, seeing the young couple suffer for her sake, grew frantic with guilt. She regretted not heeding her parents’ advice to come later—maybe then she’d have avoided these villains. It’s too late now.

The skinny man, hearing a vaguely familiar voice, froze. By the time he snapped out of it, his servants had already knocked down the last person he ever wanted to provoke and were moving to kick her. Horrified, he bellowed, “STOP! You idiots! Who told you to attack? Huh?”

As she hit the ground, Tian Qingyi’s only thought was: I must relearn martial arts. The original host could take on multiple opponents effortlessly, while she couldn’t even handle two servants. How embarrassing!

Worse, the punches hurt. At least she’d pushed Yun Jingchu to safety—imagining her in pain was unbearable. Bracing for kicks, she heard the command to stop—and Yun Jingchu upped the reward to twenty strings.

The servants backed off, glancing at the fat man as if to say he ordered it. Furious, the skinny man kicked each and cursed them for stupidity.

Baffled by his outburst, the fat man grabbed him. “What’s your problem?” So what if they roughed up some familiar-looking pretty boy? They’d done it before!

Familiar? Pretty boy? The fat man slapped his forehead—finally remembering the skinny one’s past warnings. His limbs turned to ice.

With twenty strings on offer, bystanders readied to help—only for the aggressors to call it off first. The skinny man beat his servants while the fat one stood dumbstruck, leaving the crowd bewildered. They’d expected the tall, handsome scholar to win—who knew he’d be all looks and no skill, knocked flat by two shorter men?

Watching from the corner of her eye, Yun Jingchu saw Tian Qingyi wince as she was helped up, the shopkeeper handing back her fallen hat. The fat man’s questions went ignored—the skinny one regretted ever listening to him. Even his sister couldn’t save him now!

Seeing Tian Qingyi—disheveled, hatless, hair mussed, and grimacing when her left arm was touched—Yun Jingchu’s eyes reddened. “Are you okay?” she asked hoarsely. “I tried to stop you… Now you’re hurt for nothing.”

Though aching, Tian Qingyi waved off further help once upright—appearances mattered. Spotting approaching yamen runners, she muttered, “For nothing? No way. Just watch—I’ll make them pay, or I’ll take their surnames!”

Normally sluggish, the runners sped up when the loafer described the victim’s appearance. Realizing it matched the magistrate and his wife—who’d left early in those very clothes—they sprinted like never before.

Confirming it was indeed the magistrate, the captain gasped out a salute: “Your Honor! Madam!”

The crowd now understood. Students bowed; others clasped hands respectfully. Some regretted missing a chance for money and connections; others gloated at the bullies’ misfortune—they’d kicked an iron plate this time!

The flower girl was stunned. Her threat to report them had been a bluff to scare them off. She never imagined embroiling the magistrate himself!

After returning courtesy, Tian Qingyi vowed severe punishment and invited victims to report to Deputy Wu, earning public praise.

The six offenders were jailed. Tian Qingyi and Yun Jingchu returned by donkey cart. On the way, Yun Jingchu wanted to summon a doctor, but Tian Qingyi refused. She knew her injuries didn’t require one—rest and ointment would suffice. But the indignity burned. In two lifetimes, she’d never been beaten like this.

It drove home that this was the Northern Song—a world apart from modernity. She’d been overconfident, assuming no one would attack outright.

Until her skills improved, she’d bring Zhou Ba as a bodyguard. Otherwise, she couldn’t protect herself—let alone Yun Jingchu.

Back home, Tian Qingyi bathed and changed, having Qingyu redo her hair. Unaware of the beating, Qingyu guessed something had happened from their disheveled state but didn’t pry. Only later, hearing the story, did she coldly memorize the culprits’ faces.

While Tian Qingyi washed, Yun Jingchu prepared the rites, still distracted. Only Tian Qingyi’s reassurance—Don’t let scum delay us—kept her on schedule.

Next morning, despite double ointment applications, Tian Qingyi ached all over. The thought of work worsened her mood. Seeing her wince while rising, Yun Jingchu applied more ointment and scolded, “You said health comes first! The yamen won’t collapse without you. Rest! If it’s urgent, they’ll come.”

“Fine, one day off,” Tian Qingyi conceded, sending Qingyu to instruct Zhou Ba. Zhang Sancheng would handle the rest. She relaxed, enjoying Yun Jingchu’s ministrations.

This “one day” became two. Meanwhile, the bullies languished in jail until Tian Qingyi returned and heard Deputy Wu’s report: assaulting an official, coercion, harassment, and trafficking. The ringleaders were sentenced to 100 cane strikes and exile; servants got 80 strikes; others received proportional penalties.

To most, they were villains—but to their parents, precious sons. Bribes failed; even the Pu family rebuked them. The Pus, fearing retaliation since the magistrate’s beating of their men, rarely ventured out, contemplating leaving Huating County—but their assets kept them trapped.