Chapter Eighteen: Bribery

Behind Chaochao, Li Zelin was dumbfounded.

Both the young executioner and the seasoned old executioner paused in surprise.

The master and apprentice exchanged a glance. The old executioner set down his ink, stepped forward, and fixed his gaze on Chaochao’s blinking wide eyes for a long moment. Then he reached out and took the longevity and prosperity bracelet from Chaochao’s hand, examining it carefully before speaking.

“This bracelet has been worn by the child since she was little, hasn’t it? It weighs quite a bit, and it’s a fine piece indeed. However, the two of us bear heavy responsibilities. If we were to show favoritism, we’d have to bribe the external inspectors. Such an amount of wealth… it can only count as one person’s worth.”

Chaochao understood the implication: it was simply not enough. Nodding rapidly, she immediately produced another identical longevity and prosperity bracelet.

“Grandfather, what if I add this one?”

The two executioners froze simultaneously, surprised that the little girl was so well-stocked and good at hiding valuables.

But since the bracelets came in pairs, their value soared. The old executioner naturally did not refuse, picking up the bracelet Chaochao held. His gaze turned toward Li Zelin, who was staring at his daughter in disbelief.

“Branding the tattoo on the arm is the emperor’s decree. We, old master and apprentice, dare not disobey. However, the ink we received today seems to have a fault and won’t take color. This has nothing to do with us. Since you and your daughter are leaving this place today, we will acknowledge nothing. What do you two think?”

Chaochao was bewildered and confused by what she heard. Li Zelin’s eyes brightened, and he quickly cupped his hands in thanks.

“Thank you, sir, for your mercy.”

“Oh!” Chaochao caught on and imitated her foolish father by cupping her hands toward the master and apprentice.

“Chaochao thanks the kind grandfather and big brother. May the Bodhisattva bless you.”

The old executioner’s hand paused as he took the bracelets, his eyelid twitching slightly, but he said no more.

The young executioner could hardly hold back a chuckle and pointed at Chaochao.

“You’re such a funny kid, even asking for the Bodhisattva’s blessing! Come on, since you called me kind big brother, how about big brother brands your tattoo for you?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve been practicing this kind of handiwork since I was little. I’ll be gentle. Afterward, I’ll apply some medicine. When it heals, I promise your arm will be just as before—nothing will be affected. How does that sound?”

“That sounds great! Thank you, big brother.”

The young executioner chuckled, sterilized the carving knife again with strong liquor, and beckoned Chaochao over.

“Good girl, come sit properly.”

They had escaped the ink stage, but to conceal everything, the carving could not be avoided.

Chaochao understood, instantly summoning her courage. She stepped forward willingly, offering her left arm, removing half of her garment, standing at attention like getting a vaccination.

The knife touched her arm—there was no anesthetic. It hurt terribly.

Chaochao tried not to look at the person wielding the blade or at her poor arm. Tears welled up in her eyes as they darted around, attempting to distract herself; her mind drifted away.

***

As her thoughts wandered, she tugged at her foolish father’s empty arm with her free hand.

“Dad.”

“What is it, my dear daughter?”

Her right hand fidgeted again, rummaging through her bosom, brushing past the timid, docile Huahua. Actually, she pulled from her backpack two large, round Eastern pearls—treasures she had scavenged from the old woman’s secret stash.

A while ago, imprisoned and bored, she had used her spiritual power to inventory her belongings in the backpack. Counting them, she found a full box holding thirty-two pearls, each as big as an adult’s thumb, round and plump, smooth and glossy—prized treasures.

Remembering that just now it took two big gold bracelets to ensure safety for herself and her foolish father, she knew two ingots of silver would be insufficient.

Compared to those marked jade artifacts and other items, Chaochao felt these pearls were more useful.

Seeing the two mysteriously appearing pearls in her daughter’s hand, Li Zelin was both shocked and anxious.

The master and apprentice working nearby caught the sight from their peripheral vision; startled, one nearly slipped while carving.

Fortunately, the father and daughter’s tattooing was near completion, and the masters calmly finished their work.

Li Zelin, ignoring the pain in his arm, became serious.

“Chaochao!”

He was desperate—his foolish father was desperate!

Chaochao felt a pang of guilt and quickly placed the two large pearls on the table beside the two executioners, whispering softly.

“Dad, these are Chaochao’s things. I want to keep them myself! Prison is terrifying. The big sister even hit me, only Third Aunt protected me, so… Dad, can we make Third Aunt and Fourth Brother like us? Mother said one must repay kindness…” And of course, one should avenge grievances.

Her soft, plaintive voice left Li Zelin speechless.

He was angry at Sister Xin for bullying his precious child, and hated himself for being unable to protect her.

The old executioner calmly finished the last stroke, set down the carving knife, then picked up the two pearls and said to himself,

“The child is rare in her righteousness, knowing to repay kindness. Very well, two tattoos it is. If more come, that’s no problem either.”

Li Zelin awoke as if from a dream, bowed deeply,

“Thank you, sir.”

“Hey, no need for formalities. Hurry and send someone,” the old executioner said, then hastily instructed the apprentice applying medicine to Chaochao.

“Apprentice, quickly go outside and fetch the inspectors for questioning.”

“Understood, master.”

***

The young executioner swiftly bandaged Chaochao and left. Outside, he walked straight to the inspector, whispered a few words. The inspector looked at him in surprise, then followed him into the dark chamber.

Coincidentally, Chaochao and her father passed by. Just as they were about to exit, Chaochao suddenly remembered something. She grabbed her foolish father’s arm, pulled and pushed him back using his strength, then poked her head out and shouted toward the crowd outside the interrogation room.

“Help! Help! Daddy! Daddy has fainted! Third Aunt…”

Those waiting outside the interrogation room, anxious and uneasy, only dared peer inside. Even though the room had no door, none dared enter without permission.

From afar, seeing the inspector called inside, the crowd’s hearts sank with unease. Then, from the seemingly life-devouring doorway came the piercing cry of a child. The crowd shuddered and retreated in fear.

Lady Song, hearing Chaochao’s cries, instinctively stepped forward to intervene. But a shout from beside her instantly snapped her back to reason.

“Mother?”

Looking down into the child’s innocent, bewildered eyes, Lady Song hesitated, her eyes flickering with doubt.

Beside her, Li Zefeng, holding their eldest son, heard that it was Chaochao’s voice. Thinking of his second brother’s care in prison and the piece of cake that warmed his heart, his feet moved faster than his mind. He grabbed his wife’s hand and ran.

“Wife, hold on to Ying’er tightly. Let’s go see.”

Lady Song snapped awake and, following her husband’s lead, held her daughter tightly and followed her husband and eldest son without looking back, rushing into the interrogation room toward the dark chamber.

The hurried steps of the family of four contrasted sharply with the retreating figures behind them, eager to distance themselves swiftly.

Chaochao saw everything clearly. Li Zelin, hidden behind her, saw it all deeply in his heart.

Especially when he noticed his wife halting among the crowd, he felt a painful ache in his chest.

Watching the family of four rush forward with unwavering resolve and overflowing concern, Li Zelin forced himself to lift his head, rubbing his eyes calmly. Yet when he finally released his grip, he met the stunned gaze of his younger brother and sister-in-law.

“Second brother?”

“Second brother, are you alright? What about Chaochao…”