Legend of the Magnate Episode 4 Recap
> Legend of the Magnate Recap
Upon Chang Si's return, Wang Tiangui dispatched his man, Li Laizi, to demand Chang Si's house. Specifically, Li Laizi brazenly demanded two acres of salt fields that were part of the property, claiming they had belonged to his ancestors in the Ming Dynasty. Gu Pingyuan, observing the scene, intervened. He pointed out that Chang Si had acquired the fields legally from the government, suggesting Li Laizi should address his claims to the authorities, not Chang Si.
Gu Pingyuan then escalated the situation, accusing Li Laizi of being a rebel seeking to restore the Ming Dynasty by claiming ancestral property. He theatrically threatened Li Laizi with an imperial case, a transfer to the capital, and public execution by flaying at Caishikou. Terrified and realizing he had been set up by Wang Tiangui, Li Laizi denounced them as a "heartless lot" and fled. Wang Tiangui's butler then pressed on, presenting the loan agreement to Chang Si.
Chang Si, tired from his recent trip, mentioned he had already settled the accounts and paid what was due. He told the butler to inform Wang Tiangui to collect the silver himself, as he was going to drink with his men. However, the butler revealed that, due to compounding interest at a 5% rate, Chang Si still owed 718 taels.
He highlighted a clause in the agreement stipulating that if the debt wasn't fully settled "within this year," the house would be mortgaged to Wang Tiangui, who intended to celebrate the New Year there. Chang Si was furious, asking where he was expected to go in the freezing weather if evicted on New Year's Eve.
Gu Pingyuan calmly took the agreement and pointed out that it specified "within this year," and since tomorrow was New Year's Eve, the deadline had not yet arrived. The butler, confident that Chang Si couldn't possibly raise such a sum with all businesses closed for the holiday, reluctantly conceded and departed, vowing that they would still be out on the street the next day.
Chang Si, devastated, lamented his foolishness for falling into Wang Tiangui's trap, calling himself the dumbest person alive. He spent the evening drinking heavily with his horse gang members, drowning his sorrows. Chang Yu'er, worried, tried to comfort her father, but Gu Pingyuan gently held her back, realizing Chang Si was trying to drink his worries away. Overwhelmed by the thought of being homeless on New Year's Eve, Chang Yu'er started to cry.
Gu Pingyuan reassured her that he would find a solution to save their home. To lift her spirits, he took her for a walk through the lively, celebratory streets of Pingyao. As they enjoyed the lion dances and festivities, Chang Yu'er's hat fell, and Gu Pingyuan quickly picked it up for her. Later, they heard an announcement from a team of soldiers.
The Horqin Grasslands were suffering from an equine plague, and the prince needed a horse gang to deliver medicine. The original deadline was 60 days, but many horse gangs were unwilling to take the dangerous job due to the ongoing war among the Mongolian princes and the harsh winter conditions. Gu Pingyuan saw this as an opportunity.
Taking Chang Yu'er with him, he went to the horse gang office and, despite having no prior business experience, acted on Chang Si's behalf. With Chang Yu'er's guidance, he negotiated with Hanlong, the Mongolian merchant. Gu Pingyuan initially feigned walking away, deeming the 60-day deadline impossible given the journey through Black Water Marsh and Duozhe Mountains in winter. Hanlong, desperate, extended the deadline by ten days and offered higher travel fees.
Gu Pingyuan then cleverly demanded an advance payment, a settling allowance, for the workers to ease their fears, emphasizing that human lives were paramount. Hanlong reluctantly agreed to the terms. The next morning, Chang Si awoke to a pile of silver notes. He called Chang Yu'er, who explained that Gu Pingyuan had secured a medicine delivery job to the Horqin Grasslands.
Chang Si was furious, scolding Chang Yu'er for agreeing to such a dangerous venture, given the ongoing war in Horqin. Gu Pingyuan then gathered the horse gang workers, explaining the dire situation regarding Chang Si's house and how this job could save it. Initially, some workers hesitated, but when Chang Si, deeply moved, personally appealed to them for help rather than giving an order, they all volunteered.
Chang Si promised each man a 20% increase in their wages and instructed them to get their families' approval before committing. With the money secured, Chang Si, accompanied by Gu Pingyuan, went to confront Wang Tiangui. Wang Tiangui, confidently awaiting the transfer of Chang Si's house, greeted him with mocking politeness, even suggesting Chang Si sell his horse gang business and invest in salt fields instead.
Chang Si, however, presented the bank notes and affirmed that he had fulfilled his part of the agreement. Wang Tiangui's clerk verified the notes, confirming the debt was fully paid. A stunned Wang Tiangui returned the property deed and loan agreement. As Chang Si and Gu Pingyuan left, Chang Si subtly but cuttingly advised Wang Tiangui to perform good deeds and have children before he died, implying Wang Tiangui's childlessness was a consequence of his malice.
Enraged, Wang Tiangui vowed revenge and immediately ordered his butler to investigate Gu Pingyuan, noting his "strange scent" despite his scholarly appearance. Soon after, Chang Si held a ceremony for his horse gang, wishing them good fortune, and they set off for the Horqin Grasslands. Chang Si expressed his admiration for Gu Pingyuan's unexpected business acumen and hoped this would be his last long journey.
As they traversed the treacherous Duozhe Mountains, a heavy snowstorm descended, trapping one of their carts. Chang Si rallied his men, and together they pushed the cart free. During a break, Gu Pingyuan, still unaccustomed to the harsh northern food, commented on the spicy "pot helmet flatbread." Chang Si explained its origins as an ancient Qin military ration.
Despite the delays caused by the blizzard, Chang Si instructed his foreman, Heizi, to send two men ahead to clear the path, emphasizing that human life was more precious than sticking to a schedule, even if they were already two days behind. Meanwhile, after the New Year, Su Zixuan traveled to the capital to meet Li Wantang.
She explained the escalating conflict in the South, attributing the imperial court's enduring power to its robust economic infrastructure of taxes, draft banks, and pawnshops. Tasked with organizing financial circulation in Jiangnan to fund the Southern Revolutionaries, she sought to establish new draft banks and pawnshops in Pingyao, Shanxi, and urgently needed talent. Li Wantang agreed to accompany her to Shanxi, a region known as the Qing Dynasty's treasury, dominated by the "Eight Major Shanxi Merchant Families."
He planned to open a branch of the Li family draft bank and pawnshops there. Li Qin, having heard of Su Zixuan's arrival, unexpectedly appeared and volunteered to undertake the mission himself, believing his father's prominent status would attract too much attention. Li Wantang initially dismissed his son, calling him a "spoiled rich kid" with no real business experience. However, Su Zixuan supported Li Qin, reiterating that Li Wantang's direct involvement would create unnecessary complications.
She then revealed to Li Qin that his "old friend," Gu Pingyuan, the scholar exiled to Ningguta, was currently in Pingyao. Shocked that Gu Pingyuan had escaped alive, Li Qin expressed a desire to meet him. Su Zixuan, lamenting that such talent was wasted by the "unjust" imperial court, declared her intention to recruit Gu Pingyuan.
Li Wantang, still wary of Gu Pingyuan's past as an exile, questioned his suitability and reminded Li Qin of his noble status, advising him against associating with such a person. Su Zixuan, almost betraying her own revolutionary alignment, let slip the word "rebel."
