Chapter 113: Lady Li the Gossip, The Blacksmith’s Engraving Chisel

Rustling sounds are heard at times, yet the sinister paths remain unseen.

Zhou the clerk went to inspect the main beam mentioned by One-Eyed Snake and, sure enough, discovered something amiss; the snake had carved something into it. It was a carriage—a horse-drawn carriage. Perhaps fearing discovery, One-Eyed Snake had carved it very shallowly, no larger than a fingernail. Unless one pressed close to examine it carefully, it would have been impossible to notice that such a carving had been secretly etched into the Zhou family’s main beam.

However, the Zhou family were laymen; even having found the issue, they had no idea how to undo it. It was the elderly man in the dog-fur hat who reacted first, prompting Zhou: "Master, since that young man could identify the problem with the beam, perhaps he knows the way to break the curse."

Zhou slapped his forehead and replied repeatedly, "You're right! Where is that young man now?"

The man in the dog-fur hat said, "He should still be outside the gate."

Upon hearing this, Zhou dared not delay. He hurried outside and, casting his eyes about, spotted a young man in black standing by the gate, listlessly tapping on the right-hand stone lion. This young man was Song Mo.

Seeing Zhou emerge, Song Mo did not turn around. He continued tapping the stone lion and murmured, "What a pity, what a pity. You have stayed here for so long, yet you remain blind and deaf—utterly foolish."

Song Mo’s words carried a double meaning: they pointed out the rudeness and false accusations of the man in the dog-fur hat, while subtly mocking Zhou for being blind to true talent and hopelessly obtuse. Having been in business for most of his life, Zhou naturally grasped the implication, and his aged face flushed crimson with shame.

But a businessman is a businessman; after a moment of embarrassment, he forced a smile and stepped forward. "Forgive my family’s insolence for offending a master. I hope you will grant us your mercy."

Seeing Zhou’s sincerity, Song Mo did not intend to put on airs. Just as he was about to respond, a piercing voice cut through the air.

"Zhou, oh Zhou, they say you have eyes but no vision, and I see they aren't wrong at all," came a woman's shrill, mocking voice.

Everyone turned to look and saw the neighbor from next door, Madam Li, approaching, flanked by two maidservants. This Madam Li was a concubine taken by the Li family late last year. As luck would have it, the first wife had caught a cold and died, and she had leveraged the master’s favor to become the lady of the house. She possessed a certain beauty, but it was a common, heavily powdered sort that Song Mo found unappealing.

Seeing Madam Li’s impudence, Zhou’s expression darkened. Out of neighborly courtesy, he asked curtly, "Oh? And what does Madam Li mean by that?"

Madam Li glanced at Zhou with disdain, then threw a look of contempt at Song Mo before drawling, "It means nothing, only that I fear you are blind and are being swindled again."

Song Mo’s expression turned cold. To be called a swindler twice over was enough to irritate even the most patient of men.

Zhou pondered for a moment before saying, "Madam Li, you worry too much. This young brother is indeed a master; he saw the source of my family’s trouble at a single glance." Song Mo knew this reaction was natural, as he had just performed a feat sufficient to stun Zhou.

"Heh." Madam Li let out a cold laugh. "I tell you, Zhou, you are getting old, and your judgment is failing. Who is to say if he is a master or a thief?" She then looked provocatively at Song Mo and continued, "As you know, the curse cast by Yang Shen is a carpenter’s hex—it can only be broken by an orthodox master carpenter. Look at this boy; he carries no plane, no axe, no square or chisel. He is clearly no carpenter."

Madam Li had a sharp eye; a true carpenter would inevitably carry his tools, yet Song Mo stood empty-handed. Song Mo did not argue, for he could not be bothered.

Seeing Song Mo remain silent, Madam Li grew even more smug. She sneered, "Zhou, don't you think the timing of this man’s arrival is just a little too coincidental?"

Song Mo thought to himself, *This is trouble.* Madam Li had hit the nail on the head. Indeed, as she spoke, Zhou’s face grew grim. While Song Mo had come with good intentions, the timing was indeed suspicious—arriving just after One-Eyed Snake’s death to offer a cure. Given that they were complete strangers, how could one not be suspicious? Zhou looked somber, several times opening his mouth to speak but stopping short.

Song Mo gave a cold laugh. "A loose-tongued woman—people speak of them often, but today I have truly seen one in action." Seeing that Zhou remained silent, Song Mo was not annoyed. He said in a deep voice, "Master Zhou, if I am not mistaken, there is a horse-drawn carriage carved into your main beam."

Zhou nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

Madam Li chimed in with her shrill tone, "I say we should take this man to the authorities. He knows the details so well, he is likely an accomplice of that thief, One-Eyed Snake."

Zhou began to waver. Song Mo fixed a cold gaze on Madam Li, and she was instantly frightened into silence.

Song Mo stated solemnly, "The reason your family has suffered repeated financial loss is because of that carved carriage. At first, it collected 'yin wealth.' Your family’s business dealings were not entirely clean; the money earned in the past was being siphoned away by that carriage at night. Once the yin wealth was gone, it would have moved on to your 'yang wealth'—that is when your family would have faced total ruin."

Upon hearing this, Zhou no longer cared if Song Mo was a swindler. He was so anxious he nearly knelt before him, pleading, "I beg you, master, please save us! Please save us!"

Song Mo nodded. "The yin wealth you lost is already gone, but the remaining yang wealth is earned honestly enough. Just see to it that you no longer engage in harmful dealings." Zhou nodded vigorously in agreement. Song Mo then explained how to break the curse. It was quite simple—there was no need to replace the beam; one only had to use a carving knife to scrape away the image of the carriage.

After explaining the method, Zhou asked what compensation was required. Song Mo shook his head. "Not a single penny. I only ask that your family holds a three-day almsgiving, so that the beggars in this city may have three days of full meals."

Realizing Song Mo was no villain, Zhou felt ashamed of his earlier suspicions.

"Pretentious," Madam Li muttered with continued dissatisfaction.

Song Mo gave her a faint smile, turned, and walked away. Zhou, holding no affection for the woman who had nearly ruined his family’s future, returned home with a cold face to arrange for the carving to be scraped away.

...

At noon, at a blacksmith’s shop in the south of the city.

The hearth fire was roaring, and the young apprentice worked the bellows. As the bellows wheezed, the old blacksmith held a pair of tongs in his left hand, pulling a glowing piece of iron from the forge and placing it on the anvil. With a strike of the heavy hammer, layers of iron flakes sprayed out, changing from red to black like dying fireworks.

"What does this young man need forged?" the old blacksmith asked in a voice like a booming bell.

Song Mo thought for a moment and said, "Trouble you to forge me a carving knife, master."