Explore Chapter 16 of "八十一梦 五子登科" with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Jin Ziyuan shut the door tightly, drew the curtains, and then opened the largest suitcase. Inside, gold bullion were neatly arranged, each bar of pure gold gleaming softly under the lamplight. He counted them: fifty bars in total. Beside them lay several packets of silver dollars and a few thousand yuan in legal tender (fabi). His heart was a mix of joy and fear-joy at seeing so much gold for the first time in his life, fear that these ill-gotten gains, if discovered by his superiors or anyone else, would land him in deep trouble. Hastily, he closed the suitcase, locked it, and added another padlock.
As he was deliberating in the room, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door. His heart tightened, and he quickly shoved the suitcase under the bed, then pretended to be nonchalant. There was a soft knock at the door, and Liu Botong's voice came: "Brother Jin, are you home?" Jin Ziyuan steadied himself and opened the door to find Liu Botong standing there with a broad smile, accompanied by two others. Jin Ziyuan ushered the guests into the living room. After sitting down, Liu Botong got straight to the point: "Brother Jin, I hear you’ve made quite a haul this time. We’ve come specially to congratulate you." Jin Ziyuan knew in his heart that they had come to demand a share of the gold. He feigned modesty, saying it was just some worthless scrap.
Seeing that he wouldn't admit it, Liu Botong laughed and said, "Brother Jin, among friends, no false words. We all have our connections, and we know you’ve gotten your hands on some fine goods. We’re not asking for charity. We all have to support each other in this game. If you’re willing to loosen your grip a little, we’ll ensure your safety and even help you gain more." Jin Ziyuan remained silent. Another man, who looked like a merchant, leaned in and whispered, "Mr. Jin, we’re willing to buy your gold bullion at a high price. The amount is negotiable. You could make a tidy profit on the spot-why not take the opportunity?" Jin Ziyuan shook his head and said, "Those gold bullion are public property. I dare not dispose of them privately."
Liu Botong laughed heartily. "Public property? Once it’s in your hands, Jin Ziyuan, it’s yours. Just fudge the books a little-who’s going to find out? Besides, you can’t swallow all this alone. Why not share some out, so everyone benefits?" Jin Ziyuan was momentarily tempted, but then he thought of his precarious position as a newcomer in Beiping. If anything went wrong, he would bear the consequences. So he demurred: "This matter is too serious. Let me think it over."
The two men, seeing he wouldn’t agree immediately, showered him with flattery and promised him benefits. Jin Ziyuan remained firm. Finally, Liu Botong stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Brother Jin, think it over. We’ll give you three days. If we don’t hear back from you by then, don’t blame us for being unfriendly." With that, he left with the other two.
After seeing the guests out, Jin Ziyuan returned to his room, his mind in turmoil. He opened the suitcase, gazed at the gold bullion, and recalled the words of those men. He knew he had stepped into a quagmire. But since things had come to this, he could only take it one step at a time. He decided not to act rashly for now and to see how things developed.
Early the next morning, just after Jin Ziyuan had gotten up, another visitor arrived. It was Professor Yang and a counselor named Wang. As soon as he entered, Professor Yang clasped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "Director Jin, congratulations! I heard you’ve taken in a batch of fine goods. We’ve come to ask for a celebratory drink." Jin Ziyuan was startled; how had the news spread so quickly? He put on a polite facade and invited them to sit.
After sitting down, Professor Yang turned serious. "Brother Jin, we’re all on the same side, so I’ll be frank. Beiping is a mix of dragons and snakes. It’s not easy for one person to handle all the pressures. We’re willing to help share the burden. Look, those gold bullion-better to split them among us than let outsiders get them. It benefits everyone." Jin Ziyuan replied, "You make a good point, Mr. Yang, but these assets are all accounted for. I can’t just dispose of them at will."
Counselor Wang laughed, "Brother Jin, you’re too honest. Those enemy and puppet properties never have accurate records. If you underreport a little, who’s going to find out? Besides, we’re not asking for a gift. We’ll help you smooth things over, and your life will be much easier from now on." Jin Ziyuan felt a stir of temptation, but he remained hesitant.
Seeing his silence, Professor Yang took out a cheque from his briefcase and placed it on the table. "This is fifty thousand yuan as a down payment. If you give us half of those gold bullion, there will be a generous reward afterward." Jin Ziyuan stared at the cheque, his heart pounding. After a long pause, he sighed and said, "All right. Let me make arrangements."
Satisfied, Professor Yang and Counselor Wang took their leave. Jin Ziyuan sat alone in the room, gazing at the gold bullion and the cheque, uncertain whether to feel joy or worry. He knew he had boarded this ship and could never disembark. So he divided the gold bullion into two portions: one set aside for Professor Yang, the other for himself.
That night, Jin Ziyuan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He recalled his ambitious aspirations when he first arrived in Beiping, and now he had stooped to such dealings-shameful. But then he thought, everyone else was grabbing money, so why shouldn’t he? And so he felt at ease again.
Two days later, Liu Botong came again. This time he brought several suitcases, saying he wanted to exchange them for gold. Jin Ziyuan knew he couldn’t avoid it, so he agreed to trade. They haggled in the secret room and finally settled on a price of eight hundred yuan per bar of gold bullion. Liu Botong paid in cash, loaded the gold bullion into his own suitcases, and left cheerfully.
Watching the banknotes in his hands, Jin Ziyuan felt a flood of emotions. He knew that from now on, he was no longer the innocent Jin Ziyuan of before. But since matters had come to this, he could only steel himself and move forward.