“Heaven and earth as my witness, Big Brother Bennett, do you actually suspect that I took your silver? I, James Carter, am upright and righteous, never doing anything shady. When Big Brother Bennett gave me the money pouch, there was only this much silver inside. Big Brother Bennett, you must see clearly and not wrong me. My reputation is as important as my chastity—both are vital to me.”

　　James Carter hurriedly explained, saying that he had ‘kindly’ agreed to safeguard the money pouch for this Bennett, but then Bennett had secretly added ten extra taels of silver into it. Ten taels! How could he possibly afford to pay that back?

　　Quentin Bennett’s expression changed instantly. He said, “So what you mean is, I’m not treating you like a brother and am deliberately framing you? Is that what you think of me? No, I’m going back right now to report to Eunuch King…” He shook his leg and turned to leave.

　　James Carter was startled and quickly tried to calm him down, saying, “Of course I don’t suspect Big Brother Bennett, wait, wait, let’s talk this out. Fine, I admit it, it’s my fault. I must have been blinded by greed and let down my own brother. Actually, it was my own foolishness—I took Big Brother Bennett’s silver to the gambling house and lost it all. As for the missing ten taels, I’ll take responsibility and pay it back. I’m terrible, truly heartless. How could I gamble away my own brother’s silver? Big Brother Bennett, you’re so magnanimous, please don’t hold it against me. By the way, what exactly is the relationship between Eunuch King and Big Brother Bennett… Why?”

　　Quentin Bennett said sternly, “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t.”

　　James Carter immediately fell silent, glancing at Quentin Bennett with newfound respect and awe. This guy really was something now—even privy to Eunuch King’s secrets. Clearly, he was not someone to offend.

　　Quentin Bennett’s expression softened. He said, “Since you’re willing to pay, I won’t stop you. Even real brothers need to keep accounts clear, right?”

　　James Carter nodded, tears streaming down his face like a pecking chick.

　　Quentin Bennett continued, “By the way, do you have pen and ink on you?”

　　“Pen and ink? What for?” James Carter became wary again.

　　Quentin Bennett said, “Naturally, to write an IOU. It’s best to have things in black and white. It’s not that I don’t trust my own brother, but everything needs to be done properly. No? If you don’t have it, that’s fine. Just escort me home first, and you can write it at my place. Don’t be upset. A real man should pull himself together.”

　　James Carter tried desperately to hold back his tears, forcing a smile: “I’m very strong, I’m very happy. To have the honor of burning yellow paper and becoming sworn brothers with Big Brother Bennett—the ancestors of the The Carter Family must be smiling down on me, ha ha… ha ha…”

　　Quentin Bennett shook his head. Too fake.

　　A solitary lamp, a pot of old wine.

　　After a bowl of wine, Charles Bennett, who was drinking, muttered, his gaze growing unfocused.

　　A trace of bitterness appeared at the corner of his mouth. Wise all his life, yet he had such a son. If only his son had inherited half his shrewdness, how could he have gotten into such big trouble?

　　In fact, after the incident, Charles Bennett hadn’t been idle. He’d been busy all day—first smoothing things over at the yamen, giving generous gifts to the legal advisors and clerks, then going out to arrest a merchant who was reselling medicinal herbs, falsely accusing him of mixing poison into the goods.

　　The reason for arresting the merchant was that, after all, he was an outsider with no local connections. And since the merchant was selling medicinal herbs, it provided a cover story: the problem wasn’t with the prescription, but with the herbs the buyer had purchased. The real issue lay with the herbs.

　　Everyone at the yamen got some benefits, so they all turned a blind eye. After all, it was just a cover-up. If the county magistrate could pull the wool over people’s eyes, why couldn’t the supervising eunuch Eunuch King be fooled as well?

　　He thought the matter would soon be settled. With a scapegoat, Eunuch King’s people would have someone to vent their anger on, and everyone would be happy—except for the unlucky merchant. But Charles Bennett didn’t care. It was just his bad luck to come to Qiantang to sell medicine.

　　But when Charles Bennett returned home, his son was nowhere to be found. After asking the neighbors, he learned that Eunuch King had summoned him. The thing Charles Bennett feared most had happened.

　　A whole day’s work wasted, and he’d lost a lot of money too. But most importantly, his son was still missing.

　　Without his son, could this still be called a home?

　　He’d worked hard all his life, and now he had nothing left.

　　What a curse, what a curse. What did I do in my past life to deserve such an unfilial son, such an unfilial son.

　　Charles Bennett was lost in his thoughts, downing another cup of bitter wine. By now, that unfilial son had probably been beaten to death by Eunuch King’s men. Hopefully, there would be a whole body left. Tomorrow, he’d have to order a good coffin…

　　Suddenly, Charles Bennett froze. He was only halfway through his plans for the aftermath when his jaw nearly dropped and he turned to stone.

　　At the main gate, Quentin Bennett suddenly appeared, looking at the dumbfounded Charles Bennett with his trademark smile.

　　“Dad, I’m back! Why is the main gate wide open today? What if a thief got in? There are so many bad people these days. Our The Bennett Family is an honest family—if we got robbed… Are you drinking again? I’ve told you before, don’t drink. A catty of wine costs over ten coins! Wouldn’t it be better to save that money to find me a wife? It’s getting more and more expensive to get married these days…”

　　Charles Bennett was still dumbfounded, motionless.

　　Quentin Bennett panicked, rushing over to pat Charles Bennett’s chest, shouting, “Dad, what’s wrong? You can’t die! I’m counting on you to support me for life, to get me a wife, to buy me a house…”