Seeing the God of Wealth look at me, my scalp tingled, and I retreated, waving my hand: “Don’t come over, don’t come over. I don’t want to win money anymore, that’s enough!”
The God of Wealth hugged his large gold ingot and snorted: “You’re quite the oddity.”
Wang Xiaoer jumped onto the cart, gripped the reins, and after thinking for a while, said dejectedly: “Can’t marry a wife, can’t run away with the money, can’t leave it at home, can’t donate it to officials. Sigh.”
I truly hoped he could understand and throw the money away, treating it like dirt.
Wang Xiaoer slapped his head and said: “I know! I’ll hand it over to the authorities!”
I couldn’t help but say: “What if you encounter a corrupt official who embezzles the money?”
Wang Xiaoer thought for a moment and said: “Then tomorrow I’ll beat the drum, in front of everyone, they surely wouldn’t dare to steal it.”
I nodded; this method might work. If the official really embezzled it, being not far from the imperial city, public discussion would reach the palace, and the local officials would be held accountable.
The next day, as the eastern mountain showed a hint of orange, Wang Xiaoer, who hadn’t slept all night, drove his cart to the government office. By the time he arrived, it was fully bright. He got out and beat the drum, striking it a dozen times, and passersby were already discussing.
Two bailiffs opened the gate and ran out, shouting: “Who is beating the drum!”
Wang Xiaoer saw them and hurriedly said: “I found a cart of gold in the countryside.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the noise grew. The bailiffs exchanged glances, one checking the cart, the other bringing Wang Xiaoer into the main hall.
By now the county magistrate had taken his seat. He struck the gavel heavily: “Who is below?”
Wang Xiaoer quickly prostrated: “Your humble servant Wang Xiaoer.”
“Why beat the drum?”
“This servant found a cart full of gold in the countryside and drove it here.”
I stood quietly to the side, wondering if the gold would really be handed over so smoothly.
The county magistrate roared: “Troublemaker!
