Chapter 6: Treating People Like Swine

More than a dozen pairs of eyes stared at him from the hall, an overwhelming sense of unease washing over him, as if he were standing trial in a courtroom with nowhere to escape.

The three boxes before him were identical in appearance, indistinguishable from one another. His fate would be decided by randomly selecting one, but was there any hint or clue to guide him?

Fighting desperately to suppress his anxiety, Luo Gan fixed his gaze on the three boxes, slapping his own cheeks, which provoked a burst of laughter from the crowd.

The county magistrate grinned slyly, watching Luo Gan as if observing a cricket fight, his finger pointing and gesturing. "This man really is a fool."

Zhang Jifeng sneered, mocking him: "Frightened out of his wits by the wisdom and might of Lord Wang!"

Luo Gan paid them no heed, concentrating on the boxes. Aside from the ominous red glow on the faces of those around him, there was nothing unusual about the boxes—no clue to be found.

What now? How absurd this was! He had always heard tales of the Tang dynasty’s prosperity, but never imagined such corrupt officials could play with the lives of commoners, making sport of their fates.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Gan stepped forward to meet his destiny. He first examined the box on the left, reaching out to take it—when the magistrate’s face lit up with suspicious delight, causing Luo Gan to hastily withdraw his hand.

The magistrate’s disappointment was plain, but he waved his hand, indicating Luo Gan could choose as he pleased.

A moment earlier, the courtroom had been abuzz; now, only Luo Gan's own breathing seemed audible.

He looked around, carefully observing the reactions of those present. The constables simply watched with indifference, seemingly accustomed to the magistrate’s cruel games, or perhaps merely resigned to the fickleness of life—no joy, no sorrow, only a wish for it all to end quickly.

At last, Luo Gan chose the box in the middle. As he opened it and peered inside, a sudden shriek escaped him. He stumbled backward, the box falling from his hands.

A large pig’s head rolled across the floor. Luo Gan screamed, scrambling away in terror before managing to stand, visibly shaken.

The constables burst into laughter. The magistrate watched, engrossed, clapping his hands with glee.

"Well, well! Congratulations!" the magistrate crowed. "This pig’s head is a special gift for the chosen one!"

Luo Gan, still reeling in shock, could barely contain his anger at the magistrate’s triumphant smirk.

Struggling to master his fear, Luo Gan knelt, forcing himself to plead calmly.

"Your Excellency! I am not a villain or criminal. Please, examine my case with fairness."

The magistrate replied, "Hey now! I didn’t have you executed on the spot, did I? I let you pick a box—that’s my idea of justice!"

Zhang Jifeng, unimpressed, snorted and turned away, as if disappointed by the lack of further spectacle.

"This pig is but livestock," the magistrate continued, "which means your life is worth little."

Zhang Jifeng immediately placed his hand on his sword, preparing to drag Luo Gan away. Panic seized Luo Gan—he felt certain disaster was upon him.

But the magistrate waved his hand. "Yet pigs are at least diligent, unlike filthy, troublesome rats. Since you claim innocence, then…" His tone was menacing, putting Luo Gan even more on edge. He glanced from the pig’s head to the magistrate, fearing he might share the pig’s fate. He hurriedly knelt once more, begging for leniency.

"Then you should learn from this pig," the magistrate pronounced.

Luo Gan was taken aback, unsure of the meaning behind these words, or what the magistrate intended.

The magistrate seemed disappointed—apparently he would have to instruct such a foolish criminal himself. He pointed at the pig’s head.

"Learn from the pig’s example! Even if you haven’t eaten pork, you’ve seen pigs run, haven’t you? Come on, walk like a pig for me!" The magistrate clapped his hands, having made up his mind, and chuckled to himself, clearly amused. The other constables remained unmoved, accustomed to such antics. Zhang Jifeng, however, dutifully joined in the laughter.

The pig’s head had been cooked, and as Luo Gan looked at it, he realized what fate awaited those who defied these officials.

How absurd! Must one throw away all dignity, reduce oneself to such humiliation, just to survive?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

On the night he turned twenty, Li Chuanglai celebrated his birthday with his university roommates. When the others had drunk themselves into a stupor and fallen asleep, Li Chuanglai slipped away to a grove seeking solitude—only to spot, by chance, the girl he’d secretly loved for two years. She walked alongside her friends, beautiful as ever, but in her world, Li Chuanglai did not exist.

An only child, he’d never known much fortune. With a poor family, the adage “poverty is the root of all sorrow” rang true—no one paid much attention to his growth or feelings, his parents too absorbed in endless squabbles over daily necessities.

Sometimes, Li Chuanglai wondered if he owed fate three coins, for things always seemed to fall just short. In primary school, he nearly qualified for the city’s best school, but the commute was too far, so he couldn’t go. In music class, praised for his talent, he almost set out on the road to an artistic future, but his father balked at the expense of piano lessons. He was late for his high school entrance exam, detained for lack of bus fare, and his score just missed the cutoff for a better school. In high school, he dated a top student, and in a fit of bravado applied only to prestigious universities, ignoring those more suited to his abilities—again, he missed the mark by a hair.

With such luck, should Li Chuanglai try his hand at the lottery? He did, but—just as always—his numbers were one off from the jackpot.

Yet in this luckless life, at a major company interview where even the best candidates failed, he performed unusually well and won a rare opportunity. The interview itself was memorable.

Two interviewers and Li Chuanglai sat upright, the interviewers scanning his résumé, seemingly uninterested.

Interviewer A said, "Design copy for a real estate project."

Sensing their indifference, Li Chuanglai threw caution to the wind and replied, "If you’ve got the guts, buy it! If you want it today, come get it; if not, who knows about tomorrow!"

One interviewer burst out laughing, and the other’s interest was piqued.

Interviewer B asked, "Let me pose a cliché: If your mother and your girlfriend…"

Li Chuanglai cut him off before he finished, "Don’t worry, I’ll anticipate the problem—I’ll teach my mom to swim first!"

The two interviewers exchanged amused glances and nodded approvingly.

And so, for the first time, Li Chuanglai’s luck changed—he joined the company. Even more surprising, his goddess worked in the same office.

With rare effort and twice the energy, buoyed by triple the luck, he conquered the company’s toughest client, earning the boss’s praise and being hailed as a “rising star among 4A advertising planners.” Suddenly, he attracted the attention of his goddess, who had otherwise been unremarkable at work.

Li Chuanglai seized the moment, courting her. Through companionship during her times of trouble, they finally became a couple. For a time, he seemed to have it all—success in both career and romance.

But now, all of it was gone. Was he Li Chuanglai, or was he Luo Gan?

Luo Gan lay prostrate, overwhelmed by emotion. The magistrate’s hand gripped the command token, signaling the game’s end—a single word and all Luo Gan’s efforts would be for nothing.

Enough! Han Xin endured crawling between a man’s legs for survival—this was just a game. Only I can see my humiliation here. If I win, my life will change; if I lose, no one will ever know. Why should I fear?

On all fours, Luo Gan crawled forward, an odd, reptilian figure, utterly strange.

Zhang Jifeng found it hilarious, adding fuel to the fire. "What kind of pig crawls like a toad? Hahaha! Arch your back, man; don’t be so timid!"

Luo Gan shot Zhang Jifeng a glare. The magistrate, intrigued by Zhang’s suggestion, slapped the command token loudly.

"Do as Head Constable Zhang says! Hurry up, hurry up!"

Luo Gan crawled, slowly arching his back, looking utterly ridiculous. Yet even uglier were the officials who took pleasure in humiliating the powerless, treating human life as nothing.

"Keep up the rhythm and squeal!" the magistrate commanded.

The constables joined in, hooting and jeering. A faint glimmer welled at the corner of Luo Gan’s eye, slid down his cheek, and vanished in an instant.

Soon after, a man, arched and crawling, raised his head and let out a shriek like a pig being slaughtered.

The wretched sound echoed through the entire yamen, carrying who knows how far, to how many ears.