Song Qingyuan's father. Originally a government runner in Hejian Prefecture who was rescued by Nie Erzhuang. Later became close friends with Nie Erzhuang, and they swore an oath of brotherhood. With financial help from his brother-in-law (the eldest aunt's husband), he passed all three levels of the official examinations and became a County Magistrate after spending a fortune on bribes and connections. He has been serving as an official in another city for the past two years.
