Abstract: This article analyzes legal statutes and cases from Baxian County Arcives during 18 -19th century, that involved trade associations, their business regulations, and market competition. The paper reconstructs the roles that the state(regional government officials), gang of porters, association leaders(futou) and other “semi-official”(the third realm) played respectively in the social structure. The inter-relationship among all of these actors is redefined as well.