Chapter 212

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

With Xiang Yuan dead, though in a foreign place, there was no avoiding the wake and funeral; following his deathbed instructions, they would keep the coffin for the seventh day before escorting it back to his hometown.

Everyone was now lodging in that medicinal merchant's house; in a single night, first official soldiers came to seize people, then a death occurred directly — such a large courtyard, newly bought not long ago, had instantly become a haunted house, bad to live in later, bad to sell.

The medicinal merchant and Xiang Yuan had only business dealings, and he was still hoping to make more money from this transaction; he never expected to run into such rotten luck, like having coptis root stabbed around in his heart, bitter beyond words — he had long since cursed both the Xiang and Rui families until their heads bled.

He found the Xiang family steward that very night and said: "Who could have foreseen such a calamity falling from the sky? Xiang Xiong suffered such a miserable fate, and it's all because that Rui Fusheng is no human being!"

After cursing Rui Fusheng, he started talking sentiment: "I have many years of friendship with your master; he now has only a single young son left, so as an elder I naturally must look after him. This house can continue to be lent to you, but with such an incident, when keeping the coffin, shouldn't you move it to a temple or Daoist hall, invite a few virtuous masters to help dispel disaster and resolve misfortune?"

He added: "Xiang Xiong was a man who loved pomp in life; it would be improper to let him go so shabbily — the rites should be grand, right? Going to a San Jie Wai place would also be more convenient."

His words were full of hints, inside and out.

The Xiang steward was a perceptive man and immediately said: "Master speaks rightly; I've already arranged people to prepare coffin materials, and in a moment I'll find a nearby temple to invite the old master over……"

This medicinal merchant had considerable business dealings with Xiang Yuan; with the house matter settled, he asked about business, pressing for settlement of accounts where due, delivery of goods where due; also the deposits originally agreed upon and placed with Xiang Yuan now had to be returned; there were also things jointly procured by three parties, with Xiang Yuan as the middleman — since Rui Fusheng had an incident, that share should also be paid by the middleman.

One three five seven nine, the more he calculated the more there was.

The Xiang steward dared not agree anywhere.

He originally wanted to fob him off with words, but the medicinal merchant refused, only chasing him for an immediate result — Xiang Yuan's stalls in Hua Prefecture were not small, involving many trades; by daytime the news would spread, everyone would come blocking the door together, and he might not be able to snatch ahead of others.

"Do you have the final say? Where is Xiang Lin? I'll go find him!" The medicinal merchant spoke and strode toward the back.

The Xiang steward hurriedly caught up, persuaded him at length, and said the young master was heavily injured and currently resting; they would check the accounts tomorrow, discuss clearly, and he would certainly be the first to settle.

Soft grinding and hard bubbling — the medicinal merchant paid no heed at all.

This house was originally his; he knew it inside out.

The Xiang steward had just chased into the back courtyard when he heard a sharp scolding voice from inside.

"Broom star! It's you! It's all you! Wherever you go people die; your father and mother were killed by you, and now you've come to kill my father!"

"Now my father is dead, and I've been injured this badly by villains, yet you alone have nothing wrong — it's all you overcoming us, right??"

In the courtyard, quite a few clerks and hired hands stood to the side, none speaking, none daring to move.

The one scolding was naturally Xiang Lin.

Seeing the medicinal merchant look toward him, the Xiang steward felt one head turning into two.

He hurried forward, using Xiang Yuan's dying words to persuade this one, and said: "Soon the wake begins; young master and Young Master Yan both still need to wear mourning and act as filial sons to receive guests; later they must carry the spirit and tablet — how proper is it to quarrel now, letting outsiders see what kind of spectacle? The old master is still in the back!"

Better not said; once said, Xiang Lin grew even angrier.

When his birth mother died before, he had heard people say that acting as filial son, carrying the spirit and tablet — later one would divide the family estate.

This bastard Liang Yan still dares to think of dividing the family estate??

Xiang Lin immediately shouted: "What kind of Yan Young Master is he to you?? On what grounds does he keep vigil for my father?? He's surnamed Liang, my father is surnamed Xiang — he's an outsider, what guests is he receiving?? Seeing him only makes people laugh!"

As he spoke, he pointed at the doorway and cursed loudly: "You surnamed Liang, if you still want a shred of face, scram for me! Don't eat another grain of our Xiang family's rice, another mouthful of our Xiang family's food!"

Liang Yan stood awkwardly with swollen eyes.

Seeing him not move, Xiang Lin grew even more enraged.

He had taken mafeisan and slept halfway; actually he was still sleepy, but was suddenly awakened, then learned his birth father had died unexpectedly — his whole person was in a kind of inexplicable hyper-arousal, both sleepy and tired and tense, mixed with a strange excitement.

At this moment looking at Liang Yan before him, fire simply rose from his heart.

If not for this dog bastard showing off and competing everywhere with single-minded contention, how would he have been angered into going to shave Plum Blossom Piles all night?

Had the Plum Blossom Piles not been interrupted, that one slash might not have been so heavy, so wrong — Father might not have died!

It's all this Liang bastard's fault!

Once this thought emerged, it was as if it took root in Xiang Lin's brain, like being irrigated by jade nectar from a jade purification bottle — in an instant thirty-six cycles of sixty years, in just a moment it grew into a thousand-year towering tree; no matter who came, no matter how much force, it could not be shaken.

His gaze at Liang Yan grew more fierce, more vicious; unable to restrain himself, he glanced left and right, saw a not-too-large, not-too-small stone on the ground nearby, stepped forward in a few strides, lifted it and hurled it at Liang Yan's head, cursing as he threw: "Will you scram or not, will you scram or not! If you don't scram, I'll beat you out!"

Speaking, he turned toward the steward who had already stepped forward to block, and roared: "My father is dead — now I have the final say! Whoever dares speak, all of you scram for me!"

As these words came out, seeing everyone in the scene shut their mouths and lower their heads, even that steward halted his steps — he actually felt a sense of gratification.

Ah, yes! Father is dead — now I have the final say!

Though somewhat sad, anyway he ran business outside all year round and didn't return many times; every time they met it was either beating or scolding, and he always loved to control people — whatever he did was wrong, all inferior to others; in his father's eyes, even this bastard Liang Yan was stronger than his own legitimate son.

Forced him to study, forced him to practice martial arts, wouldn't let him do this, wouldn't let him do that, even who he played with had to be controlled!

To hell with studying, study what fart of a book!

He simply won't go to the Capital, won't go to any academy! Won't let people control him!

He wants to go home!

At home, paternal grandfather and grandmother, maternal grandfather and grandmother — who doesn't let him have the final say!

Want to fight dogs then fight dogs, want to shoot birds then shoot birds, eat what he wants, play what he wants — no one stopping him anymore!

Back home there are especially many playmates, each with good sense — just say one sentence and they'll all swarm over.

Last time he said he wanted a slingshot for shooting bird eggs; the next day five or six people all brought slingshots, surrounded him and went out, even found the bird eggs and bird nest locations for him!

He had previously boasted that when he opened his own shop, he would recruit them as shopkeepers and do big business together!

Go back and open it — open a great big slingshot shop!

The more Xiang Lin thought, the more excited he grew; his eyes had already turned red.

Opposite, Liang Yan dodged the stone flying at him and said: "Uncle Xiang has passed; you're the most grieved — I don't blame you. You don't want me to keep vigil or carry the spirit, then I won't keep vigil, won't carry the spirit; the Xiang family's wealth has nothing to do with me — I'm surnamed Liang — but bowing my head once should be fine, right?"

Xiang Lin pointed at the white cloth covering the back and said: "After bowing, scram!"

Liang Yan indeed stepped forward, knelt on the ground, just about to kowtow, when Xiang Lin took a vigorous stride forward and kicked him hard in the back.

With a "thud," Liang Yan lost his balance and knocked his head heavily on the ground, drawing blood instantly.

Xiang Lin laughed loudly and said, "Kowtow! Kowtow! Why did you stop kowtowing??"

Not a single person in the courtyard spoke.

Even that medicinal herb merchant was stunned for a moment.

Darkness swam before Liang Yan's eyes; he fell to the ground clutching his head, and only recovered after a long while. Enduring the pain, suppressing his anger, he turned over, stood up, walked to the other side of Xiang Yuan, knelt down again, and kowtowed three resounding times.

After the first kowtow, he stood up and said to Xiang Lin, "Uncle Xiang told us..."

"Get the hell out of here!" Xiang Lin pointed at the main gate and spat.

With things having come to this pass, it was naturally impossible for Liang Yan to stay in the courtyard.

He clutched his head, went out the courtyard gate, and returned to his own room.

Xiang Lin hated him to the bone; staying would only bring humiliation upon himself.

But he was only ten years old; where else could he go?

Which shop was taking apprentices? Or hiring small workers?

He searched around the room.

During these years in the Xiang family, earlier on, because Uncle Xiang was often away on business and spent little time at home, the servants and the two elders of the Xiang family were each busy with their own matters, and moreover there was Xiang Lin in the house, so they did not prepare too many things for him.

Later, when Uncle Xiang said he would take him out, he did procure some items, but it was only a few sets of clothes for spring and summer each.

Additionally, there were meeting gifts given by various uncles and aunts when he went out and was introduced to them, among which were not a few items of gold and silver.

Liang Yan rummaged for half a day, finally took out two boxes, and arranged the things one by one. Clothes, shoes, and socks went into a small wooden box; the rest of the gifts went into another wooden box. When everything was placed, he originally wanted to count the items, but unexpectedly, as he lowered his head, drop by drop, water fell into the box.

He hurriedly covered the box, wiped his eyes, telling the water not to flow like a stream, then turned back to the corner, and took out a bundle from the wooden box.

The bundle was very worn and patched; opening it, there were only two sets of clothes and a pair of cloth shoes inside.

Liang Yan took off the clothes he was wearing and changed into the largest set from the old bundle—this was the bundle he had brought with him when Uncle Xiang brought him home back then; the things inside naturally bore the surname Liang, not Xiang.

Several years had passed; he had grown quite a bit taller. The clothes that had barely fit before were now too short and too small once put on, revealing his calves and half his forearms.

But they were not unwearable.

After dressing, just as he was changing shoes, Liang Yan heard someone knock and enter.

He jerked his head up, saw the person entering, and then saw emptiness behind that person. An expression of disappointment involuntarily appeared on his face, but then he stood up and called out, "Sheng Shu."

The visitor was that Xiang steward.

Seeing Liang Yan's expression, then his current movements, then that ill-fitting outfit, and the two boxes beside him—one open, one closed. The open one had all kinds of things laid out flat, arranged neatly, as if to make it easy for someone to verify, not to take away. The steward Xiang knew exactly what he intended.

"Liang Yan."

The steward Xiang did not call him "Young Master Yan" as before, but called his name. He walked over in a few steps, sighed, and said, "Why go to such lengths—whatever the Master gives, you accept; it is what you deserve."

Liang Yan shook his head and said, "I am not surnamed Xiang, so I won't take this advantage."

He added, "Sheng Shu, Uncle Xiang previously instructed me and Xiang Lin to look out for each other. Now he doesn't want to see me, so I won't stay here to be an eyesore. I..."

He "I"-ed for a good while, but actually didn't know how to continue.

I what?

At this moment, Liang Yan desperately wished he were a dashing knight-errant from a play, a tycoon who throws away a thousand gold, or a general with superb martial arts.

But the world is this big, yet he has not a single place to go; even if he leaves the Xiang family, he doesn't know how to get a single meal.

How could he be so useless!

The steward Xiang did not stop him, but took out a letter from his bosom and said, "You keep this for now—there is a merchant caravan in the City West; its leader is an old acquaintance of the Master. In a couple of days, when things here are settled, I will take you to them. You will follow that caravan into the Capital, to seek out Zhu Liang Fu, Master Zhu."

"This year the Master placed a deposit with him to buy cured duck and cured pork. I have explained it clearly in the letter; I will convert that money into your daily expenses, and also ask him to help find a reliable martial arts school—you practice martial arts well. That Master Zhu, though of butcher origin, from what I have observed these many years, is a man who speaks of righteousness and is benevolent and generous. With him, you will not suffer."

Liang Yan hurriedly shook his head and said, "I never wanted to take this advantage in the first place. The deposit Uncle Xiang gave to Master Zhu is naturally Xiang Lin's money now. If he finds out I used his money behind his back..."

Hearing Liang Yan speak like this, the steward Xiang shook his head, sighed, and said, "You stubborn mule!"

He continued, "When the Master was alive, I couldn't say much. Now that he's gone, and you're being this foolish—back then your father risked his life to save the Master. Instead of immediately sending support to your family, he waited hard for several years, until there was no one left in your home, then sent someone to find you, and finally brought you into the mansion. Do you know the reason?"

Liang Yan shook his head.

The steward continued, "Your father didn't have to die. The Master claimed his cargo manifest and money tickets were lost halfway and insisted on going back to retrieve them, only to encounter the bandits who kill with returning horse spears—the manifest and tickets were actually safely on his person. What he went back for was a fellow merchant in the caravan who had been hacked by bandits and fell to the ground; he kept worrying about him in his heart..."

"He had a dream, dreaming your father came to demand justice. At first he didn't take it seriously, until the next day he went to Feng County on business. Everyone else was fine, but the Master alone fell flat on level ground, broke his arm, and at noon while eating, a stone in the rice chipped half his tooth—he rushed back to seek the abbot of Lingtai Temple, and only then, following the other's teaching, went to fetch you."

It was a sweltering, stifling day. As Liang Yan listened, he felt a chill all over. By the last sentence, it was as if someone had chiseled a large hole in the top of his head and poured in freezing water mixed with crushed ice, making even his teeth chatter.

In the official relay station, Song Miao kept her heart in her throat.

She waited a long time with no news, so she could only sleep in her clothes.

Even her sleep was not very peaceful.

Around dawn, hearing slight movement outside, she immediately scrambled up. Opening the door, she indeed saw Han Li in the distance carrying a lantern, walking from the second gate.

She hurried out the door to meet him halfway.

Han Li on the other side raised the lantern, saw it was Song Miao, and without even a greeting or a word of pleasantry, the moment they were close enough, said directly, "Caught him! Rui Fusheng is that thief chief Lv Mao!"

Song Miao let out a long breath.

She didn't ask, but Han Li voluntarily explained—where he was caught, how he was caught, what method was used—and finally said, "If not for your meticulous attention, he would have escaped by now."

He also briefly told how Rui Fusheng had prepared and how many escape plans he had.

Song Miao's heart settled back into her belly. No longer anxious, she just said, "Since the thief chief has been brought to justice, I won't disturb Young Master further—staying up until now must have been very hard; resting early is the proper thing. If there's time tomorrow, I'll come ask in detail."

Speaking, she prepared to take her leave.

Han Li acknowledged, was about to leave, but suddenly stopped and asked, "If I remember correctly, tomorrow is Stall Owner Song's ten-day rest day, right?"

?? Thank you everyone for the monthly tickets, Xiaoxiang tickets, and various tickets. If nothing unexpected happens, next month (October) Miao Miao will have relatively more activity funds, and then we'll have to trouble Operations Official Xiao Tu!

? We'll try to see if we can set up some activities with low participation difficulty but that can limit the threshold to real readers, to give everyone a little something back.

? If you have any good activity suggestions, please leave more messages in the comment section for Operations Rabbit's reference. Thank you everyone. Poor little Miao finally got rich for a month, so happy!!! Thank you Food Friends!!