Chapter 994: Given Away

Pan Yun pressed her lips tightly, walked around to the front, and stood in the courtyard asking: "Excuse me, is Da Chun here?"

The boy stepped out of the house; he was past hungry, his body leaning slightly against the doorframe. He couldn't make out the person standing in the sunlight, only a silhouette, but his expression remained unchanged, and he did his best to hide his condition: "Big Chun went to the garrison. Who are you, and why are you looking for him?"

Pan Yun saw his pale face, lips devoid of any color, eyes dull and unfocused, and hurried forward to reply: "A friend of his asked me to deliver a message. Are you dizzy?"

She took out a pouch, pulled out a handful of candy—bought by Miaohe, who had left many with her.

Pan Yun peeled open the wrapper and shoved the candy into his mouth: "It's sugar. Eat some. Do you have white or brown sugar at home? Drink some sugared water—it'll help you recover faster…"

The boy didn't answer her, but his tongue pressed against the candy in his mouth; the sweet flavor spread slowly, and he gradually made out the face standing before him.

It was a girl not much older than him, dressed in a Daoist robe, yet as warm and familiar to him as his mother—he hadn't dreamed of her in a long time.

Seeing Pan Yun, his eyes instantly reddened, and he murmured: "Mother…"

His voice was low, barely audible, but Pan Yun's sharp ears caught it.

She "Ah"ed, peeled another candy, and slipped it into his mouth: "Eat more. You'll recover faster."

The boy instinctively held the candy in his mouth; once the dizziness fully passed and he steadied himself, he felt deeply embarrassed.

His face flushed, and he stammered: "I, uh, Big Chun went to the garrison as a soldier. The whole family moved away from here."

"It doesn't matter. His friend said if the message doesn't reach him, it's fine," Pan Yun glanced past him toward the kitchen and asked: "Are you alone at home?"

The boy quickly stepped aside to let her in: "Yes. My father and older brother were conscripted to work near Bear Mountain. They won't return until dark. I'm the only one home."

The boy saw what was in the pot and felt awkward; his face grew even redder as he timidly asked Pan Yun: "Miss, are you hungry? Shall I cook you something?"

Pan Yun smiled: "I ate breakfast before leaving. It's still early for dinner. I just need a bowl of water."

The boy immediately fetched a bowl, scooped a full portion from the water vat, and offered it to her.

Pan Yun accepted it with both hands, drank half the bowl in large gulps, then set it down.

The boy quietly exhaled, his body relaxing slightly.

Pan Yun smiled and asked: "I'm Pan Yun. What's your name?"

The boy said: "I'm Shen Shukang."

Pan Yun: "Can you go to school now?"

"Yes," the boy paused before adding: "The military has a school. All sons of military households can enroll for free, but…"

Pan Yun smiled and asked: "But what? Don't you have books, so you can't attend?"

"No, not that," the boy blushed: "I have books—my older brother attended school before me, and I can use his books. Neighbors can lend me books too. But the school no longer provides meals. I can only attend for one hour after noon. The rest of the day, I have to find food."

Pan Yun: "How can you train in martial arts or practice troop formations when you can't even eat enough?"

The boy lowered his gaze: "My father learned when he was young. But by the time my older brother went to school, those things were gone."

"What about military drills? This is off-season. By regulation, shouldn't your father and brother be training?"

"Rules changed. Now everyone works for Commander Feng."

"What work is there to do at this time?"

"Plenty: leveling land, repairing irrigation, roads, chopping firewood, making charcoal. Commander Feng's houses need repairs too, and all the sewers must be cleared. From now until Lunar New Year, no one gets a break."

Pan Yun laughed bitterly: "Do you all have no complaints?"

Shen Shukang lowered his gaze: "Who dares complain? Last year, Japanese pirates surged. Those who complained were sent out to sea to fight them. Ten went, one returned. Since then, no one dares complain."

Pan Yun pressed her lips tightly, paused a moment, then asked: "Do you know where the military colonies and garrisons in Chaozhou are? And where are Feng Hongde's private fields and properties?"

Shen Shukang looked at her, astonished yet hopeful: "You… who are you?"

Since Pan Yun began asking questions, he'd held a quiet hope. Now it felt like a dream come true—his eyes shone brightly as he stared at her.

Pan Yun whispered: "I'm sent by the imperial court. I have the power to bring down Feng Hongde. But we lack evidence."

Shen Shukang shot to his feet: "I have evidence!"

He abandoned his porridge and ran into the main room, returning moments later with a cloth bundle, which he opened right before Pan Yun.

Topmost were a stack of letters. He paused, pressed the stack down without moving it, then pulled out only the two bottom sheets. One bore a drawing: "This is every military colony and his private land we know of."

It listed village names, approximate directions, and distances.

A dense patchwork of dots, scattered like stars, encircling Chaozhou city.

Pan Yun took it, her gaze darkening: "No wonder they call him Feng Ban Cheng."

Shen Shukang handed her the other sheet: "This is the estimated acreage. We gathered this data while working with our comrades. Miss Pan, if you truly bring down Feng, the military households of Chaozhou will erect a longevity tablet for you. For the rest of our lives, whatever you need—we'll give our lives."

Shen Shukang's eyes welled with tears: "We… we can't go on anymore. The tasks assigned by the Feng family grow heavier every day. My mother—my mother was worked to death."

He wiped his tears with his arm, voice choked: "We are military households, but we are Great Ming's military households. We serve the state, we serve the emperor. What right does this Feng have to treat us like animals?"

Pan Yun's fingers tightened around the two sheets. She spoke low and firm: "Yes. What right?"

She gripped the boy's shoulder and solemnly promised: "Don't worry. If I don't topple him and restore your rightful rights, I'll reverse my name!"

Pan Yun's gaze swept over the envelopes in his bundle. She didn't ask what the stack of letters contained. She rose, took the two sheets, and took her leave: "Keep this secret. Until Feng Hongde is arrested, say nothing. Protect yourself and your family."

Shen Shukang agreed, staring blankly as she stepped out.

He looked down at the cloth bundle in his hands, clenched his teeth, and ran after her: "Wait!"

Pan Yun turned back.

Shen Shukang hurried forward, clutching the bundle. After a moment's hesitation, he offered it to her: "This… these are petitions from each military colony. One letter per colony, with everyone's fingerprint seals. And the last letters from soldiers who were conscripted to fight the Japanese pirates."

Pan Yun paused, then took them. Holding the thick stack of envelopes, she grew even more solemn, nodding fiercely at him: "Don't worry!"

Pan Yun left with the items.

Shen Shukang stood frozen at the door, watching her vanish into the distance until her figure disappeared, then snapped back to reality.

His limbs went weak, his face pale, his heart pounding. He questioned himself: "Did I… just give her all of this?"

Shen Shukang felt both reckless and certain he'd done the right thing.

Tormented, he couldn't even eat his porridge. He sat in the courtyard until dark, until his father and brother pushed open the door—he stirred stiffly, lifting his gaze blankly toward the two figures at the threshold.

Shen An saw his youngest son was dazed and asked: "Did someone bully you?"

Shen Boxiu smiled and asked, "Did you drive them off?"

"I gave the things away," Shen Shukang said hoarsely. The moment the words left his mouth, the crushing pressure that had nearly choked him lifted, and he lifted his head even higher toward his father and brother, eyes welling with tears: "I think she's a good person. We can trust her."

At first, Shen An and his son didn't grasp the meaning of his words. But when they met his gaze, both their faces turned pale. They dropped their sickles and hoes and sprinted toward the main house.

Soon after, the two burst out one after the other. Shen An snatched up a thick club and swung it at Shen Shukang, but Shen Boxiu grabbed him from behind: "Father, Father, calm down, calm down!"

As he held his father, he roared at his brother, still frozen on the small stool: "What are you standing there for? Run!"

Shen Shukang stiffly stood up, but didn't run. He kept repeating: "Father, Brother, believe me—she's a good person. She said she could help us, and she will."

"You're lying! Who in Chaozhou can help us? Those things were meant to be taken to Jingcheng to petition the Emperor—you just gave them away, you gave them away…" Shen An's throat turned sweet, and a thread of blood spurted from his mouth. He burst into sobs: "That was all our effort! It's the lives of every soldier-farmer in Chaozhou! You little bastard—you're going to get us all killed—"

"Father!" Shen Boxiu clung tightly to him, whispering in his ear: "It's too late to say anything now. First, we find her and get the things back. Shukang—who was she? How old? What did she look like? What did she say her identity was? Which way did she go?"

"Her name is Pan Yun. She looked a little older than me. She didn't say who she was, but she said she could handle Feng Hongde. She—she went that way." Shen Shukang's eyes were red as he insisted: "Father, believe me—she's truly good. When I saw her, she felt just like Mother—how could someone like Mother be evil?"

A flicker of disbelief pierced Shen An's rage: "What? Like your mother? He—she's a woman?"

"Yes, a woman. Just a little older than me."

Shen An was so furious he lost all strength to strike. How had he ever thought his youngest son was clever?

Shen An's body went limp. Shen Boxiu stood frozen, the name Pan Yun feeling unnervingly familiar.

He strained to recall—his grip loosened, and his father slipped to the ground.

Shen Shukang rushed to help his father, but Shen An seized his ear and fumbled for the club, raising it to strike—only for Shen Boxiu to snatch his wrist.

Shen An glared at him with fury.

But Shen Boxiu's face was alight with excitement, all trace of fear gone: "Father—Pan Yun! It's Pan Yun!"

Shen An snarled: "Who?"

Shen Boxiu dropped the club and seized his brother's shoulders: "You didn't mishear—she said her name is Pan Yun?"

"Yes. Her name is Pan Yun."

"Was she wearing a Daoist robe? Two or three years older than you? Did she speak with a Jiangxi accent?"

Shen Shukang swallowed hard: "She wore a Daoist robe. Oh—and she carried a banner. She left it by the gate when she entered, then picked it up when she left—I saw it. It said 'Living Immortal Physician' and 'Fortune Teller.' I couldn't tell her accent, but her voice… it sounded just like Mother's."

"Nonsense! Your mother's from Chaozhou—when did she ever speak with a Jiangxi accent?" Now Shen An too felt the name Pan Yun was familiar, though he couldn't place it. He turned to his eldest son: "Who is Pan Yun?"

Shen Boxiu steadied his excitement, lowering his voice: "Father—it's the State Preceptor. The State Preceptor's name is Pan Yun."

Shen An's eyes widened in shock: "W-what?"

Shen Boxiu paced frantically: "The one Second Brother met—it must be the State Preceptor! It has to be!"

Shen An slumped to the ground, motionless. After a long silence, he asked: "What if she's an imposter?"

Shen Boxiu's excitement faltered. He lowered his eyes: "If she's fake… tell every military farm. If you can escape, run."

Shen An's lips trembled: "Deserters… it brings doom to the whole family—and drags neighbors down too."

"If everyone runs, no one's left to drag down," Shen Boxiu said. "How many deserters have we had in Chaozhou these past years?"

"But never this many at once."

A cold fury rose in Shen Boxiu's eyes. "When death is certain, when there's no future left—better to fight for survival. Become refugees. At least you won't die waiting here."

Shen An had no reply.

Shen Boxiu turned to Shen Shukang: "Pack your things. If anything happens, you leave first."

"Brother!"

"Gather every child in the farm your age—boys and girls. You're least noticeable. You leave first. We'll hold the rear."

Shen Shukang's heart broke. Tears poured down his face: "Brother!"

"Stop crying. Once you're out there, fight for your life. Stick together if you can. You're boys now—stick together, and no one dares bully you. But don't carry everything on your shoulders. If you can't survive together, split up."

Shen Boxiu clapped his shoulder: "Brother—once you leave, we may never meet again. But no matter what—you live. Live well."

Shen Shukang threw his arms around Shen Boxiu and wept bitterly, now regretting his impulsiveness.

If he hadn't given the things away, he could've stayed in his own home.

The house was broken, but it still kept out wind and rain. Now, he'd truly be cast adrift across the world.

Shen An clutched his head. Just thinking of having to notify every household, every military farm, made him want to die.

They'd entrusted their things to him—they trusted him. And now…

Shen Boxiu, younger and more level-headed, said: "It might not be fake. Father, tell the elders in the farm first. I'll take men to Chaozhou tonight. At dawn, when the gates open, we'll go in and ask around. Meanwhile, get ready. If anything's wrong, I'll send word immediately—you'll send Shukang and the others out then."