Chapter 27
“You did well before, but now you need to stir up more trouble.”
“Isn’t that enough? Didn’t we already get the Ji family to back down?”
The woman, with her hands tucked away, couldn’t help but mutter as she looked at the fair-skinned scholar giving her orders.
“Just do as I say, don’t talk so much.”
You Lingxiao glared at the woman, as if the word “enough” had struck a nerve.
He had initially thought that the Ji family would change their minds upon hearing the village rumors, but upon seeing Tao Yu, he was met with such indifference.
Thinking of how harmonious they were in the past, Tao Yu’s current attitude was enough to drive him mad.
No matter what method, he just wanted Tao Yu back by his side.
The woman retracted her neck, “I’ll listen to you, but you’ll have to pay more.”
You Lingxiao snorted with disgust and threw a silver ingot at her, “Handle it well, and you won’t be at a loss. But if you can’t keep your mouth shut, you’ll suffer the consequences.”
The woman picked up the money from the ground, her face immediately beaming as she agreed, “I understand, I understand. It’s my fortune to be able to work for Scholar You.”
You Lingxiao waved his hand impatiently, “Hurry up and go. Be careful when you go out, don’t let anyone see you.”
“Alright.”
The woman tucked the silver into her pocket and happily withdrew.
“Lingxiao, why did you call Old Madam Wang to the house again? Didn’t Mother tell you not to associate with people like her?”
Seeing the woman leave the house, Sun Yuan Niang entered the room with displeasure.
“That sharp-tongued woman, she used to spread gossip about our family. The fact that we three couldn’t even move freely in the village was largely her doing. It even caused your sister to be unable to find a suitable good family in the village and be forced to marry into the county town.”
You Lingxiao said, “Mother, that’s all in the past. These people now only have to fawn over us. Why do you still dwell on the past and make yourself unhappy?”
“Mother isn’t holding a grudge, it’s just that Old Madam Wang has a long tongue, and her son is a hooligan. Even though we’re paying them to do things, who knows if they’ll have ulterior motives? What if Old Madam Wang uses the matter you entrusted her with as leverage, demanding you find a good job for her son, and they become a nuisance to our family?”
You Lingxiao replied, “Once the matter is done and Tao Yu marries me, whatever she says will be useless as it will be a done deal. If she is so ungrateful, I won’t tolerate her family.”
Sun Yuan Niang fell silent. She knew what rumors were circulating in the village now, and she knew it was all You Lingxiao’s doing.
She couldn’t quite describe how she felt. After all, the Ji family had indeed been kind to the You family back then. If they hadn’t wisely called off the engagement, the two families could have still met in the village.
It would have been a good parting, and she truly hadn’t intended to step on the Ji family.
Ji Tao Yu’s health was not good to begin with, and finding a spouse was not as easy as for ordinary healthy young men and women. Now that his reputation was tarnished, no one would consider him.
Of course, she knew this was precisely what You Lingxiao wanted to achieve, but she felt it was a bit too much: “Tao Yu is a young man after all. If the Ji family stubbornly refuses to yield and pushes Tao Yu to do something desperate, then a lifelong enmity will be forged. Or else…”
Before she could finish speaking, You Lingxiao said with some irritation, “If it weren’t for the Ji family coming to break off the engagement and Mother deceiving me into saying the engagement couldn’t be broken, why would I have to go to so much trouble?”
“No matter what, I will marry Tao Yu. He is my husband. If Mother hadn’t interfered with her meddling, Tao Yu wouldn’t be treating me so coldly now.”
Sun Yuan Niang looked at her son, who had unleashed so much blame in one breath, and was stunned into silence.
You Lingxiao had always been gentle and refined, and she had always done as he said, never even speaking harsh words to her. When had he ever been so dismissive?
She immediately felt wronged, “Mother also didn’t expect the Ji family to be so stubborn, actually refusing such a good marriage. I know Tao Yu’s matter touched your sensitive spot, but Mother did it all for your own good.”
You Lingxiao also knew he had spoken too harshly and softened his tone, “It’s your son’s impatience. Mother, please don’t take what I just said to heart. In any case, Mother, don’t worry about what happens next. Your son will handle it.”
As noon approached, there were few people in the village, and Old Madam Wang felt it wasn’t the best time to do business.
Having received a good sum of money today, she was happy and planned to go back to eat lunch and take a nap before slowly going out.
“Ah Hu, you’re back!”
As she reached the courtyard gate, she saw that her own courtyard gate was open. She quickened her pace inward and couldn’t help but say, “You’ve come back at just the right time. Mother has made a large sum of money again today. This year we can live comfortably… Ah!”
Old Madam Wang walked into the house, and before she could finish speaking, she saw her son tied up securely to a chair. In front of the table, a strange man with a ferocious and man-eating look sat astride a stool.
Her eyes met with the man’s upward-looking pupils, and she was so frightened her legs went weak, almost causing her to fall on the threshold.
“This is your old mother?”
Huo Shu kicked the stool with his leg, and the bull-eyed man, along with the chair, toppled to the ground. Although it wasn’t a stone floor, he was still in a lot of pain under Huo Shu’s force.
The man dared not cry out and quickly responded, “Yes, yes, Brother Huo, this is my mother.”
After learning the address of the Wang woman from the ditch, Huo Shu went directly to find her.
He didn’t expect to find her first, but instead found her son, who was an acquaintance. It was the same man who had caused trouble at the Zhao family’s house and forced Yuan Huirou to sell her land when he first arrived in the village.
Without a word, Huo Shu naturally went in to greet his old acquaintance first.
Li Jin Hu had been wandering outside for a few days. Today, he returned home and was preparing to rest for two days. He didn’t expect that as soon as he entered the house, he would see Huo Shu, who had just climbed over the wall. He was so scared that he almost knelt down.
However, he believed he hadn’t provoked anyone related to Huo Shu recently and thought he hadn’t attracted this distinguished guest.
“I, I don’t know what business Brother Huo has in my humble abode. Is there anything little brother can do for you? I will surely go through fire and water for Brother Huo.”
Huo Shu looked at Li Jin Hu coldly, “Rumors have been spreading in the village lately, saying that the Ji family’s young master and that scholar from the You family are too close. I heard your mother knows all the village gossip, so I’ve come to ask.”
Li Jin Hu couldn’t help but swallow. He knew his mother’s character.
But he never interfered with his mother gossiping. Gossiping a few words was harmless, what could it do to anyone? He never imagined that someone would actually come looking for him because of it.
It would have been fine if it were anyone else, but he had actually encountered an unmovable iron plate.
He was terrified of Huo Shu. It was one thing to be beaten last time, but after hearing that he was from the north and a soldier who had returned from the front lines, he felt even more fearful.
One could provoke fierce people, even people like Butcher Qiao in the village could be reasoned with, but people like Huo Shu were not to be provoked. He was accustomed to killing. Even if he knew it wasn’t on the battlefield, who knew if he would suddenly make a mistake when his killer instinct flared up.
Upon learning the reason for Huo Shu’s visit, he could only silently pray that it wasn’t his mother who was spreading the rumors.
Huo Shu, too lazy to bicker with the man, simply tied him up in the house and waited for Old Madam Wang to return.
Old Madam Wang saw her son being humiliated like this, and the flesh that fell from her body was unbearable to witness. She stammered and cursed, “That Yuan Huirou, that family, what are you doing? We are all villagers, you, you, don’t go too far.”
Huo Shu didn’t say a word, but his retracted foot stepped back onto the inverted chair back. The person below immediately cried out, “Ah, ah! Mother, don’t yell anymore!”
Old Madam Wang was instantly stunned. Her son was a hooligan, always bossing people around. Only others were meant to be bullied by him. When had he ever cried out like this?
She quickly shut her mouth.
Li Jin Hu hurriedly said, “Mother, did you spread rumors in the village that the village head’s son and You Lingxiao were having an affair?!”
“Aren’t they engaged? What affair?”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Wang’s heart skipped a beat. Of course, she wouldn’t dare to admit it in front of others, and she muttered guiltily.
However, as soon as she spoke, Li Jin Hu’s screams immediately echoed again.
Li Jin Hu, pressed against the ground, felt as if his bones were about to separate from the stool as he exerted force. He shouted, “Mother, hurry up and say it!”
“Don’t, don’t!”
Seeing her son in pain, Old Madam Wang quickly stepped forward to try and move Huo Shu’s foot away, “Don’t step on him anymore. It was me who said it, it was me. I have a loose tongue and deserve to be beaten. If you want to hit someone, hit me, don’t touch my son!”
Huo Shu looked coldly at Old Madam Wang, who was trying to use her ruffian tactics on him, showing no intention of moving his foot.
“Why did you spread gossip about the two families?”
“The Ji and You families are major families in the village. We live such hard lives, while they eat well and drink richly. I was simply unhappy, so I spoke some sour words to vent my frustrations.”
Huo Shu looked at Li Jin Hu on the ground, “I originally intended to talk nicely. Since your mother wants to drag things out and say irrelevant things, I won’t waste any more words.”
He suddenly stood up and was about to step towards Li Jin Hu. Li Jin Hu was so scared that he burst into tears, “Mother, he will really kill people! Are you trying to get me killed! Hurry up and tell him what happened. If I die, who will support you in your old age!”
Old Madam Wang’s body went limp, and she threw herself on the ground to protect Li Jin Hu, “I’ll say it, I’ll say it! It was the scholar from the You family who called me over and told me to spread such rumors outside. He gave me ten taels of silver and told me to ruin the reputation of the young master from the You family. Today, he called me again and said to make the rumors even bigger, and he gave me another ten taels of silver!”
“The money, the money is still with me. I just came back from the You family.”
Upon hearing this, Huo Shu retracted his foot. The mother and son on the ground both breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing that Huo Shu made no move, Old Madam Wang tentatively untied Li Jin Hu.
“Brother Huo, my mother, she didn’t mean any harm. The Ji and You families are major surnames in the village, and we can’t afford to offend them. If it wasn’t for the You family coercing my mother, she would never dare.”
Li Jin Hu crawled up and quickly apologized on behalf of his mother.
“Yes, yes. I talk too much usually, but how dare I speak ill of them.”
Huo Shu, too lazy to listen to the two babbling, stated the purpose of his visit directly, “I don’t care if you were coerced by the You family or if you were greedy for money. Go and clarify the truth of the matter now.”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Wang leaned back, her eyes widening, “You mean you want me to tell the villagers that the You family told me to say it?”
“I, how dare I. The You family is already a prominent family in the village, and You Erlang is now a scholar. How can we afford to offend them? If the matter gets out, the You family will surely flay me alive.”
Old Madam Wang shook her head repeatedly, “No, no…”
Huo Shu lowered his eyes slightly and looked at the two, “If you don’t clarify, I don’t know if the You family dares to flay you, but I flay people as a daily occurrence. You’re half in the grave already, so there’s no need to flay you. However, your son is young and strong, perhaps it will be different.”
Li Jin Hu quickly pleaded, “Brother Huo, my mother is just a village woman. My father died early, and she’s a widow who can’t tell right from wrong. When the You family came to our door, she couldn’t refuse. If you ask her to expose the You family now, how will she survive as a widow in the future?”
Seeing this, Huo Shu said, “I can also show you a way, but it depends on your cooperation.”
“Brother Huo, tell us, tell us.”
Huo Shu said, “You clarify the truth of the matter and restore the Ji family’s young master’s innocence. At that time, I will discuss with the Ji family to give you mother and son some money to lay low elsewhere. With the You family’s character, they won’t get far. When the situation calms down, you can return. The Ji family will not deliberately make things difficult for you, and you can live as you normally would.”
Seeing the mother and son contemplating, Huo Shu said coldly,
“If you insist on going your own way and stubbornly keeping silent for the You family, that’s fine too. At that time, I will inform the Ji family that you were the ones who did this, and I will tell the You family that you are not tight-lipped. This way, you will offend all the major families in the village and have no way out.”
“You can either offend one side or all of them. Choose yourselves.”
Anyone with common sense knew what choice to make. Old Madam Wang looked at Li Jin Hu, “We’ll listen to you, but, but the money…”
Huo Shu took out twenty taels of silver from his person. He was about to throw it to Old Madam Wang, but then he remembered the earnest advice of some young masters and the You family’s actions, so he changed the twenty taels to ten taels.
“This money is a deposit. The Ji family will give you the rest after the matter is settled.”
Seeing this, Li Jin Hu immediately guaranteed, “Don’t worry, Brother Huo, we will definitely do as you say.”
“It’s best if it’s like this. If you change your mind halfway, or do anything secretly.”
Huo Shu glanced at Li Jin Hu, “My patience is very limited.”
“Yes, yes, we will never be foolish again.”
Huo Shu said no more and turned to leave.
Seeing the tall man walk away, Old Madam Wang’s heart finally settled back into her chest.
She bent and bowed, her back starting to ache, “This soldier is truly terrifying, always threatening to beat and kill. I haven’t seen the Ji family have much interaction with him, so why is he willing to run errands for the Ji family and come to our house to intimidate us?”
While complaining, Old Madam Wang suddenly seemed to realize something and her eyes lit up, “Could it be that he also has his eye on the village head’s son?”
Li Jin Hu was both angry and annoyed, “My dear mother, please don’t make any more wild guesses or say anything. Your mouth is relieved, but you’ve caused me to be beaten. This person’s fists are like iron. My flesh and blood cannot withstand his beating.”
Old Madam Wang lovingly touched her son’s back and tilted her head to ask, “So, do we really listen to him and expose the You family?”
Li Jin Hu looked at his mother in surprise, “Didn’t Huo Shu’s words make it clear enough? Mother, you are truly muddled. Helping the You family do such a risky thing is like tying yourself up to be hated by both sides. I always know to pick on the soft ones, but you, you’re going against the You and Ji families’ conflict.”
“Let’s get this done first, and then quickly go out and lie low.”
Seeing her son, who usually spoke with great bravado, was so fearful, Old Madam Wang couldn’t help but shrink her neck, “Mother understands.”
The atmosphere in the Ji family’s house was extremely low. The usually harmonious family of three was each preoccupied with their own thoughts.
After returning home, Tao Yu couldn’t sit still. He was still immersed in the fact that You Lingxiao had actually hired people to spread rumors and tarnish his reputation. Upon learning the truth, he was both angry and felt a chill.
You Lingxiao’s actions were truly unbearable for him. At the same time, he was worried about Huo Shu, wondering if he could catch Old Madam Wang.
The Li family was particularly adept at the ruffian tactics. Ordinary families couldn’t handle people who were unreasonable and only knew how to throw tantrums. He didn’t know if Huo Shu could handle them.
He paced back and forth in the courtyard, his worries all written on his face.
Huang Man Jing thought he had gone out and been looked down upon, and that he was unable to bear it, so she tried to comfort him a few times, but he brushed her off.
Around noon, Tao Yu didn’t wait for Huo Shu, but instead waited for his father to return from outside.
Ji Yang Zong walked with his hands behind his back, his face looking very long.
Seeing this, Huang Man Jing knew that the situation was not optimistic. She first sent Tao Yu into the kitchen to watch the pot and asked, “How is it?”
Ji Yang Zong shook his head, “They all deny hearing any rumors and appear more upright than anyone else, but they all talk about it in private.”
Huang Man Jing said, “It’s only natural. Who would dare to admit to talking about such a matter in front of the person concerned, for fear of offending them? Who would dare to speak up?”
The couple were also at a loss. Rumors were difficult to deal with, and they could only resort to the most clumsy method of asking them one by one, to see if they could find the person who first spread the gossip.
But things were never that simple.
Ji Yang Zong was extremely vexed. Not only did he have to rush to collect taxes, but he also had to chase down the source of the rumors.
If the matter could not be resolved promptly, and the rumors spread from one to ten and then to a hundred, their son would be ruined, and it would also affect their other children.
The longer it took, the greater the risk. How could the couple not be anxious?
Ji Yang Zong had been running around all morning. Even in winter, he was sweating from exhaustion. He said, “Let’s eat first.”
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock at the courtyard gate. Ji Yang Zong patiently went to open the door, “Who is it?”
As soon as the door opened, Ji Yang Zong saw Huo Shu standing tall. His brows furrowed. Why was he here at this time when he wasn’t eating at home?
“What’s the matter?”
Ever since Ji Yang Zong knew that this young man had his eye on their “little cabbage,” he no longer saw him in the same light as a benefactor.
Huo Shu said, “I have something important to discuss with the village head.”
Ji Yang Zong was very annoyed. These days had been particularly unlucky, with one problem after another piling up, making him dizzy and overwhelmed.
He looked at Huo Shu and said, “If you’ve come to see Little Tao Zi, that’s fine, he’s doing okay. With all the unpleasant rumors going around outside, you should put aside your original intentions and take advantage of this season when it’s easy to find a match. Ask your godmother to find a matchmaker to find you a good spouse.”
“Whether to find another match or not, we’ll talk about it later. For now, I’ve come about the You family’s matter.”
Ji Yang Zong’s brows twitched upon hearing this, and behind him came Tao Yu’s surprised voice, “Is that Brother Huo who’s here?!”
Ji Yang Zong stepped aside, “Come in and sit.”
Huo Shu was not one to beat around the bush and knew that the Ji family must be anxious. He said directly, “The person spreading the rumors has been found. I have spoken with her, and she has agreed to clarify the matter.”
Ji Yang Zong’s eyes widened, “Are you serious? You found the person spreading the rumors!”
Thinking that Huo Shu was not the type of person to joke about such things, Ji Yang Zong couldn’t help but ask again.
“Yes.”
Seeing Huo Shu confirm again, the Ji couple were overjoyed.
Huo Shu briefly explained the situation, including the conditions he had promised the mother and son of Old Madam Wang.
“Has You Lingxiao gone mad?! I’ve made concessions to him time and time again, and he’s actually trying to destroy someone!”
With a bang, the teacup on the table was smashed to pieces by Ji Yang Zong.
“To think that I went to such lengths for him, only to raise such a wolf-hearted and ungrateful wretch. How could he not be struck by lightning!”
Ji Yang Zong’s eyes were bloodshot, and he was breathing heavily. Huang Man Jing saw that the situation was not good and quickly went to comfort him, “Getting angry about this now is useless. Don’t get yourself worked up to the point of illness.”
“I never would have suspected the You family! He is such a hypocritical and immoral scholar. He deserves to be reported to the academic officer!”
Huang Man Jing said, “Unless it’s a major crime like murder or arson, the academic officer will not even handle it. If you report him, you’ll be the one to get a beating, while he, as a scholar, will be exempt from punishment.”
Tao Yu said, “Yes, Father, calm down. Now that we can clarify the matter in the village and stop the situation from worsening.”
Ji Yang Zong also calmed down and said, “As long as Old Madam Wang is willing to come forward and clarify, we’ll talk about any conditions. This matter will be bygones.”
“Constantly yielding to the You family only emboldens him. This time, no matter who he has attached himself to, I can’t control it. In front of the entire village, I will make sure he has no face to show anyone.”
Huang Man Jing patted Ji Yang Zong’s hand, “We should immediately gather the villagers and clarify the matter.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Yang Zong immediately stood up, “I’ll have Da Niu go and notify everyone to come.”
Seeing his father hurriedly making arrangements, Tao Yu’s earlier worries dissipated, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
He raised his eyes and secretly glanced at Huo Shu.
Unexpectedly, Huo Shu lowered his eyes. As their eyes met, Tao Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly averted his gaze.
“Brother Huo, I really don’t know how to thank you. You’ve helped the Ji family a great deal.”
Huang Man Jing said, “Thank you for going the extra mile, Brother Li, and persuading Old Madam Wang. Otherwise, we really wouldn’t have known what to do.”
Huo Shu said, “Let’s talk about thanks later. For now, the most important thing is to wait for the Li family to clarify the matter.”
Huang Man Jing nodded in agreement, “That’s right. Brother Huo, have a simple meal here, so you don’t have to come back again later.”
Tao Yu’s eyes lit up at this, and he looked at Huo Shu with anticipation.
Even if Tao Yu hadn’t shown any signs, Huo Shu wouldn’t have refused such an invitation.
“Okay.”
Huang Man Jing smiled, pretending not to see her son’s barely concealed joy.
She sighed inwardly. Even if she hadn’t noticed Huo Shu’s feelings for her son before, it was obvious now that he was running around for Little Tao Zi. If she still couldn’t see it, she must be blind.
Huang Man Jing didn’t know if this was a good thing or a bad thing, but for now, she didn’t have the time to ponder these matters. The top priority was the tough battle ahead.
“You two sit here for a while, I’ll go stir-fry a dish.”
Tao Yu stood up and rushed, “Mother, let me help you. Since Brother Huo is here, let’s add two more dishes. I’ll make braised dried bamboo shoots.”
