Chapter 18
Tao Yu, wrapped in a quilt, sat on the bed, gently rolling peeled hard-boiled eggs over his eyes in front of a bronze flower mirror.
His heart was beating a little fast, and his emotions were still a bit unsettled, twitching from time to time.
Huang Manjing sat at one end, peeling eggshells. Ji Yangzong paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back and his brows furrowed. The room was quiet, yet the silence spoke volumes.
Ji Yangzong was furious and had long wanted to curse the You family’s ancestors for eighteen generations, but seeing his son’s appearance, he was afraid of upsetting him further by speaking.
He glanced at a long, black, plain-colored pashmina hanging on the coat rack, which looked unfamiliar, not like something his son would own.
He was about to ask Tao Yu if he had gone to his paternal grandmother’s place, but before he could speak, he was chided by his wife.
“Stop pacing back and forth like that, you’re making my eyes spin.”
Huang Manjing finished peeling the eggs, blew on them gently, and went to support Tao Yu, rolling the eggs over his eyes, which were red as if about to bleed. She felt heartbroken and resented Ji Yangzong even more.
It was not the time to discuss this marriage, so she used other matters to chide Ji Yangzong.
Ji Yangzong knew his wife was angry and didn’t argue back.
He stepped forward, looked at Tao Yu’s cold face and red eyes, and said softly, “Father will definitely get justice for you. That second son of the You family is a complete scoundrel.”
“I’m not sad anymore.”
Tao Yu sniffled. He wanted to sound firm, but his voice was still weak and trembling.
Ji Yangzong said nothing, sighing softly. His son’s pitiful appearance made his claim of not being sad completely unconvincing.
Tao Yu knew his father didn’t believe him. He put down the egg in his hand and took Ji Yangzong’s hand, “Father, don’t go to the You family to cause trouble.”
“You’re still thinking about their family, those ungrateful things who forget righteousness for profit. You’ve completely forgotten about our family.”
“I’m not speaking up for them.”
Tao Yu said, “The Ji and You families have been rooted in the village for so many years. If Father goes and causes a scene, it’s one thing to have people watch and laugh, but the two families will still have to live in the village.”
“He… he has attached himself to the Tongzhi.”
Ji Yangzong’s hand froze, and he felt a chill run through his body.
He immediately understood Tao Yu’s meaning.
He felt stifled, no wonder he had been feeling uneasy lately. It turned out that something big had happened.
“Back then, Sun Yuan Niang and her faction came to our house begging for pity, saying that the woman surnamed Wang in the ditch was gossipy and spread rumors about her, harming her reputation. I thought that after marrying into the You family, she diligently served her husband and meticulously taught her children. I thought Wang Ju Yan exaggerated things and harmed Sun Yuan Niang. Little did I know, she was not pure at all. Today, You Ling Xiao has also learned to fawn on the powerful and avoid the weak, being opportunistic.”
Ji Yangzong was filled with regret. His momentary misjudgment had almost cost his son his entire life.
“For years, this mother and son acted meek and pitiful before the Ji family, pretending to be respectful and pitiable. Now that they have prospered, their true nature has been exposed in an instant.”
Even at his age, Ji Yangzong couldn’t help but sigh again about human nature.
The situation was now tricky. Although he held the You family’s token of betrothal, he might not gain much if he truly fell out with them. However, the You family was cunning and had actually attached themselves to the Tongzhi.
When You Ling Xiao passed the provincial exam, he had mentioned him to the Tongzhi. However, due to You Ling Xiao being his prospective son-in-law, he could not recommend him to avoid suspicion.
He didn’t put in much effort, not expecting that You Ling Xiao had already been in contact with the Xue family in secret, and had kept it from him. If Tao Yu hadn’t encountered him in the city today, he wouldn’t have known how capable he had become.
This Tongzhi Xue was not someone to be trifled with. If he were genuinely interested in his daughter and You Ling Xiao, it was unlikely he would be so oblivious to whether You Ling Xiao was married.
It was at this thought that his back felt cold.
How could commoners contend with officials?
If he made a scene, he would offend the Tongzhi, and in the future, he would inevitably be targeted and even lose his position as Lizheng.
If the Ji family only had his branch, they could perhaps quarrel with the You family for a matter of pride. However, the Ji family had other branches. It was not easy to shift the position of Lizheng from the You family back then, and it was not solely his credit, but also the strength of the entire Ji clan.
How could he disregard the entire Ji clan for his own family?
Ji Yangzong hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point, and he felt distressed. “Little Tao, it’s my fault for failing you like this.”
“Father, what are you saying? I don’t feel too wronged. Knowing his true nature earlier is better than entering that family and regretting it later.”
Ji Yangzong’s eyes turned cold as he looked at his son’s reddened eyes. Although he had countless grievances and wanted to destroy the You family, he could not bear to wrong his only child for the sake of clan interests, nor could he ruin the clan for his own pride.
“Since things have come to this, then we can only comply with the You family’s wishes. We… will break off the engagement!”
Ji Tao Yu and Huang Manjing looked up at Ji Yangzong in surprise.
Huang Manjing hesitated, “If this is truly the case, I’m afraid there will be gossip outside. People will speculate about the reasons for the broken engagement, and Tao Yu’s reputation will be…”
“If we don’t take this step, the You family will keep delaying, and it will be Tao Yu who is delayed. He has now attached himself to the Xue family. Even if the engagement is not broken now, it will be broken later.”
Huang Manjing’s heart turned cold.
“If we break off the engagement ourselves now, we still have the initiative. If we delay, the Xue family will intervene, and how will our Ji family handle it?”
Tao Yu saw this and said resolutely, “The You family can be so opportunistic, it’s only because they know that breaking the engagement will damage our reputation, and they are relying on the Xue family now. The Xue family knows that You Ling Xiao is engaged and still acts like this. They are all birds of a feather. I willingly break off the engagement to fulfill their wishes.”
“If other families refuse to marry into our family because I broke off an engagement without understanding the circumstances, I will accept it.”
Hearing Tao Yu say this, Huang Manjing also made up her mind, “Since you don’t feel reluctant, then your parents will not let you continue to be trapped by the You family and suffer their anger.”
…
“How did he get pricked by a needle? And at a large fabric store, how could the employees have cleaned so carelessly.”
In the afternoon, You Ling Xiao returned from the city with a limp. Seeing the large bruise on the back of his son’s thigh, his mother, Sun Yuan Niang, rushed to get some medicinal wine to rub on it.
“I must go to the Shili Fabric Store to find them.”
“Why go there again? Isn’t it embarrassing enough to have lost face there? Miss Xue hid in her room after returning. She’s too spoiled. Fortunately, the Tongzhi didn’t blame her.”
You Ling Xiao hissed and frowned as he said to Sun Yuan Niang, “This medicinal wine isn’t effective. Mother, bring me the small porcelain bottle from the table in my room.”
Sun Yuan Niang did as she was told and retrieved the porcelain bottle, then reapplied it to You Ling Xiao’s bruised wound.
You Ling Xiao sighed in relief, “Tao Yu’s medicine is always effective. I expect it will be better in two days.”
“He’s just a sickly person; that’s all he’s good at tinkering with.”
You Ling Xiao said, “I’ll still go to the Ji family later.”
Sun Yuan Niang said displeasedly, “Your leg is injured like this, and you’re still thinking about going out? Stay home and read this afternoon, don’t neglect your studies. It’s not too late to go after your leg gets better. They’re all in the village anyway.”
You Ling Xiao had interacted with Xue Han Xue today. Although the Tongzhi was kind, the young lady’s temper didn’t suit him.
Compared to her, he felt even more that Tao Yu was better.
“When I passed the provincial exam, Mother didn’t let me tell the Ji family immediately. Uncle Ji already had reservations about me. If I don’t go and apologize to him in the village, I’m afraid there will be trouble.”
“What trouble? The You and Ji families have been evenly matched these years. You are now a Juren. Even with the title of Lizheng, the Ji clan cannot compare to us. If you marry into the Xue family in the future, the title of Lizheng will be yours to decide.”
“Right now, the You family is probably anxious that you don’t want their family. Letting them cool down a bit will make them realize who is in charge. If we are too enthusiastic, they will only become more arrogant.”
You Ling Xiao let out a slight sigh and thought about it carefully. This was also good. He would go see Tao Yu after his leg healed in a couple of days, so he wouldn’t have to see him in such a sorry state.
As soon as they finished speaking, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
Sun Yuan Niang put down the porcelain bottle and said, “It’s probably your aunt’s son, Xia Ge, again. He always clings to us, you know that.”
“He’s hoping to marry you. He can barely read two characters, and he’s vulgar and impolite. He’s not as good as that person from the Ji family.”
You Ling Xiao said, “Speaking of which, my cousin didn’t seem to come when we had a banquet at home.”
“Your aunt said he had caught a cold and was ill.”
Sun Yuan Niang grumbled inside and took her time to open the door. “Coming.”
You Ling Xiao sighed, tidied up the bottles and jars on the table, pulled down his pant legs, and straightened his clothes.
But then he heard his mother say outside, “Why has Lizheng Huang Niang come over? Is it about this year’s taxes?”
You Ling Xiao’s brow twitched. He didn’t expect the Ji family to come over. However, by rights, their family no longer had to pay taxes this year.
A moment later, Sun Yuan Niang led Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing into the house.
You Ling Xiao quickly smiled and greeted them, inviting them to sit.
Ji Yangzong saw You Ling Xiao in the room and said, “Ling Xiao is here too. That’s good.”
After they were seated, Ji Yangzong said nothing and first pushed a box over.
You Ling Xiao didn’t understand. He took the box and opened it, seeing a red love knot lying inside.
He immediately recognized what it was. When the two families got engaged, his family didn’t have anything valuable, so he made a love knot as a token of betrothal to express his feelings.
Sun Yuan Niang’s gaze swept over the love knot, and her face instantly darkened.
Back then, the Ji family was in a superior position, and the You family’s elders were indifferent. They, a widowed mother and son, could only rely on this one support. Having Ling Xiao give a love token was actually just for their own protection.
Little did she know that this would also sow the seeds of the most unfavorable disaster. She knew the Ji family would use the love token to make trouble. With this, if the two families couldn’t agree and went to court, the yamen would have to accept the case.
The Ji family usually acted high and mighty, but when it came to benefits, they still came to force a marriage with the token without any reserve.
Sun Yuan Niang couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
You Ling Xiao glanced at his mother, then gently closed the box. He was also somewhat displeased with the Ji family’s hasty visit, but he didn’t lash out. Instead, he assumed a respectful demeanor:
“Uncle Ji, I have never forgotten my engagement with Tao Yu. Originally, we were going to announce the marriage at a grand banquet, but after considering the upcoming imperial examinations, I had to leave early for the exams and prepare. If we were to hold a wedding, time would be very tight.”
“Your family has treated me with immense kindness. I want to give Tao Yu the best wedding banquet, and I don’t want to rush the wedding like this. I should have discussed it with Uncle and Aunt Ji earlier, but unfortunately, my leg was slightly injured, and I haven’t had the chance…”
Ji Yangzong was too lazy to listen to the flimsy excuses and said directly, “Ling Xiao has now passed the provincial examination, but he is still young, and his future is bright. Our Ji family is just humble villagers. Although we have some savings, we know that a small temple cannot accommodate a great Buddha.”
“We have come today to discuss with the You family. The marriage arranged in the past was too hasty and poorly considered. Now, we think it is highly inappropriate. To avoid delaying both parties, please take back this love knot.”
You Ling Xiao and Sun Yuan Niang were both stunned. They didn’t expect the Ji family to come to break off the engagement.
You Ling Xiao was anxious. He had never considered severing ties with the Ji family. After all, he and Tao Yu had grown up together, and he truly liked him.
Just as he was about to speak and ask them to stay, Sun Yuan Niang grabbed his hand and stopped him from speaking. She then took the box, “Lizheng is right. Marriage is a matter of mutual consent. If one party is unwilling and the other insists, then the two children will not live harmoniously.”
“Thank you for your care over the years, Lizheng. The marriage will be according to Lizheng’s wishes. Brother Tao is handsome and skilled in medicine, so he will surely find a good family. Since Lizheng has this intention, we should not delay Brother Tao.”
After speaking, Sun Yuan Niang took out a not-so-small purse and pushed it over, “In the past, the family was tight on money. Fortunately, Lizheng took care of Ling Xiao, which is why he has achieved today’s success. This is a small token of appreciation. I hope Lizheng and Huang Niang do not dislike it.”
Huang Manjing looked at the fifty taels of silver in the purse and sneered, “Sun Niang is quite generous. However, as Lizheng, the Ji family should help and care for the talented young people in the village. Sun Niang doesn’t need to be so polite.”
Ji Yangzong saw how readily Sun Yuan Niang agreed, suspecting that she had been hoping for their family to come and break off the engagement for a long time.
There was no longer the politeness and respect she had shown before he passed the imperial examination. He only felt that the world was cold and human hearts were not what they used to be.
Now that he knew the nature of the You family, he didn’t want to say more. He said, “Since things have been made clear, we won’t disturb Ling Xiao’s studies and preparations. We only hope that you will succeed in the spring imperial examination, and then Ming Xun Village can hold its head high.”
“I borrow Lizheng’s good wishes.”
Sun Yuan Niang said, “Oh, right. To prevent Brother Tao from being slandered by the villagers, this matter needs to be clarified to the outside world. We can’t let others think that the two families are still engaged, which would delay Brother Tao from finding another match.”
“Sun Niang is thoughtful. We can casually mention it at the next gathering. After all, important and minor matters will be announced at the gathering.”
“That would be for the best.”
Seeing Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing about to leave after speaking, You Ling Xiao suddenly became anxious and chased after them, “Uncle Ji, Aunt!”
Sun Yuan Niang firmly grabbed You Ling Xiao’s arm, her brows tightly furrowed, signaling him not to cause any more trouble.
As You Ling Xiao hesitated, Ji Yangzong, with his back turned, said, “Ling Xiao, your mother has worked very hard to raise you. Filial piety is the foremost virtue. Listen to her well, and you will have a good future. From now on, focus all your attention on your studies, and you don’t need to waste time coming to our house again and making your mother worry.”
With that, the couple walked away briskly.
“Uncle Ji, Uncle Ji!”
Sun Yuan Niang said, “They’ve already gone far away, why are you still calling?”
“Mother! Why did you really let Uncle Ji break off the engagement!”
You Ling Xiao, seeing that he couldn’t catch up, turned and complained to his mother.
Sun Yuan Niang sneered, “Do you think the Ji family sincerely wants to break off the engagement? They are just holding onto the fact that you like their son and are trying to use this to pressure you!”
“If you show at this time that you can’t do without him, won’t you be falling right into their trap? They’ll definitely have you firmly under their control from then on.”
You Ling Xiao frowned, “But they returned the love token. How can it be like this?”
“Ji Yangzong has been the Lizheng in the village for so many years, he’s very shrewd. Back then, he valued your talent, which is why he arranged the engagement. Now that it’s time to enjoy the fruits of labor, would he really be willing to break off the engagement like that? Their family’s land also depends on your protection from taxes. It’s almost October, can he not be anxious? That’s why he’s making a move.”
“Don’t let your temporary impulses ruin the plan. Just wait and see. He will surely drag out the matter of the broken engagement and not announce it, waiting for our family to change our minds.”
You Ling Xiao breathed a sigh of relief after Sun Yuan Niang’s analysis.
“I must pass the spring imperial examinations!”
Seeing the You couple enter the You family gate with the items, and then emerge from the You family with dark faces and empty hands, the person hiding in the dark waited until they were far away. Estimating that the matter was settled, they finally came out.
Huo Shu hugged his arms and watched the departing couple. The Ji family was willing to sacrifice profit for their child, accepting humiliation and yielding to the You family to proactively break off the engagement. This magnanimity surprised him.
However, whether he was impressed or not was secondary. The important thing was that the little crybaby had finally kicked that You fellow away.
