Chapter 38

“You know him.”
Ge Liang scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed. “Everyone in the surrounding villages should know something. The sole son of the village head Ji is very good-looking.”
He hadn’t dared to say that he himself was also not yet married. When he first heard that the Ji family had broken off their engagement with the scholar’s family, he had actually considered it.
However, after only asking a couple of matchmakers, he gave up. This son was the sole son of the Mingxun Village head, and he would surely not look down on ordinary families.
The Ge family’s financial situation was average, and he was not young anymore, so he had no advantage to speak of. Later, he heard that the Zhou family in their village, the village head’s family, also had intentions, which further dispelled his thoughts.
Ge Liang, with his big mouth, said, “Our village head also wanted to match their second son with the Ji family before. But then the incident with the scholar’s family happened, didn’t it? The village head was angry and forbade his second son from going to Mingxun Village again. Later, when the truth came out, the Zhou family’s second son had always fancied this marriage, but he couldn’t because of his father. He regrets it day and night and is still hoping to go to the Ji family.”
“Oh, the one who repaired the fish pond? I’ve seen him.”
Hearing Huo Shu’s indifferent and somewhat dismissive tone, Ge Liang grinned widely, thinking that this matter was truly mysterious.
The Zhou family was close to his home. After he returned, he had some contact with the Zhou family’s son. He had originally heard of his troubles and told him to try again. Now that he learned Huo Shu had already stolen the lead, he completely sided with Huo Shu.
“In the end, it still has to be Officer Huo. Even coming from another place, you’ve secured the Ji family’s son. This directly puts all the unmarried men in our ten-mile radius to shame. I’ll go back and tell the Zhou family’s second son, and let him stop thinking about it. The Ji family has already found the best son-in-law.”
Huo Shu vaguely remembered that Tao Yu had just gotten angry with him a few days ago for being infatuated with his looks. He didn’t blame him for being angry; there were indeed many people who fell in love at first sight.
Fortunately, he hadn’t opened his mouth and said anything like “You are indeed beautiful.”
“That’s good. Tell him to honestly repair his own fish pond and never think of coming to the Ji family to repair it again.”
Ge Liang smiled even more brightly, feeling that Huo Shu was much easier to get along with than he had imagined.
However, just as he was thinking of chatting with him for a while longer, Huo Shu said, “I have to go now.”
“We rarely meet, let’s go to the wine shop for a drink!”
“There are still people waiting at the fabric shop.”
Ge Liang immediately understood. However, he felt very unfulfilled after meeting Huo Shu. It was not easy to meet a former border guard in Tongzhou, let alone someone he had always admired as a benefactor.
He shamelessly said, “I’m idle anyway, and I don’t have anything to do. I’ll be going back the same way, so why don’t we go together!”
Huo Shu picked up the chosen bow and arrows. “As you wish.”
Ge Liang happily followed behind Huo Shu and even rushed to pay for the bow and arrows, only to be stopped when he learned they were for someone else.
“Officer Huo, you don’t need to rush back. Girls and young men don’t come out of the fabric shop for at least an hour or two.”
“Don’t call me Officer anymore. I’m not an officer anymore. Just call me by my name.”
“Then I’ll call you Brother Huo. Brother Huo entered the army a few years before me, so you must be older than me. I hope it’s not disrespectful to call you that.”
Huo Shu felt that it was harder for the person beside him to shut his mouth than to go to battle, just like Zhao Changsui.
“Do all people from Jiangnan talk so much?”
Ge Liang was choked. “No, no, I’m just happy to see Brother Huo, and I couldn’t control my mouth for a moment. I’ll be quiet now!”
It was quiet for only a moment.
“Hey, Brother Huo, what do you do for a living now?”
“Brother Huo, how did you and the Ji family’s son meet…”
When Huo Shu returned to the fabric shop, enduring the constant chatter, he had originally feared that Tao Yu would be impatient from waiting, but to his surprise, Wu Lianhe hadn’t finished choosing fabrics yet.
He took a breath and looked at Ge Liang. “You people from Jiangnan really understand girls and young men.”
“Ah, how can I not?”
Ge Liang was surprised that the cold and uncommunicative person had gotten together with the Ji family’s son. Although he was curious, he didn’t dare to ask.
“Brother Huo, hurry up and measure the dimensions.”
Huo Shu walked straight upstairs at the sound of his voice.
Although Ge Liang had heard of this Ji family’s son, it was the first time he had seen him in person. After a brief glance, his eyes widened.
If he had known he looked like this, he would have… Before the thought could even form, seeing Huo Shu ahead, he immediately calmed his mind and dared not have any more thoughts.
Tao Yu looked at the man who had suddenly appeared and followed Huo Shu, looking at him in confusion. “This is?”
Before Huo Shu could answer, he preempted him with flattery. “Hello, sister-in-law. My name is Ge Liang. I’m from the neighboring village of Hongli. I was a comrade-in-arms with Brother Huo. I happened to meet him on the street today, and we hit it off immediately. We invited each other back together later, so I shamelessly came along.”
Tao Yu looked at Ge Liang in surprise and smiled politely at him.
He didn’t expect Huo Shu to meet a comrade-in-arms so close by.
Wu Lianhe’s eyes flickered slightly at his words.
Tao Yu noticed Wu Lianhe’s emotions and quickly interjected, “Brother Huo, hurry up and measure the dimensions. Sister Wu San has other things to do later.”
Huo Shu responded and handed the bow and arrows he was holding to Tao Yu.
Tao Yu hugged the bow and arrows, finding them quite heavy. He squeezed the bow and pulled the resilient string.
Surprised: Why does he still have money?
“This is a good bow. Brother Huo’s archery is first-class, and the arrows he chose are also excellent.”
Tao Yu looked at the overly familiar Ge Liang beside him. He blinked his eyes. “Is that so? I don’t understand anything about bows and strings. This bow and arrow are so good, they must be very expensive, right?”
Ge Liang suddenly paused at the words and pondered them for a moment. He revealed a reliable smile.
“It’s not that good bows and arrows are expensive, or that expensive ones are good. The materials for this bow and arrow are ordinary, not expensive, just a decent price.”
Tao Yu pursed his lips. This person was truly shrewd.
“Brother Ge is Brother Huo’s comrade-in-arms, and now he’s also a neighbor. We should interact more in the future.”
Ge Liang quickly agreed upon hearing this. “Of course. I’ll definitely come to eat your wedding wine, Brother Huo.”
Huo Shu finished measuring the dimensions and saw the two of them talking and laughing. He walked directly over and stood between them. He took the bow and arrows from Tao Yu’s hand and, as he did, grabbed his hand.
“Give this arrow to the child.”
Wu Lianhe smiled and took the bow. “Ever since Brother Huo taught him last time, he’s been practicing every day and has made great progress. He’ll be very happy to receive your bow and arrows.”
“I’ll come to see him when I have time.”
“Okay.”
They came out of the ten-mile fabric shop. The fog hadn’t dispersed; instead, it had become much darker than when they came.
Huo Shu was a little worried that it would rain, but he still asked Tao Yu, “Do you want to go shopping more?”
Tao Yu thought he should go and inform his grandmother about the wedding and perhaps have a meal there before leaving. However, with an outsider present, it wouldn’t be convenient to linger.
Looking at the sky, it would be better to go back early. He didn’t want to catch a cold and cough during the wedding.
“Let’s go back.”
Ge Liang immediately said, “I’ll go to the stable to get the horse. Please wait a moment.”
While waiting, Huo Shu bought some candied chestnuts, jerky, and preserved fruits from the street to give to Tao Yu to eat on the way back.
Seeing a meat stall selling lamb on the street, he asked, “Shall I take a piece back to make soup?”
“Then do you want to come and eat together?”
“If you ask me, I’ll come.”
Tao Yu pursed his lips and smiled. “Then let’s take a piece of meat.”
Bringing Ge Liang back, in just a moment, the two people who were originally empty-handed were now carrying many bags.
Huo Shu glanced at the brown horse Ge Liang was leading, finding it somewhat familiar. He seemed to have seen it when he tied his horse to the stable earlier. He didn’t expect it to be Ge Liang’s.
The three of them walked out of the city together and only mounted their horses at the city gate.
Huo Shu, as usual, lifted Tao Yu onto the horse and then climbed on himself.
There were few people when they came, but now there were people coming and going at the city gate, and with an outsider present, Tao Yu’s face turned a little red. He pulled his cloak tighter, covering himself more completely.
As soon as Ge Liang mounted his horse, he saw Huo Shu embracing the beautiful and gentle Ji Tao Yu and slowly riding forward. His eyes became dry, and his mouth felt a little bitter.
He immediately felt that the reins were unusually stiff in his hands, and the saddle was particularly uncomfortable.
Riding on horseback, braving the wind along the official road, was no longer as dashing and majestic. He had never felt so alone.
He didn’t dare to imagine how cheerful and spirited he would be if he had a delicate wife in his arms riding a horse back together.
Hiding in Huo Shu’s embrace, Tao Yu felt the wind on the way back was noticeably stronger than on the way there. Perhaps it was going to rain, so Huo Shu was riding faster than before.
Seeing Ge Liang riding alongside him, his previous liveliness had vanished. He couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Ge, where are you working now?”
“I can’t say I’m working in a high position. Don’t laugh at me, Brother Huo and sister-in-law. I’m not doing any proper business now, just making bows and arrows and sending them to Ju’an Workshop. I spent many years in the army, my archery is average, but I’ve repaired many bows and arrows, so I’ve honed this skill. The owner of Ju’an Workshop thinks highly of me, and I earn a little bit.”
Huo Shu heard him and said, “You were in the Northern Region for five or six years. When you returned, you could have found a position in the yamen. Why didn’t you?”
Speaking of this, Ge Liang sighed. “When I returned, I went to the government office to submit my documents. I had intended to find a position as a clerk, perhaps working in the registry office or the criminal department. The people in the household department originally told me there were no problems, and I was about to go there, when they suddenly told me it wouldn’t work.”
“Later, I found out that the nephew of the secretary of the Ministry of Rites had taken my position. People like us, ordinary commoners, even if we served on the border for five or eight years in the army, are still not as good as those with connections.”
Tao Yu frowned, feeling indignant for Ge Liang.
Huo Shu, on the other hand, was used to it. Such things were common in the army. He had also been passionate once, but in the face of repeated injustice, he had seen the corruption of the court.
If it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have remained a captain for ten years on the border, nor would he have left the army without regret and headed south after the war ended.
Huo Shu said, “Then do you plan to continue like this?”
“I did save some money in the army, enough to buy some land and live a stable life by farming. But looking at the ever-increasing taxes and the ensuing banditry, I feel that farming may not have a future. I’m always unwilling to be like this and want to go out and try my luck again.”
Ge Liang sighed, “I’m still hesitating like this and haven’t made a decision.”
“Brother Huo, what do you do for a living now?”
Tao Yu said, “Butcher.”
Ge Liang fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.
“Being a butcher is also good; it’s a craft.”
Suddenly, Ge Liang felt much more at ease. Even Huo Shu, after spending ten years in the army, ended up killing pigs for others after coming out. It seemed not so shameful for him to return after five or six years and make bows and arrows for people.
As they talked, they reached the small road in Mingxun Village, where they had to go their separate ways.
Now that they had met and were from neighboring villages, it was fast to travel back and forth, and it would be easy to see each other again, so they parted ways.
On the way back, some in the village had already received the news of the banditry being quelled and were quite lively.
Tao Yu felt a little embarrassed to ride back with Huo Shu so openly, so he took the shortcut instead of the main road.
On the way, they passed by the You family’s courtyard and even saw You Lingxiao, who hadn’t left the house since losing his hand, tidying himself up, looking as if he was about to go out.
The already thin person was now bone-thin. Tao Yu only glanced at him and quickly withdrew his gaze when he sensed Huo Shu’s gaze.
You Lingxiao, having learned that the bandits had been captured, still intended to go to the government office to identify those who had harmed him and claim his lost money.
However, upon searching, he couldn’t find the bandits who had harmed him, and the lost money could not be claimed without proof.
Unreconciled, he complained to the government officials, angering the clerks in the criminal department, who directly drove him out.
You Lingxiao felt greatly humiliated. After returning, he even pulled himself together and tried to write with his left hand, attempting to write articles and manuscripts again to regain his dignity.
Sun Yuanniang was extremely pleased to see her son willing to get up and about. Seeing that the banditry had subsided and people were going in and out of the village for matchmaking and business, and the Ji family’s wedding was being celebrated with great fanfare, she couldn’t lag behind and thought about finding a suitable person to take care of You Lingxiao.
However, to her surprise, all the matchmakers in the surrounding area were hesitant to arrange a marriage for You Lingxiao. It took extra silver to hire a matchmaker from another village to help.
It would have been better if they hadn’t hired a matchmaker. Once a matchmaker went to arrange a marriage, they realized how bad You Lingxiao’s reputation was. Families of equal standing heard that it was the second son of the You family’s fourth branch and directly sent the matchmaker away as well.
Let alone families of equal standing, even ordinary families who were sensible refused to associate with him.
In the end, only those who were so poor that they were almost selling their daughters were willing.
Sun Yuanniang was high-minded and always felt that her son, being a scholar, was still a scholar. She looked down on families of such low status.
After a lot of trouble, not a single suitable family in the surrounding ten miles could be arranged.
Unable to help herself, Sun Yuanniang, in her anger, remembered the goodness of Xia He from her sister’s family and went to propose.
“Sister, people should have some conscience.”
Sun Erniang saw her sister shamelessly coming to propose a marriage for You Erlang. Even with her good temper, she was angry and couldn’t accommodate her.
“When Lingxiao was doing well, you looked down on the Ji family and tricked our ignorant He Ge to oppose the Ji family. You never treated him as your own nephew. Considering our sisterhood, I don’t want to say these things, but Sister, you are solely harming your own family and treating your own family as nothing.”
“When Lingxiao was prosperous in the past, I never borrowed his influence. Now that he is down and out, I don’t need to ruin my son’s life to help him.”
Sun Erniang said coldly, “Sister is willing to marry a patient for a small profit, but I am not willing to marry my son to a cripple!”
Sun Yuanniang saw that her usually gentle sister had also taken on this appearance. She was both angry and a little guilty. After all, every word she said hit the mark, and she had no room to argue.
She gritted her teeth and cursed the Xia family a few times for being ungrateful, then left dejectedly.
The marriage proposal was not successful, and the You family’s uncles and paternal aunts came to demand money again. The little money at home was already spent, and she was in a state of utter confusion.
Even though You Lingxiao was arrogant and looked down on merchants, he finally had to lower his status and curry favor with merchants, discussing protection. Merchants would reduce taxes, and he would take a 20% profit.
Although a scholar could protect and reduce taxes was a coveted thing, unfortunately, You Lingxiao’s reputation had spread throughout the ten-mile radius. Not only was it difficult to marry, but merchants who did legitimate business were also wary of having profit-making dealings with people of improper character.
If he was prosperous today and could harm his former benefactor and damage the reputation of a young man, who knew if he would conspire against his allies for profit in the future?
Although he was willing to lower his status today, no one came to negotiate with him. You Lingxiao was very angry, and only then did he realize how profound the impact of his previous actions was.
However, life had to go on. For the sake of livelihood, he could only seek protection from merchants, willing to reduce the customary offering fee for the protection of ordinary scholars by 10%.
After much effort, he had lost all the integrity of a scholar. With great difficulty, he negotiated with two families and barely paid off the family’s debts.
While the You family was in decline and desolate, the Ji family, on the other hand, was exceptionally joyful and lively.
Fortunately, Ji Yangzong had asked Da Niu to book poultry and fresh fish early, otherwise, at the end of the year, when many people were busy, they would have to scramble to buy ingredients for the banquet.
The Ji family was busy, and Huo Shu was also busy. Not only did he have to prepare for the wedding, but he also had to oversee the banquet arrangements. In addition, he had his own work to do, so he had no free time every day.
Ge Liang, that young man, learned that Huo Shu was now a butcher. He introduced Huo Shu to anyone in the village who needed to slaughter livestock, causing him to have to travel between two villages.
In early December, Butcher Qiao brought his wife and children back to Tongzhou from Nanyu County.
The last month of the year was approaching, and the lively areas already had the atmosphere of the New Year. Occasionally, the sound of firecrackers could be heard.
On the way back from the county town, he saw many families holding weddings, which made him quite envious.
Upon returning to the village, he happily went back to the village.
“Butcher Qiao is back! Is your father-in-law’s health still alright?”
“He’s doing well. He’s passed another hurdle.”
“That’s good news. You’ve come back at just the right time; there’s a lively banquet in the village!”
When Butcher Qiao returned to the village, he saw familiar villagers. He took some roasted pumpkin seeds and chatted with them for a few words.
Hearing about the banquet, Butcher Qiao, while cracking pumpkin seeds, couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Whose house is so lively?”
“It’s the village head’s house; his son is getting married!”
“Wow! That’s truly a great joyous occasion for our village.”
Butcher Qiao smiled and said, “Whose son is he marrying? He’s so fortunate.”
The villager said, “The Zhao family, that dry son that Yuan Niang recognizes.”
“Who?!”
Butcher Qiao’s smile froze on his face, and the pumpkin seeds in his hand suddenly lost their flavor.
“Huo Shu, the one who learned the craft from you.”
The villager, completely unaware, said with a smile, “You are his master, so you must sit at the main table for the banquet.”
“Your disciple is indeed formidable. I heard he gave a hundred and twenty taels of betrothal gifts for this marriage, which made the village head very happy.”
A heavy stone seemed to roll over Butcher Qiao’s heart. He hastily bid farewell to the villager and hurried to the Ji family.
He could hardly believe it when he first heard it. By the entrance of the Ji family, he could already see the stone slabs in the courtyard had been washed, and lanterns and colorful streamers were hung. What else could this be if not a wedding?
“Yo! Old Qiao is back? Was everything smooth?”
Ji Yangzong, seeing the person at the door with wide eyes, went to meet him.
“The village head’s house is lively. As soon as I returned, I heard that a wedding was going to be held.”
Butcher Qiao said grumpily, “If I had returned two days later, I might not have made it in time for this.”
“Look at what you’re saying. We chose the eighth day of the month as an auspicious date, so we’re rushing to hold it. The son of the family is also not young anymore.”
Butcher Qiao spoke directly and immediately said, “I say, Old Ji, aren’t you being too unkind! I just told you that I had my eye on Huo Shu as a son-in-law, and then you poached him from me. What kind of logic is that?!”
Ji Yangzong saw Butcher Qiao’s displeased face and felt somewhat guilty. He said kindly, “Look at what you’re saying. What do you mean by poaching? This marriage is all about mutual consent. Huo Shu said he wanted to marry our Tao Ge, and the child is willing. As a father, I can’t say no.”
“You think highly of Huo Shu, but it’s useless to tell me. You have to tell the person directly, don’t you?”
Butcher Qiao also knew this was the case. Just as girls and young men, when two families simultaneously fancy someone, one family will not get the person.
However, logic aside, he was just a bit indignant. “If you hadn’t taken advantage of my absence from Tongzhou, could this marriage have happened? If that’s not poaching, what is it? Alright, I didn’t expect you, old fellow, to pull these tricks.”
“Hey, the more you talk, the uglier it gets!”
The two of them were almost about to quarrel with each other. The villager carrying goods saw it and quickly went to mediate, finally pulling the two apart.
Butcher Qiao left in a huff. Huo Shu arrived and happened to run into him. Unaware of what was going on, he said, “Master Qiao is back. Come to the wedding banquet on the eighth.”
Butcher Qiao looked at Huo Shu and became even more angry. But for a moment, he didn’t know what to scold him for. All he could say was:
“Very good, you are all very good.”
He pointed at Huo Shu with a trembling finger, but facing Huo Shu’s face, which showed little emotion, he ultimately didn’t dare to argue with him, as it would be somewhat embarrassing in reason and emotion.
Huo Shu hadn’t done anything wrong from beginning to end.
So, he angrily put his hands behind his back, took long strides, and left.
Huo Shu looked at Ji Yangzong, who was also angry in the courtyard, and asked with a frown, “What’s going on?”
“Don’t mind him, he’s stubborn.”
The people from two families celebrating good days were actually fighting over a son-in-law. The villagers had more gossip to talk about, and Huo Shu had become a sought-after commodity.
However, speaking of it, who wouldn’t be sought after if they could give so much betrothal money and were willing to live with their father-in-law?
Although there was a small interlude, it did not dampen the auspicious day. They continued with what they were supposed to do.
On the seventh day, the four divisions and six bureaus hired from the city by Ji Yangzong came to get busy, setting up tents, preparing dishes in advance, and processing meat, all in an orderly and lively manner.
Before dawn on the eighth day, the sound of firecrackers in the village awakened the sleeping villagers, who got up to prepare and head to the Ji family to join in the festivities.