Chapter 43: Sabotage

Chapter 43: Sabotage

Zhao still harbored resentment as she recalled everything she had experienced in Xiangping Prefecture.

The steward of the examination commissioner's household had taken her family away under the pretext of assisting with the wedding arrangements, placing them in a separate courtyard. Though it appeared that several people were assigned to assist and care for them, they were actually under house arrest, tormented for the steward's amusement.

Every few days, the steward would take Zhao out, ostensibly to help her select various wedding items, but in truth, it was just another way to torment her. Everything they chose was expensive and excessive. If she showed even a hint of reluctance, she faced veiled threats and harsh treatment.

At first, Zhao tried to resist, but each time she did, the torment only intensified. Gradually, she no longer dared to make a fuss.

Later, through much effort, she learned that this steward had some connection with the landlord they had previously rented from. The steward had specifically reminded the examination commissioner to handle the wedding arrangements as a way to vent his friend's grievances.

Even after discovering the reason, Zhao found no way to resolve the situation. They were confined to the courtyard and couldn't meet the examination commissioner himself. Even if they did, it was unlikely that the commissioner would help her as she wished.

Only after Zhao and her family had spent their last penny did the steward finally let them leave Xiangping Prefecture. Zhao had to grit her teeth and pawn her silver bracelet to afford the fare back home.

After returning to Du Village, Zhao often woke up at night, terrified the steward would find new ways to torment her.

When she finally overcame these fears, she realized that life in Du Village was no longer as comfortable as before.

Once, Zhao had been the village's darling, admired for her family's wealth and her successful son. She walked around with her chin held high, like a proud old hen.

But now, as her misdeeds came to light and Qiu Huanian's family gained influence, the people who once flattered Zhao gradually disappeared. Those who had always disliked Zhao's temper became bolder, making her life in the village increasingly unpleasant.

Not only were her relationships with the villagers strained, but her home life had also changed.

Before, Zhao had been the undisputed authority at home, and her daughter-in-law, Wei Liuhua, never dared to defy her. But after their months away, Wei Liuhua had grown surprisingly assertive and confident. She no longer listened to Zhao and sometimes even opposed her, leaving Zhao seething with anger.

Zhao longed to discipline Wei Liuhua, but the family's funds were nearly depleted. Her precious son, Du Yunjing, couldn't be made to work and suffer, so the entire family relied on Wei Liuhua and Du Yunhu to earn money. With Wei Liuhua holding her ground, Zhao dared not act against her for now.

Zhao then turned her attention to targeting Li Guer. But after her trip to Xiangping Prefecture, Li Guer had grown cleverer, deftly dodging Zhao's provocations. When she couldn't avoid them, she would bring up the examination commissioner's directive to "treat her well."

Zhao was now deeply fearful of anything tied to the examination commissioner. Every time she heard those words, it reignited her fears, and her anger would instantly subside.

Reflecting on the past six months, Zhao saw that all her troubles had begun with Qiu Huanian.

Ever since Fu Bao pushed Qiu Huanian and Qiu suddenly became assertive, Zhao's family had been on a downward spiral.

In contrast, Qiu Huanian's family had been thriving. They had earned money, passed the academy examinations, and even built a two-story brick house in the city style upon their return.

Her family's misfortunes pained her, but her enemies' success fueled Zhao's jealousy. Seeing Qiu Huanian's family living happily was more unbearable to Zhao than her own suffering. She and her two sons shared the same nature deep down.

Zhao took a deep breath, her nails digging into her palms. She refused to believe that Qiu Huanian could remain so fortunate. He was just a lowly boy bought for two measures of sorghum. How could he have come so far?

Now, Zhao understood just how powerful Du Yunse was. After her trip to Xiangping Prefecture, this rural woman finally gained a deep understanding of the examination commissioner and the official class. She also learned about the influential teacher Du Yunse had followed and how successful Du Yunse had been over the years.

Zhao deeply resented that such a great opportunity hadn't been given to her own son. She also believed she had gained a deeper understanding of Du Yunse.

How could a young man like Du Yunse, with such a promising future and powerful connections, be interested in a country boy like Qiu Huanian? Most city gentlemen had multiple wives and concubines. Qiu Huanian was just a lucky country bumpkin who had managed to secure a position. Zhao refused to believe that Du Yunse didn't have other intentions.

Perhaps Du Yunse had already found someone he favored during his years away and was merely settling for Qiu Huanian now that he was back home.

The young man who had reportedly come from afar to find Du Yunse was likely that person.

Otherwise, why would a young man travel so far to stay in another man's home without any familial ties?

Zhao wanted to spread these rumors, causing trouble for Qiu Huanian's family and diverting the villagers' attention away from her own family. If this plan succeeded, it would not only make Qiu Huanian miserable but also make her own life more comfortable.

As Zhao hid at the back, plotting her schemes, the spraying work in the fields continued smoothly, surrounded by the crowd.

To store more liquid, the water tank is quite large and cannot be carried around. The helpers have to move the tank every few meters as they spray, but compared to manually spraying with buckets, this method is much more efficient.

Qiu Huanian quietly calculated the time. With four spraying devices working together, one acre of cotton could be sprayed in an hour, and three acres could be completed in a day.

Once the spraying devices were confirmed to be working properly and the helpers had become proficient in their operation, Qiu Huanian had nothing left to do in the field. Du Yunse urged Qiu Huanian to go back and rest. The villagers who had been watching also gradually left, and Zhao, her eyes filled with malice, quietly blended into the departing crowd.

She needed to go back and plan carefully, aiming to bring down Qiu Huanian in one fell swoop.

In a place where Zhao couldn't see, Sixteen's gaze subtly swept over the crowd.

After the sun set, Du Yunse and the helpers finally finished transporting the spraying devices back with a mule cart. The three acres of land had all been treated with bio-enzyme solution, and Qiu Huanian replenished the water and materials in the bio-enzyme jar, which would be ready for reuse after a while.

They also transported the vinegar dregs from home to the edge of the field, scattering them in piles spaced every few meters.

This way, when the cotton bollworm larvae hatched from their eggs, they would not eat the stems and leaves of the cotton sprayed with bio-enzyme solution but would instead turn to the vinegar dregs. When the cotton bollworms became rampant, they could be trapped and killed using nets near the vinegar dregs, effectively eliminating most of them.

Qiu Huanian had preheated the water. In summer, the water for bathing didn't need to be too hot. After Du Yunse finished bathing, the two sat on the steps before the main room, enjoying the cool evening air.

"When I came back, I noticed that some cotton bollworms were already avoiding the cotton stems and leaves and heading for the vinegar dregs. This way, you can rest assured," Du Yunse said.

Qiu Huanian nodded. "Next, we need to experiment with the optimal bio-enzyme concentration, the frequency of reapplication, the density of the vinegar dreg piles, and the frequency of replacement..."

Only by determining all these factors and establishing consistent patterns could they write it into agricultural books, forming a set of mature practices that everyone could try, allowing people to grow more cotton and afford it.

With Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng already asleep, the courtyard lay in silence. Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse spoke softly about the day's events.

"Chun Sheng's academic aptitude is indeed not high, not as good as Jiu Jiu or Yun Kang, and far behind where you were at his age. The child doesn't say it, but he's been troubled by this in his heart. I had thought he was merely young and mischievous, but I was mistaken."

Du Yunse gently smoothed the worry lines from Qiu Huanian's brow. "It's not your fault. As the eldest brother, I haven't fulfilled my responsibilities either. I'll have a deep talk with Chun Sheng about this. Don't worry too much and harm your health."

Qiu Huanian nodded and then brought up Sixteen's peculiar behavior. "Yunse, do you know what Sixteen's background is? I always feel his attitude is a bit strange."

Du Yunse shook his head. "Sixteen is the Crown Prince's personal guard. His background is largely unknown to outsiders. I only saw him once or twice during the two years the Crown Prince studied with our teacher. He is highly trusted by the Crown Prince and has been with him since he was just over ten years old."

"What kind of background do these guards have? What about their families?"

"The teacher mentioned that the palace training institute typically selects gifted orphans for court training. Sixteen is likely the descendant of a disgraced official. He doesn't mention his real name, probably because he has severed all ties with his past."

Qiu Huanian sighed. "No wonder he said those things to Chun Sheng."

The words used to intimidate Chun Sheng and make him back off were likely based on Sixteen's own experiences.

Having eaten a bit more porridge that evening, Qiu Huanian found himself unable to sleep, so he got up and took Du Yunse's hand. "Come with me to the field again. I want to check the vinegar dregs. I won't feel at ease until I see how they're arranged."

The two closed the courtyard gate and walked to the edge of the cotton field amidst occasional dog barks. Under the moonlight, they could already see cotton bollworms on the vinegar dreg piles spaced every few meters.

Looking at the vast cotton field before him, Qiu Huanian smiled with a sense of accomplishment. "Looking at the current growth of the cotton, the yield per acre will definitely exceed two hundred pounds."

"Zhu Jingcheng said he would come to collect the cotton in autumn. This year's cotton won't be hard to sell, but I need to craft tools for deseeding and carding the cotton. This way, we can save on processing costs and earn more."

As Qiu Huanian spoke, he and Du Yunse walked along the field path. Suddenly, Qiu Huanian's ears caught an unusual sound, not like that of a nocturnal animal but more like human breathing.

Startled, Qiu Huanian subtly grabbed Du Yunse's wrist and signaled with his eyes to look in the direction of the strange sound.

Du Yunse shielded Qiu Huanian behind him, and the two cautiously walked a few steps in that direction but saw nothing.

The cotton had grown to waist height, and with the poor light at night, a small person could easily hide in the shadows within the cotton field, avoiding their sight. Qiu Huanian didn't let his guard down.

He and Du Yunse exchanged a glance, and neither chose to leave immediately.

The family has been toiling over these three acres of cotton fields since spring, pouring in countless efforts. A bountiful harvest is now within reach. At this moment, the cotton fields must not suffer any man-made damage.

Someone lurking in the cotton fields at night instead of being at home must be up to no good.

Du Yunse gestured to Qiu Huanian to stay put while he went to fetch help. Qiu Huanian hesitated and did not leave.

They had no idea if it was one person or a group, what they wanted, or if others were lurking nearby. Splitting up recklessly could lead to trouble.

The tension in the air thickened. Qiu Huanian heard rustling again, this time from close behind. It seemed that the person in the cotton field wanted to escape.

Du Yunse tightened his grip on Qiu Huanian’s hand, and the two turned together toward the direction of the sound, which was also hurrying to get out. In their panic, they trampled a dozen cotton plants. Qiu Huanian, heartbroken over the damaged cotton, instinctively slowed down.

Just then, Qiu Huanian heard a commotion coming from the village. At least a dozen people were running toward them with torches, the flames blazing in the dark.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse were puzzled and hesitated for a moment before deciding to wait where they were.

Du Village sits on flat land near the main road. It has never suffered from bandit attacks. The crowd coming from the village should not pose any problem. Besides, with sixteen, the crown prince’s personal guard, still in the village, there was no real danger.

In less than ten minutes, the villagers reached the cotton field. Qiu Huanian spotted sixteen leading the group with a torch, flanked by Bao Ren, the clan leader’s eldest son, and other village elders, along with their sons and nephews.

Qiu Huanian cast a puzzled look at sixteen, who was also surprised to see Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse there.

Bao Ren rushed over and asked, "Brother Hua, is something wrong with your field?"

"Uncle Bao Ren, why are you here?"

Bao Ren glanced at sixteen beside him and sighed, "We have your guest to thank. If he hadn’t caught Zhao, we’d never have known she sent Fu Bao to wreck your field tonight."

Fu Bao? Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse turned their attention to the shadow that had been lurking motionless in the cotton field.

Following their gaze, sixteen, torch in hand, leaped gracefully through the cotton plants and landed in the center of the field. With his free hand, he snatched up a small figure and tossed it aside.

The figure landed a good twenty feet away. When Bao Ren brought the torch closer, it was indeed Fu Bao from Zhao’s family.

Fu Bao, who’d never been hurt so badly, was in agony, his head throbbing and his legs numb. He wanted to scream, but seeing the crowd of adults around him, he choked back his sobs and shook with fear.

"Fu Bao, what are you doing in the cotton field in the middle of the night?!"

Fu Bao gasped and shouted incoherently, "Mom, mom! Why haven’t you come yet..."

Bao Ren’s face turned grim. Ignoring Fu Bao’s writhing, he ordered, "Check the field and see how bad the damage is."

Qiu Huanian was furious when he heard Zhao’s family had targeted their cotton, his breath coming in sharp gasps, while Du Yunse’s expression darkened.

After fifteen minutes, the group finished inspecting the three-acre field and regrouped. Only a dozen plants near Qiu Huanian had been uprooted, and another dozen trampled as Fu Bao fled. The loss was within an acceptable range.

Fortunately, Qiu Huanian had the sudden idea to visit the field tonight, and fortunately, sixteen was sharp. Otherwise, the loss would not have been so minimal.

Qiu Huanian felt both relieved and furious. The more than thirty damaged cotton plants were all grown from seeds he had nurtured from the beginning. Each damaged plant pained him deeply.

In ancient rural areas, crops were valued more than life itself. No matter how deep the conflict between two families, they would never target each other’s crops, because once caught, they would be universally despised and scorned. The laws of the Yu Dynasty even specifically stipulated the crime and punishment for maliciously damaging crops.

Bao Ren was so angry that his hands trembled. His family was also following Qiu Huanian in growing cotton, and he knew better than anyone how difficult it was to grow these cotton plants. Fu Bao’s act of destroying crops was a slap in the face to the Du ancestors, who’d surely be condemned to the deepest pits of hell!

Bao Ren, usually kind and gentle, now ignored Fu Bao, who was crying in pain, and grabbed him by the belt, dragging him to the uprooted cotton plants, asking if he had done this.

Fu Bao, terrified out of his wits, nodded and admitted, caught red-handed, solidifying his guilt.

Bao Ren took a deep breath and said to his equally grim companions, "Fellow villagers, this matter is of great importance. Such a vile creature is rare in Zhang County for decades, and it has appeared in Du Village. Come with me to my house and tell my father what happened, so he can decide what to do."

The others chimed in, "What are you talking about? We came along for this very purpose. This matter is of great importance and must be handled properly. Otherwise, the people of Du Village will lose face in Zhang County, and who would dare to farm in peace in the future?"

Qiu Huanian crouched down and touched the robust cotton plants, which had been sprayed with pesticide earlier that day but were now uprooted, still in bloom. He rose in silence.

Sixteen held the torch, silently providing light for him. Du Yunse supported Qiu Huanian's arm, and Qiu Huanian pressed his dizzy forehead, shaking his head to indicate he was fine.

"Let's go to the clan leader's house. This matter must be addressed," Qiu Huanian said, hardening his heart.

The group returned to the village and arrived at the clan leader's house. The courtyard was already ablaze with light. Bao Ren and his group had caused quite a stir when they called people out of the village, waking many villagers who had gathered at the clan leader's house to see what had happened.

In the brightly lit courtyard, Zhao lay bound and gagged on the ground. The rest of her family was also there. Although Du Yunjing was not tied up, he was bruised and stood silently with a dark expression.

Seeing Bao Ren and the others bring Fu Bao back, Du Yunjing's face turned even darker. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Zhao kept struggling and whimpering, unable to say a word.

The clan leader had changed his clothes and stood in the courtyard with a cane.

"Bao Ren, how did things go?"

"Just as Sixteen said, Fu Bao did go to Hua'er's cotton field. Fortunately, Hua'er and Yunse happened to be there checking the vinegar residue, and we arrived in time. Only about thirty plants were ruined."

The clan leader struck his cane heavily, his face as dark as water. The clueless villagers gasped at Bao Ren's report.

Uprooting cotton? The audacity! To tamper with our livelihood!

"Zhao, do you have anything to say in your defense?" the clan leader asked coldly, looking at the person on the ground.

Zhao was gagged and couldn't speak, and the clan leader didn't want to hear her nonsense. Besides anger, the only thing he felt was regret—regret that he hadn't dealt with Zhao when the Qiu family caused trouble before. Perhaps then her family would have been more cautious and wouldn't have gone so far as to commit such a grave mistake.

Those who had followed Bao Ren to inspect the cotton field explained the situation to the villagers. After hearing it, everyone looked at Zhao with anger and disdain. As farmers who had tilled the land for generations, no one hated the malicious act of destroying crops more than they did.

Zhao hailed from a town family, and she had married well. Not only was her family wealthy, but she also had a ready-made stepson to command. She had scarcely toiled in the fields, which was why she held crops in such low regard.

But most people in Du Village were not like her.

The fruits of their labor, a divine boon, the very foundation of their survival. Even with careful tending, yields could be reduced due to natural disasters. How could anyone be so evil as to deliberately damage crops?!

With such a family in Du Village, who could sleep peacefully at night?

"In my opinion, this family is thoroughly corrupt. It would be best to expel them from the village. After all, we already have Yunse, the Literary Star. As for Du Yunjing, let him do as he pleases. I refuse to be associated with such despicable villagers."

"Exactly... If we don't drive them out, what if we accidentally offend Zhao in the future? She might sneak out at night and destroy our fields. What would I do then? My whole family depends on the harvest from those few acres!"

"Last time, Zhao conspired with the Qiu family to abduct Hua'er, and there was even a confession. But the clan leader insisted on protecting her, all for Du Yunjing's sake. And then Du Yunjing went to the prefectural exams and offended the examination commissioner, completely wasting the clan leader's efforts."

"Shh, the clan leader is about to speak. Let's see what he says this time."

The clan leader tapped his cane again, and the murmurs in the courtyard fell silent. All awaited his verdict.

Sixteen slightly raised his chin. The clan leader's gaze swept over him, and he felt a chill. He was a figure the entire Du Village feared to cross.

"Our Du clan in Du Village has not yet established formal clan rules, but the prohibition against destroying crops is a long-standing tradition passed down through generations. You have repeatedly caused trouble in the village, and now you have committed a grave crime. If I continue to shield you, even our ancestors in the afterlife would point at me and curse."

"Destroying crops is a serious crime explicitly defined by imperial law. Fu Bao was caught in the act, and Zhao, as the instigator, has Sixteen as a witness. She cannot escape blame. At dawn, we will send them to the county magistrate to be dealt with according to the law."

The clan leader's courtyard teemed with villagers. Upon hearing these words, the crowd stirred. Some applauded the decision, while others harbored reservations.

The clan leader cleared his dry throat and continued, "Before that, I understand the villagers' sentiments. For the sake of Du Village's reputation, such scum must not come from our village. Bao Ren, go open the ancestral hall and bring out the clan registry. Let's resolve this matter promptly."

Although the clan leader had already been planning to remove Zhao's family from Du Village, he hadn't anticipated such a sudden and glaring opportunity.

Opening the ancestral hall and retrieving the genealogy clearly signifies the intention to expel and disown her from the clan. Zhao, who had been struggling on the ground, suddenly widened her eyes in shock, even forgetting to resist. She never imagined she would reach the point of being disowned.

How could this be? Their family was one of the wealthiest in Du Village, and her son was a respected scholar. Why? Why should they be banished from the village?!

Zhao knew the risks of uprooting crops, but she thought that as long as it was done quietly at night without evidence, no one could really do anything to her. But she never expected that just as she sent Fu Bao to check if anyone was in the fields, she was caught. The young man who had held an umbrella for Qiu Huanian during the day had apprehended her before she could even act.

That young man, alone, took only a few moments to swiftly and decisively subdue their entire family. This was no mere lover of Du Yunse from outside; he was a veritable deadly force!

The clan leader looked at everything in the courtyard, and after the anger and regret, he felt a deep sense of sorrow, letting out a long sigh. Du Yunjing, however, suddenly let out a cold laugh, no longer bothering to pretend.

"Clan leader, you've always looked down on me, thinking I'm not as good as Du Yunse. Now you've finally gotten your way. Why bother pretending?"

The clan leader didn't expect Du Yunjing to say this and was so angry that his beard quivered. "You, as a scholar, how can you say such things without a guilty conscience?!"

While some in the village might have had the right to accuse the clan leader of bias, Du Yunjing was certainly not one of them. Du Yunjing's talent was indeed not as great as Du Yunse's, but the clan leader had once held high hopes for him and had made significant efforts to help him. Just two or three months ago, he had even spared Zhao to protect Du Yunjing, leaving a rift between Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse.

If they hadn't repeatedly erred, how could things have come to this? How could he dare to say such things?!