Chapter 84: Reunion

Chapter 84: Reunion

"Mrs. Taohong, and Cun Lan?" Qiu Huanian's eyes lit up.

Ye Taohong smiled, "It's been almost half a year since we last met. Hearing that Lieutenant Wu was coming to Xiangping Prefecture, we decided to take the opportunity to visit you, as well as Yun Cheng and Ling."

"What about Yun Ying?"

"Yun Ying is still young. Bao Yi was worried that I couldn't handle the long journey with her, so she stayed at Jingshan Guard, looked after by Auntie Qiao."

Qiu Huanian invited everyone into the residence to sit, while the carriage and the soldiers brought by Wu Shen were taken to the servants' quarters.

Ye Taohong and Cun Lan were dressed differently than usual, and upon seeing the exquisite home of Qiu Huanian's family, they showed no signs of surprise.

They brought along a teenage girl named Bingcao, who they said was bought in Jingshan Guard. Several strong laborers in her family had died due to forced labor, and with too many mouths to feed, they had no choice but to sell their children.

"Jiu Jiu has gone to school. She'll be so happy to see Cun Lan when she returns in the evening."

"Cun Lan has missed Jiu Jiu every day for the past half year. Every time she receives a letter, she reads it over and over again. When asked what's written, she wouldn't say."

Qiu Huanian asked Cun Lan, "Have you continued your studies at the border?"

Cun Lan nodded, "There are few teachers at the border. I attend a tutoring session, sitting behind a curtain and not speaking to other students."

"I have some rare books here. I'll give them to you later."

"Alright," Cun Lan smiled generously.

Old lady Jin had already prepared the feast, and there was enough food for two more people.

Jin San counted the number of soldiers and asked old lady Jin to prepare a few more dishes to send over.

At the feast, Wu Shen opened up and shared his experiences from the past year at the border.

Some of the exciting and strange tales made everyone's hearts race.

"The Tatars have much better horses than we do. Every time we repel their attacks and clean up the battlefield, we take back those good horses that no one rides."

"Some Tatars hide beneath the horses at this time, taking the opportunity to kill."

"Once, I happened to encounter this, and I was unarmed—"

...

Wu Shen told the story vividly, thoroughly enjoying the looks of astonishment and admiration from everyone.

He had learned a lot over the past year, but his penchant for showing off and hearing praise remained unchanged.

After the meal, Du Yunse asked Wu Shen, "How long will you stay in Xiangping Prefecture this time?"

"Commander of Liaozhou has shown me great kindness. Coincidentally, the border is quiet, so I returned for his birthday celebration. But I can't delay for too long. Excluding the travel time, I can stay for at most five or six days."

"You're welcome to stay with us these few days."

"Of course, I don't own a house in Xiangping Prefecture. If I don't stay with you, who else would I stay with?"

Wu Shen elbowed Du Yunse playfully, "I told you, you've been lucky. If it weren't for Huanian, how could you have lived so well in just over a year?"

Du Yunse nodded, "Meeting Huanian has been the greatest blessing of my life."

Qiu Huanian felt a little awkward and turned to have old lady Jin tidy up the guest room.

Wu Shen was given the separate empty side room, while Ye Taohong and her daughter bunked with Jiu Jiu. The rest of the soldiers crammed into the back room.

Fortunately, although the main house was small and exquisite, there were enough rooms; otherwise, it would've been tight.

After school, Jin San picked up Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng. Seeing Cun Lan, Jiu Jiu was over the moon.

The two little sisters held hands, laughing so hard they couldn't even speak.

"The swing in our courtyard is so much fun, and there are whole trees of roses nearby. I'll show you later."

"There are some great pastry shops on Yuanzheng Street—you've gotta try them."

"By the way, I've picked up a couple of new songs. It's late today, but I'll play them for you tomorrow."

...

When with Zhu Xian and Su Xinyao, Jiu Jiu was happy but still held back a bit.

Only with Cun Lan, her childhood friend from pigweed-cutting and chicken-feeding days, could Jiu Jiu really let loose.

Qiu Huanian smiled and said, "I'll get you a few days off from school, so you can spend these days playing with Cun Lan."

Jiu Jiu happily agreed, and to everyone's surprise, Chun Sheng didn't kick up a fuss.

"I figured Chun Sheng would want some time off too."

Chun Sheng replied seriously, "I gotta hit the books, or I'll fall behind."

Jiu Jiu exposed his weakness, "He's scared that taking a few days off will put him even further behind Yuan Ruo."

Embarrassed, Chun Sheng bolted to his room, and everyone cracked up.

The mountains around Jingshan Guard were teeming with furs. Wu Shen brought some fine furs as gifts for Qiu Huanian's family, and Ye Taohong had brought some furs too. Qiu Huanian's family and Yun Cheng's couple each received two pieces.

In the chilly northeast, warm, beautiful furs were like gold.

Qiu Huanian tucked the furs away in a cabinet, adding sachets to keep out mold and moisture, planning to make clothes with them this winter.

He asked Ye Taohong if she was heading to Zhang County this trip, and Ye Taohong shook her head.

"It's too tight this time, so I'll skip it."

"Are you still in touch with your family?"

"How could we not be? We shoot off letters and cash every month, and we've also sent two pieces of hunted fur. After all, he's my father."

"But everything's sent straight to my eldest brother and his wife. They'll give it to my father, and the third family won't get a thing."

Although it had been a long time, Ye Taohong still seethed with hatred at the mention of the third family.

This was a blood feud, impossible to resolve.

The ancient saying goes, "Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?" In modern times, with advanced communication technology, video calls could be made anytime, anywhere, so Qiu Huanian didn't feel deeply about this saying.

In the Yu Dynasty, once friends and family were separated, they might not see each other for months or even years. Qiu Huanian truly understood this feeling now.

Ye Taohong and the others had come from afar, and as the host, Qiu Huanian naturally wanted to treat them well.

Now the family is not short of money at all. Qiu's Six Staples used to bring in a net profit of about one hundred taels a month, and with the addition of floral waters and pure dew, the profit is estimated to reach two hundred taels.

There is also a one hundred tael reward from the emperor, a quarterly dividend of thirty to forty taels from red fermented tofu, and a share of about ten taels from snacks in Zhang County.

A couple of days ago, Qiu Huanian counted the money in the box, and the family's savings have nearly reached three hundred taels of silver. The thick stack of silver notes felt quite substantial in his hand.

Since there's no need to be stingy when entertaining guests, Qiu Huanian booked all the famous restaurants in Xiangping Prefecture directly and, together with Meng Yuanling and Jiu Jiu, took Ye Taohong and her daughter on a good tour.

Wu Shen had other social engagements and couldn't join in. After asking about interesting places, he wandered around Xiangping Prefecture by himself.

Thanks to Min Leyi's highly exploratory spirit, Qiu Huanian remembered a lot from their conversations and could eloquently talk about where to have fun in Xiangping Prefecture.

Today, watching a play; tomorrow, visiting a painting pavilion; the day after, tailoring clothes... Since Qiu Huanian arrived here, he hasn't been so relaxed. For several days in a row, he spent all his time in leisure and entertainment, somewhat forgetting his original intentions.

However, he knows himself well. It's fine to relax for a few days, but after a while, he can't help but want to continue building his career.

After quitting a big company, he rested for a while and then started his journey as a small but ambitious lifestyle video blogger.

Some people just can't stay idle, but he finds satisfaction and strength in his busy struggles.

On this day, Qiu Huanian and his companions were listening to light music on the second floor of a highly-rated music hall when they suddenly heard discordant noises from behind the building.

Ye Taohong thought about getting up to see for herself but then sat back down, "Bingcao, go down and check it out, but be careful."

Bingcao responded and went down. She's a poor woman who grew up near the border, with a large frame and good health, and her personality is not at all coy.

Meanwhile, Qiu Huanian went to the window to look down and raised his eyebrows.

"What's wrong, Brother Hua?"

"Auntie, look, doesn't that person seem familiar?"

Ye Taohong came over to look down and also frowned.

"Who? Who?" Meng Yuanling asked.

"It looks like... Zhao's daughter-in-law, Li Guer."

Meng Yuanling remembered such a person. Li Guer is Du Yunjing's cousin. During Du Yunjing's academy exam in the prefecture city, he was caught in the act with her and was ordered to marry her by the academic official.

Later, Du Yunjing's family was driven out of Du Village, and Li Guer naturally followed.

Meng Yuanling knew this because he had almost been engaged to Du Yunjing before, and Du Yunjing had slighted him, so he paid more attention to this family.

Downstairs, Li Guer was dressed in somewhat flamboyant silk clothes and was arguing with several other similarly dressed women.

Bingcao went down to ask and quickly returned.

"The manager said those are girls from a nearby brothel, out buying cosmetics, and somehow got into a quarrel. He has already called someone to drive them away."

Qiu Huanian and his companions looked at each other.

Ye Taohong murmured, "Didn't she marry Du Yunjing? No matter what, Du Yunjing is a scholar, how could she, how could she come out to do this kind of business?"

The shock of a once-respectable woman becoming a prostitute was indeed significant for them.

Qiu Huanian remembered that sixteen had said that Li Guer had rough aphrodisiacs and knockout drugs commonly found in brothels. They were used to plot against Du Yunjing's family and had even tried to drug the three-year-old Youge.

I'm afraid Li Guer has long been involved with people from this line of work.

It's just unclear whether she left on her own initiative or was kicked out by Du Yunjing.

Qiu Huanian briefly mentioned Li Guer's use of drugs and reminded everyone to be cautious of these shady and dangerous elements.

After a long while, Ye Taohong sighed.

"This is truly a case of cause and effect, with karma coming full circle."

The group lost interest in continuing their outing and went home after a while, just as they got back, they ran into Wu Shen who had also returned.

Qiu Huanian noticed that Wu Shen's clothes were somewhat dirty and the hem was torn, so he asked old lady Jin to clean them up and patch the tear.

Wu Shen went inside to change his clothes, washed his hands and face briefly, and looked pretty annoyed.

"Did something happen to you today, Little General Wu?"

"Don't mention it, it was really unlucky, but I suppose I did a good deed."

Old lady Jin brought some tea, and Wu Shen took a sip to cool off.

"Brother Hua mentioned that about a mile southwest along the Love River in Xiangping Prefecture, there's a place where many folk artists perform and sell their wares. After meeting with my colleagues and having some free time, I went to take a look since I was nearby."

That place was recommended by Min Leyi, although Qiu Huanian himself had never been there.

"You went to watch the performers, how’d you get into such a state?"

"After years of martial arts training, my eyes are quite sharp. I noticed something fishy with a few performers and wanted to catch them for questioning."

"Then, all of a sudden, a young lad heard the performers crying and thought I was bullying them. He suddenly hit me from behind and knocked me to the ground."

Wu Shen felt embarrassed; a proper military officer like him was actually bested by some random kid.

Although the lad caught him off guard and was indeed quite strong, Wu Shen quickly got up and wasn't really hurt, but it was still pretty embarrassing.

Seeing Wu Shen's expression, Qiu Huanian could tell nothing serious had gone down.

"Then what?"

"Then I had to explain and prove that I wasn't causing trouble for no reason. Luckily, I found an unconscious girl in the performers' boxes, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to clear my name even if I had eight mouths."

Wu Shen sighed, "That lad realized he had wronged me, apologized, dropped some silver as an apology, and ran off."

"I had to hold onto the crooks and wait for the officials to arrive, so I couldn't chase after him."

"He even said I didn't look like a good person, when he was the one dressed suspiciously. Next time I see him—" Wu Shen gestured like he was chopping something, still fuming.

Qiu Huanian held back a laugh, "That person was just standing up for justice, he already admitted his mistake and apologized. Running away was probably out of embarrassment, General Wu, be the bigger person and let it slide."

"But General Wu, coming to Xiangping Prefecture for the birthday celebration and busting a trafficking ring, you could be called the traffickers' nemesis."

Wu Shen crossed his arms and snorted, "I can let it go, but at least I should catch him and make him recite 'General Wu Shen is brave and powerful' a hundred times!"

After venting, Wu Shen reminded, "While escorting the thieves, I talked with the authorities from the Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office. They said that recently, traffickers have been rampant around Xiangping Prefecture, specifically targeting wealthy, cultured young women. Jiu Jiu should be careful."

Qiu Huanian felt a shiver and took the warning seriously.

In modern times, children abducted by human traffickers are difficult to track down, let alone in ancient times.

Even someone as noble as Consort Kang spent many years searching for her younger brother, who had been abducted in the countryside. If not for a stroke of luck, there would have been no leads whatsoever.

Whether from ordinary families or noble households, once abducted by traffickers, it is highly likely that they will never see their families again in this lifetime.

Qiu Huanian sternly advised, "From now on, when Jiu Jiu goes out, besides Coral, Jin San should also accompany her. Take a carriage if possible, and avoid remote places. The same goes for Chun Sheng."

The two children understood the gravity of the situation and nodded solemnly.

"Does the Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office (modern equivalent of a police department) have any leads?"

The Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office is equivalent to a modern police department, established at the prefectural level, responsible for public security management and case investigation.

"They mentioned they have caught some minor leads, pointing to several brothels in the city, which are places that often harbor filth. However, it will still take some time to crack the case."

The next day was the birthday of the Commander of Liaozhou. Wu Shen went to offer his congratulations, and Qiu Huanian added two bottles each of oyster sauce, floral water, and pure dew to the gift list.

This unique gift made Wu Shen the talk of the town, outshining the rare treasures others had painstakingly sought.

The Commander of Liaozhou also felt honored. In his drunken state, he laughed heartily and praised Wu Shen, "Like father, like son," and even called Wu Dingshan, the general who had been dismissed and exiled far to the south, his brother, causing everyone to break out in cold sweat.

Meanwhile, it became widely known that Qiu Huanian's family had a close relationship with Wu Shen.

After receiving the decree from the Yuanhua Emperor and raiding the residence of the imperial envoy, Zhao Tianyu, Du Yunse had already been thoroughly categorized by some as part of the Crown Prince's faction. Revealing a friendship with the Crown Prince's cousin was not a significant issue.

Qiu Huanian learned from Su Xinbai that the Second Prince was currently extremely frustrated by "Elementary Mathematics: Equations," and even had some complaints about him, the author, calling him a "lackey of the Crown Prince" (a derogatory term for a loyal follower).

However, the Second Prince's influence in Liaozhou had been significantly reduced, and now he was under the close watch of the Yuanhua Emperor, studying "mathematics" punctually every day, not daring to take any retaliatory actions.

After hearing this, Qiu Huanian noted it down, knowing there would be no immediate trouble, and then put it out of his mind.

There was no way to avoid it; this was the emperor's arrangement, and he had no right to oppose it. In ancient times, imperial authority was supreme; both thunder and rain were considered the emperor's grace, and that was simply the way it was.

Hiding was not an option; one could only be cautious, weigh every situation carefully, and seize every opportunity to gain more benefits for oneself and one's family (a common strategy in court politics).

Meeting is difficult, and parting is even more so. After the birthday banquet, Wu Shen and Ye Taohong and her daughter were to return to Jingshan Guard.

Qiu Huanian packed a variety of local specialties for them, and everyone accompanied them to the city gate. Yun Cheng and Meng Yuanling couldn't fit and hired another carriage.

"Though we part after a thousand miles, I look forward to the day we meet again, Yun Se, when both of us have fulfilled our aspirations."

Wu Shen turned back on his horse, his arms and waist straight, exuding a dashing spirit.

Du Yunse replied solemnly, "Take care, and we shall meet again" (a common farewell in Chinese culture).

Ye Taohong and Cun Lan leaned out of the carriage, waving to them, and Jiu Jiu's eyes inadvertently reddened.

As the group disappeared from sight, Qiu Huanian and the others finally set off for home.

Jiu Jiu suddenly sighed, "I wonder how Sister Qinghe is doing, along with Auntie Qiuyan, Sister Liuhua, Youge, and Sister Xia Xing..."

Qiu Huanian rubbed her head, "After the autumn provincial exams (a common practice after important exams), we'll go home and stay for a while."

"Really?" Both Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng were delighted.

"Of course, after your brother passes the provincial exam, he must return home to pay respects to our ancestors."

Qiu Huanian paused mid-sentence, then teased with a smile.

"Though I haven't considered whether he can pass" (a common expression of doubt in Chinese culture).

Du Yunse sighed in resignation, "I will do my best to ensure that Brother Hua can return home with honor and enjoy his time there."

"It's already May, and the Dragon Boat Festival is just around the corner. Counting the days, it's only a little over three months left. The time is finally approaching."

After more than ten years of diligent study, fame and recognition follow success in the imperial examinations.

...

In Xiangping Prefecture, the Yu clan's villa is adorned with elaborate carvings and verdant greenery.

The matriarch of the younger generation of the Yu clan is busy handling various invitations.

Having arrived in Xiangping Prefecture less than ten days ago, she has already accumulated a pile of invitations, a testament to the influence of the Yu clan in Liaozhou.

The woman, in her early thirties, clad in opulent attire and sitting with an air of dignified elegance, radiates an air of authority and grace.

A servant woman enters from outside.

"Madam Yu, the birthday banquet of the Commander-in-Chief has passed, and the Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. It's time for us to return. The old lady has sent a letter from the clan's ancestral home, along with a pair of ancestral jade bracelets, asking you to carefully consider whether the Min family's young master is suitable. If he is, then the engagement can be settled."

Madam Yu nods. She came to Xiangping Prefecture for more than just one purpose.

"Let's keep the bracelets for now. There's no rush."

"Does Madam Yu not approve?"

Madam Yu ponders, "I've made some inquiries in Xiangping Prefecture. This young master's reputation is indeed not good. After meeting him in person, I also found him to be somewhat unreliable."

"Shall we decline then?"

"There's no hurry. After all, Headmaster Min is Yu Min's teacher. We must show some respect. Moreover, although Yu Min is of the direct lineage, he is not the eldest son. The clan's resources cannot all be allocated to him. In the future, he will have to rely on his own efforts in government service. Having such a father-in-law would be a significant advantage for him."

Yu Min's bright future would also benefit the Yu clan, a point Madam Yu clearly understands as she carefully plans for Yu Min's future.

"If it weren't for the young master from the Min family being so far from ideal in temperament, I would have settled the engagement this time."

Madam Yu picks up a prepared invitation from her side.

"Later, deliver this invitation. I will request a palace-trained governess for the Min family to properly educate him and see if he can be reformed. If it works out, everyone will be happy. If not, then it's simply not meant to be."

The servant woman nods, "I'm just worried that the young master might be displeased."

Madam Yu smiles.

"Last year, when Yu Min returned home, he was secretly looking for someone. I paid attention and found out that he was searching for a young master he had met once during last year's Dragon Boat Festival, a very spirited and handsome boy."

"Later, he stopped searching and instead took an interest in Min Leyi, who seemed similar in description. But it's all just youthful fancy, not fond of dull personalities, merely seeking novelty. It's not like those romantic tales where one falls deeply in love at first sight."

"Besides, I'm not saying it's impossible, just delaying it for now. Let the governess teach him first."

The servant woman nods in agreement, "Then I will follow Madam Yu's instructions and convey the messages appropriately." As for how to communicate with different people, of course, there are different approaches. One cannot be too straightforward, or it would offend others.

...

Before long, the Dragon Boat Festival is here, and Qiu Huanian still hasn't seen Min Leyi.

It is said that Madam Yu has already gone back, and the engagement has not been settled. However, she recommended a palace-trained governess for Min Leyi, who is now occupied with daily etiquette lessons, leaving no opportunity to meet Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian doesn't know how the two families have arranged things, but he can only hope that everything proceeds smoothly.

Last year during the Dragon Boat Festival, he also spent it in the prefectural city, but at that time he was staying with the Shu family. This year, having his own residence, Qiu Huanian started preparing early.

Zongzi, colorful threads, mugwort, and realgar were all prepared.

Qiu Huanian is an odd one out in the sweet versus salty debate. He enjoys both honey date zongzi and red bean paste zongzi, as well as salty meat zongzi, and even plain zongzi dipped in honey.

In modern times, if this were posted online, he would be called out by the sweet and salty factions.

But in ancient times, everything at home was decided by him, so with a simple command, he had old lady Jin prepare several of each flavor.

This year, there was no poetry competition, but there was a dragon boat race. Du Yunse took leave and returned home, and the entire family went to the Love River to watch the dragon boat race.

The banks of the Love River were crowded with people. Except for those busy with business, everyone came out to celebrate the festival.

Sweet Water Lane near the examination grounds, usually a bustling place, was strangely empty, not a soul in sight.

Zhu Xia sat alone on the threshold of the back door of the residence, resting her chin on her hand, not allowing any servants to accompany her.

Ever since she and her sister offended Su Xinbai at the Zhu family, the prosperous days of the Zhu family came to an end.

Zhu Jingcheng harshly disciplined the second branch of the Zhu family and the Zhu family members. In just over ten days, their business took a nosedive.

Zhu Xia's sister, Zhu Lu, went to plead with the Zhu family matriarch, but the old lady avoided her. When she turned to her husband, the eldest son of the second branch of the Zhu family, he berated and blamed her, then went off to indulge with his concubine.

Even though he had approved the plan to place someone in Zhu Jingcheng's room.

With internal strife and external challenges plaguing the Zhu family, naturally, they had no desire to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Zhu Xia, not wanting to listen to the endless quarrels and curses, went to the back door to find some peace.

She pursed her lips, her eyes vacant, gazing blankly at the corner of the large banyan tree outside.

Once upon a time, she and many friends played games like sandbag tossing and grass fighting there every day.

In Zhu Xia's line of sight, a very familiar figure passed by—it was her former close friend, Ru Tang.

Ru Tang's parents were busy with business, so she could only stay at home during the Dragon Boat Festival, with no one to take her out to play. Thinking of this, Zhu Xia felt a bit happier.

Ru Tang was holding a book and a string of zongzi, unaware of Zhu Xia sitting on the threshold. Zhu Xia pursed her lips and turned her head away, no longer looking at her.

After a few seconds, Zhu Xia frowned and turned her head back.

She saw two men who looked like Ru Tang's relatives following about ten steps behind her, but they were unfamiliar, at least she hadn't seen them when she was close with Ru Tang.

Zhu Xia hesitated for a moment, then stood up from the threshold and followed behind.

After walking for a while, Zhu Xia saw the two men getting closer and closer to Ru Tang, and one of them reached out his hand.

Zhu Xia dared not hesitate any longer and instinctively shouted, "Ru Tang, lit—"

A large hand covered her mouth from behind with a pungent-smelling cloth, silencing her.

In Zhu Xia's last moment of consciousness, she saw Ru Tang's terrified eyes looking back.

Author's note:

Let me briefly explain a few government offices and positions in Liaozhou, as well as their current plotlines—

(Government system modified from the Ming Dynasty system)

1. Provincial Administration Commission [bears the character "政," regard it as the provincial government]

The chief officials are the Left and Right Administration Commissioners, equivalent to the governor and vice-governor. Su Maomao's father is the Left Administration Commissioner (in this fictional Yu Dynasty setting, the right is considered superior).

2. The Provincial Military Command [with the word "command," think of it as managing the military]

The chief official is the Provincial Military Commander, akin to a military district commander. He is the one celebrating his birthday in this chapter.

He has been a mentor to Wu Shen, who had been suppressed before. Wu Shen's promotion to acting centurion was largely due to him directly petitioning the Ministry of War to "reward merit based on achievements."

3. The Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office [with the word "judicial," think of it as handling cases]

The chief official is the Judicial Commissioner, equivalent to the director of the Public Security Bureau. In this fictional setting, the role is at the prefecture or city level.

Min Leyi, Cream Frost's original master, got into a fight and stole a cat at his family banquet. Currently, he is responsible for solving the never-ending wave of trafficking cases in Xiangping Prefecture.