Chapter 99: Qingxiang Village 2

Chapter 99: Clearing the Village 2

"How much did this cost? Such a waste," said Mother Lin, though her eyes betrayed her fondness for the fine fabrics.

"I also brought gifts for my brother and sister-in-law."

Old Man Lin was pleased with the tobacco, and seeing his son dressed in such luxurious clothes, he knew that Lin Geer was living well with Zheng Shancheng.

Mother Lin made tea for Lin Geer and asked him to sit down. "Weren't you with Shancheng in Xinfeng County? Why did you come back to see us?"

"Shan Ci is going to the capital for an official position, and my husband and I are going with him," Lin Geer said with a beaming smile. "Mom, the doctor in Xinfeng County said my husband's leg can be healed. We had to rebreak the bone this summer, and now it needs time to heal."

Mother Lin: "So my son-in-law's leg will heal? That's wonderful, truly wonderful. My son has finally come through his hardships."

Old Man Lin: "You're all going to the capital? Your brother-in-law is quite impressive. People used to say he looked down on villagers, but it seems that's not the case. You and Shancheng should live happily together and find a livelihood in the capital."

Lin Geer smiled and said, "I managed a shop in Xinfeng County. Shan Ci said that when we get to the capital, he'll open a shop for me to manage. Dad, you don't need to worry about me."

Lin Dalang hurried back from the fields, along with his wife. Lin Geer had also bought fabric for them. "I wasn't sure of your sizes, so I just bought the fabric. Elder Sister-in-law, you're good at making clothes."

"This is too generous," said Elder Sister-in-law, her face lighting up with a smile. "You shouldn't spend money right after coming back."

"Are you going back to the Zheng family today?" Mother Lin planned to prepare a good meal for Lin Geer.

"No, I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll stay here tonight and have dinner with all of you. Today, I came back to fetch Shancheng's father and Old Man He to go to the capital with us." Lin Geer nestled in Mother Lin's arms.

Elder Sister-in-law, who had previously been resentful towards Lin Geer, now felt nothing but warmth upon seeing all the good things he had brought back. She took the items Lin Geer had brought and put them away, noticing the expensive medicinal herbs, pastries, and tea from the town. It was evident that Lin Geer was thriving with the Zheng family. Who would have thought he would fare so well?

That evening, the family shared a harmonious dinner. Lin Erlang was away, traveling far and wide, so only Lin Dalang was at home.

"Mom, here's a red envelope for you. Take it and see," Lin Geer handed a red envelope to Mother Lin. He also gave one to his elder brother, which he had prepared in advance.

"And here's one for Second Brother. When he returns, you can give it to him."

Mother Lin went back to her room and opened the red envelope to find a total of fifty taels of silver.

"This child, giving so generously. It's not easy for him to earn money outside," Mother Lin wiped her tears.

Old Man Lin, however, glanced at it and accepted it without a word. "He's living well with the Zheng family. It's only right that he remembers his family now. Otherwise, raising him would have been in vain."

"I never agreed with Lin Geer marrying Zheng Shancheng in the first place. Shancheng was a cripple with no savings. What could Lin Geer do after marrying him? When Shancheng gets old, Lin Geer would have to support him. What kind of man needs to marry a husband to take care of him?"

Mother Lin: "Shancheng's leg was broken because of Lin Geer."

"That young master took a liking to Lin Geer. Even if he became a concubine, it wouldn't have been Shancheng's business. He meddled unnecessarily. Besides, after they got married, didn't we help them every time during the harvest?"

Mother Lin: "Stop saying such things. Every time the couple came back, didn't they bring things for the family? Why must you speak like this? Is marrying someone in town as a concubine something to be proud of?"

Old Man Lin didn't want to argue. "Anyway, it's all good now. Shan Ci has made something of himself, and Shancheng and Lin Geer are living well. From now on, Lin Geer just needs to live steadily with them."

Old Man Lin had never said these words in front of Lin Geer, only venting to Mother Lin. Deep down, he cared for Lin Geer but had always thought that marrying a cripple like Shancheng wasn't a good match, especially when a young master from town had taken an interest in him, which could have led to a better life.

Now, it seemed that marrying Shancheng was the right choice.

"You're just a snob," said Mother Lin.

At the Zheng household, after Lin Geer left, Lizheng He came over. He hurriedly paid his respects to Zheng Shanci, who helped Old Man He up. "Lizheng, there's no need to be so formal."

"This isn't necessary; things should be as they are," Old Man He said respectfully, chatting with Zheng Shanci for a while and learning that he was going to the capital to take up his post, which shocked him and further increased his awe.

"Lord Zheng passed the Jinshi exam but hasn't thrown a banquet yet. Would Lord Zheng like to hold one today?"

Zheng Shanci agreed, saying that since he was here, he should follow local customs.

Old Man He went to arrange it, and Mr. Zheng found a few women and their husbands who were good at cooking to help in the kitchen. They chatted while they worked.

"Your son, Shan Ci, is going to the capital to take up an official post, and you will also go to the capital to enjoy a good life. How wonderful. I have never even been to the county town in my life, and you are already going to the capital. It really is important to raise a successful child."

Mr. Zheng was steaming rice and replied, "It's all Shan Ci's own efforts. We couldn't offer him much help. He worked hard himself, and we are just following him to enjoy the good life."

Several of the Zheng family's relatives also arrived. Yu Lanyi saw that the courtyard was full of people, with no place to stand. The villagers weren't picky; some had just come from the fields, their feet still muddy and their bodies smelling of sweat. The noise was deafening, and Yu Lanyi held his breath, unable to stand it.

Although Zheng Shanci was talking to others, he kept glancing at Yu Lanyi out of the corner of his eye. Seeing his discomfort, he became worried.

"Let's pause here for now; I have other matters to attend to," Zheng Shanci said, walking over to Yu Lanyi and whispering to him, then escorting him back to the house through the crowd.

"Go back to the house and rest; no need to entertain these relatives."

Zheng Shanci's room was spotless, with freshly made beds. Yu Lanyi sat down on the soft bed.

"Is this really all right?" Yu Lanyi asked hesitantly, though he was delighted inside.

"It's fine, I'm here," Zheng Shanci smiled at Yu Lanyi's words, "You rest well."

In the countryside, banquets were held in the courtyard, with people packed shoulder to shoulder. Zheng Qingyin had the villagers set up the benches neatly and also set up tables outside the courtyard, borrowing the Miao family's courtyard to set up a few more tables, making the seating more spacious.

"Qing Yin, after following Shan Ci to Xin Feng County, has become more organized," someone praised Zheng Qingyin.

"That's right, Qing Yin used to be a timid young man, but now he has become more confident."

...

He Tian spotted Zheng Qingyin in the crowd and couldn't look away. Wherever Zheng Qingyin went, He Tian watched. Seeing Zheng Qingyin go inside, He Tian looked around and, not seeing Old Man He, hurriedly followed behind Zheng Qingyin.

Zheng Qingyin went inside to fetch some candies to hand out to the village kids. He Tian moved silently, and when Zheng Qingyin turned with the candies, he was startled by He Tian's stare.

His eyes instinctively dodged, but then he thought of something and forcibly suppressed his fear, "He Tian, what are you doing here? We're hosting a banquet, not inviting you to roam around my house."

He Tian saw that Zheng Qingyin was wearing fine clothes, better than what he had seen the wealthy students wear in town. With an official brother like Zheng Shanci, Zheng Qingyin had also grown wealthy. His bearing and appearance had improved even more. He heard that Zheng Shanci was going to the capital to become an official, and they were only staying here for one night before leaving.

He Tian thought that if he could claim Zheng Qingyin, the Zheng family would have no choice but to accept it.

"It seems going to Xin Feng County has made you braver, daring to talk to me like this. A fancy outfit can't mask your poor origins. You are plain-looking, only relying on Zheng Shanci being an official for others to treat you so well. Without Zheng Shanci, you're nothing; no one cares for you..." He Tian pressed closer step by step.

Zheng Qingyin's face turned pale, "If you keep saying such things, I'll tell my second brother, and you can repeat it to him."

He Tian's face turned green and white upon hearing this. He still feared Zheng Shanci, but the prospect of wealth and glory emboldened him.

"If you dare, call someone, and I'll claim you seduced me. How many times do I have to say it? Only I truly care for you, only I can keep you safe. Why are you so stubborn? What other man would treat you so well, love you so much? Qing Yin, let's be together, okay?" He Tian pleaded earnestly.

Zheng Qingyin shook his head, "You don't care for me. If you cared for me, you wouldn't say such things. You only care for yourself."

He Tian: "Zheng Qingyin..."

Yu Lanyi opened the door, wanting to call Zheng Shanci to get him some snacks, but thinking how busy Zheng Shanci was, he decided to get them himself. He had seen Mr. Zheng take pastries out of the cabinet earlier.

Before he reached the cabinet, he heard Qing Yin talking to a man. Yu Lanyi tiptoed and eavesdropped through the door crack, growing angrier by the second.

"You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty!" He Tian wanted to force himself on Zheng Qingyin.

Zheng Qingyin's face turned pale, and she took a hairpin from her hair, ready to shout for help. Yu Lanyi kicked the door open with a resounding crash, swiftly stepping on He Tian's face with lightning speed, "You're hideous and don't even talk like a decent person."

"Second brother-in-law!"

Yu Lanyi rolled up his sleeves, ready for action, signaling Zheng Qingyin to step aside, and focused on hitting He Tian's face. He Tian screamed in agony, his face disfigured and his nose broken.

The screams from inside the room reached the outside, and the chatter among the crowd quieted down a bit.

"That sounds like He Tian's voice? How did he get into the Zheng family's house?"

"It does sound like the He family's boy."

Old Man He's expression changed, and sweat instantly covered his forehead as he hurried into the house. Zheng Shanci, arriving a moment later, remembering Yu Lanyi was still inside, followed, and the villagers went in to see the commotion.

"This is unacceptable, this is unacceptable!" Old Man He shouted, seeing his son's face swollen like a pig's head.

Zheng Shanci saw Yu Lanyi beating up a stranger and said, "Lan Yi, stop hitting him. What's going on?"

Yu Lanyi wasn't an irrational person, and Zheng Shanci believed there must be a reason for such a beating.

Old Man He cried out in distress, seeing his son almost unconscious, "Quick, fetch a doctor!"

The villagers hurried to fetch a doctor.

Unexpectedly, attending the Zheng family's feast led to such an incident, and the villagers began to gossip. Zheng Shanci narrowed his eyes, his voice calm but cold, "Fellow villagers, can we have some silence?"

His words, though polite, carried a chilling undertone, and no one dared to speak.

Zheng Qingyin, relieved at He Tian's condition, explained the whole incident to Zheng Shanci and the villagers, "Second brother-in-law did it all for me."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Zheng Shanci said with a faint smile, "We can't continue the feast today. Let's report this to the authorities."

Old Man He, mustering his courage, said, "Lord Zheng, my son is already beaten up like this, let's not report it to the authorities."

Zheng Shanci shook his head, "Forcing oneself on a woman is against the laws of the Great Yan Dynasty. I'm not the official here, so I can't decide, it must be handed over to the authorities."

Old Man He, suppressing his anger, said, "Lord Zheng, let's settle this privately."

"Settle privately? That's out of the question."

Zheng Shanci led Yu Lanyi to wash his hands, cleaning off the blood, scrubbing with soap, and washing again.

He was seething with rage, but he kept it in check.

"Zheng Shanci, let's deal with this matter first," Yu Lanyi said, also furious upon hearing Zheng Qingyin's account.

"I'll go with you to the authorities."

This required the county court, above the village level, to adjudicate, as only the county court had the authority.

The villagers packed up the feast, not daring to stay at the Zheng family's house. Upon learning of the incident, Mr. Zheng and Lord Zheng cried, holding Zheng Qingyin, "You foolish child, why didn't you tell your father, suffering so much for no reason. Qingyin, you're too naive, what if He Tian had succeeded this time?"

"I thought He Tian was a decent person, if I had known he was such a scoundrel, I would have taken a hoe and killed him!" Mr. Zheng's eyes were red.

The young boy at home, once lively, had become increasingly silent and timid, all because of He Tian's misdeeds.

Zheng Shanci didn't dare to leave them in the village anymore. When Lin Geer returned from her parents' home, they left for the town overnight. After all, in Qingxiang Village, they were outnumbered, and Lizheng He's stance was unknown; it was safer in the town.

They rested in the town for a night and rushed to the county town overnight to report He Tian's matter to the county magistrate. When the magistrate heard that Zheng Shanci was heading to the capital to assume his new position, he quickly assured him that the matter would be handled properly.

In ancient times, there were three punishments for the crime of rape: flogging, caning, and hanging. Since He Tian's actions did not result in actual harm being done, it was likely that the first two punishments would be applied.

Zheng Shanci cupped his hands and said, "The magistrate should handle the case impartially."

He and Yu Lanyi left the county office. Zheng Shancheng also learned about the incident from his family and was filled with regret. He was filled with self-reproach for failing to notice Zheng Qingyin's distress, which allowed that beast He Tian to utter such words to her.

"That despicable beast!"

Lin Geer said, "Don't be angry. Shanci and the others have already reported it to the authorities, and He Tian will face the consequences. However, since Lizheng He is still the village head, I'm worried they might hold a grudge and take it out on our family members."

"Lizheng He wouldn't dare. They also have relatives, and doing so would mean severing all ties with us."