Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Laizhou Prefectural School.

Today was the monthly day off. Early in the morning, Liang An was already waiting outside the school with a carriage for the three young masters.

Seeing them emerge with their book bags, he quickly waved, "Young masters, over here!"

Chen Qinghuai and Chen Qingsong happily ran over, while Chen Qingyan approached step by step, his expression grave.

Ever since learning about the flood at home, he had been constantly worried. To spare his younger brothers the same anxiety, he hadn’t told them about it.

Once in the carriage, the two younger brothers chattered away about what they would eat upon their return.

"Finally, no more fish! I’ve eaten so much fish lately I feel sick."

Chen Qinghuai nodded vigorously, "Let’s have beggar’s chicken tonight! I know a place that makes it exceptionally well!"

Liang An said, "Young Master Huai, are you referring to Fourth Auntie’s beggar’s chicken?"

"Yes, yes! Uncle An, will you take us there?"

"No need. The master has already bought some for you. You can eat it as soon as you get home."

Chen Qinghuai and Chen Qingsong clapped delightedly, wishing they could fly home immediately to taste it.

Only Chen Qingyan remained somber, gazing out the window, lost in thought.

Noticing this, Chen Qingsong moved closer and whispered, "Big brother, is something on your mind?"

"Huh? No, nothing. What were you saying earlier?"

"The master bought us beggar’s chicken."

"Oh." Chen Qingyan forced a smile. "Then we must give it a proper try when we get back."

After fifteen minutes, the carriage arrived at the Liang family home. As they disembarked, they noticed another carriage parked outside, indicating that the family had visitors.

Entering the courtyard, they saw Liang Boqing conversing with someone. The conversation seemed to be wrapping up, and the guest stood up, cupped his hands in salute, and departed.

Liang Boqing waved the three inside. "You're back."

"Greetings, Master."

"Go bathe and change first. Later, I’ll test you on your studies these past few days at the prefectural school."

"Yes." The three bowed respectfully and withdrew.

At the doorway, Liang Boqing suddenly called out, "Qing Yan, wait a moment. I need to speak with you."

Chen Qingyan turned back. Liang Boqing’s expression turned serious. "Come sit. I have something to tell you. Try to remain calm."

Chen Qingyan had already guessed what was coming. He took a deep breath and said, "Please go ahead, Master."

"An urgent letter arrived from Jizhou. It reported that continuous heavy rains recently caused the Yellow River to breach its banks. Thirteen counties in Jizhou were severely affected, including Longquan County..."

Although Chen Qingyan had already heard the news, hearing it from his master still sent a shock through him. His eyes reddened involuntarily.

The Yellow River breached... then home must have been washed away, leaving nothing behind...

"Don’t panic yet. I’ve written to an old friend in Jizhou. Deputy Prefect Wang has men under him. I hope they can go and check. If everyone is safe, they’ll be brought to Jizhou for shelter. If... if..."

Liang Boqing couldn’t continue. He turned away, covering his eyes with his sleeve.

How could such a thing happen?

Heaven is blind!

Wang Ying is such a good child, and little Yuanbao, such a clever darling—I haven’t even had my fill of him yet...

After all this time together, Liang Boqing had come to regard them as family. The old man grew more distressed the more he thought about it and couldn’t hold back his tears.

Chen Qingyan hurriedly comforted him, "Master, don’t grieve. I’m sure they’re fine back home."

"How could it be fine? The flood was so severe that the prefect of Jizhou was demoted. I heard the officials from the Water Management Bureau were drowned—otherwise, they’d have faced execution and extermination of their families!"

"This flood, though a natural disaster, is also human-caused. The Yellow River embankments haven’t been reinforced in four years. The funds allocated by the court were all embezzled by corrupt officials layer by layer—not a single coin was used to repair the dams!

It’s a pity the innocent people suffered because of it. I heard that in the nearest counties, nine out of ten households were lost..."

Chen Qingyan swallowed hard. "I understand. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go now."

"Aren’t you planning to go back and see?"

Chen Qingyan shook his head. "No. Going back now won’t change the outcome. I can only focus on my studies for now. Only after I pass the provincial examinations and become an official will I have the power to change any of this."

Liang Boqing hadn’t expected such a response. After a long pause, he sighed. "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a man, it first tests his resolve, toughens his spirit, and strains his muscles and bones... Go on, my boy..."

*

Now, back to the story.

After the gang that was banging on the door was scared off by Wang Ying, everyone remained vigilant. Uncle Chen and Dun Zi quickly found materials to reinforce the gate, fearing the gang might return.

That night, except for the children, no one dared to sleep.

By the next day, in the early hours before dawn, Dun Zi set off in the mule-drawn cart back to the estate.

He returned not only to have people collect the seed grain but also to bring back some help to guard the courtyard, lest they face another situation like the previous day.

After Dun Zi left, Uncle Chen promptly bolted the gate firmly again, keeping a watchful eye through the small side door window. Every time a passerby appeared, he broke into a nervous sweat.

It seemed Wang Ying’s show of force the night before had sufficiently intimidated the intruders, as no one dared to approach all morning.

Around noon, Aunt Chen began cooking as usual. But as soon as the meal was ready, the door-banging started up again.

Several voices shouted outside, "That’s the one! I can smell the millet!"

"Damn it! No wonder they refused to open up last night—they must be hiding grain! Break the door down and take it!"

Uncle Chen shook with fear, grabbing a nearby stick. "You scoundrels! This is the home of Prefect Chen Jing of Shanzhou! Dare to rob here, and you’ll lose your lives!"

There was a moment of silence outside, followed by raucous laughter. "What damn prefect? When you’re struggling to survive, who cares whose house it is? Break it down!"

Learning from yesterday, the gang didn’t use their bodies to ram the door. Instead, they found a thick log and several men rammed the door together.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The violent impacts struck fear into everyone’s hearts.

Wang Ying took Li Shi and Chen Rong by the hand. "Mother, you and Auntie take the little ones and Yuanbao to hide in the firewood shed at the back. If the front gate breaks, escape through the drain hole!"

"No, we can’t just leave you here, A Ying..."

Wang Ying leaned in and whispered a few words to Li Shi, who nodded anxiously after listening, then scooped up Yuanbao and hurried toward the back of the house with the others.

At the front, Uncle Chen was still struggling to hold the door shut. Wang Ying, gripping a kitchen knife, walked over nervously, his palms slick with sweat. He whispered to Uncle Chen, "If they break the door down, you run for it. Don’t worry about anything else."

"Young master, you..."

"Don’t worry about me. I have a way to hide."

Uncle Chen stamped his foot in frustration and sighed, "Ah!"

As the wooden door gradually splintered under the impact, with a loud "Bang!", a large hole was smashed through it.

Someone peered through the hole and happened to lock eyes with Wang Ying.

"Hey now, it’s a good-looking fellow! This one’s mine when we get in. The rest of you can take whatever else you want!"

The men outside shouted crude and lewd remarks, making Wang Ying’s expression grow increasingly grim. He could only hope to stall for time, praying that Dun Zi and the others would return soon.

Just as the door was about to collapse, the sound of a mule cart finally echoed from outside. Dun Zi cracking his whip and shouted, "Who's making trouble at the master’s door?"

Before the cart even came to a stop, seven or eight men jumped down from it, armed with clubs and shovels, and rushed the intruders!

The intruders, confident in their numbers, held their ground, eager for a fight.

But they had underestimated the strength of the farmhands. The flood had destroyed their homes and fields, leaving everyone seething with pent-up rage. Now, with a target to vent their frustrations on, they held nothing back.

In less than fifteen minutes, the intruders were beaten back in disarray, scattering in every direction.

Wang Ying called out to the men who were still chasing them, "That's enough! Fall back!"

Chen Dashun spat, rubbing his neck where he had caught a blow. Only now did he feel the pain. "Master, are you alright?"

"I’m fine. Why are there so few of you?"

"The others are coming. Dun Zi said there was trouble at your door, so a few of us came ahead on the cart. The others are slower and won't get here until afternoon."

Exhausted from a sleepless night and the strain of the situation, Wang Ying looked pale. With the danger over, he hurried to the backyard to fetch his mother-in-law and the others.

The others were no better off, especially Li Shi. Once a woman of means, she now wore drab, worn clothes, her hair tied up hastily with a cloth scarf, a far cry from her former elegance.

Seeing the men from the estate arrive, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Aunt Chen, go cook a pot of porridge."

"Yes."

An hour later, another group arrived—over ten men who came jogging up to the front gate before stopping.

Seeing the others repairing the gate, they lent a hand as well. Soon, both doors were securely reattached, sturdier than before.

"Da Shun, come here."

"Yes."

Wang Ying led him to the woodshed at the back, where eighteen bags of millet were neatly stacked.

Chen Dashun’s eyes widened. "This... this is..."

"This is the grain we stored earlier. Luckily, it wasn’t washed away. Take it back to the estate and distribute it to the villagers so they can plant it as soon as possible."

The flood wasn’t entirely without benefit—the silt it left behind was fertile, ensuring at least three years of good harvests for the estate’s fields.

Chen Dashun was too overcome to speak. He knelt and bowed deeply, touching his head to the ground three times to Wang Ying.

"Such an act of lifesaving kindness is beyond repayment. I pledge to serve you loyally for the rest of my life!"

"Get up. Once the porridge is ready, take the grain and head back. Leave seven or eight men here to help tidy up the courtyard."

"Yes!" Chen Dashun hurried off to round up some men to move the grain.

Tears welled in everyone’s eyes at the sight of the millet. This was their saving grace! With this grain, they could survive for months and not go hungry by autumn.

Working together, they loaded the grain onto the mule cart. Seventeen men had come from the estate. Seven, whose brothers could cover for them at home, stayed behind, while the others returned with the cart, planning to bring it back early the next morning.

Among the seven who stayed were some familiar to Wang Ying, including Tian Daniu, the young man who had volunteered to scout during their time in the mountains.

Tian Daniu was tall and with an honest face, with a smile that made his eyes disappear when he smiled. Since he had many brothers and both parents were still alive, he had volunteered to stay.

"Da Niu, take the others and clean up the side rooms. Find yourselves a place to rest and take turns keeping watch at night."

"Yes!"

Tian Daniu and the six other men set to work cleaning the courtyard, first shoveling away the mud from the main yard until the brick pavement was visible again.

The collapsed main rooms were beyond repair—the beams were made of thick elm wood, which was now impossible to find. They had no choice but to leave it as it was, hoping to find suitable lumber for rebuilding later.

The men tidied up the side rooms in the front courtyard, patched the roofs, and settled in.

To maintain propriety between men and women, Uncle Chen added an extra door separating the front and back courtyards, forbidding the men from entering the backyard.

The humble farmhands obeyed without question. They divided into two groups—one worked on cleaning the rooms and courtyard during the day, while the others took turns keeping watch at night to prevent any troublemakers from entering.

This routine continued until the fifth morning, when the gate was suddenly knocked on again.