Chapter 40 Dust Settled

Chapter 40: The Dust Settles

Fang Jinrong perked up his ears and listened for a second, then started crying out of nowhere. "Then what do you want me to do? I know the county magistrate is someone our Fang family can't afford to offend, but that lecher, the first time he saw me, he tried to get handsy. My grandpa just laughed and said I was being a brat and didn't know what was good for me. He stayed at our house for a month, and he messed around with every halfway decent-looking maid and page in the house. If Fang Yun wasn't my personal page boy, he would have been dragged onto the bed long ago. Marrying a creep like that? I'd rather be dead!"

He sobbed his heart out, and his still babyish face showed a real flash of desperation.

Meng Wan couldn't help but be moved. After wrestling with it for a second, he suddenly said, "If you're not scared of dying, are you scared of a bad reputation?"

"Reputation?"

Since First Master Fang couldn't bring himself to fake his own death, he might as well give him a push.

The Fang family's young master had gone missing. The Fang family didn't dare search for him out in the open, but most of the household staff had been dispatched. First Master Fang was pacing around the house, all worked up, and indeed, a servant did find Fang Jinrong out on the street.

At the time, him being a young master, he was in tattered clothes, his ragged garments marked with scorch marks and footprints, his face so caked with mud you could only see his nose and eyes. The servant recognized him only by his voice.

As he was leading the young master out of the crowd of people pointing and staring, the servant, trying to score points, yelled out before they even got to the gate that the young master had been found.

At this, the townsfolk who'd been keeping an eye on things immediately put two and two together: the Fang family's young master had been lost and was being searched for secretly.

"Oh my god, that young master's clothes are so ripped you can't even wear 'em."

"You're telling me he's only been gone a day? How'd his clothes get so wrecked?"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"

"I'm telling you, looks like someone tore 'em off him."

"Ah? Really?"

"I'm telling you, I saw the young master coming out of the Lü house at noon, with my own eyes. There were plenty of people around then, and many others saw it too."

"The Lü father and son are both out working, right? They're not home during the day."

"You idiot, they've been renting out their two side rooms to strangers for years, haven't they?"

"You mean...?"

Outside the Fang family's ancestral hall, Fang Jinrong had been cleaned up, his face washed, and he was wearing fresh clothes.

"Acting like this—you've disgraced the Fang family!"

A rich-looking old man in his sixties pointed angrily at Fang Jinrong, who was kneeling outside the ancestral hall.

Fang Jinrong's dad stepped forward to plead, "Dad, making Jinrong kneel outside the hall doesn't look right. Maybe let him go inside."

Lord Fang shoved his eldest son's hand away, furious. "He's stubborn and reckless, ruining the Fang family's name—and it's all because you've spoiled him rotten!"

First Master Fang, getting chewed out by his old man in public, gritted his teeth but didn't back down. "Dad, it's about Rong'er's reputation, so..."

Then something clicked, and he shut up. Yeah, if his son lost his reputation, so be it. He wasn't one of those stubborn villagers. If no decent family would take him, couldn't the Fang family's money find some poor guy to be a live-in son-in-law?

Losing his reputation was a good thing—it meant he wouldn't have to leave his side, and the county magistrate, out of face, would surely not insist on marrying him!

Perfect! Perfect!

"Oh, Lord Fang is here scolding his grandson—quite the show." A mocking voice snapped First Master Fang out of his daydream.

The guy showed up with four or five lackeys, acting like some big-shot official's son—small eyes, a hooked nose, and a smirk that said he was up to no good.

He was wearing a fancy brocade robe with a jade pendant and like seven or eight pouches hanging off his belt, looking totally tacky, like some new-money clown wearing dog-skin pants.

But Lord Fang ate it up, his not-too-old face creasing into a mass of wrinkles. "Good nephew, don't listen to those rumors. My Rong Geer is the most well-behaved..."

"Dad, at this point, there's no point hiding it from Second Master Zhao."

First Master Fang dug his nails into his palm and forced the words out through clenched teeth. "Rong'er has indeed lost his virtue."

The sons standing nearby stared at their dad in shock. The ones who caught on quick figured out what was going on and, recalling the news from their servants, whispered a few words to First Master Fang.

"A corpse fisherman?"

First Master Fang took a deep breath, ignoring his father's angry glare, and pressed on. "Rong'er had intimate relations with a wandering corpse fisherman."

Second Master Zhao's small eyes showed a hint of venom. "How dare some lowlife scum! Why hasn't the Fang family sent someone to grab him?"

First Master Fang again cut off his father's words. "My son just sent someone to look, but he's already gone. He has no parents, only a master who took him in as a child, and now both have vanished."

The young man who had passed the message to First Master Fang bowed and followed his lead. "Sure, Rong'er was young and got tricked by a scoundrel, but now... well, he's not good enough for Second Master."

"Fine." Second Master Zhao paced, looking them over, then fixed his gaze on Fang Jinrong's fair, delicate face, suddenly breaking into a smile.

"Since he's lost his virtue, he's indeed unfit for the position of my Zhao family's legitimate husband. But as a concubine, I don't mind. That saves trouble. In a few days, when I return to the county seat, I'll take him along. Lord Fang, you have no objections, do you?"

"What!" First Master Fang was furious, never expecting Second Master Zhao to be so shameless.

Even more unexpected was that Lord Fang, after a change of expression, actually agreed!

Fang Jinrong's tears fell to the ground one by one. Suddenly, he stood up and charged at the ancestral hall's pillar. Fortunately, his brothers were watching him closely and managed to stop him.

Second Master Zhao sneered at the scene, stepping forward to lift Fang Jinrong's chin with his finger, taking in his tear-streaked face.

"Little beauty, remember this look. Disdain me? Once you enter the Zhao household, I'll show you what it means to wish for death but find none."

Only then did Fang Jinrong truly feel fear—not disgust, but terror. From the moment he learned his grandfather intended to marry him into the Zhao family, he had been rebelling, and now he realized Second Master Zhao knew all along.

It seemed that even if he entered as a legitimate husband, life would be miserable, let alone now that Zhao wanted him as a concubine.

Meng Wan paced back and forth at home, while the Lü women chatted by the well—or rather, Lü Shi did the talking, while Huiniang listened in silence.

"Even a landlord's son, so lacking in decency, sneaking out at night for a tryst."

"Never thought that Ge boy had such skill, seducing a rich family's son."

"He even gave up half a year's rent and ran off with Old Ge." Lü Shi, having gained an advantage, still badmouthed them behind their backs.

The Ge master and apprentice were innocent victims in this, but the matter couldn't be hidden. The town was small. Last night, Lü Shi hadn't pieced it together, but hearing the news this morning, she immediately understood the commotion from the east wing.

Even if the Fang family couldn't retaliate now, they would in the future. And even if Ge Quan and the young master were innocent, the fact of their intimacy still harmed Fang Jinrong's reputation.

So before Fang Jinrong returned home, Meng Wan had honestly explained the stakes to him and Ge Quan.

Ge Quan, a wanderer seasoned in the world, caught on instantly. He was more decisive than Meng Wan had anticipated, packing up and leaving with his master immediately.

Listening to Lü Shi's chatter now, Meng Wan grew restless, fearing his plan might backfire and the young master might come to harm.

Days passed with no word from the Fang family. Fang Yun never came to the shop for fried dough again. Instead, Aunt Chang was surprised to see Chang Jinhua selling fried dough.

"Is this shop yours?" Aunt Chang asked incredulously.

Chang Jinhua greeted coldly, "Hey, sis-in-law."

The two families had nearly fallen out years ago and hadn't interacted for two years; their expressions were complicated upon meeting again.

The aunt-in-law had miscalculated, never expecting that her widowed sister-in-law could afford to open a shop in town. Had she known, she would have left some leeway to maybe cash in on some favor, but now it was hard to ask.

Too proud to swallow her pride, she huffed off. The next day, she came back with her mother-in-law to find Chang Jinhua. This time, Meng Wan received her, and launched straight into a sob story about how they had just paid off the rent and that Song Tingzhou was about to leave for the prefectural city, asking the aunt-in-law to lend them some travel money, promising that Song Tingzhou would repay her once he passed the scholar exam.

The aunt-in-law's face turned green with fright, and she dragged the old lady away.

The grandma worried about their true circumstances and secretly came to see Chang Jinhua, only calming down after finding out the shop was profitable.

On the last day of February, Meng Wan was minding the shop as usual while Chang Jinhua cleaned the pots and pans. Sister Cui came to buy fried dough and chatted with Meng Wan, "That menace is finally leaving."

Meng Wan paused mid-ladle of tofu pudding, "You mean Second Master Zhao from the county town?"

"Who else?"

Sister Cui lowered her voice, dabbing her handkerchief, "This Second Master says he's taking the young master of the Fang family with him."

Meng Wan sighed, not too surprised, but still asked, "Taking him? What does that mean?"

Sister Cui had apparently gotten quite a bit of information out of Zhao's people. She said, "The Fang family had intended to marry their young master to Second Master Zhao as his husband, but then the young master got in trouble. Zhao said since a proper wedding was off the table, he'd take the young master as a concubine instead!"

After Sister Cui left, Meng Wan figured things had come to this, and there should be some movement in the coming days.

Jin Rong was now a dead piece. Lord Fang, scared of offending the Zhao family, would just hand him over as a concubine. Even if Zhao hadn't brought it up, staying home wouldn't have done him any good. Under these circumstances, First Master Fang had no choice but to let him fake his death.

Sure enough, the Fang household, calm during the day, erupted with funeral horn sounds in the dead of night. Quanshui Town wasn't big, and the sound echoed through the streets in the wee hours.

Logically, news like that should've been kept hush-hush. Even if the Fang household wasn't as strictly disciplined as a noble family, it was still weird that by the next day, people on the street were gossiping about the young master drowning himself in the river.

But Meng Wan heard all kinds of mixed rumors.

"The Fang family is mourning the young master. They say he died a violent death, not allowed in the family plot or to have a wake."

"No wonder there was no announcement; they just buried him today."

"I heard the young master actually ran off days ago, and the Fang family kept it quiet to save face."

"Yesterday, a fisherman pulled a body from the river, all bloated and unrecognizable. They only knew it was the young master from his clothes."

"Of course. First Master Fang doted on his youngest boy. They say both he and his wife cried their eyes out."

Horse hooves clattered on the street, and Second Master Zhao, face dark, led a bunch of yamen runners down the road.

Meng Wan stepped aside, knowing it was done. A weight lifted off his heart. He closed up the shop and went to help Chang Jinhua pack.

"The weather's warming up. Thick padded jackets might still be wearable for a few days, but they'd be inconvenient to carry on the road, wouldn't they?" Chang Jinhua sorted through several large bundles, chattering nervously. It was her first time traveling far, and she was uneasy.

Meng Wan put the pots and pans into the kitchen cabinet and replied, "It'll still be cold on the road. Better to wear one thick set and bring one thin one. I heard the exam hall doesn't allow padded jackets, only single-layer clothes. So let's buy some thick fabric for cousin and make a thin outfit."

"That sounds good. I'll go buy it now." Chang Jinhua moved to leave.

Meng Wan stopped her, "No need to rush. We still have time tomorrow."

But Chang Jinhua couldn't help being anxious, "We're taking Zhuzi's ox cart back to the village early tomorrow morning. I don't know when he'll arrive. Let's prepare everything today."

Meng Wan had to let her go out while he tidied up at home. Rice, flour, oil, grain, bedding—everything had to be moved back to the village. They had brought one iron pot and made another, both to be taken back. The remaining odds and ends were locked in the cabinet.

Song Tingzhou came back late to find the east room already spotless.

Meng Wan called to him, "You're back. Did you ask for leave from the teacher?"

Song Tingzhou put down his book box and replied, "I've already taken leave. Why didn't you wait for me to help pack?"

"There wasn't much to do. I finished it easily. I'll take out the food from the pot; you help me remove the pot." Meng Wan stood up and lifted the lid, revealing leftover tofu pudding and half a basin of dry rice.

The kang table was already set, and Meng Wan placed the dishes on it, "Let's eat simply today so nothing's left to clean up." Money was hard-earned, and the trip to the prefectural city would be costly; better to save.

As they spoke, Chang Jinhua came in carrying two bolts of coarse cloth. "Da Lang is back too. Let's eat."

Meng Wan took the cloth from her and told her to wash her hands, "Why did you buy so much?"

Both bolts were green, slightly lighter than blue, perfect for early spring. One was thick and tightly woven but rough to the touch; the other was softer and lighter.

"You didn't have thin clothes last year either, just wearing Da Lang's old ones. Since you're going out, you shouldn't look so shabby. I'll make one for you too."

Meng Wan worried she'd wear herself out, "You're making one for cousin and one for me. Can you finish in time?"

Chang Jinhua sat on the kang and smirked at him, "A big boy like you, still expecting me to sew for you? I'll cut the fabric, and you stitch it yourself, thread by thread."

Meng Wan looked ready to cry, "You really want me to do it myself? Aren't you afraid I'll ruin your cloth?"

Chang Jinhua hardened her heart, "Ruin it if you must. You have to learn sooner or later!"