Chapter 68 Reunion

Chapter 68: Reunion

The Li family got their things back, which was good news. Mrs. Tang had half of her silver stolen by a pickpocket, and she used the remaining money to rent a cart and return to her hometown with her child. Scholar Tang ended up losing both his money and his wife.

But this man was utterly shameless. Without money, he resorted to cheating by any means, and even had the audacity to show up at the Li family's door again, with all the neighbors witnessing it.

The Li family initially wanted to let the matter rest, but now it was better. They directly hired a scrivener who specialized in writing legal petitions and filed a lawsuit against him with the Commissioner of Education. They didn't sue him for anything else, just for his immoral conduct: abandoning his wife in the countryside, harboring ill intentions, and swindling respectable women and young men everywhere.

Li Yaqin, still injured, confronted him in person at the government office. Not only that, but several other families who had also been cheated, seeing the Li family's lawsuit, submitted their own complaints as well.

If only one family had accused Scholar Tang of misconduct, some might have gossiped, saying there's no smoke without fire. But when several families jointly sued, it became the talk of the town and caused a sensation.

Everyone cursed Scholar Tang, while those who had been cheated were mostly pitied and sympathized with.

The case had a huge impact and involved students from the prefectural school. After the prefect investigated and confirmed the truth of the accusations from the Li family and others, the Commissioner of Education not only revoked Scholar Tang's scholar title but also expelled him from the prefectural school.

The prefect also ruled in court that Scholar Tang must return the stolen property to the other families, and according to the law, he was taken to the Vegetable Market and given twenty strokes with a bamboo cane as a warning to others.

The jewelry the Li family had recovered was also taken out and returned to the families that had been cheated. Everyone found it unlucky and simply had it melted down at a shop.

Qin Niang's parents melted her jewelry, added more gold, and made bracelets for the daughters and sons of the eldest and second daughters-in-law.

Meng Wan returned from his house and had just entered the yard when he saw Chang Jinhua about to go out with a vegetable basket.

"Mother, don't we still have vegetables at home?" Meng Wan said with surprise.

"Haven't you been off your food lately? I heard from Aunt Zhou that drinking some mung bean soup can whet the appetite, so I'm going to the grain store to take a look."

Meng Wan casually remarked, "The grain store is so expensive. Isn't going to the market the same?"

Chang Jinhua disagreed, "How could it be the same? Although the grain store is a bit pricier, the quality is about the same, and it's cleaner inside. At the market, the goods from different vendors are inconsistent, full of sand and shriveled grains. You'd have to pick through them carefully. Don't worry about it. I'll buy some and make it."

Mung beans need to be soaked first and then boiled. Chang Jinhua was afraid she wouldn't have enough time, so she stopped talking to Meng Wan anymore and left with her basket.

Lu Chunfang was embroidering a handkerchief. The last time, the cloth shop owner gave them each a bundle of fabric remnants, and she hadn't used hers yet.

It had been hot lately. In the past, when she was in the countryside, she would wipe her sweat with her sleeve. Now that she saw everyone using handkerchiefs, she felt that her old habit was too sloppy, so she took the time to make a few handkerchiefs herself. She couldn't embroider, so she just simple-hemmed the fabric edges.

Meng Wan, seeing her doing needlework, thought that Song Tingzhou also didn't seem to have a handkerchief. So he also found a few pieces of cloth and said to Lu Chunfang, "Tomorrow, let's go find Qin Niang. She knows how to embroider. We can ask her to teach us to embroider some flowers or grass."

Otherwise, a bare piece of cloth would indeed be too plain. If Song Tingzhou took it out and said it was embroidered by his husband, that would be embarrassing.

Lu Chunfang agreed, "Qin Niang's handkerchiefs are really pretty. Not just hers, but I also saw Aunt Zhou's; hers had a bird embroidered on it, even more beautiful."

"Really? I didn't notice. These past few days, Qin Niang's family has had matters to attend to. It might indeed be better to go to Aunt Zhou's."

Meng Wan carefully cut the cloth into neat small squares, waiting to learn embroidery at the Zhou family tomorrow.

All the household chores were already done by Lu Chunfang and Chang Jinhua. After cutting the cloth, Meng Wan went back to writing his book. He ground the ink and raised his brush, but couldn't write a single stroke. The heat made him fidgety and unable to sit still. He simply grabbed a palm-leaf fan and went outside to cool off by the wall.

Lu Chunfang was doing her needlework nearby when she suddenly asked Meng Wan, "How is Qin Niang doing now?"

Meng Wan didn't stop fanning, "Her injuries have mostly healed. This incident taught her a lesson, and she's much more level-headed now."

But that wasn't what Lu Chunfang wanted to hear. She hesitated, then asked, "Wan Geer, do you think people really turn bad when they become successful?"

Meng Wan turned his head towards her, gently waving his fan, and said seriously, "People all have desires—it's only human nature. The difference is that some control their desires and restrain their behavior, while others, once they indulge without restraint, get trapped and bring ruin upon themselves."

Lu Chunfang seemed to understand but not fully, "My husband... he was good to me before. After he passed the scholar exam, he seemed to change."

Talking about her own affairs, Lu Chunfang initially couldn't bring herself to say anything. She had even been slow to think deeply about it at first.

Later, watching the Song family's daily life, she realized that couples should support each other and be sweet. Then, when she saw the play "Zhang Xie Zhuangyuan" at the pleasure quarters, a few words from Meng Wan awakened her. Her anger then was more like fear. Then the Li family next door had this incident.

Meng Wan's eyes were clear and sharp, revealing a shrewd intelligence, "Master Feng grew up with you, sister-in-law, so naturally there's a special bond. But a wife who shared hardship can't compete with the dazzling outside world.

Desire is blinding. Master Feng has now become a scholar. What if he someday passes the provincial exam and becomes a successful candidate? Going further, if he enters officialdom and becomes a high-ranking court official, what virtues does a wife from an official family have? When Master Feng sees the elegant manners and refined speech of noble ladies, wouldn't he be drawn to them?

Setting aside the girls from aristocratic families, even a gentle and lovely girl from a modest family, if taken as a concubine, would be seen as a romantic affair. How would you handle that, sister-in-law?"

Lu Chunfang turned pale, "A concubine?"

In the countryside, even marrying one wife is a big deal. Who's ever heard of taking a concubine?

Meng Wan only told her the worst-case scenario, "A concubine is still acceptable. I'm not trying to scare you, but if a young lady from an aristocratic family takes a liking to Master Feng, would she be willing to be a concubine? He's your husband. Do you think he'd choose you or that noble lady?"

Lu Chunfang pricked her finger with the needle, and the handkerchief fell to the ground. She wasn't a fool, just a bit slow. If such a day really came, the outcome was obvious.

She frantically picked up the handkerchief, "What if he... fails..."

Meng Wan didn't want to say more. He stood up, fanning himself, "Then you'd better pray that Master Feng doesn't pass!"

"Wan Geer, I..."

"Mother, you're back. Let me carry the basket for you."

Seeing Chang Jinhua return, Meng Wan took the basket from her hand. "Why's it so heavy? Is there more in there?"

Chang Jinhua shook her arms, "Fifteen catties of mung beans, a few eggplants, and some ribs. It's been hot, so I haven't cooked a proper meal for days. We've been eating cold noodles every day. Not to mention you're sick of them—even I've had enough. So I thought I'd make a big meal."

Meng Wan set the basket on the kitchen floor and took out the items one by one. At the bottom of the basket were a dozen or so small plums; though small, they were dark red and looked delicious.

Chang Jinhua took a small basin and put the plums in to wash, "Someone was selling plums from their tree. I thought they'd whet your appetite and quench your thirst, so I bought a few for you."

"You're always good to me, mother."

Meng Wan beamed, took a plum, and bit into it. The flesh was firm, sweet and sour, really delicious.

Chang Jinhua scooped some water from the vat and drank. It wasn't very cool, but it was refreshing enough. "Stop trying to butter me up. Go soak two or three catties of mung beans. We'll boil them on the stove later to make a cooling drink."

Lu Chunfang put down her needlework awkwardly, "Aunt Song, let me cook."

Chang Jinhua didn't stand on ceremony, "Chunfang, he's a picky eater. I'm afraid he might not like your cooking. How about you help me with the fire?"

"Okay." Lu Chunfang readily agreed.

"Sister-in-law Chunfang, I'll put your sewing basket in your room for you," Meng Wan said to Lu Chunfang, acting normally.

Lu Chunfang stammered, "Alright, thank you, Wan Geer."

Meng Wan took the basket and smiled, "You're welcome."

Meng Wan took the two baskets into the house. As he passed by, Chang Jinhua asked in confusion, "Why is your sister-in-law Chunfang being so polite today?"

Meng Wan put the baskets away and took out the steelyard. "She's always polite. She always volunteers to do chores when she comes over."

He found a wooden basin, weighed out two catties of mung beans with the steelyard, and soaked them in clean water.

"Mother, I'll make the cold eggplant. I've got it."

Chang Jinhua placed the pork ribs on the chopping board and finely chopped them into small pieces. "Alright, you handle it. I only know how to stew eggplant; I don't know how to make cold dishes."

Chang Jinhua stewed the ribs and placed a steamer basket on top. Meng Wan washed the eggplants and put them in to steam.

The yard was too small to grow vegetables easily, but they still had scallions and garlic. Meng Wan picked some cilantro and a few garlic leaves, planning to use them for the cold eggplant dish.

After a while, the eggplants were steamed. He took out the steamer basket and continued stewing the ribs over the fire.

Meng Wan set the eggplants in a bowl to cool, chopped the cilantro and garlic leaves into small pieces, added soy sauce and rice vinegar, and drizzled a couple drops of sesame oil.

The aroma of sesame oil was bold and assertive—Meng Wan loved it.

The sound of horse hooves gradually came from the entrance of the alley. At this hour, it should be Song Tingzhou returning.

Meng Wan poked his head out to greet him, but saw him leading the horse on foot, with Feng Jinzhang following behind.

"Scholar Feng?"

Feng Jinzhang forced a smile. "Greetings, Master Song's husband."

Meng Wan could tell he wasn't sincere – it seemed he really didn't want to come, and couldn't help smiling. "Scholar Feng is a rare guest."

Feng Jinzhang gave an awkward laugh. "Busy with studies, so I don't often have the chance to visit."

Meng Wan was about to throw a few more jabs at him when Song Tingzhou stepped between them, faced his spouse, and said flatly, "I'm hungry."

Meng Wan looked up at him, snorted and laughed, and said, "Got it. Go wash your hands quickly; dinner will be ready soon."

Then he leaned out from in front of Song Tingzhou and called out to Feng Jinzhang, "Scholar Feng, if you don't mind, stay for dinner with us."

His voice was loud enough that Lu Chunfang, who was tending the fire in the kitchen, heard it too.

"Who's here, Wan Geer?" She hurried out of the kitchen and was overjoyed to see that it really was Feng Jinzhang. "Husband, it's really you! Why are you here?"

Feng Jinzhang's expression was complex. "Chunfang, you look paler and a bit heavier."

Lu Chunfang pulled out a new handkerchief from her bosom and wiped the dust and sweat from her face. "The Song family has treated me very well, and the food here is good, so of course I've gained weight."

Meng Wan said from the side, "Sister-in-law Chunfang, why don't you take Scholar Feng to the side room to talk? We'll call you when it's time to eat."

The two of them went into the side room to talk, while Song Tingzhou took Meng Wan's hand and led him inside. "You didn't tell her?"

Meng Wan put the seasoned eggplant into a dish. "It's only one day away anyway. Telling her or not doesn't make much difference. I might as well give her a surprise?" He hoped it would be a pleasant one.

Song Tingzhou put down his book box, and Meng Wan handed him two plums. "Mother bought them. Try them."

Song Tingzhou took one and bit into it. "Not bad. You like this fruit; we should buy more tomorrow."

"Mm, I'll go take a look another day." It was hot, and the market was crowded and noisy, so he hadn't gone in days.

Song Tingzhou noticed his lack of enthusiasm and that he hadn't been eating well. A sudden thought struck him. He reached out and touched Meng Wan's face, rubbing the bright red pregnancy mole by his eye.

"Wan'er, why don't we go to Tongshan Hall and see a doctor?"

Thinking of a certain possibility, his heart raced.

But Meng Wan immediately poured cold water on him. "Stop daydreaming. Mother already dragged me to the doctor a few days ago. It's just that the summer heat is killing my appetite."

"Oh." Song Tingzhou fell silent.

Chang Jinhua was in the east room, and there was still a partially bedridden person lying in the west room. Meng Wan pulled Song Tingzhou under the tree in the yard and whispered some private words to him. "Besides, I asked the doctor on the sly. He said I'm too young – having a baby too early is bad for my health. I should wait until I'm at least twenty."

Song Tingzhou didn't understand such private matters and was stunned by what he heard. "So I can't be intimate with you after this?"

Meng Wan was a little embarrassed too. "That's not it... ahem, as long as you don't... finish inside, it's fine."

Seeing that Song Tingzhou still didn't get it, Meng Wan stood on tiptoe and whispered something in his ear.

They were standing intimately, and Lu Chunfang and Feng Jinzhang, who had just come out of the side room, saw it clearly.

Lu Chunfang's already gloomy mood grew darker. Feng Jinzhang had never been that way with her.

"Husband, I still have to eat and drink while I'm here. I'll give you half of my wages."

Feng Jinzhang's expression soured. "What good is such a little bit of money? You don't have to pay for food or lodging here. What's the point of keeping money?"

Lu Chunfang argued with him. "But before you entered the school, you already took fifteen taels of silver from our family. I asked Mr. Song, and you, as a Linsheng, don't have to pay tuition. Room and board at the prefectural school together is enough for seven or eight taels a year. And if you do well on the monthly exams, you get prize money. Mr. Song brought back three taels at the beginning of the month."

Feng Jinzhang seemed stung by her words, his voice rising. "Ignorant woman! That prize money isn't easy to get! In the prefectural school, I need money for brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and socializing with classmates—everything costs silver!"

Hearing this, Meng Wan tugged at Song Tingzhou's finger and whispered, "Do you have enough money? If you have like-minded friends, you need to maintain those relationships too."

Other students would gather with classmates after school, but Song Tingzhou always came straight home.

"More than enough." Song Tingzhou held his hand back and led him away from the Feng couple.

The ribs were done stewing. Chang Jinhua brought out the food. "Oh, Master Feng is here! What a rare guest. Please, sit down and join us." She didn't think much of Feng Jinzhang either. Though she invited him, there was little sincerity in it.

Feng Jinzhang clasped his hands. "Thank you for the invitation, Aunt Song. But I've already arranged to have a drink with a classmate, so I can't stay long."

Then he frowned and snapped at Lu Chunfang, "Chunfang!"

Being scolded in front of the Song family, Lu Chunfang's face flushed red. She simply went into the house and brought him the money.

The three members of the Song family busied themselves with serving dishes and rice, pretending not to notice the couple's quarrel. They had already said all they could; saying more would make them meddlers.

Feng Jinzhang took the money and left. Lu Chunfang sat down stiffly. Meng Wan handed her a bowl of rice. She picked up the bowl and suddenly started crying.

Meng Wan took half a bowl of rice for himself and sat down to eat. Chang Jinhua didn't know how to comfort her. Though the table was full of good food, Lu Chunfang ate without tasting anything.

If none of this had happened recently, if Meng Wan hadn't said those words, she might have welcomed Feng Jinzhang's arrival joyfully, working like a mule to support his studies without complaint. But now, she had started comparing herself to others, had her own private thoughts, and wanted to save some money for herself.