Chapter 21

Chapter 21

That night, Zhong Yizhu stayed in the old Zhong family home. He was worried about Sun Yunniang, but taking her back to the Pei residence at such a time would only hand the Zhong siblings a weapon against him.

After the day's confrontation, Zhong Youtong stopped causing trouble, and another room was prepared for him, though she looked at him with nothing but disdain. Zhong Yizhu pretended not to notice.

Even dinner was eaten separately—the Zhong siblings had food bought from a tavern in town by their servants, while Zhong Yizhu ate his mother's cooking. But no matter how fragrant her dishes were, he could barely taste them.

That night, Zhong Yizhu returned to his room. As before, he curled up in a corner, staring blankly at the sliver of light filtering through the crack in the window in the darkness.

He couldn't understand. Zhong Youtong already had everything—why wasn't she satisfied? Her family had done such things to him, twisted everything into a different story, and used it to drive him out to Liushan Village. Yet she hated him this much?

From the moment he was sent away, he knew these people were never his family, had never treated him as one.

Back then, he had been drowning in grief over his father's death, too drained even for hatred. Later, when he and his mother came to Liushan Village, every step was hard, but they slowly began a new life, and he rarely thought about the prefectural city anymore.

But now, they still weren't satisfied.

Suppressed hatred spread like wildfire.

Zhong Yizhu had been avoiding these dark thoughts. In his most bitter moments, he had even imagined burning down the Zhong mansion—after all, it was his father who had built everything, so why should they enjoy it for free?

But reason always pulled him back. If he did that, what would happen to his mother?

He closed his eyes. He still had his mother. No matter what, he had to protect her and get through the days ahead.

And there was Pei Mu. Pei Mu had helped him; he couldn't drag him into this mess.

Thinking of Pei Mu, Zhong Yizhu's heart tightened again. The deep mountains were full of danger, unpredictable. He didn't know if Pei Mu was doing well or when he would return.

A sleepless night.

When Zhong Yizhu got up in the morning, the Zhong family servants were hitching the horses to the carriage. Since they were back, the Zhong siblings naturally had to visit their maternal relatives in the neighboring village by the river to show their filial piety.

What Zhong Yizhu didn't know was that the Wu family had returned the fields not just because they had gotten other benefits from the prefectural city, but also because one of their idle grandchildren had once stolen game from Pei Mu's traps and was thoroughly beaten. The Wu family, large as they were, had gathered a group to teach Pei Mu a lesson, only to be routed and left crying for mercy. Too ashamed to speak of it, they swallowed the loss.

After learning that Zhong Yizhu had married Pei Mu, the Wu family quickly gave up any thought of causing trouble. Besides, they had gotten things worth more than those thirty acres from Zhong Laosan, their son-in-law. No need to take risks.

The Wu family had prospered thanks to their connection with the Zhong family, and they all knew it. They fawned over the Zhong siblings endlessly.

Zhong Yourong was escorted by Old Man Wu, Old Woman Wu, their sons and grandsons. Several young wives and unmarried daughters kept Zhong Youtong company, everyone eyeing her fine jewelry and silk clothes with envy, showering her with compliments.

Zhong Youtong usually loved such flattery, but today she was too agitated to enjoy it. The praise felt like noise.

On the carriage back to Liushan Village after the meal, Zhong Youtong popped a fragrant pill into her mouth and sneered, "How wretched. They fought over giving me a plate of chicken, as if I've never had good food. Not a single decent dish at that table—just bleeding money from our parents."

Zhong Yourong, his mouth still tasteless, reassured her, "What good dishes can you expect in a village? We only come once every few years. Bear with it; when we get back to the city, I'll take you to Haixiang Tower for your favorites."

Hearing this, Zhong Youtong smiled sweetly. "You're the best, big brother."

Then she remembered her humiliation at Zhong Yizhu's hands yesterday. They were leaving tomorrow; if she didn't teach him a lesson before they went, she'd never swallow that anger.

She looked at Zhong Yourong, her tone coaxing. "Big brother, can you think of a way to teach Zhong Yizhu a lesson? I'm so upset I can't sleep or eat. It's killing me."

Zhong Yourong had broken up the fight yesterday only out of convenience; he didn't really think much of Zhong Yizhu as a mere boy. Flattered by his sister's soft plea, he said casually:

"Isn't that simple? When we get back, we'll tell Grandmother that Zhong Yizhu is already married, so Second Aunt has no reason to stay here. We'll have her brought back. Then he'll have no one in the village, and if that hunter kills him, no one will care. Satisfied?"

Zhong Youtong's eyes lit up. She sat up excitedly. "You're so smart, big brother." She knew Zhong Yizhu cared deeply about Sun Yunniang—this would be the perfect way to make him suffer. But there was one thing...

"But if we bring Second Aunt back, we'll have to support her. That's letting her freeload."

Zhong Youtong frowned reluctantly.

Zhong Yourong said, "Are you stupid? We bring her back for a while, then say she's too grief-stricken over Second Uncle and wants to live in a temple to pray for him—send her off directly. Who wants to feed an outsider?"

"Big brother's right! That's perfect!"

Zhong Youtong's eyes gleamed. She could almost picture Zhong Yizhu's stunned despair. It was all his fault for picking a fight yesterday. If she was being ruthless, he only had himself to blame.

·

While the Zhong siblings were out, Zhong Yizhu went back to the house at the foot of the mountain. Seeing the lock still in place, he knew Pei Mu hadn't returned.

He looked around, wanting to leave a note, but wasn't sure Pei Mu could read it. In the end, he returned to the old Zhong house, unsettled.

They were leaving tomorrow anyway. According to what Pei Mu had said before going into the mountains, the earliest he'd be back was tomorrow.

Zhong Yizhu had lunch with his mother and noticed her picking up an embroidery frame. He learned she was taking on embroidery work from the town.

Sun Yunniang saw his surprised look and kept working, saying, "Your mother isn't so old and blind that she can just sit around doing nothing. If I have a skill that can earn money, why not use it? Don't argue—I know what I'm doing."

Zhong Yizhu swallowed his objections and finally said, "Then don't overdo it, Mother. Take care of your eyes."

Sun Yunniang skillfully separated the threads and smiled. "I know, little worrywart."

When the Zhong siblings returned, they walked into this scene of mother-and-son harmony.

Zhong Youtong couldn't stand seeing Zhong Yizhu so content despite his fallen state. No one knew that besides the obvious grudges, she hated him for another reason she never told anyone.

Zhong Yizhu didn't have to do anything to receive the wholehearted love of Zhong Laoer and Sun Yunniang. She had to rely on sweet talk and acting cute to compete for the affection and favor of her parents and grandparents. Why should Zhong Yizhu have everything from birth? She was determined to make him lose it all.

A triumphant smile spread across her face. "Second Aunt is reduced to this kind of work? How hard for you. When big brother and I get back, we'll inform Grandfather, Grandmother, and our parents. We'll bring you back to the mansion soon, and then you won't have to do this anymore."

Zhong Yizhu and Sun Yunniang were both startled. Sun Yunniang frowned first. "No need. I've already come to Liushan Village. I'll stay here with Zhu Ge'er to watch over his father. I'm not going back to the Zhong mansion."

Zhong Yourong shook his head, putting on a concerned expression.

"Second Aunt, that's not right. Though Second Uncle is gone, we nephews and nieces are still here. How can we let you live alone in the village without bringing you back to support you? Now that Third Cousin is married, you don't need to look after him anymore. Just wait for us to send someone to fetch you."

Zhong Yizhu looked at their faces, a chill creeping into his heart. He never realized they would hate him this much.

It was one thing that Sun Yunniang hadn't left the Zhong mansion earlier; now they were deliberately using her as a tool, clearly up to no good.

"And if I don't allow it?" Zhong Yizhu stared at Zhong Yourong.

Zhong Yourong raised an eyebrow, putting on the air of a household head. "Third Cousin, have you forgotten you're married? You think you can still meddle in the Zhong family's affairs? We're taking Second Aunt back to the city to enjoy life. Are you trying to keep her here to suffer with you? How unfilial."

His double chin quivered with satisfaction. This method was perfect. Zhong Yizhu couldn't accuse them of disrespect, and if he objected, he'd be branded unfilial.

He was preening when suddenly something flew toward him. He dodged clumsily, only to collide with a bamboo basket Zhong Yizhu had hurled wildly.

Zhong Yourong clutched his face with a yelp, furious. "Stop him! Seize him!"

Sun Yunniang was Zhong Yizhu's breaking point. If they had only come for him, he might not have been so angry. But now, just to make him suffer, they were using Sun Yunniang as a pawn...

Zhong Yizhu's eyes reddened. He grabbed the scissors from the table and charged at Zhong Yourong without a second thought.

Wang Shun lunged first to grab him, but a gust of wind came from nowhere. Before he could turn, he was knocked sideways and crashed to the ground. Dazed, he looked up and saw a live rabbit staring at him. What the—?

The next moment, the startled rabbit hopped sideways and precisely kicked him in the eye socket. Wang Shun screamed and covered his eye socket, unable to speak for a long while.

The other servants came to their senses and split into two groups—one to stop the stranger who had suddenly appeared, and the other to stop Zhong Yizhu.

Zhong Yourong and his sister had brought five servants in total, including Wang Shun. They assigned three to intercept Pei Mu, thinking they had the upper hand with numbers, but they were knocked to the ground after only a brief clash.

Pei Mu made no unnecessary movements. He learned hunting from Uncle Wang as a child, and later learned to kill in battle. If he didn't swiftly and accurately strike at vital points, he'd be the one losing his head.

Seeing his five servants defeated in the blink of an eye and no one left to stop Zhong Yizhu, Zhong Yourong panicked, he didn't care where he went, pulled Zhong Youtong in front of him as a shield, and stumbled toward the gates.

A scream got stuck in Zhong Youtong's throat. In extreme shock and fear, she lost the ability to speak and couldn't even control her body. Her mind frantically shouted, 'Run!' but her body remained frozen.

She thought she was doomed. At this moment, she deeply regretted why she had ever provoked Zhong Yizhu. She could have been living peacefully as the young lady in the prefectural city, while Zhong Yizhu had already fallen from grace and had fallen into the mud.

But the knife she expected never fell.

Pei Mu grasped Zhong Yizhu's hand holding the scissors, wrapped his other arm around Zhong Yizhu's waist, and firmly restrained him from behind—restraining him, yet also fully protecting him.

"Let go, listen to me."

Pei Mu's voice seemed to come from far away. Zhong Yizhu's thoughts, filled with rage and hatred, seemed to crack open as if by a gust of wind. Gradually, other sounds entered his ears—his mother's cries, the servants' moans, and the clearest of all, the familiar, low, familiar male voice beside him.

Pei Mu's voice was gentler than ever: "I'll help you beat them up. Let go, okay?"

Sensing Zhong Yizhu's grip loosening, Pei Mu decisively took the scissors from his hand and threw them away. Once his hand was empty, Zhong Yizhu fell backward limply, leaning entirely against Pei Mu.

Pale-faced, he looked at Sun Yunniang, who was crying and unable to speak. Realizing he had nearly killed someone just now, his hands trembled uncontrollably.

But a hand much larger than his firmly held his hand, stopping the trembling. Zhong Yizhu's gaze followed their joined hands to Pei Mu. Pei Mu wiped his eyes soothingly: "Stay put."

Over there, Zhong Yourong had originally wanted to run out of the courtyard, but Pei Mu kicked a flowerpot at him, hitting him in the back, and he lay by the door without a sound.

Pei Mu released Zhong Yizhu and walked over. He casually tore a piece of Zhong Yourong's robe, stuffed it into his mouth, and patted his face to wake him up.

Zhong Yourong groggily regained consciousness and was met with Pei Mu's fierce and menacing face. In an instant, he looked terrified, writhing and struggling like a pig about to be slaughtered.

The sound of fists hitting flesh and Zhong Yourong's muffled sobs came over. Zhong Youtong was terrified out of her wits and didn't even dare to call for help. Moreover, since Zhong Yourong had pulled her to shield him, in hindsight, she was both angry and heartbroken; why would she bother to call for help for him?

"Alright, stop hitting."

Zhong Yizhu finally came to his senses. He couldn't let Pei Mu beat him so badly it caused problems, or else Pei Mu would definitely be held accountable by the Zhong family.

He quickly walked toward Pei Mu to stop him, but Pei Mu had already stopped the moment he spoke.

He wiped his hands and stood up. Reading Zhong Yizhu's thoughts, he said, "Don't worry, he's thick-skinned; nothing serious will happen."

Pei Mu turned his gaze to Zhong Youtong and was about to walk over, but Zhong Yizhu stopped him.

"Forget it, she can't take your beating."

Zhong Yizhu had calmed down by now. He looked at the mess in the yard, first went to close the courtyard gate, and then returned to Zhong Yourong.

Zhong Yourong's face was a mess of tears and snot, mixed with dirt, so disgusting you wouldn't want to look at him anymore.

Zhong Yizhu stared into his eyes, his own eyes devoid of any warmth.

"Do you really think I can't do anything to you? Remember this clearly: if you dare to cause trouble for me or anyone around me again, I will plaster the story of how you sent me off to curry favor with the prefectural registrar right after my father died all over the streets and alleys of Rongyang Prefecture, and then set the Zhong residence on fire. None of us will survive."

Zhong Yourong's eyes widened as if seeing a ghost. Zhong Yizhu's tone was very calm, so calm it almost didn't seem like a threat.

"Anyway, the Zhong residence was all earned by my father. Burning it down would be a worthy sacrifice for him. But you are not worthy to see him; you will go to hell with me, no one can escape."

Not far away, Zhong Youtong suddenly covered her mouth. Until this moment, she didn't know what someone could turn into when pushed to the edge.

She didn't doubt that Zhong Yizhu meant what he said, but it was too late to regret.

She didn't even dare to cry aloud, but Zhong Yizhu suddenly turned his head and locked eyes with her.

"Apologize to my mother," Zhong Yizhu said coldly.

Zhong Youtong was startled. Only when she met Zhong Yizhu's gaze did she snap awake. She suddenly knelt before Sun Yunniang and blurted out in a jumble: "I was wrong, Second Aunt, I was wrong..."

Zhong Yizhu removed the cloth gagging Zhong Yourong, but Zhong Yourong didn't even dare to howl, fearing it would bring an even more severe beating.

He had never known hardship since childhood. This beating had already terrified him. He mumbled through his tears that he wouldn't trouble them again, begged Zhong Yizhu to let him go, and said that Zhong Youtong hated Zhong Yizhu and put him up to that idea, so he would never do it again.

Zhong Yizhu didn't look at him again and didn't want to listen anymore. He stood up and looked at Pei Mu, moving his lips but not knowing what to say.

Pei Mu said, "Let's go, come back with me."

Pei Mu had come looking for them carrying a rabbit, and then led them back, still holding the rabbit, also taking Sun Yunniang along.

At this point, Zhong Yizhu couldn't be bothered with village gossip anymore. He couldn't leave his mother there and didn't want to stay under the same roof with those people.

At the house at the foot of the mountain, Pei Mu let Zhong Yizhu and Sun Yunniang rest in the house first. He tied up the rabbit and put it in the kitchen. After some thought, he went to fetch firewood to boil water. After all that crying, washing their faces would help them feel more comfortable.

Suddenly, there was movement at the kitchen door. Pei Mu looked over, and Sun Yunniang walked in, thanking him in a low voice.

Sun Yunniang was still in fear. If it hadn't been for Pei Mu, she didn't know what the situation would have become today.

She wasn't afraid of anything else, only that Zhong Yizhu would be harmed. Whether he was injured or hurt someone and was sent to the authorities, it was a situation she couldn't bear.

Pei Mu shook his head. "Don't mention it."

Sun Yunniang sighed softly, stepped forward to take the firewood from Pei Mu's hands, and with red eyes, said softly under Pei Mu's puzzled gaze:

"Go keep him company. He's afraid of worrying me and holds back his tears in front of me. You being there might help."

The outside sky had become extremely dark during their return from the Zhong residence. Although it was just noon, it was as dark as if night were falling.

When Pei Mu entered the bedroom, the light coming through the window was only enough for him to make out a figure sitting by the bed.

He lit a candle, slowly walked to the bedside, hesitated for a moment, and finally chose to squat down.

Zhong Yizhu's previously unfocused gaze fell on him. He wasn't crying, but there were traces of tears on his face, and those beautiful eyes had lost their sparkle.

"Is there anything you want to ask me?" he said.

Pei Mu thought for a moment. "Can you set a fire?"

Zhong Yizhu had thought he would ask about his conflict with the Zhong siblings, or about how the Zhong family sent him off to curry favor, but he never expected such a question.

Seeing him not speak, Pei Mu added, "Set fire to a house? Can you do that?"

Zhong Yizhu hesitated and shook his head.

Pei Mu said in a slow, deliberate tone, "You need to first break the water storage vat, soak felt fabric in oil, then use a torch to ignite it, and block the exits. It's best to choose a windy day and start fires in several spots, so the fire spreads quickly."

"Got it?" Pei Mu said.

Tears began to glisten in Zhong Yizhu’s eyes. He nodded, then heard Pei Mu ask him, “Do you want to make sure those two siblings never dare to come back to the village again?”

Zhong Yizhu looked into Pei Mu’s eyes, tears streaming down like beads off a broken string.

Pei Mu’s voice was quiet, but it struck with the force of a sledgehammer.

“Don’t worry. They won’t be leaving tonight.”

A thunderclap exploded outside.

The rain poured down in torrents.

-----------------------

Author’s note: Don’t worry, the Third Branch will definitely get what’s coming to them. But for now, little Pei and little Zhong are still wet behind the ears. To take revenge on the Third Branch and the two old geezers, they can only take themselves down with them. Give them a little more time to grow. The Third Branch won’t keep popping up to annoy us; these few chapters basically cover all their scenes in the first half of the book. The main plot is still our little Zhong and little Pei striving to get by. I won’t spoil any more—let’s have friendly discussions, everyone!