Chapter 85

Chapter 85

At the little courtyard at the foot of the mountain, Zhong He was making ginger soup in the kitchen to ward off the chill, while Sun Yunniang and Zhong Yizhu brought chairs into the main room for everyone to sit.

Zhong Yizhu gave a bow to the crowd and thanked them, and the uncles and aunties nearby tugged at him to sit down, saying there was no need to be so formal.

Among those there were families whose sons had left the village with Pei Mu, families who rented land from them, and families whose young men and women had learned embroidery from Sun Yunniang. Without even realizing it, they'd become deeply tied to this village.

Zhou Shaofen stood off to the side, holding Sun Yunniang's hand and chatting, while everyone else kept up a steady stream of talk, all of it cursing the third branch of the Zhong family. Although Wang Shun had said it was Zhong Laotai who sent him to fetch them, she was, after all, Zhong Yizhu's own grandmother, and everyone privately figured the two old folks were just as crooked and no good. Still, they couldn't curse them out loud in front of Zhong Yizhu, or word might get around that he was unfilial.

Liu Youzong looked at the young man and the woman this family had left behind, and said thoughtfully, "Don't worry. I'll have the villagers keep watch. If they try to come into the village again, we'll stop them at the entrance. You don't need to worry too much—there's no way we'll let them take anyone by force."

As village head, since Zhong Yizhu's family had brought income to so many households in Liushan Village, protecting them was his duty. And as the father of Liu Mingtao and Liu Mingfeng, given the friendship Zhong Yizhu and Pei Mu had shown his sons, he also had to protect Pei Mu's family for him.

Everyone else quickly chimed in to agree. Pei Mu's courtyard was conveniently at the end of the village, so no one could come in without being noticed. Even if the Zhong family were shameless enough to sneak in and snatch someone, that would make them no different from bandits or thieves.

Zhong Yizhu's household registration was now merged with Pei Mu's, which made him part of the Pei family. If the Zhong family really dared to do something like that, it wouldn't be a family matter anymore—Pei Mu could take them to court.

Even so, after talking it over, everyone agreed it'd be safer for Wang Ping'an and his husband to move into the small courtyard for now. At least with a man around, they could put up some resistance if anything happened.

Later, when the rain stopped and everyone went home, Wang Ping'an went to find materials to fix up the doghouse. The two dogs were originally meant to guard the goods—tied up in the side yard during the day and let loose at night. Now it seemed one of them ought to be moved to the main courtyard instead.

Sun Yunniang grabbed Zhong Yizhu's arm, worried. "Zhu Ge'er, why don't you skip the shop for a while?"

Zhong Yizhu shook his head. "I have to go. If I don't, and they pull something shady at the shop, I'm afraid Le Ge'er won't be able to handle it on his own."

He knew exactly how Zhong Laotai's mind worked. From the way Wang Shun had tried to take both of them away today, he could guess what they were planning. "Besides, what good would kidnapping me do them? It's not like they can force me to hand the shop over. As long as Mother's safe in the village, they've got no leverage over me."

Zhong He spoke up from the side. "Madam, rest assured—I won't let anyone take the Boss away."

Sun Yunniang let out a heavy sigh. These weren't family—they were enemies out to claim their lives. When the old master was alive, they'd all put on such a good act. Now they'd taken over everything he'd earned, and it still wasn't enough. The young master and his husband had barely opened their shop, and already they were eyeing it too. A real den of insatiable wolves.

Zhong Yizhu tried to guess their next move and still figured the shop was the most likely target. With how vicious they were, even if they couldn't get their hands on the shop, they probably wouldn't make things easy for him either.

"It's fine, Mother. They only have so many tricks. As long as we have our craft, we have our business. I'm not afraid of them. You just stay put in the village."

Zhong Yizhu wasn't just saying that to comfort Sun Yunniang. The Bamboo Fragrance Shop now had a solid reputation and established connections, and business was already spreading to other towns through traveling merchants and peddlers. He was fully confident he could take whatever underhanded moves came his way and give back as good as he got. We'll see who blinks first.

The next day when he went to the shop, Zhong Yizhu told Yao Le what had happened. Yao Le was livid, wishing he'd been there to give those bullying bastards a piece of his mind.

He rolled up his sleeves, snarling, "Let them dare show up! I'll kill them."

Zhong Yizhu pulled his sleeves back down. "I'm telling you so you're prepared. You're the sharpest one—you'll figure out what to do."

Yao Le nodded reluctantly. "I know. I won't go head-to-head with them. Don't worry, Boss."

"Good. If you can't handle something, send someone to the village to fetch me."

After arranging things at the shop and telling the night watchman to be extra vigilant these days, Zhong Yizhu went back to his usual routine.

On the thirteenth, which was market day, the shop launched a new fragrance—the tea-scented balm that Zhong Yizhu had given as a gift to the Yan family last time, along with a matching tea-scented hair oil. Unlike the previous floral scents that all had a hint of sweetness, this elegant tea fragrance was a refreshing change and became an instant hit.

The Bamboo Fragrance Shop was bustling with customers again. Zhong Yizhu had stocked up well and stayed at the shop for several days to receive guests.

They had expected someone might cause trouble with the crowds, and both Zhong He and Yao Le were on high alert. But everything went smoothly, and they even landed two more orders from traveling merchants—both for the tea-scented balm and oil, in substantial quantities.

Once the initial three-day rush died down and the shop returned to its normal flow of customers, Zhong Yizhu told Yao Le he was heading back to make the goods for delivery.

These past few busy days, he'd given Yao Le and Zhong He extra pay. Yao Le was more and more enthusiastic about the job—a capable and generous boss like this was a once-in-a-lifetime find. He clenched his fist fiercely. Whoever tried to harm the shop's business would have to answer to him.

Zhong Yizhu hadn't been back to the village for several days. Though he'd sent word back daily, Sun Yunniang was surely worried. And after being away for so long, he was eager to get home.

Sitting on the ox cart, he suddenly spotted a beautifully blooming lilac by the roadside. He turned in surprise, about to say he wanted to stop and pick it—but the person beside him wasn't the familiar one he was used to.

He froze, a hollow feeling settling in his chest.

Today it was still Old Zhang who had come into town to pick him and Zhong He up, as arranged in the message sent back yesterday. Old Zhang, driving the cart, noticed nothing amiss. Only He Ge'er, sitting across from him, saw the change in his expression and asked quietly.

"It's nothing." Zhong Yizhu pointed at the lilac they'd already passed. "I saw the flowers blooming nicely and wanted you to see them too."

Zhong He craned his neck to look. "They are blooming nicely."

Old Zhang heard them talking and boomed in his loud voice, "Zhu Ge'er likes lilacs? I know a place with a whole grove of them—on the road toward Riverbend Village, about two li out. You can see them from there."

Zhong Yizhu thanked him and turned his gaze away.

Zhong He could tell Zhong Yizhu's spirits were low, so he picked up the conversation with Old Zhang. Zhong Yizhu sat in a daze for a while, then pulled out the letter he'd received yesterday and read it.

It was the latest letter from Pei Mu. He already had it memorized, but he couldn't help reading it again. He counted the days—if all went well, Pei Mu should already be on his way back from Quzhou Prefecture.

Just over ten more days.

These past two weeks had been busy, filled with things to do, but for him, time had crawled by. Counting carefully, May still seemed so far away.

Zhong Yizhu traced Pei Mu's handwriting, imagining him writing the letter, and lost himself in thought.

"Whoa—" Old Zhang's sudden shout jolted him back. Zhong Yizhu instinctively pressed the letter to his chest and turned to look—his eyes went cold.

Stretched taut across the road ahead was a thick rope, two fingers in diameter, its ends disappearing into the dense shrubs on either side. No one was visible.

Old Zhang thought they'd run into bandits and panicked. Though this stretch of road had always been peaceful and he'd never heard of such trouble, in his desperation he could only assume they'd been unlucky enough to catch the attention of some wandering outlaws. Trembling, he called out to the bushes, "Spare us, good sirs! We're just villagers—we don't have much money."

A rough male voice came from the undergrowth. "Cut the crap! Leave that pretty young man here and get the hell out. I can't be bothered to look at you."

"Leave him, or leave your lives—your choice." Another voice followed, far more vicious and cruel.

As the words fell, four masked men emerged from the woods, eyeing them with ill intent.

Old Zhang saw the leader holding a blade and his heart plummeted. Robbery was bad enough, but now they wanted to take the young man too. He shook with fear, but he knew all too well what would happen to a young man left in their hands. Gritting his teeth, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Help! Someone help! Bandits!"

It was a bit late in the day, but there might still be travelers passing by.

Old Zhang's voice cracked as he screamed, echoing through the woods and startling a flock of resting birds into flight.