He passed the imperial exam by his own effort, earned the Shuji Jishi title [elite scholars selected to serve in the Hanlin Academy] by his own merit, and even his appointment as magistrate in Hongye County was chosen through his own performance evaluations.
He had never considered relying on his clan to take any shortcuts.
Yet now, just for a calligraphy piece by Song Shi’an, he actually dragged out the name of the Fanyang Lu Clan?
Crazy, crazy—he truly was a lunatic obsessed with calligraphy and painting!
But Lu Zhengheng didn’t think he was crazy. He felt he was in top form, full of fighting spirit, and waved his hand vigorously: “Prepare the sedan—I’m going to the Liu family.”
••
Over at the Liu household, the gatekeeper came in to report that the county magistrate had come to visit.
Old Master Liu and Old Madam Liu exchanged a glance—both were quite surprised.
Old Master Liu quickly said: “Please, invite him in!”
This Magistrate Lu was the eldest legitimate grandson of the Lu clan of Fanyang, a true favored son of heaven; their Liu family didn’t dare put on airs in front of him.
The moment Lu Zhengheng stepped inside, he couldn’t even be bothered with polite greetings, and got straight to the point: “I heard your grandnephew took a liking to the butcher Jiang’s daughter from Hongye Town and even sent servants to snatch her by force?”
Old Master Liu had no idea about this matter at all, and upon hearing this, he nearly blacked out on the spot: “What? Forcibly snatched the butcher Jiang’s daughter from Hongye Town?”
The fame of that Pork Xi Shi Jiang Chun had already spread all across Hongye County. Even a retired elder like Old Master Liu had heard his old servants talk about her.
Of all people, why did his grandnephew have to set his eyes on her—that infamous Sea Patrol Yaksha? Was he tired of living?
No, this wouldn’t do. He had to write a letter to his younger brother right away and have someone sent to bring that good-for-nothing grandson back to Suzhou Prefecture. Otherwise, all the good reputation the Liu family had worked so hard to build up over the years would be ruined by him!
Old Master Liu forced a smile and said: “Lord Lu, this old man failed to properly teach my grandson and has caused you trouble. From this moment forward, I will strictly restrain him and not allow him to stir up more trouble outside.”
He paused, then added with a sincere expression: “That good-for-nothing grandnephew of mine has frightened Lady Jiang. I’m willing to offer five hundred taels of silver to soothe her shock. I ask Lord Lu to speak on our behalf and persuade Lady Jiang to accept this compensation, otherwise this old man will feel uneasy at heart.”
No need to ask—obviously Liu Qitan had failed to abduct her. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have waited until Magistrate Lu came knocking. The butcher Jiang and the butcher uncle Zheng would have stormed their gates to demand her back already.
Lu Zhengheng let out a cold laugh: “Old Master, if you could truly restrain your grandnephew, he wouldn’t be running amok in Hongye County like this.”
Old Master Liu gave a sheepish laugh: “Forgive me for letting you see a joke, Lord Lu. It’s just that my grandnephew was spoiled rotten by his grandfather. He truly is hard to manage…”
Lu Zhengheng looked at Old Master Liu and asked meaningfully: “Old Master, are you aware who that Lady Jiang’s husband is?”
Old Master Liu shook his head: “I only heard she brought home a sickly live-in husband, but I don’t know his background.”
Lu Zhengheng leaned forward and lowered his voice: “He is the eldest legitimate son of the main branch of the Song family. He was the top scholar in the imperial exam in the 35th year of Tianqi. He was a fifth-rank lecturer at the Hanlin Academy…”
At this point, he paused slightly, then added a bombshell: “He is also the Yong Prince’s brother-in-law.”
Old Master Liu’s pupils shook, and his back slammed into the chair with a loud bang.
But Lu Zhengheng didn’t stop there. He sneered: “Your grandnephew failed to abduct her once—he surely won’t let the matter go. Knives and swords have no eyes. If someone were to get injured, or worse, lose their life…”
He shook his head and sighed: “Though the higher-ups did confiscate the Song family’s estate and sold the entire clan into servitude, not a single person’s life was taken. Who knows what that means?”
“If your grandnephew causes a real incident, and it happens to go along with the intentions of those above, then fine. But if it goes against their intentions, your Liu family just might…”
Lu Zhengheng gave a mocking chuckle and let the words hang in the air.
Cold sweat was already beginning to trickle down Old Master Liu’s back.
The Prince of Yan was clever and wise, also gentle and courteous, truly the widely-supported heir to the throne.
But the old emperor in his later years grew muddle-headed, doted on the Noble Consort Liu who was forty years younger than him.
In order to have Noble Consort Liu’s three-year-old son inherit the throne, he went against the opposition of all the court ministers and forcibly confined the Prince of Yan, and even confiscated the family property of the Prince Consort’s family—the Song family—and sold the entire clan into servitude.
The court was filled with complaints and grievances.
Yet Noble Consort Liu came from humble origins; her father was just a sixth-rank minor official. The Fifth Prince was only three years old—whether he could hold the throne was still uncertain.
Who’s to say the Prince of Yan won’t make a comeback one day?
If Liu Qitan were to persecute his brother-in-law to death, then once the Prince of Yan regains power in the future, the Liu family’s outcome would certainly be worse than that of the Song family—definitely subject to confiscation of property and extermination of the clan.
They might even be exterminated to the ninth degree! [a historical punishment where all extended family members are executed]
Using a speed that did not match his age, he whoosh—jumped up.
He shouted loudly: “Steward Wang!”
Steward Wang, who had been waiting outside the door, immediately walked in and called out: “Old Master!”
Old Master Liu said coldly: “Pick thirty men, go and bring the Ninth Young Master back to me. Bring back everyone serving him too—don’t let a single one escape, or I’ll hold you accountable!”
Steward Wang was shocked. He guessed that the Ninth Young Master must’ve stirred up trouble again—if even the magistrate had come to question them personally.
Serves him right! Truly serves him right!
He grumbled inwardly but dared not delay. He immediately answered and withdrew to gather people.
When Steward Wang found Liu Qitan, he was in Drunken Fragrance Brothel, spending silver and drinking flower wine. [euphemism for visiting prostitutes]
Brothels closed during the day and only opened for business in the evening. Liu Qitan had gone over early in the morning, and after throwing around a lot of silver, the madam beamed with joy and personally called up the top courtesan, who had been napping, to serve him.
At that moment, Liu Qitan had just taken off his underpants when—
BANG! The door was suddenly kicked open, and a swarm of club-wielding servants surged in like a black tide.
His thin and short little bird was seen in full view. [T/N: LMAOO]
Liu Qitan was so furious he clutched his crotch and cursed at Steward Wang, who walked in behind: “Steward Wang, you’ve got a lot of nerve—daring to burst into this young master’s room and ruin my fun!”
Steward Wang ignored his yelling and raised his hand: “What are you all standing around for? Quickly take the Ninth Young Master back. Old Master is waiting to see him!”
The servants immediately swarmed in—some tied hands, some tied feet, some gagged his mouth—and before long, Liu Qitan was trussed up like a zongzi.
Steward Wang threw a robe over him, then had them carry him back to the Liu residence like a piglet.
Back at the Liu household, Old Master Liu didn’t even bother seeing him. He directly ordered that he be locked in the guest room, posted over a dozen guards, and cut off all routes of escape.
Then he personally wrote a letter and had someone carry it overnight, riding nonstop to Suzhou Prefecture.
- ••
Back at the Jiang household, after Jiang He left, Jiang Chun arranged his bedding, then moved her own and Song Shi’an’s bedding onto the wheelbarrow.
She then went to pack clothes for the three of them.
After packing the clothes, she packed up the pots, bowls, and dishes.
After the pots and dishes, she went to pack the farm tools.
Busy to the point her feet didn’t touch the ground.
After nearly finishing packing, she finally noticed she had forgotten the soybean oil she pressed. She hurried to the cupboard, pulled out the jar.
She carefully placed the jar onto the wheelbarrow, then said to Song Shi’an: “We don’t know if there’s an oil press in Qingniu Town that can press soybeans. We’ve got to bring this soybean oil—otherwise there’ll be no oil to stir-fry dishes for you.”
Song Shi’an had advised her not to make a fuss more than a few times already, but she just wouldn’t listen, saying she had to “prepare for a rainy day.”
And the result? She dragged out everything in the house that was even slightly usable, even tore off the mat from the kang, rolled it into a tube, and laid it across the shaft of the wheelbarrow.
Now the house was completely empty—just like “a house with bare walls and no belongings.”
He said helplessly: “Later we’ll have to move all of it back piece by piece. Why go through all this trouble?”
Jiang Chun ignored him.
Only those who manage a household understand how costly firewood, rice, oil, and salt are.
These belongings might look insignificant, but they were all bought with silver. If they didn’t take them, they’d have to buy everything again in Qingniu Town.
That would just be a waste of silver!
Anyway, she had strength. As long as she could push it, she’d load as much as possible.
Whatever didn’t fit in the cart, she could carry on her back.
By the time Jiang Chun finished loading everything onto the cart and even packed a bundle as tall as a person, Jiang He finally returned—along with her uncle Zheng Yi.
Jiang Chun went forward to greet them, but her uncle, who usually treated her like his own daughter, completely ignored her.
Zheng Yi walked straight up to Song Shi’an, smiling kindly as he said: “Nephew-in-law, you really have some ability. Zhao Langjun handed your letter to Magistrate Lu, and Magistrate Lu went straight to the Liu family and helped resolve Chun-niang’s matter.”
As expected, Song Shi’an calmly nodded: “That’s good.”
Lu Zhengheng was obsessed with calligraphy and painting. Back in the capital, he used to chase after him asking for a calligraphy piece, only to be refused every time.
Now that he was willing to give up one piece in exchange for help settling this trivial issue concerning Jiang Chun, he definitely wouldn’t say no.
And that was indeed the case.
If he had known in his past life that the magistrate of Hongye County was Lu Zhengheng, he could’ve just sold him a calligraphy piece at a high price—why worry about not having money for doctors and medicine to nurse his body?
Too bad he didn’t know.
By the time his health had improved enough to visit the county seat to see a doctor, half a year had already passed. The best treatment window had been missed, and the illness had become irreversible.
So there had been no point in seeking Lu Zhengheng out to make a deal anymore.
After being reborn, he had indeed considered approaching Lu Zhengheng again to trade, but his body was too frail—even going to the county required Jiang Chun’s help.
There was no way to avoid her and meet with Lu Zhengheng alone.
So he could only shelve it for now, planning to act when his health got better.
Who would’ve thought that after all the twists and turns, he ended up making the deal with Lu Zhengheng in advance after all.
The situation had become different from his previous life. Things had slipped out of his control, and whether that would bring unforeseen consequences, he couldn’t be sure.
But Song Shi’an didn’t regret it.
Just based on how Jiang Chun thought for him in everything—when faced with trouble and needing to flee, the very first thing she thought of was divorce, so he wouldn’t be implicated—
And when her own future was uncertain, she had still been willing to leave the household’s entire savings for him to recover.
She treated him with such sincerity and wholeheartedness. For him to repay a little of that was only right.
Because Jiang Chun, as a person, was worth it.
Jiang Chun, however, had already dropped to the ground with a thud and wailed: “We don’t have to run anymore? Then it’s over, over! All these household items—I have to put them all back one by one. How long will that take? What was I tossing things around for?!”
Song Shi’an hooked his lips into a smile and snorted lightly: “I already told you not to make a fuss, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you know regret?”