Approaching, they heard the burly men lamenting with tears streaming down their faces:
"You promised just a try, but with that one swing of your hammer...
Never mind the hammer, you even chiseled a hole through the anvil for forging.
How are we supposed to open shop from now on?"
"Exactly! Those were the tools we use to make a living. If you break our livelihood, are you expecting us brothers to starve?"
"Hmph, in my opinion, you weren't here to forge at all, but to smash our blacksmith shop's sign!"
As the burly men got more worked up, the scholar-dressed man looked up, revealing a handsome face, though etched with the passage of time.
He offered a fawning smile to the burly men:
"It was wrong of us to damage your property. We are willing to pay for the repairs and treat you all to a meal here to express our apologies."
"Apologies?
Don't think you can get away with just treating us to a meal!"
"Right!
Having money makes you so great, does it?
Just because you have money, you can break other people's things as you please?
Let us tell you, besides compensation for the damaged goods, you'll also have to cover our lost wages for these past few days and the赔礼钱 (pèi lǐ qián - money to appease) for delaying our clients!"
With that, one of the burly men, whose anger had gotten the better of him, raised his hand and shoved the scholar-dressed man.
The beautiful woman, who had been meekly hiding behind the man, immediately darted forward, jumped onto a chair, grabbed the burly man's collar with one hand, and lifted him entirely off the ground.
Everyone: ???
Ignoring the surprised glances cast their way, the beautiful woman angrily berated him:
"Are you tired of living?
My man, I haven't laid a heavy hand on him all these years, not even when holding his hand, I've always controlled my strength. And you, with your bear-paw-like hands, just shove him as you please?
You clearly don't respect me!
And what about breaking a few things in your shop?
We've already said we'll pay. Why are you being so bothersome? Are you even men?"
Having spoken, the beautiful woman released her grip. The unsuspecting burly man was flung into his companions, and they tumbled to the ground in a heap.
The scholar-dressed man quickly reached out to help the beautiful woman down from the chair, "My dear, please don't be angry. Your husband is unharmed. Getting angry leads to wrinkles, and wrinkles will make you less beautiful.
Of course, whether you have wrinkles or not, you will always be the most beautiful in my eyes."
The crowd, suddenly finding it hard to eat: ...
But the beautiful woman cast a displeased glance at the man, chiding, "This is all your rotten idea!
You insisted we become a pair of male and female bandits, and even forge a chain symbolizing our status to bind us together?
I must have been crazy to agree to your unreliable plan!"
The man, as he carefully helped her down from the chair, shook his head disapprovingly, "My dear, how can you underestimate yourself?
You said something different last night in that ruined temple outside the city. You clearly said you never wanted to be separated from your husband again, and wished to be bound together with him at all times, never to part~
Your husband was merely complying with your wishes~"
"Yan Xiuping!"
Seeing his smug, almost teasing expression, the beautiful woman, who was close to exploding with anger, called out his full name.
But the named Yan Xiuping merely replied with a smile, "Yes, my dear, your husband is here."
Blushing furiously, the beautiful woman raised her hand, but upon meeting the face she had never tired of looking at for decades, she could only grind her teeth in frustration, "You indecent old man, you have no shame, but I do!
I warn you, if you dare to spout nonsense in public again, I, I will... I will run away from home!"
As if feeling that simply running away from home lacked deterrent, the beautiful woman let out a cold huff and added, "Hmph~
This time, I'm not just running away from home, I'm going to become a nun!"
"My dear, nuns have to eat vegetarian, and they won't see any other handsome men~"
"That's true, then, I..."
Before the beautiful woman could figure anything out, a somewhat exasperated shout came from afar, "Dad, Mom, what are you doing here?"
No matter how they were dressed, their son recognized them at a glance and rushed downstairs.
After all, he was well aware of his mother's ferocity.
If he arrived late and caused another bloody incident, wouldn't that be an annoyance to the Magistrate?
"Hao'er, come let your mother see you!"
Seeing her son suddenly appear, the beautiful woman excitedly grabbed his arm, looking at him with great joy.
"Alright, you haven't lost weight, nor are you missing any limbs. You must be doing alright."
Feeling that his mother's focus was a bit peculiar, Yan Tinghao pouted, "Mom, I'm not a child anymore, I can take care of myself.
By the way, why didn't you and Dad look for me when you came to Changzhou County?"
"Well...
We originally wanted to surprise you, Hao'er, but it seems to have turned into a fright now."
She said the last part with a hint of disappointment, lowering her head.
"Mom, Dad, please wait here for a moment."
With that said, Yan Tinghao walked over to the burly men and spoke to them about something. To everyone's surprise, the burly men, who had been so insistent earlier, left with cheerful smiles.
Seeing this, the beautiful woman couldn't help but shed tears, "Husband, you were right to listen to you. After not seeing him for a while, our Hao'er has grown up."
"Hao'er growing up should make you happy, my dear. But don't worry, even though Hao'er will get married and start a family in the future, and move further away from you, your husband will always be by your side, growing old with you."
...
Yan Tinghao, who had returned, pushed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, as if the toothache he had before leaving home had returned.
Once the toothache subsided slightly, he warmly invited, "Dad, Mom, it's perfect timing.
The Magistrate is hosting a banquet upstairs to welcome the new county magistrate. Since you two are also in Changzhou County, why not join us?"
"New county magistrate?
What happened to Lin Jingxing? He was dismissed shortly after taking office?"
Hearing his mother's question, Yan Tinghao shook his head speechlessly, "Mother, what are you talking about?
The Magistrate is upright and incorruptible, and his judgments are as divine as ever. He's about to be promoted to the prefect of Fengtian Prefecture!"
"Prefect?"
The couple exchanged a look and followed Yan Tinghao upstairs.
However, when Yan Tinghao, who was leading the way, pushed open the private room door.
Yan Xiuping and his wife were surprised to find that many of the people in the room were 'acquaintances'!
"Yan Xiugou?"
"Aunt?"
"Uncle Su?"
"Old man and brat?"