That wretched girl from the main branch is no pushover! Zhan Lao Er's eyes flickered with malice. If she received support from Landlord Zhu, with her scholarly talent, she might become a Tong Sheng within a year or two. By then, who in the village would dare to tarnish her reputation? If she became a Xiu Cai after seven or eight years, not only the Zhan family but the entire village would revere her. She would likely gain renown even in Shangsi County. Zhan Lao Er would not allow Zhan Feiyu time to grow; she had to be eliminated early, or the consequences would be endless!
When matchmaker Wang visited again on the tenth, Zhan Lao Er planned to accept the betrothal gifts from Landlord Zhu before arranging for someone to act. How could she hold a brush if her hands were broken? What if her face was disfigured, preventing her from participating in the imperial examinations? However, if the betrothed daughter-in-law met with an accident, Landlord Zhu's influence would surely lead to a thorough investigation. The Zhu family was wealthy, and Zhan Lao Er dared not take that risk. But if Constable Ma could help, things would be different, though he would have to share half of the hundred taels of silver. If it were Xiao Yao Shi, she would certainly be reluctant to spend fifty taels. Zhan Lao Er, so adept at scheming and calculating, only saved ten taels a year. Fifty taels would require five years of saving without eating or drinking.
Zhan Lao Er took another bite of fish, a smile on his face. He appeared kind and honest, but who could have imagined the ruthless cruelty hidden within him?
"Lao Er, we've known each other for several years," Constable Ma said, putting down his chopsticks and smiling at Zhan Lao Er. "You know my nephew, Da Yong. He's had a hard life, orphaned from a young age, relying only on me, his uncle."
"Da Yong trains in martial arts at the martial arts school. With your care, Brother Ma, he will undoubtedly have a bright future," Zhan Lao Er immediately began to flatter.
Constable Ma's nephew possessed considerable strength. At just ten years old, he could lift a hundred-jin stone hammer. Once he mastered martial arts, even if he didn't join the yamen as a constable, he could find work at a security escort agency. Constable Ma liked Zhan Lao Er's perceptiveness. In addition to the usual offerings, this man was smooth and knew how to handle things. Otherwise, why would Constable Ma associate with a country bumpkin as an equal?
"Your words are enough, Lao Er," Constable Ma said, patting Zhan Lao Er's shoulder with satisfaction. "Your eldest niece is a renowned child prodigy. It's a waste for her to be at a village private school. Why not move to the county town? It would be convenient for her to attend the county school after passing the Tong Sheng examination."
Zhan Lao Er's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the sincere Constable Ma, an ominous premonition surged within him.
"Lao Er, I shamelessly come today to propose marriage on behalf of my Da Yong," Constable Ma declared, patting his chest with a thud. "From now on, I will cherish your little niece like my own daughter. If Da Yong mistreats her, your Zhan family can come find me." This was the true purpose of Constable Ma's invitation to dinner. If his only son were not already fifteen years old and betrothed to the daughter of the owner of Tai Fu Restaurant, Constable Ma would have wanted to betroth Zhan Feiyu to his own son. With such an intelligent wife, any children born would be much smarter than ordinary children, even if they weren't prodigies. If he succeeded in the imperial examinations and became an official, their family's fortunes would change!
"Brother Ma," Zhan Lao Er's mind buzzed chaotically. Before he could figure out how to refuse, Constable Ma's smile gradually faded, and his gaze turned grim.
"What? Does your Zhan family look down on my nephew?" Constable Ma asked, his tone sinister as he sternly questioned. Although he was a constable without a formal rank, dealing with a country bumpkin like Zhan Lao Er was child's play!
When Zhan Feiyu's reputation as a child prodigy first spread, Constable Ma hadn't paid much attention. While he couldn't fathom the county magistrate's intentions, he didn't believe a little village girl could be that smart. Months passed, and Constable Ma had almost forgotten about it. Who would have thought that Scholar Zhang from Hongyuan Private School would pay five taels of silver to ask him to investigate the matter? Constable Ma was shocked by what he found. Not only was the young girl from the village beautiful and intelligent, but she was truly brilliant. In just over a month, she had caught up to a year's progress of other children in the introductory class. It was rumored she was already learning to compose poetry. If this continued, she would surely pass the Tong Sheng examination within two years.
"Don't let good fortune go to outsiders!" Constable Ma immediately thought of his nephew. If they were betrothed, not only would Da Yong benefit, but his own family would reap endless rewards. Although he appeared imposing in his daily life, he was, after all, just a constable. But if his nephew's wife achieved the status of a Xiu Cai, the benefits were obvious.
"Brother Ma, you misunderstand me, I..." Zhan Lao Er hastily tried to explain, intending to mention the proposal from Landlord Zhu, but he was interrupted.
The young constable ran in breathlessly, one hand gripping the doorframe. "Chief, something's happened! The horses at the Zeng family's place were spooked, and the runaway horses injured and trampled many people. Madam Zeng has also been sent to the clinic!"
"What?" Constable Ma shot to his feet, his expression grave. "What happened? Did anyone die?" The security of the market also fell under the constables' jurisdiction. Magistrate Chen governed effectively and enforced punishments clearly. If a death occurred due to the negligence of patrolling constables, Constable Ma and his men would face salary deductions at best, or even beatings at worst.
"No one died. The most seriously injured had their leg broken. It's said a beggar, who was lame, spooked the horse while begging for money," the young constable quickly reported. Constable Ma and his men still needed to investigate the details.
When Zhan Lao Er returned to Jinlin Village with Zhan Feiyu and Madam Li in the evening, the villagers were gathered under the banyan tree. Seeing the ox cart approach, they excitedly asked, "Brother Zhan Er, we heard there was a runaway horse in the county town that trampled many people to death."
"I heard from a peddler that the blood on the street flowed like a river, and someone's skull was caved in by a horse's hoof."
"Yes, I heard too. Some unlucky person's intestines were trampled out, all tangled up and bloody. They died so gruesomely."
"Sister-in-law, Xiao Yu, are you alright?" Some kind-hearted women asked Madam Li and Zhan Feiyu with concern. These two had such bad luck to encounter such an event on their trip to the county town.
Zhan Feiyu looked speechlessly at the gossiping aunts. If this continued, everyone in Shangsi County would be dead.
"Third Aunt, Xiao Yu and I are fine," Madam Li replied gently, then turned to take the basket from the ox cart. "Xiao Yu, you've been out all day. Go inside and study quickly. Teacher Lin will be checking tomorrow."
Zhan Lao Er also perfunctorily responded absentmindedly, then drove the ox cart into the Zhan family courtyard, leaving the aunts who were hoping to hear firsthand news stunned and bewildered.