“Sir, they took the guest room items and left,” the old butler reported in a low voice, truly looking down on Liu shi and her group.
In the past, the eldest and second branches of the family had been prominent in Fengzhou, but now these people could stoop to petty theft. Although the guest room had some furnishings, those porcelain vases and incense burners were not valuable; pawning them would likely fetch less than twenty taels of silver.
If it were in the past, given Grand Tutor Wei’s hatred for Liu shi and the others, he would surely have ordered the butler to report them to the yamen. However, recalling Zhan Feiyu’s earlier words, “I just love seeing them hate me but unable to touch me,” Grand Tutor Wei suddenly felt this was more satisfying.
Being taken to the yamen would only result in a beating with a plank. If Liu shi shifted the blame to the children, they might not even have to endure that.
Now, by losing twenty taels of silver, they would know how wealthy he, Wei Tianqi, was. Yet, despite his hundreds of thousands of taels in silver, shops, courtyards, and estates, they wouldn’t get a single coin.
Looking at the sinister and peculiar expression of Grand Tutor Wei, the old butler remained silent. It had only been five days since Miss Zhan arrived, yet it felt as if his master had been corrupted. Previously, his master stayed indoors, reclusive and eccentric, but now he spoke, yet he seemed even more terrifying.
Grand Tutor Wei sneered, his dark and indifferent eyes radiating a chilling ferocity. “Take people to the largest shops in Fengzhou. Buy back all those jewelry and fabrics. Oh, and go to the apothecary and buy as much ginseng, deer antler, and lingzhi as you can find.”
The jewelry, ornaments, and clothing were for Zhan Feiyu. As for the medicinal herbs, besides Zhan Feiyu, Grand Tutor Wei thought of the scrawny Hong’er and decided to supplement his health as well. He lacked nothing but money!
Uh… the old butler looked speechlessly at his wealthy master. He could already imagine how furious Liu shi and the others would be when these items were delivered tomorrow.
Qi Family Villa.
After dinner, He Nuan brought out pastries and fruit. Seeing Hong’er stubbornly sitting beside Zhan Feiyu, she couldn’t help but smile. The little fellow was truly clingy.
“Those people have moved into the Wei residence. I think you and Qi Heng can go over together tomorrow,” Zhan Feiyu said, rubbing her sore wrist. Five days of continuous copying had nearly ruined her hands.
Little Fatty Qi Heng nodded vigorously, then glanced smugly at Hong’er, who was sitting on a round stool. He himself was Xiao Yu’s best friend, the kind who could help with copying.
Ming San looked at Zhan Feiyu and asked, “What are your plans for Grand Tutor Wei?”
“Relinquishing him is impossible,” Zhan Feiyu replied with a sly and cunning smile. “I plan to persuade Grand Tutor Wei to go to Nanxuan, where he can teach at the academy.”
Ming San and Qi Heng were stunned. Could it be done like that?
“Then we can move all the books from the Wushulou there as well,” Zhan Feiyu said shamelessly, her tone as if she were making arrangements for Grand Tutor Wei. “Moreover, with Grand Tutor Wei’s reputation in Fengzhou, I’m sure the craftsmen would be willing to go.”
Little Yu is so cunning!
Ming San and Qi Heng couldn’t argue even if they wanted to. In terms of scheming and foresight, the uncle and nephew combined couldn’t match Zhan Feiyu.
“Young Master.” A young servant hurried over from the courtyard, holding a post. Seeing Qi Heng emerge, he quickly reported, “Young Master, this was sent by someone from the main family.”
Although Qi Heng was young, his father did not conceal their family’s relationship with the main family. Although Old Master Qi had sabotaged Qi Heng’s father back then, preventing him from participating in the imperial examinations, and later expelled his father from Fengzhou under the guise of family division.
However, Qi Heng’s father was able to establish himself in Nanxuan Prefecture and grow his business, and Old Master Qi’s help was indispensable in this.
Once, Qi Heng’s father had a batch of goods that couldn’t be sold, and the buyer was pressing him hard. It was Old Master Qi who sent ten thousand taels of silver to Qi Heng’s father for liquidity. Therefore, their relationship was complicated; if one were to truly analyze it, it was like bones connected by flesh, flourishing together and suffering together.
Qi Heng opened the post and his brow furrowed. After all, he was only eight years old, so he could only look to Ming San for help. “Little Martial Uncle, my third cousin, Qi Yan, has invited me to a literary gathering at Juwenzhai tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, Xiao Yu and I will just be copying books,” Ming San said, not caring about Qi Heng’s absence.
The little fatty was a member of the Qi family. Previously, Steward Bao and his daughter Bao Baozhu, and son-in-law Jiang Wang, had been dealt with by the main family, and a new steward was assigned. Ming San and their daily lives were taken care of very meticulously.
“How is your relationship with Qi Yan?” Zhan Feiyu asked, feeling that the timing was a bit off.
It had been seven days since they moved into the Qi family villa, but no one from the main family had come, nor had Qi Heng been asked to visit the elders. Furthermore, Zhan Feiyu had previously clashed with Commander Liu, yet the main family had shown no reaction. It was no wonder Zhan Feiyu was suspicious.
Qi Heng’s face tensed as he pondered. “My eldest and second cousins treat me very well, and my grand-uncle and uncles are also good. My third cousin is arrogant and doesn’t study as well as I do, so he’s indifferent to me.”
Speaking of Qi Yan, Qi Heng proudly straightened his back. He was the sixth-ranked scholar in the prefectural examination, while Qi Yan was a full ten years older than him and hadn’t even passed the preliminary imperial examination for a scholar.
“Perhaps it’s because your identity, Xiao Yu, has been exposed,” Ming San said, looking at Zhan Feiyu. Xiao Yu was the key.
If it were in the past, Ming San would never have thought highly of the Qi family’s actions. But having experienced more now, he saw things more clearly. Seeking advantage and avoiding harm was human nature. Commander Liu had broken his leg, and if the Qi family sent Qi Heng to visit, it would give the impression that the Qi family was supporting Zhan Feiyu and opposing Commander Liu.
However, Zhan Feiyu was a disciple of Academician Gu, and Commander Liu could only swallow his anger. If the Qi family had any backbone, they would not actively associate with Zhan Feiyu at this time.
Therefore, they could only use an indirect method, having Qi Yan bring Qi Heng to the literary gathering. The next step might even be to invite Xiao Yu to visit.
Looking at Zhan Feiyu, who was deep in thought, Qi Heng quickly stated, “Xiao Yu, you don’t need to worry. Although my third cousin acts domineeringly, he only takes advantage of others with his words.”
“Tomorrow, you go with Ah Sheng,” Zhan Feiyu said with a smile, seeing Qi Heng’s surprised expression. “One must guard against others. Commander Liu wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on me, but he might target you.”
Thinking of Commander Liu’s ruthless methods, Ming San patted Qi Heng’s head. “Listen to Xiao Yu. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Recalling the warhorses that Commander Liu had abused and killed, Qi Heng immediately became timid. He would definitely not leave Brother He’s side at the literary gathering tomorrow.
…
The next day, the group split into two. Zhan Feiyu, Ming San, and Hong’er headed directly to the Wei residence, while Qi Heng accompanied He Sheng to Juwenzhai.
As for Zhu Changyun, he was still studying diligently, with his head hanging from the beam and his awl to his thigh. Since his home had caught fire, he had no books to read and had wasted two months. He had to catch up now.
“Pah! You want ten taels of silver for a few broken bottles? Why don’t you go rob someone?” Outside the pawnshop, a young clerk shook his head disdainfully. “Alright, Brother Li, throw these beggars out so they don’t delay our business.”
Brother Li, however, was a burly man. He grabbed Wei Zhiping by the collar and tossed him onto the street like a chick.
As for Liu shi and the two women who were throwing a tantrum, Brother Li waved his fist, the size of a bowl, successfully silencing their curses.
Liu shi stumbled and almost fell. Looking at the snobbish clerk, she began to curse, “You blind fool! I’m pawning a blue-and-white ribboned moon-flask vase. One of those alone is worth ten taels of silver, and there are two yellow-ground blue-and-white fine-mouthed vases. If not for an urgent need, these three vases would be worth at least twenty taels!”
Liu shi had once been the mistress of the eldest branch, and her judgment was still sharp. The porcelain in the side room was of average quality and workmanship. To buy them would cost forty to fifty taels of silver, so pawning them for twenty taels was definitely a bargain.
Supporting Liu shi was her youngest daughter, Wei Wen, now a woman in her thirties. She also started cursing fiercely, “Give us back our vases! We’re not selling them anymore!”
Those who could open pawnshops usually had some backing. The clerk standing on the steps sneered, mockingly appraising the four of them, whose clothes were washed until they were pale. “You’ve delayed us for so long, and I’ve run out of words. You say you’re not pawning them, and that’s that? Three vases for five taels of silver. If you don’t want it, you won’t get a single coin!”
The clerk arrogantly threw a small silver ingot worth five taels at Liu shi’s face. “Get lost! If you dare to delay our business again, we’ll break your legs!”
Liu shi trembled with anger, but seeing the silver ingot that had fallen to the ground, she bent down to pick it up. However, in her anger, she felt her vision darken as she bent down and her body lurched forward.
“Whoa!” The coachman immediately reined in the horses. Fortunately, it was a street, and the carriage was not moving fast, so no one was hit.
Even so, seeing the horse’s raised hooves, Liu shi, who had fallen to the ground, let out a scream. Her emaciated old face instantly turned pale, and she even forgot the silver ingot in her hand.
A small beggar beside her quickly picked up the silver ingot, stuffed it into his embrace, and instantly disappeared into the crowd.
“Miss, don’t worry, no one was hit,” the coachman said in a low voice.
Inside the carriage, Zhan Feiyu gently patted Hong’er’s head. The little fellow had been startled and trembled.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing cry rang out. Although Liu shi was over sixty years old, she had a strong voice. “My silver? Which scoundrel stole my silver!”
Hong’er, who had just been comforted, trembled again and grabbed Zhan Feiyu’s sleeve.
It truly was a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road. Zhan Feiyu lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside, only to see Liu shi still sitting on the ground, cursing like a shrew.
Her second branch son, Wei Zhiping, who had accompanied her to the pawnshop, his wife Feng shi, and the two cousins Wei Wen and Wei Ning, no longer cared about cursing. The four of them quickly searched the ground for the silver.
The onlookers who had been watching the commotion earlier also lowered their heads. This was five taels of silver, more than what a pawnshop clerk earned in a month.
But after searching everywhere, the small silver ingot worth five taels had vanished from the ground.
“Stop looking. It’s probably already been picked up by someone. That’s five taels of silver, which is equivalent to my husband’s wages for three months,” an aunt pulled her companion, who was still looking, aside.
“My silver!” Liu shi cried, beating her thighs.
In recent years, the eldest and second branches had relied on pawning their dowries and doing laundry and mending work to barely make ends meet. Five taels of silver were enough for their entire family to live frugally for three months.
The pawnshop clerk couldn’t be bothered with this matter. He directly said to Wei Zhiping, “We’ve given you the silver. If you lose it, that’s your own problem. Hurry up and get lost, don’t stand at the door and delay our business.”
Brother Li, who was standing nearby, still had a fierce gaze, which made Wei Zhiping tremble a few times.
“You’re not allowed to leave! Pay me my silver!” Liu shi suddenly got up from the ground and grabbed the carriage shaft, shouting sternly, “How did you drive the carriage? You injured me and made me lose my silver, so pay me!”
Wei Zhiping and the others dared not act tough with the pawnshop, so the four of them surrounded the carriage.
“Yes, pay us! You hit my mother. You won’t leave without twenty taels of silver!” Wei Wen chimed in.
In those times, those who could afford a carriage were all wealthy people. Liu shi and the others were poor and desperate, and no longer cared about their reputation. As long as they could get some silver, it was fine.
Liu shi, at her age, had white hair scattered around her head. At this moment, she was clinging to the carriage shaft in a fit of pique. The coachman glanced at her but did not speak or act.
“Are you trying to extort money in broad daylight?” Zhan Feiyu poked her head out of the carriage, smiling at Liu shi and the others who were throwing a tantrum. “You fell yourself and startled my horse. So many eyes are watching. Or do you want to go to the yamen?”
“It’s you?” Liu shi’s face contorted with ferocious hatred as she looked at the smiling Zhan Feiyu.
Thinking that she would be adopted by Grand Tutor Wei and inherit hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, Liu shi, gritting her teeth, wished she could tear Zhan Feiyu apart.
Wei Wen also didn’t expect such a coincidence. However, she was no longer the pampered youngest daughter of the eldest branch. She had lived a hard life in recent years, and the娇气 (jiaoqi - pampered nature) of a young lady had been worn away, leaving only her shrewishness and a bit of cunning.
“Miss Zhan, regardless, my mother was almost hit by your carriage. She’s injured from the fall, and my mother is sixty-two years old. At her age, being startled like this might cause a serious illness,” Wei Wen said, wiping away tears with her rough hands, looking pitifully at Zhan Feiyu in the carriage and playing the sympathy card.
“Miss Zhan, please take pity on us and spare us a few taels of silver. Our belongings were taken by the pawnshop, and the five taels of silver were also picked up by someone. My mother doesn’t even have money for medical treatment. Our six or seven children can only drink water to fill their stomachs,” Wei Wen said. As she showed weakness, Wei Ning and Feng shi beside her also started to cry.
In contrast, Zhan Feiyu sat in the spacious carriage. The young lady was wearing a pink ruqun today, her hair braided from her temples and tied back, adorned with a circlet of pink pearls. Combined with her rosy lips, white teeth, and delicate features, she was clearly a pampered young lady.
Liu shi, at her age, had a face as withered as old tree bark. Wei Wen and the other two women also wore clothes that were washed until they were pale, and their heads lacked any decent ornaments. Thinking of the five taels of silver that had just been lost, people couldn’t help but feel sympathetic.
“Here is five taels of silver,” Zhan Feiyu took out碎银子 (suì yín zi - broken silver) from her purse and watched as Liu shi snatched it greedily. She then said again, “There’s nothing more. Don’t force me to report this to the authorities.”
“You?” Liu shi clenched the silver in her hand, still thinking Zhan Feiyu was easy to bully, after all, she was just a pampered young lady. If she threw a tantrum, she might extort two hundred taels, let alone twenty.
“Let’s go. Anyone who dares to block the carriage, whip them directly with the horsewhip. Even if they’re run over and killed, they deserve it. I’m not short of money, and I can afford to compensate,” Zhan Feiyu said with a smile, but her words sent a chill down one’s spine.
Liu shi, Wei Zhiping, and Wei Wen all felt a chill spreading from the soles of their feet. Despite it being summer, they felt a chilling cold.
The coachman raised his whip, and with a swish, the sound of the whip cutting through the air startled Liu shi, making her step back. The carriage moved forward again, and the life-fearing Liu shi and the others dared not block it anymore.