Chapter 12

The entrance to the village was in an uproar, and at the same time, a quarrel was erupting in the Jiang household.

Ever since Jiang Mo had swallowed his pride to ingratiate himself with the magistrate's daughter, he had been treated like a servant by her circle. He could still vividly recall the cutting words they had hurled at him.

"Look at what he's wearing. My servants wouldn't even touch such rags."

"And he thinks he’s qualified to attend the same academy as us? A mountain pheasant will always be a mountain pheasant."

Jiang Mo knew that these insults were secretly orchestrated by He Sisi. She loved to maintain an air of superiority, looking down on those she deemed beneath her, only to then feign kindness by interjecting, "Oh, leave him be. He’s quite pathetic, after all."

In the end, the bully was praised by everyone as kind and magnanimous.

Jiang Mo gritted his teeth. When no one was watching, his gaze toward He Sisi was filled with malice. Heaven knew how much he longed to smash a rock against her head while her back was turned, or to push her into a pool and watch with a satisfied smile as she slowly drowned.

But Jiang Mo could only imagine it. After all, he had just begged He Sisi to bring him to her birthday banquet. That was the magistrate’s daughter’s birthday party—a gathering of sons from wealthy families—and it was likely his only chance to rise in the world.

At the mere thought of those benefits, Jiang Mo’s eyes turned bloodshot.

Taking advantage of the fact that Jiang Shunde was away, he pulled Liu Guihua aside and whispered, "Mother, do you have any money? If you do, give me ten or twenty taels."

If he wanted to enter the magistrate's estate and catch the eye of the elite, he had to look the part.

Liu Guihua’s mouth fell open in shock. Ten or twenty taels—that was what a rural family earned in an entire year. How could she possibly come up with that?

"My son, why do you need so much money? Are you being bullied or coerced by someone?"

Jiang Mo looked at his mother’s impoverished appearance with impatience. "What do you know? The magistrate’s daughter has already promised to take me to her birthday banquet. This is my best chance to make a name for myself. Once I marry into a wealthy family, do you think I’ll be short of these twenty taels?"

He prided himself on his intellect, believing he was no less capable than anyone else; he had plenty of confidence.

Liu Guihua looked troubled. "You know how it is—your father holds the money. It’s not easy to squeeze a copper out of him. Besides, twenty taels is no small sum."

The last time they had paid for his schooling, it had been a significant expense; neither mother nor son dared to ask Jiang Shunde for money again.

But suddenly, a sinister thought took root in Jiang Mo’s mind. He whispered into Liu Guihua’s ear, and as she listened, a touch of ruthlessness appeared in her eyes.

***

The commotion caused by the Li family sending hired thugs was the talk of the village, and He Laoer and Zhao Xiang lay in bed hurling curses at each other.

The younger men had gone to fetch a doctor, while the remaining women and husbands gathered at He Laoer’s house to gawk, whispering in hushed tones.

He Laoer, despite having a broken leg, used his good one to kick Zhao Xiang viciously. "You wretched woman! I’ll divorce you right now! You ruin of a woman!"

Zhao Xiang was bruised and battered herself, and after already suffering one beating, she was even more furious at her cowardly husband. She spat back, "Pah! You? Take a look at yourself—if you divorce me, who else would ever want a man like you?"

Though she spoke with bravado, she was terrified inside. Her own brother was sickly, and if she were truly divorced, her parents would never take her back. The only reason she held her head high was the fact that she had given the He family a son who studied, which was the backbone of her status.

Speak of the devil: the crowd watching the scene suddenly parted. The person approaching was not the doctor, but He Jun—the son Zhao Xiang had been pinning all her hopes on.

Seeing her long-absent son, Zhao Xiang’s grievances surged, and she began to cry and laugh at the same time.

"My son, you’re finally back! If you hadn’t returned, your mother would have been beaten to death. This old good-for-nothing father of yours is trying to divorce me!"

Zhao Xiang wailed so loudly that it made everyone’s ears ache.

One of the women in the room said to He Jun, "It’s a good thing you’re back; otherwise, your father would have really divorced your mother."

Looking at his gloomy father and wailing mother, He Jun felt no pity, only irritation and fear that their actions would ruin his own future.

He looked down at his parents, his eyes cold and impatient. "I’m asking you: where has He Qiaoqiao run off to?"

Zhao Xiang’s wailing stopped abruptly. The room fell silent as she looked around nervously. "How would I know? Your sister was swindled by those heartless people; naturally, she had to run. Did you expect her to stay and suffer?"

He Jun’s expression darkened. With a loud thud, he slammed his book bag down in front of Zhao Xiang, startling her and the others in the room.

"What’s happened?" someone asked, emboldened by curiosity.

He Jun pointed to the bag. "The Li family invested in the academy’s construction. They’ve banned me from attending. Do you expect me to go and beg them?"

So that was it. A collective sigh of regret rippled through the room.

The opportunity to study was so rare; many people spent their whole lives without even earning the title of a scholar. Now, He Jun’s bright future had been completely buried by his own parents.

Zhao Xiang was struck with terror. She relied most on her studious son. Now that he had been expelled, her last bit of leverage was gone.

"My son, but Qiaoqiao is your sister! Are you just going to watch her jump into a pit of fire?" She reached out to grab his hand, weeping.

He Jun shook her off, turning his face away coldly. "She’s just a girl; she’ll be married off sooner or later. What difference does it make who she marries? The Li family is wealthy and powerful—did they wrong her?"

"Choose between me and her."

Zhao Xiang was appalled, as if seeing this son for the first time, as if she had never realized his ruthlessness. She opened her eyes wide, unable to speak for a moment.

With He Jun’s ultimatum laid bare, He Laoer gave Zhao Xiang a fierce slap. "I should have kicked you and that money-losing wretch out long ago! I’m telling you, if Jun’er can’t study, you get out tomorrow."

The onlookers couldn't bear to watch any longer and pulled Zhao Xiang away to prevent her from being beaten to death.

Zhao Xiang lost her earlier spirit, and now she could only lie on the bed, sobbing. Both her children were flesh of her flesh; whichever one she lost, the pain was her own.

There was no doctor in Qingmiao Village, so they had to go to the neighboring Taohua Village, which took an hour each way. By the time the doctor arrived, the crowd had dispersed.

Jiang Yun and Liu Yu were walking along the field ridges. The evening breeze lifted the stray hair on Jiang Yun’s forehead, revealing the jagged scar beneath.

Liu Yu looked at him with concern. "It is most taboo for a young man to have a scar on his face. Come back with me; I’ll get you my older brother’s medicine."

Jiang Yun shook his head. "That wouldn't be right."

"You’re injured like this, and you’re still worried about what’s right or wrong? Besides, my brother has already returned to the county seat to prepare for the provincial examinations in a few days. Before he left, he specifically entrusted me to look after you."

Jiang Yun looked up, stunned, staring at Liu Yu, not grasping the hidden meaning behind those words of care.

Liu Yu, being of an impatient temperament, didn’t wait for his refusal and simply dragged him along.

Night fell, and the homes of Qingmiao Village extinguished their lamps, sinking into sleep. A figure appeared at the entrance of the village, stumbling. It was none other than He Qiaoqiao, who had escaped through the back door of the Li estate.

When the Li family’s sedan chair had come to receive her, she had been adorned in gold and silver, expecting a life of luxury and prestige.

Now, she had to sneak back home. He Qiaoqiao had waited until the villagers were asleep before daring to appear, hiding in a haystack, stifling her sobs for fear of being heard.

She feared the judgmental gazes of the others, and she feared that the Li family might still be out looking for her.

He Qiaoqiao had taken all the gold and silver the Li family had given her when she left. She had decided that if she couldn't live a good life, at least she had a mother who planned for her.

With this money, even if she never married, she could lead a good life with her mother. Besides, once her brother passed the examinations, she would be the sister of a top scholar—then who would dare say she couldn't marry well?

He Laoer’s house, having survived its own catastrophe, was also silent. He Laoer lay in bed; the doctor who came in the afternoon had said that his leg would likely never fully heal, and he would limp for the rest of his life.

He Laoer vented all his anger on Zhao Xiang. The two had fought again in front of their son, He Jun, who merely stood to the side, watching coldly.

By now, Zhao Xiang couldn't even get onto the bed and could only lie on the floor in silence, enduring the pain.

Outside the courtyard, He Qiaoqiao saw the house was dark and let out a sigh of relief, guessing the Li family hadn't done anything to her parents, otherwise, why would they be asleep so early?

She weighed the gold and silver jewelry she had taken, and with confidence, knocked on her family’s door.

The door was opened by her mother, tears streaming down her face. Having escaped disaster, He Qiaoqiao finally let out her grievances, sobbing as she hugged Zhao Xiang. "Mother, you don’t know how much they deceived me..."

When she was to marry the Li family’s eldest son, she had worn a red veil on the wedding night, excited and shy.

Who would have known that when the veil was lifted, she would see a lecherous, wrinkled face? Panicked, she had grabbed a vase and smashed it on Master Li’s head, knocking him unconscious, and then escaped while everyone was drunk.

Listening to her daughter’s ordeal, Zhao Xiang wept and cursed, "Those inhuman people, to make my daughter suffer so!"

He Qiaoqiao wiped her tears and said happily, "Fortunately, when I left, I took some jewelry. If we exchange these, it will be enough for us to live well for half a lifetime. Once my brother excels, we will be set."

She placed the items on the table. Just as she turned around, a hemp rope was tightened around her neck, leaving her unable to move.

He Qiaoqiao couldn't make a sound; reflected in her pupils was her brother’s cold, ruthless face.

Zhao Xiang urged him, "Be careful, you’re going to strangle your sister!"

He Qiaoqiao was bound tightly with the rope and thrown to the ground, a cloth stuffed into her mouth. She couldn't utter a sound, her eyes filled with terror and astonishment.

She shook her head, struggling, unable to believe that the ones binding her were her own mother and brother.

He Jun rubbed his hands, which had been cut by the hemp rope. "To avoid further trouble, we will send her back to the Li estate tonight. That way, the fifty taels you owe will be forgotten. The villagers will know nothing, thinking she simply came to her senses and returned."

He Qiaoqiao struggled, her eyes filled with horror as she looked at her brother, unable to believe what was happening.

She looked to Zhao Xiang for help, only to hear her mother say, "Qiaoqiao, Mother has no other choice. Your brother’s path to schooling was cut off by the Li family. If you don’t go back, his future is ruined. Can you bear to see your brother’s life destroyed? At least as a concubine in the Li estate, you won’t have to worry about food or clothing."

Her last straw of hope snapped. The light in He Qiaoqiao’s eyes flickered like the dying candle on the table and slowly extinguished.

She was taken back to the Li estate by He Jun and Zhao Xiang in the dead of night. On the silent, dark mountain road, no one knew what transpired. The next day, the villagers only heard that the Li family had found He Qiaoqiao, that the fifty taels were no longer being pursued, and that He Jun was able to return to the academy to study.