"There's something I need to take care of in Nanxuan Prefecture," Zhan Feiyu replied with a smile, following Liu Ye upstairs. It wasn't convenient to talk with so many guests coming and going.
In the flower hall on the second floor, Liu Ye quickly and clearly explained the situation of the shop. "Miss, can we expand the workshop and recruit more people? We simply don't have enough of these scented soaps to sell."
Especially the most common scented soaps, which could be used for washing hands and clothes. As daily consumables, they were used up quickly. A bar of scented soap would be finished in a month, so one could imagine the sheer quantity needed.
As for the premium grade, although expensive, many families bought them as gifts. After all, there were only Meirenzhuang shops in the capital and Jiangnan Dao, which led many people to include gift-boxed scented soaps in their gift sets for friends and relatives in other regions.
"Money can't be earned endlessly. Besides, scarcity makes things valuable. If it's sold out, we won't sell it. We'll sell it again when it's restocked," Zhan Feiyu was unconcerned. Money was necessary, but if one had too much to spend, it lost its meaning.
Seeing Liu Ye still unwilling to give up, Zhan Feiyu smiled and said, "The formula for scented soap isn't complicated; it's just that outsiders don't know it. If we expand production and someone makes a mistake, the formula might be leaked. It's better to be cautious."
The key parts of this formula were handled by people Gu Qingzhou had chosen and trusted. Zhan Feiyu didn't lack money and didn't need to take risks. If the formula were truly leaked, it would be a loss that outweighed the gain.
Hearing this, Liu Ye understood. Although a little disappointed, she had hoped to open a few more Meirenzhuang branches.
"What scented soap? Bah! This stuff is poisonous! Look at my wife's and my mother's hands, they're almost rotten!" Angry curses erupted from downstairs, and the previously noisy shop fell silent.
With half her body leaning out the window, Zhan Feiyu looked at the crowd gathered downstairs in surprise. "They're even using the Prince Yu's mansion's name, and someone still dares to cause trouble?"
Liu Ye stood up, her pretty face smiling, but her eyes were full of murderous intent. "Wealth moves people's hearts. Even if a few heads are chopped off, it won't stop their greed! Miss, I'll go down and handle it."
"A Nuan, let's go down and watch the excitement too," Zhan Feiyu said, her interest piqued.
At the entrance of Meirenzhuang, there was a crowd three layers deep. The mother and daughter-in-law crying on the ground wore patched clothes and had rough skin, clearly indicating they were common folk struggling to make a living.
The man shouting from the side was about thirty years old. If it weren't for the two strong men hired by Meirenzhuang who were skilled in martial arts, he probably would have rushed into the shop to smash things.
"Everyone, look! My wife and my mother's hands! They're so rotten that you can see the bones!" The man, who had been shouting ferociously moments ago, now choked up, even wiping his eyes.
The crowd took a closer look and gasped. Indeed, their hands were rotten to the bone. The cracked wounds on their fingers exposed the pink flesh beneath. The sight of these wounds made one feel pain.
This made those who had bought scented soap before instinctively look down at their own hands. If it were truly poisonous, wouldn't their hands also rot?
"No wonder my wife said her hands were itchy a few days ago. I thought she was pulling weeds in the vegetable patch and got blisters from poisonous plants. Could it be that the scented soap is poisonous?" someone in the crowd chimed in, causing a stir.
Several women who were about to buy scented soap suddenly felt their hands itching and couldn't help but scratch them.
Liu Ye didn't come forward directly. Instead, she first instructed the shop assistants to call for a doctor and specifically asked them to call doctors from nearby pharmacies. After all, Meirenzhuang wasn't short of money and could afford the consultation fees.
"These hands look quite terrifying," Zhan Feiyu said, leaning in for a closer look. She was indeed startled.
The surrounding crowd didn't expect a delicately carved little girl to appear. The man's eyes lit up, and he advised Zhan Feiyu, "Little girl, are you also here to buy scented soap? This scented soap is poisonous, so don't buy it. Look at your hands, they're so white and tender. How painful it would be if they were ruined!"
Indeed, many people had bought scented soap and used it to wash their children's hands. Children were mischievous, always climbing and playing, their hands as dirty as turtle claws, so they needed to be washed thoroughly.
Zhan Feiyu nodded with a serious expression, raised her own fair, plump little paws, and looked at them from left to right. "How strange. I bought scented soap from Meirenzhuang the first day they started selling it. I wash my hands with scented soap before every meal. My mother even calls me wasteful, saying I wash my hands five or six times a day, wasting both water and scented soap. But why haven't my hands rotted? Isn't it said that children's skin is the most delicate?"
The man's expression froze. He had only intended to scare the little girl into crying, not expecting her to be so foolish. Not only was she not afraid, but she dared to speak nonsense.
"Moreover, so many people come to buy scented soap, yet only your mother and wife's hands have rotted. Is it because your family has done too many bad deeds, and thus Heaven is punishing you?" Zhan Feiyu tilted her head and asked curiously, blinking her eyes as she scrutinized the three of them. She added unceremoniously, "Is this what they call divine retribution?"
Uh... The crowd, who had been afraid of their hands rotting, now looked at the three with suspicion.
Yes, everyone else was fine, and they hadn't heard of anyone's hands rotting from using scented soap. Could it be, as the little girl said, that these three were being punished by Heaven?
The man's face turned ashen with anger. If it weren't for the public eye, he would have slapped her. "How dare you talk nonsense!"
"Uncle, you smell of fish. Did your family really wash clothes with scented soap? That smell is wrong!" Zhan Feiyu spoke again, pointing a fair, plump finger at the man. "There are still fish scales on your trouser cuffs, and your mother and wife also smell of fish. Uncle, you're a fish vendor at the market, aren't you?"
His identity revealed, the man could only nod. "I sell fish. I heard the scented soap was good, so I bought a few bars for my mother and wife. Who knew that not only did the clothes not get clean, but the fishy smell on my hands wasn't washed off, yet my hands got washed rotten!"
"Elder, I have to suffer in my old age. It's not cold now, but if it were the dead of winter, with these wounds on my hands, this old body would probably die of pain," the old woman cried mournfully, as if her life would be forfeit if her hands rotted.
"Mother, don't be afraid. Your husband and I will find a doctor to cure you, even if we have to sell everything we own," the young wife said, wiping away tears, but her words were firm. She was clearly a filial daughter-in-law.
The man knelt before the old woman with a thud, knocking his forehead heavily on the ground. "Mother, it's my filial impiety that you have to work so hard at your age. Your son bought you scented soap to use, but it ended up harming your hands."
"My son, how could mother blame you? This is clearly the work of unscrupulous merchants harming your mother for profit. Even if my hands rot to the bone, I won't blame my son. Your filial piety is evident." The old woman reached out to stroke the man's head, but because her hands were injured, she trembled with pain with every touch.
"Old lady, do you believe in Buddhism?" As the family of three was crying bitterly, Zhan Feiyu's clear voice suddenly rang out, directly interrupting their tragic wailing.
"Buddhism says: killing too many lives ultimately leads to disaster. It's not that retribution doesn't come, but the time has not yet arrived. Your family sells and kills fish. Day in and day out, year after year, how many fish do you kill? Buddha says all beings are equal. A fish is a life. If you kill ten fish a day, it's equivalent to killing ten people!"
The onlookers' mouths twitched. Although Zhan Feiyu's words weren't entirely wrong, killing fish was different from killing people. However, seeing her earnestly spouting nonsense, they didn't interrupt.
"Moreover, some fish have roe in their bellies. If they hadn't died, they could have hatched hundreds or thousands of small fish, but they were all killed by your family of three with one knife. That's why retribution has come," Zhan Feiyu sighed, acting like a wise child.
Seeing that everyone didn't believe her, Zhan Feiyu continued, "There was once a family who also sold fish. They woke up early and went late to catch and sell fish. Their business was good, and they made a lot of money. Therefore, when their grandson got married, the old lady invited a virtuous monk to their home to chant scriptures."
Generally, people invited monks to chant scriptures during funerals to guide the souls of the deceased. However, some also invited monks during celebrations to pray for blessings and sow good fortune for the living.
"Little girl, continue," an old lady who believed in Buddhism couldn't help but say, urging Zhan Feiyu to continue. It was tantalizing to only hear the beginning of the story.
Zhan Feiyu nodded, her clear, small voice continuing, "This great monk was a virtuous monk with five eyes and six senses, able to see through people's past and present lives. On the morning of the grand celebration, as soon as he stepped through the door, he sighed deeply, said a few words, and turned to leave."
Strange, strange, grandson marries grandmother.
Pigs and sheep sit on the kang, relatives are boiled in the pot.
Daughter eats mother's flesh, son beats father's skin drum.
Guests come to celebrate, I see only suffering!
The people nearby also frowned, looking at Zhan Feiyu with unfriendly, even disgusted expressions. "Little girl, what do you mean by these words? What do you mean by grandson marries grandmother? You look so fair and tender, how can you speak such nonsense!"
How could the order of human relationships in the world be so disordered! Zhan Feiyu's words almost incited the wrath of the crowd. However, seeing Zhan Feiyu's demeanor, she was clearly not a child from an ordinary family. Even though the onlookers' faces were displeased, they dared not scold her casually.
Zhan Feiyu calmly explained to everyone, "This family's grandmother passed away many years ago. Before she died, she held her grandson's hand, very reluctant to let go."
The grandmother's voice was weak as she looked at her children and grandchildren, "You have all established yourselves, but my little grandson has no one to take care of him. What should I do? I cannot rest in peace..."
After saying this, she passed away. In the underworld, King Yama judged her: "Since you doted on your grandson so much, go back and be his wife to take care of him."
Thus, the grandmother was reborn as the grandson's wife. This is the cause and effect in the world.
After hearing the explanation, although the crowd was still unhappy, they understood a little. Zhan Feiyu's words spoke of cause and effect, sowing what you reap. If you commit too many sins, you will surely face evil retribution in the future!
Thinking of this, the crowd couldn't help but look at the mother and daughter-in-law whose hands were rotting to the bone. Could it really be because they had killed too many fish that retribution had come?
"Little girl, what were the words that followed?" the old lady pressed. She believed in Buddhism and practiced good deeds daily, all to accumulate blessings for her descendants.
Zhan Feiyu also delayed, quickly explaining to the old lady, "Pigs and sheep sit on the kang, relatives are boiled in the pot. This means that the pigs and sheep that were slaughtered before are now eating people to repay their past debts! The relatives who used to eat pigs and sheep are now being cut and cooked by people, repaying their debts in the pot."
"'Daughter eats mother's flesh': This means the pig being eaten was her mother in a past life; 'son beats father's skin drum': this donkey was his father in a past life." Zhan Feiyu spoke earnestly and meticulously.
Everyone involuntarily recalled whether they had done anything wrong and whether they would face retribution in the future.
"So your hands are rotten because you have killed too many!" Zhan Feiyu concluded, looking at the pale mother and daughter-in-law and shaking her head. "Moreover, you falsely accused Meirenzhuang of having poisonous scented soap for money. Aren't you afraid that all your flesh and skin will rot away?"
"I..." The old woman opened her mouth, but she was scared. At her age, she wasn't afraid of death, but she was afraid of retribution falling upon her son and grandson.
Zhan Feiyu said coldly, "Look at your son. He's talking nonsense. I suspect all his teeth will fall out."
"You're talking nonsense..." The man kneeling on the ground raised his head to angrily rebuke Zhan Feiyu for spreading superstitious nonsense, but he only felt a sharp pain in his mouth and cried out.
"Blood!"
"Teeth fell out!"
"Retribution has come..."
The crowd exclaimed in unison. They saw the man's mouth full of blood. He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, and a white tooth was clearly visible within it. This was retribution!
There were at least thirty to forty people围拢 at the entrance of Meirenzhuang. Now, not a single person spoke. Everyone stared intently at the man's bloody mouth, their hearts pounding. Could it be that he had truly slandered Meirenzhuang?
"The doctor is here..." someone shouted, and the surrounding crowd parted to make way.
Uh... The old doctor with a white beard was stunned. Weren't they supposed to be looking at rotten hands, but now his mouth was bleeding?
After a while, the man's bleeding stopped. Liu Ye also had four doctors examine the mother and daughter-in-law's rotten hands. She didn't forget Zhan Feiyu's instructions before she left. "Doctors, did you see? This person was just spouting lies. In broad daylight, under everyone's eyes, his teeth fell out. Doctors, you mustn't tell lies, or you will face retribution."
"Nonsense!" The middle-aged doctor frowned and rebuked. He looked at the arrogant Liu Ye and said coldly, "Children should not speak of strange and supernatural things! Do not spread superstitious nonsense here."
Liu Ye smiled indifferently and took a few steps back. "Then, Doctor, please proceed. If you face divine retribution, don't say I didn't warn you."
The middle-aged doctor ignored Liu Ye and proceeded to examine the mother and daughter-in-law's rotten hands. After a while, he said with a solemn expression, "You two have been poisoned. Your hands are infected with poison, which is why they are cracking."
After the middle-aged doctor finished speaking, he glared fiercely at the smiling Liu Ye. Just as he was about to open his medicine box to get out some ointment, his right hand, which was holding the medicine box, suddenly ached intensely. With a bang, the medicine box dropped to the ground, scattering its contents.
"See? Doctor, retribution has come!" Liu Ye pointed at the medicine box on the ground, smiling proudly.
The middle-aged doctor, who had dismissed it as an accident, was so angry he almost laughed. "Fine, if you don't believe me, let others examine them. Today, I'll see what retribution there is!"
The second doctor frowned but said nothing. He silently examined the mother and daughter-in-law and took their pulses. The conclusion he reached was the same as the middle-aged doctor: poisoned!
Liu Ye didn't get angry. Her beautiful face had raised eyebrows. "Then, Doctor, please prescribe the medicine?"
With a flick, the eyes of the surrounding crowd turned to the medicine box placed aside by the doctor. The first time might have been a coincidence, but it couldn't be a second time, could it?
The doctor hesitated. As soon as he picked up the medicine box with his right hand, his hand back ached intensely. With a clang, the medicine box fell to the ground again, hitting the doctor's foot.
Heavens, it was like seeing a ghost in broad daylight!
This time, not only the onlookers but also the two doctors who had dropped the medicine box were dumbfounded. The pain still lingered on their hands, but inexplicably, their hands felt as if they had been pricked by a knife tip.
The third young doctor's back prickled under everyone's gaze. His hands trembled slightly when taking pulses, and he looked guilty.
"It's poisoning," the young doctor said with a trembling voice, stating his diagnosis.
No one paid attention to him. Their gazes immediately fell on the medicine box placed beside him.
Liu Ye glanced around. There were people everywhere, inside and out. How had Miss managed this? However, Liu Ye wouldn't let the young doctor evade. She smiled and said, "Doctor, since you say it's poisoning, why don't you pick up the medicine box and let us see if there's any divine retribution!"
One or two could be considered coincidences, but not three. It couldn't be that all three were coincidences! The crowd didn't speak, but their eyes clearly conveyed that if he didn't pick up the medicine box today, he wouldn't be allowed to leave.
"I..." The young doctor trembled a few more times, but the situation was beyond his control. He could only extend his right hand and pick up the medicine box. "Ah!"
A scream rang out. The young doctor let out a terrified cry, loosened his grip, and the medicine box clanged to the ground.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it! It was truly like seeing a ghost, or perhaps the three doctors were all lying and framing Meirenzhuang, thus incurring retribution!
The last old doctor dared not take pulses. He rolled his eyes and fainted from fright.
Such bizarre and strange events happening before their eyes made people unable to disbelieve. The man and his mother and wife with rotten hands had also slipped away unnoticed at some point, likely terrified.
A quarter of an hour later, the three returned home. The old woman and the young daughter-in-law went back to their rooms to lie down.
The man wiped his face fiercely, thinking of what had happened in front of Meirenzhuang, and cursed, "It's really like seeing a ghost... ghost... there's a ghost!"
A terrified scream erupted. The man ran madly towards the door, and behind him, a cleaver appeared out of thin air and chased after him.
As he was about to reach the courtyard gate, the man looked back. The blood-stained cleaver was actually chasing him. The man's eyes almost popped out. He let out another terrified cry and scrambled out.
Running too fast, the unsteady man tripped and fell to the ground with a thud. Behind him, there was also a clang. The neighbors, hearing the shouts, came out to see. They only saw the man lying on the ground with a blood-stained cleaver behind him, and they were startled.
"Did he encounter a bandit?" The timid ones hid by their doors, fearing that the bandit hadn't left and would come back with a cleaver to kill people.
"Ghost! There's a ghost!" the man wailed in terror on the ground. Terrified, the neighbors who were about to help him up smelled urine. Upon closer inspection, the man had wet himself from fear.
In just half a day, the news spread through the streets and alleys of Nanxuan Prefecture. Initially, it was about what happened in front of the Meirenzhuang shop, and then it spread to the man being scared urinated by a ghost.
...
Chen Family Rice Shop was the largest rice shop in Nanxuan Prefecture. Unlike ordinary shops, a rice shop couldn't do business without a powerful backer.
Take the transportation of rice and flour, for example. Without strong connections in the canal transport, it was uncertain whether a whole boat of rice could safely reach the dock.
Moreover, Jiangnan Dao was a major rice-producing region. Therefore, to sell at a good price, rice had to be sent to other places. This was how prices could be driven up. Thus, every year when new rice came into the market, rice shops had to spend a large amount of silver to acquire rice.
Ordinary merchants couldn't afford such a sum. Chen Family Rice Shop had branches in several prefectures and counties in Jiangnan Dao. Every time they acquired new rice, it involved tens of thousands of taels of silver, and sometimes over a hundred thousand taels.
Chen Fatty, who was feasting heartily, threw his chopsticks onto the table, his appetite gone. "Say that again?"
"Yes, young master." Chai Yi, standing by, repeated the words. "Those three went to the yamen to surrender themselves, claiming they were bribed to frame Meirenzhuang. The fifty taels of silver were confiscated by the yamen, and they were each given thirty board strokes."
"Is his brain made of paste?" Chen Fatty shouted angrily, jumping up. His two hundred pounds of fat jiggled. "Even if it's Prince Yu's mansion's shop, so what? This is Jiangnan Dao, my Chen family's territory. Even dragons have to curl up here, and tigers have to crouch!"
Old Master Chen was not of the direct lineage of the Chen family but a collateral relative within five degrees of kinship. However, as long as they bore the surname Chen, they could act with impunity in Jiangnan Dao, as they were the maternal relatives of the First Prince!
Chai Yi waited until Chen Fatty's anger subsided before quietly relaying the rumors from the streets. "All three of them were scared out of their wits, fearing retribution, so they went to the yamen to surrender."
If you do nothing wrong, you won't fear knocking on your door! This was not doing nothing wrong, but fearing retribution. Compared to money, their own lives were more important.
Chen Fatty, whose small bean-like eyes were squeezed together due to his extreme obesity, tried to widen them. He murmured to Chai Yi, "People actually believe such ghost stories?"
Chai Yi had also found it absurd after hearing it, but the fact was that the people of Nanxuan Prefecture believed it.
The rumors spread like wildfire. Not only did Meirenzhuang's business remain unaffected, but the business of other shops in the market also improved. Especially the small stalls, their prices were incredibly fair, and they treated everyone honestly.
"So, even if I offered money, no one would dare to cause trouble at Meirenzhuang?" Chen Fatty, despite his gluttony, was still sharp. He realized there would be trouble. If Meirenzhuang was doing well, how could he play the hero to save the beauty? How could he make Manager Liu throw herself into his arms?
"Yes, young master. These methods probably won't work anymore." Chai Yi was also very annoyed. He had originally planned to use the young master to deal with Manager Liu. Then, the young master would win the beauty, and the scented soap formula would fall into his hands. Who would have thought that such a bizarre incident would happen?
Chen Fatty slapped the table with his hands, which were as plump as pig trotters, and said angrily, "Find some medicine. I'll go myself! They're afraid of ghosts, but I'm not!"
If the First Prince ascended the throne in the future, he would be the true Son of Heaven. Half of his blood was from the Chen family. This meant the Chen family would also be protected by dragon energy. What else did they need to fear from ghosts and spirits?
Chai Yi didn't expect Chen Fatty to act personally. However, finding such medicine was not easy, especially if it couldn't harm the young master's hands. Therefore, Chai Yi decided to go to Huang Li and ask her to return to the Huang family to secretly obtain the medicine.
...
Leaving without a trace, having hidden his merits and fame!
After Zhan Feiyu had resolved the issue for Meirenzhuang once and for all, she sent a calling card to the Zhang Mansion. Since she was in Nanxuan Prefecture, she naturally had to pay a visit to Prefect Zhang.
"Miss, this way," the head steward of the Zhang Mansion was the one guiding her, indicating the importance Prefect Zhang placed on Zhan Feiyu.
"Thank you for your trouble," Zhan Feiyu nodded slightly, taking the opportunity to survey the Zhang Mansion.
Prefect Zhang was an incorruptible official, but his mansion was exquisitely decorated. It was likely the credit of Madam Zhang, as Lord Zhang came from a family of scholars and farmers. Even with all his salary, he couldn't build such an exquisite and magnificent mansion.
"Ran Mo, is that a little girl? Why is she going to the front courtyard?" From a distance, on the viewing pavilion on the second floor, a woman in a pink ruqun exclaimed in shock. In her shock, she even forgot her composure.
The maidservant called Ran Mo, who was only fourteen or fifteen years old, also stretched her neck to look, equally shocked as if she had seen a ghost. "Could she be the eldest young lady's friend? But even so, she should go to the back courtyard. And why is the head steward guiding her! Miss, could the rumors be true? Is the master really looking for a son-in-law for the eldest young lady, and thus even her friends can go to the front courtyard!"
The rules in noble families were strict, especially with Madam Kong managing the household. The front and back courtyards were clearly separated. The moon gates at both ends of the corridor were guarded by servants, and after nightfall, both gates would be locked to ensure that people from the front and back courtyards could not intrude.
"I want to tell the old madam," Bao Lian'er said, holding up her skirt and walking downstairs. Saying she was going to tell Old Madam Zhang was no different from lodging a complaint.
The manager was Madam Zhang, and now a seven or eight-year-old girl was being taken to the front courtyard. Wasn't this a dereliction of duty on the part of the lady of the house?
In the main hall where guests were being received, Prefect Zhang sat at the head seat, looking at Zhan Feiyu with a complex and strange expression. Thinking of the rumors of the past two days, Prefect Zhang really couldn't imagine how Zhan Feiyu, with her composure and intelligence, could have done something so outrageous.
"My lord, I ask for your indulgence for any impropriety," Zhan Feiyu had to stand up, bow, and apologize, as the act of pretending to be a ghost was her doing.
"It's alright. I believe that for a short time, there will be no more cheating and deception in Nanxuan Prefecture," Prefect Zhang waved his hand dismissively, signaling Zhan Feiyu to sit down and talk.
How many people had wanted to become disciples of Scholar Gu in the past, but were all rejected? Even the wild scholar Ming San was the same.
Although they had only interacted a few times, the talent of Young Master Ming San was evident to all. Prefect Zhang couldn't help but wonder if it was because these people acted too properly that Scholar Gu disliked them?
After all, no scholar would do something like pretending to be a ghost, and what's more, they did it so convincingly that no flaws could be found! The fish vendor who took the silver was almost scared silly. It was said that he couldn't even look at a cleaver now and would cry out "ghost!" at the sight of one.
"How is your preparation for the prefecture examination in April?" Prefect Zhang got down to business. The county examination in Shangsi County had been full of problems, making Prefect Zhang suspect that there might be even greater trouble in the prefecture examination in April.
Clearly noticing Prefect Zhang's strange gaze, Zhan Feiyu could only suppress her embarrassment and answer earnestly, "This student will do their utmost."
"Do not worry about others not knowing you; do what you know cannot be done. Where does this sentence come from? How should it be interpreted?" After some pleasantries, Prefect Zhang, like all scholars under heaven, would always test promising young juniors with talent in scholarship.
This was a direct intercepting question. Fortunately, Zhan Feiyu wrote essays every day, so she immediately entered the state. "Do not worry about others not knowing you. This sentence comes from 'The Analects: Xue Er,' where Confucius said: 'Do not worry about others not knowing you; worry about not knowing others.'"
This means Confucius said: "Do not worry about others not knowing you; worry about not knowing others."
Zhan Feiyu glanced at the door and continued, "The second sentence comes from 'The Analects: Xian Wen.'"
Zi Lu stayed overnight at Shi Men.
The gatekeeper asked, "Where are you from?"
Zi Lu replied, "From Confucius."
The gatekeeper said, "Is he the one who knows what cannot be done yet still does it?"
These two sentences combined, the question's general meaning is: Do not worry about others not knowing you; you only need to be the person who knows something cannot be done yet still does it. The original intention of this question refers to Confucius's persistent and unyielding spirit.
Zhan Feiyu's interpretation should be based on this. Others may not understand you, perhaps misunderstand you, or even criticize and blame you more severely, but you need to have firm beliefs and clear goals, not be influenced by outsiders or external things, and be firm and persistent.
At this moment, the people outside the main hall were completely confused and didn't understand what Zhan Feiyu was saying or what Prefect Zhang was instructing her.
"Yi'er, did you understand?" Bao Lian'er asked softly, looking expectantly at her younger brother Bao Yi, who was holding an essay.
As the saying goes, wearing a dragon robe does not make one a crown prince. At this moment, Bao Yi perfectly embodied this meaning. Even though he was wearing a brocade robe and a jade crown, his timid appearance made him look petty.
"I'm good at poetry, and I'm just starting with essays," Bao Yi defended himself with a bitter face. He seemed to feel that his words made sense. His previously hunched body suddenly straightened up. That's right, it was normal for him not to understand since he started studying late.
"Yi'er is right. Lian'er, don't just stare at Yi'er studying. Our family doesn't rely solely on the imperial examinations. What's good about being a pedantic scholar? Later, your cousin will find you a position in the yamen, marry and have children early, and continue the Bao family lineage!" The old madam, leaning on her cane, said proudly, her eyes darting to the back. The words "have children" were clearly directed at Madam Zhang, Kong Shi.
"Aunt, don't worry. I remember. I will definitely have many chubby boys to make Aunt happy." Bao Yi's voice became even louder. He wasn't good at studying, but he was definitely capable of having children! Even if this woman wasn't pretty, it didn't matter; they were all the same when the candle was blown out!
Old Madam Zhang immediately became happy and excitedly patted Bao Yi's arm. "Yes, as expected of a good son of the Bao family. Yi'er, don't worry, Aunt will pick out several girls for you. They will have slender waists and big hips, and they will all be good at bearing children."
In the main hall, Zhan Feiyu, who was answering the question, stared blankly at Prefect Zhang, the words "slender waist and big hips" echoing in her ears...
Prefect Zhang almost couldn't maintain his expression. Precisely because he knew his mother was unreliable, he hadn't taken Zhan Feiyu to the back courtyard. After all, if she met his wife, he couldn't not pay respects to Old Madam Zhang, the elder.
But despite Prefect Zhang's best efforts to prevent it, Old Madam Zhang not only came to the front courtyard but also spoke of childbearing at the entrance of the main hall.
Looking at the stunned Zhan Feiyu with her mouth agape, Prefect Zhang felt his face had been utterly disgraced. He would never have the face to test Zhan Feiyu again.
Outside the door, before Kong Shi could stop her, Old Madam Zhang had already blurted everything out.
Kong Shi suppressed her agitated emotions, her expression gentle and proper as she advised, "Mother, there is a guest here. Let's say these things in private."
Old Madam Zhang was displeased, her neck stiffening, and a string of words came out again. "What kind of guest is this little girl? She has no manners. How can a female guest come to the front courtyard! Moreover, since she's visiting, why isn't she accompanied by an elder? And she came empty-handed. She claims to be visiting, but I think she's more like a freeloader!" Sitting at the head seat, Old Madam Zhang, likely very displeased with the little girl, began to reprimand her.
This was Lord Zhang's mother. Even if her words were inappropriate, she was still an elder. For the sake of the elder, Zhan Feiyu still kept her head down, acting obediently. "Old Madam is right. I have noted it."
Prefect Zhang felt his face had been shattered into pieces, beyond repair. Yet, this was his widowed mother who had raised him with great hardship, and she was stubborn. If Prefect Zhang dared to refute her even slightly at this moment, Old Madam Zhang would throw a tantrum, cry, and threaten to hang herself.
If Zhan Feiyu had refuted her, Old Madam Zhang would have been furious. But her obedience made the old madam feel like she was punching cotton, stifled. Her face instantly darkened.
"Mother," Kong Shi, seeing this, knew it was bad. She spoke first, "Mother, Zhan Xiaogu's teacher holds an official position in the capital. Whether her husband can be transferred back to the capital in the future depends on whether Lord Gu is willing to help."
Compared to Nanxuan Prefecture, Old Madam Zhang naturally preferred the capital. That was where the Emperor lived, and it was prestigious to mention it. Thus, looking at Zhan Feiyu, Old Madam Zhang's eyes lit up.
"Little girl, how old are you? Although you're a bit plump, your physique looks strong. My Yi'er is not yet engaged. Since we met today, it's fate..."
Old Madam Zhang looked at Zhan Feiyu as if she were a golden娃娃. Even with Prefect Zhang and Kong Shi speaking one after another, they couldn't interrupt Old Madam Zhang's words.
Who am I? Where am I? Zhan Feiyu found her mind insufficient for the first time. When the words "slender waist and big hips" fell upon her from Old Madam Zhang's mouth, Zhan Feiyu was once again petrified.
"Cheng Li, quickly write a letter to finalize the marriage. You can be promoted in the future, and Yi'er doesn't need to study anymore. Let his teacher find him a good position!" Old Madam Zhang became more and more excited as she thought about it. This marriage was excellent! Yi'er would have a strong backer, and then she would see how Kong Shi could show off her smugness!
"Lord Zhang, I'll take my leave now," Zhan Feiyu said with a blank expression. If she didn't leave, she feared she might give birth.
Prefect Zhang waved his hand; he was too exhausted to speak.
Kong Shi, having lost face not for the first time, was accustomed to it. She stood up, her demeanor gentle and graceful, "I'll see you out."
Madam Zhang is so formidable! This is true composure under immense pressure! Zhan Feiyu and Prefect Zhang looked at Kong Shi with admiration, realizing their own willpower was insufficient.
"I..." Old Madam Zhang hadn't finished speaking. She wanted to give Zhan Feiyu a betrothal gift, but seeing her leave so quickly, Old Madam Zhang didn't insist, saving some good things.
"Cousin," a sweet voice rang out. Bao Lian'er looked up, gazing admiringly at Prefect Zhang, and walked over, twisting her slender waist. "The tea is finished. I'll pour tea for Cousin."
Bao Lian'er stumbled, cried out "Ah!", and lunged towards Prefect Zhang with the teapot in her hands.
Prefect Zhang, who had just felt his face lost, hadn't reacted yet. His chest was already wet with tea. Fortunately, he had regained his senses. As Bao Lian'er fell towards him, he pushed her, a weak and boneless Bao Lian'er, away.
"Mother, my clothes are wet. I'll go back and change before going to the prefectural office," he said, and then strode towards the door, giving a look to the old steward beside him.
Over fifty years old, yet still needing to protect the lord's chastity as he had done twenty to thirty years ago, the old steward stood proudly outside the room, along with two strong young servants, ensuring no one could intrude into the bedroom so that the lord could change into clean clothes smoothly.
"I..." Old Madam Zhang's words were not finished. She still wanted to give Zhan Feiyu a betrothal gift, but seeing her leave so quickly, Old Madam Zhang did not insist, saving some good things.
"Cousin." A sweet voice rang out. Bao Lian'er looked up, gazing admiringly at Prefect Zhang, and walked over, twisting her slender waist. "The tea is finished. I'll pour tea for Cousin."
Bao Lian'er stumbled, cried out "Ah!", and lunged towards Prefect Zhang with the teapot in her hands.
Prefect Zhang, who had just felt his face lost, hadn't reacted yet. His chest was already wet with tea. Fortunately, he had regained his senses. As Bao Lian'er fell towards him, he pushed her, a weak and boneless Bao Lian'er, away.
"Mother, my clothes are wet. I'll go back and change before going to the prefectural office," he said, and then strode towards the door, giving a look to the old steward beside him.
Over fifty years old, yet still needing to protect the lord's chastity as he had done twenty to thirty years ago, the old steward stood proudly outside the room, along with two strong young servants, ensuring no one could intrude into the bedroom so that the lord could change into clean clothes smoothly.
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