If not for the rumor of Master Lin poisoning his wife, Zhan Feiyu would have revealed her deductions. All signs pointed to Wang Linlang as the murderer. After all, she could use the time spent picking flowers to gather mushrooms, and since Madam Lu managed the kitchen, Wang Linlang could also seize the opportunity to dry and grind the mushrooms into powder, eventually adding them to Madam Lin's food or tea.
However, if she spoke now, Master Lin would surely report it to the authorities. This was all circumstantial evidence, and the outside world would say that Master Lin, to absolve himself, was shifting the blame for murder onto a young girl like Wang Linlang. After all, Wang Linlang was only twelve years old; who would believe she was a murderer? What would be her motive? Did she come to visit her aunt and fancy her cousin, then poison her aunt to pursue a marriage? This was too far-fetched.
Moreover, with Wang Linlang's delicate and gentle appearance, coupled with her ability to shed tears before speaking, not only would she be unable to be accused of murder, but Master Lin's reputation would also suffer further.
After leaving the private school, Zhan Feiyu returned home to change out of her mourning clothes before taking a bullock cart to the county yamen. She wanted to ask Constable Fei about the details of the rumor that Master Lin had poisoned his wife.
It was noon.
"Xiao Yu, it's rare for our constable to treat us to a meal. Why aren't you ordering more dishes?" Constable Zhao sidled up to Zhan Feiyu and whispered, urging her. Seeing Constable Fei sipping tea, he quietly reminded her, "The 'Golden Fish Playing with Lotuses' here is perfect for young girls."
"Is this not enough?" Zhan Feiyu looked speechlessly at Constable Zhao, who was winking and nudging her. The three of them had already ordered five dishes and one soup.
"Not enough!" Constable Zhao quickly said, "Do you think 'Golden Fish Playing with Lotuses' is actual fish? It's actually shrimp. They mince the shrimp meat and shape it to look like fish. One bite and your tongue will be so tender it falls off."
Savoring the memory of the delicious dish, Constable Zhao's mouth watered as he gazed eagerly at Zhan Feiyu.
"Constable Zhao, do you like shrimp?" As soon as Zhan Feiyu asked, Constable Zhao nodded his head like a pecking chick.
"He's poor," Constable Fei said, unable to bear watching his foolish subordinate. Zhan Feiyu was only eight years old, or was it him? For a mouthful of food, he had completely disgraced the yamen.
This was a powerful reason! Zhan Feiyu looked sympathetically at the dejected Constable Zhao. However, the dishes at Taifu Restaurant were indeed not cheap.
"Add another 'Golden Fish Playing with Lotuses'," Constable Fei's words were like a magic elixir. Constable Zhao instantly revived, grinning. He obsequiously picked up the teapot and poured water for Constable Fei, as the one paying was the boss.
After the waiter left, Zhan Feiyu finally spoke, "Constable Fei, is it true that Wang Linlang came to the private school to avoid trouble?"
Madam Lin was poisoned, and Wang Linlang and Madam Lu were the most suspected. Constable Fei had also sent his men to Hua County to investigate Wang Linlang's situation.
"Indeed. This matter caused quite a stir in Hua County. Zhao San, the nephew of Magistrate Zhao, frequently went to the Wang family to look for her, even bringing matchmakers to their door." Constable Fei looked down on Magistrate Zhao. If he had truly disciplined his nephew, Zhao San would not have dared to commit such scoundrel acts of bullying men and dominating women.
It was also because the Wang family was wealthy and Wang Linlang was young that Zhao San, despite his troublemaking, did not dare to forcibly take her. However, even so, Wang Linlang's reputation was ruined. Which good family would be willing to marry her in the future? Perhaps it would indeed turn out as Zhao San wished.
Looking at Zhan Feiyu, whose eyes were still red and swollen, Constable Fei said again, "Madam Lu is the steward of the Sixth Miss Wang. She was formerly a servant of the Sixth Miss Wang's mother and had been by their side for nearly twenty years."
Wang Linlang's mother came from a brothel and was an illegitimate daughter. She had bought Madam Lu and two young maids from a matchmaking agency, along with a middle-aged man who worked as a gatekeeper and handyman.
Later, after Wang's mother passed away, only Madam Lu followed Wang Linlang to the Wang family. If Wang Linlang had an accomplice, it would undoubtedly be Madam Lu. Of course, it was also possible that Madam Lu was the mastermind, given her age.
With a clap of the gavel, the storyteller in the main hall loudly announced, "Esteemed audience, today I will speak of the Zhang family in Sanjing Lane..."
As soon as he began, the patrons in the main hall became instantly excited, throwing copper coins onto the stage one after another.
"Stop playing coy, hurry up and tell us!"
"Tell it brilliantly, and I will reward you handsomely later."
"Could it be that Old Master Zhang really..."
Zhan Feiyu, sitting at a corner table, looked over in confusion. These people were as excited as if they had taken drugs, not like they were there to eat, but more like they were there to listen to a storyteller.
Constable Fei frowned. He had brought Zhan Feiyu to eat, but he hadn't expected this to happen.
Every five days, there would be performances on the stage at Taifu Restaurant. Most of them were instrumental music and singing, and occasionally storytellers would perform. However, today's performance was about the Zhang family.
"Uncle Fei, shall we come back later?" Constable Zhao also felt awkward, looking at the bewildered Zhan Feiyu and wishing he could cover her ears.
These dirty matters were fine to discuss in private, but to have a storyteller comment on them publicly? Taifu Restaurant had no regard for its reputation just to make money.
"Eighteen brides for an eighty-year-old groom, white hair against a red veil. In a mandarin duck quilt, a night of togetherness, a pear blossom pressing upon a peony. Speaking of Old Master Zhang, he is eighty-three this year..." The storyteller's voice was sonorous and rhythmic. The diners in the hall stopped their chopsticks, all listening with their ears perked up.
Zhan Feiyu finally understood why Constable Zhao had that expression. It turned out to be gossip. But then she listened further.
"Cough, cough..." She sprayed out a mouthful of tea, choking and looking at the stage with wide eyes, almost believing she had misheard.
Constable Fei, for the first time, had an awkward expression similar to Constable Zhao's. It was better not to let a young girl hear such things; he should have listened to Zhan Feiyu and gone for wontons instead.
Fortunately, Taifu Restaurant was the largest restaurant in Shangsi County. Although it had a sensationalist intent, its style and taste were still present. The storyteller's words were relatively discreet, and the language was restrained. It was unlike the gossiping women in the streets and alleys who spoke about the Zhang family's scandalous affairs so directly that it made people blush.
Old Master Zhang was considered a benevolent person in Shangsi County. For many years, he had only one wife, and they were said to be deeply in love. Yet, who would have thought that Old Master Zhang would be caught in the act at his great-grandson's full moon banquet? Not to mention Old Master Zhang's age, with his white hair and beard, the key point was that he was having an affair with a little maid.
It was indeed a little maid, bought from the matchmaking agency just last month, only seven or eight years old. She hadn't even learned the rules yet, and who would have thought that Old Master Zhang would take her to bed?
"This..." Zhan Feiyu looked at Constable Fei and Constable Zhao, and then she understood. This was the Daqing Dynasty. Little maids were servants bought by the Zhang family with signed death contracts. Let alone being bullied, even if they were beaten to death, the government yamen would not pursue the matter.
Regarding the rumors, Constable Fei had also heard about them and had sent constables to warn the ruffians, prohibiting them from spreading rumors indiscriminately. As for the source of the rumors, it had not yet been found, but it was highly likely to be Scholar Zhang.
...
Three days passed. Zhan Feiyu visited Master Lin and Lin Xiuyuan at the private school. Wang Linlang had not yet left. Regardless of her intentions, she was genuinely ill this time, suffering from a high fever and delirious, unable to get out of bed.
"Xiao Yu went to see Master Lin?" Auntie under the banyan tree, while picking vegetables, greeted Zhan Feiyu with a smile and said to the person beside her, "This girl Xiao Yu is just like what the village chief said. Yes, she respects her teachers and values morality."
"Xiao Yu is kind-hearted," the aunt next to her nodded in agreement. Young Madam Yao babbled all day in the village saying unconscionable things, not considering how Old Master Zhan and Old Madam Zhan treated the eldest branch's family of three.
"Xiao Yu, I heard from your mother that you're going to study at the county school?" a young woman looked at Zhan Feiyu with envy. Master Lin's private school had closed, and her child would have to go to the private school in Hongjia Village, which was further away. The trip alone would take more than half an hour. But if she went to the county school, there was a bullock cart, but the tuition was expensive, and the family's money was not enough. Thus, Zhan Feiyu, who could study at the county school, naturally made people envious.
"There's a master who poisoned his wife. No wonder the students he teaches are also heartless. Will the county school also accept students with such improper conduct?" a sharp voice rang out. Young Madam Yao sneered at Zhan Feiyu, her malice unconcealed.
Zhan Feiyu stopped in her tracks and sized up Young Madam Yao, who was much more affluent than usual. She was not wearing the usual drab coarse cloth clothes but a brand new straight-collared cross-front long jacket. Two silver hairpins were stuck in her hair. As she spoke, she deliberately raised her hand to flick her hair, revealing a flat silver bracelet on her wrist.
"There is a saying that among the seven grounds for divorce, one is 'tongue,' specifically speaking ill of a scholar who holds a title. Sister-in-law, do you want to pay a visit to the yamen?" Zhan Feiyu's face was cold, her clear eyes like knives, sharp and intimidating, causing Young Madam Yao's smug expression to freeze.
Sister-in-law Guihua quickly pulled on Young Madam Yao's arm and awkwardly tried to smooth things over, "Why are you arguing with a little girl? Didn't you say you liked my embroidery patterns? Let's go." Sister-in-law Guihua and Li Shi were at odds and would mock and provoke each other whenever they met, but she was a little intimidated by Zhan Feiyu. Xiao Yu had received New Year's gifts from the county magistrate, and the constables treated her politely. No matter how fierce Sister-in-law Guihua was, she was like a mouse meeting a cat when it came to official constables.
Young Madam Yao was now earning money, and coupled with the flattery and praise she had received from the villagers for many days, her confidence grew. She flung Sister-in-law Guihua's hand away and took two steps forward.
"What are you doing?" A few women picking vegetables were startled and quickly blocked Young Madam Yao. Two of them blocked Young Madam Yao, while one protected Zhan Feiyu behind her.
Young Madam Yao, who had never intended to hit anyone, turned green with anger and furiously cursed, "Get out of my way! What, you don't want to sell vegetables anymore!"
Uh... The three women were stunned. These days, every household had earned a lot of money from selling vegetables. If they offended Young Madam Yao...
"Thank you, aunties, for your protection," Zhan Feiyu did not want to make things difficult for them. "I have to study, so I'll go home now."
Seeing Zhan Feiyu leave just like that, Young Madam Yao's expression twisted and twisted again. This feeling of hitting cotton with a fist made her scream, "What do you need to study for? You're not old, but you have a seductive look. Tsk, tsk, maybe you can become a Tong Sheng just by relying on your face!"
Zhan Feiyu paused and turned around.
"Oh, did I say something wrong?" Seeing that Zhan Feiyu was finally angry, Young Madam Yao also felt relieved, smiling smugly with the corners of her mouth turned up. "I was just saying, since we all paid ten taels of silver for tuition, why does Master Lin treat you the best? He keeps you behind after class every day, and later even studies with you privately in his study every day. Tsk, tsk, a man and a woman alone, who knows what unspeakable things they've done!"
Zhan Feiyu didn't speak, her mind went blank for a moment, and the women beside her were stunned, looking at the chattering Young Madam Yao as if they had seen a ghost. If it were about the adulterous widow in the village, or the flirtatious pretty wife in the next village, they might have smiled and agreed. Country women were crude and spoke without restraint. But what Young Madam Yao said was about Xiao Yu and Master Lin. Not to mention their identities, but Xiao Yu's age... Young Madam Yao's words were simply soul-destroying.
"Yao Chunhua!" Suddenly, an angry voice rang out. Everyone felt a blur before their eyes, and with a crisp sound, a slap echoed. Li Shi, enraged, slapped Young Madam Yao. Thinking of the dirty words she had just heard, she raised her hand again and slapped Young Madam Yao several times.
Stunned by the beating, and until her cheeks hurt and she tasted blood in her mouth, Young Madam Yao finally reacted. With a scream, she grabbed Li Shi and was about to fight back, "You dare to hit me! You slut, you dare to hit me..."
The scene suddenly became chaotic. Although Li Shi was not tall, she was used to farm work and had strength in her hands. Moreover, Li Shi was full of rage, so her momentum was naturally strong.
"Mom?" Zhan Feiyu saw Li Shi hit someone for the first time. Although she was flailing like a shrew, in Zhan Feiyu's eyes, she was the most lovable and亲切 mother.
"Ah, Li Fengyu... let go of me..." Young Madam Yao screamed. She was beaten miserably, but her strength was small, and she had already cowered. Naturally, she was no match for Li Shi.
"I'll make you speak so filthily! I'll make you insult my Xiao Yu!" Li Shi would slap Young Madam Yao's face with every word. In her anger, she hit even harder, making Young Madam Yao cry and beg for mercy. The women around did not intervene. Even Sister-in-law Guihua awkwardly retreated to the side. If it were in the past, she would have helped Young Madam Yao beat Li Shi, but the words just spoken were too dirty and unpleasant. Even Sister-in-law Guihua felt ashamed to help Young Madam Yao.
A moment later, in the courtyard of the village chief's house.
"Alright, don't be angry anymore. If you get sick from anger, Xiao Yu will worry about you." Aunt Wu patted Li Shi's back with concern. She had suffered so much injustice in the old Zhan family, and even when she separated from Zhan Laoda, Aunt Wu had never seen Li Shi so enraged.
"I..." Li Shi wiped the corners of her eyes. She was strong-willed and endured all hardships and exhaustion herself, but Zhan Feiyu was her weakness. The dirty words Young Madam Yao spoke... if she had a knife in her hand at that moment, Li Shi would have killed her. The women around also offered words of comfort one after another. It was not only because of Zhan Feiyu, but they were also friends with the kind and simple Li Shi, so they naturally chose to support her at this time.
"There's no justice! You're all ganging up on Li Fengyu to bully me..." Sitting on the ground, with disheveled hair, Young Madam Yao slapped her thighs and cried out, "Husband, if you don't come back soon, I'll be beaten to death! The people of Jinlin Village are all beasts! Their conscience has been gnawed by dogs..."
Young Madam Yao's mouth cursed the entire village. Even though everyone was flattering Old Second Zhan and wanted to sell their vegetables to Taifu Restaurant, it was one thing to fawn over Young Madam Yao's feet, but to be insulted like this made everyone's face darken.
Zhan Feiyu sat on a small chair in the main house. Young Madam Yao's curses were too unpleasant. Everyone didn't want Zhan Feiyu to dirty her ears, so they left her alone in the house and thoughtfully closed the door.
In the dimly lit room, Zhan Feiyu's face was grim. She reviewed everything in her mind. Her teacher's wife was poisoned, and rumors spread in Shangsi County that the master was the poisoner. Later, the scandalous affair of Old Master Zhang in Sanjing Lane was widely publicized, and then the dirty words spoken by her former second aunt.
Zhan Feiyu felt an invisible net descending, linking one event to another, connecting seemingly unrelated events. The real target of the person behind the scenes was herself.
The village chief and the men of the village were all working in the fields. Farmers were all like this, sweating profusely, facing the loess and turning their backs to the sky, all for the sake of harvesting more grain.
"Enough, you still have the strength to wail. I think you were hit too lightly!" A majestic angry reprimand rang out. The village chief glared at the撒泼 (sāpō - throwing a tantrum) Young Madam Yao on the ground. From a distance, he could hear her unpleasant words, cursing all eighteen generations of the Zhan clan's ancestors. If it were his own daughter-in-law, the village chief would have long ago ordered his son to divorce this troublemaker. The men who followed into the courtyard also had unpleasant expressions. Big men were unwilling to get involved in women's squabbles, but the young wife who reported the news was vague.
The village chief asked a few more questions, and the young wife's eyes were red with urgency. Everyone was also worried that something had happened, so they had all put down their farm work and returned. As a result, they heard Young Madam Yao's shrewish scolding, and no one was happy.
"You shut up! You..." Old Master Zhan strode in and was about to scold Young Madam Yao, but when he saw her face, which was swollen like a pig's head, he was stunned. "Your face..."
"Father, why hasn't my husband returned yet? I'm about to be beaten to death..." Young Madam Yao let out a howl and cried even more pitifully.
The village chief and the other men then noticed Young Madam Yao's swollen face and were all stunned. No wonder they were all called back; she was beaten too severely.