As fate would have it, no sooner had the Zhou family begun discussing Zhou Fugui's betrothal than Qin Tianming, the master of the Qin Manor, arrived with his daughter Qin Yulian, much to their surprise.
Had they grown impatient, intending to send their daughter over prematurely?
"My esteemed in-law, you grace my humble abode so early in the morning. To what do we owe this visit?" Qin Tianming and his daughter's arrival flustered Zhou Dashan, who rushed to fetch his prized tea leaves. The autumn rain, however, had left them somewhat mildewed.
After the guests were seated, Zhou Dashan inquired.
Qin Yulian stood gracefully beside her father, while Zhou Fugui, positioned at Zhou Dashan's side, stole glances at her. Unfortunately, Qin Yulian wore a wide-brimmed hat, from beneath which a thick veil concealed her face, revealing only a lotus-like chin.
"She is indeed beautiful," Zhou Fugui mused. Just as seeing a leopard's spots reveals the leopard, he imagined her face from her chin, her upper body from her arms, and her legs...
"Hmph..." Qin Tianming reached for his tea, but the mildewed scent made him frown. He glanced at Zhou Fugui, snorted, and asked, "How is the second son of the Zhou family recovering from his injuries?"
"As you can see, esteemed in-law, he can already get out of bed and walk normally. Thank you for your concern," Zhou Dashan replied, visibly relieved.
"Indeed, idleness is not good. I have found a potential occupation for the second son. Would the Zhou family be amenable?" Qin Tianming nodded.
"Hmm? Do you mean... for the second son to work at your manor?" Zhou Dashan asked in surprise.
Working at the Qin Manor was not entirely out of the question, but it would essentially make Zhou Fugui a live-in son-in-law, a practice few would choose unless absolutely necessary. However, did the Zhou family have any other options at this point?
"Not at all!" Qin Tianming shook his head. "The Elder Liu family of Erwang Manor is looking for household guards. Why not let the second son try? It would keep him from being idle all day."
"Household guards...?" Zhou Dashan exclaimed in shock.
Household guards were essentially domestic servants. Could the Qin family possibly accept a servant as their son-in-law?
Qin Tianming's intention was exceedingly clear: he was breaking the engagement.
"Precisely!" Qin Tianming cast a cold glance at the two Zhou brothers. "For the sake of our late friend, Brother Zhou, I have sought a path for your second son. Otherwise... Hmph... the marriage between the Qin and Zhou families is hereby dissolved."
"Esteemed Elder Qin, you..." The abrupt and unprovoked breaking of the engagement left the already tongue-tied Zhou Dashan speechless with surprise.
Now Zhou Fugui wouldn't even be able to become a live-in son-in-law.
"Master Qin!" Zhou Dashan, still struggling to find his words, was interrupted by Gu Wuniang, who emerged from the inner rooms. She spoke indignantly, "The marriage between the Zhou and Qin families was arranged by our late father when he was alive. How can you simply go back on your word? To come here unannounced and break the engagement, isn't this an insult?"
Although Gu Wuniang had little regard for the disappointing Zhou Fugui, he was still her brother-in-law, and she felt compelled to speak up for him.
"When did the Zhou family's affairs become a matter for women to interfere in?" Qin Tianming sneered, his nostrils flared. "With your Zhou second son's current state and appearance, does he still have the audacity to mention this marriage? How can rubble be worthy of jade, or mud attempt to scale a wall? The betrothal gifts have been placed outside. I have done my utmost. From this day forth, the Qin and Zhou families shall have no further dealings."
"My dear wife, please say no more," Zhou Dashan pleaded softly, seeing Gu Wuniang about to retort. "Esteemed Elder Qin, why must you do this without cause? Fugui has learned his lesson. He will not..."
"Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, there is no need to say more..." Zhou Fugui could no longer bear it. He stepped forward, looking at the Qin father and daughter, and said calmly, "They are unwilling, so why should we grovel and beg? Let the engagement be broken. It is no great loss. Without this marriage, we will not suffer any disadvantages."
Zhou Fugui felt indignant. His build and appearance were quite fine – sword-like eyebrows, broad eyes, a lean waist like a wasp's. How had he become mud or rubble? He was experiencing the "sour grapes" syndrome, unable to obtain what he desired.
The Qin daughter only had a beautiful chin, like a lotus. Who knew what her upper face looked like? Perhaps it was pockmarked!
"Fugui, what are you saying? Come back at once," Zhou Dashan reprimanded him.
While the Zhou family might not suffer materially from the broken engagement, their reputation would be utterly ruined. Being rejected so publicly would invite ridicule from their neighbors. Who would be willing to marry into the Zhou family in the future?
"Eldest brother..." Zhou Fugui ignored him, chest puffed out, and declared, "Though my Zhou family is poor, we are a respectable household. To be bullied to our doorstep like this is beyond excessive! To be insulted and then to meekly submit, I cannot do that."
Zhou Fugui then turned to the Qin father and daughter and said coldly, "This profound humiliation will be repaid to you in due time. I offer you this parting word: Do not scorn the young and poor. The day will come when you will regret this."
Qin Yulian's body seemed to tremble slightly at his words, but Qin Tianming laughed heartily, unperturbed. "Regret? I have never done anything I regret in my life. Hmph, Yulian, let us go."
"Father..." Qin Yulian finally spoke softly. "Why don't you explain the matter to the Zhou family?"
"What is there to explain? And what use would it be? Let's go, let's go. The Zhou residence is too steeped in Yin energy. I feel uncomfortable staying here any longer," Qin Tianming chided Qin Yulian.
"Father, you promised me," Qin Yulian whispered, seemingly with a hidden burden, but she reluctantly followed Qin Tianming out.
"Too steeped in Yin energy?" The Qin father and daughter didn't forget to insult the Zhou family one last time as they left. This further fueled Zhou Fugui's anger, but he smiled brightly and said, "My Zhou residence was filled with sunshine just moments ago. But then, two little ghosts, a male and a female, appeared from who knows where, and now it's filled with Yin energy. Hurry, hurry, or the neighbors will think this is the underworld..."
"Pfft!" Zhou Fugui's words sent Zhou Xiaomei, who had been cowering nearby, into a fit of laughter.
"Haha, Uncle Er..." Zhou Futou, Zhou Fugui's nephew, also burst into laughter.
"Zhou Fugui, you go too far!" Qin Yulian stopped and exclaimed angrily.
"You came to our doorstep to break the engagement, and now you accuse me of going too far? What a joke!" Zhou Fugui said, feigning surprise. "We have no further connection. What is there to talk about regarding going too far? Hurry up and leave."
"You... Hmph..." Qin Yulian stomped her foot in anger and turned away.
"Alas..." After the Qin father and daughter departed, Zhou Dashan squatted under the eaves, sighing and sulking.
"Eldest son, why are you sighing?" Old Madam Liu, Zhou's mother, finally roused herself and entered the room. "The Qin family has broken their promise and insulted us. Let the engagement be broken. It's no matter. We will find another match for Fugui. In my day, my family was quite prosperous. I wouldn't have looked twice at a mere local landlord like the Qin family..."
"Ai, Mother, why are you out? Please, stop talking," Zhou Dashan said, startled, as he hastily helped Liu Shi.
Though Old Madam Liu wore simple cloth and a wooden hairpin, she was impeccably neat and dignified. Their current situation left Zhou Fugui somewhat perplexed.
"Did my mother's ancestors truly prosper? Or is Mother simply speaking nonsense?" Zhou Fugui mused, looking at his mother.
"Fugui, how is your martial arts training?" Liu Shi then asked Zhou Fugui. "You were defeated in just a few exchanges. You must have been neglecting your practice."
"Ah? Martial arts? Oh, I seem to know some martial arts, hehehe," Zhou Fugui replied with a laugh.
"Mother, Mother, are you not afraid he will cause more trouble? And you want him to practice martial arts?" Zhou Dashan said with a wry smile.
"What's wrong with practicing martial arts? Having a skill to fall back on is always useful. Unlike you, who can only farm the land your whole life," Liu Shi chided Zhou Dashan.
Farm the land my whole life? If not for me, everyone would starve, Zhou Dashan grumbled inwardly.
"Here, Uncle Er, this is for you," Zhou Futou, upon hearing about martial arts, happily ran into the inner room, retrieved a bow and arrows, and handed them to Zhou Fugui.
"This..." Zhou Fugui had only recently recovered from his injuries, and his mother, Liu Shi, was speaking strangely, urging him to practice archery... This left Zhou Fugui in a dilemma.
Zhou Fugui had only managed to drink two bowls of thin porridge, and his legs still felt weak.
The people of Yan in the northern regions lived by farming or by hunting and fishing. Therefore, they possessed some skill in archery.
Zhou Fugui did have some skill in hand-to-hand combat, and as an archery enthusiast from an archery club, he could certainly draw a bow and shoot an arrow. But how could he draw a bow and shoot an arrow with his current weakness?
Zhou Fugui held the bow and arrows, bewildered. Liu Shi looked at him and said, "You were just vowing to make the Qin family regret their actions. Now you're backing down?"
"Mother, oh Mother," Zhou Fugui said with a laugh, "Will practicing martial arts and archery allow me to trample the Qin family underfoot?"
"By practicing martial arts and archery, and becoming a great general, you will certainly make the Qin family regret their actions," Liu Shi replied.
"Alright! My mother is truly extraordinary!" Zhou Fugui exclaimed, giving her a thumbs-up. "But can I do it?"
"No!" Zhou Dashan said. "What kind of era is this? Mother, don't you understand?"
The Xianbei Murong clan had risen, establishing the Yan Kingdom, destroying the Xiongnu Wei Kingdom, and driving away the Han Xia Dynasty. The people of Yan in the north had first belonged to the Wei Kingdom and later to the Yan Kingdom. If Zhou Fugui wanted to achieve military success, where would he begin? Would he serve the Yan Kingdom?
Both the Xianbei Yan and Xiongnu Wei were barbarian regimes, prioritizing barbarians over Han. Han people were called "Han children," "Han slaves," and so on. In such a society, it was better for Han people to farm or hunt, rather than face humiliation in the military.
The Xia Dynasty had lost control of the Central Plains, and the Han people in the north had become like abandoned children.