Chapter 46: 046. You should go too.
Translator: 549690339
[You go too]
Chang’an arrived at Su Family’s village on official orders just after noon. There was a commotion outside Su Liang’s house, with many people gathered around.
As he approached, he saw an old rope hanging from an old elm tree outside the front door, with a knot tied in it. An elderly woman wearing tattered clothes was standing on a stone, attempting to hang herself.
Several young men and women near her were crying and pleading, saying things like “Mother, don’t do something foolish” and “What are we going to do if you die?”
Unfortunately, several strong young men couldn’t pull the old woman down. She kept trying to put her neck into the rope but couldn’t quite manage it.
There were villagers around who were trying to help, and others were egging her on, urging her to hurry up if she really intended to hang herself and not dawdle.
Chang’an knew that these were Su Xingzhe’s family members. They had no ability to clear his name, so they had decided to make a scene outside Su Liang’s house, playing a perfect card of moral blackmail.
Meanwhile, the front door of Su Liang’s house was tightly shut, with two children sitting by the door, leaning their heads together and playing with stones.
When Chang’an walked over, the slightly older child looked guardedly at him and asked, ‘Who are you?
“I’m here on orders from the County Magistrate to see Young Master Ning Jing,” Chang’an deliberately lowered his voice.
The child looked to the side, and an old woman wearing clean, simple clothes immediately pulled him aside and gestured for Chang’an to knock on the door himself.
Since it was so noisy outside, it took a while for the door to open after Chang’an knocked.
The child yelled, “Sister Su Liang!”
The door opened quickly, and Chang’an slipped inside just before the family running over from outside. He quickly bolted the door from the inside.
However, it wasn’t Su Liang who opened the door, but Ning Jing. She hadn’t even removed the apron she’d been wearing while doing the dishes. Caught off guard, Chang’an asked, “Young Master Ning, what’s going on…” “What is it?” Ning Jing asked indifferently.
“I’m here on Master Mai Fei’s orders to deliver a thank-you gift to Miss Su. I went to your county town residence first, but no one was there.” Chang’an explained, looking around.
Once-empty courtyard was now planted with trees and some unrecognizable decorations. It was Su Liang’s makeshift practice arena.
“Is Miss Su at home?” Chang’an asked.
Su Liang came out of the house. She had changed into more formal clothes for the occasion, even though she usually wore comfortable and practical clothes at home.
“Miss Su, this is a thank-you gift from my Master. Please accept it.” Chang’an placed the gift boxes he had brought on the stone table in the courtyard. Su Liang nodded, “All right. Is there anything else?”
Ning Jing had already returned to the kitchen, and now Chang’an felt that this quiet, rustic farmhouse was worlds apart from the tumult outside.
“Do you need help dealing with the family causing trouble?” Chang’an asked. This wasn’t part of the instructions from Mai Fei, but he asked it subconsciously.
Su Liang shook her head, “No need. If they don’t get what they want, they’ll leave.”
For cases like these, the best approach was to ignore them. Giving them even a glance would be a waste of time.
“Actually…” Chang’an asked about his curiosity, “If Miss Su truly wants to save Su Xingzhe, there might still be a chance.”
“Is this something your Master asked you to inquire about?” Su Liang countered.
Chang’an hurriedly shook his head, “No, Miss Su, don’t misunderstand, I was just…”
“Do you think I have a Bodhisattva’s heart?” Su Liang asked.
Chang’an forced a smile, “After all, Miss Su can even save unfamiliar assassins.”
“Is there anything wrong with me being willing to save that assassin and watch Su Xingzhe suffer the consequences of his actions?” Su Liang asked.
“No, I just misspoke.” Chang’an quickly apologized with a smile. Although Su Liang was standing several meters away with a calm expression and tone, he had felt a strange sense of pressure from her just a moment ago. He finally remembered what he was supposed to ask, “When will Young Master Ning be heading to Qianshan Academy? Will Miss Su be accompanying him to the provincial city?”
Su Liang shook her head, “We’re not going.”
Chang’an was surprised, “Why not? It’s a rare opportunity. If Young Master
Ning can study at Qianshan Academy for a while, it would surely help with the
Provincial Exam. ”
“We had a master calculate that the Feng Shui here is excellent. If we stay here longer, our future will be prosperous,” Su Liang said, deadpan.
Chang’an’s mouth twitched, “I see. I won’t disturb you any longer. If you need help with anything in the future, you can find me at the county government.”
Su Liang nodded, “Take care.”
Chang’an opened the door, slipped out, and quickly pulled it shut from the outside. Only after hearing the bolt slide from the inside did he let go.
The farce continued outside—the old woman named Niu Pozi had yet to hang herself, and many of the onlookers were growing bored and leaving.
Su Bai had come by, tried to persuade Su Xingzhe’s family members not to leave, but didn’t bother Su Liang and Ning Jing. He said that Su Xingzhe’s fate was set in stone and that he would no longer be involved in Niu Pozi’s family affairs in the future.
Separated by just a wall, Su Liang and Ning Jing were unaffected.
Su Liang practiced martial arts in the morning and read and practiced calligraphy in the afternoon.
Ning Jing cleaned up half of the firewood room, turned it into his woodworking workshop, and spent quite some time in there. Su Liang didn’t ask what he was doing.
In the afternoon, Ning Jing also left the house through the back wall, went up the mountain to cut grass and feed the horses, and picked a few wild fruits along the way, washing them and giving half to Su Liang.
Because of Zhuzi’s illness, the Bai Family had sold several acres of land previously. Recently, Zhuzi’s health had improved, and they had made some money thanks to Su Liang’s help. They bought back the land they had sold.
The men from the Bai Family had gone to work the fields, leaving only Bai Da Niang and the two children at home. Since Niu Pozi’s family started causing trouble, they had volunteered to guard the front door for Su Liang.
The disturbance continued until nightfall when Niu Pozi was finally “persuaded” to go home by her children, and the crowd dispersed.
Among the thank-you gifts from Chang’an were fabrics, desserts, and a set of silver jewelry with excellent craftsmanship.
However, Su Liang had no intention of wearing it, finding it cumbersome, so she put it away in a cabinet.
After dinner, hearing the quiet outside, Su Liang took two boxes of desserts to the Bai Family as a thank-you. Ning Jing went back into the firewood room.
“Sister Su Liang, I can run three laps now!” Zhuzi puffed out his little chest proudly. His thin and pale face was now fleshy, and Su Liang pinched it, praising him for being great.
The dessert boxes were what Bai Da Niang had seen Chang’an carrying earlier in the day. She had refused to take them from him, but Su Liang insisted they would not be able to finish them all.
In the end, they accepted the money, as Su Liang asked them for a favor.
“Uncle Bai said that since we’re living in the village and Ning Jing got the top score in the Court Examination, it’s a great joy that we must invite our fellow villagers to a feast. We don’t know the rules in this aspect, so please help us with the arrangements, and we will not skimp on the fees.” Su Liang said.
Su Bai thought that Ning Jing would go to Qianshan Academy soon and wouldn’t live in the village anymore, but Ning Jing and Su Liang came back.
Although Ning Jing wasn’t a local, he is now considered half a villager.
Getting the top score in the examination is a huge celebration for the whole village. If it were any other village, a feast would have been arranged.
Moreover, because Su Xingzhe brought shame to the village, there was an even greater need for Ning Jing to restore the village’s reputation. Otherwise, it would seem that the village values Su Xingzhe more, because they didn’t even let Ning Jing celebrate his success when he was in trouble.
This wasn’t a small matter. Su Bai didn’t want the future generations of the village who also study to be associated with Su Xingzhe, who had his head chopped off for cheating in the Imperial examination. If they had to mention someone, it should be Ning Jing.
Old Man Bai knocked his pipe on the table leg and nodded, “It’s a great joy for any family to celebrate such an achievement. We must hold a banquet! Don’t mention the fees, Liang girl, we’re here to share in the joy! If the harvest is good next year, we’ll send Little Tiger and Zhuzi to study too!”
Liu family’s expressions brightened, as they naturally hoped their own sons would become successful.
It was soon decided that Su Liang would buy a big fat pig raised by the Bai family, and hold a banquet the day after tomorrow to invite fellow villagers to the feast.
“What if that old woman from the Niu family comes to make a fuss? I’m not afraid of them; I just find them annoying!” Granny Bai said.
“I think Uncle Bai will handle this matter well.” Su Liang said.
As she was about to leave, Bai Xiaohu chased after her, “Sister Su Liang, when are we going to hunt wild boars in the mountains?”
Su Liang slapped her forehead, “I completely forgot. Let’s say the day after tomorrow? If the weather is good.”
Bai Xiaohu jumped up excitedly, “It will definitely be good weather!”
County government office.
When Chang’an saw Mai Fei again, it was already very late.
After hearing Chang’an’s account of seeing Su Liang, Mai Fei snorted, “Good
Feng Shui? She’s just talking nonsense.”
“Miss Su… is very strange. She seems so sincere, yet suddenly says things that are irrelevant.” Chang’an said.
Mai Fei said thoughtfully, “She is sincerely brushing us off because she was asked about things she shouldn’t have been. For example, her relationship with Ning Jing and why she didn’t save Su Xingzhe. The former is irrelevant to my purpose for finding her, and the latter has nothing to do with you. So even if we realize she is talking nonsense, it won’t affect anything important.”
Chang’an’s expression changed, “She knows the identity of the master, but she doesn’t feel inferior in front of him; and she doesn’t seem superior when facing me. I’ve never met anyone like that.”
Mai Fei pondered, “Indeed. You go to Su Village again tomorrow and give her five thousand taels of silver notes. Say it’s for her trip to the capital city.”
Chang’an was surprised, then heard Mai Fei say, “She’s a talented person. Better to win her over first. If she goes to the capital city, there may be a great use for her.”
Who knows what Su Bai said to the children of Old Lady Niu, but the next morning, Old Lady Niu was locked up in her house and couldn’t get out.
Anyone with a clear mind would know that Su Xingzhe couldn’t be saved. Even if his life was spared, it would be impossible for him to be allowed to participate in the Imperial examination again. So, what’s the use of bringing back a useless person who can’t carry or lift? Causing more trouble wouldn’t do them any good, and offending Su Liang and Ning Jing would be even more foolish.
When the villagers learned that Ning Jing was hosting a banquet, everyone who could help came.
An improvised stove was dug in the open space between Granny Bail s house and Su Liang’s house, and a simple shed was set up for cooking. The tables and chairs would be brought by each household the next morning and taken back after the feast was over.
When Chang’an, sent once again by Mai Fei, found Su Liang, she was standing side by side with Ning Jing, watching the pig being killed.
Chang’an also heard Su Liang ask Ning Jing if he wanted to try killing a pig. Ning Jing said no because the squealing was too noisy…
Su Liang accepted the money from Mai Fei for their trip to the capital city but reciprocated with a piece of fresh pork, with a nice balance of fat and meat, which had just been killed.
Carrying the pork, Chang’an left, thinking that his master would be “very happy” when he saw it.
Su Liang took some clean pig blood and offal back home and made a bowl of spicy Mao Xuewang for dinner.
Ning Jing initially refused to try it, but seeing Su Liang eating, he gave it a taste. Then he told Su Liang that they should share it equally since she had already eaten a lot…
Today was just the preparation day, killing the pig and making the dishes, Su Liang and Ning Jing didn’t participate.
On the day of the banquet, Su Liang went to help cook.
After the feast started, Ning Jing, as the protagonist, was escorted by Su Bai to toast each table. Although he was quiet and didn’t smile, he showed no sign of discomfort when people patted him on the shoulder.
After a day, Su Liang felt tired but quite interested as she had experienced an authentic ancient feast.
The leftover dishes were distributed to the villagers. That evening, Bai He calculated the accounts and returned any unspent money to Su Liang.
The day they had agreed to go hunting for wild boar in the mountains turned out to be raining.
Soon afterwards, Hu Er arrived with many gifts to congratulate Ning Jing on his success.
“Last night, no one knew how, but the wall of the County Prison collapsed. Two guards were killed, and several death row prisoners, including Su Xingzhe from your village, escaped!” Hu Er sighed, “The news reached the town early in the morning, causing panic among the people. You guys should be careful too.”
Su Liang felt that something was fishy, “How could Su Xingzhe, a weak scholar, escape and not be caught?”
“That’s what’s so strange! I think this is aimed at the new County Magistrate! When death row inmates escape, it’s his responsibility, and if someone dies, he can’t escape the blame!” said Hu Er.
Su Liang’s heart sank. Hu Er might have guessed right.
Duanmu Chen came to investigate the iron mine smuggling, and those behind the scenes would do everything they can to distract him.
In front of huge interests, the two forces, who really cares about the well-being of the common people?
The previously silent Ning Jing suddenly asked, “Is there a reward?”
Hu Er was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and nodded, “I didn’t see it before I left, but with such a big event, there must be a reward notice!” Ning Jing picked up a book again.
When Hu Er left, Ning Jing put down the book and said to Su Liang, “It’s an opportunity to make money.”
“You want to catch escaped convicts?” Su Liang asked. Ning Jing nodded, “You go too. You’ll take care of the fights..”
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