Free Web NovelChapter 39: Chapter 19: Decapitation (Part 2)
Until...
Auntie Cai Hua had noticed Song Dashan was missing. At first, she thought he’d just gone to the latrine, but he never came back. Suddenly remembering the events of that evening, her heart skipped a beat. She’d rushed out of her house, only just now arriving on the scene.
"Lords Imperial Envoy, wait! Please wait!" Auntie Cai Hua shouted from behind them.
But the two governmental officers had no patience for that, especially since Fang Rui had already spoken to them. They paid her no mind and simply dragged Song Dashan away by force.
Seeing Auntie Cai Hua turn back, Fang Rui couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words. He bid farewell to the Third Lady, pulled Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family back into the house, and shut the door with a SLAM.
The neighbors, however, didn’t leave. They explained to Auntie Cai Hua what had happened and began to denounce Song Dashan one after another.
"Your Dashan has gone too far. Coming to the Fang Family’s home in the dead of night to steal grain, and even trying to attack Brother Rui with scissors..."
"Yes, it’s outrageous!"
"I couldn’t even bear to watch..."
"It’s true your Song Dashan was in the wrong... It’s late, so you shouldn’t disturb them any further. If you really want to plead for him, come back in the morning!"
...
These people loudly denounced Song Dashan, each one filled with righteous indignation, as if they were the victims, not the Fang Family.
Inside the house, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family was still fuming. "Pah! A bunch of opportunists, the lot of them. Brother Rui, don’t let them fool you!"
"Don’t worry, Mother. I know."
Fang Rui understood. ’These people are definitely trying to curry favor with my family, or rather, make up for their previous poor behavior. They’re afraid I’ll hold a grudge and retaliate.’
In reality, they were overthinking it.
Fang Rui clearly distinguished between kindness and enmity, but he wasn’t the type to seek revenge for every slight. Their attempts at guilt-tripping were just words and hadn’t caused any real harm, so he naturally wouldn’t go out of his way to pursue the matter or retaliate.
Of course, if they thought this display would be enough to get on his good side and take advantage of him, they were dreaming.
...
Back in their room.
"Brother,"
Fang Ling had woken up at some point. She groggily opened her eyes. "What’s happening outside?"
"A grain thief was caught and taken away... It’s nothing, go back to sleep."
Fang Rui smiled. ’This girl is such a heavy sleeper,’ he thought. ’All that commotion outside and it didn’t even fully wake her.’
Then again, he understood. Children are heavy sleepers. It wasn’t just Fang Ling; he hadn’t seen Nannan from the Third Lady’s House or any of the other children come out either.
"Oh," the little girl mumbled dreamily, then rolled over and fell back asleep.
The night passed in a flash.
...
「The next day.」
Early in the morning, the Fang Family lit their stove to prepare breakfast. The sweet fragrance of cooking Sorghum Flour mingled with the curling smoke and drifted into the air.
Unlike in the past, when they had to be careful and conceal it, from now on the Fang Family could eat a little better without anyone daring to say a word.
Such was the deterrent power of an Entry Grade Martial Artist.
"Mother! Auntie Cai Hua, and Xiaoqiu and Xiaohua, are kneeling outside our house!" Fang Ling announced. She was sprawled across the windowsill, her little bottom sticking up in the air as she craned her neck to get a better look.
First thing in the morning, Auntie Cai Hua had led her son and daughter, Song Xiaoqiu and Song Xiaohua, to kneel outside the Fang Family’s home, clearly hoping to beg for mercy for Song Dashan.
But Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s anger hadn’t faded. She had shut the door with a SLAM, leaving them stranded outside. freewebnovёl.ƈom
Even so, Auntie Cai Hua and her two children didn’t leave, but remained kneeling outside the Fang Family’s home.
"Mind your own business!" Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family snapped, her face cold.
"Oh!"
Seeing that her mother was angry, Fang Ling quickly scurried away, not wanting to get on her bad side. She went over to Fang Rui and whispered, "Brother, why are they kneeling?"
"Because they did something wrong and need to ask for our family’s..." Fang Rui trailed off, playfully flicking the little girl’s nose.
The Fang Family finished their meal behind closed doors.
After breakfast, Auntie Cai Hua, Song Xiaoqiu, and Song Xiaohua were still kneeling outside.
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family glanced out the window, a flicker of pity crossing her face.
The adult was one thing, but she couldn’t bear to see the two children, Song Xiaoqiu and Song Xiaohua, who were about Fang Ling’s age, kneeling for so long.
Fang Rui noticed his mother’s expression. He considered for a moment, realizing the matter couldn’t be left unresolved. It was time to put an end to it. "Mother, I’ll go handle this," he said.
"Alright," Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family readily agreed.
Fang Rui had been the master of the Fang Family for some time now, and she had grown accustomed to letting him make the decisions on all important matters.
CREAK!
The Fang Family’s door opened.
Outside, a look of joy instantly brightened the face of Auntie Cai Hua, who had been waiting for so long.
She pulled her two children to their feet and tried to approach, but after kneeling for so long, her legs were stiff and numb, and she staggered. Beside her, Xiaoqiu and Xiaohua were also unsteady on their feet, nearly toppling over.
Fang Rui reached out a hand and steadied them.
He noticed that their coarse linen trousers, whether Auntie Cai Hua’s or her children’s, were of poor quality. They were already worn through at the knees from the ordeal, revealing raw, red skin beneath.
"Lord... Rui,"
Auntie Cai Hua clutched Fang Rui’s sleeve, sobbing as she pleaded, "It’s my Dashan’s fault! We have wronged the Fang Family... We can pay you back. We can’t get all the money together right now, but we will pay it off slowly... I only ask that you spare my Dashan, give him a chance to live!"
’Now this is a real apology,’ he thought. ’She’s admitting fault and offering compensation, unlike Song Dashan last night, who just tried to use our neighborly relationship to guilt-trip me.’
Fang Rui could feel their sincerity and appreciated it, but he couldn’t agree.
"Why are you calling me Lord Rui? Just call me Brother Rui, like you always have."
Fang Rui shook his head and got down to business. "Auntie Cai Hua, it’s not that I’m being cruel, but... just think about it. Last night, what if Uncle Dashan had run into my mother and sister instead of me? Or what if I wasn’t an Entry Grade Martial Artist? What do you think would have happened?"
Auntie Cai Hua was left speechless.
If that had been the case, something truly unspeakable might have occurred.
"Uncle Dashan is a grown man. When you do something wrong, you have to face the consequences. So, Auntie Cai Hua, if you’re asking me to go to the Government Office and plead to have the case withdrawn... to repay wickedness with kindness... that is something I cannot possibly agree to."
