chapter 7

Pei Second Son gazed at me quietly, his eyes still deep but somehow much gentler than before, and his voice softened: “Enough, why are you crying? Let’s not talk about this. Today at the Governor’s residence, I met Magistrate Xu.”

My hand, which was wiping away tears, paused. I looked at him in confusion: “And then?”

“Then, I heard about how you once took a kitchen knife and sued your father at the Yamen, and even received twenty strokes of the cane.”

Me: …

That Magistrate Xu was precisely the county official of Yun’an County’s Yamen. As the judge of that old case, he had suddenly learned that the Pei family now had a Capital Official who was a third-rank General, and that the Widowed Sister-in-law he had once punished with twenty strokes was now related to him. Fearing Pei Second Son might settle scores later, he must have brought it up proactively to curry favor.

It’s easy to imagine how slick he was.

First, he’d say he punished the Pei family’s Widowed Sister-in-law out of filial piety, but that she was upright and unyielding, both benevolent and righteous-a woman of loyalty and courage, worthy of great respect.

Perhaps he was even relieved that Pei Second Son had refused the Son of Heaven’s Imperial Mandate; otherwise, if the Widowed Sister-in-law really received such a title, he’d truly be in a bitter spot.

Those past events now seem trivial. I couldn’t help but laugh: “Yes, I was impulsive then, didn’t think things through. Not only did I fail to get the money, I got caned and was called an unfilial daughter. Looking back, it really wasn’t worth it.”

“Who dares to gossip carelessly?”

“Ah, even the cleanest official can’t settle family disputes. People will always talk; let them say what they will. It’s not like I’ll lose a piece of flesh.”

I waved my hand dismissively. Pei Second Son’s gaze lingered on me, then shifted away: “Faced with such trouble, why didn’t you write and tell me?”

“Why bring this up? It’s pointless. Second Uncle had it tough in the army too. I saw how much Han Junior General and the others spent; you sent all your money home, so I imagine you were strapped for cash back then.”

“No, I didn’t spend nearly as much as they did.”

With that, my face flushed.

Because, as luck would have it, two days ago when I was buying vegetables in the county town, I saw Han Junior General and the others heading toward Lion Lane. I thought they were coming to see Second Uncle Pei.

But when I got back, I didn’t see them at the Shop, so I asked him about it.

He glanced at me and said lightly, “They didn’t come to see me.”

“Then where did they go? I saw them enter Lion Lane.”

“No need to bother, let them be.”

“How can that be? Since they came to Lion Lane, we should host them. I’ve already bought the groceries. If Second Uncle knows where they are, just call them over.”

“I won’t call them.”

“Hmm? Where are they? I’ll go call them.”

I asked seriously. He raised his brows at me, his eyes dark, then curled his lips in a half-smile: “Qin Tower.”

East of Zhou Bridge in Lion Lane, the most famous private brothel was Qin Tower.

My face instantly turned red. I said nothing more and turned to leave.

Since Pei Second Son returned home, I’ve actually been living quite comfortably.

Because he practices sword every morning, rising even earlier than I do.

Before dawn, by the time I reached the backyard, he had already ground the soybeans and filtered the pulp.

Seeing me, he’d ask, “Why not sleep a bit longer?”

Even though he was once the child who sold tofu pudding for the family, now he’s a Capital Official-how could he still do such menial work?

I felt quite embarrassed, determined to get up even earlier next time and finish the chores before him.

But when I got up at the hour of Yin, hurrying to the backyard, I saw him on the stairs, wearing only a thin shirt, practicing sword in the courtyard, sweat soaking his clothes.

After finishing, he wiped his sweat with a square cloth and rolled up his sleeves to grind the soybeans.

His back was straight, shoulders broad, waist slim as a bee’s, his figure sturdy and strong beneath the thin shirt, forearms thick and muscular…

This was truly not something a Widowed Sister-in-law should be seeing.

Embarrassed, I retreated to my room.

…

On the tenth day after Pei Second Son returned home, Elder Sister Pei Mei came to the tofu pudding Shop.

The young married woman who stepped down from the Carriage wore a rosy soft gauze jacket, her brows delicately arched, light makeup applied, walking gracefully with a slender figure.

As soon as she saw Pei Second Son, her eyes reddened and she called out, “Second Son.”

It was rare-Village Head Zhu’s eldest son, Young Master Zhu, had come along this time too.

Young Master Zhu was tall and thin, with prominent cheekbones and a gloomy look in his eyes, shining with a sharp glint.

The couple sat in the Shop, one sobbing and dabbing at tears with a handkerchief, the other sitting upright with an air of authority.

Since entering, Young Master Zhu hadn’t spoken a word, clearly waiting for Pei Second Son to greet him as his brother-in-law first.

Unfortunately, the Capital Official sitting across from them didn’t seem so bound by etiquette.

Pei Mei was caught up in the emotions of reuniting with her younger brother, speaking of their parents and the Eldest Son, finally sighing that Second Son had now made a name for himself, bringing honor to the family, and that as his elder sister, she was deeply proud.
Sunlight slanted into the shop, casting its glow upon Pei Second Son’s Sparrow Blue robe. The light was gentle, and even his cold, frosty face seemed much more amiable.

Since his return home, life had been peaceful. His younger sister and Grandmother depended on each other, and without the chaos of the battlefield, the hostility and sharpness about him had faded considerably.

If he concealed the depth and edge in his eyes, he could almost be described as a gentleman as warm as jade.

But at this moment, he was turning a cup in his hand, glancing indifferently at Pei Mei: “You speak only of the dead. Why not ask how the living are?”

His words were delivered in a light, emotionless tone, but Pei Mei’s face turned extremely pale. She gripped her handkerchief tightly and, with tears falling, said, “Second Son…”

The aloof Young Master Zhu finally lost his composure and said, “Second Brother, that’s not right. We came here today to invite our little sister and Grandmother to the Zhu Family so they can enjoy a better life.”

I was carrying the teapot, about to walk over and brew tea, but paused in surprise at his words.

Young Master Zhu looked around the shop with obvious disdain, his words full of concern that Grandmother and his wife were suffering in such a place. He had suggested taking them to the Zhu Family before, but Pei Mei refused, saying there was still a brother at home, and if nothing else, a Widowed Sister-in-law. As a married daughter, if she took them away, how would the others manage, and wouldn’t people gossip?

A string of high-sounding reasons, and in the end, she almost seemed justified.

Their purpose today was to express concern for Grandmother. It was said that since last year, the old lady’s health had been poor. Pei Mei, who was raised by her, felt sorry for Grandmother and wanted to fulfill her filial duty by taking her to recuperate.

In the end, the couple straightforwardly stated that since Second Brother would soon take up his post in the Capital, he could leave Grandmother and his sister in their care.

“No need. I will take them all with me.”

Throughout, Pei Second Son’s voice was cold and his attitude distant.

Pei Mei was stunned. “You want to take them to Huajing?”

“Mm.”

“Even her?” Pei Mei suddenly turned and pointed at me.

Pei Second Son narrowed his eyes, his expression instantly turning stern. “Do you have a problem with that?”

There was a chill mixed with sharpness in his tone, as if he had become the man who had just returned from the battlefield, surrounded by gloom.

Pei Mei trembled, her face pale. “No.”

“Then you may leave.” He issued the order to depart, coldly.

Pei Mei bit her lip, her eyes red. From a distance, I saw Young Master Zhu kick her under the table.

She trembled again, tears streaming down, but gathered her courage to say to Pei Second Son, “Second Son, I heard you attended the Governor’s banquet and must have met Magistrate Xu. There’s a vacancy for an Education Official at their Yamen. Could you speak to them and let your brother-in-law take the position?”

The Education Official at the county Yamen is the examiner for the county school, responsible for the Confucian temple rituals and educating the students. One must at least be a Provincial Graduate to qualify.

Yet Young Master Zhu, at thirty, hadn’t even passed the Scholar exam.

As expected, Pei Second Son was angered.

He curled his lips, his eyes deep as a cold pool, and looked at Young Master Zhu, knocking on the table without courtesy. “You want to teach at the Yamen?”

Perhaps his voice was too chilling; Young Master Zhu’s face turned pale and his gaze dodged. “It’s your sister who wants me to…”

“She’s brainless, and you’ve lost yours too? Don’t you know your own worth?”

What an embarrassment. Yet Pei Second Son still suppressed his anger as he spoke. Under his intimidating presence, the couple fell silent, neither daring to speak nor show anger.

After the two of them left in disgrace, I poured a cup of tea for Pei Second Son.

He gazed distantly outside the shop, watching as the carriage rolled away, and gave a faint laugh-

“See, from the moment she entered to the moment she left, she never asked about her, nor did she say she wanted to see her. Yet she knows herself that Grandmother loved her most as a child.”

Grandmother loved her most as a child, while Aunt naturally favored Eldest Son.

The tea was still warm. I held the cup and pushed it toward him. “Second Uncle, have some tea.”

Pei Second Son glanced at me. “Xue Yu, I knew what kind of person she was back then, but there was nothing I could do. Fortunately, you were there, or I fear I would not have escaped blame.”

His sudden thanks left me at a loss. After a moment, I blushed and stammered, “Second Uncle, why are you calling me by my name again?”

He’d called me Xue Yu twice now. Had I done something wrong? Had I suddenly lost the respect of my young uncle?

My heart grew uneasy, but he looked at me with a half-smile, then curled his lips and softly called, “Sister-in-law.”

The title returned, but the same two words, spoken from his lips, lingered and twisted, soft and lingering, carrying a deep, affectionate meaning.

I grew uneasy once more.