Chapter Sixty-Six: Meeting the Elder of the Yue Family Once More

Zhou Zhi packed all the books into a cloth bundle, straightened his clothes, and continued on his way home. The image of that beautiful woman, dressed as a man, flashing a neat row of pearly teeth in a radiant smile, remained firmly etched in Zhou Zhi’s mind.

He couldn’t help but recall that her accent marked her as a local, yet where in the area could there be such a martial family? The woman was indeed attractive, but far too unruly. If someone were to marry her, who knows how much humiliation they’d have to endure.

Zhou Zhi immediately shook his head in self-mockery. Where she came from, whom she might marry, what man might suffer under her temperament—what did any of that have to do with him? He chuckled to himself: worrying too much again!

The five-mile journey took less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn. Carrying his cloth bundle, Zhou Zhi quickly reached the main street that ran east to west through the village. As soon as he arrived at the entrance, he saw seven or eight servants surrounding an uncovered, soft sedan chair approaching.

In Zhou Zhi’s memory, there was only one person in Baiyue Village who ever rode in such a chair: the old master of the Yue family, Yue Shunde.

Zhou Zhi had never had dealings with the Yue family. Only once, when gambling with Chen Wenju in the fields, he had reluctantly asked Zhang Yong to invite Yue Shunde as a witness. After that day, Zhou Zhi had not seen Yue Shunde again.

Now that the weather was cold and Yue Shunde was getting on in years, he rarely ventured out. But today, for reasons unknown, he was out with such a grand entourage that Zhou Zhi couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

As luck would have it, Yue Shunde, with his sharp old eyes, spotted Zhou Zhi as well. His face darkened instantly, and he instructed the black-faced servant beside him, “Go, bring over that Zhou family boy.”

The servant dared not delay. He trotted up to Zhou Zhi and delivered the message.

Zhou Zhi was puzzled, but it was best not to offend such a powerful household. He strode up to greet Yue Shunde.

Yue Shunde, wrapped in a sheepskin cloak, curled up in the sedan chair, lifted his eyelids slightly and glanced at Zhou Zhi. “Zhou boy, do you remember the wager you had with Chen Wenju in the fields last time?”

Zhou Zhi hurriedly replied, “Yes, I remember.”

Yue Shunde continued, “Good. If I hadn’t stood up for you that day, even if you had won against Chen Wenju, so what? Would he have plowed your fields and planted your wheat for you?” His tone was clearly unfriendly. Zhou Zhi sensed it—this old man must have realized he’d been taken advantage of and was now looking to make trouble.

Thinking quickly, Zhou Zhi put on a broad smile. “You’re absolutely right, Old Master Yue. I should have thanked you long ago!”

He bowed deeply to Yue Shunde, then straightened, and seeing the old man’s face growing even more sullen, he continued before Yue Shunde could speak, “Old Master Yue, you are respected and benevolent—every villager in Baiyue honors you. Though words can’t do justice, the villagers all speak highly of you in private, wishing you a long and healthy life.

Old Master Yue, I truly believe our village is in good hands with you watching over it. Those troublemakers can’t cause any real chaos. Let me salute you again.

That day, if it weren’t for you, who could have kept Chen Wenju in check? The lad thinks passing the scholar’s exam makes him a big shot.

Bah! What’s so special about that? In my opinion, he’s just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead rat, lucky to become a scholar. Just that once, Old Master Yue, do you know what the villagers were saying about you?”

Yue Shunde had intended to give Zhou Zhi a stern lecture to vent his frustration from that day. But Zhou Zhi’s torrent of flattery left him feeling quite pleased, unable to find a reason to scold him. His expression softened a little. “What did the villagers say about me?”

Zhou Zhi chuckled, “Why, isn’t it obvious? They said you finally stood up for the people of Baiyue Village and that Chen Wenju deserved a lesson. You’re an upright man, Old Master Yue. Even though the Yue and Chen families are evenly matched now, one day, Yue family will surpass Chen family, all thanks to your virtue.

On the other hand, look at the Chen family—always up to no good. I heard recently that Chen Wenju somehow brought home a Taoist priest. Hmph! The priest reeks of mischief. With him around, the Chen family is bound for trouble!” Zhou Zhi said.

The more Yue Shunde listened, the happier he felt, and finally a smile appeared on his face. “Heh! I’m not as great as the villagers say, but I do have good intentions at heart. As for the Chen family, they can’t compare to ours anymore. Alright, go on home, boy.”

He waved Zhou Zhi away.

Zhou Zhi was about to leave when Yue Shunde called him back. “Remember, boy: when someone helps you, you should always thank them, right?”

“Yes, I’ll remember!” Zhou Zhi replied quickly.

Suddenly, Yue Shunde’s sharp gaze landed on Zhou Zhi’s cloth bundle. “Boy, what’s in your bag?”

“It’s a few books I borrowed,” Zhou Zhi replied, suppressing his disgust.

Dealing with this old man was tiresome—the whole village knew he was nothing but trouble, full of cunning schemes. But he was not someone to offend, so Zhou Zhi resorted to flattery and politeness.

“Oh! I know you can read. Studying is good. Go on, then,” Yue Shunde said, expressionless.

Only then did Zhou Zhi stride away.

As he left, Yue Shunde’s face suddenly darkened, as if weighed down by lead. Fortunately, the black-faced servant beside him suddenly cheered, “Master, look, look! The gentlemen are coming home!”

Yue Shunde’s face lit up with joy, raising his withered hand high before lowering it. The servants quickly produced the firecrackers they’d prepared, lighting them in a burst of crackling sound.

Firecrackers were rarely set off in Baiyue Village. As they thundered on the main street, villagers flocked out of their homes to watch the commotion.

Zhou Zhi paused and turned to look. At the village entrance, a procession of carriages and horses approached. At the front, riding horseback, was the patriarch of the Yue family, Yue Shujie, followed by Yue Shunde’s second son, Yue Shuhao, and third son, Yue Shuyong.

Yue Shunde had four sons in total; these were three of them. The fourth, Yue Shuzhen, was dedicated to his studies and rarely left the house, kept under strict supervision by the highly paid tutors employed by the Yue family.

Behind the three sons followed a dozen carriages, each piled high with goods.

The Yue family had once relied mainly on rent from their thousand acres of fertile land, but now they had clearly turned to business. Mobilizing three sons at once showed how seriously they took their new venture, and the villagers began to gossip excitedly.