Southern Song Dynasty Life Consultant

Chapter 67

After taking his medicine and eating some porridge, Wu Ge fell into a deep sleep. Xiao Yuan touched his still burning face, feeling extremely guilty. The doctor said his symptoms were similar to Cheng Mutian's, and he must have been frightened. He was just a young child, and that damned Yang Su Niang had led him to "illicit relations." He must have been more panicked than happy. She herself had been out of her mind, not blaming the person who seduced him, but instead punishing her own son.

Cheng Mutian helped her to sit down in the outer room and comforted her, saying, "Brother Wu is in good health, he'll be fine. Look at me, I took some medicine and slept for a while, and I'm all better now."

Xiao Yuan patted his hand without saying a word. A Xiu brought over a copper basin and helped the two wash up, then brought out breakfast. Xiao Yuan stirred the food in the bowl a few times but couldn't eat it. Cheng Mutian coaxed and persuaded her until she ate half a bowl.

Chen Ge and Rui Niang appeared at the door and asked, "Is Brother sick? Is he feeling better?" Xiao Yuan beckoned Chen Ge over and asked him, "Did Brother leave you yesterday?" Chen Ge replied, "He left twice. The first time he left, he came back looking radiant. The second time he came back, he looked somewhat frightened. We asked him what happened, but he wouldn't say."

"Twice?" Xiao Yuan was confused. Did Brother Wu and Yang Su Niang go to the bridge twice? But why were their reactions different each time they came back? What exactly happened under the bridge?

Cheng Mutian noticed her confusion and said, "It's no use thinking about it now that things have come to this. You can't exactly wake him up and ask him now, can you? Just relax. He's a boy, not a girl. What could possibly happen to him? Even if something does happen, I'm still here for you."

Although Rui Niang didn't understand what had happened, she could see the unhappiness on her mother's face, so she whispered in Cheng Mutian's ear, "Father, shall I go to the workshop and make a lifelike flower for Mother?"

A woman's troubles couldn't be solved with just a bionic flower, but Cheng Mutian still smiled, patted Rui Niang's head, and told A Cai to take her to the bionic flower workshop. He told Xiao Yuan about Rui Niang's filial piety, saying, "Don't look so gloomy. There's nothing wrong, you're just making the children worry about you." These words moved Xiao Yuan, and she mustered her spirits, nudging Chen Ge: "Go run in the yard, or you'll get fat again."

Cheng Mutian was right. Wu Ge was in good health, and his fever subsided by noon. However, Xiao Yuan felt guilty and still wouldn't let him get up. She personally brought him a bowl, fed him his meal, and then helped him lie down, tucking him in with the blanket so he could lie down a little longer.

In the past, Wu-ge would never have stayed in bed. As soon as he felt a little better, he would go out and have fun. But this time, for some reason, he didn't object to Xiao-yuan's request at all and obediently lay down to sleep as she said. Xiao-yuan stroked his hair and gently comforted him, "Take care of yourself and get better. Your father and I will take care of everything."

After she settled Wu Ge in and went outside, A Cai was already waiting in the courtyard. She came forward and reported, "Young Madam, Master Yang has arrived with Su Niang. Young Master did not want them to come in, but they stood at the door hurling insults and claimed to have something on Wu Ge. Young Master had no choice but to let them go to the side hall."

Xiao Yuan was prepared for this and wasn't surprised. Knowing Master Yang's character, it would have been strange if he hadn't come. She quietly went to the side hall to peek. She saw Cheng Mutian sitting in the main seat, leisurely sipping tea, while Master Yang sat on a stool, his face flushed and neck red. Behind him stood Yang Su Niang, dressed in tattered clothes. Seeing this, she figured nothing was wrong, and since she didn't want to see Master Yang, she turned to leave. But A Cai said, "Young Master instructed that Madam should go in."

Xiao Yuan lowered her head and thought about it. She was right. Now that she was a merchant's wife, what kind of demons and monsters couldn't she see? She had to put on a shrewish act to intimidate people. Thinking of this, she covered her nose as she went in, not even glancing at the Yang family father and daughter. She frowned and scolded Cheng Mutian: "It's getting more and more outrageous! Bringing all sorts of scoundrels into our house! Even beggars dare to step onto our land?" Master Yang looked at himself. He had only found a decent-looking outfit when he left, without any patches. He didn't look like a beggar at all. This young mistress Cheng was going too far.

Su Niang lowered her head even further, shuffling behind Master Yang to hide, but accidentally knocked over a small vase, which shattered on the blue brick floor. Startled, she waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "I didn't mean to..."

Knowing Xiaoyuan's thoughts, Acai stepped forward, looked at the ground, and clicked her tongue, saying, "You can't even afford to lose money on that celadon lotus vase if you sell it."

Master Yang pulled a jade pendant from his pocket and slammed it on the small table: "See if you can afford to pay for this." Ah Cai peeked over and exclaimed in surprise, "This is Brother Wu's jade pendant! How did it end up with you?" Xiao Yuan, upon hearing this, looked closely and indeed it was the family heirloom jade pendant that Brother Wu always wore on his waist, engraved with the Cheng family's unique symbol and the character "Cheng." A sense of unease crept into her heart, and when she looked up at Cheng Mutian, panic also appeared in her eyes.

Master Yang held up the jade pendant, beaming with pride, and said, "This is the token of love between your Wu-ge and my Su-niang." Xiao Yuan wasn't without her own schemes, but she usually kept a shred of kindness in her actions. Now, at this critical juncture, what did she care about? She was just going to use any means necessary. She deliberately provoked Master Yang, saying, "You say it is, so it is? Who knows if he just bought some cheap jade from a roadside stall and carved it haphazardly?" Cheng Mutian also realized what was going on and chimed in, "I was confused too. I was really fooled by him. Just now at lunch, Wu-ge's jade pendant was still hanging on his waist. How could it be in his hands in the blink of an eye?"

Master Yang held the jade pendant in his hand and said, "Copy it? Your Cheng family's jade pendants have such intricate designs. Who could possibly copy them without studying them for three to five days?" Xiao Yuan laughed and said, "That's hard to say. Your Su Niang is shameless. She's always flirting with Brother Wu. Who knows if she secretly took ink and printed the designs?" Seeing that she had taken the subject far off and brought up Su Niang's reputation, Master Yang was not only not annoyed, but rather pleased. He said, "If Young Madam Cheng had admitted it earlier, I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble. Since you've accepted it, let's settle this marriage."

Cheng Mutian was furious and cursed, "What did my wife admit to? Stop talking nonsense." Xiao Yuan stopped him and said with a smile, "I don't know what Master Yang is talking about, but if this gets out, people will only praise Brother Wu as a romantic young man, while his daughter will be the one who is humiliated." As she spoke, she called A Cai and asked her to bring pen and ink so that she could write a contract of sale on the spot.

Master Yang was dumbfounded: "What do you mean by this?" Xiao Yuan asked curiously: "You went to great lengths to scheme against my family all the way from the mountains to the city, just for this. I'll grant your wish." As she spoke, she called to the servant: "Get the tools in the woodshed ready. The concubine who is entering our family will first learn the family rules, and then go hungry for two meals to learn the etiquette."

Master Yang knew better than anyone how his concubines were treated, so he naturally didn't want his daughter to suffer like this. He quickly raised the jade pendant high and threatened, "I have Brother Wu's jade pendant in my hand. If your Cheng family doesn't marry Su Niang as your principal wife, I will go to the authorities to report you to the authorities."

Xiao Yuan didn't even glance at him, and scoffed, "Fake." Then, she walked over to A Cai and urged her to hurry up and write the indenture.

Seeing that he couldn't scare Xiao Yuan, Master Yang went to look at Cheng Mutian, only to find him sipping tea with his head down, not even glancing at him. The Cheng family wasn't worried, but he panicked. He glanced at Su Niang, thinking to himself, "Could the jade pendant my daughter stole be fake? If so, I've suffered a huge loss. He went to great lengths, teaching her to sell vegetables and even 'illicit relations,' sacrificing her reputation to seduce Wu Ge, all just to steal the jade pendant and use it as leverage. If this plan fails, given the Yang family's current status, Su Niang will never be able to marry into the Cheng family; even if she does, she'll only be a concubine at best."

Before long, Ah Cai's indenture was written. Before the ink had even dried, she presented it to Master Yang and asked him to put his red handprint on it. She said with a smile, "Our young master and young mistress are the most kind-hearted. Knowing that your family is now in dire straits, they have given you an extra ten coins."

Chapter 205 Leaving No Trouble Behind (Part 2)

Master Yang naturally refused to put his fingerprint on the jade pendant. He was provoked by Xiao Yuan and then cornered by the indenture. He had no choice but to hand it over and tell them to carefully examine its authenticity.

Xiao Yuan had been waiting for this moment. Now that she had it, why would she give it back to him? She immediately had it sent to the back, and then, together with Cheng Mutian, she stood up and instructed A Cai, "Let him sign the indenture if he wants. Young Master and I are busy, we don't have time to argue with them."

Master Yang thought she had taken the jade pendant in to verify its authenticity, but upon hearing this, he realized he had been tricked. Su Niang's reputation was ruined, and the jade pendant was gone. Was she going to force him to jump into West Lake? He was extremely unwilling and rushed over to block Cheng Mutian and his wife's path, intending to resort to violence.

However, before his hand could land, Su Niang cried out in alarm. Turning around, she saw that Wu Ge had rushed out at some point and was grabbing Su Niang by the collar, giving her a brutal beating. He had practiced martial arts since childhood, and although his punches were light and airy, they hurt real and deep. His movements were incredibly fast, and by the time Master Yang came to his senses and tried to pull him away, Su Niang had already collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The incident happened so fast that Cheng Mutian and his wife were stunned. It wasn't until Master Yang shouted loudly that they remembered to call the doctor. Fortunately, the doctor had been waiting at the Cheng family home for Cheng Mutian and Wu Ge's colds and arrived in no time. After taking their pulses and examining their injuries, he shook his head and said, "This child has probably not had enough to eat for many years. He is weak and has old injuries. If he is beaten so severely, he won't recover for at least half a month."

Su Niang was still unconscious. Xiao Yuan, seeing her pitiful state, couldn't bear it and ordered someone to carry her to the servants' quarters. She sent an old woman to prepare medicine and also told the kitchen in the servants' quarters to cook some porridge for her. Master Yang had originally intended to act arrogantly, but he hadn't expected to encounter an even more ruthless Wu Ge, who had knocked his daughter unconscious without a word. As the saying goes, even the wicked fear someone more wicked than themselves, and he dared not make a sound. He followed the old woman carrying Su Niang, intending to follow her to the servants' quarters. Xiao Yuan gave a signal to the door, and several strong servants rushed in and pinned Master Yang to the ground. Master Yang thought they were going to beat him, but the servants didn't touch him. They simply grabbed his fingers and pressed his fingerprint onto the indenture that A Cai had previously written.

Master Yang cried out in a panic, "Cheng Erlang, He Si Niang, you two swindlers!" Xiao Yuan ignored him, took the indenture, flicked it, and said, "Finally, I can get a good night's sleep." Cheng Mutian scolded the servants, "Why are there any outsiders in our house? Get them out of here immediately." Several servants quickly gagged Master Yang, tied his hands and feet, and prepared to carry him out and throw him away.

Xiao Yuan spoke up, "Wait! Let's finish this good deed. Take a few more people, hitch a ride, and take him home. Then help him move his family back to Quanzhou. Lin'an can't accommodate him anymore." Master Yang was so anxious he kept whimpering, but unfortunately, his mouth was stuffed with a rag, so he couldn't open it. Cheng Mutian laughed, "Good idea. It just so happens that the Li family has a boat going to Quanzhou tomorrow. Tie up their whole family, and don't let them go until they arrive." After saying that, he stared into Master Yang's eyes and said, "If he doesn't behave, come and report back, and I will definitely take good care of his daughter."

Master Yang was unable to move or speak, so he could not express his objections. He could only let several servants carry him out, throw him into a cart, and send him back to the mountains.

As soon as he left, the hall fell silent. Xiao Yuan was somewhat dazed: "It was resolved so quickly, I can't believe it." Cheng Mutian said: "It's easy to be a bad person, do you think it's as difficult as being a good person? The Yang family is now penniless and powerless, they're just like the mud under our feet. When he returns to Quanzhou, his brother will settle old scores with him, he'll have a hard time."

When Wu Ge saw that they looked alright, he timidly asked, "Dad, Mom, you're not angry with me?" Xiao Yuan had a lot of questions, but since the matter was resolved, she didn't want to ask anymore. She went over and touched his forehead, saying, "It seems the fever has completely subsided. You must have been cooped up for too long. You can stay home and rest for another day tomorrow, and go to school the day after tomorrow." She then asked, "Are you hungry? I'll ask the kitchen to cook for you."

Wu Ge couldn't believe it and asked, "Mother, you don't blame me for hitting Su Niang?" Xiao Yuan replied calmly, "So what if I hit her? She's our concubine now. No one will care if I beat her to death."

"A concubine?" Wu Ge was stunned. "Mother, you don't really mean it, do you? I don't want such a treacherous woman. Do you know why I hit her just now? Yesterday, she dragged me to the bridge and started undressing me, saying she couldn't live at home anymore and would be beaten to death or starved to death by her stepmother sooner or later. I was soft-hearted and agreed to buy her as a concubine so she could have something to eat. Who knew she would be so greedy and steal my jade pendant and come to my door to blackmail me into becoming my wife?"

Xiao Yuan understood. His anger at Su Niang, disregarding their friendship, stemmed partly from hatred and partly from heartache that his good intentions had been misplaced.

He had agreed to let Su Niang become a concubine in the Cheng family, but had anything actually happened between them? Xiao Yuan glanced at Cheng Mutian and led the servants out. Cheng Mutian naturally understood what she meant. Once the room was empty, he asked Wu Ge, "Have you already taken her in?" Wu Ge responded, "What do you mean by taking her in?" Cheng Mutian was both amused and exasperated: "Then do you know what a concubine maid is?" Wu Ge replied somewhat shyly, "Li Ququ took in a concubine last year, and he told us some things... I roughly know..."

"So what did you and Su Niang do under the bridge yesterday?" After asking this question, Wu Ge's expression was normal, but Cheng Mutian's face turned red.

Wu Ge didn't understand why his father suddenly blushed. He looked at him strangely and replied, "I didn't do anything."

Cheng Mutian suddenly became annoyed: "You've already had your clothes taken off, and you haven't even done anything yet?"

Wu Ge was even more puzzled: "Last night, it was so cold. If she had taken off her clothes, wouldn't she have caught a cold? So I naturally put my clothes back on, gave her some money, and went to find my uncle and brother."

This foolish son, does he understand matters of the heart, or not? But regardless, one thing is certain: he and Yang Su Niang have nothing going on. Remembering Chen Ge's words, Cheng Mutian continued, "If you have nothing going on with her, why were you so panicked yesterday?"

Wu lowered his head and his voice became even softer as he said, "If you all knew I had promised her a concubine, you'd beat me to death..."

"Just for this?" Cheng Mutian asked, puzzled. "You've been seeing her all these years, and we've never said a word. Why are you worried about this?"

Wu Ge said, "It's one thing to help her, but it's another to buy her into our family. I understand that. Father and Mother certainly don't want her to come into our family, do they?"

Cheng Mutian sighed inwardly. He was the eldest son after all; though he seemed muddle-headed, he was much more astute than his brother Chen. He patted Wu Ge on the shoulder and admonished him, "Giving her a concubine isn't a huge mistake. You must understand, concubines and maids are just objects; their lives are in your hands, they can't do anything about it. But in this matter, you've made a huge mistake. Do you know where it is?"

Wu Ge didn't dare to raise his head and said, "I shouldn't have been careless and let her steal the jade pendant." Cheng Mutian shook his head: "That was a mistake, but she seduced you first, and you made a mistake in your panic, so you can't entirely blame yourself." Wu Ge asked curiously, "Then where did I go wrong?" Cheng Mutian's expression became serious: "You went wrong by not reporting what you knew. If you had honestly told her what happened last night, how could your mother have been so worried and scared, and even been locked up all night and fallen ill? If you had gotten seriously ill, it would have been a great act of filial impiety."

Wu Ge knelt down and said, "Your son knows he was wrong, please punish me, Father."

Xiao Yuan hadn't gone far; she pressed her ear against the door and listened intently. The more she listened, the happier she became. She pushed the door open and came in, saying, "Lunch is ready. Brother Wu, hurry up and eat."

Cheng Mutian didn't intend to punish Wu Ge. He said, "You're still weak. If you get hungry, your mother will have to take care of you." Wu Ge smiled, kowtowed to him and Xiao Yuan, got up, and went out.

Xiao Yuan smiled at Cheng Mutian: "That's great! I really thought we'd have another daughter-in-law." Cheng Mutian said: "What kind of daughter-in-law is she? Don't flatter her." He then asked: "How do you plan to punish her? A girl like that can't stay in the house." Xiao Yuan said: "Of course, and we can't send her back to Quanzhou. If we don't have a weakness in the Yang family, they'll keep bothering us." Cheng Mutian nodded and said: "You decide what to do. Don't be soft-hearted."

Rui Niang ran in, holding a lifelike flower, and threw herself into Xiao Yuan's arms, saying, "Mother, look at the flower I made for you, do you like it?" Xiao Yuan smiled and said, "I like my daughter's heartfelt gift even without looking at it." She squatted down so that Rui Niang could help her tuck the flower into her hair. Cheng Mutian said jealously, "You've forgotten your father now that you have a mother." Rui Niang quickly turned and ran outside, saying, "I'll make another one for Father."

Xiao Yuan scolded, "Don't tire her out." Cheng Mutian reached out, "Then give me the one in your hair." Xiao Yuan turned away and laughed, "Don't even think about it." Cheng Mutian didn't chase after her and said, "Then I'll trouble you to make me another one." Xiao Yuan teased him, "You want to wear a flower that I made myself so you can show it off when you go out?" Cheng Mutian blushed and stepped forward to tickle her armpits, but Xiao Yuan cried out, "You're copying Brother Chen's tricks, don't you know shame?" and dodged away in a few steps.

There were servants standing outside, so Cheng Mutian didn't dare to chase after her. Xiao Yuan smiled for a moment and then went to the servants' courtyard. Sister-in-law Yu came out to greet her, lifted the curtain, and whispered, "Young Madam, she's awake. I fed her some thin porridge, but she looked like she hadn't eaten for a long time, so I didn't dare to feed her too much."

Xiao Yuan nodded slightly and sat down at the table. Su Niang, who was lying on the bed, sat up straight as soon as she saw Xiao Yuan come in, but dared not raise her head. Xiao Yuan asked, "Were all those things forced you to do by your father?" Su Niang quickly looked up at her, then shook her head: "They were all my own ideas, and had nothing to do with my father."

Xiao Yuan felt relieved. This child wasn't completely wicked. If she were to shift all the blame onto others, she would be disappointing. She took the indenture with Master Yang's fingerprint on it and deliberately said, "I'm not that heartless to keep you as a concubine. Once you're feeling better, I'll return the indenture to you and send you to Quanzhou—you probably don't know yet, but your parents are probably leaving for their hometown tomorrow."

Panic was evident in Su Niang's eyes. She struggled to get out of bed and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "I won't go back. I'd rather be a maid in the young mistress's house."

Xiao Yuan chuckled, "You're willing, but I'm not. Your body hasn't even fully developed yet, and you're already stripping my son of his clothes. What will you be like when he grows up?" Su Niang was overwhelmed with shame and remained silent for a moment before suddenly saying, "Brother Wu promised me he'd marry me as a concubine." Xiao Yuan waved the indenture in front of her, saying, "Your father has many concubines. Surely you know that concubines are bought, not married? Don't take advantage of my son's kindness and treat others like fools. If everyone were like you, who in this world would dare to do good deeds?"

Seeing the barbs in her words, Su Niang covered her face and cried, "All I want is to have enough to eat and wear, can't even that simple wish be granted?" Xiao Yuan sighed, "Do you think everyone is born into luxury? I wasn't as well off as you when I was little. Your idea isn't wrong, but your method is wrong. You've driven yourself into a desperate situation, who can help you now?"

Su Niang raised her head, her face streaked with tears, and pleaded, "Since the young mistress is unwilling to keep me, then sell me. I'll be a concubine, a maidservant, or even just a little girl, as long as I have a bowl of rice to eat."

Xiao Yuan originally hated her to the core, but upon hearing these words, she couldn't help but feel heartbroken. She tore up the indenture and walked towards the door, saying, "We'll talk about it later. You should focus on recovering first."

Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Yu followed and asked, "Young Madam, do you want to keep her?" Xiao Yuan countered, "Why do you think that?" Sister-in-law Yu said, "Young Madam said she needs to recuperate..." Xiao Yuan said, "She's so fragile, she could be blown away by a gust of wind, and she has sores all over her body. Would a human trafficker even want her?"

In fact, she had already decided where Su Niang would go. Once Su Niang recovered, she would be given to Li Ququ. Whether she would become a maid or a concubine would depend on her fate.

When Cheng Mutian learned of her idea, he laughed and said, "Giving it to the Li family is a good idea. It just so happens that Li Ququ is still recruiting concubines and maids. Moreover, the Li family is related to us. If the Yang family is not obedient, it will be easy to control Yang Su Niang."

Xiao Yuan lay down on the couch and sighed: "Yesterday I was thinking about how to humiliate Yang Su Niang when I saw her, so as to vent my anger for Brother Wu. But today, seeing Brother Wu beat her up, I still feel bad. That child is both hateful and pitiful. It is not her wish to be born into such a family."

Cheng Mutian recalled Wu Ge's fierce appearance back then and laughed, "Our son is probably going to become heartless in the future." Xiao Yuan frowned and said, "You're still laughing?" Cheng Mutian said, "How can you do business if you're soft-hearted? Giving away money to beggars is not the way of a smart person. If you want to do good deeds, you should set up a large soup kitchen. That way you can help people and also gain a good reputation."

Xiao Yuan wanted to refute him, but she vaguely felt that what he said made some sense. She sighed and said, "From now on, I'll leave our sons to you to teach them. After all, they will have to leave home and make their own way in the world in the future. Being soft-hearted is definitely not a good thing." Cheng Mutian sat down beside her, patted her hand, and said, half-consulting and half-comforting, "Cheng Dongjing has sent a letter. He intends to have the clan's ships sail to Lin'an again this year. I think the children are getting older and need opportunities to train. Why don't we agree?" This comforting reassurance was very effective, and Xiao Yuan smiled. "That's a good thing. Wu-ge doesn't want to take the imperial examinations, and reading books all day isn't enough. I was just worried about where to broaden his horizons. If the children don't see many people, they're more likely to make mistakes." Cheng Mutian hugged her and said, "Then let's take Chen-ge along too. That boy is too honest, not as good as his brother. Let him learn a few lessons."

Chapter 206 Qingming Festival Outing (Part 1)

Half a month passed quickly. Su Niang had been recuperating at the Cheng family's house for half a month. Not only had her injuries healed greatly, but her complexion had also become rosy, her frostbite had disappeared, her skin had become fair, and her big eyes had regained their sparkle, revealing her beautiful appearance once again. Thanks to the good looks she had inherited from her birth mother, she was taken in by Li Ququ on the second day after she was sent to the Li family and was raised as a concubine, thus fulfilling one of her "wishes".

Before the Cold Food Festival, Xiaoyuan's third brother, He Yaohong, returned home with his wife and children. It was the day when the Cheng family's Quanzhou seagoing ship resumed its journey to Lin'an. Cheng Mutian was worried that the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office would be without anyone, which would affect the maritime business, so he personally visited He Yaohong. He Yaohong told him to relax, saying that he had his own people in the Maritime Trade Office. You wonder who these people were? It turned out to be Master Yang's eldest brother.

Cheng Mutian couldn't help but sigh. Good deeds are still done. If He Yaohong hadn't helped him back then, he wouldn't have gained such a capable friend today. It's clear that the fault of someone like Master Yang repaying kindness with ingratitude doesn't lie with the kind person, but with the one who harbors resentment. He deserves to be punished.

With He Laosan returning home, Xiaoyuan was overjoyed to have her family visiting. Cheng Mutian was happy too, and they discussed the Qingming Festival, inviting He Yaohong's family to go on a spring outing. Xiaoyuan asked curiously, "Qingming is a day for visiting ancestral graves and paying respects; how can we go out and have fun?" Cheng Mutian laughed, "That's just how things are; you'll understand when the time comes."

Xiao Yuan didn't believe it at first, but on that day she learned that the Song people really did celebrate Qingming Festival as a "festival." Starting from Hanshi Festival, West Lake was filled with painted boats, one after another, like a temporary floating bridge. First boat, second boat, third boat, fourth boat, fifth boat, railing boat, rowing boat, foot boat, melon-shaped boat... Xiao Yuan counted them roughly, and there were at least five hundred of them.

The water was bustling with activity, and the shore was also teeming with tourists and shops were packed. Some small vendors selling food and drinks had nowhere to sit and had to set up temporary wooden sheds by the station. Some tourists wanted to drink but had nowhere to sit and could only sit quietly in the designated area.

Xiao Yuan marveled at the Song people's carefree spirit. Cheng Mutian remarked that the temples, monasteries, and Buddhist halls on the mountains of both North and South Peaks were also packed with tourists. Xiao Yuan urged the children to hurry on their way so they wouldn't be late and unable to enter the city, but Cheng Mutian said, "These days, the city gates don't close until late at night, when all the tourists and carriages have disappeared. Don't rush, take your time, and enjoy the day."

Although I had made an appointment with He Laosan, I still needed to visit the graves first because of Qingming Festival. Along the way, many men and women carried offerings and food in boxes on their shoulders and in their hands. Paper money was scattered all over the road, hanging from the backs of sedan chairs and horse-drawn carriages. In front of each grave, some were kowtowing and bowing, some were sprinkling wine in worship, some were weeping bitterly, and others were clearing weeds and filling the graves with soil.

Cheng Mutian, along with his wife, children, younger brother, and younger sister, burned paper money for Master Cheng and then placed it on the grave. After they finished sweeping the grave, they looked into the distance and saw a bare grave without any paper money. The children asked Cheng Mutian why, and he replied, "That's a lonely grave where no one has left to carry on the family line." Xiao Yuan knew that it was the joint grave of Master Qian and Madam Xin, and asked in surprise, "Didn't they adopt a son? How come there's no one to sweep the grave?" Cheng Mutian joked, "That's for collecting money, not for sweeping the grave."

Everyone laughed, but he frowned. He had spotted Madam Qian, who had come to sweep the tomb with her new husband's family. Xiao Yuan quickly turned him around and whispered, "They're two families now, don't make things worse." So many years had passed, and Cheng Mutian had come to terms with it, but Zhonglang saw his mother and couldn't help but cry out. He ran towards her, but this was in front of Master Cheng's tomb. Cheng Mutian wouldn't allow him to act like this. He quickly gave his two sons a look, and Wu Ge stepped forward and covered Zhonglang's mouth, while Chen Ge grabbed him around the waist and dragged him back to the car.

Because of this incident, Cheng Mutian and Xiaoyuan could not linger, so they had to put aside their grief and set off to meet up with He Laosan. Along the way, Xiaoyuan witnessed some strange sights. Most of the people who came to sweep the tombs did not go home after crying, but instead found a large tree or garden, sat down in a circle, ate and drank, and got completely drunk; some even sang in front of the graves, crying and laughing at the same time; and some travelers who had been traveling all year round had no graves to sweep, so they stuck a willow branch in their hair and wandered around the fields and bridges, truly enjoying a spring outing.

Sitting in the carriage, Rui Niang looked around with Xiao Yuan, and suddenly said, "I heard the maids say that if you don't wear willow branches on Qingming Festival, you'll turn into a yellow dog after you die." Xiao Yuan laughed, "That's nonsense." Cheng Mutian, who doted on his daughter, quickly said, "Whether it's true or not, it's not a difficult thing." He then gave an order outside, and someone immediately picked a large bunch of willow branches and brought them into the carriage. He personally put a branch in the willow branches for Xiao Yuan and Rui Niang, and then distributed the rest to his younger siblings and sons. Xiao Yuan also helped him put a willow branch in his hair, and took the opportunity to gently pinch his earlobe, making him blush but unable to speak.

He Yaohong had amassed a considerable fortune during his years as an official. Although he had resigned from his post at the Maritime Trade Office, he had purchased another office in Lin'an, and thus his entourage was quite grand. He had chosen a spacious field, surrounded by high curtains, with guards every few steps, prohibiting any unauthorized personnel from entering. Cheng Mutian and Xiao Yuan both laughed, "He's truly an official; his demeanor is beyond the reach of ordinary people."

A door was open in the curtain, and a woman dressed as a concubine came forward, lifted the curtain, greeted them with a smile, and then called out sweetly to the back, "Third Young Master, Young Master Cheng and his wife have arrived." Xiao Yuan lowered her head slightly and went in. Before her was a scene of vibrant flowers and lush greenery, with concubines and mistresses moving about, some carrying trays, others holding pots, about a dozen in total. The only two or three maids dressed as young girls looked like they had been taken in as concubines. She whispered to Cheng Mutian with a smile, "What an eye-opener. Luckily it's my own third brother; I'm not afraid he'll just give you a few along the way."

The two women, along with their children, went forward to greet He Yaohong and his wife, and then took their seats in the guest quarters. Li Wuniang held her own daughter in her arms, with her five sons born to concubines standing beside her, a sight that made Xiaoyuan sigh again. The two women, aunt and sister-in-law, hadn't seen each other for many years, so their first act was naturally to exchange pleasantries and gifts with the children. Adhering to the principle of distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate children, Li Wuniang gave Xiaoyuan's own sons gleaming gold necklaces, while giving Cheng Siniang only a glass bracelet, and Zhonglang a silver ingot. To please her, Xiaoyuan followed her example, giving her own daughter only two bolts of Shu brocade, and each of her five illegitimate sons a small trinket.

He Yaohong was in a good mood when he saw his sister. After asking Cheng Mutian and learning that he had not taken a concubine, he was even happier. He pulled his three nephews over to look at her and stroked his beard with a smile, saying, "They are all good children. My sister is a good wife and mother and a good homemaker. Erlang is a lucky man." Xiao Yuan felt embarrassed by these compliments and pushed him and Cheng Mutian to a small tent set up nearby to drink.

Li Wuniang wanted to catch up with Xiaoyuan, so she called a few of her illegitimate sons to take her younger sister and the little guests to the grass to catch insects and play. She then sat down next to Xiaoyuan, took her hand, and asked, "Can you get used to my wine? I'll have them make some hot tea."

Xiao Yuan squeezed her hand back and said, "Why have tea? Tell them to leave, let's talk." Li Wu Niang had the same idea, and waved to the group of concubines, dismissing them. Xiao Yuan watched carefully; although the flamboyant concubines had left, they only dared to stand far away by the curtain wall, not daring to go into the small tent to accompany He Yao Hong. She smiled at Li Wu Niang, "Third Sister-in-law, you manage the household well." Li Wu Niang sighed, "What's so great about managing the household? It's just a matter of having no other choice but to make myself more comfortable. Over the years, I've come to terms with it. A man's heart is like the clouds in the sky, you can't hold onto it. It's better to work on these concubines, control them, and then my daughter and I can live a peaceful life."

Although it was a last resort, it was still better than being depressed. Xiao Yuan was somewhat happy for her, but also worried: "Third Brother didn't blame you for this, did he?" Li Wu Niang laughed and said: "I am a person, not just an object. If I mess up a few wives, even if I break one, he can't say anything."

Xiao Yuan took a sip of wine and sighed, "I've always felt that concubines have a hard life, but what happened a few months ago made me realize that many poor families see being a concubine as their only way out." Li Wu Niang had visited her parents' home after returning to Lin'an and knew what Xiao Yuan was lamenting, so she asked, "Are you talking about the concubine my little brother kept?" She pointed to the curtained wall and said, "The one who drew the curtain when you came in was her birth mother."

When she entered, Xiao Yuan hadn't noticed anything amiss, but now, following Li Wu Niang's pointing finger, she glanced around and indeed saw that the concubine bore a striking resemblance to Su Niang. Li Wu Niang said, "I've already heard about Yang Su Niang's seduction of your Wu Ge. It's true what they say, like mother, like daughter. Her birth mother is a master at charming men, completely bewitching your third brother. Luckily, she can't have children anymore, or I would have sold her long ago."

Xiao Yuan laughed and said, "You think this kind of person is bad, but men love her. Your little brother has already fallen for Su Niang. The girl I sent over was just an ordinary maid, but she became a concubine in less than a day. Once she's properly married, she might even become a proper concubine." Li Wu Niang scoffed, "No matter how high you climb, you'll still be a slave. There's a wife above you who'll keep you down. You'll never get ahead."

The sound of children's laughter drifted over from the grass. Xiao Yuan turned her head to look, but they weren't playing together in one place. Instead, they were divided into two groups, one group of boys and one group of girls. It seemed that the "boys and girls should not touch each other" idea she had instilled in the children these past few days had taken effect. Cheng Si Niang, with her bound feet, got tired after playing for a while and was helped to a stool by one of He Yao Hong's concubines.

Li Wuniang glanced at it a few times, frowned and said, "Isn't that your father-in-law's concubine's daughter? Why did you bind her feet? In a couple of years, when you're looking for a husband, wealthy families will think she has no dowry, and poor families will think her feet are too small to do any work. You'll be in trouble then."

Chapter 207 Qingming Festival Outing (Part 2)

Xiao Yuan looked at the fruit wine made by fermentation in the glass, and seemed a little confused: "She's not my own daughter, but she insists on clinging to me. What can I do?" Li Wu Niang understood a little and nodded: "Your mother-in-law was still alive then. It was indeed difficult for you. But for a woman with bound feet, being a concubine is quite desirable."

Xiao Yuan chuckled softly, "She's got ambition now. She refuses to be a concubine. She works day and night in my bionic flower workshop, determined to earn her own dowry."

Upon hearing this, Li Wuniang's eyes gleamed with envy: "If I could truly find someone who is devoted to me, poverty wouldn't matter; it would be a thousand times better than me."