Sécurité

Chapitre 12

Cheng Mutian felt increasingly guilty. He then decided to secretly take on some business behind his father's back to supplement the family income and prevent Xiaoyuan from drinking such tea.

Having been in business for many years, taking on side jobs was a piece of cake for him. Just then, a shop in town needed a batch of South Sea pearls. He secretly kept the news from them and sold the pearls he had brought from his own farm. He then used other pretexts to make up the difference in the cost of buying the pearls.

Xiao Yuan had only endured a few days of hardship when Cheng Mutian returned with a large sum of money. She was genuinely surprised and quickly asked him where it came from. Cheng Mutian stammered, "Anyway, I didn't steal or rob. Just take it and use it. Why ask so many questions?"

He spoke so casually. The whole family was living in poverty, their large fortune a source of constant worry. How could she dare spend the money so easily? Besides, she had her own selfish motives. The money her husband had earned was, of course, his own private savings. She couldn't bear to give it away to others.

Seeing her cautiousness, Cheng Mutian felt even more guilty and told her to visit her relatives so she wouldn't have to worry about family matters all the time. Xiaoyuan was stunned for a while before she understood that he was telling her to go back and see Aunt Chen. She secretly smiled for a long time, thinking that she couldn't refuse her husband's kindness. So she used the "private money" he had just given her to prepare several gifts and took a sedan chair to see Aunt Chen.

Aunt Chen was overjoyed when she picked up Xiao Yuan. She looked her up and down and then down her face. Suddenly, she started wiping away her tears again: "Fourth Sister, you've lost weight. I only thought about how the Cheng family doesn't have a mother-in-law, and I forgot that there's a formidable sister-in-law. I'm sorry that you've suffered so much. I can't help you and can only worry about it."

Xiao Yuan couldn't tell Aunt Chen about her many grievances, which would only add to Aunt Chen's sorrow. She could only tell about the interesting things that happened after the marriage. She then said, "Er Lang said that I can come to Aunt's place anytime. Why don't you help me plan your marriage?"

Aunt Chen's face flushed red, but she gritted her teeth and said, "I'd rather not invite him to my door than hire anyone else."

Just as Xiao Yuan was about to ask for details, Cai Lian rushed in and said, "Fourth Sister, the young master has been beaten."

Xiao Yuan and Aunt Chen were both startled and stood up to ask, "What happened? Who hit you?"

Cailian said anxiously, "I don't know why he was summoned by the master and flogged a few times. Cheng Fu had people carry him back. Fourth Sister, you should hurry back and check on him."

Xiao Yuan panicked upon hearing this and hurriedly bid farewell to Aunt Chen before rushing home. She found Cheng Mutian lying motionless on the couch. She cried and wanted to go up and check on his wounds, but Cheng Mutian was unwilling to let her see his disheveled state. He endured the pain and pushed her away, saying, "It's nothing serious, call Cheng Fulai."

"What time is it for you to still be ashamed?" Xiao Yuan stamped her foot, but seeing that he was seriously injured, she was afraid that delaying would cause him to become disabled. She didn't bother to argue with him and hurriedly went out to find Cheng Fu. She also went to fetch water and medicine for the wound.

She peeked inside while delivering medicine and saw that Cheng Mutian's body was badly beaten, with numerous wounds on his back and legs, and his torn pants were stained with blood. She couldn't hold back any longer and rushed into the inner room to cry her heart out.

After Cheng Fu finished tidying up, he called the doctor to take a look. Xiao Yuan went in and sat next to Cheng Mutian, wiping away her tears, and asked, "Dad, did you hit you because of the money you gave me this morning?"

Cheng Mutian remained silent for a while, then forced a smile and said, "Can't you just pretend to be a little confused? You have to be so shrewd."

Xiao Yuan collapsed into his arms, crying: "You've been beaten like this, and you still expect me to pretend I don't know anything? What if something happens to you? Do you expect me to go with you?"

Cheng Mutian forced back his tears and forced a smile, saying, "If you want me to live a few more years, you'd better get up soon, or you'll crush me to death."

Xiao Yuan then realized that she was lying on his wound. She hurriedly got up, gently patted his back, and asked him if he wanted to eat anything.

Cheng Mutian slowly shook his head, looked up at her and said, "I was wrong first, don't resent your father."

After Xiaoyuan responded softly, he took her hand again: "Hide the dowry money well, and send the deed to your shop back to your aunt's house for a few days. I'm a cripple now, so be careful in everything you do, and don't let anyone find fault with me."

Xiao Yuan was shocked. She wanted to ask him what had happened, but seeing his tired expression, she knew he didn't want to talk about it. So she couldn't bear to press him any further, covered him with a thin blanket, and quietly left.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Rented Concubine (Part Two)

Xiao Yuan called Cheng Fu over and asked him about the reason why Cheng Mutian was beaten. Since ancient times, the relationship between ruler and subject, father and son has been one of respect. However, it was wrong for a son to hoard private wealth while his father was still alive. Moreover, Cheng Mutian had actually taken pearls from the public treasury to sell privately. No wonder Master Cheng was angry. But the rules are rigid. Master Cheng only had one son. In the end, all the family property would still belong to him. Even if he made a mistake, a few words of reprimand would suffice. Was it necessary to beat him so severely?

Xiao Yuan sat in the room and wondered, "I can still find some reason to beat Erlang, but why is he scheming to take my dowry money? The money Erlang earns from one trip on his ship in Quanzhou is probably more than enough to buy a hundred or so shops like mine."

Just as she was racking her brains trying to figure it out, Cheng San Niang suddenly came to see her brother with some food. She blushed and shyly thanked her for the cotton swabs she had given her. Xiao Yuan asked her a few questions and learned that she had started her period. She quickly ordered someone to change her tea to brown sugar water.

Cheng San Niang looked at the somewhat cloudy tea in front of Xiao Yuan and said in surprise, "Sister-in-law, no wonder I heard them say that the household expenses have been reduced, but why is my room still the same as before?"

Xiao Yuan smiled and said, "A young lady who is not yet married is a precious guest and should be treated differently."

Cheng San Niang knew that Xiao Yuan was deliberately favoring her. She felt sorry for her because she had never been loved since birth. Her eyes reddened and tears fell: "I know my sister-in-law's suffering, but I regret that I can't help you."

Xiao Yuan initially thought these words were just polite formalities, but seeing that Cheng San Niang seemed hesitant to speak, she quickly ordered Cai Lian to take the maids away and sit down beside her to ask in detail.

Cheng San Niang whispered, "Sister-in-law, Aunt Ding is probably pregnant."

Xiao Yuan was taken aback. "You're not kidding me, are you? How could you know about something like this?"

Cheng San Niang hurriedly said, "I didn't overhear on purpose. That day, when I went to pay my respects to my father, I heard Aunt Ding talking to him about dividing the family property among the children in her womb..."

Instead of pointing at her parents' spoiled rich kids, Xiao Yuan said sincerely, "Your brother and I can earn money with our own hands. What kind of ability is it to rely on our family? It's a good thing that Aunt Ding gave birth to a son for Dad and expanded the family line. It's only right that they get half of the family property."

Cheng San Niang disagreed: "Sister-in-law, although the doctor said she was carrying a boy, and Father believed it, these things are never certain. Perhaps she will give birth to a girl."

Xiao Yuan noticed the disdain in her words towards Aunt Ding's side. A thought struck her. This Third Madam was usually quiet and reserved, but she seemed quite shrewd. Why was she favoring her? It probably wasn't just about the cotton swabs; yes, even if Aunt Ding gave birth to a son, she would still be the mistress of the house. Master Cheng couldn't be relied upon. Her marriage depended on her.

The Cheng family is truly remarkable. But since Third Sister is "family," there's no harm in probing further. Xiao Yuan asked, "Third Sister, what you said makes a lot of sense. We don't even know if Aunt Ding is carrying a boy or a girl yet. How could Father be so heartless as to beat your brother like that? If anything happens to your brother, not only will your dowry be gone, but our whole family will be left with nothing."

Her question startled Cheng San Niang: "Brother is seriously injured? Didn't Father say he didn't use his full strength?"

Xiao Yuan couldn't help but shed tears again. She said bitterly, "That's not even considered heavy. One wrong move and I could be crippled."

Cheng San Niang was shocked. Remembering that she had no dowry yet, she said resentfully, "It must be Aunt Ding who instigated this. Although Father is indifferent to her on the surface, he actually likes her very much."

Hearing her say that, Xiao Yuan took the opportunity to ask her how Aunt Ding rented the property.

After explaining, Cheng San Niang explained that Ding Yiniang was rented by Master Cheng from Ding Yiniang's mother six years ago. The initial agreement was to pay Ding's mother one dou of rice per month. Two years later, Master Cheng was quite satisfied with Ding Yiniang and signed a new contract with Ding's mother, raising the rent to two dou of rice per month. However, Ding's mother did not want the extra dou of rice. She only asked Master Cheng to exchange the original dou of rice for iron coins, saying that she wanted to save money for Ding Yiniang's dowry so that she could remarry her when Master Cheng no longer wanted her. Master Cheng felt sorry for her and became more and more attached to Ding Yiniang. In the past two years, he not only raised her rent to 100 guan per year, but also stopped forcing her to drink contraceptive soup.

As the two were talking, Cheng Mutian, who was in the inner room, heard Xiaoyuan sobbing and asked her a question. Cheng San Niang, fearing that Cheng Mutian would scold her again, lifted her skirt and ran away.

Xiao Yuan carefully wiped away the tears on her face, went inside and scolded, "Look how you scared Third Sister."

Cheng Mutian called her to sit down beside him. "Haven't you sent the shop's deed back to your aunt's house yet?"

Xiao Yuan asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

Cheng Mutian lowered his voice and said, "I secretly changed the names of several shops to mine, and sent the deeds to your aunt's house overnight to hide them. I know she is only loyal to you and must be reliable."

"You've got some nerve, no wonder your father beat you so badly." Xiao Yuan's eyes widened, hardly believing that this was the most disciplined Cheng Erlang who had done this.

"You already know why I did this, don't you? Third Sister doesn't say a word usually, but she understands everything." Cheng Mutian buried his head in the pillow, his voice somewhat muffled.

Xiao Yuan felt that Cheng Mutian's reaction was a bit excessive, and asked in confusion, "Isn't it just that Aunt Ding is pregnant? This is a perfectly normal thing. Which family takes a concubine in order to have more children? Even if we divide the family property in half to them, so what? We can earn our own money."

Cheng Mutian looked up at her: "Then why didn't you give one of the shops to your brothers back then?"

Xiao Yuan blurted out, "That's not family property; it's what I earned with my own hard work."

As soon as she spoke, she suddenly understood Cheng Mutian's feelings. He had been through thick and thin for the Cheng family business for several years, and every shop was earned through his hard work. Who but a saint would be willing to give up their hard work?

Seeing Cheng Mutian's gloomy expression, she comforted him by echoing San Niang's words, "It's still uncertain whether Aunt Ding is carrying a boy or a girl, so don't be too anxious."

Cheng Mutian choked up and said, "It's not that I'm anxious, it's that Father is too anxious. He only found out you were pregnant and then used your dowry money to test us."

Everything became clear. Xiao Yuan suddenly understood. Master Cheng had been using Aunt Ding's rent money to try and get her dowry money, testing whether she was a virtuous and obedient daughter-in-law. "Father tested her once, and was probably disappointed, so he ruthlessly reduced my household allowance; and seeing that you weren't on his side, he became even angrier, so he beat you like this—I should thank Father, otherwise you would still be running around taking care of the business, how could you have time to be alone with me?"

As Xiao Yuan spoke, she reached her hand inside Cheng Mutian's clothes. Cheng Mutian blushed, but he was in so much pain that he couldn't move. He said anxiously, "We're in a difficult situation right now, and you still have the mind to joke around."

Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow: "What are you afraid of? Your wife can afford to support you."

Chapter Twenty-Eight: On the Honeymoon

Cheng Mutian couldn't stand the idea of not needing a woman to support him. Even though he knew it was a joke, he still turned his face away in anger. Xiao Yuan just found it funny: "If you want to play the hero, then return the shops you took from your father. If you don't want to return them, then wait for your father to beat you every day."

Cheng Mutian said angrily, "I won't return it. Why should I hand over the property I worked so hard to earn to the son born to a concubine?"

Xiao Yuan sighed: "I know that every stitch in the family is earned by you, but even if Aunt Ding gives birth to a son, how much of the family property will he get? Because of your fuss, Father originally wanted to leave three-tenths to his son, but now he probably wants to leave half of it."

Cheng Mutian felt a little regretful after hearing this, but he still stubbornly insisted: "I won't give him a single penny."

Xiao Yuan chuckled: "Fine, since you're going to be a miser, I guess I'll just have to follow your lead."

Just as Cheng Mutian was about to ask you how you planned to go with him, a maid came to report that Aunt Chen had come to visit her son-in-law. He hurriedly urged Xiaoyuan to go out and repeatedly instructed her not to let Aunt Chen into the inner room to see him in his immobile state.

Xiao Yuan felt both distressed and amused. She hurriedly went out and took Aunt Chen's arm, who was about to enter the house, and led her to sit in the next room. Aunt Chen looked worried and held Xiao Yuan's hand tightly, saying, "Is Erlang's injury any better? He's too bold. Luckily, this is his own father. If it were anyone else, they would have gone to the authorities to report him."

Aunt Chen was also a concubine, so Xiao Yuan couldn't very well say that Cheng Mutian didn't want to share even a single blade of grass with Aunt Ding. She had no choice but to change the subject and ask Cheng Mutian how many shops he had given to her.

Aunt Chen looked out the window and saw that there were maids from her dowry guarding the door. She then whispered in Xiao Yuan's ear, "There are at least ten shops. Your family is very wealthy. This is nothing compared to what I see. I even see several ships in the middle!"

Xiao Yuan was genuinely shocked. Maritime trade was the foundation of the Cheng family's business success. Many of their relatives lived in Quanzhou because of its harbor. The Cheng family imported goods from overseas and then sold them to high-end shops across the country. Cheng Mutian and his uncle's family were responsible for receiving the goods in Lin'an City; the shops were a side business. Cheng Mutian had stolen several ships—he could be considered a "master thief."

Although she was surprised, she still didn't understand what Master Cheng was doing and asked, "Auntie, even if Erlang is wrong, he is Master's only legitimate son. Won't all of this be his in the future?"

Aunt Chen shook her head and said, "Father-in-law is still alive and they can't wait to divide the family property. Which family wouldn't be wary of that? Besides, Master Cheng is only fifty years old. Who can say for sure that he won't have another son in the future? Aunt Ding is still here."

"These stinking rules between father and son!" Xiao Yuan rubbed her throbbing temples. Suddenly, she felt like giving up.

After seeing Aunt Chen off, Xiao Yuan pondered for a long time. She suggested to Cheng Mutian, "Let's go into seclusion."

Cheng Mutian looked up and glared at her: "Don't travel far while your parents are alive. Don't you understand this principle?"

Xiao Yuan had anticipated this. She wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, she smiled and said, "How about we take your ship and go out to sea with Dad?"

Cheng Mutian buried his face in the pillow and ignored her. Xiao Yuan went over and touched his earlobe. She laughed even more happily: "Even if you were hiding it, I could tell you were blushing. Your earlobes are burning hot."

After a long silence, Cheng Mutian said, "I should go out and recuperate, but there's no time to buy a small estate right now."

The Cheng family couldn't find a single estate, so it was clear he didn't want to go to a place under Master Cheng's control. Xiao Yuan clapped her hands and said, "Then go live in the estate that came with my dowry. I told you before, your wife can support you."

Without waiting for Cheng Mutian's objection, she ran out in a flash, summoned the servants who had come with her dowry, instructed Tian Er to inform the manor to make preparations in advance, and told Ren Wu about the various matters concerning the shop. She sent four maids to pack her luggage, but Cheng Mutian did not allow anyone else to interfere with her daily necessities; she packed them all herself.

Xiao Yuan's dowry estate was far from Lin'an, so she didn't bring much luggage and packed it up in half a day. The next morning, she went to say goodbye to Aunt Chen and thanked her repeatedly for taking the risk of keeping the contract for Erlang.

Aunt Chen was extremely reluctant to let her daughter go so far away, and advised, "Fourth Sister, if you want to clear your mind, just go to the villa outside the city. Why do you have to go so far?"

Xiao Yuan smiled wryly: "Auntie, living in the Cheng family is terrifying. We might as well go somewhere far away to avoid them."

Aunt Chen knew they wanted to avoid Master Cheng, fearing he would beat Cheng Mutian again and interrogate him about the whereabouts of the contract. She couldn't help but shed tears: "Fourth Sister, money is just an external thing. If you persuade Erlang to return the contract, won't we be a close family again?"

Xiao Yuan remained silent for a long time, but then realized that Cheng Mutian was unwilling to give away his family property to his half-brother who was still in his mother's womb. She could only mumble a few words and promise Aunt Chen that she would stay for a month or so before returning home, and then she took her leave.

After returning home, she first went to see Master Cheng, saying that there was a good doctor in the mountains who could cure bruises, and that she should take Erlang to see him, lest he develop a chronic illness. Master Cheng was so angry that his beard bristled, but he also regretted beating his son so hard. He didn't even know if the baby in Aunt Ding's belly was a boy or a girl, and if something really happened to Erlang, there would be no one to see him off in his final days. After thinking it over, he questioned Xiaoyuan for half a day, and seeing that she really didn't know the whereabouts of the contract, he had no choice but to grant her request.

After leaving Master Cheng's courtyard, Xiao Yuan sat in Third Sister Cheng's room for a long time before finally having someone bring a reclining chair to see Cheng Mutian. She then instructed a servant to lift him onto the reclining chair and take him to the carriage.

Cheng Mutian was quite surprised and gripped the edge of the bed tightly: "Wife, where are you going to move me?"

Xiao Yuan deliberately threw her handkerchief at his face: "Drag her out and sell her to buy cosmetics."

With his injuries, Cheng Mutian was no match for the servants who had taken his reward money. He was quickly carried into the carriage. Fortunately, the carriage was lined with thick cushions and several pillows, which made him realize that this was not a panicked escape, but a plan by Xiao Yuan. But this was too fast! Wasn't it just discussed yesterday?

"Wife, why the rush? Father won't come to interrogate you again right away," Cheng Mutian asked, smelling a familiar fragrance wafting from behind him.

"That's right, we should wait until you're healed before we hit you." Xiao Yuan was furious and slapped him on the buttocks. "I don't have your guts. You stole the boat and didn't run away."

Cheng Mutian was in so much pain that he was gritting his teeth, yet he also wanted to laugh. His expression was strange and inexplicable, which made Xiao Yuan laugh and pounce on him. He was in pain and broke out in a cold sweat, but he only felt that her body was soft and fragrant. He really didn't want her to get up, so he gritted his teeth and endured it.

Xiao Yuan was clearly provoking him on purpose, but seeing that he wouldn't utter a sound of pain, she felt sorry for him and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat again and again.

Cheng Mutian took her hand, smelled it, and asked, "Is anyone staying at home?"

Xiao Yuan smiled and said, "I was afraid that leaving my people behind would cause trouble, so I brought along several maids and servants who were part of my dowry, as well as Tian Er. As for Cheng Fu, A Xiu is heavily pregnant, so it wouldn't be appropriate to have him come along."

Cheng Mutian was worried that something might happen at home and no one would inform him. Xiao Yuan tapped his forehead and smiled, "Third Sister is there. Why would she need anyone else? Although she's afraid of you, she's very close to me."

Cheng Mutian naturally understood the ins and outs of the matter, and he laughed as the young couple chatted and laughed as they headed out of Lin'an City.

Chapter Twenty-Nine Thatched Manor

Xiao Yuan's dowry included three estates, and the one she was going to this time was the one in the mountains. According to Tian Er, the estate was located in a mountain valley, surrounded by mountains, with beautiful scenery. There was a stream next to the house, and there were forests on the mountain, making drinking water and hunting very cheap. There were also five acres of forest on the surrounding mountains that she had given as part of her dowry, where some fir trees and bamboo were planted, which were the main products of the estate.

The mountain was very high and steep, but the mountain road was not narrow, wide enough for an oxcart to pass through. Xiao Yuan was puzzled when Cheng Mutian asked Tian Er, "What other villages are there on the mountain?"