RMCF: Chapter 38

 

Chapter 38

“You little punk, tired of living?! Daring to trick me!”

Zhang Fangyuan worked at his stall until noon. Without even eating, he went straight to the Yunliang Pavilion to drag out An San’er.

“Wronged! I'm wronged!”

As soon as An San’er came out, he received a few kicks from Zhang Fangyuan and quickly covered his head, begging for mercy.

“Wronged!? Giving me a black book? Completely useless!” Zhang Fangyuan added another kick. “My friend said it didn't work!”

An San’er pleaded repeatedly, “Brother Zhang, calm down, calm down.”

“How could it be no good? Brother Zhang, we can go to the bridgehead right now. If you ask the regulars there, they'd definitely say it's good."

“Stop being glib with me!”

An San’er quickly slapped his own mouth a few times. “Yes, yes.”

Being held accountable like this was uncomfortable. An San’er, with his shifty eyes, ventured, “May I ask why Brother Zhang's friend sought out the booklet? If I could meet this brother in person, I might offer a couple of good words to help him avoid detours, no?”

Zhang Fangyuan gave An San’er a sidelong glance. Was this guy intentionally undermining him?

He said impatiently, “My friend just got married; he's too embarrassed to come. And is he someone a lowlife like you could see?”

“Yes, yes. So that's how it is.” An San’er said, “Brother Zhang should have said so earlier.”

An San’er’s eyes darted around. He tried to lead Zhang Fangyuan into a back room. Zhang Fangyuan rubbed the tip of his nose, glanced around, and followed him inside

The room was a mess, similar to his own tool shed. An San’er rummaged through a pile, pulled out a chest half a person's height, and placed it on the table.

“Brother Zhang's friend just got married and married a ge? That's indeed a bit trickier than a woman. Earlier, you didn't specify, just wanted a couple of booklets for amusement. Had I known you came for this matter, there wouldn't have been a detour. Of course, if Brother Zhang's friend could come in person, that would surely make everything clear to him.”

Zhang Fangyuan listened with forced patience as An San’er praised his own wares. He knew this crafty fellow used to train young women and ger at the Yunliang Pavilion and had some skills. But later he offended his superiors and got demoted. Nowadays he could only survive by peddling unsavory goods beneath the Tianqiao bridge.

“What’s more troublesome about a ge compared to a woman?”

An Saner's first instinct was to retort—hadn't you slept with both, still don't know the difference?—but he swallowed the words at his lips. Recalling how when Zhang Fangyuan presided over Yunliang Pavilion, other men enjoyed the convenience of sleeping with the establishment’s girls and ger for free. Only this Lord Yama seemed immune to both meat and vegetables—maybe he really hadn’t experienced either.

He used to think this lord must have great ambitions and didn’t indulge in affairs for that reason. Now he felt what Ninth Lady said was probably right: eighty percent chance he just couldn’t perform.

“Actually, it's not much more troublesome. It's just that in the beginning, ger require a little more preparation compared to women. Otherwise, there's not much difference.”

Having said that, An San’er opened the chest. Inside was crammed full of bottles, jars, and various implements. Some Zhang Fangyuan recognized, but more were things he didn't understand.

An San’er took out a small white porcelain bottle and placed it in Zhang Fangyuan's hand. “This is essential, for lubrication.”

Zhang Fangyuan asked straightforwardly, “For me to use, or for him to use?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, for my friend to use, or for his fulang to use?”

“…”

Upon careful explanation, it didn't seem wrong, but this way of speaking was truly difficult for ordinary people to comprehend!

“For both.”

Having experienced Zhang Fangyuan's peculiar way of phrasing things, An San’er worried that unclear information passed on might turn into something completely different. He pulled out an illustrated booklet and pointed.

Zhang Fangyuan now understood perfectly.

“Now look at this black bottle. The one receiving it will surely become completely compliant.” An San’er pushed it into Zhang Fangyuan's hand.

Zhang Fangyuan knew what this was and tossed it back. “Don't need it.” Their issue was just a lack of harmony; his wife wasn't refusing.

“Proper married couples, why would they need that stuff?”

“Ah, yes, yes, yes.”

Zhang Fangyuan looked at the small white porcelain bottle in his hand, barely half the size of a woman’s fist. He frowned—such a small thing, how many days would it last? So, very naturally, he snatched three more bottles directly from An San’er’s chest, “So stingy.”

He also saw a few smooth, rod-like objects in the chest and didn't understand their purpose.

An San’er explained, “These are for the ger to use. But whether they're used depends on the man. Usually, they're not needed at all.”

“And what counts as unusual?”

Naturally, An San’er explained carefully once more.

Zhang Fangyuan considered himself. Perhaps there was also a factor of being exceptionally gifted, otherwise why did each encounter end in miserable failure? Imagine, to open a lock, the key and the keyhole must match. If the keyhole is so small and the key too big, how could it work? Either enlarge the hole or file down the key.

Obviously, the key cannot be filed down. Then the only option is to work on the keyhole.

Zhang Fangyuan proactively took two more of the rods and asked, “Have others used these?”

“These are all brand new! Only, this friend of yours…” really needs these?

Zhang Fangyuan gave an ‘of course’ expression. Then he saw An San’er’s eyes widen—how would you know?

Zhang Fangyuan's ears grew hot. Fortunately the room was dark, so it wasn't noticeable. He barked, “We’re brothers! Of course I’d know!”

An San’er hunched his shoulders. “Having a brother like you is truly a blessing.” And he’s going all out. Seeing him inquire about every detail and make a second trip—it’s practically like family.

Zhang Fangyuan gathered a pile of items, truly a bountiful harvest, and returned with renewed confidence.

An San’er saw him to the back door, watched the handsome, robust figure disappear at the alley’s end, and shook his head.

Who would have thought Zhang Fangyuan was so innocent? Witnessing this was like seeing an iron tree bloom. Just don’t know which family’s unlucky ger got tangled up with him.

Zhang Fangyuan returned early in the afternoon. Driving the cart to his own courtyard gate, he saw it wide open. He thought Xu He had heard the horse's hoofbeats and opened it specifically to welcome him. He drove the horse into the yard and saw Xiaomao squatting inside, playing.

At the moment, the boy was feeding young insects he'd caught from the cabbage patch to the chicks and ducklings.

“Cousin, you're back!”

Seeing him, Xiaomao quickly dumped the green caterpillars from his leaf pouch to the chickens and ducks, making them chirp and quack happily.

“Did you come today to keep your Cousin-in-law company today?”

Zhang Fangyuan jumped down from the cart and tossed the two fish he'd promised to bring home into the water vat in the yard.

Zhang Xiaomao leaned over the vat, watching the two lively grass carp swimming inside. “Cousin-in-law brought buns for me and my parents this morning. Then I went with him to dig for wild vegetables.”

Zhang Fangyuan ruffled Zhang Xiaomao's hair and craned his neck to look inside the house. “Where is your cousin-in-law?” Why hadn't he come out to greet him upon hearing the sound?

“Cousin-in-law went out to cut grass for the horse. Should be back in a bit.”

“Oh… Did you two find a lot of vegetables today?”

“Cousin-in-law is amazing, he dug up half a basketful. I only gathered a small handbasket. When I brought it back, Mom still praised me.”

Zhang Fangyuan chuckled. “Is that so?Then following your Cousin-in-law has made you more capable.”

At this point, Zhang Xiaomao felt the need to speak up for his cousin-in-law’s injustice.

His cousin-in-law was obviously so capable, yet Madam Xu scolded him so fiercely—just bullying him and wanting him to go help with their family’s work. Xiaomao grew up being doted on; such harsh words had never been directed at him. Seeing Xu He later, calm and unbothered, only made him feel even more for him.

He must have gotten used to being scolded like that often.

He glanced outside the yard. Seeing Xu He wasn’t back yet, he whispered, “Today, when we went out to dig vegetables, we ran into Madam Xu. She told Cousin-in-law to go help her with work. Cousin-in-law didn’t agree, so she scolded him—really harshly! She even scolded me too!”

hang Fangyuan’s brow furrowed. “How dare she, even daring to scold my person!”

“Xiaomao, take this piece of meat home and have your mother cook it for you. Cousin won't keep you for dinner today. I'm heading over to the Xu family later to straighten someone out.”

Zhang Fangyuan took a piece of leftover meat, about half a jin, from the basket. It was just scraps, not that he was reluctant to give good meat. If he gave a large, nice piece, his fourth uncle would definitely make Xiaomao bring it back. Only stuff that looked hard to sell would they actually keep.

Seeing there was meat to eat, Xiaomao happily thanked Zhang Fangyuan, grabbed the piece, and headed home.

“Cousin, I'll come back in a couple of days to dig wild vegetables with Cousin-in-law. He said we dig one day, rest one day.”

Zhang Fangyuan nodded to Xiaomao, who had already run a stretch out of the courtyard.

Xu He returned not long after. Seeing Little Black in the yard, he knew Zhang Fangyuan had finished work for the day. Looking at the sun still hanging on the western mountains, the man had come back really early today.

“Business good today?”

“Alright. The wild game is all sold; some people even came back asking. The pork should be fine for another day. If it doesn’t sell out tomorrow, we’ll have to sell it cheap. After too long, the meat won’t be fresh and might spoil. I’ve already stored the rest in the well.”

Xu He nodded. “If really necessary, we can salt it and hang it over the stove to make cured meat. Hungry? I’ll go cook. How come Xiaomao went home already?”

“I told him to go back.”

“I saw fish in the water vat. Why didn’t you keep him for fish?”

Zhang Fangyuan stepped forward and brushed the grass bits off Xu He’s clothes. “Not eating at home today. We’re going to the Xu family.”

Xu He’s brow twitched. “Why go to my family's house?”

Zhang Fangyuan said, “Counting the days, isn’t today the day to return to the bride’s family?”

Actually, Zhang Fangyuan felt the bond between the two families wasn’t deep; going or not was the same. Those who married far away might not return for ten or eight years unless a family member passed away—who cared about the return visit? But given the Xu family’s behavior, he specifically wanted to go empty-handed to annoy them, to make them understand what being bothersome meant.

Xu He faintly suspected Xiaomao had really tattled. He hesitated about whether to go back, but Zhang Fangyuan had already gone to close the main gate and was pulling him outside. “Don't worry, I know my limits. Your father doesn't bother with household matters, your biased mother picks on the easy target. If I don’t go give her a taste of her own medicine, she’s bound to keep nagging next time, and we’ll have no peace.”

“What are you two doing here?”

Xu Shaochun was grumbling as she cleaned up the chicken and duck droppings in the yard. The poultry were bigger now, eating large basins of mixed bran and chopped vegetable leaves per meal, then defecating a lot. If not cleaned for a day, it became so filthy you couldn’t step foot in.

These chores used to be Xu He’s. Now that he’d married out first, they fell on her shoulders.

At first, she really didn’t want to do it, but with no one else available at home, she had to endure and tend to the poultry, thinking once she got married it would be over. She’d slowly gotten used to it. Seeing Xu He, who hadn’t appeared at home for days, return today, a surge of anger rose in her heart immediately.

“Listen to what Second Sister is saying. Not to mention today is the day to return to the bride’s family, my mother-in-law invited our He Ger back to help today while I was away. How could I not come?”

Liu Xianglan, cooking inside, heard the voice and knew trouble had come.

He actually went and told on me!

She went out and saw the couple arriving empty-handed, confirming that Zhang Fangyuan wasn’t just bringing him for a formal visit. She forced a smile to greet them. “Butcher Zhang and the ger are back? Why not come earlier? Look, it’s almost dinner time.”

Zhang Fangyuan unceremoniously sat down in the yard. “Busy guarding that paltry, unimpressive business of ours, you know. Figured Mother-in-law, being reasonable, wouldn’t mind.”

“Where would that be, Butcher Zhang? For a man, business is most important.” Liu Xianglan said, “Our He Ger hasn’t caused you trouble lately, has he?”

Looking at Liu Xianglan’s face that bullied the weak and feared the strong, Zhang Fangyuan said, “Now that Mother-in-law shows concern, there actually is something quite annoying. Hope Mother-in-law can help me resolve it, otherwise my days won’t be easy either.”

Liu Xianglan gave a dry laugh. Last time Zhang Fangyuan spoke like this was when proposing marriage. “What might that be?”

“He Ger is excellent. However, his maiden family has too many matters. He just married out a few days ago, and they already want to drag him back to work. When he said he was busy and couldn’t go, he got scolded harshly. If you have something, asking politely once isn’t enough? Must you still order him around like a servant? Is it because you think being an elder makes you so great, or do you think his husband’s family is useless and easy to bully?”

Zhang Fangyuan’s words were blunt and feigned ignorance, making Liu Xianglan’s face burn with shame. Seeing his thuggish, debt-collecting demeanor, she didn’t dare scold him. Instead, she shot a meaningful glance at Xu He, signaling him to persuade Zhang Fangyuan.

But Xu He seemed tongue-tied, acting as if he were terrified of Zhang Fangyuan, infuriating Liu Xianglan, who had no choice but to thicken her skin. “Shaochun is getting married. There are only a few people in the family, and his father is injured and sick. We’re really stretched thin.”

“Our two families are related now. During busy farming seasons or for major household matters, if we have the capacity, we’ll naturally help out. But Second Sister is marrying out, not taking a live-in son-in-law. Could she be busier than the Fei family? Before He Ger married out, he should have planted the family’s fields already. What, can the household not manage without him? Even trivial matters still need He Ger to come back and do?”

Zhang Fangyuan’s face darkened. “I’ll say it clearly here today: He Ger can’t handle two households’ work! Otherwise, every time Mother-in-law goes looking for him, I’ll come over here once. Anyway, I have no face to lose. You can say I’m fierce, unreasonable outside—whatever. It’s just those old accusations.”

Zhang Fangyuan curled his lip in a disdainful smile. “I’ve gotten used to hearing them all these years.”

This torrent of words left Liu Xianglan speechless. Xu Changren in the house, who could previously walk a couple of laps, now couldn’t even get out of bed and only coughed a few times inside.

Seeing even her own man couldn’t handle this, Liu Xianglan was both angry and aggrieved. She could only force a smile. “What you say makes sense, makes sense. I’ll go cook, prepare a couple of good dishes tonight.”

Turning her head, she instinctively wanted to call for Xu He, but catching sight of the imposing Lord Yama, she swallowed her words and called for Xu Shaochun instead.

After Liu Xianglan entered the house, Zhang Fangyuan’s expression instantly changed. He leaned close to Xu He and raised an eyebrow. “How about that? Fiercer than your mother, huh?”

Xu He thought to himself that he was far more unreasonable, but didn't have the heart to say it out loud.

The couple sat in the Xu household like honored elders waiting for the meal to be served. They didn’t even lift a finger to help bring dishes to the table. The sudden role reversal made Xu He very uncomfortable, but he resisted moving. Zhang Fangyuan was here to stand up for him; if he went to help, it would undermine him. And given his mother’s nature, she’d definitely curse him fiercely inside the house.

He actually didn’t mind how much work he did, but now that he and Zhang Fangyuan had a new home, naturally everything revolved around the Zhang household. Expecting him to toil like before at the Xu family was impossible. He hoped this time would curb his mother’s behavior.

During the meal, hardly anyone at the table spoke. Only Xu Shaochun, seeing the large silver bracelet on Xu He’s wrist when he reached for food, barely ate two bites of dinner.

After the meal, the couple simply got up and left.

Liu Xianglan directly threw the chopsticks she’d gathered onto the table. “That Zhang Fangyuan! Acted like a grandson before he got his hands on the person. Now that he has him, he shows his ruffian, thug side again. To think your aunt said it was a good match, a pie falling from the sky. I think she just can’t stand our family doing well, insisting this scoundrel is a good son-in-law. Just wait and see, from now on we can’t count on He Ger for anything.”

“Look at his timid, scared look! Dared to talk back at home before, but now in front of Zhang Fangyuan, he doesn’t dare breathe loudly. He’s in for a lot of misfortune.”

Xu Shaochun stood to one side tidying the dishes. She didn’t think Xu He was suffering at the Zhang household. That bracelet on his wrist alone was worth a hefty dowry. But she didn’t say anything; saying it would make it seem she regretted choosing the Fei family, jealous that Xu He married a butcher.

Sure enough, the next day when Xu He and Zhang Fangyuan went to town to set up their stall, Liu Xianglan went to the fields and complained to anyone she met about how Zhang Fangyuan bullied people. Just as Zhang Fangyuan said, the villagers had said every nasty thing about him before. Now, hearing Liu Xianglan’s complaints, they just smiled and said a few harmless words in agreement.

After all, the fire wasn’t burning their own feet; they were just enjoying someone else’s drama. Besides, with Liu Xianglan’s two children—one with a butcher, one with the Fei family—the villagers were already extremely envious. Seeing the Xu household in turmoil now, they secretly delighted. Who cared whether Zhang Fangyuan respected the Xu family or not?

Not respecting them was actually best. People could share grievances. Once one family’s fortune soared and you couldn’t get any benefit, that’s when trouble brewed.

Liu Xianglan probably also sensed the villagers’ schadenfreude. Suddenly feeling like she’d swallowed bitter herbs; she couldn't complain even if she wanted to, and had to choke it down.

And so, life quieted down a bit. Soon, it was the forth month, the day of the Fei family’s wedding. That day, the Fei household was also very lively; villagers all wanted to bask in the glory of the scholar groom.

Today, the Xu family was marrying off a daughter. More people came than for Xu He’s wedding; clearly, the household needed to set up three or four tables.

Xu He and Zhang Fangyuan didn’t go to help at the Xu family in the morning; they went straight to town to set up their stall. They returned to the village in the afternoon when the auspicious hour hadn’t even arrived yet. Since Xu Shaochun was still at home, Zhang Fangyuan still went back with Xu He.

Liu Xianglan, bearing the previous slight in mind, wasn’t very welcoming of the couple coming to send off the bride. When they arrived, she barely acknowledged them. However, Xu family relatives, seeing Zhang Fangyuan had a stall in town and recently bought livestock in the village, all wanted to get close and exchange pleasantries. That way, when they needed to sell livestock, they'd know who to contact. And for buying and selling meat, having a connection was always more convenient.

Seeing relatives and friends’ warm enthusiasm towards Zhang Fangyuan, Liu Xianglan, who originally wanted to give the couple the cold shoulder, stewed with anger.

Not long after, the Fei family arrived, and the crowd finally dispersed from around Zhang Fangyuan. When Xu Shaochun, led by Liu Xianglan, stepped out, she wore a mandarin duck brocade veil, her wedding dress also uniquely embroidered with patterns. 

The Fei family, who didn’t own a horse, had borrowed one from somewhere. Fei Lian, accustomed to studying, clearly couldn’t ride well, looking dazed on horseback, his pale face even whiter and more ghastly with nervous sweat.

But regardless, both in wedding clothes, even without seeing their faces, they looked well-matched.

Amid the sound of gongs and drums, the bride was taken back to the Fei family. Zhang Fangyuan noticed Xu Shaochun's dowry was substantial—seven or eight chests carried towards the Fei household, each as large as the one Xu He had when he married.

Zhang Fangyuan took it all in, held Xu He’s hand, ate dinner, and then left.

“You both are their own flesh and blood. How could your parents be so biased? Even in families with many children, it’s hard to be perfectly fair. Take my father’s generation—six siblings total. When my grandparents were alive, they doted most on Sixth Uncle, but they never treated anyone too unfairly.”

The weather in the fourth month was growing warmer. The rice seedlings planted in the fields swayed in the evening breeze, carrying the scent of spring. Xu He walked ahead of Zhang Fangyuan. He lowered his head, looking at his toes. In the moonlight, there was a faint shadow. Even without a torch, they could vaguely see the way home.

“Who says we’re both their own flesh and blood?”

Zhang Fangyuan saw Xu He suddenly turn around, hands behind his back, responding to his words. Thinking he was joking, he stepped forward and took his hand. “Don’t be upset. I didn’t mean anything else.”

“I’m telling the truth. Some relatives in the family know about this, but many villagers don’t. My father found me in the snow and brought me home when I was little. I heard that year there was war at the border, chaos and turmoil. The central plains also suffered famine; many people starved to death. Families selling children were everywhere.”

Zhang Fangyuan was puzzled. “If you were picked up, how could the villagers not know?”

“Over ten years ago, my parents were traveling merchants, going south and north. They spent several years away. They already had Second Sister then. I vaguely heard Father encountered bandits while traveling with goods, injuring his body so he could no longer have children. Later, the couple decided to return to the village to settle down. Perhaps on the way back, they came across abandoned me and, thinking they couldn’t have children anymore, took me home to raise. The villagers naturally assumed I was their biological child.”

No wonder!

A sudden realization dawned on Zhang Fangyuan. Seeing Xu He speak so calmly, as if he had long known these things, made his heart ache.

On one hand, they picked him up and gave him life; on the other, they beat, scolded, and treated him like a servant. Wanting to be heartless was impossible; wanting to treat them wholeheartedly was met with repeated disappointment. These over ten years must have been a life of struggle.

No wonder Xu He never compared himself to his second sister. He had always placed himself lower.

He rubbed Xu He’s hand. “I don’t care if you’re the Xu family’s biological child or not. Now, you are my own wife.”

“If the Xu family treats you as their biological child, then naturally we should show them the respect due to birth parents. If they want to treat you like a servant, we won’t indulge them. In the future, if they come asking politely for help with important matters, we can consider it. For trivial matters, don’t help. Everyone has their own lives to live. Can’t all revolve around them.”

Xu He nodded. “Understood.”

 

***

 

T/N

this was an extra long chapter phew~

posting 3 chapters to make it up to you for the wait 

i'm also glad some of you enjoyed the novels i mentioned ♡ Transmigration of Mian was also my first farming novel I ever read and it stole my heart, now this genre is my go to reading choice whenever I crave for comfort and of course dog food hehe

 

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