Chapter 5

After selling his candied haws, Old Peddler Song Songbo lingered at the Wang family for a short while before crossing the bridge to return to Xixi South Village on the other side of Fengle River. This trivial matter did not attract any attention from the villagers.

Wang Fulin seemed completely unaffected by the rampant rumors outside and began to exercise actively.

Every morning, he would start his walk outside with Jinbao's support. On the field ridges, when he encountered others, he would always smile and respond. Gradually, the image of the aloof young scholar Wang in the villagers' minds began to fade, replaced by the image of Lin Ge, who respected the elderly and cared for the young, and was kind to everyone. Although some wealthy and substantial clan members merely nodded casually when they saw him, not taking this precarious young scholar seriously, he did not mind. In his view, the best progress was the attitude of the ordinary farmers in Songming Village towards him.

Sometimes, when the villagers saw Wang Fulin doing various strange movements under the trees at the village entrance after his walk, some farmers would come forward to inquire with concern.

"Thank you for your concern. I've been in bed for too long, and my whole body feels like it's falling apart. This is a method I read in a book. Practicing it can help strengthen the body."

Most of the time, Wang Fulin would answer like this. In just a few days, walking turned into brisk walking, and brisk walking turned into jogging. Jinbao always followed closely behind, and the two of them became a beautiful sight in Songming Village. During their alone time, Wang Fulin told Jinbao that after his severe injury, he could not remember many past events and asked Jinbao to remind him of people and things he encountered, but not to tell his two younger sisters. Jinbao, without any suspicion, naturally agreed.

As for the rest of the time, Wang Fulin would read the Four Books and Five Classics in the study to avoid any slip-ups when the master returned. He then practiced calligraphy for an hour every day to prevent the danger of being exposed. He had learned calligraphy before, but he had put it aside for too long. At first, he would burn the characters he wrote, not daring to show them to his two younger sisters. However, soon, as if by instinct, he gradually regained his sense of it. Comparing it to the calligraphy he had practiced before, his current writing was quite similar. He estimated that with another one or two months of practice, it would be enough. During this period, he could use the excuse of the aftereffects of being injured by the sedan bearers to cover it up.

One early morning, he and Jinbao jogged through the village as usual. After greeting two early-rising farmers and turning a corner, he heard someone call him "Uncle" from behind. Turning around, he saw a young man with a smiling face, small eyes, and a long face, about twenty years old, whom he had never seen during his early morning exercises. As he was wondering who this person was, Jinbao, as if startled, quickly hid behind him.

"It's my brother, Father."

This voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, and Wang Fulin immediately felt a stir in his heart. This was Wang Qiu, the heartless man who sold his own younger brother as a servant?

"Oh, it's you."

Wang Fulin nodded indifferently and then ignored Wang Qiu, continuing to run with Jinbao. Jinbao, who had been beaten by his brother since childhood, was eager to get away and quickly followed. However, the two had not run far when they saw Wang Qiu stride up and block their path.

"Uncle, I know you're angry that I haven't been around for so many days. In fact, after I signed the contract with you in the city, I returned to the village first, delivered Jinbao to your house, and then went back to the city. I didn't know you were injured until I just returned from the city." Seeing that Wang Fulin remained silent, Wang Qiu did not get discouraged. After bowing and making a show of respect, he continued, "It's Jinbao's good fortune to be with you. If he makes any mistakes, please discipline him strictly! I came today because your grand-nephew is just a month old, and I plan to set up two tables for a banquet. I hope you will honor us with your presence..."

"I appreciate your kindness, but my injuries are not fully healed, and I cannot drink alcohol as per the doctor's advice."

Seeing Wang Fulin coldly say this and then call Jinbao to continue running, Wang Qiu's face darkened. He stood there for a while, then sneered and turned to leave.

What arrogance! If it weren't for the fact that your family still has some use, the handle I have on you would be enough to end your career as a scholar!

Only when his brother was out of sight did Jinbao feel a great relief, but he lowered his head, lost in thought. Suddenly, he heard a voice in his ear: "Your brother has money to celebrate your grand-nephew's full moon, but he sold you. Have you never thought of seeking justice from the clan elders or even the clan leader?"

Jinbao was startled. When he looked up, he saw that Wang Fulin was still doing his exercises without turning around. He bit his lip tightly and did not speak. After a long while, he saw Wang Fulin finish his strange exercises and turn to look at him seriously.

"Since you call me Father, tell me the truth. How many characters do you recognize, how much of the Analects can you recite, and how many characters can you write?"

Seeing that Jinbao remained silent, Wang Fulin said slowly, "If you tell the truth, I will give you paper and ink, and you can practice writing openly. You can also read the books in the study. If you don't tell the truth, I will send you back!"

Jinbao was stunned. He looked up at Wang Fulin, shook his head hard, and even pinched his hand to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. When he finally confirmed that Wang Fulin was not joking, he steeled himself and said honestly, "When I had free time, I would secretly listen in at the school. I did this for two years, and I can recite all four books. But because I couldn't touch the books, I only saw the teacher write characters and picked up some discarded paper to practice writing with a stick in the mud. I can only write a small portion of the characters. Later, when my brother found out, he beat me severely and starved me for two days, so I never dared to go to the school again."

Since he first heard Jinbao recite the Analects in his sleep, Wang Fulin had been paying close attention. Because he was still recovering, Jinbao slept on a bamboo bed next to his bed every night, ready to be called at any time. So, he had heard the little guy's sleep-talking more than once, which included mostly reciting the Analects, the Doctrine of the Mean, and the Great Learning, and occasionally some passages from Mencius. However, reciting a few passages and reciting the entire book were vastly different. To be able to recite all four books by just listening in at the school and picking up discarded paper was truly remarkable!

But such a sensible child had encountered such a heartless and cruel brother. It seemed that his decision to ask Songbo to help with that matter was the right one!

"Jinbao, I underestimated you!" Wang Fulin gestured for the little guy to come closer. When Jinbao hesitantly moved closer, he suddenly tapped him lightly on the forehead.

"Ah?"

"Don't worry, I keep my word!"

Jinbao was overjoyed. Just as he was about to kneel and thank him, he saw the old peddler Songbo walking towards them with a smile.

"Brother Lin!"

The last time Songbo visited the Wang family, he had, at Wang Fulin's insistence, stopped calling him "young master" and instead used the same term as the other elders in the village. Now, he put down his pole with the bright red candied haws, wiped his sweat, and looked around. Seeing only Jinbao, he said, "I tried to mention the matter you entrusted me with when I went to the city yesterday. However, it seems that someone had already spread the rumor about you buying your nephew as a slave. I was afraid that continuing to spread it would damage your reputation even more, so I might have done more harm than good."

Someone had already started spreading the rumor? How fast! Could it be that Jinbao's situation was a trap?

"At this point, even if it backfires, it's my own fault. You were just chatting casually, and that has already helped me a lot. I am very grateful."

Wang Fulin thought for a moment and then sincerely bowed deeply to the old man. Seeing the old man hurriedly return the bow, he smiled and said, "My second and third sisters calculated that you would return today. Thinking of your candied haws, they made lotus root cakes early this morning. When you finish selling your candied haws and return to the village, take some back for your family to taste. It's a small token of our appreciation."

When Songbo had agreed to help, it was out of a moment of sympathy and because he found Wang Fulin to be a kind person. Now, hearing that the second and third sisters of the Wang family had prepared a gift in return, the old man felt a warm glow in his heart. The pride of being respected by a scholar was far more gratifying than the extra money he received when selling candied haws to the wealthy.

After bidding farewell to Songbo, Wang Fulin took Jinbao away from the big locust tree. If his initial request to Songbo was just a preliminary idea, now it was time for him to make a decision. Not far from there, he stopped and said to Jinbao, "Do you know where the clan leader's house is? Take me there."

When asked earlier why he had not sought justice from the clan elders or the clan leader, Jinbao had remained silent. Now, seeing Wang Fulin suddenly wanting to visit the clan leader, he froze. But thinking that he had already been sold by his brother and was now a servant, he could not disobey his master. He bit his lip tightly and led the way without a word.

To Wang Fulin's surprise, the clan leader's house was not one of the grand courtyards he had seen from a distance when he first left home. It was just a somewhat old Huizhou-style building in the western part of the village.

Wang Fulin's sudden visit surprised the clan leader, Wang Daohan. The Wang clan had migrated from Xiuning County to Songming Mountain over a dozen generations ago, and now, with over a hundred Wang clan members in the village, he, as the clan leader, could not remember everyone, especially the younger generation. Of course, Wang Fulin, who had been dedicated to his studies since childhood and had become a scholar this year, was not unknown to him.

However, Wang Fulin's father was stubborn, and the incident had offended several close relatives. Wang Fulin himself was also aloof and lacked social skills, so the clan leader did not feel close to him. Although he had heard some rumors, he considered them just rumors. Without a word from the wealthiest and most influential families in the clan, he had decided to ignore the matter.

Now, he asked casually, "Brother Lin, you were injured quite badly. Are you better now?"

Wang Fulin had been exercising and greeting people in the mornings, occasionally chatting and gathering information. He knew it was the fourth year of the Longqing era, but the villagers used respectful titles for the upper echelons of the Wang clan, so he could not directly ask who Nanming was. His only gain was that he had become more integrated into Songming Village than the previous Wang Fulin. Knowing the aloof nature of his father and himself, he did not mind the clan leader's distant and cold attitude.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I'm almost fully recovered. I came today because I have a matter I would like you to handle." Wang Fulin glanced at Jinbao, who immediately understood and hurriedly left the room. He then turned to the puzzled Wang Daohan and said, "Do you recognize him?"

Wang Daohan, not understanding, simply said, "He looks familiar..."

"He is Wang Qiu's younger brother." Wang Fulin took out a neatly folded piece of paper and pushed it towards Wang Daohan. "Please take a look at this."

When Wang Daohan heard Wang Qiu's name, his brows immediately furrowed. Although he was the clan leader, he was not the wealthiest or the most influential. His family had only produced one scholar in recent years. He had only taken charge of clan affairs and the clan rules because his branch of the family was from the main house. Unfolding the paper, he saw it was a contract. After reading its contents, he became even more troubled.

Wang Qiu was known for his ruthless nature and had connections with several clerks in the county office. With Nanming, a respected scholar, retired at home, the Wang clan in Songming Mountain was trying to live a low-profile life and avoid unnecessary trouble. Moreover, Wang Qiu was from a collateral branch of the clan. Even when he heard about his mistreatment of his younger brother, he had only sent someone to remind and reprimand him, as it was a family matter. But this time, it was too much!

It was not unusual for clan members to offer their land to their more successful relatives or to volunteer as servants. But to actually write a contract of servitude among clan members was unheard of!

"This is against the rules and propriety, but..." He was afraid he could not control Wang Qiu, but should he really ask the higher-ups to intervene in such a trivial matter? Where would his face be as the clan leader?

Before Wang Daohan could finish speaking, Wang Fulin said with utmost sincerity, "I know Wang Qiu is not easy to deal with, and as the clan leader, you have your difficulties. At that time, I saw Wang Qiu determined to sell his brother. Thinking that if I did not agree, the same clan blood would be scattered outside, I felt a moment of compassion and signed the contract. But the more I think about it these days, the more I realize it was wrong. So I came today to ask for your help with another matter. If this is resolved, there will be no more hidden dangers."

After leaving the clan leader's house with Jinbao, Wang Fulin felt very pleased. Since he had passed the hurdle with Wang Daohan, the next step was simply to wait!

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