Chapter 35

"Chicken feathers are shouting, they’re being incredibly bold, I’ll go take a look!" Aunt Qiao heard a woman’s voice and hurriedly got up and went out, the others followed as well.

At the entrance of the Zhang family’s courtyard stood a woman. Zhang Ke glanced at her and quickly turned his head, almost blinded by the sight. She had disheveled hair, wore red pants and a green jacket, and a pair of cotton shoes covered in floral patterns. Her face was thick with powder, which fell off as she walked, leaving streaks of tears, making her look almost as bad as a ghost.

Aunt Qiao immediately recognized her. This woman was surnamed Hua, known for her love of dressing up, and was nicknamed "Big Sister Hua." Her husband had died early, and she lived with her daughter by selling alcohol.

There were always rumors about Big Sister Hua, saying she was not proper. However, she had no connection with the Zhang or Qiao families, so her sudden appearance, crying and shouting, was quite baffling.

Aunt Qiao, with her fiery temper, quickly reached Big Sister Hua, glared at her, and said, "Hua, if you want to wail, find the right place. You’re not ashamed, but we find it ominous!"

Big Sister Hua, seeing someone come out, became even more spirited.

"Who is it? Isn’t it Aunt Qiao? I heard your family has climbed high and will soon be on top. I haven’t even congratulated you yet!"

"No need," Aunt Qiao waved her hand dismissively. "You go your way, I’ll go mine. Whether we are happy or sad is none of your concern. Don’t meddle, or my hand won’t be gentle!"

Big Sister Hua sat on the ground and cried even harder. "Neighbors, everyone, look! They are bullying us too much and even want to hit us. Everyone, please stand up for me, I can’t live anymore!"

At this time, everyone was cooking, and upon hearing the shouting, they all peeked out. Big Sister Hua had a good voice, and her cries carried far.

Aunt Qiao could no longer bear it and reached out to grab Big Sister Hua’s arm, dragging her out.

"Hua, stop your tantrum here and get out!"

Big Sister Hua, lacking strength, her fat bottom scraping on the snow, clung to the doorpost with one hand, crying and wailing, "I won’t go, I won’t go! You’ve taken my house, cut off my livelihood, I’ll just cling to you."

Shen Shi’s frown deepened. Big Sister Hua’s words made no sense. When did the Zhang family do such a despicable thing? It was like being accused of something completely baseless!

"Brother’s wife, stop!" Shen Shi called out to Aunt Qiao and said with a frown, "Big Sister Hua, we are not unreasonable, but there must be a reason for your accusations. When did we take your house? When did we cut off your livelihood? If we are wrong, I’ll admit it, but if you are wrong, please respect yourself!"

Hearing Shen Shi’s words, Big Sister Hua stopped shouting, tidied her clothes, and got up from the ground.

"Aunt Shen, we are both in the same boat. Our husbands are dead, and we have to support our families. A few days ago, Wan Baiquan took over your house, right?"

Shen Shi nodded. "Indeed, my son just came back and spoke to the defense official, and the house was returned to us. Not just our family, but all the neighbors got their houses back. What’s wrong with that?"

Big Sister Hua suddenly laughed maniacally, her eyes blazing as she stared at Shen Shi and Zhang Ke behind her.

"Of course it’s wrong. Wan Baiquan just took over my house, three rooms and the courtyard behind. On the coldest day, he kicked me and my daughter out. We have no one to rely on, not even as good as a dog or a cat!"

Aunt Qiao’s anger flared up.

"Big Sister Hua, listen to me. The one who took the houses is Wan Baiquan, the government. If you have the nerve, go find them. What does it have to do with us?"

"Relation? A big relation! You should have given up your house. Why did you take my house? Just because you have power and bully us? I have nothing to lose, I’ll fight to the death. From now on, wherever you live, I’ll live, whatever you eat, I’ll eat. If you can’t kill me, I’ll cling to you!"

Shen Shi finally understood and was so angry her lips turned blue. "You, how can you be so shameless!"

Aunt Qiao was so angry she laughed. "The government’s random requisitioning, why blame us? Qiao Gui, Qiao Fu, come here and help me throw this crazy woman out!"

The two brothers rushed over, and Big Sister Hua suddenly grabbed the collar of her coat, sneering, "Boys, come here, if you dare, I’ll tear my clothes and say you assaulted me. Let your reputation stink for miles!"

This crazy woman really tore open two buttons, revealing a red belly band. Qiao Gui and Qiao Fu looked at each other, hesitating to act.

Aunt Qiao, stomping her foot in anger, cursed, "Useless things, let me handle it!" Aunt Qiao lunged forward, and in a panic, Big Sister Hua tore open her coat, rolling on the ground and shouting.

"Assault! The Zhang family is bullying us, forcibly taking women, and beating people!"

"Still talking nonsense, I’ll beat you to death!"

By now, a crowd had gathered outside the Zhang family’s house, all commenting and discussing.

"Aunt Qiao, don’t be hasty."

Seeing the situation getting out of hand, Zhang Ke finally stepped forward.

"Aunt Qiao, let me ask her a few questions."

"Nephew, this woman is a mad dog. As the saying goes, new shoes don’t step on dog shit. Let Aunt handle it."

"No need, if she doesn’t understand, I’ll make her disappear!"

Zhang Ke smiled and looked at Big Sister Hua, a woman in her early thirties, with a large chest and a fat bottom, a decent figure but poor taste, looking almost like a demon.

Zhang Ke, with his hands behind his back, said, "Big Sister Hua, I believe you’re not stupid and can understand. Coming to my house to cause trouble is just bullying the weak. You think I can’t do anything about it, right?"

As soon as he said this, Big Sister Hua’s face changed, and she quickly shook her head, but her气势 (momentum) was already weakened.

Zhang Ke continued, "The requisitioning, no matter where, is not my fault but Wan Baiquan’s. He’s trying to take advantage of the situation to seize land and property for profit. He couldn’t get to me, so he went after you. You, Big Sister Hua, afraid of Wan Baiquan, thought of causing a scene to force me to help you and get your house back!"

Her thoughts exposed, Big Sister Hua felt naked before this young man, and she couldn’t help but lower her head, her eyes darting around.

Zhang Ke smiled contemptuously. "Your plan is clever, but you made one mistake. You think I’m a pushover, but will I let you use me?"

Tears streamed down Big Sister Hua’s eyes, her madness gone, and she struggled to crawl in front of Zhang Ke, sobbing.

"Second Master Zhang, Wan Baiquan gave us two days to leave the house, I, I have no other way out!"

Big Sister Hua knelt down, and a few others outside also knelt, all facing requisitioning.

"Second Master Zhang, please speak up for us. You can’t help some and harm others. We all beg you!"

Qiao Tieshan walked over, looked at these people, and said angrily, "Ignore them, they’re all the same. If they have the nerve, they should go to Wan Baiquan or the defense official. Coming here is just bullying the weak, a bunch of spineless people."

Just then, a girl of about fifteen ran over in a panic.

"Mother, Mother, it’s bad, Wan Baiquan is leading a group to our house!"

"Ah!"

Big Sister Hua hurriedly got up and ran back, and the others followed.

With the crowd gone, Zhang Ke stood there, seemingly deep in thought. Shen Shi came to his side and sighed, "Ke, it’s not your fault. They are afraid to confront the government, so they came to us. How can this world let people live in peace?"

"Mother, you’re right. I have an idea, maybe I can help them."

Qiao Tieshan worriedly said, "Nephew, don’t be a do-gooder. I heard the relocation to Daqing Fort is the government’s idea. Even with the support of Lord Wang, it might not work."

"Uncle Qiao, don’t worry, I won’t do anything without benefit."

...

"Lord Sun, I came hastily, please don’t blame me."

"Not at all, not at all!" Sun Youguang laughed and walked into the living room with Zhang Ke.

"Manager Hu, quickly prepare the wine and dishes, bring out the eighteen-year-old daughter red wine I’ve been saving. I want to drink to my heart’s content with Second Master Zhang!"

The servants prepared, and Zhang Ke smiled, "Your lordship’s kindness, I am deeply grateful."

Sun Youguang smiled, "It’s only right. By the way, do you know what Lord Wang is thinking lately?"

Zhang Ke smiled slightly, "It’s almost New Year, Lord Wang thinks it’s better to be still. Especially for the fortresses. If the Tartars invade and find a weak spot, it won’t be good!"

Sun Youguang, of course, understood Zhang Ke’s meaning and sighed.

"Second Master Zhang, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but the relocation is necessary."

"Lord, please speak your difficulties, I’ll try to help you."

Sun Youguang bit his lip, "Sigh, I’ll be honest. Our Daqing Fort has eighteen subordinate fortresses, 519 soldiers on the roster, defending 184.5 miles of the Great Wall. But now, there are fewer than 120 soldiers, and even fewer capable of fighting. The wall is empty everywhere, and many villages have fled, unable to defend. This year, over a thousand Han people escaped from the Chao Hua tribe and must be resettled. I have no choice but to move them to Daqing Fort to concentrate our forces. But Daqing Fort is so small, and the population has nearly doubled. I have to requisition houses and land, and someone has to suffer. I am truly powerless, please understand my difficulties!"

Zhang Ke nodded slightly. Indeed, this was a difficult problem. Whether to ignore the outside or the inside, neither seemed to work.

"Lord, I told Lord Wang in Guangning that I want to join the army and serve the country. Since you are in a difficult situation, can you entrust these immigrants to me to settle?"

Sun Youguang’s eyes widened in surprise, "You... can you do it?"

...