Chapter 88

Everyone had barely taken their seats when the sound of footsteps was heard, and Han Deyi and Lady Han arrived at the flower hall. Everyone hurriedly stood up to greet them, and only after the couple was seated did they sit down again. Zeng Zhilin, who had been stretching his limbs outside the door, had already taken the opportunity to enter and sit beside Qian Yuanshan nonchalantly after observing the surroundings of the flower hall.

Han Deyi and Lady Han were naturally delighted to see their daughter return and happily chatted with her and her husband. However, neither Wang Xiaojun nor Han Qingwen had the heart for idle talk. After a few pleasantries, Wang Xiaojun changed the subject, stood up, and bowed to the couple, saying, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, I have returned with Qingwen for two reasons: first, to pay respects to the two elders, and second, to inform you of a significant matter."

Seeing Wang Xiaojun's serious demeanor and their daughter's solemn face, which had lost all of its earlier joy, Han Deyi and Lady Han became uneasy. Han Deyi asked, "What is this significant matter?"

Wang Xiaojun hesitated slightly, instinctively turning to look at Han Qingwen. Seeing his beloved wife encouraging him with her eyes, he felt more confident. He adjusted his emotions and recounted the story of his encounter with Zhang Xiaofei at "Qingyuan." He then solemnly assured the couple that Han Qingwen's status would not be affected; she would remain his official wife, and her position in the Wang family would not change due to Zhang Xiaofei's return. However, Wang Xiaojun also made it clear to Han Deyi and Lady Han that Zhang Xiaofei was his first wife, and he could not abandon her out of duty and sentiment. Finally, he sincerely requested their understanding and approval of his arrangement for Han Qingwen's status. After speaking, he maintained his bow, waiting for their response. For a moment, the entire flower hall fell silent, and even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

This news was like a bolt from the blue for Han Deyi and Lady Han. They had thought they had chosen a good husband for their daughter, but now, just over half a month after her marriage, such a significant event had occurred. The woman everyone believed had perished at sea was not only alive but had also miraculously reunited with her husband. Apart from lamenting the whims of fate, they could only console themselves with the phrase, "Everything is predestined."

After a long while, Lady Han could no longer contain herself and began to sob softly, while Han Deyi remained silent, his expression shifting between anger and sorrow, as if weighing the pros and cons. This expression made Qian Yuanshan and others wary, exchanging glances to prepare for any unforeseen events. Fortunately, after a long silence, Han Deyi finally sighed heavily and said, "It's fate, all of it is fate!"

He then said to Wang Xiaojun, who had been bowing, "Rise, my son-in-law. This is not your fault. We can only blame the whims of fate and the will of heaven. As for the distinction between the official wife and the secondary wife you mentioned, although I have read similar accounts in historical texts, they are rare and not widely accepted. Moreover, as a judge responsible for criminal cases, I am well-versed in the laws of the Liao Dynasty and the southern kingdoms, and none of them allow a man to have multiple official wives. Therefore, your distinction between the official wife and the secondary wife may not be legally valid."

Wang Xiaojun continued to plead with Han Deyi and Lady Han, "Father-in-law, as the saying goes, 'Beyond the law, there is human sentiment.' The law is rigid, but people are flexible. When I married Qingwen, we followed all the proper rituals, and she was carried into the house in a grand red sedan chair, as witnessed by all who attended the wedding. Who could say that Qingwen is not my official wife? I swear to Father-in-law and Mother-in-law that Qingwen's status in the Wang family will remain unchanged. She will enjoy the same rights as an official wife, and her children will have the status of legitimate offspring. If I break this vow, may I be punished by heaven."

At this point, Qian Yuanshan and others also assured Han Deyi and Lady Han that they would treat both wives equally and without any discrimination.

Wang Xiaojun's words seemed to have some effect, and Han Deyi pondered again. Then, Han Qingwen, who had been silent, stood up and knelt on the ground, crying, "Father, Mother, since the day I married my husband, I have decided to grow old with him and spend my life with him. I hope you will grant me this wish."

Seeing their daughter kneeling and pleading, Han Deyi and Lady Han were at a loss and quickly asked her to stand up and speak. However, Han Qingwen was resolute, stating that she would not rise until they agreed to her request. Wang Xiaojun then added, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, before coming to Youzhou, my wife Zhang Xiaofei told me that after we were separated, she was taken in by a Taoist temple and became a nun. She has been practicing diligently for a year and has become accustomed to a life of tranquility. Now that we have reunited, she has no interest in worldly affairs. In the future, she hopes that all external matters will be handled by Qingwen. This way, in the eyes of others, my wife will only be Qingwen, and no one will question her status."

The daughter's plea, the son-in-law's assurance, and the concessions made by his first wife left Han Deyi and Lady Han in a difficult position, and the flower hall fell silent again.

After a long while, Han Deyi spoke again, his tone resigned, "Since my son-in-law and your first wife, Lady Zhang, have made so many concessions, and Qingwen is so determined, I have nothing more to say. I only hope that you and Lady Zhang will keep your promises and ensure that Qingwen lives a happy life. Let's be clear: if you break your word, I will not let it go easily."

Seeing that Han Deyi had agreed to his request, Wang Xiaojun immediately assured him and Lady Han that he and his first wife would keep their promises. Han Qingwen, relieved, bowed to her parents in gratitude. Although Lady Han felt some resentment, thinking that her daughter was at a disadvantage, she could not say anything more since Han Deyi had already agreed. She then stood up and helped her daughter to her feet. As Han Qingwen returned to her seat, the atmosphere in the flower hall gradually became more relaxed.

Seeing that the issue had been largely resolved, Wang Xiaojun signaled to Qian Yuanshan to find an excuse to leave and inform Yang Xin and Qingchen, who were responsible for the radio and machine guns, about the situation, so that everyone could be at ease. Qian Yuanshan, who had prioritized the requests of Zhang Weixin and others before leaving, did not act immediately. He turned to Zeng Zhilin and discussed the current situation, concluding that there was no longer any danger, before finding an excuse to leave the flower hall and find Yang Xin and Qingchen.

By the time Qian Yuanshan returned to the flower hall, it was nearly noon. After a few more pleasantries, Han Deyi instructed his servants to set up a banquet in the flower hall and invited everyone to a sumptuous lunch.

After lunch, Han Deyi went to his office, and Han Qingwen was taken by her mother to the inner chambers for a private conversation, leaving Han Qingshu to entertain Wang Xiaojun and the others. However, Han Qingshu was still a child, and despite his good manners, the age and experience gap made it difficult for him to engage with the time travelers. After a few forced conversations, Wang Xiaojun used the excuse of touring Youzhou to take everyone out of the Han residence, with Qingchen, who had been to the city before, leading the way.

Although Youzhou could not compare to the familiar Beijing of the time travelers, as one of the five capitals of the Liao Dynasty, it was far more significant than the small town of Liangxiang. The city's size and the number of people on the streets were much more bustling. Under Qingchen's guidance, they spent over an hour exploring only a small part of the city.

By the end of April in the lunar calendar, which was late May in the Gregorian calendar, the weather was already quite warm. After walking for over an hour, the time travelers, though not tired, were somewhat thirsty. On Wang Xiaojun's suggestion, they entered a teahouse by the roadside to rest and have some tea.

Wang Xiaojun and his companions were seated by a waiter, and they ordered two pots of tea and some snacks. As they sipped their tea and chatted, a man in his thirties approached their table, bowed slightly to Wang Xiaojun, and said, "Aren't you the manager of Fang's Jewelry Shop? It's been a while. What brings you to Youzhou today?"

Wang Xiaojun recognized the man but could not immediately recall where they had met. When the man addressed him as the manager of Fang's Jewelry Shop, he remembered that this was Feng Cheng, the steward from the residence of Xiao Siwen, the留守 (留守 means "governor" or "residential official") of Nanjing, who had bought their bottle of wine and two cups. He quickly stood up and returned the bow, saying, "It's Feng Chief Steward, nice to meet you again."

Feng Cheng smiled and waved his hand, saying, "What chief steward? I'm just a servant running errands for the governor."

Wang Xiaojun knew that Feng Cheng was a trusted confidant of Xiao Siwen, and building a good relationship with him would be beneficial for their future development in Youzhou. Therefore, he flattered Feng Cheng, saying, "Feng Chief Steward is too modest. As the saying goes, 'A prime minister's gate has seven ranks of officials.' You are the chief steward of the governor's residence, so you must be at least a fourth or fifth-rank official."

Feng Cheng was flattered by Wang Xiaojun's praise, although he kept saying that Wang was joking, his smile was quite broad. Wang Xiaojun took the opportunity to invite Feng Cheng to join them at their table for tea and conversation. Feng Cheng, in a good mood, did not refuse.

After sitting down, Wang Xiaojun introduced the others to Feng Cheng. Feng Cheng greeted everyone and then looked thoughtfully at Wang Xiaojun and the other time travelers' attire, saying, "Manager Wang, you must have made a fortune in business recently. Your clothes are much different from before."

Wang Xiaojun understood the implication. He realized that the significant change in his attire had made Feng Cheng suspicious about the source of his wealth. Feng Cheng was not suspecting him of any criminal activities; rather, he was likely wondering if Wang Xiaojun had hidden the news of the sea merchant's return and the glass products from him, thus monopolizing the business and cutting off a potential source of income.

Wang Xiaojun waved his hand and said, "Feng Chief Steward, you misunderstand. I am now just a partner in a small business with a few brothers, far from being a wealthy man."

"Really? Manager Wang, are you no longer working at Fang's Jewelry Shop?" Feng Cheng asked.

Wang Xiaojun explained, "That's right. After the auction of those treasures, Fang gave each of us a large bonus for our efforts. We decided that instead of working for others, it would be more satisfying to work for ourselves. So, we left Fang's and bought two grain shops to run on our own. The business has been good, and we've made some money. To avoid looking shabby when negotiating with clients, we bought some new clothes, which might seem a bit extravagant. I hope you don't mind, Feng Chief Steward."

Feng Cheng was somewhat disappointed to hear that Wang Xiaojun had left Fang's, but he was not willing to give up. He probed further, "I see. However, to be frank, Manager Wang, you and your partners are giving up a good business in jewelry to sell grain, which seems like a poor choice."

Wang Xiaojun understood Feng Cheng's meaning and pretended to be secretive, looking around before leaning in and whispering, "Feng Chief Steward, since we hit it off, I'll be honest with you. Although I left Fang's, I have no intention of giving up such a profitable business. I handled all the transactions with the sea merchant, and he only recognizes me as the intermediary. If he returns to the mainland, I am confident I can bring him to my side."

Feng Cheng saw the potential for profit and pretended to be very loyal, saying, "Since Manager Wang treats me as a friend, I will do the same. If you need any help in the future, just let me know. Although I am just a steward, I have some influence with the governor. Additionally, I manage several shops under the governor's name. If you have any good business opportunities that require a partner, feel free to come to me."

Wang Xiaojun was relieved that his words had successfully diverted Feng Cheng's attention from Fang's Jewelry Shop. He said, "I would be delighted to work with Feng Chief Steward. My brothers and I are planning to expand our business to Youzhou, and we will likely need your help."

Feng Cheng pretended to be nonchalant, saying, "We are friends, so don't worry about it."

At this point, both sides had achieved their goals and began to chat about various topics. Wang Xiaojun then found an appropriate moment to reveal that he had married Han Deyi's daughter. This news surprised Feng Cheng but also increased his confidence in Wang Xiaojun's abilities. In his view, a merchant who could marry the daughter of an official, even a seventh-rank official, was a clear sign of his capabilities.

Feng Cheng was in high spirits, feeling that he had gained a lot from the meeting. If not for other commitments, he might have continued chatting with Wang Xiaojun and the others. Even so, they chatted for at least half an hour before parting ways. Wang Xiaojun and the others, seeing that it was getting late, settled the bill and left the teahouse, returning to the Han residence.