Chapter 71

(Seeking votes, to prevent being overwhelmed...) In Chen Ke's study, a group of men were seated. At this point, Su Shi and Su Zhe had no choice but to recount the past grievances between the Su and Cheng families. After the initial honeymoon period, the marriage between the ‘Jiangqing’ (high-ranking official) and a commoner began to reveal its inherent flaws. The Cheng family's constant sense of superiority made it impossible for the two families to interact like ordinary in-laws, but they managed to maintain basic courtesy.

However, as Su Xun failed the imperial exams time and again, the Cheng family lost even the patience to maintain appearances. Su Xun, who had suffered many blows, was sensitive and proud. Even as their family's financial situation worsened, he firmly opposed Cheng Shi seeking help from her natal family, and the relationship between the two families plummeted to an all-time low. A year and a half ago, Ba Niang married Cheng Zhicai. After the two families became even closer through this marriage, their relationship improved somewhat. However, the good times didn't last long. After more than half a year, Ba Niang still hadn't conceived, and the Cheng family began to be unhappy. Another half a year later, when Lady Song saw that Ba Niang still showed no signs of pregnancy, she decided to take in two concubines for Cheng Zhicai. This greatly displeased Su Xun, but passing on the family line was a major concern for the Cheng family, and Cheng Zhicai was the eldest grandson, so there was little he could say.

In the following year, Su Xun saw Ba Niang very rarely. Each time he did, she forced a smile, and her body grew increasingly frail. When she wrote poetry with her younger siblings, the tone was often melancholy, and the family naturally became very worried. During the Qingming Festival, Su Xun, under the pretext of returning home to pay respects to his ancestors, suddenly visited the Cheng family and was shocked to see his daughter in her current state... As for what she had endured in the Cheng family, Ba Niang refused to speak, but it was undoubtedly various forms of inhuman abuse.

"The relationship between the two families has come to this," Chen Ke, trying to hold back, couldn't help but ask, "Why does your mother still say that Ba Niang should be sent back after she recovers? Do you want the Cheng family to torment her again?"

"This..." The Su brothers looked embarrassed, and Su Zhe said angrily, "Brother, you don't know, in a family like the Chengs, a woman who marries into the family can only be driven out, never leave on her own!"

"What a domineering Jiangqing family!" Chen Ke sneered. "Ba Niang left on her own, so what now?"

"Ah..." Su Zhe sighed dejectedly. "For years, the government has not accepted divorce petitions from Jiangqing families..."

"Is it that tyrannical?" Everyone was shocked. "Why?"

In this era, there were four situations for divorce: one, if a woman committed one of the 'Seven Exclusions,' the man could issue a divorce decree to end the marriage; two, 'Yijue,' where the government would forcibly dissolve the marriage if one or both parties committed a crime; three, 'Heli,' where both parties agreed to a voluntary divorce; and four, 'Chengsu,' where the parties went to court for a divorce. Clearly, if the man did not cooperate, the woman could only seek a divorce through litigation. However, the government did not accept divorce petitions from Jiangqing families, a legacy of the Tang and Five Dynasties periods. At that time, the aristocracy was supreme, and divorce among the gentry was always by mutual consent. Marriages between the gentry and commoners were rare and always one-sided.

As Su Zhe said, a woman could only be driven out, never leave on her own. This is why Su Xun was determined to say that even if they couldn't divorce, Ba Niang would never return...

"There's more trouble," Su Zhe said worriedly. "Today, Cheng Zhicai said that all of Meishan saw my sister being carried out of the Cheng family by a man, all the way to the dock. The Cheng family will surely feel humiliated and will come back for her."

"What do they want?" Chen Ke's eyebrows shot up, and he said coldly, "To take her back by force?"

"Not impossible..." Su Shi raised his head.

"Daydreaming!" Chen Ke laughed loudly.

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In the afternoon, after eating, Chen Ke asked Aunt Zhang to find several yards of white cloth and laid them out on the table, seemingly preparing to write something. Before he could find a suitable pen, he heard the door open.

"Come in." He rolled up the cloth and tossed it onto the bed.

"Brother..." The door opened, and it was his little sister, tears in her eyes, biting her lower lip. She was wearing a simple white dress, like a delicate white flower after the rain, evoking sympathy.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ke wiped her tears with his sleeve and said gently.

"Brother, we have to move. Father says we can't cause trouble for your family," the little sister clung to his hand tightly.

"Where to?" Chen Ke, who usually joked around, now had a cold expression. "Back to Meishan? The Cheng family is waiting for you, it would be like walking into a trap!"

"This is our business with the Cheng family," the little sister, biting her lower lip, shook her head with tears rolling down. "We can't involve Brother..."

"Shut up!" Chen Ke grabbed her slender waist, his presence overwhelming, leaving no room for argument. "What to do is a man's responsibility! At a time like this, the task of women and children is to stay quiet!"

"But..." the little sister whispered.

"Hmm..." Chen Ke's face was stern, his voice nasal.

"Really domineering..." the little sister muttered, but her head was tightly pressed against his strong chest, and she didn't say another word.

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Under the firm persuasion of Er Lang and Chen Ke, and with Ba Niang still seriously ill, Su Xun couldn't insist on leaving, but he insisted that Chen Ke promise not to intervene if anything happened. Chen Ke naturally agreed, but secretly arranged for a few young men to take turns watching the dock. If anything happened, they were to report immediately. However, no one conveyed their worries to Ba Niang; instead, they created a peaceful and comfortable living atmosphere for her. Her younger siblings were always around her, no one asked what had happened, but just talked and wrote poetry with her to keep her company, making her feel greatly comforted, and she gradually regained her vitality.

Although she knew the Cheng family wouldn't let it go, she didn't expect it to happen so soon...

One morning, a large boat from the Cheng family docked at the East Gate dock. More than twenty servants came ashore, led by the Cheng family's steward, Cheng Fa, and Lady Song's trusted servant, Lai Shi. This large group immediately attracted the attention of the Qing Shen residents, and many people stopped what they were doing to follow them wherever they went.

The Cheng family didn't care about these commoners and went straight to Wenxing Street to find Su Xun's house.

Just as they were about to knock on the door, they saw a wooden sign hanging on it: "Cheng family members and dogs are not allowed to enter"...

"What are these two characters?" Lai Shi, who only knew basic characters, pointed to the word "dogs" and asked.

"They mean 'dogs'..." The Cheng family's steward, who had read books, turned pale. "How dare they insult the Cheng family!"

"Smash the door!" Hong Jiaotou, the leader of the servants, who had been insulted for days, was determined to regain his dignity.

"No rash actions," Cheng Fa shook his head. "This is also an official family, let's try to be polite first." A strong dragon doesn't suppress a local snake; it's best not to conflict with the locals.

So the group removed the sign and went to the main gate of the Chen family on Wenchang Street. This time, there was no wooden sign, but after calling for a long time, no one responded. When they pushed the door, it creaked open.

"Let's go in and talk." Cheng Fa and Lai Shi, along with Hong Jiaotou and a few servants, entered the gate and turned past the screen wall. They saw a large white flag fluttering, with eight large characters in silver and iron: "Trespassers will be killed without mercy"!

Under the flag was a folding chair, and on it sat a cold-faced young man. Behind him stood a towering man, holding two five-foot-long iron rods.

"Greetings, young masters," Cheng Fa, seeing this, steeled himself and bowed. "I am the steward of the Cheng family from Meishan..."

"Who let you in?" the cold-faced young man said, his words cutting like a knife.

"We called for a long time, and no one answered, so we came in to check," Cheng Fa replied.

"Not answering means they don't want you to come in," the cold-faced young man said sternly. "Entering without my permission is trespassing!"

"Forgive us, young master, we apologize," Cheng Fa bowed helplessly.

"You don't need to apologize, leave within three counts," the cold-faced young man said expressionlessly. "Otherwise, according to the Song Criminal Code, trespassers can be killed without penalty!"

"This..." Cheng Fa felt helpless, like a scholar facing soldiers. Hong Jiaotou, knowing it was his turn to act, laughed loudly. "What a big talker, do you think we're scared?"

"One," the young man ignored him, "two!"

"I'll stand here," Hong Jiaotou, feeling insulted, said fiercely. "Come on, try me!"

"Three." As the cold-faced young man said the last number, the towering man behind him, holding two iron rods, charged forward. In a moment, he was in front of Hong Jiaotou.

"Good move!" Hong Jiaotou, who had real skills, wasn't afraid. He flipped his hand and revealed an iron rod... In the Song Dynasty, weapons were strictly controlled. Besides the military, even carrying knives and swords was not allowed, so they could only bring a stick.

With a whistling sound, Wulang swung the iron rod down with one hand. To be cautious, Hong Jiaotou blocked with both hands.

There was a loud "bang" as the two iron rods clashed, sparks flying. The immense force traveled up the rod to his hands. Hong Jiaotou's palms bled, and his arms lost sensation. Before he could cry out, Wulang's left hand, holding another iron rod, swung down again.

Hong Jiaotou, a seasoned veteran, made the right choice at the last moment. He dropped his rod and rolled away, narrowly avoiding the powerful blow.

Cheng Fa and Lai Shi watched in disbelief as Hong Jiaotou was knocked down by two blows. Before they could express their surprise, each felt a heavy iron rod land on their shoulder blades. Though the man didn't use full force, they felt their bones break.

"Get out quickly," Hong Jiaotou, who had already retreated behind the screen wall, reminded them. "This guy is really trying to kill us!"

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Outside the Chen family gate, the crowd was growing. The Cheng family servants, thinking they were still in Meishan, carelessly drove them away. "Scatter, scatter, what's there to see!"

Before they could finish, the crowd burst into laughter. Turning around, they saw their leader, Hong Jiaotou, and the others, fleeing in panic.

Before they could understand the situation, a towering man, looking fierce and holding the Cheng family steward and Lai Shi by the collar, appeared at the gate.

He threw the two like trash outside and planted the flag at his feet: "Trespassers will be killed without mercy"!

After doing this, he looked at the servants with disdain, then turned and calmly retreated.

The large gate was empty, with only the shocking flag standing there!

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