Chapter 279: A Long Night Is Fraught with Dreams

Chapter 279: Chapter 279: A Long Night Is Fraught with Dreams

Although Mr. Fang appeared to have an imposing official air, he was surprisingly amiable in conversation.

During the banquet, he inquired in detail about each student’s family background and educational journey, repeatedly praising them as young and promising, a new generation to be reckoned with.

The students relaxed considerably and began to speak more casually. All in all, both the host and guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

When the feast was over and everyone left the Fang Mansion, they still felt it had ended too soon.

Some planned to stay in Yeyang for a few more days to pay an early visit to the teacher and instructor at the county school.

Song Jing and Li Guanchun returned directly to the academy. It was nearly the ninth month, and they still needed to prepare for the next two examinations.

Unwilling to be outdone by Song Jing, Wu Rongying also returned to the academy.

If they could just pass the provincial examination, there would be no need to go visiting those teachers and instructors.

「In the women’s quarters of the Fang Mansion.」

A young woman sat before her dressing table. Her face was fair, her features bright and lovely, and she bore a faint resemblance to Mr. Fang.

At this moment, she was languidly combing her hair, a look of utter boredom on her face. She clearly had something on her mind.

CREAK... The door opened, and a maidservant came running in.

Fang Yuzhi turned her head and asked impatiently, "Well? Did my father... with him..."

"Miss, what are you so anxious about? The Master already promised you, would he go back on his word? Why do you think he held this banquet? It was to observe the man’s character. But you just couldn’t wait a second. The moment you heard people had arrived, you rushed out to the front. It’s a miracle you didn’t cause a scene."

At the mention of this, Fang Yuzhi felt quite wronged herself.

"How was I supposed to know Song Jing wouldn’t come to help me? Instead, a bunch of shabby-looking scholars came running over."

But then her eyes darted, and a happy expression lit up her face.

"But what does that prove? It proves that he’s truly different from others! He’s a man of principle, unmoved by worldly temptations..."

The maidservant shook her head. ’My lady is truly hopeless,’ she thought.

Fang Yuzhi urged her, "Hurry up and tell me, what did my father find out?"

"The Master seemed quite satisfied. He kept praising him for being so young and promising."

Fang Yuzhi couldn’t hide her bashful pride.

"The man I set my sights on is naturally going to be exceptional."

During the first month of the year, her maternal grandfather had fallen gravely ill. She and her mother had rushed from Youyang, and as they neared the city gates, their carriage suddenly got stuck in a snow-filled pit.

It was thanks to a group of passing scholars that they managed to push the carriage out of the pit. They even helped repair the wheel.

There were quite a few of them in the group, but for some reason, Fang Yuzhi’s eyes were drawn to one man in a blue robe who carried himself with an air of integrity.

After making many inquiries, she learned that his name was Song Jing.

And on that day, they had been on their way to Yeyang, summoned by County Magistrate Pan to be commended.

"But, Miss..." the maidservant said hesitantly. "Young Master Song may be wonderful, but don’t forget, the last time we went to the Bai Mansion, Guo Ling, Miss Bai Si’s maid, said that he... he already has a sweetheart."

The words had barely left her mouth when the expression on Fang Yuzhi’s face darkened.

"What sweetheart? Just some country bumpkin. What can she possibly give Song Jing? What right does she have to be with him? Song Jing simply... he simply hasn’t met anyone better. Let me ask you, if you were him, who would you choose between me and that village girl?"

The maidservant hurriedly replied, "I would choose you, of course, Miss! In terms of family background, looks, and character, how could a mere village girl even compare to you?"

Fang Yuzhi was mollified, but then she grew worried again.

"This won’t do. I need to go and press my father again. And you, go find that Guo Ling... If this drags on, things could get complicated."

After a brief commotion, Dafeng Village gradually returned to its usual tranquility. The same could not be said for the Ji family.

"You can’t find him? How can you not find him? If he’s not at the county school, where else could he be? Did you go to the academy in town?"

Ji Qingshan’s face was sallow. As soon as he stopped speaking, he leaned on the table, gasping for breath. It was the first time in days he had spoken so much.

"Of course I went! I’ve been to the county school and the academy in town. They all say they haven’t seen him since the results were posted."

Granny Kang had already started crying. "Oh, my fourth son! My poor fourth son! Why won’t you come home? Your mother is so worried she can’t sleep..."

Her wailing gave Ji Qingshan a headache and made his heart pound.

At first, he had thought his fourth son had just failed the exam and was afraid to come home and face them. Now, he was starting to worry that something terrible had actually happened.

He pointed a finger at Ji Lianhuai. "Go! Go and find him for me! You have to bring him back, no matter what!"

Ji Lianhuai had a miserable look on his face. "Where am I supposed to look?!"

Mrs. Zhu was also displeased. "Exactly, Father! It’s not like your fourth son is your only son. You could at least show some pity for Lianhuai. He’s run his legs off these past few days!"

Ji Qingshan felt a hot rush of anger choke him, and his trembling hand jabbed back and forth between them.

"Your fourth brother is missing, and you, his brother and sister-in-law, aren’t worried? So I can’t even order you around anymore, is that it?!"

Ji Lianhuai pulled Mrs. Zhu back, afraid she would say something even more reckless and anger the old man into a genuine illness. They didn’t have much money for a doctor.

"I’ll look! Who said I wouldn’t? But you have to at least tell me where to look! I’ve only been to Yeyang this one time. I’m completely in the dark. I want to find him, but I have no idea where to even start!"

Before Ji Qingshan could speak, Granny Kang slapped her thigh.

"Go find that Mr. Tan! He scammed us out of thirty taels, claiming his older brother was some official at the county school who could guarantee our fourth son would become a Scholar! The money’s spent, there’s no Scholar, and now the man is missing. Who else would we go after but him?!"

"What? Thirty taels!" Mrs. Zhu nearly leaped to her feet.

She knew it! She just knew it!

Last year, when their fourth brother had come asking for money, the three of them—father, mother, and son—had shut themselves in a room and muttered amongst themselves for half the day. She had guessed then that something big was going on.

She never would have imagined that he had taken a whole thirty taels!

"Father, Mother, what’s this about thirty taels?"

Ji Lianhuai didn’t stop Mrs. Zhu this time. He wanted an explanation, too.

Thirty taels! This wasn’t two or three taels—for an ordinary family, what did that sum even represent? He refused to believe they didn’t know.

Ji Qingshan knew all too well. And because he knew, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Granny Kang, however, showed not the slightest hint of guilt.

"What about thirty taels? Did you earn a single copper of it? Your branch of the family does nothing but freeload, and now you have the nerve to question your mother’s accounts!"

The thought of thirty taels being handed over to Ji Liantang for nothing made Mrs. Zhu’s heart burn as if fried in oil. She went right at Granny Kang.

"In past years, Lianhuai and Eldest Brother worked odd jobs during the farming off-season, and all that money went into the family’s shared funds! How can you say we haven’t earned any money? We work too! On what grounds can you call us freeloaders!

"That spineless third son of mine? Ask him how much money he’s ever brought home! A lazy bunch, the lot of you, and you have the nerve to talk to me about working?! If it weren’t for the second son and his wife, relying on your two family branches would have saved us a pile of nothing!"

So now Granny Kang was willing to acknowledge the contributions of Ji Lianbai and Mrs. Wei.

But Mrs. Zhu wasn’t buying it.

"It doesn’t matter who earned it; it all went into the shared funds. ’Shared funds,’ what a nice-sounding name. So it turns out all the money in the ’shared funds’ really belongs to Ji the Fourth, and the rest of us don’t even count as people, is that right!"

Although Mrs. Zhu was usually one to talk back, this was the first time she had been so openly confrontational.

Granny Kang gritted her teeth in hatred.

But Mrs. Zhu’s mouth wouldn’t quit.

"Mother, I know you and Father don’t care for anyone but your fourth son. Since you two think so little of our third branch, why don’t you just split us off! We are all your flesh and blood, so why do you treat one like a precious treasure and trample the other like mud?"

"Oh! So now you want to split the family? Who was it that shamelessly refused to split before? It’s only because your fourth brother didn’t become a Scholar!"

"I’m glad you’re so clear on that! All these years, the entire family has scrimped and saved to support him, all for this talk of bringing honor to our ancestors. In my opinion, I’d have better luck counting on my Mingmao than on him!"

"You wretched woman! See if I don’t tear that mouth of yours off!"

Mrs. Zhu’s words had struck a raw nerve, and Granny Kang raised her hand to slap her.

"Enough!"

Ji Qingshan slammed his hand on the table with a thunderous CRACK. The teacup was jolted to the floor, where it shattered into pieces.

He panted, clearly overcome with rage.

"This was all for the good of the family. I thought that if your fourth brother passed, the whole family would benefit... Stop arguing. Go to town, find that Mr. Tan, and get the money back. If you get it back, half of it is yours."

Hearing this, Mrs. Zhu’s eyes lit up. "Really?!"

Ji Lianhuai perked up as well.

Ji Qingshan nodded weakly and instructed them, "Get some more people to go with you. He’s a teacher; his reputation is the most important thing to him. First, try talking to him privately. If he refuses to own up to it, then you make a big scene. I refuse to believe he won’t cough up the money... And don’t just focus on the money. Remember to ask about your fourth brother’s whereabouts."

"Of course, of course!"

The couple from the third branch gave a perfunctory agreement and left the room, already plotting how to get the money.

Ji Qingshan gazed at the main gate and let out a long sigh.

"Oh, Fourth Son... Fourth Son..."