Chapter 73: The Foolish Filial

Chapter 73

It was strange indeed.

Houses, if inhabited by people, are seldom too shabby.

Once abandoned, they rapidly lose vitality, corners collapse, beams crack, and tiles fall.

It had been just over six months since the Jiang siblings left the dilapidated temple, yet the two small houses had already fallen into disrepair with wind whistling through the corners.

The only thing that remained unchanged was the ever-smiling big Buddha.

Jiang Sheng stopped the carriage and fished out three incense sticks from a corner of the temple. She lit them carefully and put them in place.

"You're still so superstitious," Zheng Ruqian stuck his head out and asked.

Jiang Sheng rolled her eyes at him. "This isn't superstition. The Buddha blessed Jiang Sheng with enough food to eat and allowed Jiang Sheng to be with her brothers forever. Of course I should thank the Buddha."

She put her palms together and bowed deeply three times.

Back in the carriage, they continued on towards Shili Pu village. Over half a year, the village had not changed much.

Faint wisps of smoke rose with the wind, and children's crisp shouts filled the air.

Old women clucked disapprovingly, gossiping about this family and that.

Uncle Zhao's cart was still tied at the door - he probably knew Little Jiang Sheng was gone and there was no one left to steal it.

From Zhou Zhiqiang's house drifted the occasional scolding, though now mixed with answering feminine voices, faint but firm.

They arrived at Zhang Qiquan's door.

Fang Heng reined in the horse and handed the reins to Zheng Ruqian before jumping down and rapping on the door.

"Who is it?" Came Auntie Liu Cui's voice from within.

Fang Heng called out loudly, "It's me, Fang Heng, come to see Uncle Zhang."

Liu Cui's eyes widened in surprise. She put down her winnowing basket and hurried over, but did not open the door. Instead, she questioned doubtfully, "Really? Are you really Fang Heng?"

This... who else could it be?

Fang Heng was stunned speechless, confused.

Jiang Sheng, clever as always, whispered a reminder, "Do you have any secrets only the two of you know?"

Fang Heng understood at once. "The traps up the mountain have been undisturbed for half a year. I came to ask Uncle Zhang if we should switch them out for cage traps."

The small traps could only catch large, clumsy animals. More agile prey could evade them, but cage traps could ensnare anything.

Zhang Qiquan's expression crumpled and he hastily gestured for Liu Cui to restrain Fang Heng.

"Don't be rash," Xu Mo also pulled on his younger brother. "Listen to what Uncle Zhang says first."

Zhang Qiquan gave Xu Mo a grateful look before turning solemnly to Fang Heng. "No matter what, they are still my elders. I was absent for years seeking my fortune, leaving my parents wholly dependent on their care. I owe them."

So when he had earned twenty-five taels from the tiger, he had readily offered to split five taels per family.

But he hadn't expected such greed from his brothers' families, unwilling to leave the earner with any share.

"So I should just let them bully Auntie?" Fang Heng retorted.

Zhang Qiquan fell silent again.

If it were only himself suffering some injustice, he could bear it; but he couldn't drag Liu Cui into it when she was innocent.

"Perhaps... they didn't mean to hurt so badly, just... lost control." Zhang Qiquan mumbled weakly.

Fang Heng was ready to explode with rage. Where was the decisive, gallant man who slew the tiger neatly and bought his wife a hairpin with the reward money? He had become a fool enslaved by filial piety!

Sensing the imminent eruption, Xu Mo coughed again to restrain his brother.

Chang Yan smiled and stepped forward. "Uncle Zhang was barely able to protect Auntie Liu before with all four limbs intact. Bedridden now with a broken leg, how will Auntie defend herself if ruffians come again?"

As if on cue, Liu Cui muffled a sob into her hands.

Zhang Qiquan's expression crumpled and he hastily gestured for Liu Cui to restrain Fang Heng.

"Don't be rash," Xu Mo also pulled on his younger brother. "Listen to what Uncle Zhang says first."

Zhang Qiquan gave Xu Mo a grateful look before turning solemnly to Fang Heng. "No matter what, they are still my elders. I was absent for years seeking my fortune, leaving my parents wholly dependent on their care. I owe them."

So when he had earned twenty-five taels from the tiger, he had readily offered to split five taels per family.

But he hadn't expected such greed from his brothers' families, unwilling to leave the earner with any share.

"So I should just let them bully Auntie?" Fang Heng retorted.

Zhang Qiquan fell silent again.

If it were only himself suffering some injustice, he could bear it; but he couldn't drag Liu Cui into it when she was innocent.

"Perhaps... they didn't mean to hurt so badly, just... lost control." Zhang Qiquan mumbled weakly.

Fang Heng was ready to explode with rage. Where was the decisive, gallant man who slew the tiger neatly and bought his wife a hairpin with the reward money? He had become a fool enslaved by filial piety!

Sensing the imminent eruption, Xu Mo coughed again to restrain his brother.

Chang Yan smiled and stepped forward. "Let's make a wager with Uncle Zhang. Let's see if his brothers come around again, shall we? If Uncle Zhang wins, we'll pay the ten taels of silver for you. If he loses, take Auntie Liu and fly far away."