Chapter 25

Chapter 25

[The little woman and crisp eggplant] The carriage entered the village, seeing that Su Daqiang’s house door was open, Su Liang and Ning Jing got off the carriage. “I’ll leave you here, you can go back.” Su Liang said. Qi Jun drove the carriage away, and Ning Jing and Su Liang entered, only to see Bai He standing by the wall with a broom in his hand and an unhappy look on his face. From next door came sounds of cursing and beating, Listening carefully, the nasty and filthy words were unbearable to the ear. Bai He came back to his senses, walked quickly over, “My elder brother has transported the last carriage of furniture to sell in town. I’ve come over to clean up this side.” Last night, the wind blew and many leaves from the pear tree fell. They had all been swept into one pile. The yard was very clean, and the room with the door open was empty. “Thank you for your hard work.” Su Liang nodded, “We were passing by and saw the door open. We came over to pick some vegetables to take back.” Bai He forced a smile, “There are quite a few beans and eggplants in the backyard that can be picked up.” At this moment, a scream came from next door, followed by the voice of an old woman gritting her teeth, “You shameless slut, how dare you cry? You seduce men every day, you’re shameless!” “Annoying!” The impatient voice of a young man. The voice of the old woman just now suddenly softened, “Xingzhe, go study now. Tell your mother what you want to eat, I’ll cook it for you.” … When it finally quieted down next door, Su Liang recalled that she had met an old woman from that family before, probably the one who had been scolding just now. Bai He’s hand holding the broom was throbbing with blue veins as he went to move the stone slab with a straight face. In the backyard, Su Liang picked beans while Ning Jing carefully selected ripe eggplants. Hearing that there was a sound at the front, Su Liang came over with a handful of beans. Bai He stood just at the doorway. Outside the door was the old woman from next door, and behind her was a thin, haggard young woman. Seeing Su Liang, the dull face of the old woman stiffened for a moment, then she put on a smile, “You are here, that’s good! This is a family matter, no need to involve outsiders! Just tell me, it’s fine.” As she spoke, the old woman tried to push Bai He away and walk in, acting as if she and Su Liang were family members. Bai He didn’t say a word, and blocked her way. “What do you need?” Su Liang asked. “Isn’t your brother going to take the examination in the county next month? Recently, he has been studying day and night. I came to pick some vegetables, cook meat for him, and nourish his body!” The old woman spoke lively about her son. Su Liang’s expression was faint, “This is not your home.” “When your Elder Uncle was alive, he wasn’t so stingy! I even gave some vegetable seeds. What’s wrong with picking a few vegetables?” The old woman pouted, “It should be said that you’re already married, this house and land, no matter how they are, shouldn’t be assigned to let you occupy it!” “The title deeds were given to me by Su Daqiang’s creditor, Hu Er from the town. Lei Zheng is clear about the situation. If you have any objections, you can go to him.” Su Liang said. The old woman glanced at Su Liang, “Don’t scare me with those trivial matters! I just ask you, can I pick these vegetables?” “No,” Su Liang refused. The old woman spat on the ground, “As if anyone cares! Wait until my son Xingzhe becomes a scholar next month, don’t come to flatter me then!” With her words, she turned around and angrily twisted the little woman, who was bowing her head, muttering curses, “Why are you still here? Trying to seduce that Bai guy? Misfortune bringer! Unlucky ghost!” Bai He stared at the slender back of the little woman, took two steps forward but then withdrew abruptly, slamming the door shut! Su Liang asked him about it. Bai He said that the neighbor’s surname was also Su, and he was a relative of Su Daqiang. Just now, that old woman was Niu, by relationship she was Su Daqiang’s niece by marriage. Niu had three sons; the eldest son, Su Xingyun, died of a sudden illness last year, leaving behind a young widow, the little Liu who had just been beaten and scolded by Niu. She was married from the same village as Bai He’s sister-in-law Liu. Niu’s youngest son, Su Xingzhe, was currently the only scholar in the village. He would be participating in the Court Examination next month. Once he succeeds, he would become a scholar. Even before Niu became a scholar’s mother, she acted very arrogantly, not putting anyone in her sights. “Does Liu Huilan have children?” Su Liang asked. Bai He shook his head, “No children.” “Then why didn’t she go back to her parents’ house?” When Su Liang saw Liu Huilan earlier, she couldn’t help but think of the original master who had been abused by Su Daqiang’s family. Living at others’ mercy, being humiliated and beaten, even working like an ox only brought more suffering. Bai He sighed deeply, “Her parents’ house had originally planned to take her back and then find another marriage for her, but that old devout woman wouldn’t let her go, saying that Liu Huilan was born a Su family’s person, and would die as Su family’s ghost. Liu’s family thought that if Su Xingzhe became an official after getting the scholar title, they could benefit from it, so they simply stopped caring about Liu Huilan’s life.” “Treating the daughter-in-law as a maid, not needing much to eat, serving the whole family, and being able to curse and beat her casually, how could they let her go?” Su Liang thought of the Original Master again. If Su Daqiang hadn’t owed a high-interest loan, and if Ning Jing, the “fat sheep ready for slaughter”, had not appeared, Su Daqiang’s family would not have married the Original Master away so early. Instead, they would have kept her around to continue making embroidery and earn money, while having a free slave to serve the whole family. Seeing Bai He’s expression, Su Liang had a hunch that he had unusual feelings for that little Liu. But people’s words are terrifying. Even if he had the heart, he could only watch from afar and do nothing. Ning Jing carried a purple round eggplant and came over. Bai He picked up the broom again, “You guys go back first, I’ll sort out the backyard.” … While crossing the bridge, Ning Jing suddenly said to Su Liang, “That person named Liu Huilan may be about to die.” Su Liang was startled, “Did you see it again?” The black fog… Ning Jing nodded, he had watched from behind Su Liang just now. “How can we save her? We can’t just go to her house and watch.” Su Liang found it a bit difficult. But for those who were seen by Ning Jing as having “black foreheads”, they would either die or kill within three days. Liu Huilan doesn’t seem like someone capable of murder, it’s much more likely that she would be killed by someone. Other than keeping an eye on her, there isn’t much else to do. … After dinner, Bai Peng came by and handed the money from selling the furniture and items to Su Liang. A total of seven taels and five qian. As agreed, Bai Peng received one and a half taels of silver as a labor fee. Su Liang got the key back, saw the dark night outside, and thought of Liu Huilan. She asked Ning Jing if they should go and check on her. Ning Jing put down the pen in his hand, “You are very good at working for me.” Su Liang snorted lightly, “When we go back this time, remember to settle the payment.” The two went to Su Daqiang’s house first, locked the door from the inside, and went to the backyard. A wall apart, it’s Su Xingzhe’s backyard. Su Liang gestured to Ning Jing, after you. Ning Jing ran a few steps, leaped up gracefully, and crossed the wall. Su Liang’s eyes brightened, this must be the legendary light skill! She wanted to learn it! Although she didn’t know this skill yet, a low wall like this was not difficult. She took a running start, jumped, and climbed over it in one breath. There were pigs and chickens in this backyard, and it stank. “Brother-in-law, while the water’s hot, wash your feet.” Hearing the young woman’s voice, Su Liang and Ning Jing silently approached the back window of a room. “Leave it, massage my shoulders for me.” This must be the scholarly Su Xingzhe. Taking advantage of his widowed sister-in-law for a shoulder massage, shameless. “Brother-in-law, it’s late, I should go back first…” The sound of a basin being knocked over. “Huilan, I know you’re suffering. After I pass the exam and become an official, I will take you in as my concubine after I marry!” “Brother-in-law, what are you doing? No…let go of me!” “Quit being shameless when given a little face!” … The woman cried for help in despair, but all the people under the same roof seemed deaf and mute. Obviously, they all tacitly approved of Su Xingzhe’s shameless behavior, completely disregarding Liu Huilan as a person. Just as Su Liang was about to intervene, Ning Jing slapped out at him! With a sudden loud noise, a big hole appeared in the intact wall. Su Xingzhe yelped in panic, “Ghost…ghost!” Liu Huilan seized the opportunity to break free and ran out crying. After a commotion with chickens flying and dogs jumping, the family believed that Su Xingyun was unhappy with Su Xingzhe’s attempt to possess Liu Huilan and had shown his spirit to stop him. Niu Family clasped her hands together, chanting some words, “Da Yun, don’t blame your brother, it’s all this little slut’s fault. She shamelessly seduced your brother. If you’re angry, blame her!” She then gritted her teeth, “If Zhe gets frightened into an accident, I’ll skin that bitch alive!” Through the hole Ning Jing made, Su Liang heard and saw everything clearly. Su Xingzhe raised his neck and said, “It’s her deliberately seducing me!” Su Liang just wanted to vomit… Ning Jing tugged on Su Liang’s sleeve and pointed at Liu Huilan’s room. Su Liang quietly approached, heard the sound of a chair falling, her expression changed, and she broke down the door and entered. The room was pitch black, with a person hanging from the beam. Su Liang took out the kitchen knife she carried with her and cut the rope. Liu Huilan coughed and curled up on the ground, her eyes filled with despairing deathly stillness. “You’ll be able to leave here soon, just wait a little longer.” Su Liang deliberately pinched her throat, whispered into Liu Huilan’s ear, and quickly left. Liu Huilan’s consciousness was hazy, she didn’t see Su Liang clearly, and thought it was a god’s act of mercy, that Yama King didn’t take her… With a loud rumble, one after another. The walls of Su Xingzhe’s house collapsed. The pig ran away. The chickens flew away. The kitchen suddenly caught fire. … Su Liang returned to the neighboring backyard and saw a certain celestial being who had just finished wreaking havoc on Niu Family’s house, holding a round eggplant, “Can we make Crisp Eggplant again tomorrow?”