062 Both Resentful and Grateful

Xie Wenjing, I hope you never return to Yangzhou for as long as you live! Once my eldest brother passes the imperial examinations, or once I have earned enough silver, I will surely repay your grace without delay. We, the Xu family, do not owe you anything.

Yet how could one possibly earn that much silver?

Xu Cai thought with a sense of obsession: Should she become an embroiderer? But compared to her mother's embroidery, hers fell short by an immense margin.

Should she set up a small trade? However, with prices in Yangzhou so exorbitant nowadays, ordinary people simply dared not patronize shops, forcing many small businesses in Yangzhou to close their doors.

Fortunately, her family had previously purchased plenty of household goods and grain, otherwise their days would have been incomparably difficult. Ah, Xie Wenjing, how I both hate and feel grateful to you!

At that very moment, Xie Wenjing coincidentally sneezed three times in a row.

"Young Miss, have you caught a chill?" Du Ma asked, looking at her with concern.

"Du Ma, it is the height of summer, how could I catch a chill?" Xie Wenjing smiled. Du Ma simply loved to fret over her; she was doing just fine.

"Young Miss, you must not be careless. These past few days, you have been running back and forth and you are thoroughly exhausted. Catching even the slightest chill makes it easy to fall ill. You cannot be casual even in the dead of summer. Let me brew some ginger soup for you to drink first and see how you feel."

Du Ma would rather make a fuss over nothing than see the young miss genuinely fall sick.

Xie Wenjing felt helpless. Drink it then; wasn't it just a bowl of ginger soup? Exactly who was thinking of her, causing her to sneeze three times running?

Her third uncle, accompanied by Xie Wenfeng, had no choice but to return to Hangzhou. Although he felt he had made grand vows of passing, only to end up failing the exams, he truly felt he had no face to see Wenjing.

Yet regarding the matter of Wenjing's broken engagement, he still needed to explain it clearly to her. He wondered if Wenjing would be angry or saddened upon learning of it. Would his eldest brother and sister-in-law also be angry and grieve when they found out?

Even though Wenjing had consistently expressed that she did not wish to marry into the Zhao family, a young woman whose engagement was broken would inevitably suffer some minor damage to her reputation, no matter what.

Still, he had truly tried his best—tried his best in his studies and examinations, and tried his best to annul the engagement for Wenjing.

For these past few days, the third aunt had stood by the Grand Canal from dawn to dusk, craning her neck in eager anticipation, hoping to catch sight of her husband and son.

On this day, the villagers caught sight of Xie Chengjin and Xie Wenfeng from afar and all began to shout excitedly.

"The Third Master of the Xie family is back!"

"The Third Young Master of the Xie family is back as well!"

The villagers were all aware that the third master and the third young master of the Xie family had gone to Yangzhou to take the examinations, and they had been hoping for them to pass. This was considered a major and joyous event for the entire village.

Furthermore, the villagers held deep trust and friendliness toward the Xie family, especially the eldest young miss. If not for her, the days in the village would have been far more difficult.

Seeing the returning master and young master of the Xie family, the villagers involuntarily raised their voices and shouted, their tones brimming with warmth and excitement.

The third uncle felt somewhat ashamed. So many villagers working in the fields were looking at him with smiles, greeting him one after another. This gave him a subtle sense of belonging, coupled with a remorseful sense of shame. After all, he had failed the examinations,辜负 (failing) the enthusiasm and expectations of the villagers.

Xie Wenjing's family, along with the third aunt and Xie Wenting, all heard the enthusiastic shouts of the villagers and rushed out together to welcome their returning family members.

Along the narrow path through the fields, the third uncle and his son Xie Wenfeng saw their family members standing in the distance, looking toward them. They felt a swirling mix of emotions in their hearts.

There was a sense of loss, a sense of shame, and above all, a lingering warmth and affection.

This was the first time the third aunt had been separated from her husband and son for so long. Through all those days and nights of waiting, her mindset had shifted from an intense yearning for them to pass the exams, to merely praying for their safe return.

Now, although both her husband and son looked somewhat fatigued, they had both returned safely. Suddenly, the third aunt could no longer suppress her emotions and covered her face as she wept.

"Sister-in-law, do not cry. So many people are watching you!" Dujuan took out her handkerchief, gently wiping away the third aunt's tears while softly consoling her.

"Yes, yes, I won't cry, I won't cry. I am just happy; they have both come back safely!"

Though the third aunt said this, she continued to choke back her sobs, clearly unable to control her overwhelming emotions.

Standing nearby, Xie Wenting accompanied her mother and let fall her own tears. Xie Wenting was always quiet and inwardly clever, but that did not prevent her from missing her family members who had traveled far away.

Xie Wenbao also ran out to watch. The third uncle wore a crestfallen expression, which surely meant he hadn't passed. The third brother's face was full of joy, which surely meant he had passed, Xie Wenbao guessed in his heart.

From their gradually clearing expressions, Xie Wenjing made the same guess as Xie Wenbao. However, Xie Wenjing did not intend to question them the moment they met, especially with so many villagers watching closely around them.

"Third Uncle, you're back! Come inside quickly. It's so hot today; have a cup of cool tea first to quench your thirst." Before anyone else could speak, Xie Wenjing stepped forward enthusiastically, urging her third uncle and cousin to step into the courtyard, drink some cool tea, and sit down so the family could close the doors and talk at leisure.

Xie Chengjin cast a grateful glance at his niece. Her thoughts were so delicate; she seemed to perceive his ashamed state of mind.

Xie Wenjing's parents had no intention of asking questions first either. When it came to examinations, diligence and talent alone were not enough; one also needed a stroke of luck.

The third uncle sat down and drank a proper cup of cool tea, and Xie Wenfeng followed suit. However, until his father spoke up, Xie Wenfeng did not dare mention that he had passed, even though he wanted to tell his family. After all, his father hadn't passed this time!

Only family members remained in the main hall, as the nannies and maidservants had tactfully withdrawn.

"Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, I—I am useless! I have failed your expectations!" With an awkward expression, the third uncle knew he ultimately had to face this.

"Third Brother, do not be discouraged. Eldest Brother is a few years older than you and still doesn't measure up to you now. Not only was I unable to accompany you to the examinations, but I am also forced to recuperate at home. Doesn't that make Eldest Brother even more useless than you?

Do not lose heart. In two years' time, Eldest Brother will accompany you to take the exams again. If two years aren't enough, we will keep taking them, and if we still don't pass, we'll take them again! I refuse to believe that after a few attempts, neither of our two brothers will pass?"

Not only did Xie Chengyu comfort and encourage his younger brother, but he also expressed his determination in resolute and forceful terms. Two brothers taking the examination field side by side would surely meet with success one day.

Eh? Father intended to lock horns with official honors to the bitter end?

Xie Wenjing was dumbfounded! Father's strengths lay not in studying, but in calligraphy and painting!

How was she supposed to dissuade him? Father was so resolute and full of confidence; could she bear to dampen his spirits?

"Yes! Eldest Brother is right. As long as our brothers are of one mind, there will surely be a day when we place high on the lists! I refuse to believe that in this lifetime, our two brothers cannot produce a Juren scholar?"

Infected by his eldest brother's resolute tone, the third uncle decisively cast aside his previous dejection, his fighting spirit instantly soaring.

Eh? The third uncle also wanted to lock horns with official honors to the bitter end?

Xie Wenjing felt like crying! Did the two closest elders in the family really intend to entangle themselves with imperial degrees for the rest of their lives? Didn't they think that was just—just completely unnecessary?

Xie Wenjing looked to her left at her high-spirited father, then to her right at her full-of-confidence third uncle. The corners of her mouth twitched, and she was left speechless.

"Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, this time my son still brought honor to the family. He passed the Child Examination and can proceed to take the Xiucai examination next year!"

Regaining his composure, the third uncle finally shared the comforting news that his son had passed the preliminary examination, making this Yangzhou trip worthwhile after all.

Xie Wenfeng grinned broadly with joy, blinking repeatedly at his mother and younger sister.

"Well done! Next year, you must win us the title of Xiucai! This time, your eldest uncle will reward you with a set of writing brushes and ink.

Wenbao, look at that. Your cousin is a year older than you and is already a Tongsheng (Child Scholar). You must study hard too and strive to pass the Child Examination next year! When the time comes, Father will reward you as well!"

Xie Chengyu happily patted his nephew's head, not forgetting to spur his own son on to study diligently.

"Oh!" Xie Wenbao gave a brief and concise assent, though in his heart he didn't feel the slightest bit confident. How could his own reading compare to his cousin's? How could he compete with him?

Xie Wenjing cast a glance at her younger brother: as long as this brother of hers didn't turn out to be a profligate spendthrift, she would be content even if he failed the exams.

As long as her brother grew sensible, even without official titles, he could engage in commerce and earn a living. A man, as long as he could establish himself in the world and support a family, did not necessarily have to walk the single-log bridge of imperial examinations.

Among the family, there were only four males in total. If none of them passed as Juren scholars, were they really going to battle against official honors for their entire lives?

Just thinking about it made Xie Wenjing shudder.

Xie Wenjing still held her previous view: for a young man, studying wasn't just about passing examinations for official rank; it was also about understanding principles, grasping the laws, and learning how to conduct oneself.

However, once past the age of thirty without achieving any official rank, there was simply no need to obsess single-mindedly over examinations! One could do something else, and at most try one's luck when exam season rolled around—that would be enough!

Never mind; there was no immediate rush to dissuade her high-spirited father and uncle for now.

"Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, while in Yangzhou, I also handled a matter for Wenjing—a matter I was compelled to handle on her behalf.

Those members of the Zhao family are truly too overbearing. Perhaps they found out that our Xie family was selling our courtyards, farmland, and dividing the household, and realizing that our Xie family is no longer what we used to be, they looked down upon us and wanted to break off the engagement.

Even if you wanted to break off the engagement, you shouldn't bully people like this! That Madam Zhao is simply a shameless, shrewish woman. To achieve her ends, she actually had the gall to righteously slander Wenjing's reputation.

Previously in Yangzhou, Wenjing never stepped outside the inner chambers; she was a true daughter of a noble lineage. Even now upon arriving in Hangzhou, she has only been praying for Eldest Brother's recovery, yet Madam Zhao used this very excuse to claim Wenjing lacked propriety.

At the time, I was furious and vowed to tear off their masks and take them to court. I wanted the whole world to know the cruelty and shamelessness of the Zhao family.

If they dared to cruelly trample upon a young woman's lifelong reputation merely to cover up their own profit-seeking and shameless behavior, then I would dare to rip away their pretense and have a fierce lawsuit at the prefectural yamen without fear.

Later on, Zhao Qiusheng stated that they only wished to dissolve the engagement and admitted to the true reasons I stated. Only then did I agree to destroy the two engagement documents with them.

Eldest Brother, Sister-in-law, Wenjing was right: such a family is not one to marry into! Fortunately, Wenjing had not yet married into the Zhao family; otherwise, heaven knows how terribly she would have been bullied by them!"

All along the journey back, the third uncle had been worrying whether Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law would grieve over his act of calling off Wenjing's engagement. But this was a matter they had to know, and he had no choice but to explain it to them clearly ahead of time.

From his perspective now, breaking off this engagement was naturally for the best!

"Third Uncle! You really tore those two engagement papers to pieces with your own hands?"

Xie Wenjing's face beamed with overjoyed surprise. As long as it was true, she would no longer be bound by any constraints. She could wholeheartedly love and cherish Xu Yin, and openly like him with her head held high.

"Yes, your third uncle tore them to smithereens with his own hands!" Seeing the joyful surprise in Wenjing's eyes, the third uncle finally felt a true sense of relief.

"Third Brother, well torn! If that shameless Zhao family dared to slander my daughter like this, I would risk my life with them to seek justice for our family! Cough, cough, cough!"

Stricken with instant fury, Xie Chengyu's face flushed crimson red, and his breathing suddenly grew rapid. Clearly, his constitution still could not withstand such stimulation.

"Master, do not upset yourself. This is a good thing, a good thing! Didn't Wenjing always look down upon the Zhao family? Now that she finally doesn't have to marry into the Zhao family, it should be considered a joyful event!"

Dujuan had also been filled with righteous indignation, but upon noticing her husband's complexion, she hurriedly set aside her anger to soothe him.

"Father, take a sip of water and catch your breath. Today is the happiest day for me. Ever since I found out what kind of family the Zhao family is, my only wish has been to break off this engagement.

Now that the engagement has been successfully annulled, it feels like a blessing dropped from the heavens. From this day forward, I no longer have any worries.

I no longer have to fear being forced to marry into the Zhao family and live a life of bitter isolation. How wonderful it is now—I can joyfully serve under my parents' knees.

I will never again have to sleep restlessly or live in fear. Who knows, I might even find a family that truly treats me well. I have regained my freedom!

Father, you must not get angry anymore. If the Zhao family damages your health with anger, the ones who grieve will be us, while the ones who rejoice will be them!"

Xie Wenjing joyfully expressed her extreme happiness, simultaneously counseling her father not to let anger consume him.

Under Xie Wenjing's soothing words, Xie Chengyu's ragged breathing gradually leveled out.

"Heh, my daughter is right; I must not get angry. How many people are just waiting for me to get angry and drop dead? I shall live on in good health precisely to infuriate them!"

Having regained control of his emotions, Xie Chengyu uttered these words in a weak voice.

"Exactly, exactly. Father, let me help you back to rest for a while, and then I'll send for a doctor to take a look." Xie Wenjing remained somewhat worried; with her father reacting this way, having a doctor examine him would offer true peace of mind.

"It's fine, Wenjing. Father will feel better after a nap; there's no need to call a doctor!" Xie Chengyu's voice was frail. He truly hated his own body for being such a heavy burden.

As a father, not only was he unable to hold up the sky for his children and family, but he also caused them to constantly worry about him.

Today's affair had simply seen him become overly emotional, causing Wenjing and the others anxiety.

Xie Wenjing did not argue back with her father immediately; calling a doctor was a must. She would coax her father into getting some rest first and deal with the physician when he arrived.

Seeing his eldest brother in such a state, the third uncle suddenly felt a pang of remorse. Should he have spoken of this matter behind his eldest brother's back, telling only Wenjing and his sister-in-law first?

He should have waited until Eldest Brother had fully recovered before breaking the news. His eldest brother's sudden breathlessness just now had given him a terrible scare; if something had truly happened to his brother, he would have been the death of him.

Xie Wenjing caught the remorseful expression on her third uncle's face, but she chose not to comfort him right away.

Xie Chengyu soon fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. Upon arrival, the doctor examined Xie Chengyu's complexion, felt his pulse, pondered for a moment, and then wrote out a medical prescription.

"This medicine should be taken one package a day, brewed into two portions daily—one in the morning and one in the evening. Have him take it continuously for ten days, and after ten days, I will examine him again.

During this period, you must allow him to recuperate in peace and quiet. He should neither experience excessive joy nor violent anger. Joy harms the heart, and anger harms the lungs! Remember this strictly!"

"Doctor, is my eldest brother's condition serious?" Xie Chengjin asked anxiously, pursuing the doctor as he prepared to leave.

"His constitution was already weak to begin with. Even with peaceful recuperation, it will take at least a year or two for him to recover. If he suffers any further emotional stimulation during this time, recovery will become even more difficult.

Fortunately, for now, his condition is not too dire, and the chances of recovery are high. Do not worry excessively, especially in front of your eldest brother. Maintain a natural and peaceful demeanor; that will be most beneficial to his recovery!"

Endowed with a patient temperament, the doctor answered the third uncle's questions thoroughly before finally taking his leave.

"Third Uncle, Father already understands now. In the future, he will control his emotions well and will never let himself fly into a rage so easily again, so please rest assured! In the past, Father was so sick he couldn't even stand, yet since he has recovered to this extent, he will surely make a full recovery!

Besides, this was a matter Father deserved to know anyway."

Only then did Xie Wenjing find the time to step out and console her self-reproaching third uncle.

Logically speaking, since the third uncle had resolved such a weighty problem for the family, it was indeed proper for him to inform her father upon his return.

However, had her third uncle spoken to her first, she would have simply told her father one brief sentence: the engagement between the Xie family and the Zhao family was cancelled.

Should her father pursue the reason, she would tell him that the Zhao family wanted to call it off, and their family agreed.

There was no need to delve into the specific details. The third uncle had recounted the tale with such righteous indignation that her father naturally reacted, and it was no wonder he grew angry.

Fortunately, her father quickly came to his senses and managed to curb his emotions. Perhaps this turned out to be a blessing in disguise; life always held unpredictable turns, and her father's health ultimately hinged upon his own mindset.

Through this incident, her father quickly grasped the importance of emotional restraint. If any other matters arose in the future, he would possess greater self-control, which was a good thing.

Soothed by Xie Wenjing's comforting words, the heavy knot in the third uncle's heart loosened somewhat.

Until his eldest brother's health was completely restored, whether it was a matter of great joy or sudden anger, he must never speak directly of it to his eldest brother again.

It would be best to inform Wenjing or his sister-in-law first, and then find a calm, gentle way to break the news to his eldest brother. He must never be so reckless again, the third uncle silently warned himself.

Having suffered this scare, Xie Chengyu truly came to realize the importance of emotional control. Pondering this, he once again picked up his writing brush, forcing himself to write only a few characters a day to train his mind into a state of placid calm.

Seeing this, Xie Wenjing felt considerably more at ease. As expected, matters always possessed two sides.

After a period of proper convalescence, Xie Chengyu returned to the physical state he had enjoyed prior to the shock.

By this time, Xie Wenjing also observed that the family's hundred mu of rice seedlings were growing with thriving vitality. The bountiful harvest of soybeans had all been stored away by Xie Wenjing, awaiting the day they would transform into golden beans. That day was fast approaching.

Because the villagers were facing a grain shortage and it was currently not the busy farming season, the Xie family could hardly continue distributing free rice and flour to the entire village indefinitely.

They would simply consume soybeans as grain instead! Every household in the village thought along these lines, and acted accordingly.

Xie Wenjing had originally considered trading some of her family's stored grain and flour with them for soybeans to store, but thought better of it in the end. Beans would eventually become golden beans, so she decided to let nature take its course to avoid any suspicion or resentment from the villagers.

Meanwhile, Xie Cheng举 (Xie Chengju) had traveled to Nanjing to sit for the imperial metropolitan examinations, arriving full of confidence, only to be met with the outcome of failure.

Thinking of his family's fallen fortunes, the indifference of the Yangzhou prefect towards him, and the scholars and students in Yangzhou who had once looked up to him now gossiping privately about how his family had squandered their wealth, Xie Chengju's mood plummeted to the abyss.

Sharing an equally wretched mood were the other scholars who had suffered repeated defeats.

These men gathered in small groups of threes and fives, each finding their own way to vent their frustrations. The most common outlet for their venting was none of other than the banks of the Qinhuai River.

Along the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, all sorts of courtesans could be found, ranging across every level, naturally including celebrated courtesans sought after by throngs of scholars.

These famous courtesans were exceptionally haughty and generally refused to grant audiences to ordinary guests. With the announcement of the exam results these past few days, scholars who had passed as Jinshi (presented scholars) had already been decided. Which of the courtesans along the Qinhuai River did not yearn to share a spring breeze with a newly minted Jinshi graduate?

And those newly minted Jinshi graduates, basking in exceptionally high spirits, would also tour the Qinhuai scenery, ensuring their long journey to the prosperous city of Nanjing was not made in vain.

Intoxicated with alcohol, Xie Chengju stood upon a flower boat, his eyes glazed with infatuation as he gazed at a renowned courtesan upon the boat's stage—Man'er, a famous courtesan who reigned supreme in the world of performing arts.

Today, Man'er had specially donned extravagant attire to perform a sultry song and dance, a performance dedicated to the heir of the Duke of Cheng, who guarded Nanjing.

The eldest legitimate son of the Duke of Cheng, Cheng Guang, had placed as the top scorer (Zhuangyuan) of the Nanjing examination hall in this session's metropolitan exams. Although he himself had not visited the Qinhuai River banks, that did not dampen everyone's admiration for the top scholar.

Thus, the celebrated courtesan, who rarely performed song and dance before the public, had today used Cheng Kun's fame to execute a fiery dance performance, driving the atmosphere of the entire venue to the absolute peak of excitement.

It was precisely amidst this intoxicating and chaotic scene that Xie Chengju completely lost himself.

Feigning madness under the influence of alcohol, he rushed onto the stage and began tearing at the courtesan's clothes in full view of the public, attempting to force himself upon her right there and then.

Furious, the madam of the brothel was beside herself. Man'er was her household's cash cow, yet she never expected such a massive scandal to erupt. Even though she had men bound and drag him away, Man'er's reputation was thoroughly ruined for the day.

From then on, Man'er could no longer walk the path of an elite performing artist; the moment she accepted guests, her market value would plummet instantly. It was all this man's fault.

Man'er had earned money for the household for so many years. While the madam certainly loved money, she did not wish to chill the hearts of the other performing artists. She therefore decided that this man must pay an exorbitant sum to redeem Man'er's indenture; otherwise, she would sue him until he was utterly ruined and disgraced.

"Man'er, do not cry. Mother has already made the decision for you and will force him to redeem you. Since he was able to come and take the imperial examinations, he must at least be a Juren scholar from somewhere. Following him, who knows—maybe one day he will pass the highest exams, and won't you have someone to lean upon?"

The other courtesans gathered around to comfort Man'er, who was weeping uncontrollably.

"Indeed, people like us may look like we are chased by countless admirers right now, but once we lose our value, our fate is still to end up lonely and destitute.

Even if you earn enough silver without a man to rely on, you will eventually end up reduced to servicing ordinary guests in your later years. Mother pities you and refuses to let you serve guests, which is why she is forcing that man to redeem your indenture.

If he obediently redeems you, you must never take out the silver notes you've saved to please him, leaving yourself without even a guarantee for your food and drink in the end.

If that man refuses to redeem you, Mother will seek justice for you and sue him until his reputation is completely destroyed. Sister, won't you stop crying?"

Man'er's bitter heart felt as though it were being torn apart. Although she was a courtesan and performed songs and dances for others, she had never suffered such humiliation.

Yet she now had no choice but to follow him—how could she bear such shame?

By this time, Xie Chengju had sobered up and was well aware of what a monstrous fool he had made of himself.

"One hundred thousand taels. Out of pity for Man'er, this is the lowest price I am offering you. You must know that wealthy merchants have been willing to spend a hundred thousand taels just for Man'er's maiden night. You are getting a bargain; Man'er's body is still pristine.

If you are willing, sign this contract, and Man'er will be yours from this day forward—you may make her a wife or a concubine. If you are unwilling to redeem Man'er, we shall go to the prefectural yamen and fight a lawsuit.

In all the years here in Nanjing, we have never encountered an unhinged Juren scholar like you who would so grossly insult scholarly decency. Do you still regard the laws of the realm?

Let me lay it out for you: if this matter blows up, Man'er will certainly be ruined by you, but you will be ruined right along with her. If the world learns that a dignified Juren who came to Nanjing for the imperial exams could act so basely, your official rank will be impossible to preserve, and you will be mocked and spat upon by scholars across the land.

Choose for yourself! Either redeem Man'er, or we go to court! Consider it for one hour; if you haven't made a decision after one hour, we are heading straight to the yamen. By the way, the indictment has already been written for our Man'er by a newly minted Jinshi graduate! Would you like to take a look first?"

The madam was equally furious to the point of dying. Had it not been for this man, Man'er could have continued earning silver for her for a few more years—at least another hundred to two hundred thousand taels, given how many people in Nanjing were infatuated with Man'er's performances.

Yet things had reached this pass, and to appease the other courtesans, she had no choice but to swallow her grief and sell Man'er off at a reduced price. Even if she didn't sell her, Man'er's value had plummeted overnight.

It was all her own negligence! She would have to tighten security against such occurrences in the future! The madam felt as though her flesh were being carved away.

At this point, how could Xie Chengju remain ignorant of the catastrophic blunder he had committed in his drunken stupor?

Xie Chengju was certainly no stranger to the market value of courtesans. Every year, he spent anywhere from several thousand to over ten thousand taels on courtesans in Yangzhou.

Unless they met exceptionally wealthy patrons, ordinary courtesans would not easily have their indentures redeemed; courtesans possessed their own pride.

Ten thousand taels—if their family still possessed such wealth, Xie Chengju would have agreed to the redemption without a moment's hesitation. But now, his family was left with nothing but an empty shell.

Unless they sold off their entire ancestral estate and pawned all their household belongings, they could barely scrape together one hundred thousand taels. But if they did that, he would be utterly unwilling at heart.

On the other hand, if he refused to redeem the courtesan, his path to an official career would not only come to an end, but he would also very likely be stripped of his scholarly rank.

Once stripped of his rank, his entire life would be thoroughly ruined.

However, if his official rank remained intact, even though the family fortune was gone, he could still seek an appointment as a low-level assistant magistrate in some remote northern region and thus step onto the official ladder. Admittedly, climbing higher without a Jinshi degree would be exceedingly difficult unless aided by a powerful patron.

That's right! Since that courtesan was so wildly popular, her private savings would certainly not be meager. Yangzhou courtesans, one could say, were all exceptionally wealthy.

Once she followed him, wouldn't her silver naturally follow him as well? What if she happened to encounter a noble patron who adored music and dance? Couldn't she help him capture the heart of that noble patron?

Thinking along these lines, Xie Chengju's mind suddenly cleared, and he readily agreed. However, he did not have one hundred thousand taels on his person and stated that he needed to return to Yangzhou to raise the funds.

Additionally, Xie Chengju requested an audience with Man'er, a request the madam granted.

"Man'er, I am sorry. I was drunk and I desecrated you. The least I can do is redeem your indenture. It's just a pity that traveling from Nanjing back to Yangzhou to raise one hundred thousand taels will take at least half a month.

With the journey there and back, other complications might arise. Man'er, from now on you are my woman. Why doesn't my bride-to-be lend your husband some silver first? Once we return to Yangzhou, I will surely repay you!

That way, the two of us can set off sooner, return to Yangzhou earlier, and have our bridal chamber ceremony sooner. How does that sound?"

Having made his decision, Xie Chengju began coaxing Man'er, hoping to wheedle her private savings out of her first. Such a famous courtesan certainly possessed a hefty sum of private wealth.

Initially, Man'er had held some lingering hopes. When this man had lunged at her the previous night, he had indeed reeked of strong alcohol.

Yet today, he was entirely sober, and before even redeeming her indenture, he was already scheming after her personal wealth. Such a man was lower than a pig or a dog.

The moment she handed her silver over to him with her own hands, he would likely turn around and sell her off a second time.

"We have seen each other now, you may leave. Discuss whatever matters remain with Mother. Cui'er, I am tired!"

Man'er's heart felt as though it were being pierced by knives. Why was her fate so bitter? She had been raised by the madam since childhood, suffered countless hardships, learned all those poems, songs, and dances, and worked as a courtesan for all these years, truly believing that one day she would meet a man she could rely upon.

Yet before she even had a chance to choose, she was humiliated by this man, which ruined her reputation in Nanjing and forced her to submit to him.

And yet look at him—so impatiently demanding her private savings? How could she face such an unreliable man, and what was she to do?

Cui'er roughly yanked Xie Chengju away. Her young miss had no choice but to submit to this dog of a man after being publicly humiliated by him, and the madam had already given an exceptionally low price. How could this man have the shamelessness to come and demand her young miss's private savings? Bah! Shameless!

Roughly manhandled by Cui'er, Xie Chengju was furious to the point of apoplexy. He thought: She's nothing more than a stinking whore, daring to put on airs of purity before me! Once I redeem you, I'll torment you however I please. How dare you put on a show for me? Do you still take me for one of those Nanjing fools who fawned over you? Bah!

Naturally, the madam had no intention of letting Xie Chengju slip away freely. She made him sign a promissory note and dispatched a brothel servant to accompany him back to Yangzhou to raise the funds.

"Cui'er, convert all my valuable belongings into silver notes, and keep only two sets of jewelry." After her grief subsided, Man'er still had to plan for her future.

This man was untrustworthy, yet she had no choice but to follow him. All these flashy pieces of jewelry should be converted into silver to avoid drawing greedy eyes. As Mother had told her, he already had wives and concubines. She had to be on her guard!

Suddenly, Man'er was filled with unease about leaving this place. Yet if she didn't leave, she truly would not have the face to hold her head high among people.

When Xie Chengju returned to Yangzhou, and when his parents, wives, and concubines learned that he had incurred a staggering debt of one hundred thousand taels, the household spun into a dizzying vortex of despair. The end of the world had arrived.

To raise one hundred thousand taels of silver, even selling off their entire ancestral estate would not suffice; they had to pawn everything pawnable in the house, including the women's jewelry.

Amidst a flurry of chaos—people fainting left and right, weeping and wailing, and their grandfather brandishing a thick wooden staff with intent to beat this unfilial beast to death—even Pei Yezhu and her mother, standing off to the side, felt utter despair. If the Xie family fell, they would lose their shelter. Although Pei Yezhu knew that Brother Zhao cared for her, she was still young after all, and waiting to enter the Zhao family would take several more years!

Why? Why must Heaven destroy me?

Such was the despair gripping Pei Yezhu and her mother!

Xie Chengju's mother fell into such extreme rage that she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on the spot and became paralyzed.

Xie Chengju's father turned white-haired overnight with fury, his entire body trembling as his lips twitched unceasingly: "The Xie family is finished!"

Xie Chengju's wives, concubines, and children had no choice but to pull long, mournful faces and return to pack their belongings. Whatever needed to be sold must be sold!

"Father, listen to me. A performing courtesan is different from an ordinary prostitute, especially a Nanjing courtesan. Her private savings will amount to at least one or two hundred thousand taels, and perhaps even several hundred thousand.

Although my drunken blunder caused trouble, being able to redeem a courtesan hoarding one or two hundred thousand taels for a rock-bottom price of ten thousand taels means we've actually turned a profit.

Once she becomes my woman, won't her heart be mine, and won't her money be mine as well? By then, won't our family have wealth again?

However, if I refuse to redeem that courtesan, they will drag me to court. Getting entangled in such a lawsuit will undoubtedly ruin my reputation and very likely cost me my official rank.

Father, after sobering up and pondering this over and over, I realized I cannot afford to lose my official rank. Without it, everything truly would be over.

With my official rank, not only do I still have a chance to make a comeback, but I also get to possess a courtesan sitting on over a hundred thousand taels of silver. It is well worth it.

Father, please stop angering yourself! Mother has already fallen ill, and you must not fall sick as well."

Xie Chengju cajoled his enraged father, analyzing the pros and cons for him.

Gradually returning to a normal state of mind, Xie Chengju's father listened to his son's reasoning and concluded it made sense: how many people studied for generations without ever passing the Juren examinations? His son's Juren rank would not be destroyed.

As for a Nanjing courtesan, Master Xie was hardly unfamiliar with them. When he was in his thirties, every time he traveled to Nanjing for the exams, he frequently patronized the courtesans along the Qinhuai River. Not only were those courtesans exceptionally beautiful, but their mastery of poetry, song, and dance was also second to none.

Their market value individually exceeded one hundred thousand taels, and some could even reach several hundred thousand.

Naturally, the private wealth held by the courtesans themselves would certainly not be meager.

Thinking along these lines, Master Xie calmed down. As long as they could trick the courtesan's silver into their hands, they could rebuild the fallen household.

"That is all we can do!" Master Xie sighed in defeat, tacitly granting permission for his most prized Juren son to sell off the ancestral estate.

The Xie family had thoroughly collapsed!

The Xie family's ancestral courtyard had been completely sold off!

The Xie family was ruined!

Over the past few days, the streets and alleys of Yangzhou were abuzz with gossip. This time, the Xie family's fall was far more thorough; they had dismissed all their maidservants and footmen, retaining—so it was said—only Mother Li to tend to the paralyzed old madam.

Upon learning of this, Madam Zhao felt immensely smug. Look, how wise her decision had been.

Had she not broken off the engagement with the Xie family early on, dragging it out until now, her family would inevitably have been subjected to idle gossip. How wonderful things were now—the only ones being gossiped about and mocked were the Xie family.

Meanwhile, her husband was deeply favored by his superiors and was scheduled tomorrow to take charge of transporting the sweet potatoes purchased by the crown prince from foreign lands, delivering them to various regions across Jiangnan. Her husband had said that once this task was successfully accomplished, he would likely step into his superior's position, as that superior was also due for a major promotion.

To handle affairs for the crown prince was naturally an immense honor. Madam Zhao beamed with smiles, sitting at home and awaiting her husband's promotion. Additionally, she dispatched people to keep her scholar son occupied, temporarily concealing the news from him for a period to prevent him from running off to find that little Xie cousin again.

Properties in Yangzhou sold quite rapidly. Within a single day, the funds were fully raised. Naturally, aside from this pile of silver, the entire household was now left as poor as church mice.

Moreover, this silver had to be handed over to settle debts and no longer belonged to their family.

The wealthy buyer who purchased the Xie family's ancestral estate proved quite charitable, granting them a few days to prepare without hastily driving them out.

"Father, listen to my plan. I intend to take up an appointment as an assistant magistrate in some remote northern region. Not only will this secure an official post to settle the family,

but if the opportunity arises in the future and I meet a noble patron, I might even climb higher. My only worry is that the journey to the north is long and arduous, and Mother's frail constitution might not hold out.

Should the worst happen, your son would be guilty of a crime so grave death could not absolve it!"

What Xie Chengju really meant was that should his mother happen to perish along the way, he would be barred from official service for at least two years. However, he could not state this outright, though his father would certainly catch his drift.

"Do you intend to travel straight to the north for your post directly from Nanjing?"

Master Xie naturally understood his son's underlying meaning, knowing that at such a crucial juncture, the boy's mother must not easily die—especially not while traveling to his post.

The doctor had already examined her and stated that most stroke victims never regained the ability to stand. However, with meticulous care, she could easily survive for several years or even over a decade, though it required attentive nursing and constant administration of medicine.

Pondering the matter through, dumping her in Hangzhou to be cared for by his eldest son and third son was clearly the best option. Not only would it spare him from delaying his second son's official appointment, but it would also afford them an opportunity to fulfill their filial duties.

Especially the eldest son—having had his life saved at the expense of so much of her silver, it was now time for them to repay their stepmother.

At that moment, Master Xie's primary concern was accompanying his second son to his new post. Before that, he needed to arrange for his paralyzed wife properly. His own arrangement seemed both logical and appropriate.

"Yes, Father. The courtyard here must be handed over to its new owners in a matter of days. I will take the rest of the family with me to our post, but unfortunately, Mother is the only one difficult to manage!"

Xie Chengju once again reminded his father. In truth, ever since his mother had collapsed and the doctor declared her chances of walking again slim, Xie Chengju had already resolved to dump his mother onto his eldest brother's household for support.

It was just that he found it awkward to voice such a request himself, hoping his father would propose it instead.

"That is easily settled. Our family will head to Hangzhou first and leave your mother in your eldest brother's care.

However, since your journey to the north is long and arduous, do you still wish to take your fourth sister and her daughter along? If not, leave them behind in Hangzhou as well so they can help look after your mother."

Even at this juncture, Master Xie was still plotting to trim excess weight for his disgraced son, shedding whatever baggage was unnecessary. Traveling afar incurred endless expenses.

Leaving them all behind in Hangzhou would also spare those two mother and daughter from enduring the bumpy, exhausting journey.

Xie Wenjing remained entirely unaware that the Xie family had completely collapsed. Yet even though they had completely ruined themselves, her supremely selfish grandfather was still plotting against their branch.

Upon learning that they could remain behind in Hangzhou with the paralyzed mother and reside in the eldest brother's household, Pei Yezhu and her mother were naturally overjoyed, especially Pei Yezhu.

Pei Yezhu figured that Hangzhou was, after all, not far from Yangzhou, and she would still have opportunities to meet Brother Zhao, who cared for her so deeply. Once she grew up, she would naturally be able to marry him.

As for Pei Yezhu's mother, her thought process was simple: as long as the old madam drew breath for a single day, she and her daughter retained a dependent roof over their heads.

She had previously feared that the old madam would be dragged along to the northern post and succumb to the jolting travels, leaving her mother and daughter utterly abandoned with no one to pity them.

The second brother and sister-in-law never spared her mother and daughter a second glance, and even the master seldom inquired after them. Aside from the old madam, no one else cared about their pair.

As long as the old madam lived for one more day, she and her daughter would have someone to lean upon for one more day.