MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 35

“So satisfying!”

 

On the way back from the county yamen[mfn]衙门 – the administrative office or headquarters of a local official in imperial China[/mfn], Qiao Suiman muttered indignantly.

 

Early that morning, they arrived at the yamen. Not just them, but many villagers from Xiahe Village. Whether they were present at the incident or simply heard about it, all came to watch the spectacle.

 

Lin Shanhua, Huang Xing, and Wang Ling’er were all in the same nest and were each given twenty heavy strokes of the rod. As they were being beaten, they cursed Magistrate Liu loudly until their mouths were stuffed with rags, silencing them completely.

 

Merchant Fang was also present. Right then and there, he took out Wang Ling’er’s deed of sale and sold the injured girl to a neighboring county. No matter how much Lin Xiuhua wailed and protested, he refused to change his mind. A troublemaker like her could no longer be kept around.

 

Lin Xiuhua didn’t get off easy either. Wang Qing immediately divorced her and sent her back to her maternal home. Since her heart was always with her family anyway, she might as well go back and serve them properly. Now, with three useless, injured people to tend to, she’d have her hands full.

 

Last night, after returning to the village, Qiao Ruifeng and Yu Ping confronted Li Da about luring him away. They even went to the Li household and caused a scene. Even though Li Da claimed he only followed his mother’s instructions to send them away and was unaware of what would happen afterward, Qiao Rui Feng did not let them off easily.

 

Even Yu Ping and the other villagers despised the Li family’s actions. Who would help outsiders deceive their own village? And for such a despicable, unforgivable scheme to forcibly abduct someone and drag them home! Who knew when they might stab their own neighbors in the back next?

 

Because of this, the people of Xiahe Village now regarded the Wang and Li families with contempt. As for the Qiao family, they couldn’t help but sigh in sympathy. How unlucky they were to be entangled with such troublemakers. Just as their lives were starting to improve, they encountered this incident.

 

Liu Tian even publicly declared in front of everyone that Li Da would no longer be allowed to participate in the village’s dragon boat races. He was furious. Thankfully, nothing had happened to Qiao Suiman. Otherwise, he wouldn’t know how to face Qiao Ruifeng.

 

In any case, after the magistrate’s punishment, the troublemakers in Xiahe Village stopped causing trouble. Yu Ping was relieved, though he couldn’t help regretting ever bringing that scourge into the village in the first place, which had led to him being scolded by the magistrate for no reason.

 

Once home, Qiao Suiman was in such high spirits that he ate an extra steamed bun at lunch.

 

“Qin Yu-ge, look! This is all from yesterday’s earnings!” Qiao Suiman pulled out the large coin pouch hidden under the bedding. They returned late last night, and after dealing with the Li family, it was already dark by the time they went to bed, so they didn’t have time to count the coins.

 

The copper coins clattered onto the table, forming a small pile!

 

Qiao Suiman grinned from ear to ear. He and Qin Yu each took a thin red string and began threading the coins, one hundred to a string.

 

As Qin Yu counted, he couldn’t resist probing, “I didn’t see that boy from the Lu family today.”

 

Qiao Suiman’s hands paused for a moment before he replied nonchalantly, “Maybe he had something to do.”

 

“What kind of thing?”

 

“How would I know?”

 

Qin Yu chuckled and didn’t pry further. He said plainly, “He didn’t tell you? What did he say to you yesterday?”

 

Qiao Suiman knew he couldn’t avoid this conversation. Besides, there were things on his mind that he couldn’t figure out, so he answered truthfully, “He said I’m a good person. He wants to marry me and asked me to consider him first when it’s time to talk about marriage.”

 

Then, as if embarrassed by his own words, he added, “Qin Yu-ge, tell me… is getting married a good thing? When I heard him say those words, I was so happy I couldn’t speak. But… but I’m scared. What if we really do get married and he realizes I’m not as good as he thought?”

 

“Silly child, how are you not good enough? He likes you and thinks you’re wonderful. What is there to fear?” Qin Yu pulled Qiao Suiman into his arms. “Besides, our Xiao Man is both handsome and capable. That boy will only think you’re getting better and better!”

 

Qiao Suiman lifted his head from Qin Yu’s embrace, eyes sparkling. “Really?”

 

Qin Yu’s heart melted. “Of course. When have I ever lied to you?”

 

That’s true. Qiao Suiman lowered his head and rubbed affectionately against him, his mind swirling and filled entirely with Lu Dongqing.

 

He felt this wasn’t right. What kind of ge’r spent all day thinking about someone else? He tried to calm himself, but in the end, he couldn’t resist taking out the gift Lu Dongqing had given him from beside his pillow and placing it on the table.

 

“Qin Yu-ge, this is what he gave me yesterday. His… his craftsmanship is really good.”

 

“Just his craftsmanship?” Qin Yu laughed at Qiao Suiman’s forced nonchalance. “He put thought into this. The hairpin is shaped like fresh bamboo. He must have spent a lot of effort on it. Don’t let his sincerity go to waste. Here, let me put it on you.”

 

Qin Yu picked up the hairpin, still marveling at how well it was polished. He couldn’t even begin to guess how much time that boy had spent on it. Moving behind Qiao Suiman, he first removed the old hairpin, letting the glossy black hair cascade down. Holding it in one hand, he used the other to twist the new hairpin into place, leaving only the tip visible.

 

“So pretty. Lu Dongqing’s craftsmanship is unmatched, and he’s got a good eye, too. Look at our Man-ge’r, so handsome!” The green hairpin accentuated Qiao Suiman’s delicate charm. Qin Yu fetched the old bronze mirror from his room so Qiao Suiman could see for himself.

 

Qiao Suiman’s eyes shimmered as he gazed at the hairpin’s tip in the reflection. He reached up to touch it, unable to suppress the smile that spread across his face, sweet as honey.

 

Lu Dongqing wasn’t just skilled, he’s a good person too!

 

“This is the first time I’ve ever worn such a nice hairpin! Qin Yu-ge, next time we go to market, I’ll buy one for you!”

 

“Of course! If it’s from you, I’ll wear it every day!”

 

“Mm!”

 

Their laughter filled the room as they continued counting the coins. In total, they had fifteen full strings and thirty-two loose coins.

 

Qiao Suiman then took out the broken silver from the pouch: five mace from Li Mama and one mace from Lu Huaqing, totaling six mace.

 

After deducting the four hundred twenty wen spent on bamboo tubes from Lu Dongqing and the one hundred thirty wen for three batches of sugar from Feng Jie, their net profit was one tael, five mace, and eighty-two wen!

 

They finally earned back the silver used to pay off Qiao Chengfu’s gambling debts!

 

Delighted, Qiao Suiman pushed eight strings of coins toward Qin Yu. “Qin Yu-ge, take these.”

 

“No need. Ruifeng got two taels as a reward. We don’t have to worry about money now. You keep it,” Qin Yu replied, beaming. After all, they earned over three taels just yesterday. Who wouldn’t be happy?

 

But as he looked at Qiao Suiman’s patched clothes, his smile dimmed slightly. “Next time we go to town, let’s buy some fabric for new clothes. I think a misty green would suit you. It’ll match this hairpin!”

 

Happiness is contagious. Qiao Suiman imagined himself in new clothes, wearing the new hairpin, and his heart leaped with excitement.

 

“Qin Yu-ge, take it. Get something for Da-ge too. I have enough already.” Qiao Suiman pushed another five strings of coins toward him. Earning back one tael was already more than he had hoped for.

 

Qin Yu didn’t refuse this time. He could save it for Qiao Suiman’s dowry later. So he took the coins back to his room and locked them away.

 

“Da-ge, let’s go. We’re eating at the village chief’s place.”

 

Having finished their chat, they called to Qiao Ruifeng, who was chopping wood in the backyard. The three of them prepared to head to Yu Ping’s home for dinner.

 

To celebrate Xiahe Village’s first-place win, Yu Ping took some silver from the reward given to the village and hired someone from a neighboring village to prepare a banquet. Everyone who participated in the event could bring their family members, while the rest of the villagers could each send one representative from their household.

 

Qiao Suiman reached up to touch the bamboo hairpin in his hair. He would see Lu Dongqing in a little while, and he was already wearing the gift. He should be happy, right?

 

As the thought came, a soft smile crept across his face again.

 

 

 

---