Chapter 47 — Lowering One’s Head and Compromise
“Do not threaten the Ling ancestral hall to frighten me at every turn. If you truly dared to mete out private punishment and drag me to drown in the pond, my two sons and I would not have lived to see this day. Yes—she was struck by me. So what of it? Open your eyes and see clearly: they trespassed into my home, beat and plundered at will. Today, it is not only you who refuse to let the matter rest—I refuse as well. At dawn tomorrow I shall go to the county seat and file a petition to the magistrate. I would very much like to see what crime trespass into a private dwelling amounts to.”
The Ling Jingxuan of old might already have been trembling at the knees. The present one? Regrettably, the word fear did not exist in his vocabulary. It was one thing if he chose not to bully others—since when had he allowed others to bully him?
“You… Is what he says true?”
Ordinary villagers might not understand the law, but could the village head not? At the mention of appealing to the authorities, Ling Qicai dared not blindly shield his own kin any longer. With a stern expression, he turned to his elder sister-in-law and the others. It was their own haste that had led to this—he had only heard that the old madam and the second branch were making a scene, with no time to learn the details. Thus he now found himself cornered without retreat.
“Why doesn’t he say that the second branch and Jingpeng catch fish every day to sell and subsidize him? The whole village knows it! Those new belongings of his were bought with money earned by the second branch. Our family hasn’t divided yet—why shouldn’t I take them back? They all belong to the Ling clan!”
The old madam clung stubbornly to her claim that everything had been bought with her second son’s earnings. Her venomous gaze fixed on them as if she wished to cut them into a thousand pieces.
“You’re lying! Those fish were caught by my father every morning at Yuehua Ditch. Grandfather and Grandmother and Little Uncle only helped sell them for us!”
Before Ling Jingxuan or the others could react, Ling Wen—half his small face still red and swollen—burst out from behind his father. No matter the time or place, whenever money was involved, Ling Wen seemed to find boundless courage.
“You little bastard—!”
“If you do not wish to spend your old age bedridden, I advise you to stop.”
The old madam’s hand flew up instinctively to strike. Ling Jingxuan wrenched free of Yan Shengrui’s grasp with uncanny speed and flashed in front of his son. His phoenix eyes brimmed with naked chill and warning. The old woman stumbled back two steps, an inexplicable dread rising in her heart.
Bang!
At that moment, the ever-honest and dutiful Ling Chenglong pulled his wife forward and knelt stiffly before Ling Qiyun and Ling Qicai. Looking up at them, almost pleading, he said:
“Father, Second Uncle, the fish were indeed caught by Jingxuan himself. I only carried them to the market at the village entrance during my spare time to sell. Jingxuan is our eldest son. Though he was cast out of the Ling clan, he is still our child. We cannot truly turn our backs on him. If Mother cannot tolerate even this, then forgive your son for being unfilial. I ask Father and Second Uncle to make a decision—let our second branch divide from the household and live separately.”
As he finished, husband and wife both kowtowed. Toward the old madam and that entire branch of kin, their hearts were utterly dead.
“Outrageous! Your father still lives, yet you speak of dividing the family? I tell you—over my dead body!”
The old madam roared in fury, only to be silenced by a single sharp glance from Ling Qiyun. Seeing the wounds on his second son and daughter-in-law’s foreheads and faces, it required no asking to know who had inflicted them. A wave of sorrow welled in Ling Qiyun’s chest. They were all his sons. Though he had disliked the second branch because of Ling Jingxuan’s scandal, he had never hated them. His second son and his wife had always been honest and filial—this rebellion had been forced out of them by the old madam.
“Second Son, what nonsense is this? While parents live, the family does not divide. Your parents are still alive—how can you split off to live separately?”
To speak the truth, Ling Qicai was startled as well. Anyone might demand division and he would not be surprised—anyone except the second branch. He had watched them grow, watched them labor diligently and serve their parents faithfully. Five years ago, when their eldest son was expelled from the clan, they had not asked for separation. And now… He sighed inwardly. His sister-in-law had wounded the second son’s heart this time.
“Divide the family over what? Second Brother, just make clear that Jingxuan’s belongings were not bought with your earnings. Must you split the household over such a trifle? Let others laugh at us? Get up—whatever needs saying can be said behind closed doors at home. Father will see justice done. What cannot be resolved within one family?”
Ling Chengcai assumed the posture of the eldest brother. He dared not call Ling Jingxuan a wretch at this juncture. After all, it was precisely because the second brother was honest and took on the hardest labor that he, the elder, had enjoyed a comfortable life. If the second branch truly split away, who would tend the dozens of mu of farmland? The third brother was even more slippery than he—he could not rely on him.
“Let us return home and speak further.”
Seeing that Ling Chenglong and his wife still stood stiff-necked and silent, clearly resolved, Ling Qiyun had no choice but to suppress the matter for the time being. Lifting his head, he looked toward Ling Jingxuan.
“Though you are the grandson I cast out, you still bear the surname Ling. The same blood flows in your veins. What happened today was indeed the old madam’s fault—she failed to ascertain the facts. Let us consider the matter settled. Later, I will have Chenglong send a modest gift as compensation. Now, can you tell me what has happened to the Third Son?”
If it were possible, Ling Qiyun would never bow his head to this grandson he had expelled. But today they were undeniably in the wrong. Should the matter reach the county yamen, his old face would be utterly disgraced. Moreover, at a time like this, he had to consider the second branch somewhat. So long as he still lived, he would never permit the family to divide.
Ling Jingxuan did not answer at once. Arms folded across his chest, he assessed the situation in silence. His parents’ initiative in demanding division had surprised him and stirred in him the urge to push matters further. Yet for now he was alone and outnumbered; the opportunity was not strong enough. Dividing the household would not be easy. For the sake of his parents and younger brothers, it seemed he would have to compromise this once.
“I have one condition. Agree to it, and I will tell you how to save him.”
After a moment, Ling Jingxuan lifted his head. For his parents and brothers, he ultimately chose to yield—for now. The fiercer he made the conflict here, the harder life would become for those still trapped within the Ling household. With the old madam’s unreasonable and vicious temperament, if she chose to make things difficult for them, would they truly dare rise up and fight her? Since his parents had already awakened to the thought of dividing, he could find another chance to press it in the future. There was no need to force everything at this very moment.
“Speak.”
The old master’s impatience was plain. Ling Jingxuan wasted no breath.
“The Ling clan is far too ‘noble’ for the likes of me—I dare not aspire to such heights. I ask only that you restrain your household. Do not let them wander here at will. Today, for Old Master’s sake, I will let it pass. But if anyone trespasses again, do not blame me for turning ruthless. I will bind them and deliver them straight to the authorities.”
He might compromise—but that did not mean he would lower his head.
“Agreed.”
“Very well. When you return, mix sheep’s urine with water and force it down Third Uncle’s throat. Within two hours he will recover. That is all. I will not see you out.”
With that, Ling Jingxuan flicked his sleeve and turned his back, a deliberate slight. Ling Qiyun fumed, casting a vicious glare at the old madam who had sparked the disaster. He signaled the eldest son and several grandsons to lift the unconscious Ling Chenghu. The group departed Ling Jingxuan’s courtyard in a fury.
Once the players had left the stage, the villagers watching from outside had no reason to linger. Before long, the once-crowded yard was quiet again, leaving only Ling Jingxuan’s family of four and Ling Chenglong and his wife.
“Mm…”
Suddenly, Yan Shengrui—who had been standing so upright and unyielding—went limp against Ling Jingxuan. The fierce light in his tiger eyes dimmed, his face pale as paper. For a man grievously wounded, the fact that he had endured until now was already a miracle. Supporting him with one arm, Ling Jingxuan placed two fingers on his pulse with the other. Confirming it was merely overexertion and nothing grave, he finally released a long breath.
“Daddy… he… what’s wrong with him?”
Ling Wen, clutching his younger brother’s hand, stared uneasily at Yan Shengrui’s pallid face. Though plainly worried, he was too awkward to admit it. Ling Jingxuan shook his head helplessly.
“He’s fine. A bit of rest will do. Jingpeng, help Father and Mother to the main room to sit for a while. I’ll be there shortly.”
Without waiting for a reply, he guided Yan Shengrui into the house.
“A patient ought to behave like one. In future, you don’t need interfere in my affairs. I can handle them myself.”
After settling him onto a pile of straw, Ling Jingxuan could not resist adding that remark before rising.
“I was willing. Whether you admit it or not, they are my sons as well. I have the duty to protect them.”
The eyes that had seemed so weary snapped open with renewed clarity. After what had happened today, his resolve to remain and guard them had only hardened. So long as he was here, he would not allow such a scene to repeat.
“Suit yourself. So long as you can win the two little buns’ approval, I’ll let you stay. But do not set your heart on me. The children I will keep—their father, I can do without. I’ve no such fortune to bear.”
The chill hardness from earlier had softened somewhat; after all, he had forced himself upright today to shield the buns. Yet as for matters between the two of them, Ling Jingxuan would not yield a single step.
“You said it. A promise is a promise.”
Watching his retreating back, Yan Shengrui smiled weakly. Once he had won over the children, was he afraid he could not win over their daddy as well?
Well then—each harbored his own designs. The days ahead would surely be lively.
In the main hall, Ling Jingxuan had already cleaned and dressed the wounds of Ling Chenglong, his wife, and Ling Wen. Looking at his family, bruised and battered, a surge of anger welled up within him. He regretted letting those people off so easily.
“Brother, why did you agree to Grandfather? Father and Mother finally gathered the courage to ask for division. The moment you yielded, wasn’t all that for nothing?”
Young and hot-blooded, Ling Jingpeng could not help his impatience. What a rare opportunity—and just like that, it slipped away.
“Is that what Father and Mother think as well?”
Ling Jingxuan shook his head with a faint smile and lifted his gaze toward Ling Chenglong and his wife, who sat together, distracted and dejected.
“Ah? Mm… Jingxuan, what are you thinking? And—what exactly happened to Third Brother? Why must he drink sheep’s urine?”
Ling Chenglong remained silent, likely still wounded at heart. It was Ling Wang-shi who looked at her eldest son with confusion. Ling Jingxuan had been clever since childhood—how else could he have earned his licentiate at thirteen? She believed he could not have failed to see how much resolve they had mustered, nearly all the courage of their lifetimes. And yet… as Jingpeng had said, with that single concession, everything seemed wasted. Her father-in-law would never again agree to divide the household.
“I wasn’t thinking much—only that today was not the right time. Father, Mother, so long as you have the will to divide, I have the means to make it happen. Do not worry. It will not be long before you are separated. Before that, we should focus on curing Jinghan. As for Third Uncle—heh… I merely used a little poison I concocted myself. He’ll be fine in three hours. The sheep’s urine was just a complimentary addition.”
“You child… Can Jinghan truly be saved?”
Her son’s mischievous tone drew a reluctant smile from Ling Wang-shi. At the mention of Jinghan’s cure, thoughts of division flew from her mind. Though Jingxuan had spoken of curing Jinghan days ago, he had only just awakened then—they had scarcely dared hope. Now, hearing him speak with such confidence, excitement stirred anew.
Even Ling Chenglong, who had been sitting in a daze, lifted his head. It was clear how fervently they longed for Jinghan’s recovery.
Ling Jingxuan did not keep them in suspense.
“In truth, I stewed rock sugar with pears last night. Today, while at the market, I bought the medicine as well and brewed it before going out at noon. When you return, take it with you. From now on, I’ll have Jingpeng bring the daily doses. Rest assured—within half a month, Jinghan will be much improved.”
“That’s wonderful! Brother Long, did you hear? Jinghan can be saved!”
“Good—good indeed…”
Tears brimmed in Ling Chenglong and his wife’s eyes. Their eldest son had recovered, their second son soon would as well. Heaven had finally shown mercy.
“Father, Mother—while buying medicine today, I encountered someone infected with plague . This is a preventative decoction. Each of you drink a bowl.”
Ling Jingxuan rose and went to the kitchen, returning with the cooled brew he had prepared earlier, ladling a bowl for each of them.
At the word plague, Ling Chenglong and his wife did not hesitate. They lifted the bowls and drained them in one gulp.
The family chatted a little longer, but Ling Chenglong and his wife were anxious about Jinghan. Before long, they took the medicine and departed. Prior to their leaving, Ling Jingxuan especially reminded them: even after Jinghan recovered, they must not let the Ling clan know. Though puzzled, the old couple nodded their agreement.
Once they were gone, Ling Jingxuan clapped a hand on the still-sullen Jingpeng’s shoulder. The brothers set to work—one repairing the gate that had been kicked in, the other sorting through heaps of wild grapes. Thus, each busy with his own task, the tumultuous day at last came to an end.
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Translator: LazyHermitGal
Author: LazyHermitGal
A Lazy Hermit Gal. A little support goes a long way! If you’d like to help me keep creating, you can do so at https://ko-fi.com/lazyhermitgal
