Poisonous Peasant 'Concubine' Ch 60 - Hyacinth in Bloom

Chapter 60 — Ling Jingwei’s Hatred

Because of Ling Jingwei’s affair, the Ling household had descended into utter chaos. From the main hall came, now and again, the old matriarch’s shrill fury and the old master’s thunderous attempts to rein her in.

The entire First Branch was present—save for Ling Xiaotong, who had married into the neighboring town. Even Ling Jinghong’s children had been brought along. The Second Branch, however, was nowhere to be seen. After the recent string of events, not a single one of them had shown up. Ling Jingpeng and Ling Wang-shi had long since slipped off to Ling Jingxuan’s house. Ling Chenglong had silently shouldered his hoe and gone back to the fields the moment they returned. As for Ling Jinghan, he lay openly abed, claiming recuperation—though the medicine Ling Jingxuan prescribed these past two days had already improved him considerably.

The Third Branch fared little better. That day, Ling Chenghu had tried to “discipline” Ling Jingxuan, only to be knocked flat on his back and forced to gulp down a mouthful of foul sheep’s urine that could choke a man dead. Ling Jiang-shi’s face was still swollen like a pig’s head from the beating she took. The First Branch had made a show of concern over it, yet every word they uttered carried barbs. Now that trouble had erupted in the First Branch itself, the Third Branch could scarcely be blamed for lurking aside to watch the spectacle unfold.

And then there was Ling Chenghua. Such drama would never proceed without her. Though she appeared on cordial terms with Madam Ling in daily life, she had long relied on being the old couple’s only daughter to sow discord behind the scenes—whispering into the old madam’s ear, deftly driving wedges between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Ling Li-shi, at least, had proven capable: all three of her children had secured decent matches. Otherwise, her life might not have been any better than that of her two sisters-in-law.

Now that the First Branch was in disarray, Ling Chenghua could barely conceal her delight. Her own marriage had failed; naturally she could not bear to see others thriving. The Second and Third Brothers were one thing—but the harmonious prosperity of the Eldest Brother’s household was a constant reminder that she remained an aging maiden, unwanted by any respectable family.

“Father, Mother, please calm yourselves,” Ling Chenghua said sweetly, smiling as bright as a blossom. As she spoke, she gently patted the old madam’s chest, soothing her breath. “Jingwei’s matter cannot be settled in a single day. If you make yourselves sick with anger, what then?”

Kneeling below, Ling Chenglong and his wife clenched their teeth. They heard clearly the insinuation hidden within her words, yet could only swallow their resentment. They were counting on the old master to use his status as a Xiucai to mediate matters in town. What they seemed to forget was that while Old Master Ling was a man of some standing among the neighboring villages. In the greater Datong Town—with its dozens of villages—Xiucai were hardly rare. There were even Juren degree-holders to be found. In their eyes, the old master’s scholarly title was lofty beyond reach; in the town’s eyes, it likely amounted to nothing at all.

“How am I supposed to calm down?” the old madam gasped, nearly breathless with rage. “Jingwei, you tell me—what is the meaning of this? How did it become that you are born with a cold constitution? I have lived a lifetime and never once heard of a man being barren. Is the Zhao family not simply bullying us?”

Her anger rose and fell in ragged breaths. If word spread, what respectable family would dare marry their daughter into the Ling clan? A man infertile—what disgrace!

“Shut up!”

Across the hall, the old master shot his wife a fierce glare, cutting short her endless clamor. His sharp gaze fell upon Ling Jingwei, still kneeling on the floor.

“They claim you were born with a cold constitution. Is there a physician’s diagnosis?”

One had to admit: a scholar remained a scholar. Even in anger, he retained a measure of reason.

But Ling Jingwei was like a punctured leather ball. Since returning home, he had knelt there in silence. No matter who questioned him, he neither spoke nor reacted, as though his soul had already drifted from his body. The verdict—innate cold constitution—had utterly crushed him.

“Father, do not press Jingwei further,” Ling Li-shi pleaded, scrambling forward on her knees to gather her son into her arms. Her once well-kept face was soaked with tears; her eyes had been red and swollen since learning of her son’s infertility. “His heart is suffering enough.”

On one point, Ling Jingxuan had been entirely right: one’s own child is the only one truly cherished. Toward his children—even mere little ones—they had shown not the slightest mercy. Yet toward their own son, their attitude shifted beyond comparison.

“If I do not ask clearly, how am I to go into town and confront the Zhao family?” Ling Qiyun snapped, his stern eyes flashing. Did they truly believe that a mere Xiucai could solve everything?

“I—”

“Father,” Ling Chengcai hurried forward to shield his wife and son when Ling Li-shi faltered, tears pouring unchecked. “Shufen did not mean it that way. She is only heartbroken for the child. The Zhao family is clamoring for a divorce and they have already driven us out. You must uphold justice for us. Right and wrong cannot simply be left for them to dictate.”

Under no circumstances could his son divorce. If news of Jingwei’s supposed congenital cold constitution spread, who would ever dare give their daughter to him again? Moreover, Jingwei had labored like an ox and horse in the Zhao household since in his teens. A share of the Zhao family’s property ought by rights to belong to them. Should the marriage be dissolved, they would gain nothing at all. No matter what, he could not agree to it.

“Enough. All of you, be silent. Ling Jingwei—speak. What exactly happened?”

Ling Qiyun was nearly beside himself with rage at this roomful of sons and grandsons. His fingers trembled as he pointed straight at Ling Jingwei. Under his harsh rebuke, Ling Chengcai and the others dared not interrupt again. All eyes fixed eagerly on Ling Jingwei.

Yet no matter how scorching their gazes, he remained as wooden as a carved idol.

Just as the old master looked ready to explode again, Ling Li-shi, holding her son, wept in a low, broken voice. “My son… tell your grandfather everything, just as it happened. Right now, only he can stand up for you… wu…”

Whether it was her pitiful crying or something else, Ling Jingwei finally stirred.

The emptiness in his eyes was suddenly replaced by a surge of terrifying hatred. Under everyone’s watch, he slowly pushed his mother away, clenched his fists, and lifted his head to look at the old master.

“It was Ling Jingxuan. He told my father-in-law that I was born with a cold constitution—that I can never make a woman conceive.”

Hatred—irrational and absolute—shifted wholesale onto Ling Jingxuan.

The fear he once felt toward him was gradually fading. Even the strange incident yesterday—when Wang Er and Zeng Da, who had helped him abduct the children, had inexplicably gone mad—was pushed from his mind. If Ling Jingxuan were standing before him now, he would have thrown himself at him without hesitation and fought him to the death.

“Ling Jingxuan?” The old master frowned, clearly surprised. “What does this have to do with him?”

Though he had witnessed Ling Jingxuan’s terrifying composure just days ago, decades of habit and prejudice were not so easily overturned. In his mind, Ling Jingxuan was still that outcast—reviled by all, barely surviving, a cursed aberration. If they did not trouble him, he ought to be burning incense in gratitude. Why would he dare provoke them first?

“Grandfather, there is something we never told you, because it didn’t succeed…” Ling Jingwei continued, his voice tight. “A few months ago, after much effort, I finally persuaded my father-in-law and Suhua to agree to adopt a child from our Ling line. I thought it over carefully. Though Jingxuan was cast out, his two sons are innocent. So I asked Mother to sound out Second Uncle and Aunt, hoping to adopt the boys.”

“They refused outright. I had no choice but to give up.”

“Then a few days ago, I happened to run into Jingxuan, Jingpeng, and the two children in town. The boys were adorable, so I bought each of them a packet of osmanthus candy. Perhaps Second Uncle and Aunt told him about my earlier intention… He must have harbored resentment. The night before last, he and Jingpeng went to town to see my father-in-law and fabricated this lie—that I was born with cold constitution and unable to father children.”

“My father-in-law didn’t believe it at first. I don’t know what kind of spell he cast over him, but the very next day his attitude completely changed. He insisted I divorce Suhua.”

“Grandfather, all of this was caused by Ling Jingxuan! If not for him, how would I have fallen to such a state? You must uphold justice for me!”

He deliberately concealed the kidnapping.

A grown man, yet Ling Jingwei crawled forward on his knees, crying hoarsely. Where no one could see, his eyes brimmed with naked malice. His half-truth, half-lie explanation splashed every bit of filth onto Ling Jingxuan—and dragged the entire Second Branch down with him.

“That damned bastard!” the old madam howled before the old master could speak. “Even such a wicked thing he dares to do? Oh, merciful heavens! Why don’t you send down a bolt of lightning to strike him dead? My poor Jingwei—!”

After what had happened days ago, coupled with the Second Branch’s recent indifference, she already loathed Ling Jingxuan to the marrow. She had long been waiting for an excuse to see him ruined.

“This is outrageous!” Ling Chenghua immediately chimed in, her earlier spectator’s delight replaced by venomous indignation. “How could he do such a thing? You wanted to adopt his sons for their own good! If he couldn’t appreciate your intentions, fine—but to commit such a vile act? How did our Ling family produce such a disgrace? Father, this concerns the face of our entire clan. You cannot ignore it!”

Her once passable features twisted under the force of her hatred.

“Father, Mother…” Ling Li-shi wiped her tears and spoke with wounded grievance, seemingly catching her son’s meaning. “Since marrying into the Ling family, I have honored my elders and treated the younger generation kindly. I’ve never quarreled seriously with my sisters-in-law or sister-in-law. How can Second Brother and his wife indulge Jingxuan in slandering my son like this? You must seek justice for us.”

Beside her, Ling Chengcai pressed his lips tightly together. Though he said nothing, the suppressed fury on his face spoke plainly enough.

In contrast, the eldest son of the First Branch, Ling Jinghong, appeared far calmer. He and his wife stood silently to the side, saying nothing from beginning to end.

“Bang!”

After a long moment, Ling Qiyun slammed his palm against the table and shot to his feet. His aged face was flushed with anger. Even a fool could see it—he had believed Ling Jingwei’s carefully woven mixture of truth and deceit.

“Since this matter is nothing more than baseless slander, I shall accompany you to town,” Ling Qiyun declared coldly. “As for the Second Branch, we will deal with them after this is settled.”

He refused to believe that a few careless words from Ling Jingxuan could truly turn black into white. If it came to it, they would meet in court. Jingwei had done nothing wrong; the Zhao family’s demand for divorce was unjust. Though the Ling clan were mere farmers, they would not be bullied at will.

The few who had been wailing just moments ago could not help the faint curl of satisfaction at their lips. The smugness flashed by and was quickly concealed. After half a day of commotion, the First Branch, led by the old master, hurriedly harnessed the ox cart and made for town once more.

But would events truly unfold as they wished?

Naturally, Ling Jingxuan knew nothing of this.

After Zhao Dalong and his wife arrived, he brought out an assortment of small bottles and jars and handed them over—snake medicine, poisons for fending off wild beasts, antidote pills, and the like. He explained their uses in simple terms. Entrusting the three little buns to Ling Wang-shi, the four of them slung bamboo baskets over their backs and headed up the mountain.

“Who would’ve thought there were this many wild fruits on Yuehua Mountain?” Han Fei exclaimed, staring at the abundance before them.

For years, rumors had circulated in the village that the Yuehua Mountain harbored demons. Hunters who entered were said to vanish without returning. Over time, scarcely anyone dared venture inside. When Ling Jingxuan first proposed climbing Yuehua Mountain to gather fruit, Han Fei had been uneasy. Yet not only had nothing happened along the way—they had barely entered the foothills when the sight of wild fruit carpeting the slopes nearly dazzled his eyes.

“Yuehua Mountain is rarely trodden by people,” Ling Jingxuan replied. “It’s only natural that the fruit grows thick. This is just the outer rim. Go deeper and we might even find rare heavenly treasures. But the farther in you go, the greater the danger. There’s no need for us to take that risk.”

He gestured ahead. “Brother Zhao, Brother Han—those red fruits on those trees. I’ll have to trouble you.”

As he spoke, he led them to several towering raspberry trees he had discovered days earlier. This time, he planned to make all the jam from raspberries. As for the wild grapes, he intended to ferment them into wine. The more the better. Even if they couldn’t sell it in the future, he could keep it for himself. Grape wine, after all, was a fine thing.

“Trouble? What trouble?” Han Fei laughed, already setting down his basket with nimble movements. “We’re idle anyway. Leave it to us.”

“Good. Jinghan, let’s gather the wild grapes.”

They split up and soon fell into rhythm. Compared to the raspberries clustered high on the trees, the wild grapes were far easier to harvest. The Ling brothers worked quickly, filling two large baskets in short order—but it was nowhere near enough. Ling Jingxuan had Jingpeng carry a load back first, while he himself climbed a tree to join Zhao Dalong and Han Fei in picking raspberries.