The trouble originated with Li Kun.
Li Kun wasn’t exactly an upright person based on his conduct, but he was highly skilled at disguising his true nature.
However, as they say, "In vino veritas." No matter how good one is at pretending, a drunken person will reveal some true colors.
Indeed, Li Kun’s behavior at that time was rude but not excessively so; however, opinions on such matters can vary widely.
At that time, Li Kun and his wife, along with Zhou Huai Country, were guests at Mr. Su’s residence, where the Head’s wife personally cooked. Although both parties were aware that this was a matchmaking visit, for the sake of Su Qianqian’s reputation, they pretended it was a casual dinner meeting. Mr. Su, Li Kun, and Zhou Huai Country chatted about work over drinks and dishes, while the women were busy in the kitchen.
Li Kun knew that he couldn’t control his mouth when drunk, so he was usually very cautious. This time, Mr. Su had prepared Maotai to entertain his guests. Li Kun dared not drink such strong liquor and opted for something milder. Mr. Su then brought out homemade rice wine; not wanting to disrespect him yet considering rice wine typically had a lower alcohol content, Li Kun let him fill a large bowl for him.
Many know that although rice wine is sweet, due to different brewing techniques, some rice wines are smooth and don’t burn the throat, yet have a strong delayed effect.
Unfortunately, Li Kun ended up drinking this type of rice wine.
He was already slurring his words when Su Qianqian brought a dish to the table, and Li Kun joked, "Qianqian is becoming more beautiful."
Such a comment was somewhat frivolous at the time. Mr. Su and Zhou Huai Country frowned upon hearing this, but Su Qianqian’s reaction was the most intense—she screamed and ran out.
"At that time, Su Qianqian yelled, ’Help, don’t chase me...’ and ran out, drawing everyone in the room outside," Wu Ermei shook her head and sighed, "Mr. Su was extremely anxious. Later, when a military doctor arrived and inquired whether Su Qianqian had any similar traumatic experiences before, the Head’s wife hesitated and wouldn’t say, and Mr. Su had no choice but to disclose that Su Qianqian had once nearly been assaulted by a former suitor. The military doctor said it was...what’s the word...yes, psychological trauma."
Lin Xiaoguai frowned upon hearing this, "Isn’t this sort of thing supposed to be very private? How has it become such common knowledge?" Not to mention Su Qianqian’s condition, even her matchmaking with Zhou Huai Country shouldn’t have been so publicly gossiped about.
Matchmaking in those days wasn’t as openly conducted as it would be later; unless a marriage was confirmed, outsiders generally wouldn’t know.
"With so many people around, it couldn’t be kept hidden," Wu Ermei shook her head with a sigh, somewhat regretfully yet schadenfreudically added, "As for the matchmaking, it was entirely exposed by Li Kun, who drunkenly staggered out and blurted everything; even Liang Yuwei couldn’t stop him."
"Now, Mr. Su and the Head’s wife must hate him. However, Su Qianqian’s reputation has also been ruined," Wu Ermei concluded with a sigh.
Lin Xiaoguai also sighed, knowing that in the eyes of people from that era, Su Qianqian was no longer pure; while people might sympathize, no one would want to marry her.
At the same time, she had a nagging worry—her intuition telling her that Shen Chi had a hand in this.
She hadn’t forgotten what he had said before.
When Shen Chi returned, she asked him, and indeed, he was involved; the rice wine was from Shen Chi to Mr. Su.
"I originally planned to create some trouble for Li Kun at work, but since we don’t work in the same office and he is always cautious, I couldn’t find an opportunity. Then I decided to set something up through Mr. Su to embarrass Li Kun and teach him a small lesson. I didn’t expect things to go beyond my calculations," Shen Chi explained; although he was meticulous, he wouldn’t have planned such a severe outcome over a trivial matter as his son’s illness. So, it indeed turned out to be accidental.
"Where did you get that rice wine from?" Lin Xiaoguai was still puzzled.
"My second aunt sent it, and I picked it up at the reception. Just as I was returning, I bumped into Mr. Su and gave him the wine while chatting," Shen Chi touched his nose as he spoke.
He also heard from an officer, who was on good terms with Li Kun and aware of his poor drinking habits, and deduced through Liang Yuwei, who was discreetly looking for suitors for the leader’s daughter in the military camp, that Li Kun would have to step in, prompting him to concoct a plan that tested character.