Yang Ming, still at the Academy, had no idea that his loss of composure in front of the villagers the day before had caused such a big misunderstanding.
He had only just arrived at the Academy when his second elder brother called him out.
As he got to the entrance of the Academy, before Yang Ming could say anything, Yang Gang punched him in the back.
"Ah!" Yang Ming cried out from the punch, "Second Brother, why are you hitting me?"
His second brother had never hit him before; what was going on?
"Hitting you is letting you off easy."
"Can you at least explain what’s going on, Second Brother?"
He pulled his brother away from the Academy entrance and towards the street.
"You’re embarrassed now? Ashamed to be seen in front of the Academy, huh?" Yang Gang said angrily, as Yang Ming led him away.
The two walked into an alley not far from the Academy, "Second Brother, how have I embarrassed myself?"
Seeing his younger brother seemingly clueless of any wrongdoing, Yang Gang was livid, "What’s with you? Weren’t you all cozy with your Sister-in-law yesterday?"
"..." They had been cozy alright, so much that he ended up outside in the cold.
As he was recalling last night’s events, he heard his second brother continue, "So why the need to find a ’little’ one?"
At this point, he was baffled, "Wait? Second Brother, who are you saying wants to find a ’little’ one?"
"Who else could I be talking about? It’s you we’re discussing, isn’t it? The whole village is buzzing about it, saying you’re looking to take a concubine, whether it’s Hehua or Chunmei. You might as well remain unmarried rather than messing around outside, chasing after women."
"..." He was looking to take a concubine? Hehua or Chunmei? He had no idea, and who was Chunmei?
"Second Brother, who’s feeding you nonsense? None of this is true." His second brother was even suggesting that he should remain unmarried.
"You still deny it? I was wondering why you were loitering outside so late last night instead of going inside your house. Turns out you didn’t know how to face your wife, huh?"
"..." The more he listened, the more confused he became; what was Second Brother even talking about, "If you don’t clarify, I’m going back."
Yang Ming said this and tried to walk back, but was stopped by Yang Gang, "What, can’t take a few words from your Second Brother now? Getting angry?"
"What do you want me to say? I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but there’s nothing to it. I can’t even handle my own wife, how would I have the heart to marry someone else?"
"..." Yang Gang fell silent upon hearing his younger brother’s words. What was he talking about? He can’t handle his own wife?
"Younger Brother, what are you saying about not being able to handle your own wife? Are you saying that you..."
"..." Irritated by his brother, he slipped up, "No, what I mean is that my wife is formidable. One is more than I can manage, let alone two."
Yang Gang thought for a moment, "That makes sense. Your wife does have a fierce temper. No one can match her. You haven’t seen it; she can slap Li Fugui without even blinking."
"..." Yang Ming’s heart ached. From his second brother’s response, it seemed like the matter had been smoothed over.
"But what about last night? You were carrying a woman into the village. Let me tell you, stay away from other women. Our family are not the type to marry two wives."
"..." Carrying a woman into the village? Wasn’t that his wife? Yang Ming felt like crying without tears, "Second Brother, the woman I carried yesterday was my wife."
"How is that possible, your wife isn’t that good-looking."
"..." Yang Ming glared straight at his brother, asserting firmly, "If you don’t believe me, ask when you get back."
Yang Gang slapped Yang Ming’s back again, "Then why didn’t you say so earlier? Alright, you go back and study hard."
After scratching his head, he scampered off in a jiffy.
Yang Ming was left standing there alone, sighing and shaking his head. If it weren’t for him, he would be studying peacefully right now!