"Being misunderstood, being misrecognized, it’s all because of Song Chunhua. How can you blame it on Song Chongjin? He’s actually the most innocent and the most hurt in the entire affair, alright?"
"I really don’t know how your esteemed Noble Patron still has the audacity to hope that Song Chongjin would work like an ox or a horse to repay him? He caused all this. He led to all of it, and now he even dares to shift the blame onto others?"
"We dare not forget the grace of the two masters in nurturing Song Chongjin. As with the rural customs, accepting a teacher is like honoring one’s parents. We won’t miss celebrating the quarterly ceremonies and the six rites, and when the two masters grow old, it’s only right that Song Chongjin and I should take care of you."
"But if you’re hoping for Song Chongjin to bend over backwards and exhaust himself for that certain Lao Shizi Noble Patron, then don’t count on it! Right now, Song Chongjin is sold to my Wang Family. In the future, he will be the Wang Family’s son-in-law. In life, he belongs to the Wang Family, and in death, he will also be a ghost of the Wang Family!"
Wang Yongzhu, toward the end of her speech, cast a meaningful glance at Hunter Qin and Shopkeeper Zhang, whose complexions were extremely unsightly. The hand not held by Song Chongjin lightly patted the stone table, "The stone table of the two masters is quite nice, you should really cherish it..."
Before her voice trailed off, the table shattered into four or five pieces and with a bang, smashed onto the ground.
Shopkeeper Zhang was startled. Although he had taught Song Chongjin alongside Hunter Qin for over a decade, he had never witnessed such a scene.
Especially since a delicate-looking little girl, with just a light pat, had broken the stone table into several chunks. Imagine if she had patted oneself.
Shopkeeper Zhang shuddered, unable to help himself from hiding behind Hunter Qin.
Hunter Qin was even more astonished. With his martial prowess, he could see the frightening ability of the girl before him.
With his skills and discernment, the fact that he had not noticed that Wang Yongzhu possessed such talent confirmed that either Wang Yongzhu’s abilities surpassed his own, so he couldn’t detect them,
Or, Wang Yongzhu had been born with such supernatural strength, which was even more terrifying.
Such a person, without training, without learning to control, oblivious to their own powers, would have no restraint in their actions.
Being around such a person would mean constantly worrying for one’s life.
Hunter Qin’s gaze shifted uncertainly, thinking today’s event was merely to notify Song Chongjin and convey the master’s intentions.
Over the years, for various reasons, although they were nominally Song Chongjin’s teachers, the true nature of their relationship was clear to all—it was lukewarm, maintaining only superficial pleasantries.
Occasionally, he too had thought of truly treating Song Chongjin as a Disciple and properly mentoring him, hoping that once Song Chongjin made something of himself, it would reflect well on himself.
But when lying in bed at night, looking at the cramped room, wearing his coarse clothes, eating rough wild fare, drinking murky yellow liquor,
It was worlds apart from his days in the Capital City.
For the sake of Song Chongjin, he was nearing forty with no one to care for him, nobody to share the warmth or the cold.
Though there were many in this town who had proposed matches for him, how could he tolerate marrying a country village girl and fathering children?
Feelings of resentment and dissatisfaction wound around his heart day after day, turning into thorns incessantly pricking at him, causing his own distress.
He thought such days would repeat until his death, but he never expected that Song Chongjin would bring such shocking news.
His initial reaction was that he was finally liberated.
If Song Chongjin was not the master’s flesh and blood, then could they return?
Hunter Qin and Shopkeeper Zhang hurriedly relayed the message back, and indeed, within a few days, they received a reply from their lord.
However, the reply didn’t mention bringing the two of them back to the Capital City, but instead instructed them to continue staying put and keep teaching Song Chongjin. They were to ensure that Song Chongjin was grateful for the lord’s kindness, as Song Chongjin would still be of great use to the lord in the future.
Though Hunter Qin and Shopkeeper Zhang were puzzled, they dared not disobey and had to inform Song Chongjin about it.
They thought it was simple, as Song Chongjin had already received the lord’s favor. It would be only reasonable, both emotionally and logically, for him to work for the lord.
Even if Song Chongjin was reluctant, all they had to do was discipline him and have Shopkeeper Zhang impart these principles, surely there wouldn’t be anything they couldn’t accomplish.
But to their surprise, Song Chongjin did come, bringing with him this Wang Family Young Lady, who truly was troublesome.
Despite being a young lady, she was neither reserved nor refined. Her words were sharp as knives, without a trace of hesitation. In just a few sentences, she stripped away the facade of what their lord had done.
Listening to her, they both felt for a moment that their own lord had behaved dishonorably, leading to the current situation.
What was more frightening was that, although appearing as a mere country girl, she was intricately connected with the Capital City.
Despite being far from the Capital City, they were aware of essential news; Wang Yongzhu was quite famous in Shiqiao Town.
The fabric she dyed had won a reward from a lady in the palace, and it was said that this palace lady was no trivial figure now.
With Wang Yongzhu having connections with that palace lady, even their own lord could not easily harm Wang Yongzhu, lest he incur the jealousy and hatred of the palace lady.
With the situation in the Capital City being so intricate and tense, it was definitely not the time to cause trouble for their lord.
So for the moment, Hunter Qin found himself at a loss.
Who would have known that Song Chongjin, having such luck, would find a wife ?
While Hunter Qin was wary, Song Chongjin alone might not be worth his concern, but with Wang Yongzhu involved, he had to give it more thought.
Hesitating for a moment, Hunter Qin looked at Song Chongjin, "Have you thought this through..."
Song Chongjin smiled and said directly, "I’ve thought it through clearly. Yongzhu’s wishes are my wishes. Perhaps the two masters aren’t aware, but in our countryside, becoming a live-in son-in-law is just like becoming a daughter-in-law to someone, one doesn’t get to make one’s own decisions and has to listen to the wife. From now on, naturally, I’ll listen to everything Yongzhu says."
What was originally a situation that would be deemed shameful and unmanly was conveyed by Song Chongjin with righteousness and pride, as if he took great pride in it.
Shopkeeper Zhang simply couldn’t stand to look, he was so annoyed. Although he was indifferent toward Song Chongjin, watching the disciple he had taught for over a decade eagerly rush to become a live-in son-in-law was a shock that no one could simply accept.
Immediately, he bit his lip and said, "Although I, Zhang Shijiang, may merely be a Graduate, I have no reason to accept a disciple who willingly degrades himself to be a live-in son-in-law. From now on, let us sever the ties of master and disciple. Don’t come here again in the future, lest you dirty my courtyard and offend my ears!"
This was to sever the mentor-disciple relationship.
Let alone Song Chongjin, even Hunter Qin was startled, looking at Shopkeeper Zhang, "Brother Zhang, this..."
Shopkeeper Zhang stood his ground, "The most important thing for a scholar is his integrity. Look at him, willing to be a live-in son-in-law for the sake of a woman, completely lacking integrity, how could he be worthy of being my disciple? It would taint my reputation..."