The village had families friendly with Mrs. Yao, who, in an effort to seek justice for her, reported the matter of Su Jingchen beating his stepmother to death to the county government.
Although the county government, after investigation, deemed that the young master of the house beating to death a mother’s dowry servant wasn’t a crime, Su Jingchen, as a scholar, still suffered considerable damage to his reputation due to the violent act.
The Ning Family already disliked Su Jingchen for being sickly. If it weren’t for his scholarly success, they would have cancelled the engagement long ago. Now the sickly man’s health is poor and his temper is too; the Ning Family fears that their daughter might be beaten to death if she marries him, so they promptly sent a letter of rejection to the Su Family.
Although Ning Chuyu disagreed with breaking off the engagement, her parents said that given Su Jingchen’s current reputation, he might not be allowed to sit for the imperial examination anymore. After all, beating a stepmother to death is considered even worse than an animal in the eyes of the filial people of Great Liang.
A person with such a stain on their record will find it difficult to advance further.
Ning Chuyu staggered back two steps, feigning utter heartbreak, "Brother Jingchen, my father may have sent the letter of rejection, but you didn’t have to agree, did you? It’s because of Sun Manyu, isn’t it? You already have someone else in your heart; my father’s letter just aligned with your wishes, didn’t it?"
Su Jingchen ignored Ning Chuyu; all the way, Ning Chuyu followed him not too closely in a carriage, keeping her eyes on him, like a wife spying on a husband about to have an affair, making Su Jingchen exceedingly annoyed.
Su Jingchen turned his gaze away from Ning Chuyu and urged the Sun Family quickly into the city.
"Hey, who knew, this scholar is quite fickle, isn’t he? Two fiancées vying for his affection in front and behind him."
"Ah, scholars are always the most amorous."
The observing government officers gossiped animatedly while sizing up Ning Chuyu and Sun Manyu.
"That Miss Sun looks alright but acts timidly; she’s too petty."
"The one from the carriage seems wealthy; later we might... ha ha ha..."
The two officers exchanged a knowing glance and laughed together.
Yu Xiaolian turned her carriage and lined up behind the Ning Family.
Ning Chuyu was shoved back into the carriage by her mother.
"Did you see he’s ignoring you? Why are you standing there stupidly, making a fool of yourself?"
Ning Chuyu wiped her tears with a handkerchief, "Mother, didn’t you say when Father passed, we must find support?
I thought Brother Jingchen was the best support.
I wish we hadn’t broken off the engagement with Brother Jingchen."
Mrs. Duan sighed; she and her husband had already planned to break off the engagement with the Su Family and marry Chuyu to the youngest son of the Ma Family estate.
Although Chuyu and the Ma Family were not formally engaged yet, the two families had verbally agreed on it.
When fleeing south, the two families also traveled together.
But when they reached Qing City, they encountered bandits, and her husband, Ning Baoku, was killed by them, chopped to death.
The Ma Family drove their carriage swiftly away, intending to abandon the two women, but fortunately, they met Su Jingchen and the Sun Family, who helped them together, saving their lives.
Considering the death of her husband and the danger of traveling south alone, they kept a close yet distant watch on Su Jingchen.
During this time, Mrs. Duan spoke to her daughter, suggesting she try to win back Su Jingchen’s heart as it would provide them a support.
However, each time Ning Chuyu tried to approach Su Jingchen, he intentionally avoided her.
Adding to this, the pretty Sun Manyu from the Sun Family continuously approached Su Jingchen, and he sometimes returned a smile, making Ning Chuyu feel that Su Jingchen had feelings for Sun Manyu.
Today, upon hearing Su Jingchen personally confirm Sun Manyu was his fiancée, Ning Chuyu couldn’t hold it and confronted Su Jingchen.
Unexpectedly, Su Jingchen didn’t even acknowledge her.
"Mother, I heard them saying they’re going to Yu State, but our road permit only allows us to go to Caozhou, what shall we do?"
Their road permit was issued to Caozhou because the Ma Family planned to visit relatives there, and her father decided to follow since he had no relatives in the south.
Now the Ma Family had sped far ahead of them, leaving the mother and daughter unsure of their next destination.
Mrs. Duan whispered, "Let’s first settle in Caozhou; we have money, what are you afraid of?
Let’s go inside, and into the city.
We must follow Su Jingchen as it’s still a long way to Caozhou!"
Ning Chuyu obediently climbed into the carriage, and Mrs. Duan led it to the city gate, handing over the road permit to the government officer.
The officers initially intended to extort them but were surprised to find the permit, so they waved them through into the city.
Yu Xiaolian followed into the city, but the Ning Family’s carriage slowly blocked the path, forcing Yu Xiaolian to remain behind their carriage.
Su Jingchen stopped with the Sun Family at a rundown temple in the city.
Mrs. Duan saw them stop and tied her carriage at the temple entrance, then assisted Ning Chuyu to alight, "You wait inside, I’ll go to the street to buy you some meat buns."
When Ning Chuyu entered the temple, the Sun Family frowned and turned their heads away.
The mother and daughter had followed them, enjoying good food and drink, but never sharing, refusing even to let their elders or children take a ride in their carriage. Content orıginally comes from novęlfire.net
Sun Daji placed the small iron pot he carried on the ground, and Sun Sanji promptly suspended it.
Sun Daji’s wife surveyed the surroundings, speaking to Sun Fifth Master, "Father, it seems there’s no firewood to gather here; how can we make porridge?"
Sun Fifth Master pointed to some beggars in another corner of the temple, "Go ask them where we might find firewood?"
Sun Daji’s wife agreed and approached the beggars for inquiry.
The beggars, realizing they intended to cook, involuntarily swallowed, indicating they too had long been hungry.
"We’ll tell you where to find firewood, but you must share a bowl of porridge with us once it’s cooked."
Sun Daji’s wife turned back, calculating that sharing with fifteen or sixteen beggars would consume lots of their food.
It was impossible, as they were also low on provisions.
Had it not been for Scholar Su’s assistance, they’d have run out of food long ago.
Sun Daji’s wife returned angrily, "Sister-in-law, come with me to find firewood."
Sun Daji’s wife sighed; ever since her younger brother-in-law was taken away for conscription, her sister-in-law had seemed soulless, requiring her to repeat herself to be heard.
Sun Daji’s wife nudged Sun Erji’s wife, awakening her from her stupor.
The two women, their legs numb from travel, left the temple.
Immediately, they encountered Mrs. Duan, who had bought a steaming bag of meat buns. Upon seeing the women, she hid the buns behind her.
Sun Daji’s wife, spitting towards Mrs. Duan, regretted how their family men saved these ungrateful, heartless women.