In just five days, Zhan Feiyu had copied twelve books, a speed that astonished Scholar Wei. After a moment's hesitation, he had the old butler push his wheelchair to the Hall of Books.
"Master, that child is Zhu Changhong, the younger brother of Zhu Changyun, the top scholar of Fengzhou this year," the old butler said, seeing Scholar Wei's gaze fall upon Hong'er. He briefly recounted Zhu Changyun's situation. "The top scholar offended Commander Liu, and couldn't even buy writing materials. His brother was also frightened by that fire."
Fire? Scholar Wei started. His own legs had been injured in that very fire, and he still bore burn scars on his neck. To this day, the sound of fire would bring back the agonizing cries of his two children. As a parent, he had been powerless to save his own children, forced to watch them cry out in terror before perishing in the flames. This was a demon that would forever haunt Scholar Wei.
Even though he had only been around Zhan Feiyu for a few days, with He Nuan's feeding, Hong'er's emaciated little face had finally gained a little flesh, and his complexion was no longer sallow. Sitting outside the Hall of Books, Hong'er heard the voices and looked up blankly, likely curious about Scholar Wei's wheelchair.
"Him?" Scholar Wei also noticed Hong'er's vacant, unfocused gaze. He was truly stunned into silence.
"Master, it's strange, but Hong'er is particularly attached to Miss Zhan. He doesn't even want his own brother, Zhu Changyun, anymore," the old butler said. He was fond of the well-behaved Hong'er, who, despite his dazed state, was quiet and would sit by the door with a bamboo stick for an entire day without complaint.
Inside the Hall of Books, Zhan Feiyu, who was copying a book, stopped her brush upon hearing the sound of the wheelchair. She rubbed her sore wrist and stood up to greet him. "Elder Scholar Wei."
Ignoring Zhan Feiyu's greeting, Scholar Wei's gaze fell upon the desk. After a long look, he asked, "You're using this brush to copy books?"
"Yes," Zhan Feiyu handed her self-made goose quill pen to Scholar Wei. "This is made from a goose feather. Once ink is added, it can be used for writing, and it's faster than a brush."
Scholar Wei had only given her ten days. Even with her photographic memory, Zhan Feiyu couldn't possibly read through all the miscellaneous books in the five-story library. Ming San and the others couldn't come in, so she had to ask the five young book attendants in the library to help with the copying. However, even though they were literate, the attendants' handwriting was not fast. Zhan Feiyu had initially thought of using pencils, but the lead could not be produced in a short time, so she settled for goose quill pens. He Sheng had made a total of twenty goose quill pens. Each time Zhan Feiyu and the five attendants finished using one, they would switch to a new one, while He Nuan would immediately refill the used pens with ink. By using them in rotation, they had managed to copy five books in five days.
Scholar Wei turned his wheelchair to the desk, picked up a blank sheet of paper, and observed Zhan Feiyu's grip on the pen before awkwardly writing a few characters. Unlike the softness of a brush, the goose quill pen had a hard tip, making the strokes feel awkward and the sensation entirely different. The grip was also different. However, after writing about ten characters, Scholar Wei realized that the goose quill pen was not only fast but could also write very small characters, saving more time.
Putting down the pen, Scholar Wei looked at the rosy-cheeked Zhan Feiyu. "You've gone to great lengths for fame."
The old butler beside him looked instantly embarrassed, but knowing his master's temperament and his sharp tongue, he could only look apologetically at Zhan Feiyu. Zhan Feiyu squinted and smiled, her gaze clear. "Ten years of quiet study, unknown to all; one moment of fame, known to the world. Reading and the imperial examinations are inseparable from fame and fortune. However, the vocational school being established by Young Master Ming San is more about benefiting the common people."
Scholar Wei looked at the smiling Zhan Feiyu. If she had offered some grand, noble reason, Scholar Wei would have disliked it, but her frankness made him feel a bit awkward. He huffed with a stern face, "You are quite honest."
"A gentleman loves wealth and obtains it righteously. Though I pursue fame and fortune, I will also hold onto my original intentions. However, I must thank you for your help, Elder Sir." Zhan Feiyu bowed respectfully to Scholar Wei. Without Scholar Wei's approval, the book attendants in the Hall of Books would not have helped find books or assisted with copying. Although the elder gentleman was reclusive and difficult to deal with, his heart was kind.
Hong'er had also entered at some point and now stood quietly to the side, holding his bamboo stick. Perhaps sensing Scholar Wei's attitude, the little fellow's emaciated face tensed, and he stared blankly at Scholar Wei, as if ready to rush forward to protect Zhan Feiyu if anything went wrong. Sensing Hong'er's defensiveness, Scholar Wei felt a pang of inexplicable annoyance and directed it at Zhan Feiyu. He snorted coldly, "You helped Zhu Changyun gain a good reputation, but what about ten days from now?"
Commander Liu was recovering from his broken leg, and moreover, he was wary of Scholar Gu. However, once Zhan Feiyu left Fengzhou, Commander Liu wouldn't even need to speak. Those who curried favor with him would undoubtedly intensify their persecution of the Zhu brothers. Glancing at the little fellow holding the bamboo stick, Zhan Feiyu said in a low voice, "I plan to have Top Scholar Zhu take Hong'er to Nanxuan Prefecture. He can return when the prefectural examinations are held." Once he obtained the title of Xiu Cai, Commander Liu, no matter how arrogant, would have to reconsider. The provincial examinations were three years away, and Zhu Changyun could take Hong'er to continue his studies in Nanxuan Prefecture.
Upon hearing his name, the little fellow's blank eyes instantly lit up. He pursed his small lips and smiled at Zhan Feiyu, his affection and reliance evident.
"There's some merit to this!" Scholar Wei, though unwilling to admit it, acknowledged that this plan was indeed well-thought-out. Nanxuan Prefecture was, to some extent, Zhan Feiyu's territory, and no matter how powerful Commander Liu was, his influence wouldn't reach there. Knowing Scholar Wei's past, Zhan Feiyu understood why he paid so much attention to Hong'er and asked, "Elder Sir, have you considered going to Nanxuan Prefecture? Young Master San's vocational school needs instructors, and you could teach there."
"I'm not going!" a sudden roar erupted, and Scholar Wei's face darkened. "You will leave the Wei residence immediately in five days!"
Hong'er flinched from the shock, but he immediately rushed in front of Zhan Feiyu, his wide eyes glaring at Scholar Wei. With such exertion, the hands holding the bamboo stick trembled. If Zhan Feiyu dared to be so presumptuous, Scholar Wei would show no mercy, even if she were a young girl. But looking at the bony Hong'er, and recalling his experience, Scholar Wei couldn't unleash his anger. He could only glare with a dark face, finding Zhan Feiyu even more displeasing.
"If that fire hadn't happened, Hong'er would have reached the age for his first lessons," Zhan Feiyu said, stroking the little fellow's head. "Top Scholar Zhu needs to prepare for his exams, and with Commander Liu as a formidable enemy, the imperial examinations are Zhu Changyun's only chance. He will likely be too preoccupied to care for Hong'er then." Scholar Wei himself had achieved the title of Ju Ren. In those days, he had been oblivious to worldly affairs, dedicating himself solely to studying the classics. Therefore, Zhan Feiyu's words were not alarmist. Zhu Changyun had to fight with his back to the wall and would dedicate himself to his studies, certainly neglecting Hong'er. Furthermore, Zhu Changyun's family was poor, and the brothers, relying on each other, had trouble even eating. They would not have the money to hire a servant to care for Hong'er. Thinking of this, Scholar Wei glared fiercely at Zhan Feiyu. Was she meddling too much? The little fellow was already so frightened; how could he possibly start his lessons?
"Master," a servant's voice suddenly called from the courtyard, accompanied by hurried footsteps.
"Master, I'll go and see," the old butler said, hurrying towards the door. Scholar Wei preferred quiet, especially in the Hall of Books where noise was forbidden. If something hadn't happened, the servant would not have shouted so loudly.
Outside the Wei family's main gate. Several women were kneeling on the ground, occasionally letting out wails. A younger woman was either burning yellow paper or scattering white paper money. Six or seven half-grown children each held a memorial tablet. If it weren't broad daylight, it would surely have frightened people to death.
"Old man, you died so tragically! How are we, your widowed wife and orphans, supposed to live... You were beheaded; why didn't you take me, this old woman, with you..." The leading old woman's hair had turned white, and she appeared a few years older than Scholar Wei. As the old woman wailed, the other women and children joined in, their cries echoing one after another. Coupled with the white paper money flying everywhere, the Wei family's entrance was transformed into a grim graveyard.
Zhan Feiyu glanced through the crack in the door. "Butler Sun, are these people from the Wei family's eldest and second branches?" The old butler nodded with a dark expression. "A few years ago, they came to demand money, but Master refused to see them, and they quieted down. I didn't expect them to show up again this time." The fire set by the Wei family's eldest and second branches had not killed Scholar Wei, but it had killed his two children. That night, the wind direction suddenly changed, and the flames, fanned by the wind, spread to the adjacent residences of the eldest and second branches. A raging fire ultimately claimed twenty-eight lives. After the Imperial Guards intervened to investigate, all the male members of the eldest and second branches involved were executed. The property of both branches, after compensating the sixteen servants who died unjustly, was confiscated. The old woman leading the wailing was, in fact, Scholar Wei's cousin-in-law. She had returned to her maiden home with her daughter that year and had thus escaped. With all the male members of the eldest branch executed, the old woman found a husband for her daughter, thus preserving the lineage of the eldest branch. Now, the eldest branch had two sons and two daughters. The remaining two older women were the concubines kept by the second branch outside their home, who had left a son and a daughter for the second branch. Later, the son married and had several children. Although the Wei family's eldest and second branches had descendants, they were also impoverished. The old woman had returned to the countryside with some dowry and the remaining people. However, having grown accustomed to a life of extravagance, she found the countryside's poverty and hardship unbearable. After five years, she returned to Fengzhou. They rented a dilapidated small courtyard in Willow Alley, a district inhabited by the poor in the city. More than twenty people, old and young from both branches, squeezed together, so poor they were almost starving. Their attention then turned to Scholar Wei.
"A few years ago, they even wanted to have their children adopted by Master," the old butler said indignantly. The thought of the Wei family's schemes made him feel sick. They had killed his master's parents, wife, and children, and now they wanted Master to raise their grandsons and inherit his property later. He had never seen such shameless people. Even Zhan Feiyu was astonished at this point and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't they afraid that if their children are adopted, Master will 'chop them off'?"
Uh... it was the old butler's turn to be taken aback. Looking at the fair-skinned and plump Zhan Feiyu, he wondered if reading had made her so outspoken. Even through the door, the old woman's sharp and piercing cries could be heard. "Heaven, open your eyes! Ancestors of the Wei family, manifest yourselves! The descendants of the Wei family are starving to death... Heaven, why don't you strike down this ungrateful beast with a bolt of lightning."
"Grandma, I'm hungry..." The children also started crying, and soon there was a chorus of weeping, as if a tragic event had occurred. Zhan Feiyu blinked and gave the old butler, who was looking at her, an embarrassed smile. It sounded as if they were targeting her.
"Miss Zhan, you don't need to pay them any mind. As long as the door isn't opened, they won't dare to barge in," the old butler explained dryly. It was no wonder they were making such a scene; they probably knew Master had allowed Miss Zhan into the house, and they were getting anxious. Over the years, no matter how the old and weak women and children of the Wei family's eldest and second branches wailed, begged for forgiveness, or threw tantrums, Scholar Wei ignored them. He would close the door, and their cries would be in vain. The Wei family also had a two-courtyard house, but it was large, and they had twenty servants in total. Those people outside the gate truly did not dare to force their way in. Furthermore, the case had been investigated by the Imperial Guards. If these people dared to act unruly, the yamen would also intervene. The crime of trespassing on private property would result in either a beating or imprisonment. The Wei family's eldest and second branches had lost so many heads back then, and now they trembled at the sight of officials. They wouldn't dare to cause trouble even if they had the courage of a bear.
"Brother Xun, you've finally arrived! You must deliver justice for us," the old woman cried, sobbing. The others kneeling also began to wail. The old butler was startled and quickly opened the door. Peeking through the crack, he saw that in addition to the kneeling old and weak women and children, more than ten other people had arrived. Half of them were elders over fifty, and the remaining seven or eight were young and strong. The old man leading them, dressed in a short tunic, was the elder patriarch of the Wei clan, who was eighty years old this year.
"Enough! What is this nonsense!" the old patriarch shouted with full vigor. Anyone seeing this scene would not be pleased. He pointed at the kneeling children. "Are you trying to make Qiangzi and the others die with their eyes open?" The old woman who was scolded wiped away her tears. She was tired from crying, and her voice was a little hoarse. "Brother Xun, if I could live, I wouldn't be like this. I simply can't go on living. I might as well take my daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter and dash our heads against this place, so we can reunite with the old man in the afterlife."
"Grandpa clan elder, we don't want to starve to death..."
"Wah, I want to eat... I want to eat meat..."
"Wuwu, old clan elder, I have no choice. I'm a woman raising so many children. I don't want the Wei family line to end. These are all Wei family children..." The burning yellow paper emitted wisps of green smoke, and a group of women and children began to cry mournfully again. The old butler quickly opened the door. He could ignore the wailing old woman, but he could not refuse the Wei clan's patriarch entry. As soon as the Wei family's gate opened, the three or four dozen people outside looked over in unison. Scholar Wei's branch was considered a collateral line. Many years ago, they had moved from the countryside to Fengzhou to settle. Apart from returning for ancestral worship each year, they had little contact with the Wei family in the countryside. It was only after the male members of the eldest and second branches were executed that the old woman fled back to the countryside with the remaining people to seek refuge. However, after less than five years, she returned to Fengzhou. Suppressing his anger, Butler Sun instructed a servant to go back and report, while he quickly stepped forward. "Old Patriarch, esteemed clan elders, my master was unaware of your arrival and did not greet you properly. Please forgive any oversight."
"We country folk are not so particular. We came unannounced, so it's not Tianqi's fault," the old patriarch waved his hand dismissively. He would not have meddled in this matter originally. Scholar Wei's branch's case had been investigated by the authorities back then. Some died, some were executed, and the Wei family, even in the countryside, was affected, their reputation tarnished. For several years, the Wei family members rarely went out, and the marriages of the younger generation of the Wei family became particularly difficult. Many clan members harbored resentment towards Scholar Wei's branch. Several families had their engagements broken off, but with the old patriarch suppressing them, the clan members did not dare to cause trouble. Many harbored calculations. Scholar Wei had no children, and after his death, even if the government seized some of his property, the remainder would be returned to the Wei family. In this way, things remained peaceful. As the years passed and the scandal subsided, the Wei family's reputation improved slightly. Scholar Wei was still alive, and who knew that trouble would erupt again.
"Butler Sun, who is that young girl?" a sharp voice suddenly asked. The old woman threw off her daughter's hand and stumbled forward a few steps, pointing at Zhan Feiyu outside the door. Zhan Feiyu instantly became the focus of everyone's attention. She rubbed her nose, similarly ignoring the old woman and others who glared at her, and bowed to the Wei family's old patriarch and the others. "Greetings, Old Patriarch. I am here under Scholar Wei's care to find some books in the Hall of Books."