DNS - Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Night lamps were just lit, and a flurry of snow danced. The fine white snow melted into water as soon as it hit the ground. The damp air chilled one to the bone.
The lantern hanging from the old beam swayed back and forth, and the night wind whimpered through the empty alley.
Two figures, one tall and one short, stood before an old wooden door.
The old man's clothes and cotton shoes were already soaked, leaving him in just a single layer. The younger one was also in a sorry state, wrapped in a padded jacket, standing quietly behind him. Both were covered in dust and dirt, clearly having traveled a long distance.
Hearing the knock, the owner put on an outer garment and got up, holding an oil lamp in his hand, muttering as he came to open the door.
He brought the lamp closer to the person's face for a look, and seeing the familiar face, lined with furrows, but with quite handsome features, his legs immediately trembled, and he was about to kneel down.
"Grand... Grand Tutor?"
A pair of strong hands held him steady and took the lamp from his hand.
A few drops of kerosene spilled out, landing on the back of his hand.
"Shh," the old man said. "I've come today to ask you to do something. Consider it Du Ling owing you a life. From now on, wealth and status are yours to choose, but you must not ask questions."
Fang Gui quickly said, "The Grand Tutor saved this humble man's life. If you ask, I wouldn't hesitate even if it meant death. How could I refuse? Please speak."
Du Ling turned his head and looked at Fang Shifei behind him.
Fang Shifei opened her mouth and called out clearly, "Dad!"
Fang Gui gasped, too startled to speak for a moment. After a pause, he said, "This, this young master..."
Only then did Fang Gui dare to look at Fang Shifei. Her figure was slender, but not sickly frail. Around thirteen or fourteen years old, her features were spirited, she wore simple men's clothing, her lips curved upwards, and her eyes were bright.
Fang Gui cautiously asked, "He is..."
Du Ling held up two fingers, stopping his words. "Don't ask too much, it won't do you any good. Remember, from today onwards, he is your son. Take him into your home, and you don't need to worry about anything else."
Fang Gui nodded hastily. "Yes... yes."
Time flew by like an arrow; looking back, five years had passed.
Since the spring drought in Jiangnan, the desolation had not eased for three years.
"Does Fang Shifei live here?"
The person was leaning against the doorpost at the entrance, holding a long sword diagonally.
He wore a dark robe, his long hair tied up high, and had a face that looked quite energetic. He possessed a fine appearance. He seemed somewhat out of place in this poor and dilapidated area.
Just as he was rubbing the sword sheath and quietly observing Fang Shifei, Fang Shifei also stood at the doorway, quietly watching him.
The person asked again, and only then did Fang Shifei nod.
The person asked, "Is your young lady not at home? Please inform her that... a friend of your esteemed father, surnamed Lin, has come to pick her up."
Fang Shifei lightly rubbed her muddy fingers. The dirt had dried and was embedded under her fingernails, a black mess. Fang Shifei said, "That's me."
"You are what?" He pondered for a moment before realizing, frowning, "You are Fang Shifei?!"
The person's expression cracked for a moment, then he paused, straightened up, and said, "My father and your esteemed father are sworn brothers. My father received a letter earlier and specifically ordered me to come and pick you up."
Fang Shifei stepped forward, pushed open the door, and said, "Come in."
The person hesitated for a moment, then followed her into the house.
This was truly a simple courtyard, with a patch of cultivated land in the corner. In front was the living quarters, and to the right was the kitchen. The entire courtyard could almost be seen at a glance.
Although it was quite clean, it couldn't compare to the side courtyard he had in Guancheng. There wasn't even a single ornamental plant.
His family's courtyard was for drinking tea and chatting; this place was for working.
Lin Xingyuan's brow hadn't relaxed since entering the courtyard. It wasn't that he looked down on the place, but he simply couldn't believe Fang Shifei would live here.
He had clearly heard before that the Fang family was now a famous merchant family in Jiangnan and should not be short of money. Not only were there no servants, but they lived in such poverty.
Just then, the main house door in front opened, and an old man with white hair and beard walked out and asked, "Have guests arrived?"
Lin Xingyuan nodded towards him.
Fang Shifei called out, "Master."
Lin Xingyuan remained expressionless.
Du Ling walked closer to him, examined him, and then coughed. "Please sit. Forgive the poor hospitality."
Lin Xingyuan saw that he looked sickly, carried a strong smell of medicine, and was thin and bony. He had a short beard on his chin, and his hair was messy and unkempt, likely just having woken up.
However, this person's fingers were long and slender, his fingertips flat, and his knuckles were heavily calloused, the kind of calluses developed from manual labor by ordinary servants. Yet, his every movement carried the air of a distinguished person. He was not an ordinary person.
Lin Xingyuan lowered his eyes and asked, "How is your esteemed father?"
Fang Shifei didn't answer, busy drawing water by the well. Lin Xingyuan stood awkwardly in the courtyard, feeling embarrassed, when Du Ling spoke on her behalf. "Thank you for your concern, he is in good health. Please have a seat, young master."
Lin Xingyuan hesitated for a moment, then asked again, "Has something happened to the Fang family?"
"Nothing has happened to the Fang family, they are doing very well, it's just that they've indeed become quite poor recently due to the drought years." Fang Shifei stopped what she was doing and said, "I, Fang Shifei, the Fang family's second young master, my birth mother's origin is unknown, I was only brought into the household at thirteen, and due to disagreements with Madam Fang, I moved to a separate courtyard. Old Master Fang is usually away on business and not home often. Do you understand now?"
Lin Xingyuan: "I understand."
Fang Shifei chuckled, "Didn't you ask your father clearly before you came, who you were supposed to pick up?"
Lin Xingyuan couldn't help but feel awkward.
He had indeed been very angry before coming. Anyone who had a father like that would inevitably be angry.
Originally, he thought of himself as a fine young talent who should aspire to serve the court and join the army to fight the enemy. With his family background and skills, he could strive for a name in history, if not eternal fame. But his father had vehemently rejected this. After years of persistent effort yielded no results, he finally understood. He thought it wouldn't be bad to simply roam the jianghu with his sword and be a free and easy person. But then his father grabbed him by the ear and dragged him back, telling him to come to Jiangnan to pick someone up. He said... he had conveniently arranged a marriage for him. How could this not make his teeth itch?
So Lin Xingyuan asked another question, "How does Old Master Fang know my father?"
Fang Shifei: "Fang Gui doesn't know your father. Your father is a border general; he hasn't even been to Shangjun Commandery. How could he possibly know your father?"
Hearing her call Fang Gui by his name, Lin Xingyuan understood that she was merely living in Shuidong County under the guise of Fang Gui's second young master. No wonder Fang Gui, an ordinary carpenter, had suddenly become a wealthy merchant in recent years, and even the Jiangnan drought hadn't dragged him down.
Lin Xingyuan mused inwardly.
Which prominent family in the capital would be so crazy as to send their daughter to such a place to be disgraced?
Lin Xingyuan hesitated, "You... why are you dressed like this?"
Although her voice was a bit rough now, it was clearly still a female voice.
Fang Shifei washed her hands clean, wiped them with a cloth, and then said, "You can stay here."
Lin Xingyuan refused without thinking. "That's not appropriate."
Master also said, "Not appropriate."
Fang Shifei: "I didn't say it's not appropriate. What are you not? Afraid I'll take advantage of you?"
Lin Xingyuan pursed his lips and frowned.
Master scolded angrily, "Hold your tongue!"
"Master," Fang Shifei said while wiping her hands, "I'll say a word to him privately. You can pretend not to hear, so you don't get angry. Pay attention to resting."
Master was about to hit her with a stick, but due to Lin Xingyuan's presence, he just glared at her fiercely.
Fang Shifei pulled Lin Xingyuan's arm and walked to the side. The other party subtly tried to pull his hand back but found that Fang Shifei had great strength and didn't seem like an ordinary person. Just as he was feeling suspicious, he heard her say, "My master is old, and his old illness has recurred recently. It's been difficult to cure, and I fear his time is running out. That's why he wrote to your father, entrusting his affairs after his death. Now he lacks someone to take care of him. It's inconvenient for me to act, and he keeps avoiding me. I hope you can stay and lend a hand."
Lin Xingyuan looked at her.
He had never taken care of anyone in his life; this feeling was quite novel.
"Why not hire someone?" Lin Xingyuan said. "I'm clumsy and might not do a good job. I don't think this courtyard is suitable for living either. Why not just move to another place, hire a couple of servants, and let your master live out his remaining years comfortably?"
Fang Shifei listened to him speak. His tone wasn't one of disgust, but rather a bit of sincerity. She gained some understanding of his character, and her expression became much more pleasant, unlike her previous indifferent attitude.
"He's concerned about appearances and it's inconvenient for him to see people; he usually doesn't go out," Fang Shifei said. "He's also afraid of disturbing me. If we hire a maidservant, he won't be happy. If we hire a man, I'm in the house, which is inconvenient."
Lin Xingyuan thought about it and agreed.
Fang Shifei: "You don't need to do anything much, just help support him."
Lin Xingyuan still wanted to refuse. He was afraid that if he stayed with Fang Shifei for too long, he would ruin the young lady's reputation, and then he wouldn't be able to escape when he wanted to. Wouldn't that be tragic?
Tsk! This Fang Shifei really has good schemes and plans!
Lin Xingyuan felt his thoughts were very reasonable and was then startled by this idea. Just as he was about to refuse sternly, he heard Fang Shifei call out, "Master! Young Master Lin says his father told him to follow you closely and seek your instruction!"
Seek instruction? What kind of strange thing is this? Lin Xingyuan thought the other party would definitely refuse, but to his surprise, Du Ling called out from afar, "Then stay."
Lin Xingyuan: "..."
Fang Shifei: "You'll call him Uncle Du from now on."
Lin Xingyuan was truly speechless.
This master and disciple pair are truly... interesting.
Lin Xingyuan's mind raced. Thinking he couldn't refuse too directly, he pondered for a long time before calling out, "Fang Shifei, can the two of you move to another place?"
Fang Shifei: "No."
Lin Xingyuan: "Why?"
Fang Shifei chuckled softly, "You still like to meddle in my affairs?"
Lin Xingyuan was speechless. He thought to himself, how is this person so difficult to talk to? After a while, he muttered, "I said move to another place. I'll pay for it."
Fang Shifei finally raised her head and said, "I won't be living here for long. When my master passes away, I'll leave."
Lin Xingyuan heard her say "I" instead of "we" and felt something was strange. He found a place to sit down and watched her wash the cabbage in the basin.
Author's note:
This Qin is not that Qin, this novel is fictional! The Three Departments and Six Ministries system... I'll talk about the specifics later.
Please read the highlighted points in the synopsis carefully.
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