DNS - Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Something happened at Changshen Academy today.
When Fang Shifei swung by, clutching her small bag, there were a hundred or so people gathered at the entrance of the lecture hall. They seemed to be a mix of academy students, teachers, and outside thugs and servants. The crowd was bustling, arguing incessantly.
Whenever something caused such a public commotion at the academy, it usually involved students from humble backgrounds. Fang Shifei quickly ran over and pushed her way into the crowd.
Lu Geyang was surrounded in the middle. A group of teachers were earnestly trying to reason with him. Across from him stood a middle-aged man, looking at him with an arrogant, condescending air.
Fang Shifei recognized this man; he was the father of a fellow student, someone whose family had a distant connection to the Prefectural Governor.
Lu Geyang stood there, his face flushed, repeating firmly, "No! It wasn't!"
Fang Shifei listened for a while. It turned out that the student, surnamed Zhang, had asked his father for money two days ago, claiming it was for books. But when the academy actually collected the money yesterday, he couldn't produce it. Afraid of his father's scolding, he said the silver was lost.
Coincidentally, Lu Geyang had taken his father to see a doctor yesterday, and when paying, he pulled out a handful of copper coins from his pocket, including both small and large denominations. Roughly calculated, it was exactly two taels of silver in loose change. Someone saw it, spread the word, and somehow it reached Old Master Zhang's ears.
So, early this morning, Old Master Zhang had arrived aggressively with his men to demand justice.
"I don't care about these twenty coins; I just can't stand someone who steals money and then acts self-righteous. Claiming to study the ways of Confucius and Mencius, it's simply a disgrace to scholarship." The middle-aged man's opening words were quite unpleasant: "The academy should be a place of refinement. How can it tolerate thieves corrupting the atmosphere here? If Changshen Academy intends to harbor such people, how can I feel at ease letting my son study here?"
A teacher said, "Lu Geyang, if it is, just admit it. The academy will plead for you and won't be too harsh."
Lu Geyang replied, "Student says again, it wasn't! If you've already decided and just want to punish me, don't bother with this charade! You won't succeed in splashing this mud on me!"
The teacher asked, "Then where did this silver come from?"
Lu Geyang said, "Student borrowed it from Young Master He! If you don't believe me, go confront him!"
The middle-aged man said, "Young Master He is kind-hearted. If you say you borrowed it, he'll surely go along with it. That's not proof."
Lu Geyang angrily pointed, "You—"
The middle-aged man sneered, "Are you saying my Zhang family would falsely accuse you for a mere two taels of silver? I don't even see someone like you!"
A teacher walked over, blocked Lu Geyang, and glared angrily, "Old Master Zhang, watch your words. Our Changshen Academy cannot bear the charge of harboring criminals, but neither can it bear the charge of false accusation. This matter should be discussed after questioning Young Master He. If you still have doubts, go report it to the county yamen. If needed, everyone in our academy can testify. But before that, you cannot insult any of my students! Is it the way of Confucius and Mencius to convict someone based on mere words? Old Master Zhang, perhaps you misunderstand the ancient sages."
An elder nearby whispered, "Teacher Liang!"
Just as Old Master Zhang was about to get angry, Fang Shifei stepped forward. She bowed to Teacher Liang and smiled, "Teacher Liang possesses an upright character, unlike others. Student admires you."
Another teacher nearby said, "Fang Shifei, you're late again!"
Fang Shifei said, "It's not surprising for me to be late, but it's truly strange that Young Master Zhang is early today."
Old Master Zhang said, "Do you think everyone is like you, only knowing how to play and being ignorant?"
Fang Shifei smiled, "Yes, I'm not like the diligent and studious Young Master Zhang, who can still wake up early to study after spending the night in the pleasure quarters."
Young Master Zhang immediately retorted anxiously, "What nonsense are you talking!"
"Nonsense? I don't think I saw wrong yesterday, did I? Besides you, there was Young Master Ye, Young Master Li." Fang Shifei pointed them out one by one and said, "You gentlemen are all well-known figures. Someone must have seen you. Just ask around, and you'll know, won't you?"
Old Master Zhang turned his head to look at him.
Fang Shifei said, "It's only two taels of silver, Old Master Zhang surely doesn't care about it. Young Master Zhang, if you used it yourself, just say so. Why falsely accuse a fellow student? Making such a scene, how unsightly?"
"Yes, false accusation is the easiest; it doesn't require evidence, just a mouth..." Fang Shifei looked at the teachers, "And a few dogs."
The teacher she looked at angrily said, "Fang Shifei, who are you referring to?"
Fang Shifei said, "Whoever fits the description."
Young Master Zhang, however, was unconvinced, "Fang Shifei! If we confront each other, and it turns out you're wrong, what will you do?"
Fang Shifei said, "I'm just imitating you. Why are you so angry at yourself?"
Everyone was confused by what she said.
So, did she really see it or not?
Teacher Liang said, "Fang Shifei, this is no laughing matter. Speak seriously."
Fang Shifei said, "I'm not afraid of a confrontation, I'm just afraid someone else is."
Just then, a student shouted, "Hey, Young Master He is here!"
Everyone turned their heads to look and made way for him to come over.
He Xingdong, with a bruised face, was inexplicably annoyed, "What are you all gathered here for? Welcoming me?"
Someone nearby briefly explained the situation.
He Xingdong couldn't listen halfway through and angrily said, "Who said Lu Geyang's money was stolen? That was clearly given by me! Why didn't you ask me first? If I hadn't come today, would you have forced him to admit it before I knew!"
Fang Shifei sneered, "Isn't that how it always is?"
As He Xingdong spoke, he remembered something, pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve, and handed it to them, "This is the IOU he wrote for me yesterday. Don't tell me he's in cahoots with me!"
The person next to him took it, opened it, and nodded, "It is indeed."
Old Master Zhang and his group looked very displeased. He glared at his son and turned to leave.
Fang Shifei asked, "Compensation? An apology?"
Old Master Zhang tilted his head, signaling. The servant behind him stopped and casually threw down a handful of copper coins.
The money scattered on the ground, rolling in all directions.
Old Master Zhang asked, "Do you want it?"
The crowd whispered among themselves, thinking his action was too excessive.
Lu Geyang, however, took a deep breath and silently squatted down to pick them up.
Old Master Zhang snorted disdainfully and continued to leave.
He Xingdong quickly went over and pulled him, "Don't pick them up! He's looking down on you like this!"
Lu Geyang clutched the copper coins in his palm, his knuckles turning white from the force. He buried his head and remained silent.
He Xingdong turned back and shooed the crowd away, "Disperse! What are you all looking at! Lu Geyang, get up! Where's your backbone?"
Lu Geyang watched the figures disperse around him, stopped his movements, clenched his fist, and slammed it hard on the ground, roaring.
Immediately, mottled bloodstains were left on the ground.
He Xingdong trembled, "You—"
Lu Geyang stood up, walked in front of He Xingdong, his eyes bloodshot, looking like he was about to cry, "I'm not you, and I'm not Fang Shifei. I'm just Lu Geyang! I have a family of over ten people, including my grandfather who is nearly seventy! I used the betrothal gifts of my two younger sisters just to study here! My mother works day and night, farming and weaving, just barely managing to afford my tuition. My family is poor, I can't afford to be willful! If I offended Old Master Zhang today, no one would dare to buy the cloth my mother weaves! In recent years, the county yamen has been strictly levying labor, and the price of rice in the city remains high. My father hasn't been able to come home for days. My whole family, young and old, can't even get a bowl of thin gruel. Backbone? My life is almost gone, where would I get backbone!"
Lu Geyang angrily threw the things in his hand onto the ground and roared, "People are divided into noble and lowly, Young Master He! I am not like you! You can do whatever you want and live a life of ease without doing anything, but what about me? Just because I'm poor, everyone looks down on me! I study hard all night just so I can stand up one day! I just want to stand up! I've already accepted my fate, what more do you want!"
He Xingdong was stunned, taken aback by his roar, and stepped back.
"I..."
Fang Shifei was speechless for a moment, then squatted down to help pick up the coins, "Geyang, don't say anymore."
Lu Geyang took a deep breath, his mind calming down. He wiped his nose and said in a muffled voice, "I'm sorry, I wasn't talking about you. I'm just upset right now, don't mind me."
Saying that, he squatted down again and swept up all the money.
He pursed his lips. There were many fine grains of sand on the ground. Lu Geyang's palm scraped across them as if self-harming, leaving streaks of red.
He Xingdong watched silently for a while, then finally squatted down to help as well.
He Xingdong was deeply moved by Lu Geyang's words, his mind filled with the phrases "People are divided into noble and lowly, Young Master He!" He reflected on himself, realizing he was too naive, self-righteous, and ignorant of suffering.
Thinking this, he couldn't focus on studying. Staying in the same classroom as Lu Geyang also made him feel extremely ashamed, so he simply packed his things and left again.
"I..." Lu Geyang watched him leave, lowered his head, and felt very guilty, "It was my fault, I took it out on him. Young Master He is a good person."
Fang Shifei said, "Whether a person is good or bad isn't just about their attitude. With his father's behavior, I'd treat him as an enemy."
He Xingdong left the academy midway and didn't dare to go home for a while, just walking aimlessly. Unknowingly, he walked to the entrance of the Fang family's house.
He stopped in front of the courtyard and peered inside, wanting to find someone to inform Fang Ying, but also afraid she would be angry with him. He sighed and was about to leave. The servant at the gate saw him and proactively went to call Fang Ying.
Fang Ying received the news and rushed out from the inner courtyard, calling his name loudly. He Xingdong stopped, happy, "Younger Sister Ying."
He thought Fang Ying was concerned about him, but her first words were, "He Xingdong, how did that thing I asked you to do last time go?"
"Last time?" He Xingdong remembered and said awkwardly, "I don't think it's a good idea."
She wanted the official academy to expel Fang Shifei so he definitely couldn't participate in the imperial examination.
There were many people on the street, making it inconvenient to talk in detail, so Fang Ying pulled his sleeve and entered the courtyard.
Fang Shifei had moved out. Fang Ying's house was only one street away from his, and from a slightly angled perspective, they could even see each other's gates.
It was just that one family was wealthy, at the head of the street, and the other was dilapidated, at the end of the street.
He Xingdong wanted to confide in someone and sighed, "Younger Sister Ying, I'm particularly sad today."
Fang Ying didn't listen at all. Her peripheral vision caught his face, and she frowned, "What happened to your face? Fang Shifei didn't hit you, did he?"
He Xingdong quickly said, "I'm fine, don't worry."
"Who cares if you're fine or not? You—" Fang Ying said angrily, "Why are you so useless? Can't you suppress him? You're making me so angry! And you're the County Magistrate's son, how embarrassing!"
He Xingdong said, "I... is this my fault too?"
Seeing no one around and being at her own doorstep, Fang Ying cursed without reservation, "That little bastard Fang Shifei, appearing out of nowhere, and he even wants to compete with my brother for the family property. He's dreaming! I don't know what my father is thinking, always favoring him. But I absolutely won't agree!"
He Xingdong said, "He doesn't want to compete for the family property. He's moved out."
Fang Ying was relentless, "If he passes the imperial examination, although I don't think he will, you never know? He's already very arrogant now, and he'll definitely get worse then. Listen to the things he usually says to me and my mother, how can I let him off?"
"Who told you that?" He Xingdong said, "Although I don't like him either, I don't think he's that kind of person. He's genuinely aloof, disdaining everything."
"My mother told me!" Fang Ying scoffed, "What kind of experience do you have? Can you compare with that little bastard Fang Shifei? He was born to bring trouble."
He Xingdong wanted to interrupt but couldn't.
He was much better than Madam Fang, wasn't he?
Fang Gui used to be a carpenter in his early years, and his wife was just a farmer's daughter. Accustomed to haggling over daily necessities, she suddenly became rich and felt everyone wanted to steal her property, making her paranoid.
But he didn't dare to say this to Fang Ying.
Fang Ying continued, "That little bastard, he doesn't even look at who he is. How can everything go his way? My father likes him, but I will never let him lord over me!"
He Xingdong suddenly caught sight of Fang Gui's figure, shrinking back in fright, and quickly reminded her, "Don't say anymore, Younger Sister Ying! Isn't Fang Shifei quite good too?"
Fang Ying didn't understand, flicked her sleeve, and said, "You still say he's good? What's good about him? You're in league with him, so don't come looking for me anymore!"
Fang Ying turned around, only to face Fang Gui's furious face. Startled, she took a step back, and her face was already slapped hard.
The slap was merciless, and she immediately tasted blood in her mouth. Her cheek hadn't swollen yet, but one could imagine how badly it would be injured.
Fang Gui used to do manual labor, always had strong hands, and didn't know how to hold back. Now half of her face was numb, and her head was buzzing with pain.
Fang Ying, "Dad... why are you back?"
Fang Gui was trembling with anger, "Don't call me Dad! You unfilial daughter! Is this how your mother taught you? You're going to make me die of anger!"
His clothes were still wrinkled and stained with mud; it seemed he had just returned home but didn't expect to hear Fang Ying spouting such nonsense here.
Fang Gui, "Get back inside! Don't even think about leaving this month. Go kneel in the ancestral hall and copy scriptures. Go kneel now!"
Fang Ying trembled all over and cried out aggrievedly, "Dad..."
Fang Gui didn't relent and twisted her ear again, "I haven't been home for a long time, and you've become so unruly. This mouth of yours will cause trouble sooner or later!"
He Xingdong tried to stop him, pleading bitterly from the side.
Fang Ying cried out in pain, tears streaming down.
Seeing her like this, Fang Gui finally couldn't bear it and let go, "Get back inside! I'll deal with you when I get back!"
Fang Ying's face had already started to swell. She covered it with her hand and ran out in a sorry state.
Seeing this, He Xingdong said hesitantly, "Please don't be angry."
"Young Master He, please don't come looking for my daughter anymore. It's not good for a woman's reputation." Fang Gui's face darkened, "I came back this time specifically to find her a good husband's family, lest she cause major trouble by being idle all day."
He Xingdong quickly said, "I sincerely like Younger Sister Ying!"
Fang Gui cupped his hands and bowed, "We cannot presume to climb higher! With my daughter's personality, living a stable life is what's important. She is not worthy of you, Young Master. Please let her go."
He Xingdong wanted to say more, but Fang Gui bowed and ushered him out.
Author's note:
Regarding the female lead's identity, only Du Ling knows about it among the characters who have appeared so far.
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