Chapter 42: Humiliation – As Long As You Help Me With One Thing

The Autumn Examination results were announced while the osmanthus fragrance still lingered in the air.

The news that Jiang Qingshi had achieved the sixth rank in the Dinggao Provincial Examination had long been delivered to his hometown by the fast horses of the official messengers bearing good tidings.

On this day, with the autumn breeze bringing refreshing coolness, a simple blue-canopied carriage slowly entered the village entrance. The carriage curtain was lifted, and Jiang Qingshi stepped down, wearing a brand new Juren’s gown. His posture was upright, his face as handsome as ever. Though covered in the dust of travel, his eyes shone with an irrepressible brilliance – the radiance settled from knowledge and self-confidence.

“Master Jiang has returned!”

“Juren Jiang has returned in glory!”

Neighbors poured out from their homes, their faces filled with shared joy and reverence. Lin Guilan had a kind heart and skillful hands. Although they hadn’t lived in this residence for long, the Jiang Family had maintained quite harmonious relationships with their neighbors, and everyone had been concerned about Jiang Qingshi’s participation in the Imperial Examination.

For a scholar from a humble family to become a Recommended Scholar was considered a tremendous joyous event in this county town.

Jiang Qingshi smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to familiar neighbors, but his gaze eagerly sought out his own courtyard. The courtyard gate was already wide open, where his wife Lin Guilan stood watching, holding the hand of Jiang Zhimiao, who had grown considerably.

Jiang Yunxiu, wearing a lake-blue cross-collared Bei Zi and holding a child with each hand, stood behind Lin Guilan. Watching her younger brother’s current glory, her eyes also glistened with tears.

Her brother had studied hard for many years, and now he had finally achieved success.

Seeing her husband’s figure, Lin Guilan’s eyes also filled with tears – tears of joy, relief, and the excitement of years of hardship finally being released. She quickly stepped forward, smiling before speaking, and said softly: “You’re back.”

These words carried more weight than thousands of others. Jiang Qingshi hurried forward and embraced his wife and child in one swift motion, all unspoken words conveyed in this silent hug.

Jiang Zhimiao happily grabbed his father’s brand new lapels – this was his Juren father! He, Jiang Zhimiao, was also going to have a better life now!

The commotion here was quite substantial. For business convenience, Lin Guilan had purchased a residence near the bustling market street. Many people hearing the excitement gathered around to watch.

On this day, Jiang Family Fourth Child Jiang Jinyao happened to have brought Fan Xiang’e into the city. Fan Xiang’e was pregnant, walking beside Jiang Jinyao with her large belly, munching on a corn cob. She had always loved watching excitement, and upon hearing the noise not far away, she pushed forward vigorously despite her advanced pregnancy.

Seeing Fan Xiang’e like this, Jiang Jinyao didn’t want to intervene and stop her. Since marrying Fan Xiang’e, he had truly suffered immensely. He had originally thought he had stumbled upon incredible good fortune – that the Fan Family would take a liking to him and even marry Fan Xiang’e down to him. Though Fan Xiang’e wasn’t a stunning beauty, she had some charm and wouldn’t embarrass him when taken out in public.

Moreover, his parents still doted on him, tightening their belts to buy him a new house in town, making countless people envious.

Only after marriage did Jiang Jinyao discover that Fan Xiang’e had previously been involved with a sesame oil seller in the county town. That man was already married, and moreover, he was a live-in son-in-law whose sesame oil business entirely depended on his father-in-law’s family. That man’s wife was fierce and formidable. When the Fan Family discovered Fan Xiang’e’s actions, they were terrified, fearing the matter would be exposed by others. They hastily found the Jiang Family, who had lower standards and were eager to marry, to marry off Fan Xiang’e.

The Fan family was still afraid something might go wrong, so they insisted the Jiang Family buy a house in town. This way, the Fans could keep an eye on Fan Xiang’e and also on Jiang Jinyao—lest this fellow learn the truth and treat their daughter poorly! The Jiangs, a down-and-out family, had scored quite a bargain by marrying their son to the Fans’ daughter! If they helped Jiang Jinyao out more in the future, they needn’t worry about him not toeing the line!

Jiang Jinyao was truly like the mute tasting bitter herbs—unable to voice his suffering. Had Fan Xiang’e been a gentle, water-like woman, he might have swallowed this bitter pill. But alas, Fan Xiang’e was full of all sorts of peculiar and difficult temperaments. Clearly, she was the one who had lost her virtue before marriage and was at fault first.

Yet she actually had the nerve to call him useless, obviously not having her heart set on him at all! She must still be thinking about that sesame oil peddler!

Fan Xiang’e had a flamboyant personality and, relying on her family’s modest savings, even after marriage often gathered her girlfriends to gallivant into the county town. Jiang Jinyao grew increasingly suspicious that Fan Xiang’e was going to the county to secretly meet that sesame oil seller! Especially since half a year ago, Fan Xiang’e had become pregnant… Jiang Jinyao spent his days suspecting the child wasn’t his. He grew more and more paranoid, feeling like his mind was slipping—all tormented by this damned woman!

The Jiang family’s shop had also gone under due to poor management, leaving them no choice but to rent it out for a meager income… Fan Xiang’e looked down on Jiang Jinyao even more, putting on airs daily as if she were some noble young lady.

Now, every time Fan Xiang’e went to the county town, Jiang Jinyao had to tag along. Fan Xiang’e’s parents praised Jiang Jinyao for being considerate, but in truth, he was driving himself mad, desperate to see if Fan Xiang’e was really meeting someone else!

“Hey, Jiang Jinyao, isn’t that your third brother over there?”

Jiang Jinyao’s mind was in turmoil when Fan Xiang’e’s words snapped him back to attention. He stepped forward, pushed through the crowd, and indeed saw Jiang Qingshi standing tall and dignified, receiving congratulations from everyone. Even his own sister, who had divorced her husband, was there!

“What’s going on? Did Jiang Qingshi really become a Scholar?”

Fan Xiang’e knew nothing about these matters. In her understanding, becoming a Scholar was already a remarkable achievement. Thinking this, she started berating Jiang Jinyao again.

“Look at your brother, how accomplished he is now! Back in Fanjiazhuang, everyone said Jiang Qingshi lived off his wife and that you were the promising one in the Jiang Family! And now? Jiang Qingshi is here being worshipped by thousands, while you couldn’t even keep a shop in town open! Now you just loaf around, living off my family!”

Jiang Jinyao’s face burned with shame. He grabbed Fan Xiang’e’s hand and dragged her away, afraid others might see them! After they had gone quite a distance, Fan Xiang’e impatiently shook off his hand. Jiang Jinyao, furious, finally exploded.

“You only talk about Jiang Qingshi! Why don’t you look at how capable his wife, Lin Guilan, is? I heard she’s now a big manager in the county town! Nothing like you—lazy and good-for-nothing, you can’t do anything! And you never show any consideration for your own husband!”

Fan Xiang’e, with her fiery temper, was incensed that Jiang Jinyao dared to talk back. She immediately threw the nearly finished corn cob she was holding at him. The cob hit Jiang Jinyao on the forehead, leaving a red mark. At this point, Jiang Jinyao didn’t dare retort anymore. He stood there, gritting his teeth, glaring wide-eyed at Fan Xiang’e.

“Look at you, you’re nothing but a spineless coward!” Fan Xiang’e sneered contemptuously. “Even when I throw things at you like this, you don’t dare utter a word of protest. Since you’re such a useless wretch, you should keep your tail between your legs and live quietly. Stop complaining about this and that! Our Fan Family might still give you some plain rice to eat out of consideration for my sake!”

“Fan Xiang’e, you!” Jiang Jinyao’s face flushed crimson with rage. “You shameless woman! You lost your virtue before marriage, seducing a married man! I had to pick up your used goods!”

“So what?” Fan Xiang’e laughed coldly. “You should consider yourself lucky to have gotten someone like me! If I weren’t ‘damaged goods,’ you wouldn’t have had the chance to marry me at all! Know your place – you’re living off our Fan Family’s support. Since that’s the case, behave properly and don’t entertain any inappropriate ideas!”

After saying this, Fan Xiang’e paid no more attention to Jiang Jinyao, strutting off with her swollen belly to buy some soup dumplings.

Jiang Jinyao’s face remained flushed red, his eyes filled with humiliation… This vicious woman! Someday he would repay all the humiliation he had suffered, and then he’d deal with that bastard in her womb…

“Might you be the Fourth Master of the Jiang Family?”

Jiang Jinyao turned around to see a man standing behind him. The man leaned against the corner of the wall, having appeared so silently that Jiang Jinyao had no idea when he had arrived. Jiang Jinyao broke out in a cold sweat, not caring whether the man had overheard his embarrassing situation, instinctively wanting to flee.

“Fourth Master Jiang, there’s no need to panic.” The man stepped forward, extending a hand to block Jiang Jinyao’s path, his face emerging from the shadows of the wall corner. “From what I’ve seen, Fourth Master Jiang doesn’t seem to be living very comfortably. If you help me with one small matter, I can offer you five hundred taels of silver.”

Five hundred taels!

This was an amount Jiang Jinyao had never even dreamed of.

With five hundred taels of silver, he wouldn’t have to endure Fan Xiang’e’s abuse any longer! He could immediately divorce this vicious woman and marry two beautiful, obedient ones instead!

But Jiang Jinyao was no fool – there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

“What do you want me to do?”

The man smiled slightly: “What I need from you isn’t difficult. You’ve just seen how successful your elder brother has become – he’s currently blocking someone’s path. I simply need you to create some obstacles to prevent him from smoothly participating in next year’s Metropolitan Examination.”

Jiang Jinyao didn’t understand what the Metropolitan Examination was, but he didn’t want this man to look down on him, so he pretended to understand and asked: “What do you want me to do?”

“Fourth Master Jiang is an intelligent man. The Metropolitan Examination is in February next year. If your third brother gets entangled in a lawsuit around that time, he won’t be able to make it to the capital for the examination.”

Jiang Jinyao was shocked: “But Jiang Qingshi never goes out! How can I get him involved in a lawsuit?”

“Fourth Master Jiang, that would be your concern.” The man smiled mysteriously. “After all, five hundred taels of silver isn’t money that comes for free.”

With five hundred taels… Jiang Jinyao gritted his teeth: “Fine, I agree. But what if you go back on your word?”

“I can give you half the silver upfront, and the other half after the deed is done.”

Jiang Jinyao’s eyes lit up: “Good, it’s settled.”

Before long, the New Year was approaching. During this period, Jiang Qingshi had been studying diligently with Zhuo Zhiming. After all, the Imperial Examination was no ordinary matter, particularly testing one’s ability to respond to Policy Discourses. He couldn’t afford to study in isolation.

Zhuo Zhiming’s home housed a vast collection of books, and through discussions with him, Jiang Qingshi gained new insights and perspectives.

Whenever he grew weary from studying, Jiang Qingshi would devote himself to practicing calligraphy, as handwriting was crucial for the Imperial Examination. He had begun practicing calligraphy since childhood, a foresight for which Jiang Yunxiu deserved credit. Before she married, she had diligently supervised Jiang Qingshi’s daily practice. When they couldn’t afford writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, Jiang Yunxiu would take him outside to write characters on the ground with tree branches. Over time, Jiang Qingshi’s handwriting truly flourished.

Meanwhile, Lin Guilan opened a branch store in a neighboring county. She selected a few intelligent and hardworking young women and taught them the secret recipe. In truth, Lin Guilan felt there was no real secret—the flavor came naturally from her casual preparations. However, running a business couldn’t be as informal as their usual meals; they had to refine a proper formula to expand the enterprise successfully.