Chapter 49: Regret

Chen Qing finished his patrol and headed straight back to his home in Yaziwan.

Pushing open the creaking door, his eyes fell upon a pile of coarse cloth, rice, flour, pork, salted fish, and other goods accumulated in the corner.

Seeing the confusion on his face, Lady Han explained with a smile, "These are all gifts from the neighbors. The coarse cloth is from the Old Gao family, the five catties of flour are from your second uncle, the pork is from your eldest aunt, the salted fish is from Aunt Cuihua... I am keeping a record of everything so we can return the favors in the future."

She paused, lowering her voice, "A manager from the Cheng family sent ten taels, and someone from the Tiger Gang also sent five taels of silver."

Chen Qing nodded.

Although Xu Chengfeng was only a minor gang leader, he was a very shrewd and tactful man. Knowing that Chen Qing had passed the martial arts imperial examinations, he had sent a generous gift specifically to leave a good impression.

As for Cheng Ming sending ten taels, it was clear he placed great importance on the relationship between the two.

Thinking of something, Chen Qing said, "Mother, let's go look at a house in a couple of days."

Yaziwan was a mixed bag of people and was far less safe or convenient than the area near the Zhou Family Martial Academy, where many of his senior brothers' families had settled.

"Alright, we'll do as you say."

Lady Han nodded in agreement, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you want to visit the old ancestral house?"

Chen Qing narrowed his eyes and said softly, "I do. I'll bring the rice and flour Second Uncle prepared, along with these two salted fish."

His main purpose for going this time was to give them a warning, to prevent them from causing trouble and coming to him in the future.

***

The next day.

Carrying the divided portions of rice, flour, and salted fish, Chen Qing navigated through the streets and alleys until he arrived at the Chen family's old residence in Chaiyu Workshop.

Soon, he reached the old house.

*Creak—*

The old courtyard gate was pushed open.

Old Man Chen was sitting on the steps, looking full of sorrow as he smoked a pipe. Upon seeing Chen Qing's figure, his cloudy eyes instantly erupted with a light of wild joy. "Xiao Qing! You're here!"

His second aunt was sorting vegetables; the vegetables in her hands fell to the ground with a *thud*. Her face turned as white as paper, and her eyes darted around in panic.

"Grandfather," Chen Qing greeted calmly.

"Quick! Get inside, quickly!"

Old Man Chen stood up excitedly and shouted toward the house, "Second son! Quick, boil some water! Prepare the tea!"

Hearing the call, Second Uncle Chen Wen ran out. A trace of panic appeared on his face before he forced out an extremely awkward smile. "Ah... Ah Qing... you've... you've arrived..."

"What are you standing there for? Go, quickly!"

Old Man Chen urged him, warmly inviting Chen Qing into the main hall.

"The ancestors protect us!"

Old Man Chen's voice trembled as he gripped Chen Qing's hand tightly. "Our Chen family... has finally produced someone with official merit! Ah Qing, you... you've made something of yourself! You really have!"

He repeated "made something of yourself" several times, tears streaming down his face. The gloom that had accumulated for many days was washed away by this massive surprise.

At this moment, this eldest grandson, whom he had once ignored, seemed to have become the future glory and pillar of the Chen family.

Everything had changed!

Old Man Chen's attitude was more polite than ever before, his joy tinged with a hint of cautious restraint.

Without needing to be told, the second aunt swiftly served hot tea and even made an exception by bringing out a plate of malt sugar, something they usually couldn't afford to eat.

Chen Wen also abandoned his usual sarcasm, filling his mouth with words of flattery.

After chatting for a while, Chen Qing rose to take his leave.

Old Man Chen hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay. "Xiao Qing, stay for lunch? Grandfather hasn't had the chance to..."

"No, I have matters to attend to," Chen Qing interrupted him, his tone distant. "Please take care of your health."

A trace of disappointment surfaced in Old Man Chen's heart.

Watching his resolute retreating figure, the second aunt couldn't help but whisper, "Father, perhaps we should ask Ah Qing to help Xiao Heng..."

"Shut up!"

Old Man Chen barked sharply, his eyes piercing. "In the future, even if you face difficulties, do not go looking for Xiao Qing! If he wants to help, he will reach out himself. If he doesn't, no one is to go and annoy him!"

Looking at the rice, flour, and salted fish that Chen Qing had returned exactly as they were, he understood perfectly: this was a drawing of a line.

By relying on this bloodline, the Chen family could still enjoy some residual shade; if they failed to know their place and angered Chen Qing, everything would be lost.

Looking at his second son and daughter-in-law's despondent and hopeless faces, a massive wave of loss and regret surged in his heart.

Old Man Chen stumbled, collapsing despondently onto the stone steps, his tobacco pipe falling to the ground with a *clatter*.

***

Sifang Street, Wang's Cloth Shop.

The dye house was stifling and pungent.

Yang Huiniang gritted her teeth, leaning half her body into the washing pool, struggling to drag the cotton cloth onto the stone trough. Sweat mixed with the dye water and ran into her eyes, but she didn't even have time to wipe it away.

*Thump! Thump!*

She picked up the heavy wooden mallet and struck the wet cloth, producing a dull sound.

"What are you dawdling for? You're slower than a turtle!"

The female manager walked over, her finger poking critically at the surface of the cloth. "Look at this, the color isn't beaten evenly, and it's wrinkled here like old tree bark."

Yang Huiniang's heart tightened, but her hands did not stop. She merely said in a low voice, "Manager Wang, this piece of cloth is heavy. I just pulled it out and am striking it with force."

"What a sin..."

In a corner, an old weaver stopped his shuttle and whispered, "Huiniang is such a good girl, quick with her hands and willing to work hard. That Wang woman is intentionally trying to drive her to death."

"Exactly! Who doesn't know about that foolish grandson of hers? He can't even control his drool! Huiniang marrying into that family is like jumping into a fire pit! That Wang woman is too black-hearted!"

"But who told her she doesn't have any strong brothers in her maiden family to back her up? Let's just mind our own business."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding female workers fell silent, leaving only the monotonous *clack-clack* of the looms. The atmosphere was oppressive.

Because Manager Wang had a foolish grandson, she had long set her sights on Yang Huiniang, wanting to bring her home as an unpaid servant and a breeding tool. When Yang Huiniang refused, she was transferred to this most grueling and exhausting dye house to be tormented.

"Look at this miserable life, why bother?"

The manager leaned close to Yang Huiniang and whispered, "Agree to my request and marry in, and I guarantee you won't worry about food or clothing. Seasonal clothes, ten catties of white flour—this old woman keeps her word!"

Her voice suddenly turned cold, like a poisoned needle. "But if you don't know how to show gratitude... prepare to work in this cloth shop's labor camp until you die."

Yang Huiniang's face turned pale in an instant.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside the dye house.

A young man of extraordinary bearing, dressed in an indigo silk long robe, walked in. It was Wang Zhi, the young master of Wang's Cloth Shop.

"Young Master!"

"Master!"

The female workers all stopped their work and bowed respectfully.

Manager Wang's face changed instantly, her expression shifting to extreme flattery as she hurried forward. "Oh! Master! Why have you graced this filthy place with your presence today? Do you have any instructions..."

Wang Zhi's gaze swept coldly over Manager Wang's fawning face. He said deeply to the two guards behind him, "Drag her out."

"Yes!"

Two burly guards stepped forward and, without a word, hoisted Manager Wang up and began dragging her out.

The smile on Manager Wang's face froze instantly, turning into horror. "Young... Young Master?! Why is this happen—!"

Her questioning was immediately replaced by a dull thud from outside, followed by pig-like wails and pleas for mercy.

The dye house fell into a deathly silence. The female workers were as quiet as cicadas in winter, not daring to breathe loudly.

Wang Zhi looked around and said, "Effective immediately, Manager Wang is stripped of her position! Pack your things and get out of the cloth shop; you are never to be hired again!"

He turned his gaze toward the shaken Yang Huiniang and said in a gentle tone, "From this moment on, the position of Internal Manager of the cloth shop shall be taken over by Miss Yang. In the future, if you encounter any difficulties, you may report them directly to me."

The words caused a sensation!

The female workers stared wide-eyed, looking at Yang Huiniang in disbelief.

Yang Huiniang's mind went blank, as if she had lost her soul from this sudden, massive upheaval.

Wang Zhi gave Yang Huiniang a slight nod. "Please, Miss Yang, convey my regards to Brother Chen."

With that, he turned and left.

As soon as the young master's figure disappeared through the door, the dye house exploded! The female workers swarmed around her, chattering like a disturbed flock of sparrows

"Huiniang! Congratulations, congratulations!"

"Still calling her Huiniang? We should call her Manager Yang!"

"Manager Yang! That 'Brother Chen' the Young Master mentioned—could it be that martial arts-practicing cousin of yours!?"