Chapter 104 – Persuasion

"You're only saying this because Zhou Huaishan passed the county exam and made friends with the magistrate!"

The clan leader’s face twitched at Cheng Wuniang’s words. He let out a heavy sigh.

"Out of all the years we've known each other, let me give you a word of advice: go home. Stop making a scene. All this fuss won’t get you anything but public ridicule and shame for your family. Do you really think making a ruckus will make them agree?"

Cheng Wuniang stiffened her neck and said, "I don’t believe they’d really be so heartless as to let someone die without helping!"

Seeing she wouldn’t listen, the clan leader flung his arm and turned to go find Cheng Wu's father.

Outside, Cheng Wuniang sat on the ground, screaming and making a scene like, if my life is bad, yours won’t be any better.

She cursed, she cried, she begged.

Inside the house, Zhou Qing looked annoyed.

She had thought that rejecting Cheng Wuniang outright would make her give up and leave after causing a bit of a fuss.

She hadn’t expected her to be this relentless.

Zhou Qing didn’t really care about the noise outside, but it was clearly distracting Zhou Huaishan.

Studying was hard enough for him already, now with this racket, he had even more reason to mess up.

He was fidgeting nonstop, scratching his hand, rubbing his head, flipping the book edges, even talking back to Cheng Wuniang under his breath.

Zhou Qing urged him to focus, but Zhou Huaishan cried out with a miserable face, "I can’t concentrate! It’s too noisy!"

And he sounded totally justified.

Fuming, Zhou Qing smacked her little stick on the bed with a loud crack, then jumped down.

"Daughter, where are you going?"

"To buy poison and shut her up!" Zhou Qing snapped.

Zhou Huaishan: Savage!

Zhou Qing put on her shoes and stomped out.

Zhou Huaishan immediately ran to the window, eager to see the drama.

The moment Cheng Wuniang saw Zhou Qing come out, she got excited, thinking she had finally relented. She patted the dust off her butt and stood up.

"Qing girl, did you finally come around?"

Just then, Zhou Qing spotted Uncle Zhong in the distance leading two horse-drawn carts toward them.

Cheng Wuniang paused when she heard the commotion behind her and turned to look.

The Cheng family had sold vegetables in the county for years, and after Shen Li took Zhou Huaishan as a disciple, they had even visited the Brush and Ink Pavilion.

She recognized him instantly as the shopkeeper from there.

Why is he here?

Could it be that the young master plans to return?

Her heart skipped a beat. She suddenly got nervous.

"Uncle Zhong, why are you here?"

"Our master asked us to deliver some New Year gifts."

As he spoke, Zhou Qing opened the main gate. Fearing Cheng Wuniang might try to sneak in, she stood firmly in the doorway, blocking her path.

Worried the young master might come back and steal Zhou Qing away, Cheng Wuniang quickly lunged and hugged Zhou Qing tightly.

"Qing girl, have a kind heart and marry Wuzi. Auntie promises you won’t be mistreated. Please, I’m begging you, just save Wuzi’s life."

"That little boss in town may have money, but rich men are all the same, they take concubines, they fool around, they’re always surrounded by women. He’s nothing compared to Wuzi."

"Please, just say yes. You can’t just watch someone die and do nothing!"

Uncle Zhong was pulling the carts into the yard when he heard that and froze.

What?

Marry Cheng Wu?!

If Qing girl married Cheng Wu, what would become of his master?

He immediately started heading for the gate.

Cheng Wuniang had just finished speaking and was about to kneel, planning to cling to Zhou Qing’s legs and beg.

But before she could—

"You’re forcing me to marry into your family. Aren’t you afraid I might take revenge and poison Cheng Wu on our wedding night?"

Startled by Zhou Qing’s sudden deadly tone, Cheng Wuniang flinched, stepping back in shock and staring wide-eyed at her.

Zhou Qing leaned in closer.

"Let you bury your own son, have the funeral and the wedding on the same day."

Cheng Wuniang: "..."

Uncle Zhong, just arriving—

Zhou Qing took advantage of her stunned moment, flung off her hands, darted into the yard, and slammed the gate shut.

"If you want me to marry Cheng Wu, fine but we’re writing it out in black and white: once I marry him, whatever happens to him is none of my business."

"If he dies, I’m immediately free. Dare to sign it? If you do, I’ll marry. If not, don’t blame me for walking away."

Cheng Wuniang: She collapsed on the ground, wailing at the top of her lungs.

Uncle Zhong looked thoroughly confused.

What on earth is going on?

The noise outside had drawn everyone from the third branch of the Zhou family out of the house.

Uncle Zhong directed the two young cart drivers to unload the large chests.

Zhou Huaishan eyed the chests warily, afraid they’d open to reveal, another chest full of books.

"These are just some New Year goods. Since my master couldn’t make it back in time, he had me prepare these as a small token."

He added politely, "But what’s going on out there? I thought I heard Qing girl was getting married?"

Zhou Ping quickly explained how Cheng Wu’s family was trying to force a marriage.

Uncle Zhong frowned deeply as he listened.

Zhou Qing smiled. "It’s fine. A few days of drama and it’ll pass."

Uncle Zhong shook his head gently. "But your father needs to study. The exams are just after New Year’s. With all this noise, how can he possibly focus?"

Not to mention, he had just heard that old hag outside slandering his master!

Calling him a womanizer and a scumbag!

If she kept at it day after day, what if Qing girl actually believed her?

That would be a disaster!

His master wasn’t here, so he had to guard Qing girl on his behalf.

Resolved, Uncle Zhong turned to Zhou Huaishan.

"Our master has a spare house in the county. Why don’t you move there for a while? After the exams, you can come back."

Zhou Huaishan’s eyes lit up at the idea.

The county wasn’t the capital, sure but it was still a hundred times better than Qingyang Village.

Endless fun.

And Zhao Dacheng was there!

Zhou Qing saw his reaction and immediately refused. "No need. It’s almost New Year’s anyway. Father won’t be studying during the holidays, and once it’s over, they’ll calm down."

"They can’t possibly keep crying and yelling like this forever."

No sooner had she said that than Uncle Zhong and Zhou Huaishan said in perfect unison:

"But what if they don’t?"

Zhou Qing: "..."

Zhou Ping tugged Uncle Zhong’s hand. "Uncle, is your county house big? Can I run in it?"

He used to run around the village in the mornings.

But in town, everything would be unfamiliar, and he didn’t dare run around blindly.

What if he got kidnapped?

He hadn’t even made a name for himself yet!

Uncle Zhong patted his head and smiled. "It’s spacious and it has a martial arts hall with a few ponies. You can ride them."

Zhou Ping’s eyes lit up instantly.

Wow.

This was paradise!

Uncle Zhong added to Zhou Yao, "The study isn’t that big, but it has a lot of storybooks."

Zhou Yao: "...."

Zhao shi (the mother): "...."

Wooooow~~

Zhou Qing looked at Uncle Zhong suspiciously.

Are you trying to win everyone over one by one?

I feel like you’re plotting something… but I don’t have proof.

Uncle Zhong: (Just clears his throat and looks sincere.)

Before he could say more, Zhou Huaishan grabbed Zhou Qing’s hand.

"Daughter, let’s move there."

"No."

"Why not?"

Zhou Qing stared at him. "You seriously don’t know why not?"

Zhou Huaishan: "..."

Glances at Uncle Zhong, the third branch family then stealthily dragged Zhou Qing into the back room.

Everyone outside: "Huh?"

Inside, Zhou Huaishan whispered urgently, "No. I have to move to the county."

He looked like a kindergartener throwing a tantrum for candy.

Zhou Qing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"You’ve got no self-control. That place is full of distractions. If we go, how will you even study?"

Zhou Huaishan looked stubborn. "I don’t care. If you don’t let me go, I’m not studying at all. We’ve got enough savings to feed the two of us anyway!"

Zhou Qing: If you were my son, I’d kick your butt for saying that!

But he’s my father!

"You’re not afraid Zhou Yuan will get back at you?"

Zhou Huaishan crossed his arms and snorted, "Let him! We’ll live and die together!"

Zhou Qing: (About to explode.)

Seeing she was about to lose it, Zhou Huaishan switched tactics—softening up.

He hugged her arm like a child, gently rocking it.

"Sweetheart, I promise, if we move to the county, I’ll study hard every day. I won’t wander off. If I don’t study, may I be struck by lightning!"

Then he quickly muttered to himself: Pfft pfft pfft—just kidding, I’m only trying to trick my daughter. Heaven, don’t take it seriously.

Looking up with sincere puppy eyes, he added: "Really, daughter, let’s just go. We’ve got the means now. Look at you, you’re only fifteen or sixteen, but your face is rough like the bottom of a shoe. Once we get to the county, you can finally take care of yourself."