Chapter 219: Whether the Young Lady Will Go

The village was encircled by a stream, giving it a lively charm, like the sparkling eyes of a young woman. Just as the roosters began crowing in succession at the village entrance, a young woman was already kneeling by the stream, washing clothes. Her posture accentuated her graceful figure. A wooden mallet gently tapped the clothes laid on a bluestone, never with too much force. When tired, she would pause, using a slender finger to push back the dark strands of hair that fell to obscure her eyes. Damp with water, they clung to her forehead and cheeks. Occasionally, she would zone out, gazing at her reflection in the water, which would blur with every ripple.

A faint smile played on her lips. As a poor person, she couldn't afford a bronze mirror, and such an item seemed impractical and ostentatious to her. Although everyone within ten li said she was beautiful, she never truly believed she was. She would have been happier if they praised You Song for his auspicious, gentle looks. She let out a soft sigh, gathered her thoughts, and continued beating the faded, threadbare clothes. She dared not wash clothes, especially her undergarments, when there were many people around, as she always felt embarrassed. Moreover, some idle, shiftless men in the village, whether young or old, would shamelessly squat by the stream, pointing and making comments. Some village women, naturally displeased, would curse her as a "fox spirit" behind her back. If their own husbands were brazenly at the stream, they would inevitably make snide remarks to her. She sighed softly, noticing a red embroidered *dudou*. Its fabric was somewhat bulky and stretched, so compared to her outer garments, the stitching appeared sparse, making her blush. The young woman quickly tapped it a few times with her mallet, thinking she should wash it quickly and hang it to dry indoors. She chuckled to herself, self-deprecatingly, "It's just two pieces of flesh, why do men always stare? I wish they were as small as possible."

Before her marriage, this delicate young woman was a maiden from Mizhi. In Northern Liang, there was a saying: "Mizhi women, Tongling men." This meant that the women raised in Mizhi were especially graceful, not only having proper features but also smooth skin. When she was a girl, she was already a well-known beauty in Mizhi. As she matured, she married into this village, but her fate was harsh; shortly after her marriage, her husband died. The entire village knew her in-laws harbored resentment until their deaths. However, with their grandson You Song to carry on the family line, they didn't utter overly malicious words in their final years, even if they never gave her a pleasant look. She always felt she had let her husband's family down and never harbored any complaints. In truth, even the harshest villagers knew this unfortunate woman had done nothing wrong to the Zhao family. A frail woman, who should have married into a wealthy family and enjoyed comfort, instead stubbornly performed farm work that many men found too arduous. Once, some vagrants from outside the village snuck into her yard and stole the *dudou* she had drying on a bamboo pole. This young woman, who had never lost her temper with anyone, became frantic, chasing them to the next village with a desperate fervor. Finally, some elder villagers, unable to bear it, called upon their strong younger relatives and descendants. Nearly half the village, armed with hoes, went to resolve the matter. They only remembered the woman, clutching her *dudou* tightly, sitting on the ground and silently weeping, without uttering a single curse.

After that incident, she preferred to dry her clothes later, hanging them slowly on poles only in the well-ventilated rooms of her home. In the years that followed, You Song became her whole world. Fortunately, the child, who had lost his father young, was bright and ambitious. Even the highly learned old scholar was willing to let the boy take some books home. If an ordinary child dared to touch the old scholar's private collection, their little hands would surely be beaten into a pulp. The village elders all said that she would one day be honored through her son, and her hardships would come to an end.

The young woman was placing clothes, one by one, into a bamboo basket when she suddenly turned her head. There stood a man she had never expected to see, standing quite a distance away. In her hand, she held a simple, embroidered blue fan-shaped bodice. Her pretty face instantly flushed crimson. Subconsciously, she shot him a fierce glare. "How can this man be so unrestrained in his conduct? Just yesterday, I thought he might be a traveling scholar from a prominent noble family. Does he not know the slightest bit about 'do not look at what is contrary to propriety'? And to think I mistook him for a true gentleman!"

The young woman, now mortified and angry, saw the sword-wielding man's embarrassed expression. He seemed about to explain something but ultimately decided against making a bad situation worse, instead turning his head to allow her to hide her personal items in the bamboo basket. The young woman was slightly taken aback. This young master seemed to be blushing? This eased her expression somewhat. At least he was a man who knew shame, much better than those lecherous ruffians who always spouted vulgar remarks. But why was he in this village? The young woman hastily picked up the bamboo basket and placed it behind her. Perhaps the sword-wielding young master turning his head gave her the courage to look at him directly. Although she was a village woman, she knew of the various "afflictions of the wealthy." The character of those extravagant merchant's sons wasn't necessarily better than the village ruffians. This young master, who had once squatted on a mud wall eating candied haws and played with You Song, shouldn't be a bad person. But if he thought she was the kind of woman who could be casually flirted with or enticed, she would dare to slap him.

Xu Fengnian slowly turned his head and said calmly, "No matter what happens next, if you see You Song, take him back to the village."

The sound of horse hooves, without warning, broke the peaceful tranquility of the small village. Smoke continued to curl from chimneys, and the barks of yellow dogs rose from all directions.

The cavalry from Daoma Pass arrived abruptly, their eyes cold, looking down from the streambank at the man and woman, so disparate in status. A few low-status ruffians, unworthy of riding horses, fawningly sought credit from the tall knight in shining corporal's armor, saying, "Sir, look at this young lady's beauty! She's the prettiest in a dozen nearby villages. We all call her Xu Zhinian. She's a widow, and her in-laws are also in their graves, so she has no one to rely on. She probably hasn't been touched by any wild men these past years; her body is very clean. She's sure to catch the general's eye!"

The leading knight, who was considered a minor official at Daoma Pass, meticulously surveyed the plainly dressed young woman from head to toe, nodding in satisfaction. He thought, "How did I never hear about such a wild beauty in Liuxi Village before? If I had known earlier, others wouldn't have gotten a chance!" However, since he had missed his chance, it would be as hard as ascending to heaven to secretly abduct her now. Last night, Captain Han had summoned him and a few other trusted aides for a late-night secret meeting by lamplight. Captain Chuigong had said that General Huangfu, the Valiant Commander, was visiting Daoma Pass, and it would be scandalous to not have enough women to warm his bed. If hospitality fell short and blame was laid, no one could bear the consequences. Han Tao outwardly claimed he wouldn't dare to palm off common prostitutes from brothels on General Huangfu. But they all knew that the two most popular courtesans from the biggest brothel in the area were secretly kept by Captain Han in a small residence, unbeknownst to his "tiger wife." Captain Han was reluctant to part with them and dared not offer second-rate prostitutes to the Valiant Commander, fearing it would become leverage for his arch-rival, the Deputy Commander. So, he came up with a plan: he ordered them to find two young women from respectable families, claiming they would be "hired for a hefty sum" to come to Daoma Pass. But they knew perfectly well the sordid truth behind it—it was merely an abduction, followed by a reward of ten or twenty taels of silver for their silence, which would be considered good compensation.

When high-ranking officials merely spoke, lower-ranking officers had to wear out their legs. Of the two girls found that night, Captain Han didn't even glance at one, saying her face wouldn't earn a few taels of silver in a brothel in a year. The other one was quite attractive and still a virgin, but Captain Han said this tearful, innocent maiden wouldn't know how to serve a man. Without a word, he had her taken to a private residence, nearly causing the men tasked with this important mission to suffer internal injuries from frustration. By dawn, feeling that Captain Han would demand results if they delayed any longer, one of their comrades suggested they just have the town's ruffians lead the way, treating it as a desperate measure. They would try their luck in the surrounding villages to see if they could stumble upon a young woman suitable for the Valiant Commander. And "heck," they actually blundered into one! This young woman, now gracefully standing by the stream with her basket, wasn't strikingly beautiful at first glance. But with a few more looks, her charm became apparent. As those pedantic scholars and impoverished literati would say, "Her skin is whiter than snow and as delicate as if it could be broken by a breath." And her slender waist, her bosom—they were exquisite! The corporal-knight swallowed, knowing this trip wouldn't be in vain!

The knight tossed the pre-agreed-upon bag to the low-ranking ruffians. Bending down, his eyes fixed on the young woman, he quietly asked a few of the unsavory characters around him, "We need a pretext. The soldiers of Daoma Pass have always cherished the common people; we won't cause trouble for them."

One ruffian's eyes darted around. He chuckled softly, "Don't worry, Sir, this is simple. Xu Zhinian often goes to town to buy scraps of silk and satin to embroider sachets at home, which she then sells at the market. You can just say there's a general's wife or daughter at Daoma Pass who wishes for her to enter the manor to do embroidery. How's that for an excuse?"

The corporal's eyes lit up. He couldn't help but give the ruffian a proper look, and for the first time, he clapped him on the shoulder, tutting, "Not bad, not bad. You're a clever one, what's your name? If this mission goes smoothly, you can follow me from now on. At Daoma Pass, you'll live in luxury, eating and drinking well. Just mention my official title, and see who dares to demand money from you!"

The ruffian, who had just acquired a large windfall and the promise of wealth, was trembling with excitement. "Sir, my name is Zhang Shun," he stammered, "You can just call me Shunzi!" Seeing the knight turn his neck towards the stream, Zhang Shun cleared his throat and cast a harsh glance at the young woman he had nightly fantasized about holding and defiling. "You put on airs, but even if I can't have your body, I'll make sure you don't live a pure life. Didn't you reject many marriage proposals from well-off families, all for the sake of a 'chastity archway'?" he thought. "I know you're arrogant, little woman, but I won't let your body or reputation remain untarnished. Once that great general, the Valiant Commander, is done with you, what face or spirit will you have left to pretend to be a chaste and virtuous woman? Heh, and when it's my turn to torment you, won't I be like a brother-in-arms to the general, having shared such an experience? I just wonder whose turn it will be when I finally get her. From the looks of it, these sirs with eyes like jackals around me certainly won't let her go." Zhang Shun, full of malicious thoughts, subtly pursed his lips, wiped away some saliva, and loudly announced, "Xu Qing, a general's wife at Daoma Pass invites you to embroider, with a reward of silver..."

The corporal-knight, taking the initiative, quietly interjected, "Twenty taels."

Zhang Shun immediately seized the opportunity, stretching out his voice with a condescending tone, "Twenty taels! You don't earn that much in a whole year! Why aren't you hurrying back to Daoma Pass with the officers?! Can you afford to offend the general's wife?!"

Zhang Shun's wicked thoughts stirred. He tried to keep his voice calm, "I can take that basket of clothes home for you."

The corporal-knight on horseback frowned. He knew full well Zhang Shun's depraved intentions, but he still remained silent. He understood that to make his subordinates willing to do their work, to be loyal dogs who could not only wag their tails but also bite on their master's behalf, relying solely on official authority wasn't enough. If he didn't offer some extra incentives, they would all be cunning and stingy. What could he do?

It was then that Xu Fengnian learned her name was Xu Qing.

But was the character "Qing" (meaning "clear" or "pure") in this simple name perhaps too heavy a burden in this world?

The young woman, Xu Qing, bit her lip. The stream behind her was only knee-deep; even if she threw herself in, who would drown? She shook her head and said, "I won't go!"

The corporal and the knights around him were expressionless. They had clearly anticipated this response. There was no rush to apply pressure. How could a lonely widow possibly prevail against more than ten armored cavalrymen and the entire Daoma Pass?

Zhang Shun, furious, yelled, "Xu Qing, don't push your luck! Do you believe I'll knock you out and carry you to Daoma Pass?"

Xu Qing raised her arm. In her hand was a solid wooden mallet for beating clothes.

The more than ten cavalrymen burst into laughter upon seeing how stubborn this young woman was.

Zhang Shun, resenting this ungrateful woman for making him lose face, rolled up his sleeves and was about to go to the stream to show her the weight of his fist. Of course, he wouldn't truly hit her with full force; a bit of groping would be fine.

"Mother, don't go!"

A dust-covered child, who had clearly stumbled many times on his way, finally appeared in their sight. The mischievous yet filial child, his voice choked with sobs, desperately shook his head at his mother. Children from poor families often learn the harshness of the world earlier.

Zhang Shun sneered, "Xu Qing, don't forget you have a son! If you defy these sirs, they are broad-minded and might not bother with a mere widow like you. But I, Zhang Shun, will have a very good 'talk' with your son!"

As Zhang Shun finished speaking, he jogged toward the child. How could a six or seven-year-old child possibly fight against a strong, able-bodied ruffian? The child was clutched in Zhang Shun's embrace, bit his arm, drawing blood, and was then, in Zhang Shun's furious rage, choked by the arm around his neck, showing signs of being strangled.

The young woman still made no sound of crying. She turned, set down the bamboo basket, wiped away her tears, and then turned back, stating calmly, "I'll go."