Chapter 245: Disaster (Part 2)

Works by Angry Banana

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Welcome

People gathered for the autumn poetry society, but such events were, of course, always reserved for those of status and standing. At this time on Xiaoyingzhou, although many came alone and later joined acquaintances, only about a quarter or a fifth of the attendees were actually eligible to participate in the banquet. The rest were servants like maids and pages, or government soldiers from Hangzhou Prefecture assigned to maintain order and prevent incidents. These individuals were not counted among the official participants.

As for Ning Yi's group, only four of them—he, his wife, and the two Su brothers—were allowed onto the main ship. The other five—three maids, the boatman, and Dong Zhu, the coachman who stayed in the back cabin—had to wait below in their own pleasure boat during the banquet.

So, when it was time to disembark and explore Xiaoyingzhou, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er did not bring Juan'er and Xing'er. They only brought Xiao Chan, planning to have her return later if her services weren't needed on the main ship.

Earlier, Ning Yi had told Su Tan'er about Xiao Chan's worries. Given Su Tan'er's nature, she wouldn't let her maid, whom she treated like a sister, remain upset. However, with so many people around, it wasn't the right time for private conversation. Soon after, they met Wen Haiying, and Su Tan'er walked off with her. Ning Yi and Xiao Chan continued their tour, visiting Baoning Temple on the lake. They lit an incense stick, and because of the crowd, Xiao Chan simply stood a little to the side and bowed.

The young girl stood with her eyes closed, her expression devout, murmuring quietly. Her silken bangs seemed to glow in the slanted sunlight. Seeing this, Ning Yi felt a sense of purification and also put his palms together to bow.

“Did Master make a wish just now?” Xiao Chan asked curiously as they left the temple and walked beside Ning Yi.

“What about you?”

Xiao Chan shook her head, “I won’t say it. If I say it, it won’t come true.”

“Oh, so you want my wish not to come true…” Ning Yi chuckled, looking at Xiao Chan. “Actually, I wished for Xiao Chan to grow… a little bigger.”

Xiao Chan's figure was actually quite good. When dressed for going out, her clothes were loose and bulky, making her look like a child from a New Year’s painting. But after spending so much time together, Ning Yi occasionally saw her in more fitted clothes at home, and her curves were indeed shapely and alluring. However, her appearance remained childlike and cute, which always made Ning Yi wonder if she'd still look like that at thirty or forty… Of course, that was actually a good thing. Ning Yi rarely made wishes when worshipping, and this was just a casual remark. Xiao Chan likely misunderstood, however, and involuntarily lowered her head, muttering softly, “Xiao Chan is already quite big…”

She was already seventeen, an age when girls outside would typically be married. Xiao Chan was probably thinking about the day's events, feeling a bit melancholic. Not wanting her words to sound like a complaint, she spoke very softly. Ning Yi couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pat her head. Xiao Chan, long accustomed to his antics, clutched her head and scurried away.

After touring for a while, they soon stopped under the shade of a tree by the water. Specks of golden light filtered through the leaves, falling on them like golden sprites. People came and went around them, and across the water, beneath another tree, a woman played the guqin. Earlier, when Su Tan'er was present, Xiao Chan had been preoccupied and naturally didn't want to appear too lively in front of her mistress and master, as that was a maid's duty. Now, alone with Ning Yi, she was much more cheerful, telling him about the woman's background.

“...Her name is Lü Yingtong, apparently. She’s one of Hangzhou’s most famous courtesans and associates with many daughters of officials. I heard that years ago, Miss Lü fell for a poor scholar and spent all her savings to send him to the capital for the imperial exams. She’s still faithfully waiting for him to return after passing. Everyone was deeply moved by her story, and some wealthy young ladies and daughters of officials even went to comfort her. You see, even though many people surround her, she doesn’t flatter any of them…”

“Oh, how touching…”

“Miss Lü is so beautiful. If only I could play the guqin that well, Juan'er and Sister Xing'er would be so envious! And if that scholar who went to the capital for the exams ever returns…” Xiao Chan cupped her face, stars in her eyes.

Ning Yi wasn't particularly interested in such stories, but Xiao Chan's fondness for them was truly innocent. Ning Yi naturally wouldn't spoil her mood and smiled, “So, Xiao Chan, do you know any scholars heading to the capital without travel money?”

“No, I don’t. In the future, Xiao Chan… um, if I marry Master, and Master needs to go to the capital, Xiao Chan will take out all her savings, and then… it would be best if Master took Xiao Chan too. If we run out of money in the capital, Xiao Chan can earn it back by doing business…”

Ning Yi nodded and quietly asked, “How much secret money have you saved then?”

Xiao Chan had been joking earlier, but now her face flushed, “A-actually, it’s not much…”

They chatted for a while about the secret money. Ning Yi's intention was to cheer her up, and he spoke of her as being more capable than Lü Yingtong. Xiao Chan quickly waved her hands, saying, “No, not at all!” Soon, she put her worries aside and merrily skipped along, recounting recent Hangzhou anecdotes about talented scholars and beautiful women. No matter how much Su Tan'er had trained her to be a capable young woman, she, along with Juan'er and Xing'er at home, naturally enjoyed discussing such gossip and interesting stories, sometimes imagining herself as the heroine of a tale or comparing them to events around her.

“I think… Master and Mistress are even happier than them. Juan'er and Xing'er think so too…”

Xiao Chan finished speaking, her face flushed, when suddenly a voice called from behind, “Ning Liheng.” Ning Yi turned his head, and she turned hers too. In their sight, Lou Shuheng, holding a folding fan and clad in a flowing white robe, landed a punch squarely on Ning Yi’s face…

Su Tan'er and Wen Haiying rested for a while in a pavilion on one side of Xiaoyingzhou.

The women under the surrounding trees were mostly wives from various prominent families. Su Tan'er had greeted a few earlier, but they largely remained strangers.

In Hangzhou, Wen Haiying, Luo Tian’s wife, was considered a local figure. As a young woman, she was a daughter of an official and knew the upper-class women of Hangzhou. However, her nature was always gentle and meek, and after marrying Luo Tian, a merchant, she lost touch with her former companions. Her secluded life in recent years had led to emotional depression, making it difficult for her to interact much with others. Although she had largely recovered her spirits now, when it came to conversation, Su Tan'er, who accompanied her, was far more unrestrained and forthright.

Of course, among so many gentle-natured women, while Su Tan'er's temperament stood out, it wasn't unique. Among Wen Haiying's acquaintances were several women who were not only virtuous and outstanding in character, praised for their devotion to their husbands and children, but also adept at social interactions among women, making them similar to Su Tan'er.

“For years now, there’s been a tradition here in Hangzhou called the Red Scarf Society. It's said that women are just as capable as men. It’s not a strict organization; just a group of girls who join around the time of their coming-of-age ceremony, sometimes gathering to chat or do needlework. When I was little, my elder sister brought me along, but I didn’t get to know many people, and after I married, we didn't meet up anymore. Look, over there, under the tree, that’s Sister Xia, Grandfather Tang Xiuxuan’s granddaughter. She’s very kind, but I was timid then and didn’t speak to her much…”

Wen Haiying usually didn’t interact much with others, but now, with a trustworthy friend, she became quite talkative, sharing amusing anecdotes from her youth. She felt her disposition had been dull back then and assumed others wouldn't recognize her. However, a moment later, two women did approach to greet them: one was the daughter-in-law of a current Hangzhou vice-prefect, and the other was the granddaughter-in-law of the Chang family. After introductions, they didn’t mind that Su Tan'er was from a merchant family and sat down to chat in the pavilion.

They chatted about Wen Haiying’s memories from her youth, then about her elder sister, and Wen Haiying’s former reputation as a talented scholar. Naturally, the conversation then turned to today's gathering. As married women, they wouldn't discuss something as common as men. Instead, they talked about poetry. Earlier, Lou Shuheng and his companions had been composing poems, and these two women had been nearby, watching them confidently present their verses. Among the women, there was, of course, a certain appreciation for the poetry.

“…Just now, I saw Miss Su speaking with Lou Shuheng, so it seems your families know each other. Honestly, Young Master Lou’s poem was truly excellent; in just a few lines, he captured the essence of Xiaoyingzhou… Oh, speaking of poetry, Sister Wen, your literary talent was the best back then. What do you think, Sister Wen?”

Wen Haiying thought for a moment: “I haven’t really written much these past few years, but… it was indeed quite good…”

When asked, Su Tan'er naturally agreed, saying, “Actually, I don’t understand poetry as well as you sisters, but it certainly sounds very good.” To her, anyone who could compose poetry was impressive. In her youth, at poetry gatherings, whoever received the most praise was naturally the best in her eyes, and she was captivated by them. That feeling had faded considerably after marrying Ning Yi, but if she had to judge good from bad, she still relied on others’ applause.

They chatted a few more sentences about poetry. Su Tan'er listened as they discussed the merits of the verses, occasionally agreeing and nodding seriously. Soon after, she recalled something and casually mentioned during their conversation, “Actually, a few days ago, when my husband and I were visiting here during a lake excursion, he also composed a poem. It seemed to come to him spontaneously at the time, and I only remember a few lines. It’s somewhat similar to their poems, let me think…”

She tried hard to recall: “West Lake’s shores are lined with temples, pavilions dim and bright like sleeping robes. Baoning lies… in the finest place, water’s light encompasses all, without end. No chariot dust or horse hooves break the silence, at times, sea-moon and tide depend on each other… He said four lines then, but I only remember these three…” She pursed her lips, a little regretful.

This was actually “Sending a Monk Back to Baoning,” written by Qin Guan, a ten-line, 140-character poem. Ning Yi had read this long poem before but couldn’t recall it completely; he only remembered the first four lines, the rest being disjointed. During those days, as the family toured around, Ning Yi naturally couldn't resist reciting a few memorable lines of poetry to express his feelings, or discussing things like, “To truly enjoy West Lake, a clear lake is not as good as a rainy lake, a rainy lake not as good as a moonlit lake, and a moonlit lake not as good as a snowy lake.” The family enjoyed these outings together.

He recited four lines of this poem, and Su Tan'er tried hard to remember, only managing three. But it sounded smooth to her, and she thought her husband’s talent was overflowing, so it must be a good poem. There was a subtle hint of pride in her sharing. If Lou Shuheng had witnessed this, he would likely have realized that Su Tan'er had no admiration for his poetry at all; her compliments to Wen Haiying were merely polite.

Indeed, even as a partial poem, once recited, the other three were surprised for a moment. They then inquired about Su Tan'er’s husband, and Su Tan'er, pleased inwardly, humbly spoke about him. Wen Haiying quietly savored the lines, then softly said, “No wonder brother-in-law is the foremost scholar of Jiangning…” She hadn't socialized much in a long time and was completely unaware of Ning Yi’s other poems. When the other two women then asked, they were astonished: “Could it be Ning Liheng of 'Shuidiao Getou'…?” “Is it Ning Liheng of 'Qing Yu An'?” As they spoke of those other verses, Wen Haiying listened in astonishment as well. Su Tan'er, having successfully shown off, happily recounted how she and her husband came to be there, naturally omitting Ning Yi’s identity as a live-in son-in-law, as it wasn’t important anyway.

At that moment, on the other side of Xiaoyingzhou, a commotion seemed to be brewing. Through the tree shadows, some people looked that way, and others hurried towards the disturbance. From a distance, it appeared as if something major had happened, drawing a large crowd. The four women in the pavilion glanced over, then, chatting and laughing, made their way towards it.

Rewind to a moment earlier: Lou Shuheng’s fist landed squarely on Ning Yi’s face.

In any case, this was a relatively peaceful period. Although Ning Yi exercised regularly and practiced the internal martial arts left by Lu Hongti every day, when it came to on-the-spot reactions, he wouldn’t be much faster than an ordinary person without prior mental preparation. Lou Shuheng's sudden punch was naturally unavoidable for him.

The punch knocked his face to one side, and as Lou Shuheng’s figure came into view, Ning Yi frowned in confusion.

If the other person had been holding a knife, he would likely have reacted immediately. But because it wasn't a knife, the first thought that came to his mind wasn't retaliation, but rather trying to understand what had happened—or, given his character, wondering what "wicked deed he had committed" this time.

That first punch landed perfectly; perhaps it was the beginning of all tragedy.

Lou Shuheng had a wild and uninhibited personality, but he was, after all, a scholar from a prominent family, so it was rare for him to get into a physical fight. Frankly, his punch wasn't very damaging to Ning Yi, but Lou Shuheng didn't perceive it that way. He threw the punch with force, hitting Ning Yi’s cheek. The punch landed so smoothly, feeling so good, that his next action was almost unconscious: he pulled back his arm and threw a second punch, eager to continue experiencing that unrestrained feeling, as if it were a lingering echo from the Tang Dynasty.

Ning Yi raised his hand to block, and at the same time, Xiao Chan, who was slightly behind him, suddenly lunged forward, crying, “What are you doing?!”

The usually delicate Xiao Chan now seemed like a she-wolf suddenly snapping into action. The three maids at home, when managing and scolding servants, might display a similar demeanor. Xiao Chan swung her hands, trying to block Lou Shuheng’s assault. Of course, she was just a girl with spirit but no strength. Lou Shuheng had no affection for her either. He altered the direction of his punch, slightly reducing its force, and struck Xiao Chan’s shoulder: “Get lost!”

Xiao Chan cried “Ah!” and fell backward. Ning Yi’s hand shot out to grab her arm.

“I should have yelled ‘get lost’…” The thought flashed through Lou Shuheng’s mind. That punch hadn't landed very cleanly, but his momentum was still strong. He then raised a foot and aimed a kick at Ning Yi. However, as his gaze lifted, he saw the change in Ning Yi’s eyes. Ning Yi’s gaze shifted back from Xiao Chan’s direction, and in that instant, his mind went blank.

It was like seeing his father’s most somber look just before he exploded in anger.

He had only seen that look once in his childhood. Years ago, his family had been in a bitter, almost fatal, feud with the Chen family of Suzhou. His mother had fallen ill and died during that time. One evening, when he went to his father's side, the courtyard was unlit, and his father sat alone in an armchair in the room, almost merging with the surrounding darkness. Soon after, the Chen family was virtually wiped out. Looking back, he felt his father at that time was like a lion lurking in the shadows.

He was full of youthful vigor then and deeply loved by his father, so he wasn’t afraid. Instead, he greatly yearned for it. Later, he settled down a bit and took on some family affairs because he hoped that one day he, too, could possess such an imposing aura; that feeling was very appealing. But it wasn't evening now, and there was no darkness anywhere. The scorching sun shone down from the sky, and yet, in that instant, he seemed to see that darkness again.

The kick landed with a thud on Ning Yi’s chest.

Then came a sharp “smack,” startling the sunlight and the leaves.

The two men were similar in build and demeanor. Lou Shuheng wasn't as sturdy as a martial artist, but he wasn't frail either. Ning Yi, too, had the build of a tall, slender scholar. Lou Shuheng’s kick landed on Ning Yi’s chest, but Ning Yi’s body barely moved. Then, with a reverse swing, he delivered an astonishing slap.

Lou Shuheng's body spun through the air, looking almost as if he had bounced off Ning Yi’s chest, then with a splash, he plunged into the nearby pond.

After a moment of shock, the crowd, now having vaguely understood what happened, gathered around. Ning Yi put his arm around Xiao Chan, asking about her condition. In the pond, Lou Shuheng, whose head was likely dazed for a while, finally managed to regain his senses, as he knew how to swim. He thrashed a few times in the water, coughing, with blood streaming from his mouth and nose. He pointed upwards, his arm, mouth, and entire face contorted and trembling, “You—you—you—you—you…”

“Brother Lou, have you perhaps made a mistake?”

Ning Yi looked down, asking distinctly, a shoe print still clearly visible on his chest.

Then, some people on the bank pushed forward. Someone shouted, “Brother Lou! What happened?!”

“Brother Lou, did this kid cause trouble?”

“Brother Lou…”

The shouts instantly engulfed the area. Ning Yi took a breath, then exhaled with a hint of boredom; he already had a rough idea of what would happen next. However, Lou Shuheng’s subsequent reaction did surprise him, and it also coincidentally answered the questions in his mind.

Most people knew Lou Shuheng’s identity, and given his family’s standing, his friends instantly rushed over. Lou Shuheng had also regained his bearings by now. Pointing at Ning Yi, he loudly yelled, “Seize him! Seize them! Adulterer! This Ning Yi is a live-in son-in-law, yet he’s actually dallying with a maid! Seize them! Immoral! Seize them and drown them in a pig cage—!”

“Such a thing?!”

“Disgraceful!”

“Seize them!”

Several scholars rushed towards them. Ning Yi glanced at them, then back at Lou Shuheng, and said gravely, “Not going to talk this over?” His demeanor was calm, and his words carried an inherent authority. But at that moment, an old man in the crowd, his brows furrowed in anger, shouted, “Nephew Lou, is this true?! Don’t worry! Come on, seize this immoral pair for me!”

Xiao Chan huddled beside Ning Yi, clutching his clothes with both hands, on the verge of tears. A scholar reached out to grab Xiao Chan. Ning Yi’s gaze sharpened, and with a thud, the first man collapsed squarely to the ground. The second scholar threw a punch at Ning Yi, who casually swung him, tossing him into the pond.

The chaos began to spread…

I’ve always thought that scene in 'Curse of the Golden Flower,' where Chow Yun-Fat uses a hairpin to backhand his youngest son to the ground, is the most imposing moment I've ever seen in any movie… You can almost faintly hear the roar of a lion…!

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