Wu, the manager, agreed to compensate Elder Brother with 300 taels of medical expenses. Wen Da didn’t dare to agree without consulting you first, only telling Wu he would ask. Wu said if Elder Brother agrees to this compensation, he would personally deliver it.
Fang Chengyun had spent less than 10 taels on treatment, including an extra 5 taels for the doctor. Even considering future medication, 300 taels was quite generous. Being young and healthy, the bone-setter said he would recover without disability, so Fang Chengyun and his wife were quite satisfied with the compensation.
Chapter 108 Old Husband, Young Wife (5)
Fang Fugui, seeing his sons reconciled and the matter resolved, felt relieved. But he immediately remembered how he had rashly scolded Xue Siniang without understanding the situation, causing her to run back to her father’s home. He couldn’t help but feel regretful.
He called out: “Wen Da, come with me.”
Meng Qing signaled Fang Bao to bring the handrail, bid farewell to Fang Chengyun’s family and Fang Xingye, and followed Fang Fugui out of the room.
After walking a bit, Fang Fugui casually said to Meng Qing: “Wen Da, go see your grandfather tonight.”
“Yes, I’ll go right away and have dinner at Grandfather’s,” Meng Qing thought to himself that Fang Fugui wanted him to inform Xue Siniang that the misunderstanding was resolved.
If Xue Siniang was still angry, Fang Fugui would not go to the Xue family to fetch her, as that would only lead to embarrassment.
Yu Yi, hearing their conversation through her earpiece, knew Meng Qing was about to arrive. The Fang and Xue families were close, so he would be here in the blink of an eye. She saw Chun Qiao, Xiang Lan, and the others had almost finished tidying the room, so she walked outside to wait for him at the door.
Yu Yi walked through the courtyard after martial arts training had ended, with most disciples having already returned home. A few were assigned to clean the yard. As Yu Yi passed by, she glanced at a young disciple practicing diligently. When their eyes met, he quickly turned away, lost his balance, and tumbled to the ground. He hastily got up, his face turning bright red.
Yu Yi couldn’t help but smile. Recalling the memories of Fang Han Zhu, this person had left no significant impression, so she continued walking towards the courtyard gate. As she reached the screen wall, she heard someone call her “Zhu’er” from behind.
Turning around, she saw Xue Jin Song and greeted him with a curtsy, “Grandfather.”
Xue Jin Song approached her and asked, “Zhu’er, are you going out?”
Yu Yi didn’t want to mention that Fang Wen Da was about to arrive, so she was waiting outside.
She replied, “Han Zhu is just taking a casual walk.”
Xue Jin Song waved towards the corner of the courtyard, “Tian Rui, come here.”
The young man who had just fallen hesitated before responding, “Yes.” He wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve as he approached. Upon closer inspection, he was quite handsome, though his face was flushed, whether from his earlier embarrassment or from training.
Xue Jin Song told Yu Yi, “Zhu’er, as a young lady, don’t go out alone. Let Tian Rui accompany you.”
Yu Yi was taken aback and about to refuse when Xue Jin Song continued, “Tian Rui is diligent and can endure hardship. He’s been studying martial arts for less than two years and has already surpassed several senior students. Don’t let his background…”
Yu Yi listened as Xue Jin Song rambled on, clearly suggesting he was trying to introduce a potential husband for Fang Han Zhu. Glancing at Tian Rui, whose face was growing redder, she felt awkward and stamped her foot lightly, saying, “Grandfather, Han Zhu isn’t planning to go out, just walking around the courtyard.”
Xue Jin Song laughed, “Oh, just walking around? Then I won’t bother you. Go ahead and walk.” With that, he left Yu Yi and Tian Rui, returning to his room.
Yu Yi smiled softly at the young man and curtsied, “Han Zhu won’t disturb Brother Tian Rui’s practice.”
Zheng Tian Rui, somewhat disappointed by her lack of interest in conversation, politely returned her curtsy, “Not at all. Miss Fang is too kind.”
“Han Zhu,” she suddenly heard Meng Qing’s voice. Turning, she saw him entering from beyond the screen wall, with Fang Bao behind him. She greeted him, “Fourth Brother.”
Zheng Tian Rui, who was about to leave, now had to stand in place and greet Meng Qing, “Young Master Fang.”
Meng Qing looked at Zheng Tian Rui with a playful smile, “Han Zhu, who is this young gentleman?”
Yu Yi introduced him, “He’s Brother Tian Rui, studying martial arts at the training hall.”
“Oh—” Meng Qing deliberately elongated his tone: “Brother Tian—Rui… Han Zhu, you never mentioned him before?”
Zheng Tian Rui was embarrassed, the red on his face returning. He quickly said, “Young Master Fang, Miss Fang, I must return to my practice,” and hurried back to the courtyard corner.
Meng Qing softly laughed, “Why is Brother Tian—Rui practicing facing the wall? This doesn’t seem like Grandfather’s martial arts technique.”
Yu Yi looked at Meng Qing with annoyance. She was already uncomfortable with Xue Jin Song’s introduction, and now Meng Qing was making it worse. She wished she hadn’t come out to wait for him.
Meng Qing leaned in and whispered, “This Brother Tian—Rui isn’t as handsome as me.”
Yu Yi glared at him.
She smiled and whispered back, “He’s not as handsome as my Fourth Brother, not you.”
She walked inside, calling out, “Grandfather, Fourth Brother is here.”
Xue Jin Song was delighted to see Meng Qing, inviting him to sit, “Wen Da, sit down. Dinner will be ready soon.” Among his grandchildren, Fang Wen Da was the most promising, having already passed the scholar’s examination. If he could pass the county exam next year, he would be one step closer to an official career, which would bring pride to his grandfather.
The dinner was lively, with Xue Si Niang’s brothers being jovial. Three generations gathered around the table, chatting and laughing. Meng Qing, while not lacking in alcohol tolerance, knew that Fang Wen Da, with his scholarly physique and no prior drinking experience, would likely get drunk immediately. Moreover, he had something to do after returning to his room and couldn’t afford to be intoxicated.
Meng Qing found various excuses to refuse, but Xue Yi Peng was persistently enthusiastic and wouldn’t accept any refusal. Facing the full cup of wine, Meng Qing scratched his mouth corner, looking helplessly at Xue Si Niang. She protected her son by grabbing the wine cup and drinking it herself, then continuing to pour and drink more.
Yu Yi, knowing that Fang Fu Gui didn’t trust her and Fang Wen Da, whispered in her ear, “Mother, Father already knows it was a misunderstanding. Fourth Brother is here because Father sent him. Isn’t he just wanting you to return?”
Xue Si Niang, already quite drunk, slammed the table and shouted, “Not going back!”
Xue Yi Peng, also somewhat intoxicated, echoed, “Not going back!”
Xue Si Niang continued, “Even if Fang Fu Gui comes to take me now, Si Niang will not return!
Xue Yipeng also said, “If Fourth Sister doesn’t go back, I won’t go back either!”
Xue Jingsong laughed and said, “Yipeng, are you drunk? You won’t go back? Where else would you go in your own home?” As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Xue Yipeng lower his head and with a “thud” fall drunk on the table.
Xue Jingsong burst into laughter. Meng Qing and her aunt-in-law helped Xue Yipeng back to his room.
Yu Yi also advised Xue Sinian, “Mother, you’re tired today, you should rest early.”
