Chapter 19: Resolution
Outside the door, naturally, came Pan Shi’s wailing and cursing that seemed to shake the heavens, but Jiang Song’an paid it no mind; he even pulled Yuan Yao toward the house, intending to continue eating that bowl of plain noodles.
Yuan Yao looked at Jiang Song’an, still somewhat dazed: “We’re just… ignoring it?”
Jiang Song’an gave a careless laugh. “How to deal with them? Money, they won’t get; entry, they won’t have. If they want to wail outside the door, let them.”
“But… we still need to go out ourselves.”
Besides, if Pan Shi truly caused a scene right in front of the Jiang household, the neighbors around would surely take issue.
Jiang Song’an ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry. There are ways to handle scoundrels like them. I guarantee, within two days, they’ll pack up and leave!”
Yuan Yao’s eyes widened.
“But first, tell me what’s going on with Xiao Qi and Xiao Li’s household registration documents?”
Yuan Yao sighed, “I couldn’t find them when I left back then; she had hidden them separately. I originally planned to approach the village head after the first lunar month ended. Since household registration management isn’t as strict now, I wonder if we can reissue them.”
Jiang Song’an nodded, “This is a serious matter. I’ve already inquired, and household registration documents are required even for enrolling in school. Xiao Qi’s case is more urgent.”
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao grew anxious: “Then tomorrow I…”
Before she could finish her sentence, she recalled Lady Pan standing at the doorway, and her brows furrowed once more.
Jiang Song’an suddenly smiled and said, “Enough. Go about your business; I’ll handle this matter. Tell me, what did you sell at the market these past two days? Let me see.”
..
Since Jiang Song’an and Yuan Yao had already informed Aunt Dou and the Liu family beforehand, no one paid any heed to Lady Pan’s tantrums and outrageous behavior at the gate.
Granny Liu had been listening to the commotion from this side and, having just heard the full account from her daughter-in-law, sighed with emotion, “This Lady Yuan’s life has truly been fraught with hardship. Last time I only heard a rough outline; I never expected there to be so many twists and turns involved.”
“Exactly! That’s shameless to the extreme, making outrageous demands and even setting their sights on Yuan Shuang and the others. Pah!”
Sister Hongmei was equally indignant and couldn’t help but vent her anger at home.
Old Lady Liu sighed, “In this world, things are often as they seem. Don’t be misled by how fiercely that couple makes a scene; most likely, they’re just paper tigers. Song’an knows exactly how to deal with such people. The truly troublesome ones aren’t those who confront you openly, but those who secretly plot against you behind your back. Those are the most dangerous.”
Hongmei probably knew exactly whom her mother-in-law was referring to, so she sighed in agreement, “That’s true…”
–
Just as Grandma Liu had said, although Pan Shi and Du Yuan looked fierce on the surface, it took Jiang Song’an less than half a day to uncover their true intentions.
Jiang Song’an knew many people in Shenmu Town, and soon, news arrived through the back door.
Lingzhou lies in the north; indeed, this winter’s snow disaster had driven countless refugees southward. Presumably having neither relatives nor grain, this couple had been traveling while asking around, and their sole purpose in seeking out Yuan Yao was simply to shamelessly beg for some silver.
You might say such people aren’t truly frightening, since they have nothing left to lose and are indeed mere scoundrels; yet if you call them terrifying, it’s because their schemes are written plainly across their faces. Fortunately, they revealed their true colors immediately. Had they encountered someone cunning enough to avoid confrontation and instead play the family card, that would have been truly disgusting.
“I heard that the man was being chased by debt collectors not long ago,” whispered the apprentice at the iron shop.
Jiang Song’an quickly seized on the key point: “Who is the creditor?”
“Ma Laosan. He also fled here during the famine, but he’s capable; he settled in the county town ten days ago. That couple probably doesn’t dare go to the county town for this very reason.”
Jiang Song’an pondered briefly. “That makes things easier.” He whispered a few instructions into the apprentice’s ear, and the other man nodded repeatedly as he listened…
Since that day, Pan Shi and Du Yuan have indeed taken up residence right outside the Jiang family’s gate. With nothing but a tattered straw mat and a worn-out quilt, they made themselves a makeshift bed at the doorstep. Pan Shi has now completely degenerated into a shrew; for the sake of money, she cares not a whit for her dignity. Disheveled and unkempt, she looks no different from an old beggar woman.
Whenever someone passed by, Lady Pan would begin wailing to the heavens and calling upon her mother: “Everyone, come and judge this for yourselves! This family’s niece, Yuan Yao, truly has a heart of stone… In the dead of winter, she abandons her own uncle and aunt, refusing even to repay the silver she owes… Come, everyone, judge this for yourselves!”
Shenmu Town is so small that everyone knows who lives in this house. Although one or two people might have their doubts, in these times, no one wants to get involved in trouble; at most, they’d cast a couple of curious glances before moving on. After shouting and screaming all day, Pan Shi had run out of energy.
“That wretched girl truly has a heart of stone.” Pan’s teeth ground together as she glared at her husband. “You should never have softened your heart to pull them out of the mire back then!”
Du Yuan frowned and remained silent, while Pan Shi continued her tirade: “We really underestimated that girl back then! She ran off with the money to get married! Now she’s living the good life! Just look at what you’ve become! A shameless ingrate!”
Suddenly, Du Yuan asked, “Back then, was it truly Yuan Yao who took those ten taels of silver from our family?”
Yesterday, he clearly heard Yuan Yao say that the money she took was her own.
Pan Shi froze for a moment, then flew into a rage: “What do you mean! Are you saying I lied to you?! Are you stupid?! You believe her words?! What money did her mother leave behind? What money did her mother even have? Yes, if there truly was some money left by her mother, then during those few months she stayed in our home, she never mentioned it once. She fully intended to eat and drink at your expense for free. You’re such a fool! Being cheated like this and still not realizing it!”
Du Yuan felt even more irritated: “Still, it was indeed wrong of you to take those twenty taels of silver back then.”
Pan Shi suddenly jumped up: “Du Yuan! What do you mean now? Are you settling accounts with me?! Why did I take those twenty taels back then? Wasn’t it because the village was about to distribute land? If we hadn’t used that money to grease palms beforehand, do you think we would have received any irrigated fields?!”
Du Yuan held his head in silence, while Pan’s chest heaved: “Fine, I see it now—you’re resentful. You think I’m at fault too!”
Du Yuan: “No! Enough, stop shouting!”
“I will shout, I will shout!! Oh heavens… why is my fate so bitter… married to such a useless man… and still cheated so badly by your relatives…”
Pan’s cries were heard by the Jiang, Chen, and Liu households. Aunt Dou chuckled: “Looks like this couple has started quarreling among themselves first.”
Yuan Yao, hearing this from inside, was furious: “She’s lying! I’ve never taken a single coin from her family!”
Jiang Song’an, currently holding Yuan Yao as they prepared for their afternoon nap, couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this: “So you know how to use that word too.”
Yuan Yao’s face flushed red with anger. After venting, she glanced at Jiang Song’an, who appeared utterly nonchalant, and couldn’t resist muttering, “What exactly is your plan?”
They couldn’t simply stay indoors forever; she still wanted to conduct business and earn money, especially since she had already accepted deposits.
Jiang Song’an reached out to embrace her. “Rest assured, by tomorrow at the latest. I suspect this aunt of yours is no simple woman; she’s likely hiding something from your uncle.”
Yuan Yao also picked up on it: “Strange indeed. Wasn’t she pregnant when I left? Where’s the child now?”
Jiang Song’an pondered for a moment: “Never mind that. Let’s wait until tomorrow.”
–
Just as Jiang Song’an had foreseen, early the next morning, while Pan Shi and Du Yuan were still dozing in their corner, several burly men suddenly appeared before them: “Du Yuan!”
The shout jolted Du Yuan awake instantly.
Seeing the person before her, she was terrified out of her wits.
“You… you all…”
“Truly, we searched high and low in vain, only to find you effortlessly right here. You’ve really grown bold, daring to come to Shenmu Town! Didn’t you know our boss is in Qingshan County?”
The newcomers were none other than Ma Laosan’s men. By now, Pan Shi had also awakened; upon seeing them, she too was frightened out of her wits.
Those burly men wasted no words with them and reached out to grab people. Pan Shi screamed in terror, “Don’t grab me, don’t grab me! I came to Shenmu Town just to collect money for you! It’s this family! They owe us money!”
The burly men glanced suspiciously at the Jiang household. Just then, the Jiang family’s gate suddenly opened, and Jiang Song’an strolled out slowly, meeting their gazes.
“Don’t speak nonsense,” Jiang Song’an said. “Our family doesn’t owe you any money.”
“They do! Honorable sirs! My niece has money; she married him, truly! Go ask him for it! He definitely has it!”
Jiang Song’an stood with his arms crossed, watching Pan’s performance with a detached expression, while the burly men recognized him: “Second… Second Brother?”
Jiang Song’an raised an eyebrow. “I’ll visit your boss at the Ma family another day. These two are too annoying, constantly causing trouble right outside my door. I’m leaving them in your hands.”
“No problem!”
Immediately, one of the burly men stepped forward and grabbed Pan. She let out a piercing scream, but her mouth was swiftly covered. At this moment, Du Yuan was truly terrified; realizing that Jiang Song’an was indeed not someone to be trifled with, he changed his tune and rushed forward to beg for mercy. Jiang Song’an glanced at him with a look both pitying and sorrowful.
“Yaoyao lived in your home for three months and did plenty of work; is this how you treat her as her uncle? Let me tell you plainly: when Yaoyao left, she didn’t take a single coin from your family. As for those ten taels of silver and the twenty taels of betrothal gift, just use your brain and think carefully about who actually pocketed them! Was all this truly your wife’s fault, or Yaoyao’s? Ponder that well yourself!”
Du Yuan widened his eyes in disbelief, turning to stare at Pan Shi. The burly man holding Pan Shi also chuckled, “Seeing how pitiful you are, I’ll tell you one more thing: your woman has been involved with some young lover outside. In the end, you were the one borrowing money on her behalf. Tsk, so foolish without even realizing it!”
Having said this, the burly man dragged Pan Shi away forcibly. Du Yuan was similarly carried off by others, but now he resembled soft noodles, completely drained of strength, allowing himself to be pulled farther and farther away…
Finally, the people had left, and tranquility returned to the entrance of the Jiang household. However, the doorway remained a mess. Jiang Song’an frowned, kicking the scattered items aside, then beckoned over a vagrant, handing him two copper coins. Delighted, the man immediately began cleaning up.
Turning around, Yuan Yao was standing at the doorway, watching him.
Jiang Song’an strode back, blocking the onlookers’ gazes from outside: “The wind is strong out there; let’s go inside and talk. Were you frightened just now?”