Remorse

Chen Qing finished his patrol shift and headed straight home to Yazi Bay.

When he pushed open the creaking cabin door, he saw piles of coarse cloth, rice flour, pork, salted fish, and other goods stacked in the corner.

Seeing his puzzled expression, Madam Han smiled and explained, "They're tokens of goodwill from the neighbors. The coarse cloth is from the Gao Family, the five jin of flour came from your Second Uncle, the pork from your Eldest Aunt, and the salted fish from Aunt Cui Hua... I've kept track of it all. We'll repay these favors someday."

She paused and lowered her voice. "A steward from the Cheng Family brought ten taels, and the Tiger Gang also sent someone with five taels of silver."

Chen Qing nodded.

Though Xu Chengfeng was only a minor gang leader, he was exceedingly shrewd and smooth in his dealings.

Knowing Chen Qing had passed the Martial Arts Examination with high honors, he had sent a generous gift to leave a good impression.

As for Cheng Ming sending ten taels, it was clear he placed great value on their relationship.

Thinking of something, Chen Qing said, "Mother, in a couple of days, let's go look at some houses."

Yazi Bay was a place where dragons and fish mingled, far less safe or convenient than the area around the Zhou Family Martial Academy. Quite a few senior brothers had settled their families there.

"Alright. We'll do as you say."

Madam Han nodded, then hesitated for a moment. "Do you want to make a trip to the Old Residence?"

Chen Qing narrowed his eyes and said softly, "I do. Bring along the rice flour Second Uncle prepared, and these two salted fish as well."

This visit was mainly to give them a warning, so they would not come looking for him after making a mess in the future.

The next day.

Carrying the rice flour and salted fish he had been given, Chen Qing passed through streets and alleys before soon arriving at the Chen Family Old Residence in Firewood Fish Market.

Before long, he reached the Chen Family Old Residence.

"Creak—"

The old courtyard gate was pushed open.

Old Master Chen sat on the steps smoking a dry tobacco pipe, his face full of sorrow. The instant he saw Chen Qing, wild joy burst from his clouded eyes. "Xiao Qing! You've come!"

Second Aunt was picking vegetables. The vegetables in her hands fell to the ground with a slap, her face turning pale as paper as her eyes darted about in panic.

"Grandfather," Chen Qing greeted calmly.

"Quick! Come inside!"

Old Master Chen rose excitedly and shouted into the house, "Second! Boil some water! Make good tea!"

Chen Wen, Second Uncle, ran out at the sound. A trace of panic flashed across his face before he forced out an exceptionally ugly smile. "A Qing. You... you came."

"What are you standing around for? Go on!"

Old Master Chen urged him, warmly ushering Chen Qing into the main hall.

"Blessed by the ancestors!"

Old Master Chen's voice trembled as he clutched Chen Qing's hand tightly. "My Old Chen Family... has finally produced someone with honors! A Qing, you... you've made something of yourself! You truly have!"

He repeated "made something of yourself" several times, tears streaming down his aged face as the great surprise swept away the gloom that had been weighing on him for days.

At this moment, this eldest grandson whom he had once neglected seemed to have become the Chen Family's future glory and pillar of support.

Everything had changed!

Old Master Chen's attitude was more courteous than ever, and beneath his delight lay a hint of cautious restraint.

Without needing to be told, Second Aunt swiftly served hot tea and even brought out a dish of malt candy she normally could not bear to eat.

Chen Wen, too, had shed his usual harshness, his mouth full of flattering words.

After chatting for a while, Chen Qing rose to take his leave.

Old Master Chen hurriedly tried to keep him. "Xiao Qing, stay for lunch? Grandfather hasn't spoken with you in so long—"

"No, I have things to do."

Chen Qing cut him off, his tone distant. "Take care of yourself."

A trace of disappointment rose in Old Master Chen's heart.

Watching his resolute retreating back, Second Aunt could not help murmuring, "Father, why not ask A Qing to help Xiao Heng—"

"Shut your mouth!"

Old Master Chen barked sharply, his gaze keen. "If you run into trouble in the future, don't go looking for Xiao Qing either! If he wants to lend a hand, he will do so himself. If he doesn't, none of you are to make nuisances of yourselves!"

Looking at the rice flour and salted fish that Chen Qing had returned untouched, Old Master Chen understood perfectly. This was Chen Qing drawing a clear line between them.

With the bond of blood, the Chen Family could still bask in a little of his lingering shade. But if they failed to know when to advance and when to retreat, and angered Chen Qing, then everything would be over.

Seeing the ashen, despairing faces of his second son and daughter-in-law, an immense wave of loss and regret surged into his heart.

Old Master Chen staggered a step, then collapsed dejectedly onto the stone steps. The dry tobacco pipe slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground.

Four Directions Street, Wang's Cloth Shop.

The dyeing workshop was stifling and reeked of harsh fumes.

Yang Huiniang gritted her teeth, half her body bent into the rinsing pool as she strained to drag the cotton cloth onto the stone trough.

Sweat mingled with dye water and ran into her eyes, but she had no time to wipe it away.

Bang! Bang!

She raised a heavy wooden pestle and pounded the wet cloth, sending out dull thuds.

"What are you dawdling for? Your hands and feet are slower than a turtle's!"

The steward woman walked over, her finger poking critically at the cloth. "Look at this. The color hasn't been beaten even, and this spot is wrinkled like old tree bark."

Yang Huiniang's heart tightened, but her hands did not stop. She only said softly, "Stewardess Wang, this bolt is thick and heavy. It was just pulled from the water. I'm pounding it hard."

"What a sin..."

An old weaver in the corner stopped her shuttle and whispered, "Huiniang is such a good girl. Her hands are quick and she's willing to work hard. Old Madam Wang is deliberately trying to work her to death."

"Exactly! Who doesn't know about that fool of a grandson of hers? He can't even keep his drool in! If Huiniang marries into that family, she'll be jumping into a fire pit! Old Madam Wang's heart is far too black!"

"But who told her she has no strong brothers from her mother's family to back her up? Let's mind our own business."

As soon as those words were spoken, the women workers around them fell silent. Only the monotonous clatter of the looms remained, and the air grew oppressive.

Old Madam Wang had a foolish grandson. She had long set her sights on Yang Huiniang, wanting to bring her home as an unpaid servant girl and breeding tool.

When Yang Huiniang refused, Old Madam Wang transferred her to this dyeing workshop—the bitterest, most exhausting place—to grind her down.

"Look at this life of hardship. Why suffer through it?"

The steward woman leaned close to Yang Huiniang and lowered her voice. "Agree to my proposal and marry into my family. I guarantee you'll never worry about food or clothes again—new clothes for all four seasons, ten jin of white flour. This old woman keeps her word!"

Her voice suddenly turned cold, like a poisoned needle. "But if you refuse to appreciate the favor... then prepare to work in this bitter kiln of a cloth shop until you die."

Yang Huiniang's face went white in an instant.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the dyeing workshop.

A young man in an indigo silk long robe entered, bearing an extraordinary air.

It was Wang Zhi, the Young Owner of Wang's Cloth Shop.

"Young Owner!"

"Young Master!"

The women workers all stopped what they were doing and respectfully lowered their heads.

Old Madam Wang instantly changed her expression, piling on flattery as she hurried forward. "Oh! Young Master! What brings you to this filthy place today? Do you have any instructions?"

Wang Zhi coldly swept his gaze over Old Madam Wang's ingratiating face, then said heavily to the two guards behind him, "Drag her out."

"Yes!"

The two broad-shouldered guards stepped forward at once and, without another word, seized Old Madam Wang and dragged her outside.

The smile on Old Madam Wang's face froze instantly, turning into terror. "Y-Young Owner?! Why are you doing th—!"

Her questioning was immediately drowned out by a muffled impact from outside, followed by pig-slaughter screams and pleas for mercy.

The dyeing workshop fell deathly silent. The women workers were as quiet as cicadas in winter, scarcely daring to breathe.

Wang Zhi looked around and said, "From this moment onward, Old Madam Wang is stripped of her post as steward! Pack her bedding and get out of the cloth shop. She is never to be hired again!"

His gaze shifted to the still-shaken Yang Huiniang, and his tone softened. "From this moment onward, the position of internal affairs steward of the Cloth Shop will be taken over by Miss Yang. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, report them directly to me."

The entire workshop was stunned by these words!

The women workers stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Yang Huiniang.

Yang Huiniang's mind went blank, as though this sudden upheaval had shaken her soul right out of her.

Wang Zhi gave Yang Huiniang a slight nod. "Please convey my regards to Brother Chen."

With that, he turned and left.

The moment the Young Owner disappeared through the doorway, the dyeing workshop exploded into uproar! The women workers rushed around Yang Huiniang like startled sparrows, all talking at once:

"Huiniang! Congratulations!"

"Still calling her Huiniang? You should call her Steward Yang!"

"Steward Yang! That 'Brother Chen' the Young Owner mentioned—could he be that cousin of yours who practices martial arts and boxing?"