The onlookers in the crowd were practically suffering from indigestion, feeling stuffed to bursting from the sheer feast of drama unfolding before them.
The scene before their eyes was simply too staggering.
A fine gentleman clad in silks and satins was forcing his own flesh-and-blood son—er, he was his flesh-and-blood son, right?
Doubt suddenly crept into the minds of the onlookers. But whether he was a biological son or an adopted one, to see him forced by this gentleman in lavish silks to kneel right outside someone's doorway, ready to take a beating or whatever punishment was meted out, while the gentleman himself stood bent in a deep, perpetual bow with a switch in hand...
Was this some new play put on by the theatrical troupe next door?
Or was Liang Qu some prince lost among the common folk by the imperial family, about to ascend the throne, with his former enemies on their knees begging for forgiveness?
That was how the storytellers always told it.
Covered in snot and tears, Xue Dingyi looked on the verge of wiping them all over him. Liang Qu hastily stepped back, shaking him off.
Aware of the disgust he had drawn, Xue Dingyi did not dare clutch at him again, but began kowtowing like a pestle pounding garlic, a sight that even the neighboring fishermen found hard to watch.
"Ah Shui, what on earth did he do?"
"Yeah, tell us so we understand!"
They did not dare question the finely dressed gentleman, but they had watched Liang Qu grow up from childhood, so they felt none of that fear toward him. Calling out one after another, they scratched their heads and ears, itching to know the reason.
Hearing their cries, Xue Chengquan turned to face the villagers and recounted what had transpired at the martial hall.
However, he left out several details. For instance, he made no mention of the two fellow villagers being beaten, and he glossed over the fact that Liang Qu had only been accepted as Yang Dongxiong's personal disciple after the incident.
Hearing this, the onlookers only gathered that Xue Dingyi had been spoiled rotten and had a vicious temper, offending Liang Qu, a disciple of Yang Dongxiong, so Xue Chengquan had brought his son over to offer an apology and kneel right on the spot.
Liang Qu had an inkling of why Xue Chengquan put it that way.
To elevate his standing.
As though he had been taken on as a disciple purely because he was exceptionally outstanding, and for no other reason.
When people attained success, they usually preferred being praised for innate genius rather than mere hard work or good fortune, for the former was a far rarer attribute, one that better highlighted their extraordinary nature.
Had he recounted every detail, Xue Chengquan worried the villagers might think Liang Qu had simply lucked out. After all, without that clash, Liang Qu might not have caught Master Yang's eye and been accepted as a disciple, which would only bring unnecessary displeasure.
Hearing this, everyone was dumbfounded, unable to believe their ears.
What in the world? Liang Qu—Liang Ah Shui—had become Squire Yang's personal disciple?
In the crowd, Liang Guangtian's wife pinched her husband's forearm hard, saying anxiously, "Husband, did you hear that?!"
Wincing in pain, Liang Guangtian shook her off. "I heard! I heard! What are you pinching me for?"
"This personal disciple business... it must make a lot of money, right?"
"How should I know? Personal disciple or not, aren't they all just paying money to study martial arts at the martial hall? What's the difference?"
Liang Guangtian brushed it off, but though he did not understand the intricacies, someone else did, and immediately sneered at him.
Liang Guangtian whipped around in fury. "Why is it you again?!"
The sneering man was none other than the villager who had mocked Liang Guangtian for having money to drink but no money to lend grain; jostled by the crowd, the two had ended up side by side once more.
"I'd say you're a reed on a wall—top-heavy, light-footed, shallow-rooted; or a bamboo shoot in the mountains—sharp-tongued, thick-skinned, and empty inside! The difference between a personal disciple and an ordinary disciple is night and day! To be an ordinary disciple at a martial hall, all you need is to pay silver.
"A personal disciple, though, has truly kowtowed and formally apprenticed himself! He's treated like half a son, with all the standing that comes with it! What's more, Ah Shui went to the Yang Family Martial Hall. Even the county magistrate has to offer polite greetings whenever he meets Old Squire Yang there!"
Even the county magistrate had to offer greetings?!
Liang Guangtian and his wife stood frozen in place.
Surrounded by the crowd, Liang Qu suddenly lost whatever interest he had. With the man making such a grand show, he could hardly twist Xue Dingyi's head off in broad daylight, and picking up the switch to give him another beating would be utterly pointless. Waving his hand in dismissal, he said, "Let's leave it at that. We'll turn the page on this matter."
Overjoyed, Xue Dingyi slammed his forehead to the ground. "Brother Liang is magnanimous and generous! Thank you for sparing my dog life! Thank you, Brother Liang! Thank you, Brother Liang!"
Liang Qu rolled his eyes and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Xue Chengquan stepped forward to block Liang Qu's way, startling Xue Dingyi so badly his eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
*Damn it, am I still your son? The victim already forgave me—are you truly trying to push me into an early grave?!*
To Xue Dingyi's surprise, things did not go as he feared. Xue Chengquan cupped his hands in respect and said, "Young Master Liang is indeed magnanimous, but I cannot be so tactless as to accept it without giving anything in return. My rebellious son committed such an unconscionable act, and as the father who failed to discipline him, I am utterly ashamed.
"I see that Young Master Liang dwells in a humble abode yet harbors noble aspirations. Still, having a neat, well-kept home would surely make life more comfortable. How about allowing me to renovate this house for Young Master Liang?"
Xue Chengquan had originally intended to pay monetary compensation and had even instructed an attendant to bring a hundred taels of silver. But the moment he saw the house, his thoughts had shifted.
If he gave a hundred taels of silver, once it was spent, it would be forgotten entirely.
Yet if he used it to renovate the house, Liang Qu would surely be reminded of him time and again while living in it.
Hearing this, Liang Qu was quite tempted.
Living in this mud-brick shack was indeed uncomfortable. The floor was packed yellow dirt that turned to mud on rainy days, clinging to his feet, and the walls let in drafts.
But renovations would take several months at the very least, wouldn't they?
After a moment's thought, Liang Qu declined. Compared to the benefits, it was simply too inconvenient. In any case, all he needed was that one bed to sleep on, and if he truly wanted a better night's rest, he could always stay at the martial hall.
Xue Chengquan was bitterly disappointed. Just as he was about to settle for the second-best option and produce the hundred taels of silver,
he heard Liang Qu say, "If you insist on doing something, our township has the River God Sacrifice in two days. Setting aside the shares led by the prominent households, every able-bodied adult male is expected to contribute one hundred wen of copper coins.
"If Squire Xue is truly so inclined, why not help cover this expense? That way, the villagers can save their money to enjoy a good New Year. And while you're at it, set up a porridge stall for a few days—there have been more and more beggars in the township these past two days."
Only recently had Liang Qu realized that this world actually ran on both solar and lunar calendars simultaneously. The lunar calendar guided agriculture, while holidays and breaks followed the solar calendar.
He had heard this was instituted by the Directorate of Astronomy for some special purpose, which was why this year's Spring Festival had not yet arrived.
With Xue Chengquan presenting himself at the door, Liang Qu had no qualms about being generous at someone else's expense; who knew, perhaps in the future he might truly become a respected elder of the township.
Of course, had Liang Qu known that Xue Chengquan had prepared a full hundred taels, he might have felt differently.
Hearing this, Xue Chengquan was overjoyed. As long as it left an impression on Liang Qu, it was worth every copper!
Besides, at one hundred wen per adult male, it would only amount to a few dozen taels. Even including the porridge stall, it wouldn't even reach eighty taels—cheaper than what he had planned!
The crowd of onlookers was thrilled as well. They had only come to watch the spectacle and enjoy the drama, never expecting such a bounty to fall right into their own laps.
A whole hundred wen! That meant several extra meat dishes and a jug of wine on the table for the New Year!
Several clever youths wiggled out from the crowd and looked at Xue Chengquan. "Squire, Squire, let us go tell everyone!"
Xue Chengquan laughed heartily, fishing out copper coins from his robes and distributing them one by one. "Please go tell everyone that aside from the leading prominent households, no one else has to pay a single coin for the River God Sacrifice! It's all on me, Xue—oh, no, it's all thanks to Young Master Liang!"
Having received their tips, the children beamed with delight, dashing into the streets to spread the word.
"Young Master Liang has become the martial hall master's disciple!"
"Young Master Liang is paying for everyone's share of the River God Sacrifice!"
"Young Master Liang is setting up a porridge stall to hand out porridge, so nobody has to go hungry!"
Passersby, utterly bewildered, stopped one of the children to ask, "Young Master Liang? Which Young Master Liang?"
"Liang Qu, Young Master Liang! Liang Ah Shui!"
Chapter 56