Chapter Ninety-Seven: Qian Qing'en's End

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Qian Qing'en's End

Old Du Ding shifted from kneeling to sitting, and with Du Ming's help, he stood up. Despite the bruises on his forehead and the dust covering his body, he glared at Meng Qing and Du Min with hatred in his eyes.

Meng Qing felt refreshed and gratified. Those who wanted to harm her were now reaping the consequences of their actions, which was truly satisfying.

Du Min looked numb. Now that it was all over, the lingering guilt and unease in his heart seemed to have been completely eradicated. He felt only relief at that moment.

"Your family raised me for seventeen years and six months. The three years I spent the most money were at Chongwen Academy, about 27 strings of cash a year. For the rest of my school years, the amount increased from 3 to 15 strings of cash each year, and I'll calculate it all at 15 strings of cash. The six years from my birth until I started school, I'll also calculate it at 15 strings of cash. Add interest on the extra amount, and the total is 300 strings of cash. Tomorrow I'll have my second brother come back on my behalf to return these 300 strings of cash, to repay all the money you've spent on me over the years," Du Min said calmly. He relinquished his last shred of attachment, not caring whether the 300 strings of cash would actually end up in their hands, nor giving up on thinking about how much trouble this money would cause in the family.

Du Ming was visibly delighted. Three hundred strings of cash! That's enough for the old couple's retirement for thirty years. This is much more cost-effective than giving them money every year.

Mrs. Du was unhappy. She couldn't keep or use such a large sum of money, so it was better not to have it. She took a few steps forward and was about to mouth the words when she heard a few dry coughs.

Li Hongguo lowered her eyes and coughed, covering her mouth.

Du's mother glanced back at her, gave up, and retreated with her mouth shut.

Du Min witnessed the subtle sparring between the men, but chose to ignore it. He looked at Du Laoding and said, "Your twenty mu of mulberry fields and eighty mu of paddy fields will also be left to the eldest son's family. My second brother and I don't want them. The land and houses belong to him. He will be responsible for your and my mother's old age and funeral."

Old Du's eyes flickered, his teeth clenched. He belatedly realized that Du Min no longer cared about him and his wife; the eldest son and his wife treated them with no restraint whatsoever. But he couldn't bring himself to back out now and change his attitude to appease Du Min.

Meng Qing looked around with great interest. She loved watching the drama unfold and interjected, "On behalf of Du Li, I agree to give up inheriting the family property left by his parents after their death."

Old Du glared at her, wishing he could kill her. The thing he regretted most in his life was letting her into the Du family.

“Brother and sister-in-law, I will continue to give you your retirement money every year until our parents pass away,” Du Min said. “I will give you the money, and you will contribute your time and effort. Let’s each do our part.”

Li Hongguo suddenly raised her eyes and handed over three hundred strings of cash. Was she really going to keep giving them their retirement money? Was she using money to keep the old couple alive?

“The third son deserves a pension. His parents raised him wholeheartedly for seventeen and a half years, and this pension is a way of repaying the love and care they poured into him. Du Li has never received such treatment; instead, he suffered twenty-two years of emotional abuse. We will not pay this money,” Meng Qing explained for Du Min and also spoke up for Du Li.

Du Min did not refute. He looked at Du's mother and said, "I will tell my uncle that the annual pension money will be given to you directly. Whether you keep it for yourself or give it to your son or daughter-in-law is up to you."

Du's mother nodded quickly.

Footsteps were heard outside the courtyard, and everyone inside looked over.

Du Li paused as he entered the room. He quickly glanced around and saw that everyone was fine except for his father, who was covered in dust.

Meng Qing shook his head at him. Du Li saw this, swallowed his questions, and said, "When I came back, I saw the villagers moving tables and chairs. I guess the feast is about to start."

"I'll go first." Du Min left.

"Where's the child?" Meng Qing also pulled Du Li away.

After Li Hongguo and the others' voices and footsteps faded into the distance, she looked at the two old men and said, "Dad has an upset stomach, so he'll stay home tonight. I'll cook you two bowls of congee later."

Upon hearing this, Du Ming immediately transformed into a thug, forcing Du Laoding back into the west wing and then locking the door from the outside.

Du's mother watched without any reaction.

“Mother, after the second son and his wife leave, you should move to the south room to sleep, separate from my father, so he doesn’t go crazy and hurt you.” Li Hongguo continued to arrange, “Don’t worry, as long as you behave yourself and don’t cause trouble, I will treat you well. If you ask me, you and your father should be content. You gave birth to Du Min, this golden egg. Apart from not being able to speak, you and your father live a much more comfortable life than other old people in the village. You don’t raise silkworms or weave silk, and you don’t have to work in the fields. You can eat meat every two or three days, and you have a new set of clothes every season. What a good life! Don’t be too greedy.”

Du's mother didn't react.

"I will take good care of you. Thanks to you, I've gained a filial and good son for free." Li Hongguo felt extremely comfortable. What a wonderful life! She didn't have to work in the fields, and every year she not only received a sum of money but also gained a good reputation for serving her parents-in-law. In the past three years, she had lived a more comfortable life than a landlord. Jiang Hehua and Du Laoding couldn't die. She wished they could live to be a hundred years old, as long as turtles, and preferably be passed down as family heirlooms to her son and grandson.

Du's mother watched her smug expression silently, her hatred growing stronger in her heart.

The door to the west wing was slammed shut with a loud bang. Du Ming cursed and threatened, "Want to be tied to the bed again?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent.

Disgust flashed in Du's mother's eyes. "Stupid old man, how many times have you suffered losses, and you still haven't learned your lesson."

"Can we go now?" Du Ming asked Li Hongguo.

"You go first, I'll change my clothes. When I went to Sangtian to call my second son's wife, a jujube tree branch tore my sleeve." Li Hongguo excitedly went back to the house to choose clothes.

"Mother, are you coming with me, or are you waiting for Jinshu's mother to come with us?" Du Ming asked.

Du's mother followed him.

"Hurry, hurry, the feast is about to begin!" Uncle Du was about to call out, "Where's your father?"

“He ate something bad and can’t leave the house at all. He won’t show his face tonight,” Du Ming said without changing his expression.

Uncle Du shook his head and said cryptically, "He's just not destined to enjoy a good life."

“Yes,” Du Ming nodded in agreement.

Du's mother acted as if she hadn't heard anything; she left on her own without waiting for them.

The ancestral hall underwent major renovations three years ago, almost completely demolishing and rebuilding. The open space outside the gate was transformed into a walled courtyard. Tonight's banquet is being held in the courtyard, with seventeen tables crammed together, three of which are inside the ancestral hall itself.

As soon as Du's mother appeared, someone immediately invited her to sit at an inner table in the ancestral hall. Du Min and Du Li's family were all inside. She looked around and, as if nothing was wrong, walked over and sat down next to Du's third aunt.

"Is everyone here? Time to serve the food!" Uncle Du called out from outside. "Little ones, sit down and don't block the way for the food."

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhou ran in from outside and sat down next to Du Li.

"Wang Zhou, come sit next to me," Du Min beckoned.

“He’ll sit next to me.” Du Li refused on Wang Zhou’s behalf. There were people from other villages at the meal, and it would be inappropriate to have a young boy like Wang Zhou sit next to Du Min; it would be too conspicuous.

Du Min looked at Meng Qing. The person who arranged the seating tonight was observant; they had put her at the men's table and even arranged for a woman to accompany her.

Meng Qing smiled and said, "Wang Zhou, sit with us."

Du Min didn't say anything more.

The dishes began to be served. When the first dish was brought out, Li Hongguo arrived. She looked around, paused for a moment on Meng Qing, and then went straight to another table and sat down next to Du's mother.

Today, the village not only slaughtered pigs and sheep as offerings, but also slaughtered a total of one hundred chickens, ducks and geese, and meat and vegetables were served on the table like a flowing stream.

Du Min turned to look at the village chief and said, "Eighth Master, the clansmen have spent a lot of money today."

The village chief waved his hand, "Don't say that. It's worth it. Many people would rather spend the money than have this opportunity."

The people at the table nodded in agreement.

“Du Min is a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) from our Dujiawantou. He set a precedent. If another Jinshi comes from our clan in the future, we will hold a banquet in the same style.” The village chief said excitedly to the clansmen at the table, “When you go back, urge your children to study hard. As long as they can achieve success in the imperial examination, the clan will definitely welcome them back in a grand manner.”

Everyone at the table looked on with longing.

Uncle Du came in and walked over to Du Min, saying, "Min, I've arranged for the children from the clan to come and offer you a toast, so they can share in your joy. You can also give them a few words of encouragement; they all respect you, and one word from you is worth a thousand words from their fathers in private."

Du Min humbly declined, saying, "Isn't this inappropriate? It's too formal."

"No need for formalities, we'll follow your uncle's arrangements."

"Yes, yes, let the children toast you, so they will remember your glory today and study harder in the future."

"I'll follow your uncle's arrangements."

"..."

The people in the ancestral hall all spoke up to persuade him.

Du Min's mood improved, and he reluctantly nodded, "Alright, I'll listen to my uncle."

Uncle Du immediately went out and shouted, "Children of our clan, have your parents pour you some wine, and bring your wine bowls to toast Magistrate Du. Not only you, but your children and grandchildren will not have to pay for their children's education. This is all thanks to Magistrate Du. Hurry up and come to thank him."

Du Min smiled; his uncle really knew how to talk.

"Old Du is about to die of pleasure," Du Li whispered to Meng Qing.

Looking at the crowd outside the ancestral hall, Meng Qing saw dozens of children of varying ages excitedly holding wine bowls and facing the hall. The moment they walked in and saw Du Min, their eyes lit up with reverence. She felt a sense of satisfaction too.

"Mother, can I go?" Wangzhou was also eager to try.

"Go if you want." Meng Qing handed him the wine bowl in front of her. "Don't cut in line, go to the back of the queue."

Wang Zhou carefully carried a full bowl of wine away. He squeezed out of the ancestral hall and walked to the end of the line to wait.

Du Min accepted all the wine bowls offered at this moment, without even thinking about whether he would get drunk. He smiled and drank one after another.

It was almost Wang Zhou's turn. He saw his third uncle's flushed face and dazed eyes. His hand slipped, and the whole bowl of wine was spilled, leaving only the bottom.

The others gasped in surprise, but Du Min laughed, “He really is my nephew.”

Wang Zhou chuckled, "Third Uncle, drink up."

Du Min glanced back and saw that there were only two left. He took the wine bowl, drank a sip, and then put his arm around Wang Zhou, using him as cover to loosen his belt.

After finishing the last two bowls of wine, Du Min forced himself to stay sober and said, "Uncle, if any of the younger generation in the village becomes successful in the future and wants to find a way to take the imperial examinations or enter officialdom, write a letter to them and tell them to come to me. I will do my best to help them if I can."

"Okay, I've got it." Uncle Du nodded.

The tribespeople who heard this promise all showed a satisfied look on their faces.

"Everyone, start eating," the village chief said.

This was the last sentence Du Min remembered. He had no recollection of what happened after that. When he woke up again, it was the next morning. He ate something haphazardly and rushed back to the city to attend the Deer Cry Banquet.

"Second sister-in-law, my second brother will go back and deliver the money for me. You and Wangzhou will come with me to the Deer Cry Banquet. I will make a name for you and let everyone in Wu County know your name," Du Min invited.

Meng Qing shook her head and refused, "This is your home turf, I won't steal the limelight. I'm not in a hurry. Sooner or later, I can make the world know me on my own. Yesterday in Dujiawan, I only asked you to flatter me to spite those old guys."

“You really not going? I’m willing to make you famous,” Du Min said.

"I won't go," Meng Qing refused again. "But you can take Wangzhou with you."

Du Min then left with Wang Zhou.

After he left, Du Li and Meng Chun took three hundred strings of cash and ran errands back to Dujiawan for him. They told everyone they met that they were there to repay the money their third son had given his parents for raising him, making a big fuss about it. In front of the clansmen, they delivered the three hundred strings of cash directly to the old couple.