The commoners watching outside found the scene utterly heartbreaking.
Zhao Ger had a stall on West Street, his business was good, and many people in town knew him.
His chili sauce was expensive, but to make it, the ingredients used weren't cheap either, so likely there wasn't much profit. If he really made money, their son wouldn't be so skinny.
As for Fang Zichen, they had previously believed his job to be quite respectable. Though they didn't know his exact monthly earnings, working at a place like Zuixiao Restaurant likely meant his income was substantial. But he was a scholar!
Scholars tend to spend money like water; his family finances were probably already tight. Now, struck by this wrongful calamity, it was truly adding insult to injury.
The common people outside discussed animatedly, looking at Landlord Jia with unfriendly eyes. Magistrate Jiang, after some thought, ordered the Jia family to compensate Fang Zichen with three hundred taels. Lianniang was to be detained temporarily.
Fang Zichen was satisfied and stopped coughing.
In these times, there was no such thing as compensation for emotional distress. If he hadn't put on such a performance, he would likely have received only a paltry few dozen taels, just enough for the officials to perfunctorily settle the matter.
Fang Zichen was willing to endure almost any kind of setback, but he would never accept this kind of loss.
Landlord Jia had no objection to the compensation itself. His concern was for his unmarried daughter's reputation. If she were officially detained, how could she ever hold her head high again? Who would marry her after such a disgrace?
He entered the main hall of the magistrate's court and fell to his knees with a thud: "Your Excellency, my daughter is truly wronged!"
Fang Zichen looked over at him.
Upon hearing more, it became even more shocking.
The case took an unexpected turn when the name Zhang Huaiwen surfaced. Fang Zichen was completely baffled, wondering who this Zhang Huaiwen was and how he had become entangled in the matter.
Lianniang hesitated repeatedly, glancing toward Landlord Jia. Landlord Jia nodded at her. As if gaining courage, Lianniang poured out everything about how Zhang Huaiwen had instigated her to administer the drug and had threatened her.
Zhao Ger furrowed his brow.
Hearing that he himself was mentioned, Magistrate Jiang instinctively looked toward the area outside the main hall.
The common people were also looking right at him.
Since this matter involved Zhang Huaiwen, and Zhang Huaiwen had already left Fu'an Town, the constables needed nearly a full day to apprehend him. The case could only be paused for now.
Returning home, Fang Zichen was still puzzling over it.
According to Lianniang, Zhang Huaiwen was the true mastermind.
Fang Zichen was utterly perplexed. He had never even heard of Zhang Huaiwen before, let alone had any reason to cross him. The only people he could recall offending were Hao Desheng and Sun Shangcheng.
Where did this Zhang Huaiwen pop out from? What a piece of trash!
As Zhao Ger helped him wash the pot soot from around his eyes, he thought for a moment and then told Fang Zichen about the matter concerning Zhang Huaiwen.
Fang Zichen's attitude turned fierce: "He likes you?"
Zhao Ger remained silent, which was a tacit admission.
Although Zhang Huaiwen had never directly said the words 'I like you' to him, his words and actions had carried that meaning.
Fang Zichen's eyebrows knitted together: "Forget about that Ma Wen, but what's the deal with this Zhang Huaiwen? Why are these people always buzzing around you like flies? Are you the only ger in the whole world? Are you a rotten egg or something?"
[Just as flies are attracted to spoiled eggs, Fang Zichen is complaining that unwanted suitors seem to be constantly drawn to Zhao Ger]
Zhao Ger glared at him, his eyes wide with anger: "Who are you calling a rotten egg?"
"Don't be angry, it's just a metaphor, don't you understand metaphors?"
Zhao Ger was indignant: "No, I don't."
He stomped on Fang Zichen's foot, then slammed the door shut and left. For the entire afternoon, he barely spoke.
Fang Zichen thought about it, comparing someone to a rotten egg really wasn't appropriate.
"Zhao Ger," he attempted to apologize, but if he stood on the left and called, Zhao Ger would turn his head to the right, pretending not to hear.
Fang Zichen then moved to his left: "Zhao Ger?"
Zhao Ger turned his head away, still not speaking.
"Zhao Ger?" To coax him, Fang Zichen threw all dignity to the wind. Leaning close to his ear, he called softly: "Brother Zhao, Fulang, my treasure, my good boy, my little sweetheart, please stop being angry with me, alright?"
Each term was more shameful than the last. Zhao Ger felt his head go numb with a roar, a tingling sensation spreading instantly from his spine to his scalp, his whole body feeling as if it were about to explode.
"You... what nonsense are you shouting?"
Fang Zichen stood behind Zhao Ger, his hands going for the ticklish spots on his belly: "I'm not shouting nonsense!"
Zhao Ger, extremely ticklish, dodged left and right trying to escape, but Fang Zichen held him firmly in place.
"Hehe... you, stop messing around, hehe, it's so ticklish!"
"Then say you're not angry anymore, and I'll let you go."
Zhao Ger, unable to bear the tickling any longer, obediently complied: "I, hehe, I'm not angry anymore."
He wasn't truly angry to begin with. He just felt terrible because Fang Zichen's suffering this time, being framed and enduring such hardship, was ultimately because of him.
Their first time together, Fang Zichen's condition hadn't been right either. After spending more time with him later, he became even more convinced that Fang Zichen had probably fallen victim to someone else's scheme that time as well.
That night at the medical hall, he had been anxious and uneasy. He wanted to ask Fang Zichen if he had...
But the words stuck in his throat, unable to come out. The mere thought of Fang Zichen being intimate with someone else made a ball of fire seem to gather in his chest, racing along his nerves, driving him almost mad.
Fang Zichen's condition wasn't good either, so he didn't ask.
That day, he had prepared chicken soup and brought it to Fang Zichen. Fang Zichen said: "I really should replenish myself. To preserve my chastity for you, I almost, just that little bit, almost ruined myself."
"You didn't... with someone...?"
"Who would I have been with?" Fang Zichen glared at him: "I ran up into the mountains. Was I supposed to screw a tree?" While fleeing, the desire had been too intense. If a sow had run in front of him, he'd have thought it surpassed Diaochan in beauty. He didn't dare seek help from anyone, afraid that before he could even utter a word or reach a medical hall, he would have pounced on someone. He could only avoid people and run up the mountain.
[Diaochan (貂蝉): a legendary beauty from the Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, who was used in a plot to turn the warlord Dong Zhuo against his formidable warrior, Lü Bu]
Fang Zichen withdrew his hands, satisfied.
Zhao Ger's face was flushed red from laughter, and he was still a bit breathless. He turned around and glared fiercely at the culprit.
Fang Zichen said: "You already said you're not angry, so why are you still glaring at me? Showing off your big eyes?"
Zhao Ger didn't speak. He took two steps closer and stomped hard on the instep of Fang Zichen's foot again.
Fang Zichen, in pain, hugged his leg and hopped around.
He already said he wasn't angry, so why still stomp on people?
Truly, young women and gers are difficult to coax.
Guaizai had eaten two steamed buns in the morning, which made him choke and hiccup incessantly. Not long after returning, he started saying he was hungry again.
Zhao Ger had gone to wash clothes. Fang Zichen went back to the kitchen, got a steamed bun, and gave it to him.
"Brother Fang..."
Someone called from outside. Guaizai, recognizing the voice, became excited: "It's Yang Pig!"
He abandoned his steamed bun and rushed out.
"Yang Pig, why you come to my house? You missing Guaizai?"
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