Against the Current - Chapter 124

Chapter 124 - Coaxing 

As it happened, on this particular day, Xia Yun returned home from the yamen. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Xia's third sister washing clothes in the yard. He walked over with a smile and said, "The county magistrate handed out some reward money today, and when I saw someone selling flowers on the street, I bought one each for you and the fourth sister. Quickly put it away before your sisters-in-law see." With that, he pulled a silk flower made of pink fabric from his sleeve and handed it over.

Xia's third sister muttered grumblingly, "Third Brother, what's so special about this flower? The one Chen Xianglan gave me was countless times better than this, but that little wretch snatched it away!"

Upon hearing the name "Chen Xianglan," Xia Yun was startled. He hurriedly pressed, "Chen Xianglan? Which Chen Xianglan?"

Xia's second sister-in-law—no, Xia's third sister replied, "It's Chen Wanquan's daughter. A few days ago, Mother, Second Sister-in-law, and I went to the Chen household. Their place is truly luxurious; I noticed even their vinegar-cruet was made of agate. Chen Xianglan gave me a flower, but as soon as we got home, Second Sister-in-law took it away. Second Sister-in-law also said the Chen family invited us over because they wanted to marry their daughter off to you. But later, when Mother went back twice, the Chen family wouldn't even open the door for her, and Second Sister-in-law said that this matter is probably hopeless now."

Xia Yun was instantly seized with anxiety. He knew Madam Jin's character all too well—superficial, ignorant, and always looking to take advantage. How could such a visit to the Chen household possibly win their favor? No wonder Chen Wanquan had treated him with such coolness these past two days, completely unlike his previous warmth. So that was what had happened! Xia Yun stamped his foot repeatedly in frustration and demanded, "Why didn't you tell me when you went to the Chen family?" Seeing that Xia's third sister was rambling incoherently and could not make things clear, he immediately went over to the side room to look for Xia's second sister-in-law.

Xia's second sister-in-law was inside the room doing needlework. Startled as Xia Yun barged in with a wide-eyed, fierce expression, she hurriedly put down her work and asked with a smiling face, "What brings our third brother here?"

In a rapid-fire sequence of questions, Xia Yun asked, "Sister-in-law, when did you, Mother, and Third Sister go to the Chen household? What was said? I just heard from Third Sister that Mother went back to the Chen household twice and people wouldn't even open the door for her—what is that all about?"

Xia's second sister-in-law rolled her eyes and broke into a smiling expression. "Oh, is that all? I was wondering what it was. A few days ago, the Chen family did invite us over. They've moved into a new home and wanted to invite their old neighbors over for a visit. You were sleeping over at the yamen those days and didn't come home, so we didn't mention it to you." With that, she patted the edge of the brick-bed, motioning for Xia Yun to sit down. Resting one hand on the kang table, she leaned forward slightly, covered her mouth with a cattail leaf fan, and chuckled in a low voice, "I say, Third Brother-in-law—let's be completely honest with your sister-in-law here. Do you... have feelings for that Chen girl?"

Xia Yun instantly blushed to the roots of his hair, lowered his head, and remained silent.

Xia's second sister-in-law burst into giggles, waved her cattail fan, and said, "I figured as much, seeing how diligent you are, running off to the pawnshop where Chen Wanquan works every single day. You claim you just want to see if there are any rare curiosities to buy back as a token of respect for your superiors, but in truth, you've got your eyes set on the person herself!"

Xia Yun's face grew even redder. He stood up, bowed deeply to Xia's second sister-in-law, and said, "Second Sister-in-law is truly a Zhuge reincarnate. You simply must help me with this matter."

Xia's second sister-in-law laughed heartily. "We're all family here, why speak of such distant formalities..." Her expression suddenly shifted, her brows knitting together in worry as she sighed, "I'm afraid this matter of yours won't be easy to handle."

Xia Yun hurriedly sat back down and asked, "How so?"

Xia's second sister-in-law said, "I could tell long ago that you had your heart set on the Chen girl, and when we went to the Chen family last time, I specifically went with the intention of probing their feelings for you. But to be frank, you know what Mother's temperament is like; as soon as she got there, she managed to offend the Chen mother and daughter. I mediated extensively right there on the spot before they finally softened their hearts a bit. Still, the Chen family is so well-off, and Xianglan is not only exceptionally pretty but also holds her standards very high. These days, I've practically poured out my heart's blood trying to plan and scheme for you." Here, she sighed and massaged her temples. "I've actually worried myself thin by a whole circle." She cast a sideways glance from under her eyelids to observe Xia Yun's expression.

Although Xia Yun possessed a touch of pedantry, he was extremely sharp when it came to reading facial expressions. He immediately reached into his sleeve, produced half a string of copper coins, handed them over, and said, "Thank you so much for your hard work, Second Sister-in-law. Please take these few coins to buy yourself some treats and build up your strength. If you can help me bring this match to fruition, I will surely reward you handsomely."

Xia's second sister-in-law's eyes instantly narrowed into slits with a smile, though she did not take the money right away. Only after watching Xia Yun place the string down on the kang table did she cross her legs and say, "I'd say you have a seven or eight out of ten chance of success with this." Seeing the eager anticipation on Xia Yun's face, she thought to herself, No matter how this turns out, I'll first swindle a few taels of silver out of him to spend. Spouting nonsense without batting an eye, she continued, "Even though the Chen couple has high standards, I can see that Xianglan herself is actually quite willing. The Chen couple treats her like the apple of their eye; if she's willing, even if your chances were slim, they'd succeed."

Xia Yun sprang to his feet, pleasantly surprised as he asked, "Is that true?"

Xia's second sister-in-law chuckled. "Naturally. What's more, I have some good news. If I tell you, how will you thank me?"

Overjoyed to the point of scratching his ears and rubbing his cheeks, Xia Yun felt as though a thousand tiny insects were crawling in his heart. He reached into his robe once more, fished out a one-tenth-tael silver piece, pushed it toward her, and said, "Please take this slight token of my appreciation, Second Sister-in-law, and buy a length of fabric for my little niece to make a new outfit."

Xia's second sister-in-law smiled broadly. "You really are a clever one. That day, Xianglan asked me quite a lot about you, and even praised you for your outstanding appearance. Then, just as we were leaving, she tucked a flower into my hand and quietly asked me to bring it to you! With everything going on lately, I was so busy I completely forgot about it." With that, she stood up, retrieved a yarn-piled flower from the box at the head of the kang, and handed it over.

Smart as he was, the moment Xia Yun saw the flower, he recalled, "Just now in the yard, Third Sister mentioned that Xianglan gave her a flower, but that you took it away. Is this the very same one?"

Cursing Xia's third sister inwardly for her loose lips, Xia's second sister-in-law rolled her eyes and replied smoothly, "Naturally it's this one. Xianglan had just given it to me when that wretched girl snatched it away, insisting it was a gift for her. I had to coax her endlessly just to get it back—make sure you don't let her lay eyes on it again."

Hearing this explanation, Xia Yun believed it entirely. He simply stood there holding the flower in a daze, thinking to himself, Xianglan has actually already given me a token of our pledge of love. Clearly... clearly she holds deep affection for me! I am truly a fool not to have recognized her heart sooner! Now I must certainly not fail the deep, earnest devotion of such a fair lady.

Clearing her throat lightly, Xia's second sister-in-law said, "It's just that her parents aren't entirely keen on this match yet, so I'll inevitably have to make a few more trips over there..."

Xia Yun thought to himself, My mother is muddle-headed and completely unreliable; only Second Sister-in-law is quick-witted and adaptable. If this is to succeed, I must rely entirely on her strategies. Gritting his teeth, he once more reached into his tunic, pulled out a full tael of silver, and offered it forward. "Second Sister-in-law is truly a hero among women. This matter relies heavily on your continued support. Since you'll be wearing out your shoes running around on my behalf, please take this silver to buy yourself some new footwear."

Deeming that she had finally squeezed enough grease out of him, Xia's second sister-in-law graciously accepted the silver. Her face beamed with smiles as she said, "While this matter isn't guaranteed, I will certainly give it my absolute all for your sake."

Xia Yun thanked her repeatedly. From that moment on, he truly believed that Xianglan harbored feelings for him. Whenever he stared blankly and infatuatedly at the flower, imagining Xianglan's delicate skin like jade and her charming, lovely countenance, his heart would flutter wildly, tortured only by his inability to meet with his fair lady. But we shall leave him at that for now.

The following morning, Xia Yun went off early to check in at the yamen. Just as he reached the back entrance, he saw a small sedan chair swaying as it was carried in from across the street. Xia Yun hastily stopped and stepped aside to let it pass. As the sedan was carried directly into the yamen compound, the sedan curtain suddenly fluttered open, revealing the face of a woman. She appeared to be in her early twenties, with snow-white skin lightly dusted with tiny freckles, small eyes, and a straight, high bridge of a nose. While not a classic beauty, she looked clean and possessed a certain alluring charm. The woman ordered the bearers to stop, then smiled graciously at Xia Yun and said, "Young Scholar Xia, you've arrived quite early!"

Lowering his head, Xia Yun murmured a respectful acknowledgment.

The woman dropped the sedan curtain and instructed the bearers to carry her on inside.

As soon as she had departed, Zhang, the gate guard, chuckled and said to Xia Yun, "Clerk Xia, do you not know who that is?"

Xia Yun replied, "Isn't she the wife of Ren, the tax inspector, Madam Cao?"

With a knowing, mischievous grin, Zhang said, "That woman is quite famous, and it's a wonder you haven't heard of her just arriving here. Everyone calls her 'Madam Cao.' She originally had some distant kinship with the Lin family, and waving the Lin family's banner has earned her a bit of extra respect from us all. But this Madam Cao is also fiercely capable; somehow she found an opening and wormed her way into the county magistrate's good graces. Though she's no great beauty, with a few wiles here and there, she completely hooked the magistrate's soul. She forcefully pushed her good-for-nothing cuckold of a husband into the post of tax inspector—now that's a lucrative sinecure! Talk about exceptional methods!"

Xia Yun was startled. "Such things cannot be spoken of so recklessly!"

Zhang clicked his tongue. "How could I be talking nonsense? Do you think she comes here every morning this early just to bring her husband lunch? Bullshit! Once the morning roll call is done, you can bet she crawls straight into the magistrate's bed! Everyone in the yamen sees it as clear as day. Her husband knows it too, but a green hat won't kill a man, especially when his livelihood depends on his wife—so he plays deaf and dumb and happily accepts being a cowering tortoise. I hear he even has to wash his wife's foot-water when they get home at night, which literally managed to piss his old mother to death." He patted Xia Yun's shoulder with a grin. "I reckon this little dame has set her sights on you next. You'd better watch out—perhaps on your next night shift, she'll come knocking on your door!"

The remark left Xia Yun blushing furiously, and he hurried away as fast as his legs could carry him.

This woman was none other than Cao Lihuan. As it turned out, since Ren Yu lacked the aptitude for scholarship, the Ren family had used familiar connections to secure him a position as a prison warden at the yamen. One day when Cao Lihuan was delivering an umbrella to Ren Yu, she happened to run into Magistrate Han Yaozu. Unlike women from modest households who shrank away timidly, Cao Lihuan had seen the world and carried herself with poised, natural grace. She greeted him with steady composure, speaking pleasant words with a smooth blend of deference while wearing a sweet, captivating smile that men found deeply gratifying.

Han Yaozu was already over fifty. Though he put on a facade of severe moral rectitude, he was actually a man given to lust. However, having a fierce tiger of a wife at home, he never dared to misbehave too flagrantly, and the concubine he had taken was merely kept for show. Now, seeing that Cao Lihuan was tall, upright, and dressed with uncommon elegance—looking nothing like the female relatives of ordinary families—he found himself somewhat captivated despite her lack of conventional beauty, and his demeanor softened considerably. Secretly, he dispatched an old matronly servant to probe Cao Lihuan's intentions.

Ever since marrying Ren Yu, although Cao Lihuan did not get along with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, she had resigned herself to her husband and tried to make the best of her life. However, having already witnessed the grand scale of high society within the Lin household, living a cramped, constrained existence now while her husband remained a spineless good-for-nothing felt like comparing heaven to earth. Naturally filled with endless resentment and unwilling to settle for a lowly station, she viewed the magistrate's overture as an opportunity. After playing hard-to-get for a few rounds, she successfully cemented a liaison with Han Yaozu.