Seeing that the man responded so quick and straightly, Song Qinghan pondered for a while, answering, “For accepting him or not, I should meet him first and decide. But don’t worry, if he still shows his willingness to acquire the medical knowledge from me, I won’t reject him.”
With a great excitement, Yuan Boshu couldn’t even hide his flooding happiness on face. In this trip, he not only had solved his own problems, but also got his son settled and found him a good supervisor in medicine area. Double happiness had knocked at his door.
When they were at home, Song Qinghan and Yuan Boshu stayed put while Wu Dahu was heading to the back mountain for picking up more fruits and materials.
What Song Qinghan could draw a conclusion so far was that this newly-acquainted friend wasn’t a man of evildoer. However, even though they could give credence to this man, they couldn’t allow him to witness the whole process of making seasonings and spices. After all, those were their property to support their livelihood, what’s more, what if the man was just a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
And Song Qinghan didn’t show an excessive worry over Wu Dahu, because it was just a short trip only to pick up the fruits along the way.
Before the darkness overwhelmed, Wu Dahu came back with a full basket of raw seasonings and spices on his back. However, he did not rush to commence handling them as usual but just piled them up as a whole at the corner. Not until Yuan Boshu left for a walk outside did the couple commenced handling them.
Wu Dahu brought back not only raw seasonings but also some fruits of Cherokee rose, the quantity of the fruits was enough for making ten whole jars of wine.
Yuan Boshu didn’t come back yet till they finished their work. Song Qinghan worried that this man might lose his way back. In this thought, the two went out without hesitation seeking for Yuan Boshu.
It isn’t an easy thing for ones to seek for someone in the darkness in a village, especially in an ancient time where exists no a developed illumination system. Not until they had searched all the pathways did they conceive of finding within the village.
When they passed through the house of Youning’s family, they finally found Yuan Boshu there. But this man seemed to be not well currently.
“How can you treat your own child in this way? How can you kick him out just because he is a tempered child?!” shouted Yuan Boshu, not noticing the appearance of Wu Dahu and Song Qinghan.
Song Qinghan and Wu Dahu stared at each other with bewilderment. Both of them were astonished by what Yuan Boshu’s gush.
Kick out? Was he talking about Youning?
“Who the hell are you? Mind your own business, will you? If you keep harassing us, I will show you no mercy with my sickle. You’d better mind your own safety.” a screech came out from the inner room in the yard. Seemingly, that was not a voice of amiability.
After that, it could be heard quite clearly that the man inside the room turned his face inward, “You pitiful worm. You know how to seduce a man now? Well, don’t you play your dirty trick and ruin our family fame with your frivolous behaviors. Now, follow me up, and don’t let me drag you out.” The man inside shouted menacingly.
Two figures showed up slowly in the yard, pushing and shoving. From their looks, it can be predicted that the other person aside Youning probably is his femina father because they bear much resemblance in their looks. Yet, their countenances were a far cry from each other. One was of depression and the other of fierceness.
Yuan Boshu stood there anxiously but the next moment he caught a glimpse at the couple outside, he then rushed over being all anxiety and saying, “Youning’s femina father is going to sell his own son. Can you guys save him?”
Staring at the tear-streaked face of Youning, Song Qinghan couldn’t bear to just sit back and watch, he then took a step forward, saying, “Where are you going to sell him? Was it because of the matter of Qin Aye?”
It was not until the utterance of Song Qinghan did Youning’s femina father notice the appearance of him, he pinched Youning’s chin, sneering and saying in a vicious tone, “Oh, what else I haven’t known yet? Your fellowship with this ‘worm of easy virtue’? No wonder you know how to seduce a man now. Tell me, why the hell were you visiting that widow all the time? Were you learning to be easy from him? That’s a shame of our family.”
Those were totally hurtful words! Wu Dahu and Song Qinghan couldn’t help but frown standing there. And Youning, the pitiful boy who had turned his depression into a total rage, couldn’t hold any more but shout aloud, “Don’t stigmatize Qin Aye! If it wasn’t him, I should have been tormented by both of you to death. People who sell their own child like you should be condemned by the mighty Buddha and punished as harsh.”
“CLAP”, with a sudden sound of clapping, a palm-shaped red mark showed on Youning’s face.
Daddy retracted his hand and said firmly, “You Youning’s femina father took his hand back, saying in toughness, “I gave birth to you and I raised you. How I treat you isn’t the business of the Buddha. He should have punished you first for being unruly without self-respect. Just MOVE!”
He dragged Youning as harsh as he could, as if he wasn’t really treating his child as a real human but cattle, tugging the boy to a carriage not far away.
Yuan Boshu rushed over to the front of Youning’s femina father, he couldn’t just witness the whole “Crime Scene” and did nothing, “Where are you taking him to?” Said he, angrily.
Youning’s femina father gave Yuan Boshu a vicious squint, obviously he didn’t want to respond him at all. He would have punched attack this man if his two hands were all free.
Youning’s father who was just walking out from the yard took a careful glance at Yuan Boshu from head to toe. Staring at the excellent-made outfit of Yuan Boshu, Youning’s father commenced indulging in wishful thinking, he then came to utter leisurely, “Youning is at his age which allows him to get married. It happened that someone we knew came here once as a matchmaker and made a match for him. Me and his femina dad thinks that it is such a perfect one, so we just took it. And we’ve received the betrothal gift already, so that is a doomed fate. Is it clear now?”
Frowning, Yuan Boshu answered, “Don’t fool me around. I’ve never ever seen someone is pushed like this to get married. Moreover, as long as Youning doesn’t want to take this marriage, why are you forcing him to?”
With a helpless expression on face, Youning’s father sighed, saying, “Due to some unspeakable reasons, Youning’s parents-in-law refused to hold a wedding ceremony. We don’t have any choice. Otherwise, who wouldn’t want his child to get a wonderful wedding ceremony? And as for the willingness of Youning, well, child’s wedding is always decided by parental commands and matchmaker’s words. What’s the point if he doesn’t want it or not?”
“But…” He took a pause and then continued to say while taking a glance at Yuan Boshu thoughtfully, “If he is eager to marry someone he loves, that will be perfect. The biggest problem will just be the betrothal gift. After all, we’ve received their money in advance…”
“How much?” asked Yuan Boshu.
He seemingly hadn’t got the inner meanings of what Youning’s father said.
Youning’s femina father responded impatiently, “Fifty silver coins! Have you done yet? The carriage won’t be patient like me, get out of the way.”
Coughing heavily, Youning’s father was kind of irritated by the interruptions, he then uttered in a low voice, “If someone would love to pay one hundred silver coins for the betrothal gift. I will reconsider about this current wedding. Understand?”
Finally, Youning figured out the intention of Youning’s father. It turned out that it was just a trick that treated his son as a counter for a so-called auction. Someone who offer a higher price would get the deal.
Youning also detected the intention of his father, he bit his lips a bit, lowered down his face staring at the ground. And then he suddenly raised his head, took the initiative to push his femina father, saying while choking, “Let’s just move. I will take it.”
In his deeper mind, he didn’t want himself to be treated as a merchandise. In addition, if Yuan Boshu showed no interest to take the deal, he would be more awkward.
Youning’s femina father didn’t comprehend the hint given with the eyes of Youning’s father, he didn’t know whether he should stay put or tug his son away. Dumbfounded, he was dragged by Youning to the carriage.
Well, one hundred silver coins wasn’t a big deal at all for Yuan Boshu in his previous business. But he only got five hundred silver coins for his whole property, such an amount of the coins would be a lifesaving straw for him currently.
He had to use the coins to buy seasonings, reopen his restaurant, employ a chef. Everything required coins.
Song Qinghan looked at Wu Dahu as if he was waiting for the decision made by his man.
But since Youning’s father said that it was an agreed marriage, Wu Dahu couldn’t even say something in retort, he knew he had no right to impede the domestic affair of others. He just looked at Yuan Boshu, seemingly waiting for him to react.
“I will pay for that. Let go of Youning.” Shouted Yuan Boshu, it seemed that the scene how Youning gritted his teeth showing his reluctance and sorrow triggered a nerve in his mind.
Shocked, Youning stood there with a face of bewilderment, he stared at Yuan Boshu staying stationary. No one knows how he feels currently.
A trace of exultation emerged right on face of Youning’s father, this man was trying his best to stay calm, he then asked tentatively, “Will you take him away tonight or? If you want to wait till tomorrow, I am not sure if they will mark up or not. It would be a pity if…”
The reason why he would say so was because he wanted to get the coins as soon as possible. And he didn’t want Yuan Boshu to change his mind next day. And what’s more, if he couldn’t make it quick, probably he would lose the chance to “sell” his son.
The “Mark Up” thing was just an excuse for him to urge the deal, he knew exactly that the one who bought his son was just an old man with his legs broken. Fifty silver coins were already all his property for a half life striving. How could this pitiful man raise up the price within his capability?
Since Yuan Boshu had made such a decision, he wouldn’t go back on his word. He just took out an ingot from his pocket in sleeves and passed it to Youning’s father.
Just at the moment Youning’s father reached out in excitement, Yuan Boshu took his hands back, saying calmly, “No proof or something else? Then how can I make sure that if you will admit the fact or not?”
Youning’s father stared at the ingot in Yuan Boshu’s hand with his greedy eyes, and then grumbled being a bit grumpy, “What do you want then? To hold a ceremony? Fine, as long as you can afford that, I don’t mind at all.”
Seeing the man who couldn’t even take eyes off the ingot, Yuan Boshu answered slowly, “No need for the ceremony, I just need you to mark signature on paper.”
Youning’s father’s attention was taken away by that big ingot, he didn’t even think twice but just nodded staring at the ingot and answering, “Fine, fine, I will mark signature.”
Taking a glance at Wu Dahu, Yuan Boshu said while doing a fist-and-palm salute, “I’ve once seen writing brushes and paper in your house, Childe Wu. Would you please help me take them over? I will greatly appreciate it.”
Wu Dahu would accept it, of course. After all, what Yuan Boshu did now was what he expected to see.
After Wu Dahu left for home, Song Qinghan took Youning over from Youning’s femina father, ignoring the disdaining look on his femina father’s face. And then he patted Youning on his back, consoling, “It’s ok. Everything will be fine, don’t worry.”
Youning leaned against Song Qinghan’s shoulder helplessly, sobbing softly and whispering, “What should I do? Am I getting him in trouble?”
Pondering for a moment, Song Qinghan lowered down his face, and then he commenced explaining to Youning about the situation of Yuan Boshu. And purposely, he mentioned the fact of five hundred silver coins.
However, Youning smiled miserably and said slowly, “I’ve never expected that I would marry a man with a child, and become a step father. This won’t be better than before.”