Home Chapter 5201-chapter-25-1

5201-chapter-25-1

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Chapter 25.1

After a few rounds of discussions, An Zhifu called all the people to the main hall. 

He said the General summoned An Ruochen to serve in the army and temporarily canceled the marriage with the Qian family. The whole family should keep their mouths shut. He would not forgive them if any word about this matter leaked.

An Ruoxi lowered her head. Her face was pale. She wanted to ask her father if the marriage with the Qian family would no longer be discussed but did not dare to speak.

Mrs. Duan heard An Ruochen followed the General. She screamed: “What about my daughter? Where is Fang’er? Where is she? Where is she? That bitch, An Ruochen, didn’t explain clearly. How could she be allowed to leave? Now the wedding is off! It’s off! An Ruochen tricked Fang’er because of this. If she didn’t do it, who else did? Why should she be expelled? She should be married to the Qian family and be abused and whipped by Master Qian every day.

I will only be satisfied when she can’t live and can’t die.”

An Zhifu was furious to hear these crazy words. It was okay to scold An Ruochen. But how come Qian Pei also got dragged in it? If Qian Pei knew the people in his residence were talking like this, wouldn’t he be even more annoyed with him?

“What nonsense! Shut up!”

Mrs. Duan refused to let the matter rest. She screamed, jumped on An Zhifu, and shook his arm: “An Ruochen can’t be allowed to just go away like this! Master, Master! You can’t let her go! Hurry, bring her back, make her tell us where Fang’er is, and let her marry Master Qian. Let Master Qian beat her day after day, refuse to feed her, refuse to clothe her, and give her to the servants ……”

“Bastard!” An Zhifu flung a slap across her face, hitting Mrs. Duan to the ground. “Drag her back to her courtyard. If she dares to talk nonsense again, slap her mouth.”

Mrs. Duan was awakened by the blow and cried out with a “wow” sound. She crouched on the ground, crying so hard that she didn’t fight back when two maids came to take her away. She bawled and cried. “Fang’er, my Fang’er ……”.

An Ruoxi shivered. Her mind was filled with Mrs. Duan’s words, and she felt horrible.

An Zhifu took his son, An Ronggui, to the Qian House again to apologize. This time, he was still blocked by the door. The reason they heard was that Qian Pei was not around and had returned to Fu’an County in the morning.

An Zhifu hurriedly changed the carriage and went to Fu’an County.

When he arrived at the Qian House in Fu’an County, the gatekeeper said the master was not feeling well and would not see any guests. An Zhifu was anxious and angry but unable to vent it. His heart fell, but he said he would stay at an inn in the county, waiting for Master Qian to get better, and would come back to visit.

An Zhifu did not believe the explanation he received. He would stay and show his sincerity. Qian Pei could not refuse him all the time.

An Zhifu sent servants to book a room. He was familiar with Fu’an County, and there was a good inn one street away.

Since the inn was near, An Zhifu did not sit in the carriage and took his son to walk there. He intentionally put on a show for the people of the Qian House to see that they chose not return to Zhonglan City. They would stay here and come back later.

They were just out of a section of the road when they saw a carriage driving over, decorated with brocade ribbons and awning, which looked like an official’s carriage. An Zhifu and An Ronggui retreated to the roadside to make way for it. When the carriage drove near them, the curtain opened to reveal a familiar face – Qian Shixin, the magistrate of Fu’an County.

“Master An.” Qian Shixin was thirty-seven years old, knowledgeable and courteous, gentle and elegant. He has been the magistrate of Fu’an County for more than ten years and had a reputation for being diligent and loving to the people. Different from his father’s reputation.

Some people sued Qian Shixin because Qian Pei bullied them, and Qian Shixin brought Qian Pei to court for trial. In the end, the people were compensated. Qian Shixin grew annoyed with Qian Pei’s actions, and separated from him. The mansion was divided into two halves by a wall, one to the south and one to the north. Father and son lived together but had to knock on the door to see each other.

An Zhifu met Qian Shixin several times but did not exchange more than a few words.

The other side was an upright official. Speaking with official authority, although his tone was mild, An Zhifu still felt the pressure. He preferred to get along with those who can drink wine and talk about money.

Qian Shixin and Qian Pei did not get along. It was something that everyone knew. Many people who suffered losses from Qian Pei did not dare say it to Qian Shixin, because they would only gain a moment of satisfaction and would then be taught a lesson by Qian Pei in various ways. An Zhifu intended to befriend Qian Shixin, but he was afraid to say the wrong word and offend Qian Pei.

When he saw Qian Shixin take the initiative to stop and greet him, An Zhifu hurriedly saluted: “Greetings to Lord Qian.”

Qian Shixin said, ”I came back from Zhonglan City, and the Governor told me what happened.”

An Zhifu was embarrassed but had to nod, “Yes, yes.”

An Zhifu knew Qian Shixin opposed the marriage between his daughter and Qian Pei. For this reason, Qian Shixin engaged in a dispute with Qian Pei. But Qian Shixin could not control Qian Pei’s affairs, so he only said that he would not attend the wedding and would not care for his father. Qian Shixin never mentioned the wedding with An Zhifu, nor did he treat him as a future in-law. Now that he has mentioned it, An Zhifu didn’t know what to say.

“It’s not a bad thing.” Qian Shixin said. “It’s good to end it this way.”

An Zhifu could not answer.

Qian Shixin asked again, “Is Master An here to see my father?”

An Zhifu nodded his head and said. “Yes.”

“Have you seen him?”

An Zhifu was so embarrassed that he had no place to put his face. He replied stiffly, ”I came at an unfortunate time. Master Qian is resting.”

Qian Shixin looked at An Zhifu, then An Ronggui, went silent for a while, then said: “My father is a bit old and confused. If something undignified and improper were to happen, then Master An should come and talk to me. It is no longer a simple marriage arrangement now that it involves military matters. My father should not be arbitrary and presumptuous. If it delays the military situation, the consequences will be dire. Does Master An understand?”

An Zhifu agreed: “Yes, yes. I wouldn’t dare to delay the business of the lords.”

“That’s good.” Qian Shixin said, “If I try to persuade my father, I’m afraid I will only provoke him to cause trouble on purpose. Master An and my father are close friends, so I would like to ask Master An to speak to him properly. If there is anything wrong, then come and tell me.”

An Zhifu replied. “Yes, yes.” He did not know what else to say.

Qian Shixin looked at An Ronggui again: ”Do you understand too, Young Master An?”

An Ronggui hurriedly answered.

Qian Shixin nodded at them, put down the curtain, and ordered the coachman to drive back to the government office.

When the carriage left, An Zhifu and his son breathed a sigh of relief. The most powerful lords of Pingnan County were all alarmed. Qian Pei should be sensible at his age and not make a fuss about it.

But An Zhifu did not expect Qian Pei’s anger to last several days. It was four days later when he was finally willing to see them.

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