Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times

Liu Fang laid down feeling uneasy, waited for a while, and then said, “You mentioned we would…”

Jing Xingzhi, quickly falling asleep, turned over and faced the wall.

Liu Fang: …

Influenced by those around him and the security Jing Xingzhi provided, Liu Fang fell asleep either. They slept together, sinking into a deep slumber.

.

Early the next morning.

On the way from Mingxi Town to Jingjia Village, a couple in their thirties, looking like a pair, strolled and conversed. Closer inspection revealed fine clothes on both men, with the woman wearing a piece of gold jewelry on her head, clearly from the town.

Jing Weizhi’s wife, Lan Cao, complained while beating her back, “I haven’t walked such a long way in ages. Your plan can’t go wrong, right?”

Pulling off his moustache, Jing Weizhi vowed, “No problem. I told you not to follow, but you insisted.”

“Huh!” Lan Cao expressed dissatisfaction, “I’m living well now, so of course, I want to come. Those folks in Jingjia Village need a reality check. Your mother, that old woman, made us toil day and night when she was obviously wealthy. It was shameful.”

Mentioning his mother, Jing Weizhi’s expression turned pale, signaling he didn’t want to talk about it.

Seeing this, Lan Cao immediately coaxed, “It’s in the past. We didn’t find any money then. Who knew people would die in two nights.”

First, she claimed his past deliberate actions were unintentional, and then Lan Cao began advocating for the current good times.

She smiled and said, “We are living a good life now. My son will definitely pass the scholar examination this time! The teachers have declared that the eldest son of our family is the smartest! Your brother is just studying, not a good person. My Dabao is a gifted boy.”

Jing Weizhi nodded upon hearing this. His son, Jing Dabao, was very smart. He was about to take the scholar examination at just ten years old. Thinking of his son, Jing Weizhi’s vague guilt for his mother’s death disappeared.

If she was alive, all the money would be spent on my younger brother Jing Xingzhi, and there would be no share for his son.

Unaware that his family was wealthy, Jing Weizhi, even after his mother’s passing, didn’t know they have several hundred taels, with some leftover after buying a shop in town.

Jing Weizhi took the money during the family separation, not letting go of valuable items. For instance, he conveniently hid the deed identity of his younger brother’s child bride.

He initially thought that thing was useless, but today it proved valuable. Jing Weizhi believed he already handled government matters, considering himself well-organized and talented, with the only shortcoming being his lack of education.

Yet, he was confident his son would make up for it soon.

“Let’s hurry. We’ll ask the villagers for help with the guarantee for the county exam later,” Jing Weizhi said, glancing at Lan Cao.

Lan Cao recognized his changed mood, realizing he wasn’t angry anymore. She thought he was easily swayed, but not necessarily a good person. Despite hiding the money initially, Jing Weizhi knew, yet hesitated to spend it with the woman.

The two couples smiled at each other and walked briskly.

.

Jing Erniu’s bullock cart rocked not far from the village. He had a few passengers heading to town for the market, including Jing Chai, the town accountant.

As two figures approached the bullock cart, Jing Erniu’s tiger eyes widened, then turned as wide as a cow’s eyes.

Five meters away, he cursed, “Jing Weizhi, you beast! Why bring this poisonous woman to our village?”

Back then, the young scholar and Fang Ge’er shouted about the firewood shed incident and the couple refusal to call a doctor. Everyone in Jingjia Village criticizing Jing Weizhi for not caring for his parents and married a vicious woman.

Jing Erniu started, and others in the cart, who always talkative, joined in the condemnation.

“Stinky people running on our road. It stinks to everyone!” one man said, fanning his nose.

“You’re so cruel to let your widowed mother die. I feel a pity for your mother, even if I call you a beast,” another added.

Even the usually gentle Jing Chai frowned and spat in front of Jing Weizhi, saying, “It’s not right!”

Lan Cao, shocked by the scolding, shrunk behind Jing Weizhi. When the old mother-in-law died and the family property was divided, the villagers scolded her, and she was nearly beaten.

Jing Weizhi protected Lan Cao, then addressed the unfamiliar villagers, “I’m just going back to pay my respects and find someone to guarantee my son’s county exam. I haven’t harmed the village. Everyone, please understand.”

Jing Erniu eyed them skeptically, saying, “You still want to worship? It’s better not to provoke people.”

Someone in the cart remarked, “Worshipping with empty hands, you are quite capable!”

Jing Weizhi grinned cheekily. No matter what, no one could refuse him with this excuse. Despite the villagers’ disdain, if he wanted to pay homage to his ancestors, they couldn’t stop him.

With so many people present, they couldn’t bully the scholar and Fang Ge’er.

Jing Erniu flicked his whip, instructing the people behind him, “Let’s go, sit down.”

The ox gained strength after resting, walking faster, leaving a trail of dust for Lan Cao and Jing Weizhi.

Lan Cao, frustrated, muttered, “These mud-legged people! What do they know!”

It wasn’t that the family refused to enter the village; Lan Cao’s scolding affected Jing Weizhi a little. Though he never regretted his actions, because if he didn’t do it, he might have ended up eating dirt like these villagers.

Running a shop and collecting rent made his life happier. He liked his life now.

Unable to curse, Jing Weizhi tugged Lan Cao’s sleeve, saying, “Let’s finish our work quickly and go back.”

.

A knock on the door echoed.

Liu Fang set aside the plan, covered it with a book, and stood up to open the door.

“Come, come, who is it?” Liu Fang shouted, crossing the front yard to open the door.

As it opened, Jing Weizhi and Lan Cao stood outside. The Jing family lived outside the village, avoiding other villagers.

Liu Fang recognized them after a moment’s thought, impatience on his face.

Lan Cao raised her eyebrows, about to speak when Liu Fang exerted force on his hand, slamming the door shut.

Before it closed, Lan Cao even saw Liu Fang rolling his eyes!

Angry, Lan Cao beat the door with her hands. “You little bitch! Open the door. Do you still want your deed of sale?”

Liu Fang, a few steps away, paused at the mention of the “deed of sale,” unsure of its whereabouts.

Liu Fang pondered, uncertain. Fang Ge’er had been sold as a child foster wife, but he wasn’t sure if the “deed of sale” was burned by Jing Xingzhi’s mother or if it was in the couple’s possession.

Lan Cao, relying on her words’ power, beat the door, then snorted, “Why don’t you open the door? Otherwise, I’ll sell you later, so don’t cry!”

Impatient, Jing Weizhi kicked the door and demanded, “Open the door!”

The couple appeared confident, and Liu Fang’s doubts decreased by half, now seven points sure— Fang Ge’er’s contract of sale likely in this couple’s possession.

Impatient, Liu Fang opened the door, blocking it, and asked, “No need to enter. What’s your purpose? Just tell me.” He scrutinized Lan Cao and Jing Weizhi’s faces.

Jing Weizhi explained, “My Dabao is taking the county examination this year. He needs a scholar and five villagers as guarantees. We don’t live in the village, so we came to Xingzhi for help.”

Liu Fang was shocked by their audacity. Coming here, knocking and kicking the door down, seeking for help?

Showing his small white teeth, Liu Fang said, “First, settle the matter of selling me out.”

Jing Weizhi, bewildered, suspected he misheard. His brother’s child foster wife wasn’t afraid of being sold?

Lan Cao, lacking tact, scolded the shuanger wide-eyed, “Are you dreaming? Call Jing Xingzhi out. We are the elders, so call him!”

Lan Cao shouted sharply. Liu Fang frowned, saying coldly, “If you don’t handle my affairs well, your son won’t take the exam. He’ll be a useless person eating at home for life.”

Jing Weizhi’s face darkened. This hairless shuanger dared to threaten him!

Jing Weizhi began, “Be careful, I’ll sell you -“!

Liu Fang interrupted, “Keep your voice down. Don’t disturb Xingzhi while he’s reading.”

Jing Xingzhi, halfway through, felt his reading disrupted by their loud exchange.