The First Volume of Qinghe County

  "Good show?" Abacus Li's expression on his face changed from intense shock to astonishment: "Hanging oneself is not a joke, how can Ximen Qing be so nonchalant about it?"

  "Xiao Tianqing!" Ximen Qing relaxed the corners of his mouth and suddenly shouted: "You go tell the steward to close all the doors in the house, big or small! Without my permission, don't let anyone out, not even a dog!"

  Little Tianqing, who had just run over and was still panting, nodded her head to show she understood, then turned around and took off to find the housekeeper.

  "Wait!" Ximen Qing stopped Little Tianqing and said: "After finishing the matter, let the housekeeper come over too."

  "Yes!" Little Tianqing finally caught her breath, nodded and shook her head as she left.

  Ximen Qing turned his head to look at the young servants and maids in attendance, his face sinking: "Shu Tong'er, Hua Tong'er, you two go and stand guard at Wu Yueniang's door. No matter who comes, do not let them enter! If anyone tries to force their way in, take out the whip and flog them!"

  The two children looked at each other and didn't know what their master was thinking, so they agreed to go get the whips from the water bucket.

  "All right." Ximen Qing gave his orders and suddenly put on a smiling face: "I'm hungry, Master. Prepare dinner."

  "Go get Xue'er over here." Xi Menqing didn't know what he was thinking of, but he laughed brightly: "Master finally has someone to eat with today."

  The maids looked at Ximen Qing's smile and suddenly felt a strong sense of reverence for their master.

  His own wife was hanging herself in the house, but he didn't even bother to go and rescue her, at least not sending someone to take a look; yet Ximen Qing's reaction was beyond everyone's expectation, closing the doors tightly, watching closely, even the road in front of Wu Yue's room had to be watched closely, as if afraid that someone would disturb Wu Yue's hanging...

  Moreover, Ximen Qing patted his belly and said he was hungry and wanted to eat.

  This is absolutely something a normal person can't do, to the point where some of the maids suspect that their master has been stimulated too much and gone mad.

  When Snow was inexplicably invited over by two maidservants, she also thought Ximen Qing was a bit abnormal.

  Although Wu Yue-niang was not very good to Zhuo Diao-er, she was domineering and tyrannical in the mansion, but as the legitimate wife and first lady, this was also appropriate. Since Wu Yue-niang was preparing to hang herself, Ximen Qing was still calmly preparing to eat dinner, which was not quite normal.

  In less than a moment, all sorts of dishes were already laid out on the table.

  The steward also came to the hall, Ximen Qing whispered in the steward's ear for a while, the steward's face changed slightly, nodded, and ordered people to move out the boxes from Li Rou's room along with the account books.

  "Could it be that the old woman has already hanged herself in her room by now?" Xue'er thought to herself as she sat on the stool under Ximen Qing's encouraging gaze.

  Wu Yue's mother was waiting anxiously.

  Since she had made a few gestures, watching Xiangyun stumble out of the room, Wu Yueniang knew that her plan was almost successful. Xiangyun's shouting made her mouth corner reveal a triumphant smile, and she rearranged her posture on the stool, letting her carefully combed hair scatter down, preparing to greet Ximen Qing's footsteps with the most tragic appearance.

  From the hall to Wu Yue's room, it was only a few dozen steps away. Even if she crawled, it would take no more than a minute or two. However, Wu Yue had been fiddling with the red silk cord around her neck for half a day, but still hadn't heard any movement.

  Put it on.

  Pick it off.

  Put it on again.

  Pick it again.

  Wu Yue-niang found her mood was just like the night of their wedding, when she covered herself with a quilt, feeling like an ant on a hot skillet, waiting for Ximen Qing to come.

  My neck is sore.

  Wu Yue's wife simply threw the rope aside and moved her neck a few times, only to find that she had been standing on the stool for a long time, her legs were numb and trembling.

  "Could it be that this Ximen Qing won't dare come over?"

  Wu Yue-niang couldn't help but think about it, got down from the stool, walked slowly to the door, and looked towards the main hall.

  There was no sign of Ximen Qing, but Wu Yueniang saw Book Boy and Painting Boy in the distance.

  Each person held a whip in their hand, and the book boy and painting boy stood with their backs to the direction of the house door, vigilantly watching the road.

  What's this? Wu Yue-niang was also confused, went back to sit on the stool, rubbed her legs and thought for a long time without knowing what Ximen Qing was up to.

  "This winter plum should have arrived, right? No one is massaging my legs for me!" Wu Yue-niang said, massaging her legs while getting annoyed.

  Dongmei shook her plump body and ran out of the back door, all the way to Wu's house, without noticing that the door behind her was quickly closed.

  Wu Yue's older brother was accompanying his father Wu Qianhu in the garden pavilion of their home, playing chess, because his younger sister had married Ximen Qing, so everyone called him Wu Da Jiu.

  "Father, I've already acquired the pawnshop on West Avenue." Wu Da Shu took a triumphant step forward: "From now on, it'll be part of the Wu family's assets."

  "It's better not to be too arrogant." Wu Qian, in his fifties with white hair, frowned upon hearing the pride in his son's tone and took a step forward: "Before your sister can completely take over the Ximen family's assets, it's still not suitable for you to act out of line. Although that spendthrift is indulging in pleasures, if he hears the news, he will still become vigilant."

  "Hmph." Wu Da Shu sneered: "Ximen Qing now only has an empty shell of a medicine shop, if it weren't for that Fu Zhuanggui being capable, I would have already asked someone to take it over. How much cash does the Ximen family have left? Two hundred taels? At most three hundred taels."

  Wu Qianhu shook his head: "Let's take it slow, that's the best strategy. Yueniang has been married to him for many years and has been living a comfortable life. We can't rush things, or else we might stir up trouble. I heard that Ximen Qing had dinner with Zhu Zhishou yesterday, what if Zhu Zhishou speaks up for him..."

  "What's the big deal about Zhu Zhi County?" Wu Daishu laughed and said, "Just throw a hundred taels at him casually, and he'll be thrilled to death. He's more ruthless than anyone else when it comes to making money, and yet he still cares about Ximen Qing's affairs? As long as the tribute money isn't lacking, that old guy won't care."

  "Take a step and think three steps ahead." Wu Qianhu put down one of his sons, blocking the vital point of his son's large dragon.

  "Wu's uncle was suddenly stunned."

  "Master...it's terrible!" At this time, Dongmei rushed into the yard, panting and shouting loudly from a distance.

  Wu Qianhuo raised his head and scolded, "What's the matter? Why have you come back!"

  Dongmei walked up to the pavilion with a series of gasps: "Master... Miss... she's hanged herself!"

  "What! Is that Ximen Qing forcing her?" Wu Da Shu suddenly jumped up, pulled his legs and wanted to walk out of the pavilion: "No way, I have to save my sister!"

  Wu Qianhou furrowed his brow, pressing down with his hand: "Hold on! Let Dongmei finish speaking, don't get excited!" He also looked at Dongmei: "You too, Dongmei, speak clearly!"

  Winter Plum spoke for half a day, and only then did she get the whole story out in a jumbled mess. Wu Qianhu laughed loudly and said: "Yue Niang is indeed my good daughter-in-law! This time Ximen Qing will be controlled by Yue Niang until he's dead!"

  "Son! Call a few servants, let's go make a big scene at the West Gate and then we'll talk!"

  "Great!" Wu Da Shu excitedly rubbed his hands: "I've been looking at Ximen Qing that kid not being pleasant, since he's made his wife hang herself, this time it's just right to take the opportunity to beat him up severely! Let him know the power of our old Wu family!"

  Before long, Wu Qianhu led the way, followed by Wu Daxiong, Dongmei, and seven or eight servants carrying clubs, all rushing quickly towards Ximen Qing's house.

  The imposing momentum made passersby on the street glance sideways and dodge, afraid of being hit.

  "Brother, you said this is from which official's house? Judging by their attitude, they seem to be going somewhere to fight."

  "Hey, isn't that Wu Qianhu up ahead? And the one behind him is his son. Neither of these two are good people."

  "Never mind, hurry up and hide, it's useless even if I hit you later."

  This team of soldiers marched through the streets, kicking up clouds of dust as they went, their loud shouts and cheers echoing off the buildings as they made their way to the West Gate.

  "Huh?" Wu Qianhu raised his hand, signaling the team to stop first, and pointed at the large gate in front: "I'm saying, son, doesn't that swaying figure at the door look a bit familiar?"

  "Father, let me see." Wu Daishu stepped forward and took a look: "Isn't this Niu Dutou? How did he end up here, and with two yamen runners? What's going on?"

  "Isn't it an official from the government arriving? I'll go and greet them, ask what's going on." said Wu Qianhu with narrowed eyes.

  The ox head held his arms, at the door with two yamen runners swaying their sleeves, looking at a team coming from across the street, took a look, recognized, Wu Qianhu and his son.

  "Ah, isn't this Niu Dutou?" Wu Qianhu stepped forward with a fist bump and greeted him: "What brings you here on official business?"

  "Who are you?" Niu Da Tou glanced at Wu Qian Hu, then raised his head and rolled his eyes: "I'm on duty to guard this place, outsiders not allowed."

  "What are you people doing? Get out of here quickly!"

  "Niu Dutou, I'm Wu Qianhu!" Wu Qianhu said with a smile: "Last year when having dinner with Zhu Zhixian, we even had two cups of wine together!"

  "Is it?" The cow lowered its head and arms, with a serious face, measuring Wu Qianhu: "Can't remember!"

  "What!" Wu Da Shu, who was standing beside him, raised his baton and the veins on his neck bulged out: "You're just a small precinct captain, you don't know how to show respect!"

  "Huh?" The cow-headed man didn't budge, only placing his hand on the hilt of the knife at his waist: "What kind of birdman are you? Dare to speak to me like that?"

  "There's a way to hit old man on the head." The cow-headed man sneered: "Let's see if my knife is fast or your broken staff is fast!"

  " Misunderstanding!" Wu Qianhu quickly pressed down the raised baton and inserted his body between the two people: "It's all a misunderstanding! Niudou, I'm here to talk to my son-in-law about something, please make way."

  The cow head laughed and said: "Do you think this pair of eyes is just for decoration? You're all holding weapons, are you here to talk or fight?"

  "Let me tell you, Mr. Wu! I don't know who your son-in-law is...". The cow head raised his thumb and gestured backwards: "However, this is the residence of the newly appointed county magistrate, who dares to trespass?"

  "What? County Magistrate?" The Wu family father and son's eyeballs almost fell out.