Nan Zhi followed Ma Chunxiang but did not go far. She pretended to look at the rockeries and flowing water in the courtyard, but her eyes drifted as if inadvertently toward where the Wang father and son were standing.
Ma Chunxiang hesitated to speak.
However, seeing that they were quite far away, she figured that even if Nan Zhi had eight ears, she likely wouldn't be able to hear what was being said inside. Thus, she did not stop her and instead accompanied Nan Zhi to look at the flowers.
In reality, Nan Zhi truly could not hear what the Wang father and son were saying.
But she had eyes.
Whatever the NPCs said was written clearly in the speech bubbles above their heads.
In the main hall, the Wang father and son had dismissed the servants and closed the doors to whisper in private.
【Young Master Wang: Father, why did you lie to that Butcher’s Daughter just now and pin the haunting on the Qu family?】
【Young Master Wang: She already took our silver. If she cannot even handle this little matter, wouldn't our money be wasted on her?】
【Master Wang (Wang Fugui): You fool. The haunting in the distillery is at most a street rumor; no one has actually seen it.】
【Wang Fugui: By inviting someone from the Demon Suppression Division with such fanfare, aren't you essentially beating a drum to tell everyone that there is something unclean in our distillery?】
【Wang Fugui: It is one thing if these rumors reach the ears of the common folk, but if the nobles above find out, the reputation of our “Immortal Drunk” will be ruined!】
【Young Master Wang: At worst, we can just give that Butcher’s Daughter more silver. She was a simpleton before, so she likely hasn't seen much of the world.
Besides, Brother Zhou’s death in that tiger demon’s mouth is inextricably linked to her. If you look at it closely, she still owes our family a life.
My aunt was still crying about it a few days ago; do you truly not remember, Father?
If she dares to speak carelessly outside, at worst, I will find someone to trash Nan the Butcher’s meat shop.
I refuse to believe that with so many talented people in this world, I cannot find one to serve our family.】
Oh ho.
Just a moment ago, he was respectfully calling her “Officer Nan,” but as soon as her back was turned, it became “Butcher’s Daughter”?
She had wondered why the Wang family seemed to have completely forgotten the existence of Zhou Dalang. It turned out they hadn't forgotten; they were just suppressing their malice.
Nan Zhi slowly plucked a peony in the garden, a murderous intent hidden behind her smiling eyes.
In the front hall, Master Wang was still coughing while lecturing his son:
“Cough, cough... You fool! You utter fool! I, Wang Fugui, have been shrewd my entire life; how could I sire such a fool like you!
Do you even know what kind of place the Demon Suppression Division is? In the past, if a capable girl wanted to avenge your aunt, it wouldn't have mattered if we quietly killed her.
But now that she has entered the Demon Suppression Division, she is one of the Emperor’s people, a disciple of the immortals. Anyone who dares to move against her is going against the Emperor and the immortals.
Never mind the death of a nephew; even if it were my own son who died, I would still have to be polite and respectful to her. At the very least, I must maintain perfect etiquette on the surface so that no one can find fault.”
Seeing that Young Master Wang was still unconvinced, Master Wang gave a deep sigh.
“My son, I know you have high aspirations. But for a family like ours, no matter how much wealth we amass, in the eyes of the nobles, we are nothing more than a lump of clay to be molded as they please.
Look at the Qu family. Once, their gates were crowded with guests and they were at the peak of prosperity. But once they were convicted of a crime, look at how many years it took for them to fall into such a pathetic state.
If I hadn't arranged for you to marry this Ma woman early on, I’m afraid the Qu family would have eventually clung to our Wang family like a shadow.”
“What does the Qu family even count for? I looked down on them before, and their current actions are even more despicable.
I heard from Mother that back then, that old man Qu only favored your talent for brewing, which is why he took you in as an adopted son and wanted to marry his daughter to you.
Later, when the Qu family was convicted, you spent so much effort and used so many connections just to save the women and children of their family. Old man Qu’s daughter committed suicide by hanging; what does that have to do with you?
The Qu family has fallen. We can spend a bit of money to help them out occasionally, but that old hag of the Qu family is simply tactless. She insisted on adopting a girl from a branch family just to arrange an engagement with me and cling to our family’s status.”
Young Master Wang snorted, speaking with utter indifference:
“Father, I think you are just too kind hearted. You always keep the old ties with the Qu family in mind, which is why we end up losing out.
If you ask me, this matter with the Qu family is easy to solve. If they truly dare to come to our door to cause trouble, I will find a few thugs to go and trash the Qu household. Even if they burn down their shop, it won't matter.
If that truly doesn't work, I will privately hire some men to kidnap that Qu family daughter and keep her outside for a night before sending her back in broad daylight...”
Nan Zhi’s fists tightened.
The ancient world was harsh toward women. If a woman spent a night alone outside, even if nothing happened, in the eyes of others, she had lost her chastity.
For the daughter of the Qu family, this was absolutely no different from being sentenced to death.
Young Master Wang’s ruthlessness exceeded Nan Zhi’s expectations.
“Shut your mouth! You... you degenerate! Cough, cough, cough!”
Before the words could fully leave his mouth, Master Wang was trembling with rage. He kicked Young Master Wang in the knee and began to strike him wildly with his cane as if he were trying to kill him.
“You heartless wretch! What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!
If the master of the Qu family hadn't taken me in as a worker all those years ago, would your father have what he has today?
Would you be able to enjoy this life of luxury today? It was one thing for you to be shiftless and womanizing in the past, but how could you develop such a wicked intent to ruin the Qu girl’s purity?
I told you long ago not to associate with those fair weather friends, cough, cough, cough... but you refused to listen...
Cough, cough. You are meant to pursue a career in the bureaucracy in the future. If someone were to catch you in such a scandal, what would you do? Cough, cough, cough!”
Caught off guard, Young Master Wang was struck several times. His body stung with pain, and a layer of resentment involuntarily surfaced on his face.
“Fine, cough, cough... In any case, this foundation will eventually be handed over to you and your wife, cough, cough, cough. Tomorrow, have the Ma woman come to serve me.
It is also time to pass down the secret recipe for the ‘Immortal Brew.’”
Seeing his son’s stubbornness, Wang Fugui waved his hand wearily, tapping his cane on the ground.
“Degenerate, I hit you today so that you would remember that a real man must never lose sight of the big picture for the sake of small gains. You have a bright future ahead; you must not give others a handle against you just to satisfy a moment’s impulse, cough, cough, cough...”
“Father! Have you truly gone senile from your illness?! Although the Ma woman is my new bride, she is ultimately an outsider. How can you pass the recipe to her?”
Young Master Wang’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“I begged you for so long in the past, but you never agreed to give the recipe to me. Now that a new bride has entered the house, you want to hand it to her? What logic is this?
In this world, there is no precedent for skipping over one’s own son to hand over the family’s livelihood to someone else!”
“Enough!”
Wang Fugui closed his eyes impatiently and said sternly:
“In short, just remember that your father is doing everything for your own good. According to the laws of this dynasty, being a merchant is a lowly status, and officials are strictly forbidden from engaging in private business.
You are to enter the bureaucracy in the future, and you and the Ma woman have no children yet. If I don't give this secret recipe to her, should I wait until I die and take it into the coffin with me?!
As for the haunting in the distillery, you don't need to worry about it anymore.
That thing has always been like this for over ten years, it’s just that it has been acting up more severely this year...
In two days, I will have your mother go to Jiming Temple to request a spiritual talisman, and then everything will be fine.”
After saying that, Wang Fugui called for people to come in and help him back to his room to rest, completely failing to notice the burning hatred in Young Master Wang’s eyes.
...
...
“Officer Nan? Officer Nan? I wonder if there is... something wrong with these flowers?”
In the Wang family garden, Ma Chunxiang asked cautiously, looking as though she would immediately dig up the entire patch of peonies if Nan Zhi so much as nodded.
“It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered something and won't be able to accompany the Young Mistress to look at the flowers anymore.”
Nan Zhi snapped out of it, her eyes involuntarily carrying a hint of worry as she looked at Ma Chunxiang.
So, the Wang and Qu families had such a history.
Wang Fugui, or Master Wang, was once merely a worker at the Qu Family Distillery.
Then, something happened that led to the Qu family being convicted, while he transformed into the great Master Wang of today, building such a vast fortune.
“It has always been like this for over ten years.”
Reflecting on Wang Fugui’s words, it was clear he had known for a long time what was haunting the distillery; he simply found it inconvenient to tell her.
As for who that daughter of the Qu family who committed suicide was...
Nan Zhi had already guessed a few things.
Wang Fugui was plagued by karmic debt, which likely had everything to do with those past events.
With a husband and a father in law like these, Ma Chunxiang’s future life would likely not be easy.
“Lady Ma, there is something I have to say. You might not like hearing it, but I must mention it.”
Nan Zhi spoke tactfully. “It is already harder for a woman to live in this world than it is for a man. If you ever encounter any difficulties, feel free to come find me.”
Ma Chunxiang didn't quite understand, assuming Nan Zhi was just being polite, so she smiled and agreed:
“Of course. Everyone in Dingyuan knows how capable Officer Nan is. If I encounter any trouble, I will certainly be the first to seek you out.”
Nan Zhi couldn't say more, so she could only leave it at that.
After all, in the other woman’s eyes, she was just a stranger they had met for the first time.
If she directly told her that her house was haunted because her father in law had done something wicked years ago, and that he was now plagued by karmic debt and wouldn't live long, the woman would probably just kick her out.
Forget it. She would take it one step at a time and save who she could.
Nan Zhi had said all she could, so she nodded and took her leave.
Just then, the system notification sounded at the perfect moment:
【Long-term Mission: Wanniang Has a Grievance (I)】
【Mission Introduction: Thirty years ago, Qu Wan was the best brewer in Dingyuan County. The wine she brewed could make princes dismount and immortals stop in their tracks.
However, she met the wrong person. The Qu family was convicted because of their wine and fell into ruin, and Qu Wan ended up being strangled to death.】
【Qu Wan is at the City God Temple. She seems to be in great need of your help.】
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