Upon hearing that voice, Bie Su Lan grabbed the kitchen knife from the cutting board and charged out, wildly swinging it at the brown-clad man in the courtyard who was carrying two slabs of cured meat.
“Junior Sister, Junior Sister,” the man called out in panic, but he moved as lightly as a swallow, easily evading her attacks.
Bie Su Xin stepped out and quietly admonished her sister, “Stop it at once.”
Bie Su Lan put away the knife and stood beside her sister, pouting and muttering, “It’s all his fault! If it weren’t for him, Father wouldn’t have been imprisoned…” Her eyes reddened, and she wiped them with her sleeve.
The brown-clad man was both ashamed and remorseful. “Junior Sister, I have wronged you. I know nothing I say can make it right. I just came to see Master and bring you some things.” With that, he placed the cured meat on a stone bench and took out a bulging blue cloth money pouch from his bosom, placing it beside the meat before turning to leave.
“Brother Chen, wait,” Bie Su Xin called, taking the money pouch. “We appreciate your kindness. Father doesn’t blame you. We’ll accept the meat, but you should take the money back. Your family isn’t well-off, and you have your mother and younger sister to support. We can’t take your silver.” She tossed the pouch back to Brother Chen.
Brother Chen clumsily caught the pouch, placed it on the ground without a word, and turned to leave.
Bie Su Xin picked up the pouch and quickly caught up with Brother Chen, insisting he take the money back. Brother Chen refused, trying to stuff the pouch into her sleeve, while she blocked him with her elbow. The two began to tussle.
Brother Chen moved swiftly and powerfully, his actions fluid and graceful, while Bie Su Lan was light and agile, like falling leaves. Their movements were a delight to watch.
By the time Bie Su Xin had stepped out, those inside had followed her out and were now standing under the eaves, watching in amazement. Dou Zhao, in particular, was surprised. “I didn’t know Su Xin knew martial arts,” she murmured. “I thought she was delicate and fair, while Su Lan was sturdy and strong, and only Su Lan had learned martial arts from Master Bie…”
Chen Qu Shui chuckled, “Both sisters learned martial arts from Master Bie. He always said that girls should know some martial arts so that even if they argue with their husbands, they can have the upper hand and not suffer losses. Otherwise, why would Dan Jie use the power of the authorities to force Master Bie to submit?” He sighed, thinking of the Bie family’s plight.
“To learn both literature and martial arts, to serve the emperor’s family,” Dou Zhao sighed as well.
Chen Qu Shui stepped forward and shouted, “Stop!”
The two quickly separated.
Only then did Dou Zhao notice that Brother Chen was quite handsome and spirited.
He stepped forward, bowed to Chen Qu Shui, and respectfully called him “Uncle Chen,” indicating familiarity.
Chen Qu Shui glanced at the money pouch string hanging from Brother Chen’s sleeve and smiled, “Though you misjudged people in Master Bie’s matter, don’t blame yourself too much. Ultimately, it was Dan Jie who was despicable. If you feel uneasy, come help the sisters with some chores when you have time. No need to give money; your family isn’t well-off either.”
Brother Chen’s face turned red. “I’ve resigned from the Dan family. After the New Year, I’ll be escorting goods with Chen the Cripple, so I probably won’t be home for a few years…”
Bie Su Xin’s face changed slightly. “You’re going to escort goods with Chen the Cripple outside the pass? Do you know what kind of goods he escorts? Few who go with him return alive, and you’re the only son in your family!” She deftly pulled the money pouch from Brother Chen’s sleeve, revealing four shiny silver ingots. “No wonder you suddenly have money…”
“It’s not with Chen the Cripple,” Brother Chen awkwardly defended, “it’s with someone else…”
Bie Su Xin wouldn’t let him off easily, sternly asking, “If it’s not with Chen the Cripple, where did you get so much money? How many years did you sign a life-and-death contract with him?” She continued seriously, “Brother Chen if we knew the money you gave us was your life money, do you think we could accept it with peace of mind?”
Brother Chen lowered his head, murmuring, “I know… I have no other skills… Master said not to use martial arts to harm others. Besides some martial arts, I know nothing else…”
Bie Su Xin decided to tell him, “Father has entrusted my sister and me to Miss Dou Si. You don’t need to worry about us.”
“Entrusted to Miss Dou Si?” Brother Chen was stunned, then exclaimed, “Entrusted? How?”
Bie Su Xin subtly replied, “We are relying on Miss Dou Si.”
“How can this be, how can this be!” Brother Chen was flustered, “How could Master let you become servants!”
Bie Su Xin worried that Dou Zhao might misunderstand, quickly glanced at her. Seeing Dou Zhao smiling knowingly, she felt relieved.
Meanwhile, Brother Chen was already shouting, “Junior Sister, you can’t go, you, you… why don’t you marry me instead? My mother will take good care of you and Little Junior Sister, and I’ll protect you both, never letting anyone covet you again…”
Everyone in the courtyard was left speechless.
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but think to herself.
This Brother Chen looks about twenty-two or twenty-three, yet he’s so naive, thinking that marriage would stop others from having bad intentions! If anything, Dan Jie might cause even more trouble seeing that Bie Su Xin married a powerless commoner. Why else would some noble sons in the capital take pride in seducing married women?
Bie Su Xin was extremely embarrassed, while Bie Su Lan jumped up, “Chen Xiao Feng, are you crazy? My sister would never marry you! You can’t even beat her…”
So this was Chen Xiao Feng!
Dou Zhao watched with interest as his face turned as red as a cloth, stammering, “I, I…” but unable to say anything. Chen Qu Shui came to his rescue, “Marriage is a lifelong matter, not to be taken lightly. Since you’re here, come in and have some tea!”
Chen Xiao Feng dared not look at the Bie sisters and followed Chen Qu Shui into the firewood room with his head down.
Bie Gang Yi lay motionless on the bed, looking as if he were dead, if not for the slight rise and fall of his chest.
Chen Xiao Feng kowtowed to Bie Gang Yi.
Bie Su Xin worried that Chen Xiao Feng’s one-sided affection would embarrass her, solemnly introduced Dou Zhao to him, “This is Miss Dou Si. Father was able to get out of prison thanks to her speaking on his behalf to her elders. Father feared Dan Jie would not give up and continue to harass us, so he entrusted us to Miss Dou Si. She is kind-hearted and has taken us in to protect us.”
Chen Xiao Feng had noticed Dou Zhao earlier, finding her simple attire and extraordinary demeanor impressive, but he didn’t know who she was in the Bie family. Since neither Bie Su Xin nor Chen Qu Shui introduced her, he dared not look too closely. Now, he couldn’t help but glance over.
He saw Dou Zhao with long eyebrows reaching her temples, her young eyes bright and clear, shining like stars, her beauty striking, like pearls and jade beside her, making him feel inferior. His mouth opened and closed, full of thoughts but unsure how to express them.
Dou Zhao intended to help the Bie sisters. If Bie Su Xin and Chen Xiao Feng had mutual feelings, she wouldn’t mind facilitating their marriage. She could arrange for Chen Xiao Feng to run a small business under the Dou family’s name, so the Bie sisters wouldn’t necessarily have to serve her directly.
As she was leaving, she asked Bie Su Lan, “Is Chen Xiao Feng close to your family?”
Bie Su Lan nodded, her mood a bit downcast, “His father was also a martial artist. He died when Chen was seven. My father pitied him and took him as a disciple, even recommending him to be an instructor in the capital. He was worried about leaving his mother and sister uncared for, so he went to work as a guard for the Dan family. If he hadn’t gone there, none of this would have happened.” She seemed troubled.
Dou Zhao smiled, “You were close before, weren’t you?”
Bie Su Lan nodded, “He was like a brother to us…” She widened her eyes, “Miss Dou Si, you’re not thinking of matchmaking him with my sister, are you? Please don’t agree with that! My father said he’s too impulsive, acting without thinking. Otherwise, my father would have married my sister to him long ago!”
Dou Zhao was a bit surprised.
However, since Bie Gang Yi thought it unsuitable, there must be reasons why Chen Xiao Feng wasn’t right for Bie Su Xin. She wouldn’t presume to know better.
“Don’t worry, when you and your sister marry, it will be your decision.”
Bie Su Lan blushed.
Returning home, Dou Zhao first went to greet her grandmother and talked about her visit to the Bie family. Her grandmother listened with great interest, “So Bie Su Xin knows martial arts? You must bring her to see me sometime!” She was very curious.
Gan Lu, who was usually cautious and respectful in front of Dou Zhao, couldn’t help but laugh when her grandmother mentioned the Bie sisters, “Bie Su Lan knows martial arts too.”
“Really?” Her grandmother’s interest piqued, “What do they look like? Are they big and burly?”
With Dou Zhao smiling and listening, Gan Lu and Su Juan felt emboldened. One said, “You’ll see when you meet them,” and the other added, “They’ll surely surprise you.”
Their chatter was lively and cheerful.
This was their true nature.
Dou Zhao felt it was right to bring them along.
After dinner, she visited her third cousin.
“Silver sitting idle is just sitting idle; it’s better to do some small business,” Dou Zhao said, giving the fragrant powder she brought back from Zhen Ding Prefecture to Cousin Shu, and drank tea with her third cousin and his wife in the sitting room.
Her third cousin exchanged a glance with his wife, who cautiously asked, “What kind of business does Fourth Sister want to do? Who will help manage it?”
Dou Zhao pretended not to notice, smiling, “I saw how much ink and paper our family uses every year, so I thought of opening a stationery shop. As for who will manage it, I haven’t decided yet. I’ll ask Third Uncle to recommend a head manager.”
It seemed Dou Zhao had come up with the idea herself, not influenced by anyone to meddle in business affairs.
Her third cousin relaxed and smiled, “How much silver do you need?”
“Ten thousand taels should be enough!” Dou Zhao replied with a smile.
Dou Xiu Chang was so startled that he spilled tea on his clothes.