Chapter 10

The scallion's fresh aroma and the richness of the rice blended perfectly; the eggs were tender, the rice springy and smooth, and the heat had been judged to perfection.
Grains distinct and flavorful, every bite was packed with pure happiness.
His taste buds from tip to root exploded with pleasure, achieving utter satisfaction, as if a new world had opened up!
Oh my, what had he been eating before? Pig food!
Officer Zeng gobbled it down in great mouthfuls, eating with particularly greedy relish.
This made the camp cook beside him frantic, he really wanted to taste it.
But he dared not snatch food from his superior!
After finishing the last bite of egg fried rice, Officer Zeng was still not satisfied.
He couldn't help glancing at Mu Wanqing, the girl had talent!
He made up his mind: for dinner he'd have the cook copy her method and make another pot of Gold-Fleck Rice, the name was perfect.
Yes, one big pot, enough to eat his fill in one go!
That night, the cook eagerly tried to replicate the Gold-Fleck Rice, but somehow the color was all wrong.
Where hers had gleamed golden like actual gold, his turned out... to look like, well, like dung. It was utterly unappetizing to look at.
And when he tasted it, the flavor was wrong too; the rice clumped together, gloopy and off in texture.
Strange, following the same steps, how could the result taste so different?
Little did he know that although egg fried rice is simple, it's one of the greatest tests of a cook's skill.
In chef assessments, egg fried rice is a basic, required item.
But that's a discussion for later.
Mu Wanqing divided the remaining fried rice into portions and distributed them to her family one by one.
They had eaten poorly in prison; even if they got a meat bun now and then to make up for it, it was never enough.
Besides, compared to noodle-based food, Mu Wanqing much preferred rice.
The Mu family's appetites were conquered by that bowl of fried rice; they were stunned, deeming it heavenly.
So there really was such deliciousness in the world!
After finishing a large bowl, Mu Ziang looked at his sister with shining eyes. "Sis, how did you think of cooking on a stone? This is unbelievable."
Cooking fried rice on a stone slab, what a genius idea; it shocked the whole household.
"I just... thought of it on a whim," Mu Wanqing said casually. "I'm clever, after all."
Mu Ziang nodded vigorously, pride written all over his face. “Yes, yes, my sister is the smartest girl in the world, bar none.”
He admired his sister without reservation.
Her recent displays of cleverness and strength had been breathtaking; following her advice was never a mistake.
“Wanqing is truly capable,” Mu Zicheng chimed in, his sister was far more competent than he was.
The couple known as Second Master Mu and his wife heaped praise on her even more, and Mu Wanqing smiled, dimples appearing like little wells, sweet as honey.
The whole family was warm and merry, the mood just right, when a cold snort cut through the air. “Hmph.”
Mu Wanqing turned to look; it was Old Madam Mu, glaring at her with a cutting stare.
Earlier, with Officer Zeng present, no one in the Mu household had dared act out, even if they were dying with desire.
But once the guests left, the family could no longer hold back.
Third Master Mu burst out, “Second Brother, this is your fault. How could you not give the good things to Mother first? She raised you, found you a wife, bore you children, she fulfilled every duty of a mother, and you repay her by eating it all yourself?”
They were clearly starving, yet they hid behind the matriarch’s name, so hypocritical.
Eldest Master Mu wore a look of disappointment. “Second Brother, no matter what, we’re family. In times like these we should pull together and support one another.”
He sounded righteous, but really he was just sour and hungry.
Most importantly, they wanted to undo the changes that had been made, to return things to the way they were when their branch of the family held the power.
Second Master Mu was at a loss for words, bashful and unsure.
Mu Wanqing was different. She nodded solemnly. “There’s truth in what you say. Then give us one of those carts. My mother’s foot is injured and she can’t walk. And bring a few sets of clothes, a couple pairs of shoes, a little food and drink…”
Before she could finish, Third Master Mu snapped, “Impossible.”
There were only five wooden carts in the whole convoy, three belonged to the Fang family, two to the Mu family. They were precious supplies.
Clothes and food were scarce; even they didn’t have enough.
“We’re all family, no need to split things so clearly, right?” Mu Wanqing gave a half-smile. “Uncle, you’re head of the household, what do you think?”
She had once slapped Mu Zhongde in the face; he disliked her intensely but kept it to himself and spoke coaxingly.
“It’s not that we won’t give you anything, it’s that there’s nothing left to spare. Everyone has to fend for themselves in this kind of journey. Don’t be so delicate, get used to this life early and it will do you good…”
“I understand. The benefits are for you; the disadvantages fall on the second branch.” Mu Wanqing had long seen through them. “You allow yourselves the best to eat and drink and use, but we’re not allowed an extra bite. You’d sooner cut meat off our bones to feed yourselves. Such family members are better left behind.”
After serving time in prison, Third Master Mu had completely let himself go, shameless through and through.
“Second Brother, what use is such a sharp, selfish daughter? Drive her from the house at once, so we won’t be dragged down.”
How could he hurl that at a girl who wasn’t even of marriageable age?
That struck at Second Master Mu’s soft spot. “What use? She put meat buns and the finest rice on my table, whatever she has to eat, she shares with the family. Third Brother, what tasty things have your dutiful children brought you?”
Come on, trade barbs at each other.
Third Master Mu was furious.
He had two daughters and one son; the daughters were legitimate, while the only son was born of a favored concubine.
They whined and cried like chicks frightened out of their wits.
“As long as that troublemaker Mu Wanqing is around, my brother and I won’t help you, and we won’t give you a thing.”
Without Wanqing as a thorn in their side, they could swagger over the second branch and bully them again.
On such a perilous road, they expected the second branch to charge ahead as cannon fodder.
Without thinking, Second Master Mu said, “My daughter is worth all the world to me. She’s no curse, she’s our little lucky star and our pride.”
He knew he had little talent and that his sons weren’t remarkable; he had long been pressed down by the matriarch and the main branch.
He couldn’t resist them, but his daughter had done it for him!
The pride and joy in his heart were indescribable; his daughter had truly outdone herself.
Mu Wanqing was stunned. A warm tide rose in her chest and her eyes began to sting.
Is this what a father’s love is like? So warm it makes you want to cry.
“You’ll regret it.” Third Master Mu, shamed and enraged, snarled, “I want to see how far your second branch can get without the family’s protection.”
Old Madam Mu sneered. “Without carts or supplies they won’t last long. Third, don’t waste words on these ungrateful people, I no longer recognize them as Mu family.”
At that moment, a mule-drawn cart covered in blue cloth rolled up beside them. The carriage was draped in a single swathe of blue fabric, very plain, the sort of mule cart you saw all over the streets.
The driver in a blue tunic called out, “Is this the household of the former Deputy Minister?”
Mu Zhongde blinked and felt his heart leap, could the other family have chased after them? “Yes. Who are you looking for?”
The driver brightened. “Is Second Master Mu, Mu Zhongping, here?”
All eyes turned to where Mu Zhongping sat among the group; he rose uneasily. “That’s me.”
The blue curtain was whisked aside and a man inside the carriage poked his head out. “My surname is Cheng, I am the second steward of the Cheng family.”
The Chengs? Everyone was momentarily thrown.
“Ah.” Mu Zhongde remembered, slapped his forehead and broke into a pleased smile. “Qing’er, come here. This is your husband’s family; they’ve kindly caught up to send you off…”
Mu Wanqing glanced coolly. The man hadn’t even stepped down from the cart and was leaning out to speak, hardly a sign of respect.
But the opportunity she wanted had arrived.
Sure enough, the second steward interrupted, “I come by my master’s orders to call off the engagement.”
There was an uproar through the crowd, faces filing through a range of emotions.
Some were sympathetic, others delighted at their misfortune.
But such things happened all the time, how many people had been jilted? Even famed Mu Jinyao had been rejected. Why should anyone be spared?
Third Master Mu threw back his head and laughed, "Hahaha, I knew it, who would want to marry a rebellious, unfilial daughter-in-law? Steward Cheng, well done."
The Steward was taken aback but didn't think too hard. "Second Master Mu, it's not that the Cheng family don't honor their word, it's that we simply have no choice. Your Mu family has been exiled to Liangcheng; who knows when you'll return. We can't have our young master waiting forever until he ends up all alone."
He spoke politely and had neatly hit upon their motive.
Second Master Mu was a reasonable man; he hesitated. "This..."
Madam Qian tugged his sleeve and said loudly, "What's the problem? This is the perfect chance to bring our Qing'er home as a wife."
That way she wouldn't have to drift with them and be exiled to Liangcheng.
"That won't do..." The steward blurted, then realized he'd let something slip.
He frowned in embarrassment. "I mean, Third Miss Mu has been in prison; her reputation is tarnished. The Cheng family could never accept that. Old Madam Mu, if the shoe were on your foot, would you accept a daughter-in-law like this?"
"I wouldn't, it's unclean." Old Madam Mu showed no mercy, kicking her while she was down. "Second son, break off the engagement at once. Don't cling to it and disgrace the Mu family."
The Steward produced a debt warrant and took a very humble tone. "Second Master Mu, pity this humble runner: if this doesn't go through, my whole family will be sold off."
Second Master Mu felt his mind in knots and glanced instinctively at his daughter. "Qing'er."
Mu Wanqing surveyed them without a flicker. "You Chengs have pulled a lot of strings trying to find the marriage contract, haven't you?"
She opened with her trump card.
The Second Steward went pale. "How do you kno- "
His words cut off; his face went white then flushed, and he couldn't help scrutinizing the girl before him.
This is the Third Miss Mu, engaged to our young master? How is she nothing like the rumors?
Mu Wanqing smiled faintly, composed. "You'll never find the marriage contract, it's in my hands."
The answer surprised the Steward. No wonder, they'd greased so many palms and still couldn't get hold of the contract.
After thinking it over, they had no choice but to deal with the person involved.
He recovered quickly. "Third Miss Mu, please return the marriage contract. Everyone in the Cheng family will remember your kindness. My mistress says it's not that you're not a fine person, it's simply that our families are ill-matched. We wish Third Miss Mu an early and auspicious match."
He was glib and deferential, no wonder he'd risen to steward.
Mu Wanqing regarded him with clear, steady eyes and a faint smirk. "That's it?"
"What?" The Steward was baffled.
He prided himself on being sharp, but he couldn't read Mu Wanqing's mind.
Mu Wanqing glanced carelessly at the blue-cloth mule cart. "What good are words of gratitude?"
A flicker of realization crossed the steward's face, but he couldn't believe it. "What do you mean by that?"
Mu Wanqing hated people who played dumb. Wouldn't it be better to settle matters reasonably and with give-and-take?
"How much is your family's reputation worth? How much is your young master's future worth?"
The steward's face shifted color several times. "Third Miss Mu, your reputation matters, too..."
Mu Wanqing waved a hand, smiling. "First: you deliberately waited until we were out of town and had walked several miles before showing yourself, acting low-key to avoid making a scene."
"Second: the Cheng patriarch currently holds a fifth-rank post; the fourth rank is a watershed, above it lies high office. Given his age and qualifications, it's hard for him to cross that threshold. Reputation is crucial."
"Third: your young master is going to take the imperial examinations; his reputation is priceless. If rumors spread that he's cold or unscrupulous, his prospects will be limited. Don't you see?"
The steward couldn't believe it. Every sentence landed on the sorest spot of the Cheng family, exactly the reason they'd wanted to dissolve the engagement quietly.
Too many worries had put them on the defensive.
His gaze darkened and grew shifty; suddenly he said, "When a person dies, their obligations cease."
If Mu Wanqing were dead, there would be no need to go through annulment, she would no longer stand in the way of their young master.
Everyone drew a sharp breath, so ruthless. At the slightest disagreement they'd kill their fiancée! The Chengs were terrifying!