Chapter 19

Mu Hai shut his eyes tight, his whole body trembling, teeth clenched and saying nothing.
Mu Wanqing looked down on him, pressing, "Let me guess, you envy us because we have a mule cart and you don't."
"You envy that my father and brothers have had their shackles removed, while yours haven't."
"You envy that we have hot meals, while you have to fight over a single steamed bun, scrambling for food like swine."
Each cutting remark broke Mu Hai down. He snarled hoarsely, "Why should you live well while I have to live like a dog?"
By saying that, he had effectively admitted it.
The constable who'd lost the silver flushed with anger and kicked him over.
Mu Wanqing couldn't help but laugh in annoyance. "You can only blame your own stupidity, your incompetence."
That was no reason to frame others.
Mu Hai, furious and frightened, let all that anger turn on Mu Wanqing.
"Mu Wanqing, your words are vicious. It's not scarcity we fear but inequality; not poverty but injustice, your family has faults too..."
Turning the accusation back at them was too much. Even Madam Qian lost her temper. "That mule cart was won with Wanqing's marriage certificate; the hot meals come from Wanqing's cooking. She has ability. You have none and won't even try, only jealous and scheming. You deserve a lifetime of poverty."
"You..." Mu Hai trembled with rage. "What is there to boast about in selling a daughter for gain?"
Those words stung; the people of the second household changed color. Only Mu Wanqing remained calm. "A corrupt mind sees filth in everything. Once someone's heart is rotten, there is no cure."
Second Master Mu puffed up with pride. "Look, what a remarkable daughter I have. Our family basks in her reflected glory. I'm a man of accomplishment; I have a fine daughter, you don't!"
That remark practically invited hatred.
Everyone was furious.
The constable who'd lost the silver had run out of patience. He hauled Mu Hai to his feet. "Where's the rest of the money? Hand it over."
"That's all." Mu Hai refused to confess.
The constables didn't believe a word and were furious. "Fine, keep lying. Let's see how long you can hold out." They dragged him out to be beaten.
Few from the Mu family came forward to plead this time; mainly because they couldn't stand someone framing their kin.
If he dared treat Mu Zicheng like this today, what would he do next?
After a few blows, Mu Hai writhed in agony and could no longer hold out. He confessed: the silver had been stolen in the chaos of the fight.
It had been a joint venture then; he and two relatives covered for each other and split the silver afterward.
The constable recovered his silver in full and breathed a sigh of relief, finally breaking into a smile.
He felt a twinge of regret. "Third Miss Mu, my actions were rash, allow me to apologize."
He was straightforward; whatever he felt showed on his face.
Mu Wanqing turned slightly, avoiding his apology. "I'm not the one who was wronged."
Constable Wang didn't hesitate; he stepped forward, bowed to Mu Zicheng, and apologized.
Seeing his sincere attitude, Mu Zicheng graciously forgave him, well, he couldn't very well refuse.
The atmosphere immediately eased. Mu Wanqing's eyes flicked around. "Officer Zeng, I was frightened just now, I want compensation."
Officer Zeng was not surprised; in fact, he felt, as expected. "Tell me."
She always kept scores straight, if wronged, she repaid it. Having suffered a loss, she would never let it rest.
Mu Wanqing pointed at her second brother, Mu Ziang. "He's the only one in the family still wearing shackles. I don't think that's right; a family should share both hardship and comfort."
Officer Zeng hesitated briefly. Indeed, tonight's actions had been a bit much. Mu Wanqing was a calculating girl; offending her wouldn't be wise.
"Very well." Let her have the scene back, this matter will be settled, which is good.
They removed Mu Ziang's shackles on the spot. He was overjoyed, he hadn't expected such good fortune.
His sister is formidable, she's amazing.
From now on, I'll obey my sister!
Constable Wang had one question. "Third Miss Mu, how did you know he'd point his finger at you?"
Mu Wanqing feigned solemnity. "Let's just say I guessed."
She had studied psychology and microexpressions for a time; she could tell, to some extent, whether an ordinary person was lying.
The guilty will instinctively avoid eye contact and overcompensate by pointing at their accuser and shouting denials.
Everyone looked at her differently now, with a touch of awe. Whether she had guessed or truly read their hearts, she was impressive.
The punishments were carried out, the compensations handed over, and people gradually dispersed.
Mu Hai and his brothers had been beaten bloody and fainted; the clan dragged them back to the woodshed.
Second Master Mu hesitated. “Qing'er, I… I want to bring them some wound medicine.”
He had developed a habit of consulting Mu Wanqing about everything.
Mu Wanqing opened the medicine chest, took out a bottle of high-quality wound salve. “Go.”
Second Master Mu was surprised. “You don't object?”
He had expected his daughter to be fiery, the sort who wouldn't tolerate the slightest insult.
“They've already received their due punishment, but their crimes don't merit death,” Mu Wanqing said honestly. “Let them live.”
Second Master Mu grabbed the wound medicine and hurried off, returning shortly after looking as if a great burden had been lifted; he relaxed.
Mu Wanqing didn't idle either; she and her second brother knocked on the bunkroom door and called out loudly, “Mu Jinyao, Mu Rongxue.”
She didn't go in, just stood outside waving to them.
The two sisters, Mu Jinyao and Mu Rongxue, were astonished, what was she up to? There was no deep sisterly bond between them.
“What's the matter?”
“Thank you.” Mu Wanqing cupped her hands in thanks.
Mu Jinyao was dumbfounded, was she here to thank them? Just because she'd spoken up on their behalf? “I'm not helping you, it's because... we're all surnamed Mu.”
“Right, that's what I meant too.” Mu Rongxue said haughtily.
“In any case, you must say thank you. This is a token of thanks.” Mu Wanqing accepted the obligation and took out what she'd prepared.
They were ten glossy braised eggs, she had casually made a few extras to save for the next day.
The sisters both swallowed in unison, unable to take their eyes off them.
Why did such ordinary eggs look so enticing, so delicious?
But they were too shy to accept them.
Mu Wanqing shoved the braised eggs at them. “Eat them quickly. I'm going back to sleep.”
Watching her walk away, Mu Rongxue's expression softened. “She... doesn't seem so annoying after all.”
Hmm, it's definitely not that she was bought off by a few eggs!
Mu Jinyao couldn't help smiling.
A call came from inside; the two turned and went in.
Everyone turned to look. Old Madam Mu peered at what they were holding. “What's this?”
In the Da Qi, filial piety governed the country, and the current ruler was exceptionally devoted, so the court and the people alike preached filial duty.
The Mu family was a household of officials; everyone, from top to bottom, showered Old Madam Mu with reverence.
Mu Jinyao brought the food with both hands before Old Madam Mu. “Third sister brought this as a token of thanks; please try one.”
Old Madam Mu's gaze was fixed on the braised eggs; she sniffed disdainfully, “Only ten eggs? How could she have the nerve to hand them over...”
Before she could finish, a long hand reached over. “If Grandmother doesn't want them, give them to me, I'll eat them.”
It was Second Young Master Mu, who lived on dry rations every day; his eyes had gone green with longing.
Old Madam Mu couldn't stop him; she watched helplessly as one braised egg disappeared into his big mouth, his face full of delight.
She was furious, rolling her eyes at such unfilial grandchildren.
In the end, Eldest Master Mu decided: one egg for Old Madam, the rest divided so everyone could try a taste.
He had no idea how wrong that decision would be.
Only after tasting did Mu Jinyao suddenly understand why the government runners would shamelessly jostle for food.
It was a heavenly delicacy, rich with meaty aroma, delicate and smooth, intensely flavorful.
After days of bland dry rations, their mouths had gone numb; this braised egg was the ultimate taste.
At first, they might have passed on it, but after one bite, they were hooked, tormented by thoughts of it ever after.
Years later, members of the Mu family would still remember that bite of braised egg, it remained one of their fondest memories, a flavor no delicacy could replace.
Second Young Master Mu wore a look of rueful regret, cursing that he'd eaten it too fast. “I suddenly think our third sister is really beautiful.”
A girl who can cook is clever and deft; he regarded Mu Wanqing through a flattering lens.
Silence fell inside; everyone's expressions were complicated.
Elder Young Master Mu shot him a furious glare, he had eaten a whole egg while everyone else only had a sliver.
“The important thing is that she's virtuous.” Those hoping to mooch a meal, what now?
Old Madam Mu couldn't hear that without exploding. “Virtuous, my foot! Just because she can make a few rustic dishes doesn't make her admirable. Are you all mad in the head or blind?”
This time, nobody rose to back him up.
They couldn't beat Mu Wanqing, why not join her instead? Haven't you seen the once-useless second branch of the Mu family prosper since following her?
They ate well every day, had clean rooms to live in, and their shackles were removed.
Of course they weren't that shallow, the point was they were family, Mu family through and through, loving and close-knit.
A new day dawned; at first light they set out. Mu Ziang cheerfully volunteered to drive the wagon.
Mu Zicheng was in low spirits, his parents had spent half the night 'educating' him with love: don't pick up stray things, be more careful, learn from your mistakes.
Mu Wanqing had a bowl of oil-tea noodles, then lazily leaned against the wagon wall, picking up pen and paper to doodle and tally her petty treasury.
She'd originally had 522 taels. She turned in 200, spent 100 on supplies. Daily food cost one tael; that's 30 taels a month, 180 for six months.
After those deductions she only had fifty taels left, but nightly lodging wasn't cheap, over six months it would cost several dozen taels.
Besides, the mule cart was already crammed with supplies; there wasn't room to sit comfortably. She wanted to buy a roomy carriage.
A fine horse cost sixty to seventy taels; with a carriage, eighty taels at the very least.
The problem was, once they reached the border, they'd have to bribe the local officials to secure decent lodgings.
Setting up a home would cost money too; by that reckoning, they were short several hundred taels.
Making money was urgent.
Madam Qian sat sewing, glancing up now and then at her daughter, then at her husband and son, feeling perfectly content.
"What are you writing?"
Mu Wanqing was about to answer when a shout came from outside: "It's going to rain."
No sooner had the words left that mouth than a gale swept up, bending the trees along the road this way and that.
A storm was brewing; the wind filled the house.
The greatest hardship on the exile road was about to arrive: a violent storm!