HE With the Cold Male Protagonist C22

Chapter 22: Public Execution, Off to the Prefectural City

By the next day, after a night and a morning of spreading the word, nearly the entire population of Qingshui Village had gathered at Wang Lizheng’s house. Only those bedridden or with urgent matters were absent. Even several members of the wealthy Liu family had come.

They normally did not like to join in lively affairs, keeping to their low-key ways. But once they arrived today, they were greeted with warmth and fawning from many.

Some hoped to curry favor for benefits, while others simply wanted to form ties. The Liu family members, following the long-standing approach of Liu Gong, responded to all with perfunctory politeness—lest showing any softness encourage people to scheme against them.

Yet when Jiang Baiye arrived, Liu Laoda immediately broke into a smile, stepped forward to greet him, and this startled everyone else greatly.

“What a lad, you’re hard to track down! Last time I came to your house, you’d gone to town!”

The two talked happily. Anyone with eyes could see just how much Liu Laoda admired Jiang Baiye. The crowd was both envious and bewildered—how had they come to know one another?

When Jiang Dashan’s family arrived, the two had just finished their chat. At that moment, Wang Lizheng also stepped out of the house. Not wanting to delay people from their farmwork, he directly, before the entire village, recounted in full the events of last night—every detail, nothing concealed. Then he swept his gaze around.

“I do not expect our villagers to achieve great success or fame, but harmony without scheming is the only way to live in peace. If we spend every day plotting against one another, then the neighboring Lijia Village is a vivid example. By autumn harvest they cannot even pay taxes, and their village is in constant chaos—what kind of life is that!”

“That’s right, after the last uproar, why can’t they keep quiet?”

“Some people never learn. That Jiang Laotou always suppressed the second branch, treating them like oxen and horses. Now no one listens to him, but at his age he still needs someone to care for him in his old age.”

“Isn’t there still the main branch? The main branch isn’t dead. And yet they still cling shamelessly to those they already severed ties with—how petty can one be!”

Jiang Laotou’s old face turned scarlet, not daring to lift his head under the strange looks of the villagers.

Jiang Dashan also shot Li Shi a glare, furious at her incompetence.

But they had no idea that Madam Feng, in trying to speak for them that morning, had only deepened Wang Lizheng’s anger. He felt they were playing tricks right before him—unforgivable! He even suspected that when his wife and daughter had starved themselves to force the annulment of a marriage, it might have been their doing behind the scenes.

Thus he pronounced a heavy punishment: the Jiang family, both the old patriarch’s household and the main branch, were to clear and cultivate the twenty or so mu of wasteland at the back of the mountain.

“Twenty mu!? Lizheng, you can’t be this unfair! Just because Jiang Baiye gave you some benefits, you stand on their side!” Li Shi nearly went mad. In all her years she had never been so humiliated. “My son is a tongsheng! Lizheng, do you truly mean to treat us this way?”

Many villagers also could not understand. To offend the Jiang family’s main branch like this—was Wang Lizheng not afraid? If their son advanced in the exams and became an official, he would not let him off lightly!

“Qingshui Village does not have only one tongsheng.” Jiang Baiye chuckled and reminded them. “Lu tongsheng’s father was even a xiucai. If not for an accident, he might have become an official already. As his son, surely he will surpass the blue and become greater than the green.”

Everyone was startled, recalling that elegant, handsome figure. But because he had been too low-key, living in seclusion, over time they had ceased to speak of him and even forgotten him. They had once marveled at his excellent results, but soon their attention had shifted more to Jiang Yueming…

This made Jiang Baiye especially heart-sore. “If you wish for good days ahead, then treat Lu tongsheng better. Gossip less about him—perhaps in future you might even benefit from his light.”

“What a joke! He’s a mute, and still—” Jiang Dashan sneered, about to continue when Wang Lizheng snapped, “Enough! How much longer do you intend to bicker? Jiang Dashan, is your family begging to be driven out of Qingshui Village? You show not a trace of remorse!”

Jiang Dashan’s eyes glinted with resentment, but he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

Jiang Baiye, however, felt a little odd. What exactly had he been about to say just now, that made the lizheng react so strongly?

“In addition, you are to go to the county yamen later and transfer all the severance contracts, land deeds, and property deeds concerning the second branch to Jiang Dazhu. Do not dream of delaying any longer!”

Jiang Laotou had wanted to use those as leverage against Jiang Dazhu. At the words, his vision went black. Thinking of those twenty mu of wasteland—it would take months of backbreaking labor to open it up. Household work would be neglected, and barren land was no easy task.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Baiye added, “Once they finish clearing it, we will buy those twenty mu.”

At this, not only Jiang Laotou but Li Shi nearly fainted with fury. This brat was doing it on purpose!

He Shi was all smiles, grinning ear to ear, wishing she could slap her thigh in delight. Served them right! In fact, they had been wanting to acquire more land anyway. Now that they had money, wasn’t it right to expand the family’s estate, so that in future they could secure a fine marriage for Chang Sui?

Jiang Baiye then turned to Wang Lizheng. “Uncle Wang, how much silver would it take to buy Mount Daheng outright?”

The murmurs around the field fell instantly silent, then rose again in an even louder uproar. Everyone shook their heads—impossible! Who could afford that? And even if you did, what use was it? Only he could go inside anyway!

Because sooner or later, shortcuts would be found. Jiang Baiye suspected there were more than the two he had discovered. If more and more people entered, his herb garden would become a graveyard.

And besides, hadn’t they said Mount Daheng wasn’t his, so why should he monopolize it? Jiang Baiye, being domineering, wanted to make it his own, forbidding them entry!

Wang Lizheng was also taken aback. “The Daheng mountain range spans several counties and falls under the prefectural city’s control. I do not know the exact price, but the small hill at the back of the mountain costs about eighty taels of silver.”

By that measure, to purchase the portion within Changlin County’s borders would likely cost around a thousand taels. What did that mean? Could one ever earn it back?

Jiang Dashan snorted immediately, suspecting Jiang Baiye had gone mad, raving under some delusion. He could not believe this man would always have the luck to catch such rare and valuable prey as black bears.

“Young as you are, it would be better to stay steady and honest. Just because you made a little money at the start, you think you’ll always be so lucky?”

Jiang Baiye could not be bothered to reply. Seeing his point had been made, he happily returned home to prepare for the trip to the prefectural city with Lu Lizhi.

When the two of them were ready, the sun had only just risen, and they were about to set off in the carriage.

Suddenly, He Shi came running. “Chang Sui, Chang Sui, wait! I and Madam Li are going to town to sell handkerchiefs. Old Luo’s donkey cart has already taken your father and Jiang Laotou to the county to handle paperwork, and who knows when they’ll be back. Take us along the way, won’t you?”

It was a trivial matter, yet Jiang Baiye felt an inexplicable wave of disappointment as he watched a crowd of aunties cheerfully trotting over.

Since when did his mother have so many “sisters”?

“Oh my, I’ve never sat in a carriage before. This is a fine one, sturdy too!”

“Truly, your Chang Sui is capable and accomplished. To buy a carriage just like that! Our family’s ox cart has gone countless years without a cover—when it rains, we can’t even use it!”

He Shi, brimming with pride, called out, “Madam Guo, come sit by me. I’ve got melon seeds here.”

As more and more people piled in, Jiang Baiye completely deflated. And in the blink of an eye, Lu Lizhi had already alighted, preparing to leave quietly. The others hardly noticed, but Jiang Baiye, watching him like a hawk, grabbed his arm. “Come with me!”

His tone soft, with a hint of pleading. But Lu Lizhi was reluctant to squeeze in with the crowd.

“Sit here!” Jiang Baiye patted the front seat of the carriage. Yet almost immediately he regretted it.

Because the gaggle of aunties began chattering about which girl had a round, blessed face, which girl had wide hips good for childbearing, and which girl was literate and genteel—each hoping to play matchmaker.

Sitting beside him, Lu Lizhi occasionally helped steady the reins, watching Jiang Baiye squirm uncomfortably as though he had lice crawling over him.

“Don’t listen to my mother’s nonsense. I never said I liked delicate, sweet-tongued girls. That’s just what she likes.”

Oh? But what did it matter. This man surely ought to marry soon. Yet Lu Lizhi could not picture what sort of wife could endure such overwhelming passion.

To him, who met everything with indifference, Jiang Baiye was like a blaze of fire—wild prairie flames that seemed capable of consuming anything.

When they reached town, the aunties found him too tall and in the way, and promptly shooed him off.

Spotting a sugar-coated hawthorn vendor on the street, Jiang Baiye immediately bought two skewers, handing one to Lu Lizhi. “Stay here and eat this. I’ll be back in a quarter of an hour.”

Lu Lizhi did not ask where he was going. His gaze was caught by the bright red hawthorn fruits wrapped in spun sugar. He nodded and let him leave.

Watching him sit on the carriage with the candied hawthorn, Jiang Baiye could not help sighing: “How can the male lead be so obedient—he must be coaxed well.”

He went near the house Jiang Dashan rented in town, slipped a few copper coins to a beggar boy with whispered instructions, and spoke with the neighboring households. By the time he returned, somewhat delayed, he hurried back only to see Lu Lizhi empty-handed.

“Where’s my skewer of candied hawthorn?”

Lu Lizhi: “?”

Jiang Baiye’s eyes fell on his lips, now redder than before, as though stained by the candy. They still bore traces of syrup not yet licked clean, and his clear, crystalline eyes looked blankly at him, as if unaware of what he meant.

Jiang Baiye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. It must taste very sweet.

Seeing he said nothing and simply went to drive the carriage, Lu Lizhi let out a tiny sigh of relief. He had thought—he had eaten it all. Unable to resist, he had eaten every last bit.

Only afterward did he realize, and his face flushed red.

Jiang Baiye’s expression just then had looked so eager, as though he really wanted to taste it.

The rest of the journey passed in unexpected silence. Lu Lizhi felt a pang of guilt and regret, but then thought—surely Jiang Er would not be so petty.

He, who usually showered him with lavish meals of fish and meat as though they cost nothing, lighting up with joy at the smallest nod of approval—would he really sulk over a single skewer of candied hawthorn?

Author’s Note:

Ah, I’ve figured it out! After discussing with my editor, this will be a V-subscription. Tomorrow I’ll update with a ten-thousand-word chapter. Please support—it’s terrifying to think of flopping, I don’t have the confidence to keep writing. Kneeling in thanks to everyone, orz.