Chapter 491 — Cutting Losses

Ji Hong, as if she had seen a straw to clutch at, wailed "Uncle-in-law" and cried: "The Second Madam finds it most inconvenient living at the farm. She sent us back to the house to carry her chests and boxes out to the farm, and the Second Master absolutely refuses. Please help me!"

Miao Anping's gaze fell upon the several camphor-wood chests Ji Hong had left behind—chests that had come to the Miao family as Miao Zhi's dowry.

How had he not thought of this before?

A woman who has lost her husband's family must rely on her own; once Miao Zhi's chests were moved to the farm, would they not be his to dispose of as he pleased?

Swearing and muttering, he rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward to help.

Seeing this, several of the Song family guards were unwilling to be outdone and came running over.

The servants of Yizhi Hall stood by watching the fun.

By the time Song Han's steward arrived with the silver, the space before the festooned gate had become a free-for-all of chasing and striking, cursing and stamping—a scene of utter chaos.

He hurried off to report it to Song Han.

Song Han, who had been hiding in his study feigning ignorance, was forced to show his face, and shouted at the top of his voice: "What do you think you're doing?"

Both sides sheepishly stopped fighting.

A few of the old women, badly beaten, paid no heed to anyone and lay on the ground groaning all the louder. The guards of Four Lanes Alley had no choice but to step forward and mumble out an account of what had happened.

Miao Anping at once refused to be outdone and declared: "Those were originally our Miao family's dowry for my sister. Now that you've angered my sister into going to the farm, by what right do you refuse to let us carry my sister's chests away? Song Han, do you want me to tell everyone about the shameful things you've done?" Then he pointed to his torn clothes and to an idler beside him whose face had been bruised black. "Never mind the rest—first pay me five hundred taels for damages!"

I'd sooner spend five thousand taels to do you in!

Song Han nursed a savage grudge in his heart, but his face grew all the gentler. He pointed at the groaning men on the ground. "And what do you have to say about these? Since each side has suffered losses, let each bear its own." As he spoke, he nodded to the steward.

The steward at once presented four hundred taels of gleaming silver.

Miao Anping knew Song Han was a tight-fisted miser and that getting money out of him was no easy matter; moreover, he meant to keep the stream flowing long and slow, so he shot Song Han a fierce glare, took the silver, and escorted Ji Hong and the others as they carried the chests out the gate.

He had come to make trouble once before, and now he had brought men again. The people of Four Lanes Alley had long since gathered at the gate to watch the fun; seeing them come out, they stood about in twos and threes, whispering among themselves.

Miao Anping had grown up in the streets and knew that gossip could kill. Wanting also to give Song Han a fright, he bowed to all and sundry with a broad smile and said, "I'm taking my sister home to stay for a few days; she'll be back before long. She was not sent off to the farm because the Song family took a dislike to her."

Hearing this, one bold woman said, "So the Second Madam has gone to the Song family's farm to rest and recover. I did wonder—it's been days since I've seen anyone from the Second Madam's household out buying vegetables and rice. What illness does the Second Madam have, that she must go to the farm to recuperate?"

Another busybody laughed and said, "If that's so, then why did the uncle-in-law arrive in such a fury, with his clothes torn?"

Miao Anping only chuckled and urged the servants of Yizhi Hall to hurry and load the chests onto the carriage.

Not a single person from the Song family came forward.

Seeing there was no more show to be had, the crowd slowly dispersed; some curious souls even ran off to the Ying Estate of the Duke of the State to inquire just what had happened.

And before the carriage had even reached the farm, Miao Anping could not wait to open the chests and take stock.

Thank goodness, thank goodness!

All the somewhat valuable pieces of the dowry from back then had been brought out.

He could not help showing a smile, and called Ji Hong over to question her: "Why don't I see the young madam's jewelry and fine soft goods?"

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My dear sisters, here is a new first chapter for you.

May the new year bring a new beginning, and may my writing go smoothly!

Thank you all for your tremendous support over the years, which won me the 2013 Pink Ticket Championship.

o(n_n)o~