Chapter 257 — Inquiries
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 4 of 4
"Why would I lie to you? The Pang family isn't what it was. Ever since that Pang Kunbai was mistaken for a highwayman by the guards around the Dou family's Fourth Miss and beaten half-paralyzed, the Pang family has been dogged by bad luck—every venture they touch loses money, worse each year. Otherwise, with the old master Pang still alive, why would the three Pang brothers be fighting and squabbling to divide the household?"
"Have you heard this, then?" another put in quietly. "I hear the Pang family's married-out daughter got fed up with them forever pestering her and let it be known: the Pangs are the Pangs, and she is herself. From now on, keep her out of Pang family business..."
Everyone whispered among themselves.
Tao Jun's face went blank.
The Pang and Dou families were in-laws, and yet a Pang had been mistaken for a highwayman by the guards around the Dou family's Fourth Miss—beaten half-paralyzed, no less... Could such a misunderstanding really happen?
He could not help shuddering. Coming back to himself, he hurriedly signaled his attendant to settle the bill, and slipped quietly out of the teahouse.
A cold wind blew up, whirling withered yellow leaves against his feet; he could not help tucking both hands into his sleeves.
This was Zhending County, not the Dou estate. He refused to believe he couldn't find out what sort of person the Dou family's Fourth Miss was.
Unreconciled, Tao Jun led his attendant wandering aimlessly through the streets and lanes, until he came upon a general store that also sold tea. Presiding over it was a woman past fifty with a somewhat sharp, unkind face, idly cracking melon seeds.
He thought a moment, went in, tossed down two taels of silver, and ordered two cups of scented tea.
The old woman knew a big spender when she saw one; her eyes lit up, and she obligingly brought over two pieces of cake and a small dish of melon seeds.
Tao Jun asked her: "Would you know the way to the residence of the Dou family—His Excellency the Minister of Justice and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall?"
The old woman gave a chuckling laugh, eyeing Tao Jun as though he were a fine slab of fat meat. "The old gentleman's come to present gifts to the Dou family, has he? A pity the Second Madam is away from home—it's the Dou family's Third Master who manages affairs now. I'll tell you this: here in Zhending County, there's nothing I don't know..."
Dou Qizhong pressed several pieces of broken silver, three or four taels' worth, into the old woman's hand.
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Dear sisters and brothers who read this, my apologies—here is the belated update for June 23rd.
I'll keep writing today's update shortly, though it may be delayed until around midnight—best to read it tomorrow morning!
o(n_n)o~
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