Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 268 Wild Boar Infestation
Wang Heng smiled and said, "Brother Meng, you are late."

Xiaocai was a jokester, and he had a good impression of Meng Dalang, so he said, "Brother Meng, why didn't you come to the banquet at noon? I got two big bowls of the good wine you brewed."

"Lord Li only drinks Shaoxing wine. The several jars he brought yesterday were all Shaoxing wine. If you two are willing to honor me by coming to my house, I have even better osmanthus white wine to entertain you." Meng Dalang said with a smile, "We got up very early today and went to the market late. There was a wild boar in the village last night, and the gable of the old Zheng family was overturned, blocking the road. My father and I almost couldn't leave the village. We called a dozen farmhands to clean up the road. After working for half a day, we were able to drive the ox cart out, so we arrived in the afternoon."

Xiaocai has lived in the city for many years and couldn't help but exclaimed: "There are still wild boars around here."

Meng Dalang said: "There are many wild boars in the hills nearby. They often come into the village to damage crops and sometimes even hurt people."

Xiaocai took a deep breath and said, "I always thought that living in the countryside had many advantages, such as quiet environment and fresh vegetables. I never thought there would be such disadvantages. By comparison, the city is much more convenient and safer."

After a few jokes, the servant of the Li family came up to serve. Wang Heng asked him if Li Shanmin had woken up. Unexpectedly, the servant replied that the mountain man had drunk medicine and had been in a deep sleep until now.

Wang Heng winked at Xiaocai and Meng Dalang, and the three of them lifted the curtain and left the mountain villager's study.

Wang Heng said, "We can't help but make noise when we talk, which may disturb the mountain people's rest. It's getting dark, so let's go straight to the front yard."

The rain was falling densely and finely, and it looked like it wouldn't stop any time soon.

Xiaocai thought that after the birthday banquet today, he would probably have to stay overnight at Li's house.

Just as he was about to step into the corridor, he saw the servant of the Meng family rushing towards him and said, "Master, the whole family is looking for you. Please follow me to the west wing."

Meng Dalang was slightly stunned, then he apologized to Wang Heng and the other man, then quickly followed the servant away.

Xiaocai said leisurely, "The Meng and Li families are cousins, so they probably don't interact often. The Meng family's servant obviously doesn't know the way. When I went to look for Lao Chen at noon, I couldn't remember how to get there, and I was too embarrassed to ask for directions. I walked around the Li mansion for a few times. To get to the west wing, you should go through the moon-shaped gate here, and you'll arrive in a short distance. The corridor faces west, and you have to pass through the hall and go out of the hanging flower gate to get there."

Wang Heng nodded and said, "The Li family doesn't have a hostess, and they don't have many people to feed the family. They probably don't usually entertain guests."

Xiaocai echoed, "In ordinary families, they are close relatives of the same clan and clan, and women are in charge of the household. Most of the people who come and go are relatives from outside the family. I don't know what kind of relatives the Meng family is with the mountain people."

As dusk fell, the two of them walked towards the front yard.

The servants of the Li family were probably busy at the front stove and in the guest house. There was no sound in the backyard except for the rustling sound of light rain outside the corridor.

The end of the corridor is connected to the hanging flower gate, and outside is the front yard. There is a lotus pond on the left, with several Taihu stones piled beside the pond to make it look like a rockery cave.

The two were about to go out of the hanging flower gate when Xiaocai suddenly looked around and seemed to hear a familiar voice, as if it was Mr. Chen Er who was speaking. He pointed to the rockery cave, tiptoed around to the edge of the lotus pond, and squatted down behind a dense bush of evening primroses.

But an old voice was heard saying, "It's just a thing born from a half-open door. It's not worth it for the second master to go to such lengths to upset the old master. Today is a good day for Lord Li. The old master is very happy and his previous illness has disappeared. The second master should not say anything nonsense to upset him." The second son of Chen said in a tone as cold as ice, "Chen Lianshui, be careful with your words."

Xiaocai exchanged glances with Wang Heng. No wonder the voice sounded familiar. It was Chen Lianshui, the housekeeper of the Chen Mansion who came to Jubao Temple to report the news last time.

Chen Lianshui said in a mocking tone, "I have served the eldest master for more than 40 years since I was a child. The eldest master has become an official. He has always praised me as Uncle Lianshui. Second Master, don't think that you can be arbitrary just because you are adopted into the second branch. What does the second branch have? The second branch's belongings were awarded to them by the eldest master. Second Master, the master strictly urged you to study and take the imperial examinations. He was cultivating you. Don't get stuck in a dead end and leave the master and follow the old path of Master Yunqing."

The second son of Chen seemed to have lost all his spirit, and his whole body deflated. After a long while, he said, "It's fine if you don't want to tell me, but why bother to tell me about it? If the master hears, he will scold me for a long time."

Chen Lianshui sneered and said, "I am an old man who speaks too much because I want to remind you that your maternal family, the Jingzhao Wang family, is full of loyal people and is not a half-closed door."

Mr. Chen snorted coldly and stopped talking.

After a moment's silence, Mr. Chen II walked out of the rockery cave and a few steps out of the hanging flower gate. Chen Lianshui followed closely behind him and also entered the front yard.

Listening to the footsteps gradually fading away until they were completely silent, Wang Heng and Xiaocai stood up from the flowers.

Chen Lianshui's words made the two young men confused, and they seemed to think that their previous speculation was off track.

Xiaocai sighed and said softly, "Mr. Chen, this stupid uncle, probably didn't get anything done. He was asked to get the words of Mr. Chen, but somehow he went to ask Chen Lianshui, the housekeeper of the Chen Mansion, and got scolded instead."

Wang Heng understood and said, "Master Chen is so righteous. If I'm not mistaken, Master Chen is very afraid of him and doesn't dare to ask about his biological father."

Xiaocai's heart moved, and he said, "I think there are many fallacies in the rumors. A few days ago, Guangliang, the guest master of Jubao Temple, told us that Master Chen cares a lot about my younger brother, Monk Guangheng, that is, Chen Yunqing. From Chen Lianshui's tone, it seems that he doesn't have any good intentions towards Guangheng. If Master Chen treats Guangheng well, the servants of the Chen family would not be so disrespectful to Guangheng."

Wang Heng nodded and said, "I originally expected Guangheng to be a young illegitimate child, and he must be in an awkward situation in a large family. After listening to Chen Lianshui's words, every word was an insult to Guangheng. Guangheng's situation is worse than we imagined. But to say that the family oppression is severe, Guangheng is talented but has a hard life, and he has become a monk because of his disillusionment with the world, seems to be missing a reason? Guangheng's murder may be related to this reason."

Xiaocai rubbed his temples and frowned, "When Guangheng became a monk, he was already in his twenties and had established his own family. Even if the entire Chen family looked down on him, they should not be able to control him. So, I guess the reason why Guangheng became a monk was not family reasons, but other reasons."

Wang Heng sighed deeply and said, "It seems that if Master Chen doesn't speak, there is no other way."

They stood by the lotus pond and were caught in the rain for a while. In the twilight, the evening primroses bloomed in full bloom, purple, apricot, and pink, clusters of which showed their vitality. Since the two entered the Li Mansion, the most beautiful flowers they saw were these clusters of wild evening primroses.

Xiaocai picked one casually, removed the stem and the stamens, made it into the shape of a small trumpet, and blew it with his mouth like a child, making a humming sound.

The two of them walked out of the Chuihua Gate with heavy thoughts in their minds.