Chapter 24: The Unusual Occurrences in Kuang City

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Early morning.

Under the thick morning mist and lingering cold, the Fu family set out from the Qu household. Fu Zihou carried his bundle on his back and led his young nephew, Qu Chong, by the hand. Watching his eldest sister and mother dissolve into tears, he found himself at a loss for words.

Only when they had walked far from Leishi Village did Fu Zihou and his family ask his eldest sister and brother-in-law to stop and return, insisting they go no farther. As he watched his sobbing sister being held by her husband, Fu Zihou gently touched his nephew’s cheek, then rose to lead his mother and family away.

“Hou’er, take good care of your mother!”

Even after they had walked a good distance, Fu Zihou could still hear his eldest sister’s choked cries echoing from behind. He turned to glance at her figure on the distant path, raising a hand to reassure her.

Last night—

When he awoke, Fu Zihou had happened to overhear those words, but understanding his sister’s worries, he chose not to mention it. Some matters, as his sister said, are best left unspoken.

Yet, that did not mean Fu Zihou would forget. Since his second sister and the Lei family had chosen such a course, one day, given the chance, he would seek reparation. Not to reclaim the trace of abandoned kinship, but to restore justice—a justice that belonged to his family.

…

Kuang City.

As the first city north of Wanqiu and a necessary passage to the great rivers of Xingyang and Liang counties, Kuang City’s importance in Huaiyang County was second only to Wanqiu itself.

Originally, Kuang City bore an ancient name—Yangxia—the origin of the Xie family’s noble title, Lord of Yangxia. Over a decade ago, in the seventh year of the Kaihuang era, Emperor Wen of Sui decreed that Yangxia be renamed Taikang; in the seventeenth year of Kaihuang, Taikang was changed to what is now Kuang City.

Yet to the older generation, it was always Yangxia. In this era of limited travel and slow communications, not only the elders but even those from distant counties—unless they had been to Kuang City—would instinctively refer to Huaiyang’s second city as Yangxia.

“Only just reaching Kuang City, when will we finally board a boat? I’m exhausted! Daughter-in-law, if you’re tired, just toss your bundle onto the wooden cart.”

Madam Zhang complained breathlessly, her gaze full of concern for her daughter-in-law, Tai. But Tai looked pityingly at her husband and brother-in-law, the two brothers who, having pushed the wooden cart all the way, were drenched in sweat. Fortunately, the day was not cold, or both might have fallen ill.

“Not far past Kuang City, we’ll be able to board a boat on the Tongji Canal! Then we can follow the river, without having to walk any longer.”

Old Liu, too, was thoroughly exhausted. Plagued by chronic illnesses, he now bore a bundle and a sword at his waist. Hearing Madam Zhang’s words, he too longed for the comfort of a boat. Gazing at Kuang City up ahead, Old Liu was grateful for having seen the Tongji Canal in years past.

“Back then, the family head took me from Tun County in the north, traveling upriver to Luokou, and then south via the Tongji Canal.”

Old Liu turned to Fu Zihou, nostalgia flashing in his eyes. That year had been his first time returning to the Fu family with Fu Rui. After the refugees broke down their doors, Fu Rui never traveled north again.

“In those days, the riverbanks were strewn with bones; one could still encounter bleached skeletons half-buried in the silt. I wonder if things have improved since then.”

As Old Liu spoke, he suddenly noticed Fu Zihou, who had been helping his cousin push the cart, come to an abrupt halt. Furrowing his brow, Fu Zihou gazed intently at the distant city.

The entire Fu family found it odd. Old Liu was about to inquire when—

“Old Liu! Wait a moment!”

Fu Zihou shook his head at Old Liu, casting a glance at him and the family, then looked again toward the distant city. There was a persistent sense of foreboding between his brows, and his heart pounded with anxiety.

It was a mysterious, almost inexplicable feeling. Even Fu Zihou could not explain it, but the last time it surfaced, the Fu family narrowly escaped death that very night.

Now, as it returned, Fu Zihou dared not take it lightly. With the entire family in tow and his father’s instructions on his shoulders, he could not afford the slightest carelessness.

“We’re all tired; let’s rest a while.”

Grandfather, seeing Fu Zihou’s sweat-soaked state, assumed fatigue was the cause and suggested everyone take a break.

Just then, as the family rested, a group of villagers appeared on the road from which the Fu family had come—clearly also heading to Kuang City.

Burdened with family and goods, pushing a cart, the Fu family had naturally been overtaken by other travelers along the way. But unlike others, this group caused the whole Fu family to frown, including Grandfather and Old Liu.

The reason was that, besides the villagers carrying burdens, the four leading the group were all familiar faces: two elders in their sixties or seventies, and two others—one, Lei Kai, who had opened the door at the Lei household yesterday, and the other, his father, Lei Qifeng.

“Relatives! What brings you here?”

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At the sound of the greeting, Fu Zihou turned toward Lei Kai, noting his look of disdain and cold indifference, then shifted his gaze to Lei Kai’s father, Lei Qifeng, who approached with a smile, gently reproaching the Fu family for leaving without a proper farewell.

As for the two plainly dressed elders, now greeting Grandfather, Fu Zihou recognized them as esteemed members of the Lei clan in Leishi Village—the very men who had once come to the Fu family with a marriage proposal for Lei Jing’s family.

According to what he’d heard from Aunt Fu Nian last night, these two were likely heading to Kuang City to arrange a proposal for Lei Kai with the He family.

“Hou’er, if you’re rested, let’s enter the city early! Out here in the wilderness, there’s not a soul in sight. Better to get into town quickly.”

Madam Zhang, carrying her bundle, cast a frosty glance at the Lei family’s impressive load of expensive betrothal gifts, then urged her own family to hurry.

Not a soul? At her words, not only did Lei Qifeng frown, but the two elders also showed clear displeasure, looking from Madam Zhang to Grandfather.

Only Lei Kai seemed oblivious, keeping a haughty expression and refusing even a glance at the Fu family. Compared to the Fu family’s few bundles and a wooden cart, the Lei family’s goods—each carried by a villager—were of substantial value.

“Enough!” Grandfather, catching the elders’ looks, did not wish to quarrel, so he scolded Madam Zhang and turned to speak to Fu Zihou—only to see Fu Zihou turn away.

“Grandfather, we’re not going into the city.”

Fu Zihou spoke with conviction. Though he could not say exactly what would happen, he had decided it was best not to enter the city.

“Not go into the city? Hou’er, if we don’t, how will the family eat?”

Madam Zhang, hearing this, immediately stood, glancing at the Lei family, and then frowned at Fu Zihou.

To her, her nephew was clearly refusing to enter the city to spite the Lei family, which, as his aunt, she secretly approved. But—how would they eat? Spite aside, she would not have her family starve.

“Aunt, we mustn’t go in,” Fu Zihou insisted, his gaze serious, all traces of his usual easygoing manner gone. “The millet cakes my eldest sister gave us this morning will last a good while. For now, we’ll wait outside Kuang City; I’ll think of something as we travel.”

He knew that after passing Taikang and boarding a boat, they would be on the river for days, the whole family needing food and drink. But looking at the distant city, Fu Zihou could not let his family enter, no matter what.

On the path, the entire family looked at each other in confusion.

“Hou’er, we’ve come so far…”

Grandfather tried to persuade him. Seeing the daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law weary from the day’s journey, he thought they might rest and eat in the city. But Fu Zihou insisted otherwise.

“Tch!” Lei Kai, watching the scene, looked as if he were enjoying a joke, believing Fu Zihou was simply refusing to enter the city to spite the Lei family. Last night, Aunt Fu Nian had already questioned him, so Lei Kai knew the Fu family was aware that the Lei family had not wished to host them.

Now, seeing the Lei family’s wealth, he assumed Fu Zihou was envious and sulking.

“Hou’er!” Madam Tao also tried to intercede but was interrupted by another voice.

“Nephew, why won’t you go in? Look at your grandfather, aunt, and mother—who isn’t tired? As your uncle, I can’t let you be so willful!”

Lei Qifeng scolded Fu Zihou, adopting the tone of a stern elder, righteous and severe, his face full of anger.

“You’re no child. How can you be so unreasonable, so inconsiderate of your family, so disrespectful to your elders?”

At his rebuke, Grandfather, Old Liu, and Madam Tao all frowned, but facing Lei Qifeng, they could not easily retort.

“Oh? The Lei family knows reason, consideration, and respect for elders?” Madam Zhang snapped, unhesitatingly defending Fu Zihou, pointedly referencing what had happened with Fu Nian and openly mocking the Lei family’s conduct the day before.

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“How can you speak so, Madam Zhang? I am only—” Lei Qifeng was taken aback by her brashness, never expecting her to disregard his dignity and publicly insult the Lei family.

“Only what? Is it your place to lecture our family’s children?” Madam Zhang laughed coldly, glaring at Lei Qifeng. She slung off her bundle and rolled up her sleeves, daring him to say another word against her nephew.

“That’s enough!” Grandfather and the others quickly stepped between them, fearing a real fight might break out. The two elders from Leishi Village and the other villagers were equally surprised—they knew Madam Zhang had a fierce reputation but did not expect her to be so protective. Before Fu Zihou’s own mother could speak, Madam Zhang was already defending him.

“You shrew!”
“You’re nothing but an ill-bred woman!”
“You—!”

Lei Qifeng’s face flushed with humiliation and rage. He and his son looked at the Fu family in anger. Were it not for the swords at Old Liu’s waist and on the cart, they would have struck Madam Zhang there and then.

But seeing the look in Fu Zihou’s eyes, both Lei Qifeng and the two village elders felt a chill. The boy, who had seemed so gentle before, now looked utterly cold, as if he were a butcher about to slaughter livestock.

“Let’s go!” Lei Qifeng, not daring to escalate, could only call out to Madam Zhang before leading his son toward Kuang City. The two elders, realizing any true conflict would bring drawn swords, refrained from further greetings and followed suit.

“We’re not going. That city—we’ll do well enough without it!” Madam Zhang, hands on her hips, glared at their departing backs. “Bah!” She turned away in disgust.

“Hou’er speaks in anger, and you respond in anger,” Grandfather sighed with helpless reproach.

The rest of the Fu family stood uncertain, unsure what to say. Only Fu Zihou, gazing after Lei Qifeng and his son, steadied his heart.

“Hou’er,” Madam Tao worriedly reached out to comfort him.

“Mother, I’m fine,” Fu Zihou assured her, then turned to Grandfather. “Grandfather, let’s skirt the city and move on.”

Not far away, even as the Lei elders and Lei Qifeng heard his words, they did not pause—only Lei Kai glanced back, sneered, and continued on.

Fu Zihou paid them no mind, instead casting a grave look toward the western side of Kuang City.

“Hou’er, what’s really the matter?” Madam Tao pressed gently. After all, the whole family needed food and drink, and she could not base their safety on her son’s word alone. Madam Zhang’s anger was one thing; as his mother, she needed to be sure.

Seeing all eyes—Grandfather, Old Liu, his cousin, Tai, even his indignant aunt—on him, Fu Zihou raised his hand and pointed west of the city.

“Just now, I noticed birds repeatedly flying from the west to the east, as if startled. In other directions, birds behaved normally.”

He explained: whether solitary or in flocks, there was no reason for so many birds to suddenly flee from one direction, and their speed differed from those heading elsewhere. Thinking back to the events in Wanqiu, Fu Zihou had a vague sense of impending trouble.

At his words, the whole family exchanged uneasy glances, their doubts clear.