Chapter 14.2

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The crowd turned, exchanging glances at his words. After the broken engagement, the Fan and Song families had hardly acknowledged each other’s existence. Fan Changyu had already taken in a live-in husband, and it seemed likely that Song Yan would soon be wed to the county magistrate’s daughter. What more could there be between them?

With mixed expressions, some people watched out of curiosity, some for entertainment, and others hoping to catch a bit of gossip.

Fan Changyu stopped at the sound of her name and turned, seeing Song Yan approach with a silk-covered box in his hands. He stopped three steps away from her.

With his refined appearance and scholarly demeanor, he inclined his head slightly and spoke, “Miss Fan, my mother and I have lived here for many years, receiving much kindness and support from your late father. The help with my father’s burial is something I have never forgotten. Today, as we move to our new home, I’d like to offer this as a small token of my gratitude.”

The silk box was perfectly square, intricately crafted, and looked quite substantial. Who knew what might be inside?

Fan Changyu almost laughed from sheer anger. Since the Song family had broken off the engagement, they had carefully distanced themselves from the Fan family, keeping clear of any trouble. Now, on the day they were moving out, they chose to present this lavish box in front of all the neighbors. Wasn’t it obvious they were just putting on a show?

She looked at him with a mocking smile. “And what’s this supposed to be?”

Song Yan replied, “A small token of appreciation from my mother and me.”

With a flick of her hand, Fan Changyu sent the box tumbling to the ground. The lid popped open, and gleaming silver ingots spilled out, eliciting a collective gasp from the crowd.

The residents of this alley were mostly common folk, many of whom had never even seen silver ingots before. Now, seeing the bright white silver scattered on the ground, their eyes went wide with astonishment.

Song’s mother immediately shrieked, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Song’s mother, who usually took great pains to maintain the image of a respectable official’s wife, was used to the flattery she had received lately. Now, being publicly humiliated by Fan Changyu, her face was twisted with fury. Though she now wore silk and satin, years of hard work had left her frail, short, and gaunt. Her bony frame couldn’t carry the fine clothes, and her high cheekbones, a result of her thinness, only gave her a harsher appearance.

Fan Changyu sneered, “The gift from Scholar Song is far too generous; I wouldn’t dare accept it. When you came to call off the engagement, waving a fortune-teller’s judgment about my supposed curse, I didn’t take a single coin from the Song family. It was my father who paid for Old Scholar Song’s burial, and it was my father who covered Scholar Song’s tuition fees later on. Yet some people twist the truth, claiming that my father forced Scholar Song to marry a butcher’s daughter through small favors.”

She let out a cold laugh. “My parents’ graves are still fresh in the earth; they don’t deserve this kind of slander.”

Song’s mother, voice trembling but trying to sound fierce, shot back, “That’s all talk from outsiders—what does it have to do with us?”

Fan Changyu glanced down at the silver ingots scattered on the ground, a smirk playing on her lips. “I never said you were the one encouraging those rumors, so why are you so defensive?”

Song’s mother, unable to bear being provoked like this in front of so many neighbors, flushed red with anger and snapped, “What exactly are you implying?”

Fan Changyu replied calmly, “To prevent any further slander from malicious tongues, I’d like to make it clear here, in front of all our neighbors. I absolutely won’t accept Scholar Song’s silver. However, my parents are gone, my younger sister is frail, and my husband is bedridden with injuries. My family is indeed in need of funds, so today I’d like to settle the account with Scholar Song. The money my father paid for your family’s coffin, and the tuition fees he covered for those years—surely it’s not too much to ask for it all back in full?”

She smiled, a hint of mockery in her tone. “This way, Scholar Song and Madam Song won’t have to keep thinking that my family is trying to use past favors to manipulate them. Like the last time when my uncle brought gamblers to wreck my home. The neighbor auntie went crying to Scholar Song’s door for help, but couldn’t even get it opened.”

The neighbors had kept quiet about these things in the past, acting as a shield for the Song family’s reputation. But now that Fan Changyu had exposed everything so openly, Song’s mother’s face was beyond humiliation. She glanced around, catching glimpses of scornful expressions from those around her, and felt a wave of burning embarrassment. Fan Changyu’s words were just short of outright calling the Songs ungrateful.

Her son Yan was destined for greatness—he was aiming to become a top scholar. If this coarse butcher’s daughter dragged his reputation down, potentially costing him his future, it would be the death of her!

Trembling, Song’s mother was about to retort, but her son, who had remained silent throughout, spoke directly to the butcher girl. “If you come to me for help, I won’t turn my back on you.”

“Yan’er!” Song’s mother gasped, her face going pale as she nearly fainted from shock.

Fan Changyu’s brows furrowed. What’s gotten into Song Yan to say something like that in front of everyone? she wondered.

Before she could respond, a soft, childlike voice called from the edge of the crowd, “Brother-in-law, there are so many people here!”

A man’s cool voice followed, “Don’t wander too far.”

Fan Changyu turned to see her younger sister standing on tiptoe at their doorway, trying to catch a glimpse of the commotion. It seemed the man had followed her out, likely worried the little girl might wander off in the excitement. His delicate brows were knit together, as if finding the child’s curiosity a nuisance.

He was dressed in the same dark red robe he had worn on their wedding day, his long hair simply tied back. His wide sleeves fell loosely, partially concealing the single crutch he leaned on, and his expression was as cool as ever, face pale as snow. Half-leaning against the doorframe with a relaxed posture, it was unclear how long he had been standing there—or how much of her confrontation with the Song family he had overheard.

When her eyes met his, his face betrayed no discernible emotion. His lips curved slightly, though not into anything that could be called a smile—just a hint of something unreadable.