Chapter 93 - 90: The Ways of the World
Chapter 93: Chapter 90: The Ways of the World
「A few hours later.」
It was already late at night when Zhang Boyang returned home.
Surprisingly, Zhang Shu was still awake at this hour, waiting for him in the living room.
"Father, is Junior Brother Fang Yue alright?" Zhang Shu asked ’eagerly’.
In truth, Zhang Shu was conflicted at this moment.
Part of her hoped the news from the servant that afternoon was wrong, and Fang Yue was only lightly injured.
But at the same time, another thought surfaced: ’It would be for the best if Fang Yue were crippled.’
This left her feeling very conflicted.
"Shu’Er, earlier you asked me to arrange a match between you and Fang Yue. I can agree to that now. I will find a way to betroth you to Yu’Er."
However, Zhang Boyang didn’t answer directly. Instead, he looked at Zhang Shu with a grave expression.
Although Zhang Shu had an arrogant and willful personality, she was also extremely clever.
’The matter she had begged Zhang Boyang for all day to no avail—how had it become so easy now?’
’It could only mean one thing: when Zhang Boyang went to see Fang Yue tonight, he must have confirmed that Fang Yue was crippled.’
’Otherwise, he would never have said such a thing.’
"Father, first tell me, is Fang Yue really seriously injured? Is he crippled?"
Zhang Shu still had to ask, wanting final confirmation.
Then, with a suspicious glint in her eyes, she continued:
"If he really is crippled, then forget it. I won’t agree to marry him. I’m not about to jump into a pit of fire."
"A Wastrel is not worthy of me."
"You... you... How could I have raised a daughter like you!"
Zhang Boyang seemed unable to believe his own daughter would say something so selfish.
’A Wastrel is useless and not good enough for her.’
’Utterly devoid of any sentiment. So cold-blooded.’
’In the future, when he was old and useless, would Zhang Shu treat him the same way?’
At this thought, Zhang Boyang viciously slapped Zhang Shu across the face.
"Get back to your room! From now on, you are not to leave the house without my permission, nor are you to associate with those dissolute friends of yours!"
Zhang Boyang was filled with rage. ’Propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor—his daughter possessed none of them.’
Zhang Shu finally left in tears.
Watching his daughter’s retreating back, Zhang Boyang felt as if he had aged more than ten years in that single moment.
~~~~~~
「The next day, at the White Tiger Boxing Hall.」
"You went to see Fang Yue? Did you give him the silver?"
Hall Master Zheng sighed, and another wrinkle seemed to form on his face.
"Yes, Master. It’s been delivered."
Chen Tong hesitated for a moment before replying in a muffled voice.
"Are you wondering why I would still give Fang Yue three thousand taels of silver, even though he’s crippled and will likely be a Wastrel for the rest of his life?"
Hall Master Zheng sighed softly and said, his tone half-lament, half-lecture:
"Since I had already decided to supply him with the Secret Medicine until he achieved Great Success in Marrow Transformation, I can’t go back on my word. Now that this has happened, I obviously can’t give him the Secret Medicine anymore, so all I can do is give him some silver."
’One must take a long-term view in life and in business. Orders given in the morning cannot be rescinded by evening.’
’Otherwise, morale will crumble.’
’Giving Fang Yue some silver is no great loss.’
’However, from now on, Fang Yue will no longer enjoy the benefits of the Martial Arts Hall.’
’The Secret Medicine will be discontinued and given to someone who needs it more. His monthly stipend of silver will also be stopped.’
’If the Martial Arts Hall were to support a Wastrel for nothing, the other disciples would start to gossip.’
’As the Hall Master, one must always weigh the pros and cons.’
"Oh, right. That person Fang Yue mentioned before—you can take him in yourself. There’s not much our Martial Arts Hall can do for him anymore, but we can at least take care of small matters like this."
"Yes, Master," Chen Tong replied.
~~~~~~~
「In just a few days, the news that Fang Yue of the White Tiger Boxing Hall was severely injured and completely crippled spread throughout Xiahe County Town.」
Immediately, there were those who wrung their hands and sighed in regret.
And there were also many who gloated over his misfortune.
There were even rumors that the County Magistrate, Lord Liu, had orchestrated it intentionally. They said that because Fang Yue had rejected Liu Zheng two years ago and offended the County Magistrate, this was his revenge.
However, regarding these rumors, Liu Zheng uncharacteristically paid them no mind, much to the disappointment of the gossips.
All in all, many people now saw Fang Yue as a modern-day Zhong Yong—a child prodigy who failed to live up to his early promise.
In the end, they concluded he suffered this calamity perhaps because his life had been too smooth, inviting bad luck.
~~~~~~
「Meanwhile, the person on everyone’s lips, Fang Yue, had already returned to Da Liushu Village.」
This morning, the sun was bright and the weather was clear. The temperature wasn’t high, but it was still dry with little water.
The water level in the wells had also dropped significantly.
’Roasted tea is best steeped in eighty-degree water.’
Fang Yue sat in a wheelchair. In front of him was a small red-clay stove, upon which a kettle made of an iron-tin-silver alloy bubbled away.
’Drinking tea, writing, reading, and feeling the gentle breeze... this is certainly a leisurely life.’
Fang Yue sighed softly. This trip to Xiahe County Town, he had only gone to join in on the excitement.
He never expected to be forcibly conscripted to help encircle and suppress those rioters from the Mo Mountain Tribe.
The original plan was just to play a supporting role, maybe fire off a few sneak arrows.
He was just going to rack up some merits and get the chore over with.
But he never thought it would end like this.
He had been grazed by that stone lion, suffering grievous injuries that even damaged his meridians and bones.
As a result, half of his body was now paralyzed. A physician had declared him a Wastrel on the spot, unable to ever stand again.
And just like that, he, Fang Yue, had gone from being a dazzling Martial Scholar with a limitless future to a reviled piece of trash.
The County Magistrate merely glanced at him, expressed some regret, left two hundred taels of silver as consolation, and departed.
Master Chen Tong also came to see him and left him one thousand taels of silver.
He said a few things. Although he didn’t state it outright, the meaning was obvious.
The previously promised Secret Medicine and monthly stipend could no longer be provided. Giving him this silver was their way of drawing a clear line with Fang Yue.
Only Master Zhang Boyang still treated him the same as before.
He busied himself taking care of everything and even personally escorted him back to Da Liushu Village.
"Sigh... one really shouldn’t seek the limelight."
"After this lesson, I have to be more careful in the future. I won’t be this lucky every time."
Seeing that he had nearly lost his life this time and was now a ’Wastrel’,
Fang Yue didn’t feel particularly dejected, nor was he downcast or ready to give up on himself.
’As long as I’m alive, there’s still hope.’
He just secretly resolved that in the future, he wouldn’t go looking for this kind of trouble, nor would he seek the spotlight.
’From now on, I must be fully prepared for every battle.’
’This time, I suffered because of my carelessness.’
’I must be cautious and prudent from now on.’
After all, he wasn’t truly in a desperate situation yet. He still had hope of recovery.
’I just need to improve my mastery of the Fist Technique again. Then my Talent will upgrade, and I should be able to heal my injuries.’
In reality, this time, he was only severely injured.
His Copper Skin and Iron Bones Talent had played a huge role.
Otherwise, his injuries would have been even more severe!
’If this Talent upgrades again, the power that strengthens my body should be able to repair its damage.’
Just then, Ms. Chen came in carrying some of Fang Yue’s favorite dishes.
"This is that steamed pork with rice flour you mentioned. It’s my first time making it, so I don’t have much experience. See if you like how I made it."
"And this one. You said those city folk really know how to eat. Stuffing rice into the holes of a lotus root, steaming it, and adding a bit of sugar... it really is delicious."
Ms. Chen placed the bowls of food one by one on the stone table in front of Fang Yue.
These were all dishes she had heard Fang Yue talk about but had never made before.
"Mom, I love the food you make the most."
Looking at the dishes, Fang Yue felt a deep, profound love.
This time, he had returned injured, a ’Wastrel’.
Ms. Chen, uncharacteristically, didn’t ’wail’ or ’scold’ Fang Cheng for not taking good care of his younger brother.
She had told Fang Cheng before to look after Fang Yue.
It was just that her face, which was usually always smiling, now held a trace of deeply hidden sorrow.
Ms. Chen thought she could hide it, and perhaps she could fool others, but she couldn’t fool Fang Yue.
"Mom, I’m fine. Zhi’Er will be better by next year."
Fang Yue secretly calculated the time. In his current physical condition, it wouldn’t be easy to practice his fist techniques. He could only carefully study and ponder them. Under these circumstances, his training progress would be slowed.
It would take about a year to raise the level of his Fist Technique.
Only then could he borrow the power of his Golden Finger to restore his body.
"Yes, I know, I know. Zhi’Er will definitely get better."
A little while later.
When Fang Yue couldn’t eat another bite, Ms. Chen silently cleared the dishes and left the courtyard.
However, by the time she walked out of the courtyard gate, her eyes were completely wet with tears.
~~~~~~
「Meanwhile, Fang Cheng was also filled with self-blame.」
He had clearly promised his mother he would take care of his little brother, but who could have known his brother would get injured?
The simple, honest man vented all the remorse and anger in his heart onto the land.
For the past few days, he had been leading the tenants in digging wells.
Water was becoming increasingly scarce.
It was no longer a matter of irrigating the fields, but of finding water to drink.
The few shallow wells in the village had all dried up.
Their only option was to dig more wells, deeper wells.
During a break, Fang Cheng sighed.
They had dug another dry well.
"Boss, let’s call it a day. Everyone’s tired. We can continue tomorrow."
"Mm," Fang Cheng nodded woodenly.
’If my brother were leading them, we’d probably have hit water by now.’
"I heard Young Master Fang is crippled and won’t be able to walk anymore. Is that true? Such a good person, how could the heavens be so blind?"
"It’s true, of course it’s true. My wife saw it with her own eyes. Fang Zhi’Er was sitting in a chair with wheels. He can’t walk anymore, has to be pushed around."
"Hush! Fang Juye, how dare you call the Young Master by his childhood name? That’s hugely disrespectful!"
"Hmph, he’s just a Wastrel now. What’s wrong with calling him by his childhood name? He’s crippled, crippled for life. He’ll never stand again. He’s not even as good as us now."
As Fang Juye spoke, his voice grew noticeably louder toward the end.
He truly didn’t care.
’Why should a Wastrel get to ride on their heads? They were working themselves to death digging wells, while he got to eat and drink well every day.’
’On what grounds!’
"What did you just say! I dare you to say that again, you bastard!"
Fang Cheng roared and immediately swung his fist, smashing it viciously into Fang Juye.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The blows fell like rain. In the end, the surrounding tenants had to forcibly pull Fang Cheng away, otherwise Fang Juye might have been beaten to death.