Chapter 19 - The Cannon Fodder Little Fulang [Quick Transmigration]

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

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Wu Bai had expected Dong Heng to pass, so he didn't feel too discouraged. Now that his second brother was also a juren, if Dong Heng dared to cause trouble for his family, Wu Bai wouldn't hesitate to retaliate.

 

But he hadn't expected that while Dong Heng hadn't yet made a move, someone else was about to—quite literally.

 

One day, with some rare free time, Wu Bai took his laundry to the river by the village. As he finished up and rose with the basin to head home, a pair of hands suddenly appeared behind him, shoving him forward.

 

By sheer coincidence, Wu Bai had just spotted a smooth river stone he wanted to take home, so he squatted down to pick it up. His would-be assailant missed, and instead fell into the river himself.

 

The river was shallow, so that person quickly spluttered to his feet and clambered out. Wu Bai, no fool, instantly realized the other party had tried to push him. Grabbing him by the collar, he demanded, "Why did you do that?" But as he looked closer, he realized he didn't know this person at all.

 

However, Wu Bai quickly deduced his identity. In this village, the only unfamiliar face he hadn't met was Dong Heng's fulang.

 

"Why did you try to shove me?" Wu Bai couldn't recall any bad blood between them.

 

"Hmph!" The ger huffed, refusing to answer.

 

"If you won't explain, I'll call everyone over to see you dripping wet like this. I'm sure Dong Heng's face will look very good at that time." Wu Bai's threat worked; hearing Dong Heng's name, the ger's defiance faltered. Finally, with a stammer, he muttered, "I just don't like you and wanted to push you in for a laugh."

 

Wu Bai stared at him, incredulous. "We've never even met! What's there to dislike?"

 

"Who told you to bully my mother-in-law before?" he snapped, thinking of how Mother Dong was then forced to join them, he and Dong Heng, in the county town and make life difficult for him.

 

"Hmph. My family never bullied him," Wu Bai shot back. "In fact, he caused us plenty of trouble, and I haven't even confronted him about it. Did he put you up to this?" Wu Bai asked sharply.

 

The ger hesitated, then nodded, though his expression showed a flicker of guilt.

 

Wu Bai could tell it was the ger's own idea. After the trouble Dong Heng's mother had caused, even he likely wouldn't risk angering the villagers by stirring things up again.

 

"Alright, I'll count to three. If you don't tell me the truth, I'll call everyone over to watch," Wu Bai said, holding up three fingers.

 

"Three…"

 

"Two…"

 

Before he could lower the last finger, Dong Heng's fulang finally admitted, "I heard that my husband once proposed to you, and coupled with what my mother-in-law went through, I just got upset and wanted to teach you a lesson."

 

Satisfied with his confession, Wu Bai released him.

 

Not one to be lenient, though, Wu Bai had taken his time on purpose. The ger was soaking wet, and if he didn't change into dry clothes soon, he might just catch a cold. That would be lesson enough.

 

With his laundry in hand, Wu Bai turned and headed back home, a faint smile playing on his lips.

 

...

 

At the end of the month, Wu Bai went to the largest bookstore in town, only to find it was already closing. The county magistrate's three-year term had ended, and he was returning to the capital for his report. Rather than manage the store remotely, he had decided to sell it and use the funds to establish new businesses wherever his next posting would be.

 

Wu Bai couldn't help but admire this magistrate's insight.

 

With their growing business in town and news from Wu Kang'an, Wu Bai had learned much about the magistrate, who was known for his integrity and care for the people—very different from the usual officials who only knew how to drain the county's resources.

 

News of the magistrate's departure saddened not only Wu Bai but also many townspeople. For those living at society's lowest levels, having a benevolent magistrate was a rare blessing.

 

This news came abruptly, even before the magistrate's replacement arrived. On the day of his departure, a gentle rain fell, yet a crowd of townspeople gathered to escort him to the city gates.

 

Seeing the people's sincere farewell moved the magistrate to tears. He felt he hadn't done enough to deserve such a send-off and silently vowed to serve even more earnestly at his next post.

 

With the magistrate's position now vacant, Wu Bai wondered if the court would appoint a local scholar or send someone new. He secretly hoped for the former, as it would give his second brother a chance to secure the role.

 

But he wasn't the only one with such ambitions; Dong Heng also had his eyes set on the same position. Recently, he'd made several trips with his fulang to his in-laws, hoping to leverage his father-in-law's wealth to secure the magistrate title.

 

Naturally, Dong Heng's father-in-law supported this goal and spent a significant sum on gifts for the prefectural governor, the county deputy magistrate, and the other lower-ranking officials at the county office to ensure their support.

 

Thus, when the Wu family approached these officials, they were immediately rebuffed.

 

Assuming that the court planned to appoint someone from outside, the Wu family thought little of it. But somehow, the Dong family heard of their plans, and Dong Heng's mother came swaggering to the Wu household to brag. "Ha! You think Wu Erlang could be the magistrate? In your dreams! The prefectural governor has already promised the position to my son!" he sneered before strutting away.

 

Word of his boast soon spread, and the villagers all learned that Dong Heng was vying for the county magistrate's position. Remembering the time they'd banded together to pelt the Dong family with stones, an uneasy silence settled over the village. Even the evening gatherings at the village dam ceased.

 

Days passed, and by late June, everyone assumed Dong Heng would soon receive the appointment. But then, unexpectedly, the court sent a new magistrate to take up the post.

 

In an instant, Dong fulang lost his arrogance. He stopped his usual routine of wandering the village to throw veiled insults at others.

 

In contrast, the villagers' spirits lifted. Every day, someone found an excuse to pass by the Dong household, tossing out a few choice words in mockery.

 

Enraged, Dong fulang often vented his frustration at home, which only made Dong Heng more impatient. Deciding he'd had enough, he took his fulang and left for the capital, confident that with his education, he'd achieve high honors.

 

Dong Heng slipped away quietly, so his neighbors initially assumed he'd taken his fulang to his in-laws again, as he often did. It wasn't until one day when an argument broke out between Madam Dong and a village uncle that the truth came to light. The uncle, trying to provoke her, insinuated that Dong Heng's frequent visits to his in-laws were a sign he might want to marry into their family instead*. Madam Dong sharply refuted this claim.

 

[T/N: In ancient Chinese culture, a husband was usually seen as the head of his own household, with his primary loyalty to his own family. However, for Dong Heng to frequently visit or rely on his spouse's family, it might appear to the villagers as if he's almost in a ru zui (入赘) position—a term describing a man who marries into his wife's family, rather than bringing her into his own family's household. This arrangement typically was used in cases where a family lacked male heirs. At that time, a man would marry into his wife's family, take on her family name, and take up the role of continuing her family line rather than his own.]

 

Only then did the villagers realize the real reason for Dong Heng's prolonged absence—he hadn't gone back to his in-laws' but had actually set off for the capital to take the imperial exams in the upcoming autumn.

 

When the news reached the Wu family, Wu Bai knew he could wait no longer. His second brother needed to leave for the capital soon too; otherwise, Dong Heng might gain an advantage before they could even react.

 

Thus, Wu Bai suggested that his second brother also head to the capital as soon as possible to prepare for the exams.

 

The Wu family was already aware of Dong Heng's departure and recognized that supporting Wu Kang'an's journey was their only way to avoid being trampled by the Dong family in the future.

 

After some discussion, they decided Wu Kang'an would be accompanied by Wu Bai and Wu Erfulang*, rather than their father. Although Wu Kang'an's father had accompanied him on two prior exams, as the village head, his duties required his presence in the village. This journey would take at least six months, too long to leave the village matters unattended.

 

[T/N: Erfulang - Second brother's fulang.]

 

As for Wu Bai's eldest brother and sister-in-law, they were excluded from the plans. His sister-in-law was pregnant, and his brother was preoccupied with caring for him.

 

Wu Bai himself had been to the provincial capital before, giving him some experience. Wu Erfulang was also reluctant to part from his husband for such a long time. This way, the three could travel together, watch out for each other, and ensure greater safety on the road.

 

Through Wu Bai's reasoning, everyone agreed it was best for the three to travel together. Finally, Wu Bai promised Wu Village Head that he would send back a letter at every rest station, which eased their concerns.

 

...

 

Meanwhile, Xiao Zimo in the capital had no idea that Wu Bai was coming.

 

His parents wanted him to marry a young ger from the Minister of Rites' family, and lately, he'd been searching for a way to dissuade them.

 

Back when he was in Lizhou Prefecture, he'd received a letter from his mother, saying that his father was gravely ill and urging him to return to the capital. Without much thought, Xiao Zimo had hurried back, leaving only a brief note for Wu Bai.

 

Upon his return, he found his father bedridden and spent many days caring for him. Yet, despite his father's taking medicine, his health did not improve.

 

One day, as Xiao Zimo was bringing his father's medicine, he overheard a conversation between his parents and discovered the truth: his father had feigned illness just to lure him back to the capital. Furious, Xiao Zimo shattered the bowl on the ground.

 

Knowing their ruse had been exposed, his father dropped the act and made a "miraculous recovery".

 

Even the emperor, hearing of this incident, sent messengers to inquire if such a miraculous cure really existed. When it became clear there was none, the emperor issued an edict scolding Xiao Zimo's parents for their antics, temporarily halting any talk of marriage.

 

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