Two days later, Dou Yicang returned to the Fan household.
Seeing him come back, Father Fan and Lady Chen asked, “How are your parents back home? Are they well?”
Dou Yicang replied quietly, “They’re all doing well. The rice has been cooked fragrant and soft.”
Zhen’er and Qiao’er, having just put Dafu to sleep, came outside and saw Dou Yicang who had just arrived. Zhen’er said with a smile, “There’s some rice soup to eat by the kitchen.”
Qiao’er added, “It’s just in time that you’re back. In a bit, help me fetch two buckets of water; we need to wash Dafu’s diapers.”
Dou Yicang agreed with a nod, glancing quietly at Zhen’er as she turned back into the house. Her figure was slender and graceful.
Father Fan and Lady Chen, seeing Dou Yicang had only just returned that afternoon, did not ask him to do any chores.
That night, Dou Yicang lay on the wooden plank bed in the outer room filled with miscellaneous items, unable to stop thinking about what his mother had told him before he left.
“The Second Miss is in the prime of youth and still unmarried. Son, you’re such a likable young man among the girls. If you don’t go strive for a future, how will you?”
Dou’s mother said, “The Fan family is kind-hearted. If we can form a connection with them through marriage, they surely won’t watch their daughter suffer after marrying into our poor family; they would help us.”
Dou Yicang said to his mother, “Since they already know we’re poor, why would they look favorably on marrying their daughter to us? Not long ago, a matchmaker came, but since there isn’t much land, Lady Chen drove them away.”
“We’d have to be shameless to go ask for her hand. I’m afraid I’d get a beating.”
His mother replied, “You’re a straightforward boy. You can’t just ask directly, the family won’t allow it.”
“There’s Xue, a family in the village with a shop in the town. They’re somewhat wealthy, and their third son is good-looking and even has a hefty dowry to marry into a poor family like the Fengs. But that Feng boy got his third son’s sister pregnant before marriage, so in their match, the dowry was more generous, and they had to beg the Feng family.”
Dou Yicang said he couldn’t do such things.
Back at the Fan household, he found the family treating him kindly. After his mother’s words, he felt a warm feeling in his heart. If he were to marry into the Fan family, it truly would be a good match.
Moreover, the Second Miss was not only beautiful but also gentle and kind-hearted, taciturn yet considerate.
Today, when she saw him tired, she even urged him to eat soup—completely unlike the sharp-tongued Third Miss.
Thinking carefully, whenever they ate, it was always the Second Miss who ladled rice and dishes for him.
Usually, when the Fans ate, Dou Yicang did not join them at the main table; he ate alone in the kitchen.
Sometimes, the Second Miss would ask if he had enough to eat and offer more.
Not only during meals, but in daily chores, the Second Miss was also less likely to order him around. The Third Miss would have been eager to push all the work onto him, and if it involved washing clothes, she would have already called him to do it.
But the Second Miss was different. She often did the work herself, whether feeding chickens and ducks or cleaning excrement. Even if she could send him to do it, she preferred to handle it on her own.
Dou Yicang thought, why does the Second Miss treat him so well? Could it be that she harbors feelings for him? If not, why would she worry if he ate enough or be reluctant to send him on tasks?
He had never thought of it before, but the more he thought, the more it seemed so.
His heart swelled with joy and excitement. He couldn’t sleep well that night, convinced that Zhen’er had feelings for him. He just needed to be a little bolder, and perhaps things could work out.
That day, there were hardly any people at home. Kang He and Fan Jing had gone into town for business, and in the afternoon the couple planned to slaughter a pig in the village. Chen Sanfang had also gone into town to help look after the shop.
Only Father Fan and the two girls were at home, along with the little rascal Dafu.
Outside, the sun blazed. Father Fan had gone to the fields in the morning, and inside, he was napping, snoring thunderously.
Qiao’er said they had run out of paper and ink at home and needed to go to the main house to ask Fan Xin for some. She went out the door, leaving only Zhen’er inside, rocking Dafu and playing quietly. The little guy soon grew tired and fell asleep.
Dou Yicang saw Zhen’er put Dafu to sleep inside, but he didn’t rest. Instead, he gathered a few clothes, hoping to wash and hang them out under the good weather.
Originally pretending to nap under the eaves, Dou Yicang suddenly got up and hurried to the well, fetching two buckets of water for Zhen’er and pouring them into a basin.
“I’ll help with this,” he said.
Seeing Dou Yicang hadn’t rested but was instead helping with the water, Zhen’er took the bucket herself to continue working.
She thought that since he had worked hard all morning, he should nap a bit in the afternoon or else he wouldn’t manage the work in the fields later.
No matter how strong someone is, they’re still flesh and blood born of their parents. Dou Yicang was under their roof, but no one thought of treating him like livestock.
Zhen’er advised, “I’ve done this work many times. Brother Dou, you should rest a bit. There’s still much work in the fields this afternoon.”
Dou Yicang heard her gentle words and lowered his voice to flirt, “Sister,” his face flushing red, thinking it was strange to call her that since she was older than him.
She closed her mouth, pretending not to hear him.
Seeing her not respond, thinking she was shy, Dou Yicang pulled out a silk flower and handed it to Zhen’er.
“Sister, you look so beautiful. I picked this red flower for you.”
Hearing such bold words, Zhen’er’s face turned beet red, feeling awkward. “You mustn’t say such things again.”
“Sister, don’t be shy. There’s no one here.”
Dou Yicang said this and even tried to pin the silk flower into Zhen’er’s hair.
Zhen’er’s heart jumped in fright. She didn’t even finish washing her clothes. “Dafu might be awake. I’ll go check on him.”
She hurriedly stood up, intending to escape into the house.
Dou Yicang wanted to follow her, but just then Qiao’er came in from outside and cleared her throat.
Hearing Qiao’er’s voice, Dou Yicang didn’t continue after her.
Qiao’er strode into the courtyard, noticing Dou Yicang holding a begonia silk flower, and said, “Brother Dou, do you still have such childish things? Which lady gave you that? After working so hard this morning, you don’t even rest at noon, and yet you carry around such a flower thinking of someone?”
Dou Yicang hurriedly hid the flower. “Third Miss gave it to me.”
“That’s not true! I don’t have that good fortune to get gifts from the ladies. I just saw it in town and the old woman selling them gave it to me as a favor.”
Qiao’er said, “If it’s given for free, it’s no wonder the fabric looks cheap and the colors aren’t dyed well—it’s so tacky. Brother Dou, if you like a girl, don’t give her such cheap silk flowers or she might look down on you.”
She then said, “I already knew Brother Dou wouldn’t rest at noon, so I came to fetch paper and ink from Brother Da Xin.”
Dou Yicang explained to Qiao’er but couldn’t argue, smiling, “If Third Miss needs anything, she can just call me. Even if I don’t rest at noon, I’ll help you get it done.”
Qiao’er ignored him and took the paper and ink back inside.
Inside, she saw Zhen’er’s face still flushed red as she slammed the paper and ink into the cabinet.
“I tell you, don’t treat the farmhands too kindly. They’re just workers who come here to earn money. They’re not servants in the town. Our family speaks nicely to them and feeds them well, and yet they’re already thinking about the young lady!”
Qiao’er, having just come inside, shouted to Dou Yicang, but Zhen’er didn’t hear her. She purposely hid in a dark corner to watch what the farmhand was up to, only to find that he was trying to flirt with her sister!
Seeing that Qiao’er knew what had happened, Zhen’er felt even more embarrassed and whispered, “Qiao’er, don’t talk like that.”
“It’s all like this! And you still talk to him?” Qiao’er’s delicate brows furrowed as she sat down and grabbed Zhen’er’s hand. “Sister, be honest with me—do you have feelings for him?”
Zhen’er’s eyes widened in panic. “No way!”
Qiao’er then relaxed. “If you blindly fancy him, you’ll surely anger Father, Mother, Big Brother, and Brother-in-law to death. The matchmakers who came before were all better than Dou, yet Mother sent them away. The family wants you to find a better life. If they knew you liked someone worse than those, they’d think you’re jumping into the fire.”
Zhen’er lowered her gaze and nodded softly. “I know.”
Qiao’er said, “When Mother and Brother-in-law come back, you have to tell them everything.”
Zhen’er blushed, “It’s better not to say. I’ll just avoid him from now on.”
“If you don’t make him suffer, he’ll keep trying. If you’re too shy to speak, just act like you don’t know. I’ll see him myself and tell them.”
In the afternoon, Kang He, Fan Jing, and Chen Sanfang returned from town. Father Fan and Dou Yicang went back to the fields.
Taking advantage of the moment, Qiao’er told the three about what happened.
Chen Sanfang was furious hearing Dou Yicang’s attempt to court Zhen’er, her brows knitting in anger. “Such arrogance! He usually looks so honest, yet he dares to toy with our daughter’s feelings. I think he’s forgotten why he came to this village!”
Fan Jing said nothing and was ready to head directly to the fields to fetch Dou Yicang.
Kang He hurriedly held Fan Jing back.
Knowing the situation, Kang He was angry too.
His anger wasn’t because Dou Yicang was poor and dared to fancy a girl from a good family. Even poor boys have feelings; that’s natural.
But his mistake was using the wrong approach.
If he truly liked Zhen’er, why would he choose to flirt with her when no one was around, doing secretive things like he was afraid of being found out?
“Sanlang, this can’t be allowed!”
Chen Sanfang rarely disagreed with Kang He but said, “Don’t let Da Jing bring him back to give him a good lesson first.”
Kang He replied, “If we catch the thief, we catch the evidence. If we don’t, and Dou denies it, we’d be the ones in the wrong.”
“Zhen’er is reserved. She wouldn’t easily argue. Besides, if that boy starts shouting outside, saying we’re wrongfully mistreating him, it would ruin both our and Zhen’er’s reputation. At this age, mistakes like this can’t happen.”
Chen Sanfang thought that made sense. Just as they were about to arrange good matches for the girls, their reputation would be ruined if this got out.
Fan Jing frowned. “So we just let him roam free?”
Kang He said, “For now, we have no choice but to pretend we don’t know and treat him as usual.”
“Since he has these thoughts, he won’t stop after one time. Next time, if he tries to flirt with Zhen’er again, we’ll catch him together!”
Fan Jing sighed, annoyed but had to agree with Kang He’s plan.
Kang He’s intuition was correct. After Dou Yicang failed once, he didn’t give up.
Seeing the Fan family act as usual, it meant they didn’t know. That confirmed Dou Yicang’s suspicion that Zhen’er hadn’t told anyone.
She didn’t speak, thus unintentionally setting a trap for Dou Yicang to fall into.
In late April, the household gradually brought in ingredients. On May 19th, they would hold a banquet for Dafu’s hundred-day celebration.
Everyone was eager for a lively event and began preparations early.
One day, Dou Yicang was given an opportunity.
Qiao’er went to town with Chen Sanfang to buy things.
Father Fan took a rare day off to drink and have fun with Carpenter Wang.
Only Zhen’er stayed at home.
Dou Yicang was working in the fields but saw everyone leave, so he took the chance to grab his hoe and slipped back.
Zhen’er saw him coming and quickly hid, intending to take Dafu to the main house.
Dou Yicang blocked her way. “Sister, you haven’t spoken to me much these days. Today is rare free time. If you don’t chat with me, how can I clear my thoughts?”
He then commented on the hot weather and asked for a handkerchief she had embroidered with mandarin ducks.
“I’ll keep it close to my heart, not let it get lost or seen by others. At night, I’ll put it under my pillow to have good dreams, all about you.”
Zhen’er was so startled by his words that her face paled instead of blushing.
Dou Yicang was completely lost in his own feelings and kept going.
“Sister, I know you dislike talking during the day. If you want, we can talk outside. At midnight, I’ll wait for you by the old haystack. There’s no one there. I’ve already watched the place.”
“You shameless rogue! Who would go out at midnight to meet you!”
Dou Yicang was so carried away he didn’t notice the sounds outside.
Suddenly, Chen Sanfang burst through the gate, scolding as she entered.
Though she was no longer young, hearing Dou Yicang’s shameless words embarrassed her deeply. She cursed loudly:
“A toad dreaming of swan meat, trying to trick a pure girl into mingling at night. What a sinister scoundrel! I can’t believe you’ve been pretending to be honest for months. If I hadn’t come back to get something, you would’ve fooled her away!”
Dou Yicang was shocked and turned to see Chen Sanfang and Qiao’er returning, his heart pounding wildly.
Zhen’er saw them and felt as if saved by them, covering her face and crying as she hurried behind them, not yet realizing it was a trap set by the family to catch Dou Yicang.
Dou Yicang panicked, “Lady Chen, I only wanted to say a few words to Second Miss, nothing else.”
“Bah!” Chen Sanfang spat. Furious, she wanted to curse him out in the courtyard but held back, fearing the village would hear gossip and distort the truth.
“Once we catch you red-handed, don’t deny it. Wait and see when Big Brother Sanlang comes. He’ll make you regret it!”
In the afternoon, Kang He and Fan Jing returned. Upon hearing Dou Yicang had been caught in the act and the full story, they saw Zhen’er crying with red, swollen eyes.
Fan Jing and others kicked Dou Yicang hard until he rolled on the ground.
If it were just a few lewd words, maybe they wouldn’t have been so angry. But since his intentions were sinister and he tried to lure Zhen’er outside, that was unforgivable.
Kang He vented his anger on Fan Jing’s behalf, then brought Dou Yicang forward for questioning.
“We already know the whole story. No need to deny anything. I only ask: since you came to the Fan family, have they ever mistreated you?”
Dou Yicang feared the two men in the village—Kang He and Fan Jing.
At first, he didn’t know Kang He was in charge. He just thought both men were difficult to fool, especially the taciturn, stern Fan Jing, whom he feared more.
Living under one roof for a while, Dou Yicang realized the Fan family had risen from poverty because these two men were not to be trifled with.
He treated them with respect and never caused trouble.
Now, having been caught scheming, he had no defense left and wasn’t afraid.
When Kang He questioned him, he quietly answered, “No. The master treats me very well.”
Kang He slammed his palm on the table in anger. “If you feel the family has not wronged you, why repay them with betrayal?”
Dou Yicang trembled and said, “I—I truly like Second Miss!”
“True feelings? You’re trying to fool us like fools! Is your ‘true feeling’ to lure a girl to meet you secretly at midnight?” Kang He scolded. “You think we don’t see your intentions. You only want to trap her so you can control her and then control the Fan family!”
Kang He’s words cut Dou Yicang to the core. Embarrassed and frightened, he knew he couldn’t hide it.
He began pleading, “I don’t mean harm. Second Miss is kind to me. I want to marry her, but I’m afraid the master won’t agree. I have no other way. It’s my mother’s fault too; she told me to win the girl’s heart first before speaking of marriage.”
“Please think of me as a first-time offender. Forgive me once.”
Kang He cursed, “Don’t hide your dirty intentions behind love. They treat you well, but you plot against them. Who in the world would be kind to you again?”
“You’re not honest even now. When you first offended, the family knew. They gave you six months to work here to change. But you took their tolerance as indulgence!”
“Now, the family cannot keep someone with such intentions. Pack your things and go back where you came from. If you cause trouble again, it won’t be so simple.”
Kang He’s cold words made Dou Yicang afraid to speak.
That night, he packed his things and left.
Luckily, Kang He had only given him six months’ rent in advance, so there was no debt dispute.
After Dou Yicang left, his mother still insisted he had gone home to visit but noticed he returned without any food or supplies, growing suspicious.
Dou Yicang tearfully said, “I wanted to take things, but Fan family drove me out.”
His mother’s heart jumped. “Son, how could they chase you away? I thought they cared for you.”
Dou Yicang complained, “It’s because of your words, telling me to woo Second Miss. But she refused, and Chen lady caught us red-handed. Fan big brother gave me a good beating. Now, I can’t go back to work there!”
Dou Yicang blamed his mother.
Hearing he was beaten, his mother’s heart ached. “How could they be so cruel to you? I’ll go to the county office to complain!”
“Complain? How? The county knows I went to court the young lady. We’d lose face. Kang Sanlang is powerful. We have no connections or means. How could we win?”
His mother knew the truth but was too angry to speak clearly.
They both felt deeply saddened and regretful.
Back at the Fan household, the family comforted Zhen’er and carefully instructed the two girls, finally putting the matter to rest.
That night, Kang He carried Dafu around the room for a while.
The little guy was just over two months old. His black, wrinkled newborn appearance was fading, gradually becoming much fairer and softer.
The family’s troubles left their hearts heavy, but holding the child made them feel better.
Seeing Fan Jing’s unhappy face, Kang He knew he was still upset about the day’s events.
He handed Dafu to him. “It’s not Zhen’er’s fault. The young lady is grown now and bound to attract attention. Especially since Zhen’er has such a gentle nature, it’s easier for others to take advantage. If she were tougher like Qiao’er, it might be easier.”
Fan Jing said, “Mother died early. Since then, I’ve often been in the mountains and neglected her.”
Kang He knew Fan Jing felt guilty toward his sister.
Although Chen Sanfang was a stepmother, she treated the two girls well, almost like her own.
But when it comes to blood relations, it’s hard to treat all children equally; the younger often gets more care.
Zhen’er was naturally timid, and raised by such people, she was bound to be sensitive.
Fan Jing felt he hadn’t cared enough for her, which affected her temperament.
But it wasn’t really Fan Jing’s fault. The village was so poor that the priority was filling stomachs, not worrying about other things.
It was already a blessing they hadn’t starved or sold the children.
Kang He comforted Fan Jing, “Don’t think too much or blame yourself. Life is full of hardships. This time, it ended with a scare but no harm. We’ll pay more attention in the future.”
Fan Jing said nothing, only looking down at Dafu kicking his feet in his arms.
Suddenly, he remembered, “Chasing away Dou Yicang—there’s more to village work than just farm chores.”
Kang He sighed, “Exactly.”
The village was still short-handed. Dou Yicang had to be driven away. If he hadn’t caused trouble, the village would have been happy to keep him.
“But the worst is encountering someone like him—using well but causing trouble halfway.”
“I think the village will often have people coming and going. The long-term workers aren’t reliable. Buying someone might be more dependable. They hold contracts, and people are more wary.”
Fan Jing didn’t know the market for buying workers, but it was definitely more expensive than renting farmhands.
Given the current situation, the village needed people, no matter the cost.
Kang He said, “Tomorrow I’ll ask Third Brother Bao if he knows any leads.”
Fan Jing nodded.