The moment the word "trouble" was uttered at the dock, it caught the attention of many.
Even the tea shop attendant nearby slung his towel over his shoulder and leaned in to listen.
Liang Qu furrowed his brows and asked, "Uncle Chen Yi, what kind of trouble? What's going on?"
"I don't know, but it looks serious. A man in a blue robe came to your door in person! He was dressed in fine silk and even had someone kneeling at your doorstep! Ah Shui, did you get yourself into some kind of trouble?"
Before Liang Qu could respond, Chen Qingjiang was the first to snap.
He spat at Chen Yi and scolded, "Pah! What nonsense are you spouting? How could Ah Shui get into trouble?"
"How should I know? But I saw the clothes clearly. They were so smooth and shiny, bluer than the sky itself. They must have cost a fortune! I bet one bolt of that fabric would cost at least one tael of silver! One tael!"
Chen Qingjiang was a much better fisherman than Chen Yi and had two sons to boot.
Though they were from the same clan, Chen Yi was always a step behind in every way.
After being scolded, Chen Yi's voice grew quieter, but he still stubbornly held up a finger and turned it around for everyone to see, using every word he knew to describe the luxurious clothing of the visitor.
The surrounding fishermen were all in an uproar.
"One tael of silver? Then a whole outfit must cost at least four or five taels!"
"Good heavens, that's not clothing—it's silver!"
"Did Ah Shui offend some big shot?"
Seeing this, Chen Qingjiang shouted, "What are you all babbling about? How could Ah Shui offend anyone? If someone's kneeling, maybe they're here to apologize!"
Chen Yi, however, found his courage again.
"Ha! Apologize? A man of that stature? Chen Qingjiang, have you lost your mind?"
"Enough arguing. Whether it's true or not, we'll know once we go and see," Liang Qu said, putting down his oar and asking Uncle Chen to stay behind to watch the boat and sell the fish.
"No way, I'm coming with you. If there's real trouble, having one more person will help."
"Fine," Liang Qu relented, then turned and shouted toward the fish market, "Songbao, can you watch my boat for me?"
"Sure thing! Don't worry!"
Lin Songbao had been leaning against the door, watching the commotion.
He responded without a hint of worry about the so-called trouble.
After last night's dinner, he finally understood what his father meant by "great prospects."
Lin Songbao knew better than Chen Qingjiang just how valuable it was to be a disciple of Master Yang.
In the small, out-of-the-way towns of Righteous Prosperity City and Peaceful Sun Town, who could possibly pose a threat to Liang Qu? Unless some imperial envoy suddenly decided to visit the Jianghuai Marshlands for sightseeing and Liang Qu happened to offend him, Master Yang Dongxiong would surely handle it.
Liang Qu jumped ashore and led the way, followed by Chen Qingjiang and Chen Yi.
Behind them trailed a crowd of curious villagers, some gleeful, others genuinely concerned.
Many more came out of their homes to ask what was happening, swelling the group as they moved through the streets.
From a crack in a nearby house, a pair of eyes watched the crowd pass by.
The highest pair of eyes narrowed slightly.
"That kid, I really thought he'd make something of himself after joining the martial hall. But look, he's already causing trouble. I told you this would happen."
The second pair of eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait, when did you ever say that?"
Liang Guangtian grumbled, "I did say it, you just don't remember. That kid made a fortune and didn't even come to visit his uncle. What kind of person does that? He doesn't understand basic human decency. I always said he'd cause trouble, and look, here we are."
"But we never lent him any grain either. Why would he come to see you?"
"That's... that's different! Lending grain is one thing, but this is another. You don't understand anything!" Liang Guangtian snapped, his words jumbled as he stormed out the door.
"Honey, where are you going?"
"I'm going to see what's happening. If that kid really messed up, I don't want to get dragged into it."
"Wait, I'm coming too."
"What for? Aren't you supposed to be making dinner?"
"Being a little late won't kill us. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Meanwhile, Xue Chengquan paced back and forth in front of Liang Qu's humble home, occasionally glancing at the shabby mud-brick house.
He was deeply impressed.
Many people, after achieving fame, would often exaggerate their past hardships.
Xue Chengquan had thought the servant's description was exaggerated, passed down through word of mouth.
But now he saw that it was indeed as poor and humble as described.
Far from looking down on it, Xue Chengquan felt even more respect for the young fisherman from Righteous Prosperity City.
What was a fisherman? A profession even lower than a farmer! Most fishermen spent their lives dreaming of saving enough to buy land and become farmers.
Yet this young man, starting from nothing, had become a disciple of Yang Dongxiong.
What heights would he reach in the future? If he could befriend him now, what opportunities might arise?
Thinking this, Xue Chengquan couldn't help but slap the back of Xue Dingyi's head, the sound echoing loudly.
"You ungrateful brat! You ungrateful brat!"
Before he could even try to build a relationship, his son had already created enmity.
Xue Chengquan, who prided himself on being smooth and diplomatic, had built the family business to its current state.
How could he have fathered such a fool, who bullied others not for profit but for fun? Even as a father, he felt ashamed.
Xue Dingyi knelt on the ground, his head wobbling from the blows, silent.
His backside was a mess, the pain searing.
The neighbors peeked out from their doors, including Ah Di, who didn't dare step out, afraid her gaze might offend the important visitor.
The sound of many footsteps approached on the bluestone street.
Xue Chengquan looked up and immediately spotted the most striking figure in the crowd.
He exclaimed, "What a fine young man! Truly impressive! Like a pine tree in the wind, tall and graceful. No wonder he became Master Yang's disciple!"
Liang Qu was momentarily stunned, feeling like he'd heard those words before.
He forgot what he was about to say.
But then he noticed Xue Dingyi kneeling on the ground, his face still bruised and swollen.
During the training session, Liang Qu had struck Xue Dingyi's face with a staff, and the marks hadn't faded yet.
Still, he could vaguely see the resemblance between Xue Dingyi and the man before him, guessing the man's identity.
Xue Chengquan clasped his hands and bowed.
"My worthless son has done something truly despicable. It's my fault for not teaching him properly. Today, I've come to ask Young Master Liang to discipline him. Whether you beat or scold him, he will accept it. Even if you decide to kill him, I will have no complaints!"
He held out a whip he had brought, offering it with both hands.
The onlookers gasped in shock.
Chen Yi was utterly confused.
What was going on? This was completely different from what he had imagined.
The man kneeling was the son of the blue-robed gentleman, so why was the gentleman being so respectful to Liang Qu?
Liang Guangtian, standing in the crowd, was dumbfounded.
He quickly asked someone nearby, "Did I miss something? What's happening?"
The person glanced at Liang Guangtian and sneered, "Liang Guangtian? Isn't Ah Shui your nephew? You don't even know what's going on, and you're asking me?"
Liang Guangtian looked embarrassed.
"That kid is cold-hearted. He never visits us. How would I know?"
"Cut the nonsense. Didn't you see Ah Shui pull out a sack of rice to save Chen Qingjiang's family during the autumn tax? You didn't know? Seems like you're the cold-hearted one. Everyone knows your character. Without officials watching, you'd even mix chaff into the grain tax. You have money for wine but not to lend grain. What a piece of work."
"You! How dare you speak to me like that?"
But the man ignored Liang Guangtian and pushed forward to get a better view of the spectacle.
"Dad! Dad! No, please, don't hit me again. I know I was wrong. I really do! Please, no more!"
Xue Dingyi, kneeling on the ground, was terrified.
Was he going to be beaten at home and then in public? He quickly crawled forward, ignoring the pain in his legs, and clung to Xue Chengquan's thigh.
His backside was already a mess.
If it weren't for the medicinal paste and bandages applied that morning, he'd still be bleeding.
He couldn't even sit properly.
But Xue Chengquan remained unmoved, bending over and waiting for Liang Qu to take the whip.
Tears streamed down Xue Dingyi's face as he crawled to Liang Qu and hugged his leg.
"Brother Liang, please, I beg you. I know I was wrong. I'll do anything for you. Please spare me this once. I swear I'll never do it again!"
(End of Chapter)