"What are you doing, child?" Meng Qingping initially didn't want to bother with Meng Yutang, as he had no intention of interacting with his elder brother's branch of the family.
However, seeing Meng Yutang kneel before him stirred his heart. After all, he had witnessed the child's considerable troublemaking since the journey began.
Now, seeing him kneel so firmly, without any pretense, he knew the boy was truly in distress.
"Tang'er begs his second granduncle to save him. Tang'er doesn't want to go to the male brothel," Meng Yutang stated his request directly, tears falling uncontrollably.
"Who said you were going to that unsavory place?" Meng Qingping's tone remained unchanged, yet Fu Xinci noticed her grandfather's emaciated hand clenching into a fist.
Meng Yutang did not reveal who had said it, but he did explain that his grandmother had sent him to find his second granduncle. "Grandmother told Tang'er to find his second granduncle. Grandmother said only his second granduncle could save Tang'er. Tang'er wants to live, to live with dignity. Even if Tang'er dies, he will not go to the male brothel." Meng Yutang had previously been arrogant and had offended many people. Combined with those the Duke's Mansion had offended, if he were sent back to that unsavory place in the capital, it would be a dead end. He might as well end his own life sooner.
Meng Qingping was surprised that Madam Li would consider him her last resort, and he couldn't help but want to laugh. If his deceased mother and elder brother knew that their branch of the family would end up like this, could they rest in peace?
"Second Granduncle." Seeing that his second granduncle remained silent, Meng Yutang's heart hung in mid-air.
"Get up. The ground is damp; kneeling for too long will make you sick." Meng Qingping's face showed little emotion, but he spoke, asking Meng Yutang to rise. Simply because they shared the same surname, he could not let anyone from the Meng family fall into such a plight.
"Yes, Tang'er thanks his second granduncle." Meng Yutang knew his second granduncle had agreed to take him in. As he climbed up from the muddy ground, his small face was flushed with excitement. Fortunately, it was night, and only he felt his cheeks burning; no one else knew.
...
With two more youths by their side, the grandfather and granddaughter's conversation shifted. "Grandfather, I hope it gets light soon so we can leave this accursed place quickly."
"Soon. Look at the stars over there; it's already the end of the Chou period."
"Mmm, it's so late. Grandfather, I think I'm sleepy."
"If you're sleepy, go inside and get some rest. We have to travel again when it's light."
"Mhm."
Fu Xinci was indeed sleepy. She couldn't recall how she got back to the dilapidated temple.
When she opened her eyes again, the sky was already bright. The dilapidated temple was chaotic, a buzzing noise that made her head ache.
"Ci'er, you're awake." Fu Yu greeted his daughter with a complicated expression upon seeing her awake.
Last night, he had also been filled with trepidation and had not yet recovered from the shock. If his daughter hadn't appeared in time, he might have sacrificed himself to the wolves.
Thinking of his daughter's calm and composed demeanor, he felt a sense of uncertainty.
"Father, have all our things been packed? We can't leave anything behind." Fu Xinci didn't want her father to overthink things and quickly diverted his attention.
"Everything is packed. Today, you can ride the donkey cart; you won't have to walk."
"Mmm, that would be wonderful."
"Oh my, your family's little girl is a proper manager. She's capable both at home and outside." Before Fu Yu could reply, Jiang Tou'er, quick of tongue, interjected.
"Yes, Ci'er has truly worried herself sick for us all along this journey." Meng Qingping agreed with his granddaughter being a "manager." Otherwise, given the personalities of his son and daughter-in-law, they might be at a disadvantage when dealing with those Meng clan members.
"It's good to have a manager. With such a manager in your family, your future will surely be secure." Jiang Tou'er also thought about the wolf incident last night. Recalling the little girl's composure and her brave facing of four hungry wolves without flinching, she had outshone all the men present. He wished he could praise the little girl to the heavens.
Fu Xinci was afraid he would praise her too much, making her arrogant. So, she pretended to stretch and ran out of the temple gate.
The mountain scenery after the heavy rain was as if shrouded in a white veil.
Morning light filtered through the gaps between the leaves, falling onto the grass. The dewdrops on the blades of grass finally had an opportunity to show themselves.
However, before they could fully stretch their crystal-clear forms and dance on the tips of the grass, they were caught by the greedy eyes of the Meng clan members.
At this moment, all of Fu Xinci's good mood instantly vanished. No matter how good something was, it would be utterly ruined when encountered by these locusts of the Meng clan.
Qi He saw Fu Meimei's elongated face and immediately came over, greeting, "Fu Meimei, you're awake."
"Mhm." Fu Xinci responded, then clearly saw Meng Yutang following behind Qi He.
Meng Yutang saw Fu Xinci looking at him and smiled shyly. After a moment of hesitation, he finally called out, "Older Sister."
Fu Xinci should have replied, but she was a bit unsure about the address. How should she address Meng Yutang? After thinking about it, based on seniority, Meng Yutang was of the same generation as her. He was older than her and her *tang xiong* (cousin on paternal uncle's side), and his name also contained "tang." So, calling him *tang xiong* should be correct.
Then she thought again. She and Yu'er had been calling Qi He "Qi Ge" all along. Such a refined address as *tang xiong* felt a bit forced for Meng Yutang's current persona. Thus, the more approachable term: "Tang Ge" (cousin brother) was officially born.
Meng Yutang quite liked it when Fu Xinci and Yu'er called him "Tang Ge," and even when Luo'er and Ke'er, emboldened, called him that, he was very happy.
When they set off again, Meng Qingping, along with Yu'er, Qiren, Ke'er, and Bao'er, all sat on the donkey cart. The Meng clan members, whose soles were almost worn through, were incredibly envious.
Some with thicker skin tried to ingratiate themselves with the Wu brothers, hoping to get a ride as well.
Unfortunately, before the Wu brothers could reply, Jiang Tou'er shut them down immediately. "A bunch of exiled prisoners want to ride in a mule cart? Do you think I'm an idiot? Don't worry, when we get to the next yamen, I'll help you get a prisoner cart. Do you want to ride in that?"
Jiang Tou'er's harsh scolding immediately dispelled the thoughts of those among the Meng clan members who were more cunning. However, they looked at Meng Yutang walking in front of the donkey cart, their unconcealed reluctance flashing in their eyes.
But now, with Meng Yutang staying by Meng Qingping's side, they could only endure it. Who told the guards to treat Meng Qingping with such deference?
Furthermore, although Meng Qingping was no longer an official, the title of *Jinshi* (scholar who passed the highest imperial examination) still lingered. His son had also come. Listening to the guards' chatter, Meng Qingping's son was also a *Xiucai* (scholar who passed the preliminary imperial examination), and the official documents did not prohibit Fu Yu from continuing to take the imperial examinations.
After understanding this, their minds began to churn again, and they finally grasped the situation.
The Meng family was ruined, but Meng Qingping was not. Fu Yu had a bright future ahead of him.