He Qingzao was busy in the backyard. Hearing voices, he froze, afraid to open the door. When Liu Youli said, “If I come in through the front door, you won’t be able to run your business,” He Qingzao bit his lip and, trembling, opened the door.
He didn’t want to bring trouble to Lu Liu and the others anymore. He already knew Liu Youli didn’t like him, and the divorce had been decided.
But Liu Youli hadn’t come to discuss the divorce—he only wanted to take He Qingzao away.
He Qingzao had no idea where they were going. Liu Youli mentioned that a place had already been prepared for him, which only deepened his fear.
Recently, he had heard many stories from Lu Liu about faithless men, all told by traveling storytellers. When a man passed the imperial examination, he would often climb higher social ladders, abandoning his dutiful wife. Some men, prideful yet not outright cruel, would bring the wife home, live together, but take a concubine as well. The concubine would show respect to the first wife, but the first wife, petty and cruel, would make life miserable for the newcomer until falling ill and dying—thus “clearing the path” for the pair.
He Qingzao shivered at these tales.
If he were the wronged first wife in such a story, he would surely fall ill, and it would be Liu Youli’s doing.
He looked at the man before him, his heart chilling, unable to stand.
He repeated that he wanted a divorce. Recently, he had changed—hope for a new life, combined with guidance from Lu Liu and Aunt Chen, had strengthened his resolve. He even spoke words meant to reassure Liu Youli: no compromise, no sacrifices necessary.
But Liu Youli refused the divorce, insisting on taking He Qingzao away. A struggle ensued in the backyard.
During the morning rush at the shop, Shun Ge’er called out to have some soup brought out, but He Qingzao didn’t respond.
Shun Ge’er, noticing He Qingzao’s frail state and fearing he might collapse, hurriedly lifted the curtain to check the backyard. Lo and behold, the malicious man had returned!
He immediately shouted for help, claiming someone was trying to forcibly take away the young husband.
The shop’s customers, all scholars, put down their chopsticks and rushed to the backyard.
But Liu Youli revealed his status as a juren—an imperial examinee—and the crowd hesitated. After all, he was taking his own husband home; it seemed reasonable.
As for He Qingzao’s talk of divorce, they all thought the young husband had lost his mind. They had endured hardship together; the man had passed the juren exam, and now good fortune had arrived—why speak of divorce?
He Qingzao became distraught, crying out, “Divorce! Divorce is fine! Even if he divorces me, I’ll be fine!”
Shun Ge’er had Lu Family’s uncles call for reinforcements while holding onto He Qingzao. Amid the crowd’s conflicting advice and accusations, he shouted, “This is no good man! He torments my young husband, wants him dead! If something happens to my Zao-ge, it’s on you!”
Shun Ge’er came from the stronghold and knew how to command a crowd. His words silenced them, and he continued exposing Liu Youli’s actions.
He didn’t dwell on past matters, only mentioned the exam. Liu Youli had spent all the household’s money, given up the house, and left He Qingzao with no place to stay, no money, not even a word before leaving for the exams. He Qingzao, homeless and penniless, had no way to survive—Liu Youli had left him to die!
Liu Youli listened quietly, without argument. Once Shun Ge’er finished, he clasped his hands and addressed the onlookers: “Family matters should not be exposed. He slanders me, but I must speak.”
He spun the story, casting He Qingzao as the faithless one.
He claimed He Qingzao had consorted with Li Feng, had no right to remain in the alley, and that with exams imminent, he had struggled to pass and become a juren. On reflection, he thought it was his own inadequacy for not giving his husband a good life—of course He Qingzao’s thoughts strayed. Now, with his title as juren, he sought reconciliation. But clearly, his husband still preferred another man.
Shun Ge’er and He Qingzao were dumbfounded—one anxious and fearful, the other angry and shocked—but both equally desperate. They shouted, “It’s not true! He’s slandering!” and argued fiercely with Liu Youli.
Yet Liu Youli remained calm, unbothered. No matter how Shun Ge’er recounted past grievances, or how He Qingzao repeated that he had left him with no way to live, Liu Youli only said, “It’s my fault. I was unjust to you. Come home with me.”
Onlookers pitied Liu Youli, thinking him a patient, noble man.
That day, Xie Yan planned to return to the county. Lu Erbao hurried home, where Li Feng, Wang Meng, Da Qiang, and Li Fei were talking outside the alley.
They set a date for a gathering. Li Fei, excited, asked if the juren would visit the stronghold.
When Lu Erbao mentioned Liu Youli, Li Feng told Wang Meng and the others to wait, then took Xie Yan aside to the shop.
They hadn’t expected that in such a short time, Liu Youli had spun such a story.
Xie Yan arrived, shocked to hear that He Qingzao had supposedly consorted with Li Feng.
Li Feng clenched his fists. That wretched fellow!
He whispered to Xie Yan: “Do you want to hit him? When you charge, I’ll play peacemaker. Use the pretext to pull him back while you strike a few more times.”
They pushed past the customers, shouting “Make way!” and reached Liu Youli.
Seeing Xie Yan, Liu Youli’s expression stiffened.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Xie Yan slapped him hard.
Now this was a real fight.
The courtyard fell silent. No one expected this turn.
Some quick-thinking customers exclaimed, “You hit a juren!”
Xie Yan, wanting no confusion, introduced himself loudly: “I too passed the juren exam this year! This villain drugged my friend at the exam, endangered the future of a good man, and slandered my young husband after he rescued him—outrageous!”
Liu Youli rushed forward, clearly to stop him, but Li Feng, quick as ever, shouted, “Don’t hit! Don’t fight! Let’s talk!” while holding Liu Youli back, fingers squeezing him painfully.
Shun Ge’er knew exactly how to coordinate. He pretended to restrain Xie Yan while subtly nudging him forward.
He Qingzao, seated on the ground, reacted instinctively—rushing to grab Liu Youli and block him.
Chaos erupted. Li Feng shouted, “You see! He’s kicking people!”
Even though Xie Yan struck first, it now seemed as if Liu Youli had started the fight.
The scene was pandemonium—juren being beaten. The authorities would be involved.
Liu Youli looked at Xie Yan: “Forget the fighting. Your husband’s worthless life isn’t your concern.”
Xie Yan remained silent, face grim, calculating how to present the case.
When the magistrate took his seat, Xie Yan’s jaw dropped. “Ling… Ling Shi… Master Ling!”
The magistrate was clearly Xie Yan’s senior fellow apprentice! His eyes blazed with authority. Any claims of fighting aside, the issue of Liu Youli drugging Ji Mingzhu was serious. The magistrate would surely take this as a critical matter, not merely domestic squabbles.
