Chapter 19: He Never Meant to Humiliate Anyone

Chapter 19: He Did Not Mean to Humiliate Anyone

Wen Shishan had never paid him any mind, and hearing him talk only made him angrier: "You ungrateful little bastard, once you're married you forget your place. Since when do you get a say in this house?"

Wen Xi hated his father so much it made his blood boil, knowing that no matter what happened today, he'd never have a place in the Wen family again. If he stayed quiet like a fool now, he might lose his only chance to fight back.

"I'm not dumb, so why can't I talk?" Thinking of all the grievances and hardships he'd suffered at home over the years, Wen Xi stood up and said, "A gift is a gift, and a loan is a loan. Even someone like me who never went to school understands this. Why do you have to lump them together?"

Wen Liu's eyes were practically dripping with resentment. Wen Xi hid behind Yan Fengan and pointed at Wen Liu, saying, "The jade hairpin in your hair, the silver bracelets on your wrists, and the face cream you use—which one of these didn't he give you? Has he ever once asked for them back?"

"That's right." Yan Fengan added, "What I gave you before is yours now, and I won't ask for any of it back. But this money was borrowed, and you have to pay it back."

Wen Shishan looked defiant, sticking out his neck and digging in his heels: "Since when does a son-in-law ask his father-in-law for money? You call yourself a scholar—aren't you afraid people will laugh at you if word gets out?"

Yan Fengan said calmly, "Scholars still need money to eat and get by. If you refuse to own up to this debt, I'll file a complaint at the county office tomorrow. You can explain yourselves to the magistrate and let him decide whether this money needs to be paid back."

With a signed name and a thumbprint pressed on it, even if the Jade Emperor himself showed up, he'd have to acknowledge the debt.

Under this dynasty's laws, not repaying a debt could get you flogged at best and thrown in jail at worst. Wen Liu, an unmarried young man, couldn't handle that.

This scholar wasn't easy to push around. Although Wen Shishan threw his weight around at home, he wasn't completely stupid. Today, Yan Fengan had clearly come prepared, and there was no way to weasel out of paying up.

He wanted to claim the family had no money and ask for more time, but that traitor Wen Xi dared to call him out: "The Yan family gave thirty taels of silver as a betrothal gift not long ago—how could the family be broke? And the ten coppers you stole from me when you forced me into marriage..."

Wen Shishan's glare was murderous, and Wen Xi was too scared to go on.

So that was another thing. Yan Fengan shook his head and said, "Little Xi grew up in your house without enough to eat or wear, and when he finally managed to save ten coppers, you stole those from him too. With hearts like yours, even pigs and dogs would be disgusted by you. I'll say it plainly—I came here today to get justice for him. If you don't give back those ten coppers along with the rest, I won't let this drop. Just wait and see."

Wen Liu gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked: "You humiliate me like this just for him?" Before Yan Fengan could respond, he let out a twisted smile: "What do you think you are? Have you forgotten how you used to bully him right alongside me? Now you're putting on this act of deep affection, trying to stand up for him—do you even deserve to?"

"Wen Xi, don't be too smug. Whatever he does to me today, he'll do to you tomorrow. I'll be watching closely to see what kind of fate awaits you."

Wen Xi had been clutching Yan Fengan's clothes so tightly they were wrinkled beyond recognition. Slowly, he released his grip, stepped out from behind Yan Fengan, and said word by word, "Then watch closely, and see how I live a good life."

He wasn't the least bit worried about his future, because no matter how terrible it might be, it would still be a hundred times better than living in the Wen household.

He was born with a worthless life anyway. Every day he had enjoyed in the Yan family was a bonus. Even if Yan Fengan truly divorced him one day, he wouldn't wail and cling like Wen Liu did.

Yan Fengan sighed inwardly and said to Wen Liu, "If I truly intended to humiliate you, I would have made a scene publicly yesterday and blown this whole matter up."

After all, Wen Liu was an unmarried young man who still had to marry someday. These matters were ultimately between their two families. Yan Fengan didn't want to take things too far. When he came today, he had deliberately chosen the time when everyone was having lunch—when the village roads were empty and no one would gather to watch the commotion.

He had come here with only one purpose: to make Wen Liu give up and to put Wen Xi's mind at ease. It was not to humiliate anyone.

"Every single thing you mentioned, I remember clearly. Wrong is wrong, and I won't deny it. Making mistakes isn't terrifying—what's terrifying is being stubborn and refusing to change. I'll correct my mistakes and make amends. As for whether you'll change, that's your business. Once the money is repaid, neither I nor Little Xi will have anything more to do with your family. If the three of you still want to cause trouble, feel free to test my methods."

A leopard can't change its spots. Everyone in this family except Wen Xi was rotten to the core. Yan Fengan knew that gentle words would fall on deaf ears—only with this half-threatening, half-intimidating approach would the Wen family show any restraint.

His words left no room for mercy. Wen Shishan, fearing he might actually take the matter to the county office, reluctantly handed over the silver.

With the money in hand, Yan Fengan and Wen Xi didn't linger a moment longer in that place.

The couple left without a backward glance, and Wen Shishan, fuming with nowhere to vent his anger, looked at the sobbing Wen Liu and snapped, "Cry, cry, cry—that's all you know how to do. All the family's good fortune has been cried away by you."

Li Qiaozhen's heart ached for her child and she opened her mouth to speak, but Wen Shishan turned on her: "Look at the fine boys you've raised—one useless, the other with his elbow pointing outward. Meeting you people is the worst luck I've ever had."

Li Qiaozhen's temper flared: "You've got some nerve saying that. The children aren't just mine alone. I could just as easily say marrying you was the worst luck I've ever had."

"You're asking for it!" Wen Shishan's rage boiled over, and he raised his hand to slap her. But Li Qiaozhen wasn't one to swallow insults silently—seeing him dare to raise a hand against her, she immediately launched herself at him.

The two fought fiercely in the courtyard. Wen Liu glanced at them once, then returned to his room with complete indifference.

Yan Fengan and Wen Xi actually dared to humiliate him like this. When the opportunity arose, he would make them pay back his suffering a hundredfold.

—

On the way home, Yan Fengan returned Wen Xi's ten coppers to him. Wen Xi's heart raced with excitement as he tucked the coins into his chest, and crystal tears streamed down his face like beads from a broken string.

Yan Fengan dabbed at his tears with his sleeve, but Wen Xi's tears wouldn't stop flowing.

"Why are you crying again all of a sudden? Did I scare you by being too fierce at the Wen house?"

"No." Wen Xi denied it urgently. He was crying because the weight that had been pressing down on him had finally been lifted. From now on, he could stand tall and live properly.

Afraid Yan Fengan wouldn't understand his feelings, he added, "I'm very happy."

Yan Fengan tapped his nose playfully and teased, "You're crying like a fountain and still say you're happy. Fine, I'll just assume your way of expressing joy is different from other people's."

After being tormented in that household for so many years, finally standing up for himself today—who wouldn't cry? Yan Fengan understood his feelings perfectly well.

He took Wen Xi's hand and slowly walked toward the Yan residence. Amid Wen Xi's soft sobs, he said, "Actually, I'm very happy today too. Do you know why?"

Wen Xi didn't speak, but turned to look at his chest, where the ten taels of silver just recovered from the Wen family were tucked away.

Yan Fengan smiled and shook his head: "It has nothing to do with the money. I'm happy because when your family was bullying you, I finally had the standing to speak up for you."

Wen Xi was stunned. Hearing this, he suddenly recalled an old matter from the past.