Chapter 13: Ah, My Confidant, How Could You Leave Me
“Sister-in-law, I’ll do it myself, I’ll do it myself.”
Lin Fan didn’t expect his sister-in-law to be so enthusiastic. When the Hall Master brought him in, she warmly came forward, took his hand, led him to the hall, and shortly after he sat down, she brought tea over.
This enthusiasm made him somewhat unaccustomed.
He had never met his sister-in-law before and thought that since the Hall Master kept a concubine outside, she must be old and faded, but who would have thought she was so fresh and lovely, clearly very virtuous, a good wife who managed the household well.
“No need to stand on ceremony, treat this place like your own home. If you accept me as your sister, then don’t keep calling me sister-in-law. How about we address each other as brother and sister?”
Wang Shi looked at Lin Fan with gentle eyes. He was handsome and spirited, which unconsciously reminded her of her younger brother who had died young from illness.
“How could I…”
Before he could finish, the Hall Master beside him said: “Since your sister-in-law treats you like a brother, from now on address each other as brother and sister.”
He knew his wife’s situation all too well.
He sighed lightly in his heart.
When his wife was young, her parents both passed away. She only had one younger brother whom they raised together, but he was taken away by a serious illness. This nearly broke her, but with his careful care, she gradually recovered.
The Hall Master had said so.
What more could he say?
“Sister.” Lin Fan called out shyly.
“Good, good, let’s eat. All these dishes today were personally cooked by sister. See if they suit your taste.”
“Thank you, sister.”
He was pulled to the table, feeling a bit restrained, mainly because it was his first time here and he was being so warmly hosted, especially by this newly recognized sister who was even more enthusiastic than the Hall Master.
Damn it, the Hall Master really was no good. With such a fine wife, he still went and kept a concubine. Truly unappreciative.
Dinner began.
Lin Fan looked at the bowl piled full of food, wanting to cry but without tears. This sister was truly good to him. He hadn’t taken a single bite himself, yet she kept picking food for him the whole time.
She also asked about his family situation. When Lin Fan said he had drifted here, her eyes reddened.
“Little brother, you must have suffered a lot then.”
“Sister, it’s alright. After coming here, I’ve been working under the Hall Master and received his heavy favor, so my days have gradually gotten better.” Lin Fan said.
“Him… If you ever feel wronged in the future, don’t keep it in your heart, tell sister, and sister will stand up for you.” Wang Shi knew her husband all too well.
“Thank you, sister.”
“Eat more, look how thin you are, it pains sister to see it.”
Wang Changhai on the side was helpless, saying nothing. He always felt that this confidant of his was no longer his own, but his wife’s confidant now.
This feeling was hard to put into words. He wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.
After Lin Fan finished the full bowl of food, he spoke up: “Hall Master, today Sun Xiao’s butler from the Fierce Tiger Gang came to the wharf to find me.”
“Ah! What did he want with you?”
Wang Changhai was startled. Damn, this was because they knew his confidant was formidable and wanted to poach him.
Lin Fan said: “He said he wanted to get to know me and insisted on treating me to Xianwei Tower. Thinking it was free food, I brought the Wharf Brothers along.”
“Xianwei Tower, that’s very expensive.”
“Yeah, I ordered the most expensive dishes, a full three tables. I don’t know the exact silver taels, but at least fifty or sixty taels.”
“Ah, that ruthless?”
Wang Changhai’s mouth hung open, stunned. On a first invitation, he ate them out of house and home, completely treating them like pigs to slaughter.
“Had to be ruthless. It’s rare to catch one, and besides, their purpose in coming to me was to win me over. They needed something from me, so I figured there might be three, four, five, six, or seven more times. Eat as many times as possible.” Lin Fan said.
Wang Changhai: …!!!
Stunned, truly stunned.
Of course, Wang Changhai also breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Fan’s willingness to tell him this meant he had no intention of being won over. As expected of the confidant he valued.
His judgment was spot on.
Thinking of this, Wang Changhai felt quite pleased.
“My little brother is so clever.” Wang Shi smiled, looking at Wang Changhai: “See? For you to meet such a capable little brother of mine, that’s fortune from three lifetimes.”
“Sister, being valued by the Hall Master is my fortune.” Lin Fan quickly said. Oh my good sister, you can’t say it like that. You’re so good to me, the Hall Master will get jealous.
“If sister says it’s his fortune, then it is his fortune. Husband, what do you say?”
Facing his wife’s question.
“Yes, yes, it’s my fortune.”
Wang Changhai was speechless.
“Hall Master, actually there’s another matter. I’m preparing for the Public Security Bureau exam.” Lin Fan didn’t hide it and told him about his preparations. Whether early or late, he had to say it.
From his understanding of the Hall Master, he decided to say it now.
The Hall Master was not a sinister and cunning sort.
“Public Security Bureau? Why would you have such an idea? Aren’t things fine here?” Wang Changhai grew anxious. My confidant, you can’t just leave me.
Now everyone knew that Wang Changhai had a very capable fighter as his confidant.
When facing other Hall Masters, his backbone was much straighter.
Wang Shi said discontentedly: “What do you mean ‘such an idea’? My little brother wants to take the righteous path and has ambition, that’s a good thing. You know the situation in Loyalty Hall—full of all sorts, bound to lead to trouble. I don’t want my little brother turning into that kind of person.”
“Little brother, work hard at it. Sister knows the Clerk’s wife, so when the time comes, sister will help you with connections.”
“Thank you, sister.” Lin Fan said gratefully.
He could feel that this sister truly meant it, not faking affection to bind him.
Wang Changhai looked at his wife, wanting to cry but without tears. Who pushes people out like this?
At this moment, Lin Fan saw the Hall Master’s sadness and said: “Hall Master, some time ago I got acquainted with Squad Leader Song from the Public Security Bureau. I helped him catch a killer. He knows my identity and knows I want to take the Public Security Bureau exam, but from what I saw, he didn’t think my identity would be a problem for the exam.”
Hearing this.
Wang Changhai’s eyes lit up with hope. “So that means even if you join the Public Security Bureau, you can still manage the wharf.”
“Not sure.” Lin Fan didn’t speak too definitively.
Wang Shi said: “I think you can. I’ve heard some news. Squad Leader Song is upright and faces exclusion in the Public Security Bureau. He hates official-gang collusion the most, which ruined many people’s interests, so he’s restricted everywhere. I think this Squad Leader Song also wants my little brother to join the Public Security Bureau, to use his hands to fight fire with fire.”
“Madam, where did you hear that?” Wang Changhai asked in astonishment.
Wang Shi said: “That was when I was playing mahjong with the noble ladies. They chatted about it, saying Squad Leader Song affected their silver earnings. Some people did bad things and didn’t want to be caught, so they sent money hoping to settle it, but Squad Leader Song wouldn’t allow it and handled many matters according to the law.”
Lin Fan listened very attentively.
Thinking of Squad Leader Song chasing the killer with only him and Yang Ming, it seemed he truly faced exclusion.
Wang Changhai waved his hand. “Let’s eat first. We’ll talk later. But no matter what, I respect your choice.”
“Thank you for understanding, Hall Master.” Lin Fan said.
This meal, Lin Fan and his sister ate happily, chatting and laughing.
This was also something he had never experienced since transmigrating… no, even before transmigrating, he had never been cared for like this.
He recognized this sister.
Only Wang Changhai seemed struck, worried and unable to be happy.
A long time passed, very late.
At the door.
Wang Shi held Lin Fan’s hand.
“Little brother, be careful on the way back.”
“Sister, I know. It’s cold outside, you go back first.”
“Changhai, what are you standing there for? Hurry and see my little brother off.”
“Madam, I know. You go back first, I need to talk with your little brother.”
Wang Shi went back.
Wang Changhai patted Lin Fan’s shoulder. “To be honest, what do you think of the Hall Master, that is, your sister’s husband?”
Facing this question.
Lin Fan really wanted to say, Hall Master, you’re really no good. My sister is so virtuous, yet you dare keep a concubine, completely disregarding her face. I really want to bash your head in.
But could he say that?
Definitely not.
“Very good.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah, Hall Master, you go back too. I’m heading out.” With that, he turned and left.
Wang Changhai watched Lin Fan’s departing back, then looked up at the bright moon, as if crystalline tears slid from the corner of his eye.
Even now, you won’t call me brother-in-law?
My confidant.
How could you just leave me like this, throw yourself into my wife’s arms? With such a formidable fighter as her little brother, can she still follow the three obediences and four virtues? Can she still keep me in her eyes?
My status in this family as Hall Master.
How much is left?
Sigh!
One sigh expressed the joys and sorrows of countless men.
