Chapter 258: Fight
If it is not recognized by the Imperial Court, not only will there be no protection from the government, no corresponding benefits, but once activities are carried out in the name of the Chamber of Commerce, the government will arrest people on the grounds of making trouble by gathering a crowd, and it is possible to squat in prison for a few months.
Shang Wan had not thought of registration for the time being. She frowned as she looked at Lu Chengjing, “Why doesn’t the government agree?”
Lu Chengjing tugged at the corner of his lips, “The world’s requirements for women are to marry and have children, to manage the household and raise children. Establishing a chamber of commerce with only women is heretical, and might even be pointed at by thousands. How could the government agree to something that would be spat upon by the world?”
Shang Wan: “…”
This damn world!
“Do you think so too?” Shang Wan straightened her head, feeling that she needed to have a good talk with Lu Chengjing about this matter, “Do you also think this is heretical and not tolerated by the world?”
Lu Chengjing shook his head: “What I think is not important. My thoughts cannot influence the government’s decision. If the government does not agree, establishing a chamber of commerce is just empty talk.”
“No, your thoughts are very important to me.” Shang Wan stared at Lu Chengjing’s pair of narrow eyes.
It concerns whether or not to divorce her husband, which is quite important.
Seeing Shang Wan’s serious expression, Lu Chengjing couldn’t help but also put on a solemn face. After seriously thinking it over, he said: “If women can have paths other than marrying and having children, that would naturally be a good thing.”
He did not believe that women should be confined at home. They are also people, so why can men have the vast world outside, while women can only stay in one house? This is too unfair.
Shang Wan raised her eyebrows: “Do you really think so? Aren’t you afraid of being scolded as heretical and unable to become an official if people find out?”
“What do others say have to do with me?” Lu Chengjing smiled and shook his head, “If I am truly spat upon by the world because of this and can no longer walk the official path, I can still be Niangzi’s accountant.”
Shang Wan spread her hands: “Wouldn’t we both be done for then?”
If they are both spat upon by the world, can her business continue?
“There will always be a way.” Lu Chengjing pulled her into his arms, “If not, we can find a mountain village, go hunting up the mountain, fish down the river. I have great strength now and can support the family.”
“Is that all your ambition?” Shang Wan gave him a sideways glance.
Lu Chengjing still smiled: “Then what does Niangzi hope for me?”
“When you hold power, who would dare to scold you to your face?” Shang Wan reached out and pointed at his heart, “By then, I can also benefit from it.”
Sigh, this world where women can’t be officials, damn it!
“As Niangzi wishes, I will naturally strive.” Lu Chengjing grabbed Shang Wan’s hand that kept poking and placed it to his lips for a light kiss.
Shang Wan: “…”
This fox, getting the advantage and still acting innocent.
The little husband and wife were talking when the steward of the house suddenly came to report: “Bad news, Second Master got into a street fight and was taken away by constables!”
Second Master is Shi Tou. He recognized Shang Wan as his elder sister, so he took her surname. His name on the registry has been changed to Shang You.
You, meaning to plan. It was a name given by Lu Chengjing.
In Shang Wan’s words, it meant Lu Chengjing hoped Shi Tou would use his brain more and think before acting.
“Who did Shi Tou fight with?” Shang Wan suddenly stood up, “What was it about?”
“The messenger didn’t say.” The steward shook his head, “Only that they started fighting after arguing, and there was blood.”
If there’s no blood, is it even a fight?
Shang Wan was speechless, but she wasn’t worried about Shi Tou suffering a loss. With his current strength, he could go a few rounds with a bear; ordinary people couldn’t withstand it.
But Shi Tou is usually cheerful and doesn’t hold grudges. Arguing a couple of sentences is fine, so why would he suddenly fight someone?
She hadn’t heard him mention any recent conflicts with anyone.
Shang Wan frowned in thought, while Lu Chengjing instructed the steward to prepare the carriage and also sent someone to the kitchen to tell Xiao Huan.
The husband and wife hurriedly headed to the county yamen.
It was already night, and at the county yamen doorway, aside from the on-duty constables, there wasn’t a single soul.
Shang Wan jumped down from the carriage. Lu Chengjing’s heart trembled as his outstretched hand to support her met empty air. Did his wife know she was pregnant now?
Shang Wan didn’t notice Lu Chengjing’s thoughts. The carriage wasn’t that high; she could jump down from the roof without issue.
Almost everyone at the county yamen knew Shang Wan. In the entire Dongning County, Shopkeeper Shang was quite a prominent figure. Lu Chengjing had even become the top scholar, someone even the county magistrate had to befriend. Upon hearing the two wanted to visit the prison, the constable very politely led them in.
On the way, Lu Chengjing asked the constable about the details. The constable said: “I didn’t bring the man back, so for specifics, you have to ask Young Master Shang.”
This meant it was inconvenient to say.
Lu Chengjing didn’t ask more, gave some reward money, and followed Shang Wan into the prison.
The jailer led the way in front for the two.
“Sis, brother-in-law, why are you here?” Shi Tou was sitting at the table eating noodles. Seeing the two, he immediately shouted happily.
Then he remembered where he was, and his just-risen spirits immediately wilted again.
The jailer opened the prison cell door and tactfully left, leaving the three to talk alone.
“Sis, you’re still pregnant. How can you come to a place like prison?” Shi Tou wiped clean a stool for Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing to sit.
Shang Wan glanced at the bowl of noodles on the table. Half a bowl of mushy white lumps, not even a piece of vegetable leaves, let alone home food—even the five-copper-piece yangchun noodles outside were better.
“You’re eating this for dinner?”
“Prison naturally can’t compare to home. Being full is enough.” Shi Tou picked up his chopsticks again, trying to pick apart the lump of dough.
This pitiful sight made not only Shang Wan feel upset, but even Lu Chengjing frowned.
“Eat this.” A small bag of spicy dried meat appeared in Shang Wan’s hand. She handed it over and said: “Tell me and your brother-in-law the whole story from beginning to end. Who did you fight with? For what?”
Still, sis cares for him. Shi Tou happily took the dried meat.
“Nothing much, just argued a couple sentences. That guy couldn’t outtalk me and wanted to hit me. How could I stand there and let him? I couldn’t control my strength and accidentally broke his nose bridge.”
Lu Chengjing looked up and carefully examined him. Except for his clothes being a bit wrinkled, there were no injuries.
“Who was the person you fought with?” Shang Wan wasn’t fooled by Shi Tou’s words and asked again.
Shi Tou chewed on the dried meat while looking at the sky. He didn’t dare not answer his sis.
“Lu Chengyuan.”
The voice was about the same as a mosquito humming.
Shang Wan: “…”
“How did you end up fighting him?” Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing asked in unison. Lu Chengyuan didn’t seem like someone who would fight.
Shi Tou pursed his lips, “He deserved a beating.”
He still remembered his brother-in-law’s grudge.
Shang Wan guessed what Shi Tou fought Lu Chengyuan over. She didn’t look at Lu Chengjing and only asked: “Where is Lu Chengyuan?”
There were only five prisoners in the prison total. Shi Tou was in the innermost cell. They hadn’t seen that guy Lu Chengyuan on the way.
The two mutually assaulted, so there’s no reason her brother is squatting in prison while Lu Chengyuan is free outside, right?
If that’s really the case, she needs to have a good talk with the county magistrate.
So what if he’s a juren scholar? Even the Son of Heaven must face the same punishment as commoners if he breaks the law.
