Chapter Thirty-Three: An Unexpected Encounter with a Rascal

  Yang Fan, who had been chased by the dog for four streets, was panting and finally got rid of the vicious dog from the Huajia family. At this time, he saw two men playing chess under a tree in front of him. Yang Fan asked them and only then did he know that Ma Qiao was pulling fire cups at Chang Xiangzi's house on the fourth curve.

  Yang Fan arrived at Chang Mangzi's home. Chang Mangzi looked towards the door in a daze and asked, "Has he come? Please wait for a moment, just one moment."

  Ma Qiao lay on the couch, with his back exposed and numerous bamboo tubes stuck to it. He was gritting his teeth in pain when he saw Yang Fan and called out: "Xiao Fan, you're here for cupping too? Look at that dark face of yours, I'm catching a chill now, ah! My shoulder hurts just moving it."

  Yang Fan hummed and sat down beside him, his face stern. "Ma Qiao, tell me clearly, what's going on with the rumors outside?"

  Yang Fan called out his name and surname, clearly angry. Ma Qiao looked puzzled and asked: "What's wrong? What makes you so angry?"

  "What's wrong?"

  Yang Fan said angrily: "What did we say last night? Didn't you promise me in person that you would never tell outsiders about the girl in my family?"

  Ma Qiao said: "Right, I'm saying this, what's wrong?"

  Yang Fan asked angrily: "Do you dare guarantee that you haven't told anyone?"

  Ma Qiao blinked and said: "Right! I didn't actually... Oh! I told my mom about it."

  Yang Fan stared at him, Ma Qiao said with a straight face and a loud tone "My mother is not an outsider, what are you afraid of?"

  "Mrs. Liu, she indeed is not an outsider..."

  Yang Fan said weakly: "But whatever happens, as long as your mother knows about it, it's equivalent to everyone in the whole street knowing about it. Your mother will spread the news she hears to every single person she meets on the street at the fastest speed and in the shortest time..."

  Yang Fan said with a sob: "Brother Ren, you shouldn't be unaware of your father's temperament, should you?"

  Ma Qiao hesitantly said, "What are you afraid of? It's just eloping, who cares? Besides, the people in our village will still side with you. Don't worry, even if this gets out, it'll only be the villagers gossiping among themselves, no one will tell outsiders about it. If outsiders ask, everyone will help cover for you."

  Chang Xi immediately perked up his ears and listened intently. Elopement was too interesting!

  Yang Fan was left speechless, Ma Qiao's words were indeed true. At that time, Confucianism had not yet flourished, and the common people were enthusiastic about spreading and promoting romantic love affairs, even if they did not conform to social norms. The villagers would often discuss such matters with relish, and few would seek to blame or criticize.

  Sima Xiangru and Zhuo Wenjun eloped, without any criticism from the imperial court or public condemnation from scholars and commoners. Li Jing and Hong Fu's elopement was even more enthusiastically told and praised by the Tang people. Elopement was a very romantic love story in the eyes of the Tang people, and there would be no moral gentlemen coming out to criticize it verbally or in writing.

  In addition, at that time people had a very strong sense of regional identity. Neighbors and fellow villagers would naturally feel closer to each other as soon as they knew someone's identity. In Yang Fan's case, the neighbors would definitely speak up for him. Just think about the obstacles modern police face when rescuing trafficked women in rural villages, and you can imagine how people at that time would help their relatives but not reason.

  The thing is, Yang Fan this "daughter" isn't really a runaway bride. Yang Fan naturally has his concerns. However, things have come to this point, and judging from the reactions of the common people in the alley, it seems that no one has linked him to the imperial fugitive who was being hunted down just a few days ago. Tian Ai Nu is living in his house, even if she never goes out, she will eventually be discovered. After this incident, it might even become an excellent excuse to cover up her true identity.

  At this point, Yang Fan's anger dissipated. Even so, looking at Ma Qiao's behavior, Yang Fan couldn't help but say: "You, really are not enough to accomplish anything..."

  Ma Qiao hastily replied: "I know, I know, I'm useless!"

  What can you say to someone who actively admits their mistakes?

  Yang Fan was both angry and amused, reached out to grab his shoulder, pulled up a bamboo tube, Ma Qiao cooperated very well with a "painful" cry, smiled and said: "Not angry anymore?"

  Ma Qiao pulled out the fire jar and left Chang Xiazi's house with Yang Fan, just as they walked to the intersection of the big street, a line of three people came slowly from afar. Ma Qiao took a glance and exclaimed: "Ah, Xiao Ning is back! I'll go ask her how the divorce proceedings are going."

  Yang Fan turned his head to look, and saw Mian Pian'er and her mother, one on the left and one on the right, supporting a white-haired old lady, who was walking towards the lane. He hurriedly stepped forward to greet them.

  "Old Mrs. Sun, Big Sister Wang!"

  Yang Fan and Ma Qiao went forward to greet them, first saying hello to Sun Meipo and Mian Pian'er's mother, then both of their gazes fell on Jiang Xuan Ning. Jiang Xuan Ning slightly shook her head, her expression dim. Yang Fan and Ma Qiao's hearts tightened, as they were on the road, it wasn't suitable to ask more questions, so they followed behind them, heading towards Jiang Xuan Ning's home.

  Several people entered the Jiang family gate, and Mian Pian'er brought in a few bowls of boiled water. Sun Po-po and Mian Pian'er's mother took off their shoes and sat down on the couch with their legs crossed. Yang Fan and Ma Qiao sat down beside the couch and asked cautiously: "Sun Po-po, what about discussing the cancellation of the marriage with the Liu family? How did it go?"

  Old Mrs. Sun was already very old, and it is said that even the marriage between Mian Pian'er's parents was arranged by this old woman, who was the most senior matchmaker in Xiwen Lane.

  "Alas! I've spent my whole life as a matchmaker, and who knows how many couples I've brought together? But in the end, I was blinded by my own matchmaking and ended up pairing Ning'er with such a beast!"

  The old woman said, and severely slapped herself in the face. Mian Pian'er's face was gloomy, originally also full of displeasure, but as soon as she saw Sun Bao being like this, she hurriedly pulled her back and persuaded: "Auntie don't be like this, think about when we first got engaged, I had seen Liu Junwan at that time."

  At that time, his parents were still alive, and looking at this child was quite good a young man, who would have thought that today he would become such a figure. Ah Po, it's not just you who misjudged him, I also misjudged him, Ah Po doesn't need to blame herself, we should think of a solution now."

  Yang Fan listened to the conversation between the two and quietly asked Mian Pian'er: "Ning sister, won't that Liu guy agree to divorce?"

  Her face was red around her eyes, and tears were welling up in her eye sockets. She pursed her lips tightly, nodded slightly, but didn't say a word.

  Ma Qiao said impatiently, "Auntie, what's going on here? Can you tell us? With so many people, we should be able to come up with a solution. I've grown up with Xiao Ning since childhood, and Xiao Fan treats Xiao Ning like her own sister - none of us are outsiders. Just speak your mind."

  The old lady sighed and said, "This morning, I went with Xiaoning to find Auntie and explained the situation. Auntie was also very angry and accompanied us two mothers to discuss the divorce with the Liu family. As a result, when we arrived at the Liu's house, Liu Junwan resolutely refused to divorce, and even said in front of Xiaoning that..."

  Mian Pian'er's mother got to this point and her whole body began to tremble, her face turned iron-green, and for a moment she couldn't say a word.

  Old Lady Sun chimed in: "That little beast said that as soon as Xiaoning marries into their family, they'll torment her to death."

  Yang Fan and Ma Qiao were furious, Yang Fan angrily said: "This shameless scoundrel! A man of great prestige, yet he is willing to be a slave to women, fawning on them for scraps to survive. If Ning sister marries him, won't she suffer humiliation all her life? He doesn't want to divorce, can we not divorce?"

  "Xiao Xu, you've just returned to the Tang Dynasty and don't know much. Our laws do have provisions for divorce, but a divorce requires mutual consent from both parties. If not, how can it be considered a true separation? That man surnamed Liu harbors hatred towards Xiao Ning for publicly humiliating him, so how could he possibly let her go?"

  Besides, this kind of spineless vagabond, although he has made peace with Mrs. Yao, is after all an adulterer, and would Mrs. Yao be willing to bear him children? He gave up a good girl like Xiaoning, where else can he find a wife who suits his taste? Of course, he wouldn't agree to divorce.”

  Ma Qiao asked: "Old Lady Sun, if she refuses to divorce, is there no other way to part ways?"