The steward, Xu, saw his young master and the Bai brothers at the entrance of Pine Nut Alley.
Compared to Bai Erlang and Bai Shan, steward Xu was much more familiar with Bai Dalang, because when County Magistrate Fu was in office, every New Year’s, Old Master Bai always took Bai Dalang to pay a visit to County Magistrate Fu.
Not only was Bai Dalang a well-known young talent in Luojiang County, but he also briefly attended the Luojiang County School, from which he had passed the examinations to enter the Mianzhou Prefectural School.
Although his advancent wasn’t through County Magistrate Fu’s connections, but rather, it was said that his own family tutor found the relationship for him, this was still credited as one of County Magistrate Fu’s political achievents. As such, steward Xu recognized Bai Dalang, and they were sowhat acquainted.
Bai Dalang, of course, also recognized steward Xu. After exchanging formal greetings, steward Xu looked up at the only gentleman he did not recognize.
Yin Huo did not alight from the carriage but sat atop it, while Bai Erlang casually ntioned, "This is my classmate, nad Yin Huo."
Steward Xu bowed deeply, respectfully addressing him as Young Master Yin with a nod and a smile, excusing his need for formalities.
Fu Wenhua asked anxiously, "Steward Xu, have you found a rental house?"
Steward Xu bowed and said, "Yes, it’s not far from Pine Nut Alley, just two streets over, in Elms Alley. It’s also a two-courtyard house, though slightly larger than this place. Most importantly, the inside is fully furnished, and the kitchen has all the pots, pans, and utensils. The landlord often rents to passing rchants, and the surroundings are quite peaceful."
Fu Wenhua was then satisfied.
While they were speaking, Daji steered the carriage out, and Manbao, lifting the curtain, said, "Second Sister Fu has agreed, you all get on."
Yin Huo imdiately beckoned Changshou and instructed, "Go back ho and bring so people, hm, bring about twenty. More rough laborers and maidservants, if my grandmother asks, say that I need them for sothing."
Changshou complied and quickly drove their family’s carriage away.
It was not difficult for Yin Huo to summon people. In just two or three monts, behind Changshou’s carriage followed two large wagons pulled by mules, with about ten people sitting in each.
Mostly maidservants, big and sturdy, Yin Huo quickly recognized several of them as having attended his sisters as part of their dowry when they married out.
He paused for a mont and asked, "Why did you bring people from my sisters, haven’t we got any at ho?"
"We do, but when I went back to bring people, all three young madams happened to be at the house. After careful selection, it turned out that the dowry servants of the young madams were healthier, so I brought them along," explained the servant.
Yin Huo, not that concerned, nodded and waved, "Alright, let them follow the instructions of Young Master Fu and steward Xu."
Steward Xu glanced at his young master and imdiately went to instruct those servants. Speaking kindly, and with his own young master as the patron, even if the servants of the Yin Family might look down upon steward Xu’s humble origins, they wouldn’t dare show it at this mont and were very obedient.
Steward Xu let out a little sigh of relief. This was better than hiring laborers from the outside since these servants were accustod to following orders. Regardless of whether they were genuinely compliant in their hearts, they would not make errors in their tasks. However, if he had hired unaffiliated laborers, and if even one of them disobeyed, was too forceful or overstepped, that could lead to a huge disaster.
Steward Xu wanted to rescue Fu Wenyun to gain the upper hand for the Fu Family, but he didn’t want this to turn the two families from relatives by marriage into enemies. Therefore, he had to be asured in his actions.
After making sure that everyone understood his intentions, he nodded to Fu Wenhua.
Manbao then got into the Fu Family’s carriage, smiling at Bai Shan and the others, "You guys just wait for here."
Everyone nodded.
Manbao hid inside the horse carriage while Fu Wenhua and Steward Xu sat on the carriage shaft, driving the carriage into the alley. Upon reaching the entrance of the Yue Family ho, they stopped and knocked on the door. The mont the door was opened, Steward Xu led the people in, pushing the door wide open.
The Yue Family’s servants, seeing Steward Xu bring so many people inside, were startled and quickly asked loudly, "What are you all trying to do?"
Turning their heads to see Fu Wenhua with a grim expression, they urgently pleaded, "Granduncle, Granduncle, let’s discuss this calmly, the master is not at ho..."
They feared that Fu Wenhua had co to beat up Yue Dalang again.
Steward Xu, friendly yet firm, pushed him aside, smiling: "It doesn’t matter whether the son-in-law is at ho. As long as our young mistress is here, that’s fine. Our young master has co to fetch the young mistress back ho."
While they were talking, Fu Wenhua, leading his people, went straight towards the backyard. Servants from the Yue Family who ca out upon hearing the commotion, seeing so many burly maids and strong n, hesitated and didn’t dare to speak.
Only when Fu Wenhua had reached the backyard did Old Madam Yue and Yue Dalang finally catch on, and they rushed out from the house quickly.
Seeing Fu Wenhua and Steward Xu bringing in so many people, they exclaid in alarm: "Wenhua, what do you intend to do?"
Fu Wenhua stopped in front of his sister’s room and said with a stern face, "I fear that my sister might have been wronged in your ho, and I have co to take her back for her confinent."
Yue Dalang imdiately stepped forward to stop him, "Absolutely not, oh brother, it’s all a misunderstanding, listen to explain..."
But before he could get close, Steward Xu and his n blocked him, saying, "Young Master, go in quickly and carry the young lady out."
Fu Wenhua replied, "If it’s just a misunderstanding, then you better wait and explain it to my parents when they arrive."
After speaking, he entered the room. At this, even Old Madam Yue beca agitated, hurriedly ordering the servants to prevent them from leaving the house.
But the Yue Family truly didn’t have many servants, and several among them were attendants who ca with Fu Wenyun as part of her dowry. Naturally, they wouldn’t help the Yue Family.
Therefore, as the servants of the Yin Family took their stand in front of the room, they created a clear path, with no one able to enter.
Once Fu Wenhua entered the room, Fu Wenyun was already dressed, with Nanny Fu holding the baby, and even the nurse that they had hired stood there with her head lowered.
Fu Wenhua hurried forward, saying, "Second Sister, I’ve co to take you ho."
Fu Wenyun nodded with a smile, as Qiuyue quickly helped her lean onto Fu Wenhua’s back, then covered them with a cloak to keep out the wind.
The baby was well wrapped up as well, and several servants protected the siblings as they went out.
Yue Dalang, seeing Fu Wenhua carrying Fu Wenyun out, couldn’t get a clear look at her face because it was covered by the cloak. He could only try to push through the maids in his way while calling out, "Wenyun, Wenyun, please persuade Wenhua. What’s all this about? You know how my mother and I have treated you, the family has always been harmonious. There was a misunderstanding the other day, haven’t I already explained that to you..."
Fu Wenhua was so angry he stopped in his tracks and turned his head to glare at him, about to retort angrily, but then Fu Wenyun whispered in his ear, "Fool, don’t listen to him. Keep walking straight, don’t mind him."
Fu Wenhua choked up for a mont, recalling the days when he and his sister studied together under their tutor, when the tutor tested him and he couldn’t answer, his second sister would stand behind him, covering her mouth with a book as she murmured, "Fool, you can’t even solve this question..."
Indeed, Fu Wenhua no longer paid attention to Yue Dalang, turned around, and continued walking resolutely. They left the Yue Family ho and two maids imdiately helped to carry Fu Wenyun into the carriage.
The neighbors perched on their own walls to enjoy the excitent, seeing Fu Wenyun wrapped up in the cloak, and Nanny Fu behind them holding the child, beca excited and whispered among themselves: "I was saying, no one could endure all this unless the bride’s family were fools. Sure enough, they’ve already taken her back, haven’t they?"
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