Chapter 77: When Blood Turns Against Blood

Wei Wenyuan was taken by Su Er to a guest room.

Su Er had the servant boys prepare hot water and said to Wei Wenyuan, who had sobered up on the side, “Hurry up and bathe.

My young master wants to see you.”

“Who is your young master?”

Wei Wenyuan asked tentatively.

But he really wanted to bathe too.

After living on the streets for over a month, his body was practically filthy.

“Young Master Chen of the Chen residence.

Enough talk.

Go bathe quickly.

Don’t keep my young master waiting.”

Su Er said impatiently.

Wei Wenyuan naturally saw Su Er’s impatience and quickly apologized.

“Yes, yes.

I’ll go right away.”

“Mm.

Here are some clean clothes.

Change into them later, so you don’t stink up my young master’s place.”

Su Er continued.

“Yes, yes.”

Wei Wenyuan looked at the material of the clothes, quickly took them, and went into the room hugging the clothes.

He took off his dirty clothes and soaked in the hot water.

He was thinking about the ‘Young Master Chen’ the man had just mentioned.

In Panyang City, the wealthiest and most powerful young master of the Chen residence was Chen Zhou.

He had been living on the streets recently and had naturally heard about Chen Zhou being sent to jail by the master of the Lu residence.

So, this Chen Zhou bringing him to the residence definitely had a purpose.

Wei Wenyuan wiped his face.

Thinking of Wei Lan, he ground his teeth with hatred.

Wei Lan was so wealthy, yet she was unwilling to help him, her father.

This had caused him to sell the family home, lose a finger, be abandoned by his wife and daughters, and now he was homeless, even having to grovel to the servants of the Chen residence.

Wei Wenyuan looked at his severed index finger on his right hand, his eyes filled with madness.

Since Wei Lan was so unfilial, he couldn’t be blamed either.

But Wei Wenyuan didn’t get to enjoy it for long.

Su Er’s urging voice came from outside.

“Are you done yet?

My young master wants to see you.

Stop dawdling.”

“Coming, coming.”

Wei Wenyuan quickly washed his hair, then got out of the tub.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Wei Wenyuan finally came out of the room.

Su Er looked at him.

After bathing and changing clothes, Wei Wenyuan looked quite presentable.

“Let’s go.

The young master has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Su Er urged impatiently.

“I’m sorry.

I was really dirty and had to wash several times to get clean.

I was afraid the smell might offend Young Master Chen.”

Wei Wenyuan apologized with a smile.

Seeing his cowering appearance, Su Er actually felt a sense of satisfaction.

No matter how capable Wei Lan was, no matter how much she could stir up storms in Panyang City, her own father was a spineless gambling addict.

It was truly despicable.

Soon, Su Er brought the man to Chen Zhou’s study.

Wei Wenyuan quickly smiled and bowed to Chen Zhou.

If he had had some dignity before, after having his finger cut off and his wife leaving him, the little dignity he had left had completely disappeared.

“Greetings, Young Master Chen.”

Chen Zhou glanced at him faintly, his brow slightly furrowed.

Perhaps it was because he hated Wei Lan so much.

Now, he instinctively despised anyone associated with Wei Lan.

“You are Wei Lan’s own father?”

Chen Zhou asked.

“Yes, this lowly one.

Does Young Master Chen have any instructions?

Whatever you command, this lowly one will do his utmost to carry out.”

Wei Wenyuan quickly said.

He had already lost all face and shame.

Just surviving one more day was enough.

It would be perfect if he could get some silver from Chen Zhou and live a few comfortable days.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about my grudge with Wei Lan.

She had me thrown in jail and made me lose all face.

I want to repay her in kind.”

Chen Zhou said viciously.

“Yes, yes.

That beast Wei Lan isn’t even human.

If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be like a homeless dog, reduced to this state.”

Wei Wenyuan said indignantly.

“So, now I’m giving you a chance to fight back against Wei Lan.

Of course, I won’t let you work for nothing.

Here are fifty taels of silver.

Take them first.

After you succeed, I’ll give you another hundred.”

Chen Zhou pointed to the five ten-tael ingots on the table.

“Thank you, Young Master Chen.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

It’s just that I have no fixed abode right now.

I really don’t have the energy to deal with Wei Lan.”

Wei Wenyuan said euphemistically, essentially asking for more benefits.

Chen Zhou’s expression turned cold.

“Su Er, take him to a guest room.

He can stay in the residence for now.”

“Thank you, Young Master Chen.”

Wei Wenyuan quickly cupped his hands.

“Mm.

Tomorrow, you will go to Chen Ji Bookstore and publicly expose Wei Lan’s true nature and behavior.

Those scholars value filial piety above all.

If they know Wei Lan is someone who abandoned her parents, they will surely scorn her.”

Just thinking about it made Chen Zhou happy.

As long as Wei Lan was doing badly, he would feel good.

“Yes, this lowly one understands what to do.”

Wei Wenyuan quickly replied.

Early the next morning, after a good breakfast at the Chen residence, Wei Wenyuan was taken by Su Er to Chen Ji Bookstore.

Chen Zhou was sitting on the second floor of the tavern across the street, waiting to watch the show.

Soon, Wei Wenyuan wrote several lines on a wooden board:

Wei Lan, master of the Lu residence, is ungrateful, unfilial to her parents, and despised by gods and men!

Sure enough, people saw the board and instinctively gathered to watch the excitement.

Among them were a few people Chen Zhou had arranged – servants of the Chen residence.

Chen Zhou had them change clothes and pretend to be ordinary people, mingling in the crowd to chime in.

Soon, Wei Wenyuan began an impassioned speech in front of Chen Ji Bookstore.

“To be honest with you all, my unfilial daughter, Wei Lan, because she has latched onto the high branch of the Lu residence, refuses to acknowledge me, her poor, destitute father!

The family was poor, and it was my fault for not being able to provide.

I went to the Lu residence to beg her, but she threw me out.

She even said she doesn’t have a father like me.”

Wei Wenyuan wiped his sleeve over his non-existent tears and continued.

“If Young Master Chen Zhou hadn’t taken me in, I would still be sleeping on the streets.

Think about it, which child could be more heartless than Wei Lan?

Not only does she refuse to acknowledge me, but she also took her younger sister to the Lu residence and won’t let her acknowledge me either.

I have nowhere to seek justice.

Since she won’t acknowledge me, I have to let everyone know her true face.”

“Oh my god, is Wei Lan really that kind of person?”

“That doesn’t seem right.

I went to her signing event.

She seemed very approachable.”

“Of course, bad people don’t write ‘I am a bad person’ on their faces.

You’ve all been fooled by Wei Lan.”

“Is this man telling the truth?

Is he really Wei Lan’s father?”

“I don’t know.

But if what he says is true, then Wei Lan is really going too far.”

Seeing that his words were having an effect, Wei Wenyuan continued while the iron was hot.

“She is a rotten person who doesn’t respect her parents, unworthy of selling the books of the sages.

Don’t be fooled by her.”

The crowd watching Wei Wenyuan’s tearful accusations grew larger and larger.

Lu Shihuai and her group of friends were out shopping and also saw the crowd gathered in front of Chen Ji Bookstore.

“Hey, look over there.

So many people.

What’s going on?”

“Let’s go join the fun.”

Lu Shihuai quickly said.

These days, with no new storybooks to read, she and her friends were bored to death.

They couldn’t see Wei Lan, so they went to the Lu family tavern to eat hot pot every few days.

After all, it was something Wei Lan liked, so they wanted to eat it often!

All five of them were girls.

They couldn’t squeeze to the front, so Lu Shihuai had the guards escort them in.

Finally, they made it to the front.

But before Lu Shihuai could even be happy, hearing Wei Wenyuan’s words, her expression changed instantly.

“Everyone, Wei Lan is unrighteous and unkind.

If she treats her own father like this, how much more so would she treat others?

Don’t be fooled by her.

Don’t be fooled by this scum.”

Wei Wenyuan continued in a tearful tone.

Lu Shihuai was immediately furious.

No, who was this man to talk about their sister like that?

Their sister was the best person!

“How dare you say that about her?

Are you really Wei Lan’s father?

You know perfectly well that the Lu and Chen families are mortal enemies, yet you accept Chen’s support.

I don’t think you’re a good person either.”

Lu Shihuai directly attacked Wei Wenyuan.

“Exactly.

And Chen Zhou is the real scum.

To frame the Lu family tavern, he hired people to pretend to be sick, trying to slander their food as unclean.

In the end, Wei Lan saw through him and had him sent to jail.

You’re in cahoots with a scum like him; you’re not a good person either.”

“Right.

What parent in this world speaks against their own child?

You’re siding with an outsider.

Maybe you have some deal with Chen Zhou.”

“Don’t believe him!

We’ve been to Wei Lan’s signing events.

Sister Wei Lan is gentle and kind, a very good person.

Anyone who’s read her storybooks should know that the Cui Niang she writes about is clear-headed and rational.

She herself must be good too.”

With Lu Shihuai and the others attacking Wei Wenyuan, more and more of Wei Lan’s fans began to retort.

Of course, some rigid scholars supported Wei Wenyuan.

The two sides started arguing directly.

“Filial piety has always come first.

No matter the reason, Wei Lan is unfilial and deserves to be condemned.”

“What filial piety?

You’re so young and already so blindly faithful.

If her father is in cahoots with Chen Zhou, how can he be any good?

You’re so pedantic.”

“The books of the sages say so.

The Great Zhou has always governed the realm through filial piety.

Are you dissatisfied with His Majesty?”

Lu Shihuai was so angry she thought her head would explode.

She had to fight for her sister!

“You’re twisting the truth!

I’m saying he is unworthy.

What does that have to do with His Majesty?

You’re being disrespectful to His Majesty!”

The young girls who liked Wei Lan started arguing with the old-fashioned, pedantic scholars from the academies.

The situation was almost getting out of control.

Wei Wenyuan hadn’t expected so many people to defend Wei Lan and was momentarily flustered.

At the same time, in Jingchen Courtyard, Wei Lan was stringing a bracelet.

She had forgotten to string those lotus-pink beads last time.

Just as Wei Lan tied the knot and was about to cut off the excess thread with scissors, an urgent voice came from outside.

“Bad news, master!

Something’s happened!”

Wei Lan put this string of lotus-pink beads on her wrist.

It had to be said, with her fair skin, the lotus-pink beads looked quite nice.

Wei Lan pushed the door open and looked out.

She saw a female Qiankun dressed as a shop assistant, her face covered in sweat, running over.

“What is it?”

“Master, it’s your father.

He’s at Chen Ji Bookstore, listing all your faults.

He’s saying you’re unfilial.

Many scholars are siding with him.

Of course, there are also many people siding with you.

The two sides look like they’re about to start arguing.

Our grain shop is nearby, and the manager sent me to tell you.”

The shop assistant said, out of breath, clearly having run all the way.

Afraid she might pass out, Wei Lan quickly instructed the maidservant beside her.

“Go get her a cup of water.”

The maidservant quickly went and brought the assistant a large bowl of water.

The assistant quickly bowed to Wei Lan.

“Thank you, master.

But… what should we do?”

She asked anxiously, then downed the large bowl of water in a few gulps.

The corners of Wei Lan’s mouth lifted slightly.

“Don’t worry.

I’ll go take a look myself.”

With that, Wei Lan continued, “Go call Xi Ye, and have twenty guards from the residence come with me.”

“Yes, master.”

Qing Zhi quickly sent people to do it.

Wei Lan had long since firmly established her position as the master of the Lu residence.

Everyone could see how much the young lady doted on the master.

No one in the Lu residence now dared not treat Wei Lan as a master.

When the young lady wasn’t there, matters in the residence naturally followed Wei Lan’s instructions.

Soon, the twenty guards and Xi Ye had all arrived.

The guards lined up neatly in two rows, with Xi Ye at the front of the line.

Wei Lan smiled at everyone and said, “Let’s go.

Let’s go join the fun.

I want to hear exactly how I’ve been unfilial.”