Chapter 102: Fight

“Ah—, my ear.”

While gathering herbs, Lin Cuili heard the sounds of a fight and sensed something was wrong. She hurriedly rushed toward the spot where Lin Fang had been resting. As she approached, she saw a young man in luxurious clothing clutching his right ear in pain, crying out. Beside him were two men dressed as servants, circling around him in a panic, unsure of what to do.

Looking further, she saw the five people who had accompanied her. Xian’er was holding a rotten log, swinging it left and right to block Lin Fang’s path. Shuqi and Shuqin each held branches, shielding Lin Cuie, who was disheveled and in disarray. Not far behind Xian’er, a small red figure lay sprawled in the weeds—none other than Lin Fang herself.

Seeing this scene, Lin Cuili quickly deduced the situation. She rushed to Lin Fang first and asked anxiously, “Fang’er, are you hurt?”

Lin Fang shook her head. “Eighth Aunt, I’m fine. Please check if Eleventh Aunt is injured.”

Lin Cuie screamed hysterically, “Eighth Sister, don’t worry about me! Beat that little bastard to death first!”

One of the servants shouted arrogantly, “Who dares? We’re from the Shangguan family. See who dares lay a hand on our young master!”

“Hmph, I don’t care if you’re from the Shangguan family or the Xiaguan family. Today, I’ll make you forget your own name!”

As she spoke, Lin Cuili pulled out the soft whip coiled around her waist. With a flick of her wrist, the two servants were flung aside. Then, she lashed the whip at the young man in luxurious clothes, sending him tumbling through the air before landing heavily on the ground. She continued whipping him mercilessly as he writhed and screamed, utterly defenseless.

The two servants couldn’t get close. Seeing no way to save their young master, they exchanged glances and rushed toward Xian’er and Lin Fang.

Earlier, they had learned that the two older maids were not to be trifled with, and the slightly older mistress was also fierce. But this little maid was still young—though she held a rotten log, it seemed like an empty threat since she hadn’t done much earlier. As for the little mistress, she occasionally threw branches but didn’t dare get close. Now, she was even more useless, lying terrified on the ground. The two servants decided to target them instead.

“Whoosh—” Before they could get close, Xian’er swung the rotten log at them.

Though Xian’er hadn’t grown much in height over the past two years, her strength had increased significantly. She wielded the long log effortlessly. From Lin Fang’s estimation, the log was about thirty centimeters in diameter. Even if it was rotten, it wasn’t light. Earlier, Xian’er hadn’t used her full strength because she was distracted protecting her young mistress. But now, it was different.

The two servants hastily retreated. They hadn’t expected this little maid, who looked no older than ten, to be so strong. Exchanging glances, they immediately turned and fled, disappearing in no time.

“Ah—, ah—, ah—”

While everyone was focused on the front, the two seemingly escaped servants had circled around and silently attacked from behind, targeting Lin Fang, who was still lying on the ground. By the time Lin Fang sensed something was wrong, the two were already upon her, reaching out to grab her. Knowing she couldn’t resist, she remained motionless but suddenly let out a piercing scream.

The sudden scream startled the servants, freezing them for a split second. In that moment, a soft whip lashed out, striking both of them in the face. They fell backward and rolled down the slope.

Retracting the whip, Lin Cuili rushed to Lin Fang. “Fang’er, are you alright?”

Lin Fang stood up, brushing off the grass. “Eighth Aunt, I’m fine.” She was inwardly shaken—had she not been lying in a spot where the sun cast a shadow creeping over her, she might not have noticed the attackers in time.

Lin Cuili wasn’t convinced and thoroughly checked Lin Fang from head to toe. Only after confirming she was unharmed did she turn to the groaning young man on the ground. She nudged him with her foot, but he only whimpered in response.

Looking back, she saw two similar faces—one big, one small—examining each other. Lin Cuie circled Lin Fang, checking for injuries, while Lin Fang tried to pull Lin Cuie aside, repeatedly asking if she was hurt. Only then did Lin Cuili ask what had happened.

Xian’er was too busy worrying about her sixth young mistress and hadn’t seen everything clearly from a distance. Shuqi and Shuqin hesitated, as if reluctant to speak. Lin Cuie, however, was straightforward. “What’s the big deal? Eighth Sister, I’ll tell you.”

It turned out that Xian’er had discovered some black fungus, and Lin Fang had teased her about it. Shuqi and Shuqin, curious, had walked toward Xian’er. Before they got halfway, they heard male voices. Turning around, they saw the young man in luxurious clothes and his two servants approaching Lin Cuie. The young man had reached out to touch Lin Cuie’s face.

Shuqi and Shuqin shouted and ran back. By then, Lin Cuie was already fighting the young man, who was spewing vulgarities and making lewd gestures, specifically targeting Lin Cuie’s chest and tearing at her clothes. It was summer, and their garments were thin. In no time, Lin Cuie’s dress was ripped, revealing her undergarments.

However, the young man didn’t get off unscathed—his face and neck were scratched by Lin Cuie, and his clothes were torn. Enraged, he ordered his two servants, who had been egging him on, to join the fight. By then, Shuqi and Shuqin had arrived, and the six of them brawled fiercely.

The servants carried sticks. Since Lin Cuie was their young master’s target, they didn’t dare hit her too hard, fearing retribution. Instead, they focused on Shuqi and Shuqin. But the two maids trained daily in martial arts and were not easy opponents. The fight quickly became chaotic.

Lin Fang told Xian’er to help. Worried about her young mistress, Xian’er quickly hoisted Lin Fang onto her back. Spotting a nearby rotten log, Xian’er grabbed it and charged into the fray while carrying Lin Fang.

Once Lin Fang dismounted, she ordered Xian’er to assist while she stayed at a safe distance, occasionally throwing dry branches at the young man and his servants. She had been practicing needle-throwing for three years and had developed considerable arm strength. Some of her throws even hit their mark.

Suddenly, the young man screamed, “Ah—, my ear!”

Lin Fang immediately dropped to the ground, hiding in the grass. She suspected one of her thrown branches had pierced his ear. If he flew into a rage, a brutal fight would ensue. Unable to help or escape, she decided to stay low and avoid attention.

Who would have thought someone would dare provoke the Lin family on their own turf? Furious, Lin Cuili tied the young man up with hemp rope, slung him over her herb basket, and led her nieces and sister down the mountain. Near the foot of the mountain, she sent Shuqi ahead to the tailor’s workshop to fetch a change of clothes for Lin Cuie without alerting anyone. Only then did they return home.

When they reached the Lin residence, the eldest son, Dalang, happened to be seeing off Steward Qi. Seeing the situation, Steward Qi delayed his departure and followed them back inside. The Lin and Qi families were well-acquainted, and Dalang got along well with Steward Qi, so he didn’t object.

After hearing Lin Fang’s account, Steward Qi said to Dalang, “This matter may require the Qi family’s intervention.”

Dalang nodded. As long as his family’s safety was ensured, he didn’t care who stepped in. Though Steward Qi never spoke of the Qi family’s background, Dalang’s experience told him they were no ordinary household. If they were willing to help, all the better.

Calling over the Qi family servant who had accompanied him, Steward Qi had the young man carried away. Before leaving, he advised, “For the time being, it’s best if the master avoids going to town. If the mistress or young ladies must go out, they should be heavily escorted.”

After Steward Qi left, Lin Cuili asked about the Shangguan family’s background and why Steward Qi had spoken so gravely.

Recently, Steward Qi had briefed Dalang on the influential families in town. Since Lin Cuili was his sister and a court guard, Dalang trusted her discretion and replied:

The Shangguan family has a distant relative who holds an official position, one rank below Fang’er’s second uncle. This official is renowned for his integrity, presenting himself and his household as frugal and austere. However, Steward Qi informed me that the Shangguan family manages some of his business ventures, earning substantial profits each year. Relying on their court connections, the Shanguans bully the locals. Though mere commoners, they don’t even respect the county magistrate.

Lin Cuili grasped the implications and smirked. “Hah, so that official is being dragged down by them?”

Dalang nodded. “Every advantage has its disadvantage. That official has long wanted to replace the Shangguans but finds it impossible to shake them off.”

Such false displays of poverty were common in every dynasty. Though Lin Fang had no personal experience, she’d seen plenty in TV dramas and newspapers, so she wasn’t surprised.

This incident—Lin Cuie nearly losing her chastity and Lin Fang almost being harmed—left Dalang and his wife deeply shaken.

After that day, Dalang stopped going to town altogether. He had Lin Cuie move into his courtyard for safety. Lin Cuiping refused to relocate, so Dalang assigned extra guards to her residence. Apart from Zhou Erxiao, who always accompanied her, others escorted her whenever she went out.

Li Cuimei and Lin Cuie went to the tailor’s workshop daily, with Dalang personally ferrying them. Lin Cuili volunteered to escort Lin Fang. Xian’er, unwilling to leave her young mistress, requested the master and mistress hire another cook so she could resume her former role, accompanying Lin Fang alongside Xian’er at all times. Granny Liu also disregarded Lin Fang’s protests and returned to duty, keeping constant watch over her.

Geng Yongqiang, having served in the court for years, knew more about its workings than Dalang. He surmised that if the Qi family could topple that official, major upheavals would follow, and the Shangguans wouldn’t escape unscathed.

Lin Cuili’s thrashing of the Shangguan young master had already sown enmity. Even if the Qi family brought down the official, the Shangguans wouldn’t collapse overnight. Steward Qi had only taken the young master—the two servants had fled. If the Shangguans sought revenge, they’d come arrogantly, and everyone in Lin Village might suffer, especially the Lin family.

Thus, the couple, along with Dalang and Guicheng, intensified the villagers’ training. While martial skills couldn’t be mastered overnight, their coordination and tacit understanding improved remarkably.

(Note: “默契” is translated as “tacit understanding” while retaining the original pinyin in parentheses for cultural reference, as per the instruction to preserve names in pinyin. The phrasing is adjusted slightly for natural English flow while maintaining accuracy.)

Three days after the fight, Steward Qi brought a man and a woman—Tan Liu and Qi Shi—claiming they were chosen by his young master for Dalang’s use. When Dalang tried to decline, Steward Qi said refusal would mean their deaths. Stunned, Dalang had no choice but to accept.

Steward Qi explained that the two were former covert guards. However, Lin Village’s flat farmland, sparse houses, and few trees limited their effectiveness. He suggested they initially act as trainers, taking over the villagers’ drills after Lin Cuili and her husband left. Dalang agreed.

As covert guards, their skills were exceptional. Dalang treated them respectfully, never ordering them around like servants, and let them manage their own affairs.

Days later, Steward Qi delivered an assortment of weapons, ensuring every Lin family member and servant had at least one. He specially gifted Lin Fang a small dagger resembling a pendant to hang at her waist.

Steward Qi also warned Dalang that the area was remote and seldom visited. The trio that day had wandered over from adjacent hills. If the Shangguans sought retaliation, they’d likely come the same way. He’d stationed men in the mountains to sound alarms if danger arose.