Chapter 106: Neither Humble Nor Overbearing

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Zhou Zhi glanced left and right, then lowered his voice and asked, “Since Brother Hu Zhe says the fire was deliberately set, surely there must be someone you suspect?”

Hu Zhe merely shook his head. “There is no particular suspect. Our Hu family has always kept to our own affairs these past few years and never offended anyone. That is precisely what makes this so strange.”

Zhou Zhi frowned at once. However one looked at it, this was still a case without a lead—no target, no clue. It was little wonder the authorities had immediately closed the matter, attributing the fire to Heaven’s wrath.

After repeated persuasion from Zhou Tie and Fan Jin, Hu Zhe’s father, Hu Geng, had regained much of his composure. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something.

“Brother Zhou Tie, this is not the place to talk. Please come home with me so we may discuss something.”

There were indeed too many people about, and it was inconvenient to speak freely. Zhou Tie, Zhou Zhi, and Fan Jin therefore followed Hu Geng home.

The silk-and-cotton shop had been reduced to ruins. There was no point in Hu Zhe remaining there, so he hurried after them as well.

They walked east along the broad commercial street of Gaochang Town. At the northern side stood a narrow lane. They entered it and continued to the very end, where the Hu family home stood.

The Hu family was a small, solitary household in Gaochang Town, consisting of only three low, gray-brick, tiled houses. There was an enclosing gate, but after many years, its vermilion wooden door had long since lost its color, leaving it mottled and worn.

Hu Geng gently pushed the door open and said awkwardly, “Our Hu family has nothing left now. All that remains are these three old houses. Alas!”

Hearing the voices outside, Hu Zhe’s mother, Madam Hu Qiu, hurried out of the house. After Hu Geng introduced her to Zhou Tie and the others, she hastily crouched to offer her greetings, then rushed off to boil water and brew tea.

Hu Geng led everyone inside.

The layout of houses in the north was more or less the same. The first room one entered was the kitchen, which also served as dining room and, at times, the reception hall.

Though the Hu family was small and lived behind its own gate, it was still a household in town. The main room was fairly spacious, and its arrangement showed some care. At its center stood an old elmwood Eight Immortals table, surrounded by several high-backed wooden chairs.

Hu Zhe had already briskly wiped down the table and chairs and invited everyone to sit. Madam Hu Qiu happened to finish brewing the tea, which she placed gently on the table. Hu Zhe quickly poured tea for everyone before finally standing respectfully to one side.

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Among those present was his father—and, more importantly, his future father-in-law. Without permission, how could he dare sit down?

Zhou Tie had already examined Hu Zhe several times in secret. He could not help giving a satisfied nod. After glancing at Hu Geng, he said to Hu Zhe, “Sit down, Hu Zhe. Ha ha!”

Only after receiving Zhou Tie’s permission did Hu Zhe cautiously take a seat. He sat up straight, his manner deferential.

Hu Geng took a sip of tea, sighed heavily, and said to Zhou Tie, “Alas! With our Hu family struck by such misfortune, how can I face you, Brother Zhou Tie?

“Only in the fifth month did we bring in a new shipment of silk, using up every bit of the Hu family’s savings. We had intended to sell it in the coming days and use the proceeds to arrange the children’s marriages. But who could have imagined that a great fire would burn the shop to the ground? Now all the Hu family has left are these three old houses. The days ahead will be terribly difficult.”

After saying this, he sighed again. Looking at Zhou Tie, he hesitated briefly before continuing, “Our Hu family has fallen into such a state. How could we still be worthy of your Zhou family? We cannot let that girl come here and suffer through such bitter days with us. Brother Zhou Tie, perhaps we should dissolve the children’s betrothal.”

Having said this, Hu Geng lowered his head at once, his face filled with helplessness.

Hu Zhe had never imagined that his father would suddenly say such a thing. His face flushed crimson with anxiety, and his heart began to pound uneasily, yet he dared not speak.

Zhou Zhi was likewise stunned. His elder sister, Zhou Lüyun, and Hu Zhe had formally exchanged betrothal gifts two years earlier. Though his sister had not yet entered the Hu household, according to the customs of the Great Ming, it would not be an exaggeration to say that she already belonged to the Hu family. For the Hu family to break off the engagement now was little different from repudiating a wife.

Of course, Zhou Zhi fully understood what Hu Geng meant. He could sense that those words had come from the man’s heart. Hu Geng had spoken out of kindness, genuinely thinking of Zhou Lüyun’s welfare.

This showed that the Hu family was truly kindhearted.

Yet there was another side to the matter. Those who knew the truth might understand, but what would people who did not know the truth say? They might well blame Zhou Lüyun instead, which would seriously damage her reputation.

Zhou Zhi could not help feeling vexed. But he was, after all, the younger generation, and his father, Zhou Tie, was present. Unless absolutely necessary, there were things he could not say. He looked toward his father and saw that, although Zhou Tie’s brows were tightly furrowed, he seemed flustered and utterly without an answer.

Zhou Tie happened to notice Zhou Zhi looking at him. After a brief hesitation, he set aside his pride and asked, “Little Zhi, what do you think should be done?”

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The Zhou family had gone from utter poverty to a modestly prosperous household, and all of it was thanks to Zhou Zhi. Zhou Tie had also long since heard what had happened at home after he left to perform corvée labor. Zhou Zhi had handled everything himself, and he had done so methodically and wisely.

Like Zhou He and Madam Zhou, Zhou Tie had come to regard Zhou Zhi as the family’s mainstay.

Zhou Zhi had effectively received his father’s consent. Forcing down the displeasure in his chest, he slowly rose and said to Hu Geng, “Uncle Hu, how can you say such a thing? The Zhou family is a family that understands propriety. How could we despise the poor and curry favor with the rich? My elder sister is a proper and honorable girl as well. This engagement absolutely cannot be dissolved!”

He paused briefly. Then his voice suddenly turned cold as he continued, “However, if your Hu family had already intended to break off the engagement and is merely using this fire as an opportunity to bring it up—and if Brother Hu Zhe has always felt the same—then our Zhou family has nothing to say. In that case, our family will be the one to dissolve the engagement. We will return every betrothal gift, large and small, that your Hu family provided.”

Zhou Zhi had originally wanted to add that when the Hu family had been wealthy, it was not the Zhou family that had sought to marry above its station; rather, it was the Hu family that had taken the initiative to propose. But after thinking it over, he decided to spare Hu Geng’s dignity. It was enough to make clear that the Zhou family was one that valued propriety.

The moment Zhou Zhi finished speaking, Zhou Tie said, “That is exactly right. If your Hu family had already made up its mind, then the engagement must be dissolved. But if you are saying this solely because the fire has left your household in hardship, then abandon the thought. You would be underestimating our Zhou family far too much. Do you take us for the sort of people who kick others when they are down?”

In the past, Zhou Tie could never have spoken with such force. But now that his family had money, his confidence had grown considerably.

In truth, Hu Geng’s earlier words had only been a test. The Hu family was now desperately poor, and he feared that the Zhou family might therefore withdraw from the engagement.

Now that the Hu family had fallen into hardship, they could still marry a fine girl like Zhou Lüyun. It was exactly what they fervently hoped for. How could they truly wish to break off the engagement?

His worries set aside, Hu Geng’s weathered face flushed red. He hurried to his feet, bowed deeply to Zhou Tie in embarrassment, and said repeatedly, “To have the Zhou family as our in-laws is a blessing beyond measure. I am so grateful that I could weep tears of gratitude!”

What pleased Hu Geng even more was that the Zhou family had a capable young man like Zhou Zhi—eloquent yet neither servile nor overbearing. His only son, Hu Zhe, would have someone to rely on in the years to come.

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