Chapter 32: Thief
The brows of Yu Tang knitted as she heard the scolding of Old Aunty Chen.
It’s true, Old Aunty Chen’s words were indeed logical.
Their house was burgled twice and both times happened when Yu Wen was away.
How could there be such a coincidence?
Madam Chen also thought that it was too much of a coincidence as well, so she took Yu Tang to Yu Bo’s house, and asked if Yu Yuan could stay over at their house for a few days while Yu Wen was away.
Yu Bo was still busy with the store, so Madam Wang agreed and discussed with Madam Chen, “Why don’t we settle Ah-tang’s marriage sooner? If you had a son-in-law in your family, then those people wouldn’t dare to break in so easily.”
It all boils down to the fact that they really had too few people in their family.
Madam Chen sighed as she replied, “We still have to wait until after the Wei family’s son’s 49 days funeral period is completed. People treated us fairly, so we can’t be seen as being over-eager. Ah-tang can also afford to wait.”
Madam Wang also sighed and asked their family’s attendant to carry some of Yu Yuan’s daily necessities over.
Some neighbors saw them and inevitably asked some questions.
Madam Chen told the neighbor about what happened in their family. The neighbor also followed with a a sigh, and comforted Madam Chen: “This will be solved once your family recruits a son-in-law. “
“Thank you for your concern.”
Madam Chen and the neighbor politely said a few words, after which she returned home to tidy up the guest room.
Yu Tang squatted in the corridor and played with Little Yellow, but her mind drifted elsewhere as she thought about Pei Yan.
That person was really too much. Arrogantly jumping to conclusions without even listening to any explanations. The Pei family’s immense inheritance that fell into his hands; she really didn’t know how he managed it at all.
Yu Tong sighed sorrowfully, feeling that she had an unfortunate year and she was really down on her luck.
As she hugged Little Yellow and gently stroked its hair, two magistrate-runners came to their door. They said that they were following instructions from Yu Wen to keep a closer eye on this area when they patrolled the streets.
Old Aunty Chen thanked them profusedly and invited the two to come in for tea, instructing Shuang Tao to buy some snacks and refreshments.
These two people not only lived in Lin’an City for many years and even their jobs as magistrate-runners were also passed down in their family. Although they worked for the magistrate as runners, but they knew how to judge the situation fairly, were hardworking and willing to help.
Seeing Old Aunty Chen’s sincerity and that Yu Wen had a reputation for being kind-hearted in Lin’an City, so they made themselves at home, sitting down to drink tea in the front courtyard and chatted with Old Aunty Chen.
“Speaking of it, it’s really strange. This area was always been quiet and peaceful, so how was it that only your house was broken into and twice in a row at that! Could it be because the thieves successfully stole from your house and thus kept it in their minds?” One of them, surnamed Li, asked.
Old Aunty Chen said in reply, “That’s unlikely. Our family didn’t lose anything of much worth the last time. Besides, who in Lin’an city doesn’t know that our family has done several kind deeds in a row recently, so our family’s funds have depleted a lot. Not mentioning other things, just this Mr. Lu’s funeral, our master even borrowed some silver taels from Supervisor Tong! Even if they wanted to steal, they should not target our family!”
Another magistrate-runner surnamed Wang, said. “Perhaps there’s something they wanted to steal that you are unaware of. From my experience, if it wasn’t because their first attempt was unsuccessful, it is highly unlikely that they will come to your house to steal twice in just a few days. Most likely they had a target in mind, which they did not manage to steal it successfully the first time, so this time they came to try again.”
Yu Tong thought so too.
However what was that item on the thief’s mind?
She remembered the incident at Yu Wen’s study.
Could they still have any family heirlooms that even her father didn’t know about?
She voiced her concerns to Madam Chen.
Madam Chen laughed and answered. “Before your grandfather died, he already gave concise instructions on the division of the family assets in his will. It was only after the mourning period was over that your eldest uncle and your father were formally separated into different households. Your eldest uncle, who is a meticulous person, was afraid that the dividing of the assets was unclear, so he not only invited the legal administrator, but also invited two neighbors as witnesses. If there was something valuable, it would have already been stolen by others; why wait until now?”
Yutang remembered in her previous life, there was a family that newly moved into the estate next to the Li family. They dislike the camphor tree planted in the courtyard, so they dug it out and found a box full of silver taels buried underneath……
Anyway, she had nothing much to do, and her mother didn’t pester her to do embroidery recently, so she went to help her father organize the study.
A forgotten lion-embroidered ball underneath the bookcase, a dusty <Abandoned Golden Hairpin> at the top of the cabinet, <Lady Wei’s Tablet> on top of the small bookcase next to it…… Yu Tang even found a box of Cao’s purple-cloud inkstone in a corner of the study.
She took this opportunity to take out all her father’s manuscripts, paintings and calligraphy and rearrange them properly.
When Madam Chen came in, she saw books, paintings, scrolls, inkstones and picture books all scattered on the floor creating a huge mess, looking as though the place had really been burgled. Yu Tang however, was laughing away as she leaned against the bookcase, reading a book with fascination.
“You child!” Madam Chen picked up the books on the floor, and half-laughingly and half-scoldingly said, “I think you are more capable than that thief, look at this place, there isn’t even an empty space for anyone to stand properly.”
Yu Tang happily put down the book in her hands and took a dirty grey pouch out and said, “Mother, guess what’s inside?”
“What is it?” Madam Chen smiled dotingly.
“It’s a flower that I drew for you when I was little.” She delightedly ran over and showed it to Madam Chen, “I remembered that I said I would keep it well, but somehow it disappeared, but today I found it. Look, there is even my handwriting on it.”
Madam Chen took a look at it, and the word “first” was scrawled on it.
She also remembered it, and said with a smile, “This is the first flower I asked you to draw.”
Yu Tang nodded excitedly and said, “I never thought I would hide it in Father’s study at the time.”
Madam Chen laughed and said, “It’s really time for your father’s study to be tidied up properly.”
Mother and daughter were laughing and joking as they organized the things in the study.
The fake painting that Lu Xin sold to their family tumbled out from a corner of the bookcase.
“Why is this here?” Madam Chen mumured as she put it back in its original place.
Yu Tang, however, felt it was an unlucky item and said, “The person is already gone, so what’s the point of keeping it? I’ll take it to the pawnshop tomorrow. Supervisor Tong said that the painting can still be sold for a few taels of silver, so at least we can use it to increase our family’s funds at least a little. In order to arrange Mr. Lu’s funeral, father also borrowed some silver from Supervisor Tong. If we can use this to pay back our debt to Supervisor Tong even by a little, this painting can be considered as returning to its rightful owner.”
Madam Chen thought about it for a while and felt it was a good idea. She laughed and teased, “You have a lot of sneaky ideas.”
Yu Tang naughtily winked and took the scroll back to her room.
In the middle of the night, they were awakened by Little Yellow’s barking, and Yu Yuan’s angry shouts from the study. “Who is it?! Running into our house to steal something?!”
Yu Tang quickly put on her outer garments and ran out. She saw Yu Yuan fighting with a skinny man in black.
“Catch the thief! Catch the thief!” Yu Tang shouted loudly.
The neighbors next door were awakened by the shouts.
The lights came on and the silent Qingzhu Lane became noisy.
The neighbors ran over with sticks or kitchen knives.
The man in black was finally caught.
Old Aunty Chen took the oil lamp and went over.
The thief was actually one of the neighbor’s sons from Qingzhu Lane!
The crowd was in an uproar.
Master Wu was furious and sent someone to call the boy’s parents over and said, “We have to inform your family. Someone like you, will need to be punished by having your name removed from the family’s register.”
The boy was so frightened that he cried out as he clung on to Master Wu’s legs and begged for mercy. “Please don’t tell my family! I, I was framed by someone, I just wanted to steal a few taels of silver, I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s life, and I also don’t dare to take anyone’s life!”
Master Wu was unmoved and said coldly, “Framed? Who can frame you? I just see a boy who doesn’t have good morals, and that’s why you harbored such evil intentions. People like you are a disgrace to society!”
As he was reprimanding him, the boy’s mother came and kneeled down in front of Madam Chen with a thud, pleading for her son desperately. “As long as you don’t send him to the officials, whatever you say we will comply!”
Madam Chen was put in a very difficult position.
If they didn’t punish him, it’s unfair for her family to have their house broken into for nothing. However, if they punished the boy, everyone had been living in this place as neighbors for decades, and will meet up with one another frequently, so how could they continue to have a good relationship with them in future?
As Yu Tang looked on, she felt it was strange.
She didn’t recognize this kid, but just when his mother kowtowed, he turned his face sideways, as if he couldn’t bear to look, and did not plead with Master Wu further.
She walked over.
The boy was silently weeping.
Yu Tang pondered in her heart, this kid caused such an incident, but his father did not come.
I wonder if it was because he doesn’t have a father? Or that the father doesn’t care?
Whether reason was the former or the latter, both could be used to their advantage.
She pulled Madam Chen’s sleeve and whispered. “The neighbors have helped us a lot this time. You can first invite them to our house to drink some tea. My eldest cousin is here, so we can just tie the boy up first for Ah Cam to guard, and wait for father to come back and settle this.”
Madam Chen thought that it was a good idea, and after discussing with Yu Yuan, she invited everyone into the house for tea.
When everyone saw that the matter was over, who still the heart to drink tea in the middle of the night? So they thanked her for her kindness and said goodbye to Madam Chen.
Madam Chen gratefully sent them out one by one.
Only the boy’s mother, sitting on the ground as if she had lost her will to live; sobbing silently.
Master Wu was a little apprehensive and said, “Why don’t you let my son come over and help you?”
“Your concern is much appreciated!” Yu Yuan respectfully bowed to Master Wu again and said, “I can handle it. It already so is late. Tomorrow when my uncle returns, my uncle and I will come to your door to personally offer our appreciation.”
Seeing that Yu Yuan had things under control, Master Wu nodded his head and went home.
The boy’s mother kept kowtowing to Madam Chen and begging for mercy.
The boy was crying so hard that his whole body was shaking.
Yu Tang pointed to the boy’s mother and said to the boy. “Look at what you did. You even created so much trouble for your mother. If the public keeps silent about the incident, the officials will not investigate it. So tell me the truth, why did you break into our house? If you tell me honestly, I will help you ask my father to let you go. Your mother will not have to suffer from the judging eyes of others, unable to lift up her head high for a lifetime.”
After the boy listened, he looked up at Yu Tang, and hesitated.
Yu Tang noted his expression and continued. “Stealing is a vile behavior, you see those family rules and regulations, who can tolerate those thieves who steal things? My father is the same as Master Wu, he hates this kind of things the most. He may not report it to the officials, but he will definitely ask your family to remove you from the family register and remove your name. When your mother dies, there will be no one left to to help her offer incense……”
The boy’s tears flowed down again as he chokingly replied. “My father gambled outside and our family’s ancestral home was also sold. I, I just wanted to get a few taels of silver to rent a place.”
Yu Tang sighed. “Then I have nothing else to say. You just have to wait for my father to come back and send you to the officials, and find your family’s elders to settle this.”
“No, no!” The boy hurriedly replied, “Lady Yu, you, if you give me five taels of silver, no, give me three taels also will do! I will tell you.”
Yu Tang was unmoved and said sternly. “You still dare to trick me! I wouldn’t give you a single tael of silver. It’s up to you to speak the truth.” After saying this, she got up and looked like she was going to call someone.
The boy panicked and said. “Someone asked me come to your house to steal a painting and promised me five taels of silver for it…… please don’t send me to the officials, I also didn’t manage to steal it……”
Chapter 32: Thief
The brows of Yu Tang knitted as she heard the scolding of Old Aunty Chen.
It’s true, Old Aunty Chen’s words were indeed logical.
Their house was burgled twice and both times happened when Yu Wen was away.
How could there be such a coincidence?
Madam Chen also thought that it was too much of a coincidence as well, so she took Yu Tang to Yu Bo’s house, and asked if Yu Yuan could stay over at their house for a few days while Yu Wen was away.
Yu Bo was still busy with the store, so Madam Wang agreed and discussed with Madam Chen, “Why don’t we settle Ah-tang’s marriage sooner? If you had a son-in-law in your family, then those people wouldn’t dare to break in so easily.”
It all boils down to the fact that they really had too few people in their family.
Madam Chen sighed as she replied, “We still have to wait until after the Wei family’s son’s 49 days funeral period is completed. People treated us fairly, so we can’t be seen as being over-eager. Ah-tang can also afford to wait.”
Madam Wang also sighed and asked their family’s attendant to carry some of Yu Yuan’s daily necessities over.
Some neighbors saw them and inevitably asked some questions.
Madam Chen told the neighbor about what happened in their family. The neighbor also followed with a a sigh, and comforted Madam Chen: “This will be solved once your family recruits a son-in-law. “
“Thank you for your concern.”
Madam Chen and the neighbor politely said a few words, after which she returned home to tidy up the guest room.
Yu Tang squatted in the corridor and played with Little Yellow, but her mind drifted elsewhere as she thought about Pei Yan.
That person was really too much. Arrogantly jumping to conclusions without even listening to any explanations. The Pei family’s immense inheritance that fell into his hands; she really didn’t know how he managed it at all.
Yu Tong sighed sorrowfully, feeling that she had an unfortunate year and she was really down on her luck.
As she hugged Little Yellow and gently stroked its hair, two magistrate-runners came to their door. They said that they were following instructions from Yu Wen to keep a closer eye on this area when they patrolled the streets.
Old Aunty Chen thanked them profusedly and invited the two to come in for tea, instructing Shuang Tao to buy some snacks and refreshments.
These two people not only lived in Lin’an City for many years and even their jobs as magistrate-runners were also passed down in their family. Although they worked for the magistrate as runners, but they knew how to judge the situation fairly, were hardworking and willing to help.
Seeing Old Aunty Chen’s sincerity and that Yu Wen had a reputation for being kind-hearted in Lin’an City, so they made themselves at home, sitting down to drink tea in the front courtyard and chatted with Old Aunty Chen.
“Speaking of it, it’s really strange. This area was always been quiet and peaceful, so how was it that only your house was broken into and twice in a row at that! Could it be because the thieves successfully stole from your house and thus kept it in their minds?” One of them, surnamed Li, asked.
Old Aunty Chen said in reply, “That’s unlikely. Our family didn’t lose anything of much worth the last time. Besides, who in Lin’an city doesn’t know that our family has done several kind deeds in a row recently, so our family’s funds have depleted a lot. Not mentioning other things, just this Mr. Lu’s funeral, our master even borrowed some silver taels from Supervisor Tong! Even if they wanted to steal, they should not target our family!”
Another magistrate-runner surnamed Wang, said. “Perhaps there’s something they wanted to steal that you are unaware of. From my experience, if it wasn’t because their first attempt was unsuccessful, it is highly unlikely that they will come to your house to steal twice in just a few days. Most likely they had a target in mind, which they did not manage to steal it successfully the first time, so this time they came to try again.”
Yu Tong thought so too.
However what was that item on the thief’s mind?
She remembered the incident at Yu Wen’s study.
Could they still have any family heirlooms that even her father didn’t know about?
She voiced her concerns to Madam Chen.
Madam Chen laughed and answered. “Before your grandfather died, he already gave concise instructions on the division of the family assets in his will. It was only after the mourning period was over that your eldest uncle and your father were formally separated into different households. Your eldest uncle, who is a meticulous person, was afraid that the dividing of the assets was unclear, so he not only invited the legal administrator, but also invited two neighbors as witnesses. If there was something valuable, it would have already been stolen by others; why wait until now?”
Yutang remembered in her previous life, there was a family that newly moved into the estate next to the Li family. They dislike the camphor tree planted in the courtyard, so they dug it out and found a box full of silver taels buried underneath……
Anyway, she had nothing much to do, and her mother didn’t pester her to do embroidery recently, so she went to help her father organize the study.
A forgotten lion-embroidered ball underneath the bookcase, a dusty <Abandoned Golden Hairpin> at the top of the cabinet, <Lady Wei’s Tablet> on top of the small bookcase next to it…… Yu Tang even found a box of Cao’s purple-cloud inkstone in a corner of the study.
She took this opportunity to take out all her father’s manuscripts, paintings and calligraphy and rearrange them properly.
When Madam Chen came in, she saw books, paintings, scrolls, inkstones and picture books all scattered on the floor creating a huge mess, looking as though the place had really been burgled. Yu Tang however, was laughing away as she leaned against the bookcase, reading a book with fascination.
“You child!” Madam Chen picked up the books on the floor, and half-laughingly and half-scoldingly said, “I think you are more capable than that thief, look at this place, there isn’t even an empty space for anyone to stand properly.”
Yu Tang happily put down the book in her hands and took a dirty grey pouch out and said, “Mother, guess what’s inside?”
“What is it?” Madam Chen smiled dotingly.
“It’s a flower that I drew for you when I was little.” She delightedly ran over and showed it to Madam Chen, “I remembered that I said I would keep it well, but somehow it disappeared, but today I found it. Look, there is even my handwriting on it.”
Madam Chen took a look at it, and the word “first” was scrawled on it.
She also remembered it, and said with a smile, “This is the first flower I asked you to draw.”
Yu Tang nodded excitedly and said, “I never thought I would hide it in Father’s study at the time.”
Madam Chen laughed and said, “It’s really time for your father’s study to be tidied up properly.”
Mother and daughter were laughing and joking as they organized the things in the study.
The fake painting that Lu Xin sold to their family tumbled out from a corner of the bookcase.
“Why is this here?” Madam Chen mumured as she put it back in its original place.
Yu Tang, however, felt it was an unlucky item and said, “The person is already gone, so what’s the point of keeping it? I’ll take it to the pawnshop tomorrow. Supervisor Tong said that the painting can still be sold for a few taels of silver, so at least we can use it to increase our family’s funds at least a little. In order to arrange Mr. Lu’s funeral, father also borrowed some silver from Supervisor Tong. If we can use this to pay back our debt to Supervisor Tong even by a little, this painting can be considered as returning to its rightful owner.”
Madam Chen thought about it for a while and felt it was a good idea. She laughed and teased, “You have a lot of sneaky ideas.”
Yu Tang naughtily winked and took the scroll back to her room.
In the middle of the night, they were awakened by Little Yellow’s barking, and Yu Yuan’s angry shouts from the study. “Who is it?! Running into our house to steal something?!”
Yu Tang quickly put on her outer garments and ran out. She saw Yu Yuan fighting with a skinny man in black.
“Catch the thief! Catch the thief!” Yu Tang shouted loudly.
The neighbors next door were awakened by the shouts.
The lights came on and the silent Qingzhu Lane became noisy.
The neighbors ran over with sticks or kitchen knives.
The man in black was finally caught.
Old Aunty Chen took the oil lamp and went over.
The thief was actually one of the neighbor’s sons from Qingzhu Lane!
The crowd was in an uproar.
Master Wu was furious and sent someone to call the boy’s parents over and said, “We have to inform your family. Someone like you, will need to be punished by having your name removed from the family’s register.”
The boy was so frightened that he cried out as he clung on to Master Wu’s legs and begged for mercy. “Please don’t tell my family! I, I was framed by someone, I just wanted to steal a few taels of silver, I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s life, and I also don’t dare to take anyone’s life!”
Master Wu was unmoved and said coldly, “Framed? Who can frame you? I just see a boy who doesn’t have good morals, and that’s why you harbored such evil intentions. People like you are a disgrace to society!”
As he was reprimanding him, the boy’s mother came and kneeled down in front of Madam Chen with a thud, pleading for her son desperately. “As long as you don’t send him to the officials, whatever you say we will comply!”
Madam Chen was put in a very difficult position.
If they didn’t punish him, it’s unfair for her family to have their house broken into for nothing. However, if they punished the boy, everyone had been living in this place as neighbors for decades, and will meet up with one another frequently, so how could they continue to have a good relationship with them in future?
As Yu Tang looked on, she felt it was strange.
She didn’t recognize this kid, but just when his mother kowtowed, he turned his face sideways, as if he couldn’t bear to look, and did not plead with Master Wu further.
She walked over.
The boy was silently weeping.
Yu Tang pondered in her heart, this kid caused such an incident, but his father did not come.
I wonder if it was because he doesn’t have a father? Or that the father doesn’t care?
Whether reason was the former or the latter, both could be used to their advantage.
She pulled Madam Chen’s sleeve and whispered. “The neighbors have helped us a lot this time. You can first invite them to our house to drink some tea. My eldest cousin is here, so we can just tie the boy up first for Ah Cam to guard, and wait for father to come back and settle this.”
Madam Chen thought that it was a good idea, and after discussing with Yu Yuan, she invited everyone into the house for tea.
When everyone saw that the matter was over, who still the heart to drink tea in the middle of the night? So they thanked her for her kindness and said goodbye to Madam Chen.
Madam Chen gratefully sent them out one by one.
Only the boy’s mother, sitting on the ground as if she had lost her will to live; sobbing silently.
Master Wu was a little apprehensive and said, “Why don’t you let my son come over and help you?”
“Your concern is much appreciated!” Yu Yuan respectfully bowed to Master Wu again and said, “I can handle it. It already so is late. Tomorrow when my uncle returns, my uncle and I will come to your door to personally offer our appreciation.”
Seeing that Yu Yuan had things under control, Master Wu nodded his head and went home.
The boy’s mother kept kowtowing to Madam Chen and begging for mercy.
The boy was crying so hard that his whole body was shaking.
Yu Tang pointed to the boy’s mother and said to the boy. “Look at what you did. You even created so much trouble for your mother. If the public keeps silent about the incident, the officials will not investigate it. So tell me the truth, why did you break into our house? If you tell me honestly, I will help you ask my father to let you go. Your mother will not have to suffer from the judging eyes of others, unable to lift up her head high for a lifetime.”
After the boy listened, he looked up at Yu Tang, and hesitated.
Yu Tang noted his expression and continued. “Stealing is a vile behavior, you see those family rules and regulations, who can tolerate those thieves who steal things? My father is the same as Master Wu, he hates this kind of things the most. He may not report it to the officials, but he will definitely ask your family to remove you from the family register and remove your name. When your mother dies, there will be no one left to to help her offer incense……”
The boy’s tears flowed down again as he chokingly replied. “My father gambled outside and our family’s ancestral home was also sold. I, I just wanted to get a few taels of silver to rent a place.”
Yu Tang sighed. “Then I have nothing else to say. You just have to wait for my father to come back and send you to the officials, and find your family’s elders to settle this.”
“No, no!” The boy hurriedly replied, “Lady Yu, you, if you give me five taels of silver, no, give me three taels also will do! I will tell you.”
Yu Tang was unmoved and said sternly. “You still dare to trick me! I wouldn’t give you a single tael of silver. It’s up to you to speak the truth.” After saying this, she got up and looked like she was going to call someone.
The boy panicked and said. “Someone asked me come to your house to steal a painting and promised me five taels of silver for it…… please don’t send me to the officials, I also didn’t manage to steal it……”
