"Who did this?" Zhou Fugui asked, after draping a fur coat over his eldest sister-in-law, Gu Shi.
It was the height of winter, with snow falling outside, yet Gu Shi was wearing only a thin undergarment, covered by a tattered padded jacket with cotton showing. Seeing this, Zhou Fugui felt an unbearable pain in his heart.
"Second Uncle, elder brother wouldn't let me say," Gu Shi replied cautiously, pulling the fur coat tighter around her and lowering her head.
"Sister-in-law, things have come to this. Is there still a need to conceal? Was it the Duan father and son?" Zhou Fugui asked again.
If it truly was the Duan father and son, Zhou Fugui intended to settle all old and new scores with them.
By this point, Zhou Fugui had already harbored murderous intent.
"The Duan father and son?" Gu Shi shook her head upon hearing this. "It was that beast Qin Tianming who led people to do it."
"Qin Tianming?" Zhou Fugui was greatly perplexed and asked in surprise, "The same Qin Yuanwai who broke off the engagement? Why would he be so vicious?"
Zhou Fugui hadn't taken Qin Tianming breaking off the engagement to heart, but why had he led people to break his elder brother's legs? Zhou Fugui couldn't understand it.
"Two months ago, for reasons unknown, Qin Tianming brought people to our doorstep..." Gu Shi's voice began to tremble as tears streamed down her face. While crying, she continued, "It was clearly their Qin family who broke off the engagement, but Qin Tianming actually accused our Zhou family of breaking the engagement that day, demanding ten times the betrothal gifts back. Second Uncle, the betrothal gifts were given by our Zhou family, yet they falsely accused us. Where is the justice in this world? Elder brother disagreed and argued with them, only to have his leg broken. Even then, they refused to let it go, insisting we compensate them. Second Uncle, how could our Zhou family possibly have so much wealth to pay them? Thus, our little sister... was abducted by them, with the promise that she would be returned if we paid the ransom. Second Uncle, our mother-in-law... she was also angered to the point of being bedridden. For the past two months, I've sold off our assets, even the land, to pay for mother-in-law's and elder brother's medical expenses, and to give them money, but it's still far from enough. Furthermore... furthermore, for some unknown reason, whenever I try to invite a physician, none of them are willing to come. Second Uncle, if you don't return soon, I can only resort to ending my own life, woe is me..."
Zhou Fugui was stunned into silence for a long time after hearing this. He then tightly gripped the hilt of the saber at his waist and said coldly, "Qin Tianming, that dog thief! He's gone too far!"
No wonder he hadn't seen his little sister since returning home; she had been abducted by Qin Tianming and his men, Zhou Fugui thought to himself, filled with anger.
However, Qin Tianming would not possibly possess such capabilities. Zhou Fugui calmly considered this. Qin Tianming was merely a minor Yuanwai, a local rich man. How could he dare to act so arrogantly in the local area?
On his way home, he had been ambushed and attacked by more than a hundred and fifty people. This was not something a local rich man like Qin Tianming could achieve. There must be a force behind him, almost certainly instigated or incited by the Duan father and son.
Wasn't Qin Tianming's daughter betrothed to Duan Tianjuan? Then this matter could be explained.
Duan father and son, Qin Tianming, you have gone too far! But you misjudged me, you underestimated me, Zhou Fugui, Zhou Fugui thought in his rage.
At this moment, Zhou Fugui was extremely furious, boiling with anger, wishing he could immediately kill the Duan father and son and Qin Tianming with his own hands, seeking revenge.
However, the most pressing matter was to find Qin Tianming and rescue his little sister first, Zhou Fugui thought calmly.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui handed a bag of gold and silver to his eldest sister-in-law, Gu Shi, and said, "Sister-in-law, send someone to invite a physician to treat Mother and elder brother. With a generous reward, I don't believe they won't come. If they still refuse, tell them they risk angering a Bijiang General of the imperial court, and their heads will be at stake."
Although Bijiang General was a minor military official of the ninth rank in the Yan Dynasty, it was more than enough to intimidate a few physicians.
"Bijiang General? Second Uncle, you've become an official?" Gu Shi asked, clutching the gold and silver tightly, her eyes filled with surprise.
Zhou Fugui nodded.
"Second Uncle, you've made something of yourself now. Elder brother will have no regrets even in death if he knew," Gu Shi said, her voice choked with emotion.
"Sister-in-law, do not speak such inauspicious words. As brothers, I must save elder brother's life," Zhou Fugui replied.
But with such severe injuries, they might not be curable just because you wanted to save him. Just then, Xiao Qing hurried into the room and said sadly to Zhou Fugui, "Fu Gui ge, you... elder brother is not going to make it..."
Zhou Fugui was greatly alarmed. He rushed towards Zhou Dashan's room, with Gu Shi following closely behind.
Zhou Fugui arrived at Zhou Dashan's bedside. Zhou Dashan was in his final moments, but he sat up on the bed with a radiant glow, a phenomenon known as 'deathbed resurgence.' Seeing Zhou Fugui enter the room, Zhou Dashan smiled and said to him, "Fugui, elder brother has heard from Miss Xiao Qing about your affairs. Xiao Qing is a good girl, treat her well."
"Elder brother..." Zhou Fugui nodded, his voice choked with tears.
"Fugui..." Zhou Dashan continued, "The family has become this way because your elder brother was incompetent. But you are different. Elder brother knows you are capable. You were like this even when you were young; elder brother always knew. Therefore, from now on, Mother, your sister-in-law, nephew, and little sister are entrusted to you."
"Elder brother, you... stop talking. Your brother will go invite a physician right away and cure your injuries," At this moment, Zhou Fugui's tears finally fell. He knelt by the bed and said, his voice choked with sobs.
The father of the two brothers, Zhou Dashan and Zhou Fugui, had died early. It was Zhou Dashan and their mother, Liu Shi, who raised Zhou Fugui and Zhou Xiaomei. Therefore, the saying "eldest brother is like a father" was deeply embodied in them.
Zhou Dashan shook his head, gasping for breath with great difficulty. The rosy hue that had been on his face moments ago suddenly turned ashen.
"Fugui, don't forget, you and I are descendants of Marquis of Wu of Han, Zhou Bo!" After a moment, Zhou Dashan suddenly grabbed Zhou Fugui's wrist tightly and shouted with his last ounce of strength.
Having spoken, Zhou Dashan passed away peacefully.
"Elder brother..." Zhou Fugui collapsed by the bed, weeping.
"My dear husband..."
"Father..."
Gu Shi and Hu Tou also burst into tears. Xiao Qing, holding Xiao Yu Nu, also shed tears.
"Eldest son has passed away!"
Just then, Liu Shi, Zhou Fugui's mother, leaning on her cane, trembled as she entered the room. Looking at the deceased Zhou Dashan, she said sadly.
"Mother, your son is unfilial, returning too late." Zhou Fugui wiped his tears upon seeing her and stepped forward to support Liu Shi.
"Yes..." Liu Shi nodded, then walked to the bedside, reached out, and closed Zhou Dashan's eyes. She said, "Although Da Lang was of ordinary ability, he did his utmost for this family. Fugui, your father died early, and it was your elder brother who raised you. You must never forget this."
"Mother is right," Zhou Fugui said, nodding and wiping his tears. "Your son will never forget his elder brother's great kindness in this lifetime."
At this moment, hatred filled Zhou Fugui's chest; it was unbearable resentment.
Two years ago, Zhou Fugui joined the army in place of his brother. After a near-death experience on the battlefield, he finally survived and obtained the official post of "Bijiang General." Returning to his hometown now, he was considered to have returned home with honor. Zhou Fugui had expected a joyous reunion with his family, but unexpectedly, a joyous occasion turned into a funeral. The elder brother who raised him, Zhou Dashan, was murdered. How could Zhou Fugui not be extremely saddened and furious at this moment? His anger surged skyward, piercing the heavens.
"Yes, my child has grown up and become sensible," Liu Shi nodded and said. "However, Fugui, a man should not shed tears easily. Crying and being sorrowful is like a woman."
My mother is indeed no ordinary person, Zhou Fugui mused silently. He then wiped away his tears and stopped his sobbing.
"Child, come with me," Liu Shi then said to Zhou Fugui.
Zhou Fugui nodded and helped his mother, Liu Shi, into her room.
"Child..." Inside the room, Liu Shi sat on the bed and said to Zhou Fugui, "Your elder brother always mentioned that the Zhou family are descendants of the Marquis of Wu of Han, but my Liu family is not to be trifled with either."
After speaking, Liu Shi looked at Zhou Fugui.
"Yes, Mother, speak your mind directly. Your son is listening," Zhou Fugui said, his hands clasped.
Zhou Fugui had long suspected that his mother's background was by no means ordinary, but what exactly was her background? Zhou Fugui couldn't guess.
Could she be a descendant of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang? Zhou Fugui thought to himself.
Curiosity about his mother's background somewhat diluted Zhou Fugui's grief and anger.
"Child, Mother's surname is not Liu," Liu Shi then said. "Liu is merely Mother's Han surname. Mother's surname is Hu Yan."
"Hu Yan? Xiongnu?" Zhou Fugui was greatly shocked and exclaimed.
"Yes, Xiongnu. What? Is being Xiongnu shameful?" Liu Shi glared at Zhou Fugui.
"I dare not!" Zhou Fugui quickly lowered his head. "Whatever Mother is, your son is."
So, he had Xiongnu blood flowing in his veins? Zhou Fugui thought to himself. In the eyes of the Han people, the Xiongnu were also considered barbarians. Then wasn't he half-Han and half-barbarian?
Heaven, Zhou Fugui lamented inwardly. Heavens, you can't play with people like this.
Although Zhou Fugui repeatedly claimed that Han and barbarians were one family, he actually held a certain disdain for barbarians in his heart. Just as Murong Huiying had said, he took pride in being Han and felt shame in being barbarian. But now, he himself was a barbarian, or rather, Zhou Fugui was a mixed-race individual, half-barbarian and half-Han.
No wonder he sometimes felt his blood boiling, Zhou Fugui mused.
It was known that the Xianbei and Xiongnu were mortal enemies, with centuries of hatred between them. Then, Zhou Fugui and Murong Huiying...
"Take off your clothes!" Liu Shi then said to Zhou Fugui.
"Ah? Oh, oh..." Although Zhou Fugui was somewhat bewildered, he obeyed his mother's command and removed his clothes, revealing a strong, fair physique.
Liu Shi then walked behind Zhou Fugui and pointed to his back, saying, "The black wolf on your body is the clan emblem of our tribe."
"Where?" Zhou Fugui turned his head to look at his back, but how could he see it?