Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 91 - Eighty-Nine: Apologizing

Shen Chengyao and his family had only recently returned home when Constable Zhang, as if timing it perfectly, arrived at Shen Chengyao’s front door with a crowd of people, drums banging and gongs clanging, to publicly apologize and make amends.

When the villagers heard the sound of drums and gongs, they thought something big was happening and rushed over to see what was going on. Seeing a group of officials gathered at Shen Chengyao’s front door, they pointed and whisper amongst themselves.

"Again, what’s with Shen Chengyao’s family? Weren’t some officials arresting them all in the morning? Why is there another crowd here now? Are they planning to confiscate their property?" wondered a villager to himself.

Upon hearing his words, another villager responded, "That couldn’t be the case. I just saw Shen Chengyao and his family return home. When I asked him why he was arrested this morning, he said it was a misunderstanding. Maybe these officials are here to apologize."

The first villager nodded at the explanation. He could recall hearing news of Shen Chengyao being arrested and the numerous speculations that followed among the villagers. He had always thought Shen Chengyao to be an honest and law-abiding person, "A misunderstanding? So they arrested the wrong person. It’s indeed possible they are here to apologize."

An unimpressed villager scoffed, "Have you ever seen officials apologizing to the public? That’s absurd!"

"If it really was a wrongful arrest, a public apology doesn’t seem unreasonable. That would prove the official to be a good one."

"They’ve realized their mistake and didn’t just sweep it under the rug, that’s already a miracle. You’re dreaming if you think they’d apologize! What a bunch of naïve fools," thought the unimpressed villager, looking down on his fellows.

Shen Chengyao and his family, hearing the commotion, stepped outside and were surprised to see Constable Zhang and others banging on gongs and drums at their door. What on earth was happening?

Seeing them come out, Constable Zhang quickly gestured to the musicians to stop.

Shen Chengyao, pointing at the gongs and drums, asked, "Constable Zhang, what’s going on?" What exactly were they trying to achieve with this grand display?

Leading ten plus officers, Constable Zhang bowed deeply to Shen Chengyao and his family, "Mr. Shen, we offended you this morning by arresting your family under false pretenses. On account of your time in jail, we are here to formally apologize and provide compensation. Here are 100 taels of silver and some snacks and fruit. Please accept them as a token of goodwill. Buy some nourishing items to help settle your nerves."

Villager C, overheard this and was utterly flabbergasted. Were they really here to make a formal apology and provide compensation? This was rarer than money falling from the sky.

Exclamations broke out among the crowd.

"100 taels of silver, my goodness! What an unexpected windfall for Shen Chengyao’s family! Why couldn’t they make a mistake with me instead!"

"Yes, yes, yes... arrest me too! Even multiple times wouldn’t matter. As long as I get even 100 taels, no, even 50 taels would do."

"This 100 taels will be enough to last a lifetime. Shen has truly benefited from a misfortune!"

"Hmph, didn’t you attend the feast at their house yesterday? They must have spent hundreds of taels on their new house. They probably don’t even care about this measly 100 taels!"

"Even better if they don’t want it, they can give it to me. I’ve been dreaming about this much money."

...

"We’ve accepted your apology, Constable Zhang, but we can’t accept the silver. We aren’t in any distress that would require settling. Please, take the silver back with you."

"This silver is meant to help your family settle their nerves, Mr. Shen. You must accept it." If you don’t accept it, I fear for my position as constable!

"Really, we can’t accept it. Constable Zhang, please take it back." Shen Chengyao shook his head firmly, not relenting.

Constable Zhang stole a quick glance at Xiao Fuzi, who was standing by Xiao’er’s side. Seeing that he didn’t seem to be angry but also not particularly pleased, Constable Zhang, unsure of his feelings, reluctantly took back the 100 taels of silver. "Even if you won’t accept the silver, Mr. Shen, please accept these snacks and fruit."

The snacks and fruit were not worth much, so Shen Chengyao accepted them.

"Mr. Shen, it was indeed my fault today. I will make it up to you. If anyone gives you trouble in the future, feel free to come find me. If it’s within my capability, I will not hesitate to help. If anyone teases you about this morning’s incident, come tell me. I’ll give them a taste of the jail cell."

Upon hearing these words, many villagers tightly covered their own mouths.

"Thank you for your concern, Constable Zhang." Shen Chengyao bowed in a show of gratitude.

After Constable Zhang and his party left, Xiao Fuzi also excused himself. He had come to deliver New Year’s gifts and, in the wake of such an incident, he even more wanted to immediately rush back and inform his master.

"Xiao Fuzi, it’s almost dark now and if you leave, you won’t get very far before you have to find somewhere to sleep. Besides, it’s not safe to travel at night. You can leave tomorrow instead and help us deliver New Year’s gifts to Brother Shangguan and Brother Di. This way, I won’t have to find someone else to deliver them."

Only after hearing these words did Xiao Fuzi choose to stay.

The family returned home and washed themselves from head to toe, finally feeling much more comfortable.

Shen Chengyao went back to the old house to reassure Master Shen and Mrs. Shen that everything was fine. He didn’t say any more than necessary to avoid causing them worry. Knowing that there had been a misunderstanding and the wrong person had been arrested, Master Shen was relieved.

In the evening, Xiao’er prepared a hotpot for dinner. The weather was so cold, hotpot was the most appropriate choice.

However, Xiao Fuzi insisted that he could not share the same table with them, claiming that he, as a servant, should not be dining with his masters.

"In my house, there are no servants, only friends. Don’t drag your feet! Hotpot should be enjoyed with many people, that’s when it gets fun." In her past life, Xiao’er frequently joined her employees for group meals and outings, even trips. From her perspective, Xiao Fuzi was just one of Shangguan Xuanyi’s loyal employees.

Xiao Fuzi still refused. As a person raised in the palace, steeped in its strict rules, Xiao Fuzi’s servile nature was deeply ingrained. So she didn’t force him.

Later, they prepared another hotpot in a separate room for him and the two servants from Doctor Luo’s family. The food prepared was the same, only the portion was less, but it was enough for three people.

Doctor Luo saw a copper pot placed on the stove at their dining table. The soup inside was bubbling hot. In front of each person was only a bowl of rice, an empty small bowl, a pair of chopsticks, two plates with seasoning, and a strange shaped colored glaze cup half filled with wine. A tiered stand with wheels was full of different kinds of food, but they were all raw!

Doctor Luo pointed at the pile of raw food and said, "Young lady Xiao’er, I’m of old age and not very used to eating fresh food. Do you have any prepared cooked dishes?"

Xiao’er laughed, "Doctor Luo, don’t worry. We don’t eat raw food either, it’s something only cavemen would do. This is a new way of eating that keeps the food’s original flavor. Watch how I do it. Let’s all take our seats, I’m starving."

As soon as Xiao’er finished speaking, she went to her seat, picked up a thin slice of lamb, quickly dipped it in the pot, dipped some sauce, and put it in her mouth. Hmm, it was so delicious that even her tongue wanted to go down with it. It was hundreds of times better than the most delicious hotpot she had eaten in her past life! The food from her space was truly too delicious. Fortunately, it seemed she doesn’t gain weight no matter how much she eats, otherwise, it would be truly painful.

"You girl, you scared me by placing a pile of raw food here." Doctor Luo also started eating following Xiao’er’s guide. After his first bite, he immediately picked up a second slice, "Young lady, how did you come up with this way of eating, it’s delicious, simply indescribable!"

"Hmm, this is good. Put more."

"What is this? It’s even better. Put more into the pot, more... yes, that’s enough, I should save some room for others." From that point on, all Doctor Luo did for the rest of the meal was eat with occasional comments.

Mrs. Luo would occasionally say to Doctor Luo, "Slow down, aren’t you afraid of getting burned?"

"That’s enough, eating too much at night will cause indigestion..." She herself ate quite a bit regardless.

"Chengyao, what is this wine? I’ve never had it before."

"This is grape wine, it’s made from grapes. This is our first time making it, how’s the taste?"

"It’s very good, rich, smooth, and the harmony between the fruit aroma and wine aroma is delightful."

"If Doctor Luo likes it, take a couple of jars home later."

"I won’t stand on ceremony then." This wine is good! He is a person who loves good food, enjoys drinking, and is obsessed with medicine, nothing else matters.

This delicious hotpot led Doctor Luo to frequently find fault with the food at his own home in the days that followed. Every day he would take a stroll, and these strolls always led him to Shen Chengyao’s house for dinner before he would go back. He would then justify it to himself, stating that he was doing it to conveniently protect the Shen family from being arrested again.