"I still need more time to consider this carefully. We shall talk about it at least after the Annual National Examination is over." Le Xaan could only use the Examination as an excuse.
Chin Gerron showed an admiring expression on his face after hearing Le Xaan said so. This marriage was such a temptation. As long as Le Xaan gave his approval, he would reap a staggering amount of fortune from it. If he put himself in Le Xaan's shoes, Chin Gerron believed that he would definitely nod his head at once without hesitation. Even though his younger sister's legs was grossly lengthy, a hideous defect, she had other good points, such as wealth. On top of that, Le Xaan could still take other beautiful women as concubines.
"Alright. Then this matter is settled. After the Annual National Examination, we will negotiate your marriage with Wensy properly. Wensy has already reached the befitting age. Brother Le, don't postpone it any longer."
Le Xaan nodded with resignation. After the two of them went out of the public house and parted ways, the nightfall had descended, so Le Xaan returned home straight away.
The next morning, Le Xaan went to school. No sooner had he sat down at the desk than a commotion sounded out from outside the classroom.
"What happens?" Le Xaan turned to Soan Jingor, who was currently organizing his books.
Soan Jingor wore a gloomy face as he replied in a low voice, "It's Wein Zikua's family members. They have come here."
Le Xaan saw that many classmates had risen from their seats and gone before the windows to watch what was happening. And he could faintly hear the weeping sounds from some women and children.
He stood up. Some classmates were sighing.
"Zikua seems to have gone missing. Two children and a young woman have come here. It's said that his aged father was beaten to heavy injuries while pleading with the City Head to help him find his son. Now his father fell severely ill. Alas..."
"Why would the City Government beat him?"
"Why? His father didn't believe that his son was drowned in the river and thereby persisted in kneeling in front of the City Government, begging for further investigation. Who knows that the incumbent City Head is grossly sick of such strong-willed complainants... "
"How pitiful! He still has children and a wife..."
"Yes, they are truly pitiful... his father is dying of wounds as well..."
Le Xaan felt sorrowful while hearing his classmates' conversation. Wein Zikua was from a merchant family as well. Even though their businesses was considered relatively small-scale, they possessed their own share of fortune. But what's their end result now?
Soan Jingor also heard these chatterings and walked to beside Le Xaan.
"It's my fault. If that night I hadn't taken him to that place..."
"Don't say such things. It's none of your business." Le Xaan patted him on the shoulder while comforting him. However, Soan Jingor still displayed a gloomy expression without a word.
The two of them walked out of the school alongside each other. Then, the two of them saw a pretty young man, around nineteen, and two little two-year-old children kneeling on the road leading to East Hill School. They lowered their heads, suited in pure white, mourning attires.
More and more people were drawn here to watch the scene.
"Let's go and have a look." Le Xaan tugged on Soan Jingor's arm and started walking over.
"Don't bother! Let me go alone. It's my fault! I am the one who should be account for it." Soan Jingor dragged Le Xaan to a halt and said in a deep voice.
Le Xaan was astounded. Before he could jolt back to his senses, he saw Soan Jingor walk over briskly and then stop before the young woman, striking up a conversation with her in a low voice.
At the same time, two teachers elbowed their ways through the horde of students and began to inquiry the young woman. Soon afterwards, Soan Jingor took the woman and the two children along with him, leaving the place.
Le Xaan hurriedly fell in behind them along the way.
However, before long, two sheriffs arrived and talked with Soan Jingor and the young woman. Then, all of them got into a horse carriage and departed.
A while before they left, Soan Jingor gestured Le Xaan not to follow them and go back to attend classes.
"Don't neglect your studies! Go back to school! I will handle this matter!" Soan JIngor called out to Le Xaan from a distance. Then, Soan Jingor went into the horse carriage.
Le Xaan watched the red-patterned black horse carriage pull away and disappear. He could tell that it was the standardized carriage belonged to the City Government.
He stood on the spot for a while before deciding to return to the school and to attend classes.
The matters regarding Wein Zikua's family circulated among the students for a period of time and then was forbidden to discuss publicly. Le Xaan had seen the City Government's staff appear on the campus several times and talk with the administrators of East Hill School. Apparently, it was them who urged the school to do so. From then on, Wein Zikua's family members no longer came to the school and made a scene.
After returning from that trip, Soan Jingor appeared more relaxed and unburdened. Perhaps he had made some compensations for Wein Zikua's family.
The stir caused by Wein Zikua's missing case soon lost steam and subsided. After this, normalcy was restored on the campus as if nothing ever happened.
.............
At the Soan Mansion.
Soan Jingor was eating silently the delicious dishes served on the table. But he seemed to have lost his appetite. He was currently solicitous of something.
From outside the door, he could heard his father's footsteps and talking sounds. Yet, Soan Jingor didn't bother to greet him. He sat still before the table and heaved a drawn-out sigh.
The Soan family had migrated to Mountainside City as well. Their family's businesses started gaining momentum just recently, for which his father was busy all day long and almost exhausted. Now he found Soan Jingor getting hooked on a hostess, which left him in a gloomy mood.
"Why can't Father see the merits in Kunny? If I take her as my wife, our family will surely harmonize and thrive! Once the family settle down, why would I not buckle down and study intently... " Soan Jingor sighed inwardly.
"Swish, swish..."
Just at the moment, a black dove fluttered in from the window and stared at him with pinky eyes.
"Coo, coo."
The bird let out two calls.
The moment he saw the pigeon, Soan Jingor's expression turned joyful.
He walked over and grabbed hold of the bird, pulling off a paper roll from its leg before unfolding it.
"Brother Soan, you don't have to worry about what I said before anymore. I threatened the head of the ship with my death. Finally, he agreed to my proposal of leave under the condition that we will pay him a severance. As long as Bother Soan can pay ten thousand silver coins, I can escape from slavery. Brother Soan, don't worry. Kunny have saved up some money these few years. My savings could cover more than half of the severance.