Chapter 056: The Zhang Family’s Peach Orchard

"Deng Fan!"

Cao Peng recognized the country soldier and could not help but cry out in surprise.

The moment the man called out Cao Peng’s name, Dian Wei and his two companions had already grown wary, their eyes fixed on him, ready to act at any moment.

The newcomer stood about five foot nine, his skin bronzed, his physique burly and robust. He wore a simple cloth armor, his legs wrapped, and held a long spear in his hand. This was none other than the son of Madam Hong and Deng Juye—Deng Fan.

Deng Fan seemed entirely oblivious to the wariness of Dian Wei and the others. Grinning with excitement, he ran up to them. Cao Peng placed one hand on Dian Wei’s shoulder, the other gently restraining Wei Yan, shook his head, then leapt off the cart with a cheerful smile, stepping forward to meet Deng Fan.

“Afu, how are Uncle and Aunt? It’s been four or five years in the blink of an eye, and you look sturdier than ever. I almost didn’t recognize you at first,” Deng Fan chattered excitedly as he approached, reversed his spear and thrust it into the ground, and drew Cao Peng into a hearty bear hug. “Afu, how dare you come back? The magistrate has set up checkpoints and is seeking to arrest you.”

In Cao Peng’s ear, Deng Fan’s voice dropped to a mutter.

Cao Peng’s heart thudded, but his expression remained unchanged. “Brother Deng Fan, you’ve grown even stronger than before… When I left home, Father told me to visit you all as I passed through.”

Suddenly, Cao Peng lowered his voice. “Why are they after me?”

Deng Fan glanced furtively around, responding softly, “This isn’t the place to talk. Turn back now. Go to Zhang’s Peach Orchard, twelve miles east of Nieyang. You’ll understand everything there… I’m still on duty here and may be delayed, so be careful.”

“Afu, have you found a place to settle?” This secretive, furtive exchange gave Cao Peng an uncanny sense of rendezvousing with an informant, as in his past life. Though uneasy, he kept his face composed.

“Thank you for your concern, Brother Deng Fan. I’m on my way to Nieyang to visit an elder and will be staying there for the time being. Once I’ve finished, I’ll be sure to visit your family.”

“So you have important matters… In that case, I won’t keep you. When you’re done, you must come see me. I’ll tell my parents, and they’ll be delighted.”

“I promise!”

Cao Peng clasped his hands in farewell to Deng Fan. Then, boarding the carriage, he whispered to Wei Yan, “Turn around. Do you know Zhang’s Peach Orchard?”

Wei Yan shook his head. “I don’t, but the Zhangs are a prominent family in Nieyang. We can ask for directions. It’ll be easier if Xiahou asks.”

He, too, sensed something was amiss.

Cao Peng climbed into the carriage; Wei Yan called Xiahou Lan over and whispered instructions. Xiahou Lan nodded and departed.

“Brother Dian, things have changed. We’re turning back,” Wei Yan informed Dian Wei, who immediately mounted the carriage. Wei Yan spurred the horses, and they set off.

Deng Fan stood by the roadside, watching the carriage vanish into the distance, and let out a long breath…

“Deng Fan, what are you daydreaming about? Who was that just now?”

A heavy hand clapped Deng Fan’s shoulder, startling him. He turned to see a stout man behind him, watching him closely.

“Ma Hei, you nearly scared me to death!”

“What are you so afraid of?”

“Nonsense! Anyone would be startled by a sudden slap on the shoulder. If I wasn’t so bold, I’d have made a mess of myself. That was a distant relative of my father’s. During the Taiping Sect turmoil, he fled to Hongnong, and somehow lucked out—married his daughter to a good family, I think the surname was Yang, though I can’t recall the full name. Had a son—that’s the fellow just now. Did you see the display? It’s infuriating.”

Deng Fan lied smoothly, with convincing detail.

Ma Hei, who didn’t know Cao Peng, widened his eyes. “Hongnong, surnamed Yang? Could he be from the Yangs of Hongnong? No wonder the pomp. But why didn’t they visit your family, and instead head toward Nieyang?”

“That’s exactly what angers me! My parents are his elders, after all. But as you saw, now that he’s done well for himself, he looks down on us. If I hadn’t stopped him, he wouldn’t have even considered visiting. I kindly invited him, but he insisted on going to Nieyang to visit an elder—what elder? Are my parents not elders? Ma Hei, you be the judge—doesn’t he look down on people?”

Feigning injured pride, Deng Fan’s act won Ma Hei’s sympathy, as he nodded repeatedly.

“Forget it, don’t waste your energy on people like that. The squad leader sent me to check on you. Why haven’t you returned after all this time? Come on, one more hour and your shift is over. I’ll buy you a drink—no need to tire yourself out over this.”

Deng Fan sighed and nodded. “You’re right… But I’ll skip the drink. I need to go home and tell my parents.”

Ma Hei didn’t insist, clapped Deng Fan on the shoulder, and turned back toward the checkpoint.

Deng Fan glanced once more at the direction the carriage had gone, but it was already out of sight…

He sighed softly, then hurried after Ma Hei, calling, “Wait up, Ma Hei!”

With that, he chased after Ma Hei toward the checkpoint…

—

“Afu, what’s the situation?”

As the carriage drew farther from the Nanjiu ferry crossing, Dian Wei turned to Cao Peng for an answer.

Cao Peng’s expression was grave as he shook his head. “I’m not sure yet, but I trust my friend. All will be clear once we reach Zhang’s Peach Orchard.”

A vague sense of foreboding gnawed at him: something must have happened at home.

Kuai Zhengming knew his true identity and still ordered his arrest. There could only be one explanation—a powerful force was pressuring him. And who had the power to do so? It could only be Huang She. The Kuai family was indeed a great clan in Xiangyang, but Kuai Zheng was just a branch member, not the main line. Though Cao Peng bore the title of a Lumen scholar, would Master Pang De Gong truly risk offending another powerful Jingxiang family for his sake?

The Huang family of Jiangxia was indeed a colossus.

Cao Peng scratched his head, growing anxious. Huang She must not have found his body, so he had turned his attention to Cao Peng’s family. With his status as a military official of Jiangxia and commander of Jiunü city’s main camp, Kuai Zheng truly could not refuse.

But what did the Zhang family have to do with this? Could it be… her?

Cao Peng’s mind conjured the image of Yueying’s radiant smile. It must be her—only she could have done this. She must have gotten wind of the coming storm, spirited his family away, and hidden them at Zhang’s Peach Orchard. With this explanation, everything fell into place.

Drawing a deep breath, Cao Peng leaned out of the window. “Brother Wei, has Xiahou found out anything yet?”

—

The Zhangs were a prominent family in Nieyang—not quite a great clan, but still formidable. In Nieyang, the Zhangs were giants, renowned for their medical heritage, with famous physicians in every generation and countless lives saved. Among their present members was Zhang Ji, who had saved many during the Great Plague of Nanyang. The family spent nearly all their wealth in service, earning universal respect.

Xiahou Lan easily learned the location of Zhang’s Peach Orchard. It lay outside Zhang Village, under the Zhang family’s management, and was the private property of the former Prefect of Changsha, Zhang Ji—a reward from the Nanyang Prefect after the plague. Situated on the far side of Apricot Blossom Mountain, the orchard was submerged in peach and apricot groves, the scenery enchanting.

Wei Yan stopped the carriage at the orchard gate. Xiahou Lan hurried to the door, lifted the lion-shaped knocker, and rapped sharply.

—

The peach orchard was silent, as if uninhabited.

After a long wait, footsteps sounded within. The door cracked open, and an elderly man peered out. “Who are you looking for?”

“Ah…” Xiahou Lan was suddenly at a loss for words.

The old man said, “This is a private residence. We do not receive guests. Please leave at once.”

With that, he withdrew, about to shut the door.

Just then, Cao Peng, who had just stepped off the carriage, hurried forward. “Elder, wait!”

He strode up, gently pushed Xiahou Lan aside, clasped his hands and bowed. “Deng Fan from Deng Village in Jiyang sent me.”

“Deng Fan?” The elder’s eyes flickered with confusion.

“Is this the home of Miss Zhang?”

“Miss Zhang?” The elder’s confusion vanished, replaced by wariness. “I know no Miss Zhang, young sir. You’ve come to the wrong place!”

With that, the door slammed shut.

Cao Peng was left bewildered. What was this?

“Xiahou, how many peach orchards are there in Nieyang?”

Xiahou Lan replied, startled, “Only this one called Peach Orchard—no others.”

What was going on? Deng Fan had clearly said Zhang’s Peach Orchard, so why was he being turned away? It was one thing if they didn’t know Deng Fan—but not knowing Miss Zhang?

“Afu, step aside!” As Cao Peng puzzled over the situation, Dian Wei roared from behind. Cao Peng instinctively moved aside as Dian Wei strode forward, placed both hands on the door, and, without excess effort, pushed with a mighty force. The door burst open, the bar as thick as an arm snapping with the impact.

The elderly man, who had scarcely gone far, turned at the thunderous noise to see the door flung wide and a giant of a man striding into the orchard.

“What are you doing? I told you, I don’t know any Deng Fan, and there’s no Miss Zhang here!”

Cao Peng quickly grabbed Dian Wei’s arm. “Brother Dian, don’t be rash.”

He turned to apologize to the elder, but suddenly a figure shot out from the main hall, dashing down the steps into the courtyard, and shouted fiercely, “I knew you ruffians would come! If you want me, come and get me yourself!”

The voice was so familiar that Cao Peng shivered involuntarily.

He spun around, eyes wide in disbelief at the sturdy youth standing in the courtyard, and cried out in a trembling voice, “Brother Tigerhead, you’re alive!”