A Gallop on the Embankment with Spring Breeze - Chapter 11 - There Is No Other Choice as a Man

Proofread by Fu Tianying

We had to say that Hu Chunqiu was not that stupid. He immediately realized that he was drugged, and Ma Tian’en was the first one to be suspected who pricked him with a needle just now. At that moment, he was seized by rage and had no other idea but to revenge himself on Ma Tian’en without any consideration that he was at the birthday party of Mrs. Tian.

Tian Ronghua came over and propitiated, “Since it happened in our Tian Family, I have to take the responsibility for bad treat whatever the reasons. Hope for your forgiveness.” Then, he whispered to Hu Chunqiu: “Mr. Hu, we’d better not make it more serious, which may harm your fame.”

Ma Tian’en looked at Hu Chunqiu triumphantly, waiting for him to make a scene. He didn’t worry at all because Tian Fugui had changed the cup when he took the rescue. If checked, no evidence would be found, and the drugs were already in the belly of Hu Chunqiu, who had no way to prove someone’s crime even in the court. In addition, if it was circulated, Hu Chunqiu might be said immoral to take aphrodisiac.

Thinking of that, Hu Chunqiu calmed down and found that the drug was still working, so if he continued to call to account, he would probably do something inappropriate. What’s more, he knew that he could not find any evidence since Ma Tian’en was certain about what to do. The most important was that though he could prove Ma Tian’en’s behavior, he would not take other serious consequences except for apologizing to him for he was infamous all the time, but his own reputation would be destroyed. Therefore, the best way was to admit that he was uncomfortable.

Therefore, Hu Chunqiu held back his anger and joined his hands to make an obeisance, “I felt a little sick when I woke up, but didn’t realize that it came on suddenly. Maybe I had caught a cold when I was reading last night, and I had drunk too much as I was happy today, so my body had a fever and my brain was dizzy. I’d like to express my sincere thanks to Mr. Ma for rescuing me.”

Saying that, he turned back and left right away with the company of Tian Ronghua, who would arrange him to have a rest. Meanwhile, Tian Fugui was asked to greet all the guests.

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Though waiting for a while, people could continue with fresh dishes with the cold ones replaced. Without Hu Chunqiu and Tian Ronghua, the atmosphere was much warmer. Everyone ate and talked. Ma Tian’en made people laugh by various jokes, as if the unhappy things had not happened.

Tian Ronghua went back after all had eaten the birthday cake. He chatted with guests until they had to leave respectively as it was getting late.

With pride from the bottom of heart and the drive of alcohol, Ma Tian’en ran directly to the room of Wu Zhong as he got home. While he shouted “teacher”, he pushed in to find Wu Zhong sitting at the table infront of the window, holding a book in his hand. In an indigo gown, he had his hair in a bun without kerchief. The setting sun sprinkled on him through the window, and he put down the book and turned around as he heard Ma Tian’en. With gentle smile, his eyes were full of warm light. Ma Tian’en felt that his mind seemed to stop thinking for a moment, and his heart jumped faster as if to jump out. Pinching his hot face, he thought that if she had taken the aphrodisiac too.

“Why are you running so urgently? Come and have a seat,” said Wu Zhong, and stood up to greet Ma Tian’en. Feeling the smell of the alcohol in his body, he knitted his eyebrows. Then he put scented tea in a tea pot, then used the boiling water to brew it. Wu Zhong, with his slender fingers, adjusted the tea cream by a small amount of boiling water and then poured slowly while he tapped at the same time by a tea cage. After a while, the cup of tea was handed over to Ma Tian’en until the pale yellow color appeared.

“You are too young to drink so much; just take a cup of tea to dispel the effect of alcohol.” Wu Zhong knew that Ma Tian’en could not avoid social engagements as the inheritor of the Ma Family, but he still felt pity for him.

“Dear master, I’m OK,” Ma Tian’en took a sip and then he hurriedly asked him for a prize, “I have taken revenge for you today.”

“Revenge? What’s that for?” Wu Zhong looked at Ma Tian’en with doubt, with a bad feeling arising in his heart.

“I took revenge on Hu Chunqiu. I heard that he didn’t like you and wanted to bother you, so I have taught him a lesson for you today.” Ma Tian’en explained what happened in that day quickly and summarized, “I know that he dares not to make trouble, because he is a scholar like you, who will try to preserve the face and fame at all costs. You see, he was drugged, watered and pricked by me, but he had to thank me at last. You should have looked at his expression……” Ma Tian’en was so excited but he found that his teacher was not that surprised as he expected. So he stopped with wonder, and asked with caution: “Sir, am I in trouble?”

Seeing that Ma Tian’en got terrified from being excited, he could not be hard-hearted enough to scold him severely as he should do; instead, he touched his head gently and propitiated him: “I am so gratified that Tian’en has taken revenge for me. But you could have been less impulsive. Hu Chunqiu is a vile person, as you know, so he will definitely avenge himself on you since you have offended him. You’d better stay at home to avoid coming up against him. Then it will be forgotten as tim

“I am not afraid of him. I will beat him dead if provoked.” said Ma Tian’en indifferently.

“Be cautious to avoid your faults being found. I will protect you after I get the first place in the imperial competitive examination.” Thinking of someone trying to protect him, Wu Zhong felt warm and moved.

“OK! Since I am your student, I will be the little Number One Scholar then. ” Ma Tian’en burst into laughter and his eyes were filled with brilliant respect.

In Tian Family, what had happened at the birthday party was leaked out even though Tian Ronghua enjoined everyone not to tell other people, just as the saying goes, “There is no such thing as an airtight wall.” But no one could tell what kind of drug Hu Chunqiu had taken, so it would not hurt his reputation, while the relationship between Hu Chunqiu and Ma Tian’en worsened.

Kneeling on the ground, Tian Fugui made up his mind to deny that he was involved. Tian Ronghua came over. Tian Fugui closed his eyes and thought: “It was the birthday of our mother, so as my brother, he would not beat me dead no matter how angry he is.”

To his surprise, Tian Ronghua didn’t kick him. He just sighed and said: “Get up.” Then Tian Fugui stood up timidly: “Brother, it really had nothing to do with Tian’en. Mr. Hu ate something unhygienic and felt it after he reached our house.”

Tian Ronghua was so angry that he burst into smile: “Do you think I am stupid or Mr. Hu is a fool? It must be done by Ma Tian’en.”

“Ah? Is it that obvious? No. Then why you stood up for him today to make Mr. Hu give up calling to account? It is not like your style!” Tian Fugui said without confidence, and his sound became lower and lower.

“In this world, there are no absolute friends or enemies. Only gains and loss last forever. Mr. Hu and I are friends, but the relationship is set upon our respective demands. He has no such prejudice against Ma Family, because he just hates Wu Zhong. But today, Ma Tian’en infuriated him completely, so Ma Family became our common enemy. Considering it in terms of this, I think it’s not bad for us. Though I held back his temper at that time, he would fly into a great rage as he went back home.” Tian Ronghua sat down and took s sip of tea.

In Tian Fugui’s mind, there was only one thought that Ma Tian’en got into trouble since Hu Chunqiu would deal with him. No way. He had to remind him. Thinking of that, he shouted, “Brother, I have something to cope with. Bye.” Then he ran away.

Tian Ronghua sighed, looking at his younger brother’s back. “I know you do not agree with me, but it’s OK. You will understand someday,” he murmured. “A man will choose to be a saint if given a chance, but we have no other choice in many cases.”