Chapter 4, Gratitude and Repayment (Part 2)

The beautiful tigress turned her gaze towards the shipowner squatting at the stern repairing the boat. The shipowner nodded in acknowledgment that the matter was indeed true, which relieved the beautiful tigress, allowing her to begin scrutinizing Young Master Zhang. It must be admitted that our Young Master Zhang is not lacking in appearance; he has clear brows and bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, a tall and slender figure, and his demeanor is cultured and polite, which can generally evoke feelings of affection and security in naive young girls. At the same time, the beautiful tigress also noticed the offerings on the sacrificial plate, which amounted to a full fifty taels of silver. For the beautiful tigress, who was financially strained due to significant changes at home, this could be considered a timely rain that saves a life. Therefore, the beautiful tigress immediately developed a greater fondness for our Young Master Zhang, feeling immensely grateful and completely trusting in his words.

The beautiful tigress nodded and added: "He is still a cultured and modest gentleman."

This... is not quite appropriate, is it? The beautiful tigress felt somewhat moved, blushing and politely declining. Our Young Master Zhang's expression was unusually serious as he said in a loud voice: "Miss Xiong, you must not say such things. The old lady has been immensely kind to me, Zhang Haogu. Not to mention that her coffin could spend the night in my home, even if she were to be buried in the Zhang family ancestral grave, what would be the harm? Moreover, I would like to take this opportunity to invite some monks and Taoists to chant scriptures for the old lady's soul, in gratitude for her kindness."

Strange? The beautiful tigress expressed skepticism towards Young Master Zhang's words and asked, "Then how did you come to know that the second lady's coffin is resting at the Linqing dock? I did not report this to you, Young Master."

Young Master Zhang's reprimand was both just and filled with righteous indignation, causing both the beautiful tigress and the lovely maid to blush. They quickly allowed the boatman to come over and inspect the coffin. Fortunately, the coffin was not touched by a single drop of water, nor was it damaged. At that moment, the boatman approached with a mournful expression and explained, "Young Master, Young Lady, I sincerely apologize. My boat has been in disrepair for many years and often leaks. Just now, I intended to nail a wooden board to block the leaking area, but I didn't expect to hit too hard and ended up creating a large hole..." The boatman continued with a sorrowful face, "Young Master, Young Lady, I sincerely apologize. My boat has been in disrepair for many years and often leaks. Just now, I intended to nail a wooden board to block the leaking area, but I didn't expect to hit too hard and ended up creating a large hole..."

"Young Master Zhang, please take care on your way." The beautiful tigress has developed a deeper affection for our Young Master Zhang—he presented a substantial condolence gift, yet he didn't even inquire about her name. His gentlemanly demeanor inevitably left the beautiful tigress impressed, while also harboring a hint of regret. Meanwhile, the maid Xiuer eagerly picked up the ingots and happily said to the tigress: "Miss, this time you can finally avoid exchanging jewelry for travel expenses. That Young Master Zhang is truly a grateful and benevolent person."

"Old lady, dear mother, how could you leave us like this?"

Our young master has become increasingly brazen in his boasting—he doesn't even recognize his own name, yet he still has the audacity to claim he knows the characters on the spirit tablet? Zhang Shitou thought to himself, but he did not dare to show any hint of this on his face. Instead, he choked back his words and tried to cover for the young master, saying: "Miss, I took the liberty of inquiring with the boatman about your background, and that is how I reported to the young master. If the miss does not believe me, you may certainly ask the boatman for confirmation."

I haven't heard of it either? Could it be that this guy has mistaken someone? The beautiful tigress was even more confused. At this moment, Zhang Shitou also ran onto the boat, first placing the offerings and sacrificial items in front of the coffin, then solemnly bowing three times to the coffin. Finally, he pulled the already crying Young Master Zhang, whose eyes were red and swollen, and choked with emotion said: "Young Master, once a person dies, they cannot be brought back to life. Please, Young Master, take care of yourself. Otherwise, if the old lady knows from the underworld and sees you crying to the point of harming your health, she will not be able to rest in peace."

The beautiful tigress secretly called it a stroke of luck, as her home was suddenly struck by misfortune. Relatives, friends, and her father's old colleagues, fearing trouble would come their way, all severed ties with her family. The coldness of the world left one disheartened. Unexpectedly, the person whom the second lady had saved by chance was now extending a warm hand of help at this moment, offering both financial and physical assistance without fear of taboos—how many such grateful and reciprocating good people exist in the world? At that moment, the beautiful tigress no longer declined, but shyly said: "In that case, thank you very much, Young Master Zhang. Your great kindness and virtue, I, Xiao Nv Xiong Hu, will never forget."

"Miss Xiong, there is no need to be anxious." Our Young Master Zhang immediately displayed a warm-hearted demeanor, patting his chest as he said: "I have quite a few houses in Linqing City, I will have someone clear out a vacant courtyard right away, allowing the old lady's coffin to rest there overnight. Miss Xiong and this young lady can also stay there to rest for the night." -- Upon hearing this, Ma Jun and Wu Er Shao, along with a group of young rascals hiding in the crowd to watch the excitement, suddenly realized what was happening, each one inwardly lamenting and patting their chests, saying: "I have quite a few houses in Linqing City, I will have someone clear out a vacant courtyard right away, allowing the old lady's coffin to rest there overnight. Miss Xiong and this young lady can also stay there to rest for the night." -- Upon hearing this, Ma Jun and Wu Er Shao, along with a group of young rascals hiding in the crowd to watch the excitement, suddenly realized what was happening, each one inwardly lamenting, "Damn, today this fifty taels of silver is definitely lost! Once we enter the dog young master's house, will this beautiful tigress still be able to come out with her innocence?"

"Young Master, you are truly a person who knows how to be grateful and repay kindness." Zhang Shitou was deeply moved by our Young Master Zhang's chivalrous spirit, and could not help but shed two lines of tears that were wiped away by the old ginger. The beautiful tigress and the maid over there finally caught on to the situation, first surprised at when the Second Madam had done such a good deed, and then worried that our Young Master Zhang had mistakenly cried for the wrong person and made a fool of himself. Thus, both the master and the servant hurriedly knelt beside the coffin to bow and pay their respects. The beautiful tigress then cautiously asked, "This young man, are you certain that my second mother saved you in the capital? I have never heard my second mother mention this matter; could it be that you have mistaken the person?"

"Yes, yes, return our deposit and compensate us for our losses," the equally charming maid Xiuer shouted loudly, displaying some of the authority of her mistress, the fierce lady. On this side, our young master Zhang was displeased and turned around to shout, "Miss Xiong, and this young lady, is this really the time to be discussing money? The coffin of the old lady is of utmost importance; please check carefully if the coffin has been damaged or come into contact with the river water"

"Tomorrow morning, where shall we stay tonight? Is the coffin of Second Lady supposed to spend the night outdoors?" The beautiful tigress was somewhat troubled—though she no longer lacked the money for an inn, ordinary taverns would not allow a coffin inside. The maid Xiuer interjected, "Miss, let us change to another boat; this one is so dilapidated that it is hardly suitable for sitting."

"Miss Xiong, please forgive me for interjecting, but changing the boat for the coffin is inauspicious." Our kind-hearted Young Master Zhang advised, "In order not to disturb the spirit of the old lady in heaven, it would be better for you to stay in Lingqing for one night and wait for the boat to be repaired before departing. Moreover, it won't be easy to find a boat to transport the coffin on short notice."

"Get lost! I just want to cry!" Our young master Zhang pushed aside the well-meaning Zhang Shitou, his eyes red as he shouted, "Back in the capital, I lost money in business. If it weren't for the old lady who took pity on me, gave me food, and provided me with fare to return home, I would have starved to death in the capital! A drop of kindness should be repaid with a fountain of gratitude. The old lady has shown me such deep kindness and virtue; she is like my reborn parents. If I cannot repay the old lady's grace of rebirth, am I still human?" After saying this, our young master Zhang crawled a few steps and climbed onto the coffin, continuing to cry loudly—his heart-wrenching cries would soften even the hardest of hearts.

"Miss, is your surname Xiong? Is the body of the old lady to be transported to the capital?" Our young master Zhang asked tearfully. The beautiful tigress nodded and replied honestly, "What you say is correct, young master. My surname is indeed Xiong, and I am from Jiangxia, Hubei (now Wuhan), but my stepmother is from the capital. A few days ago, my family encountered a sudden change, and several of my brothers went to the capital first. However, my stepmother fell ill due to anger and sickness, and could not recover in Jiangxia. I had no choice but to stay in Jiangxia to take care of her. Unexpectedly, my stepmother ultimately passed away before the New Year, leaving behind a last wish to have her remains buried back in her hometown in the capital. I had no choice but to accompany my maid Xiuer to transport the coffin northward, both to fulfill my stepmother's last wish and to visit my father and brothers in the capital." A few days ago, my family encountered a sudden change, and several of my brothers went to the capital first. However, my stepmother fell ill due to anger and sickness, and could not recover in Jiangxia. I had no choice but to stay in Jiangxia to take care of her. Unexpectedly, my stepmother ultimately passed away before the New Year, leaving behind a last wish to have her remains buried back in her hometown in the capital. I had no choice but to accompany my maid Xiuer to transport the coffin northward, both to fulfill my stepmother's last wish and to visit my father and brothers in the capital.

"Young Master Zhang, it is rare for you to remember our old friendship and come to pay tribute to my unfortunate late second mother. I, as her daughter, express my heartfelt gratitude to you." After completely trusting him, the beautiful tigress rarely showed a hint of shyness, first bowing deeply to our Young Master Zhang with utmost respect, then declining by saying: "However, this offering of fifty taels of silver is too generous; I truly cannot accept it. I hope you will take it back."

In broad daylight, under the clear sky, amidst the gaze of many, the young master Zhang, dressed in mourning attire, rushed onto the small boat of the beautiful tigress, tears streaming down his face. He stumbled and fell to his knees before the coffin, bowing his head repeatedly as if pounding garlic, wailing as if he had lost a close relative. While crying, he shouted, "Oh, dear matriarch, beloved mother, open your eyes and take a look! Your unfilial nephew Zhang Haogu has come to see you! Oh, matriarch, who would have thought that our last parting in the capital would turn out to be eternal? What am I to do from now on?"

"Miss, we no longer have even the money to buy provisions on shore." The maid, Xiuer, became anxious and quickly reminded her. The beautiful tigress shot a glare at the maid, her delicate face slightly flushed. Over there, Young Master Zhang, observing the situation, hurriedly interjected: "Miss Xiong, this humble gift is merely a token of my regard, please do accept it. I would not dare to delay your journey, so I shall take my leave now." Having said that, our Young Master Zhang bowed deeply three times to the coffin, then led Zhang Shitou, who was utterly oblivious, off the boat.

Before her words could finish, the beautiful tigress suddenly slipped underfoot, her body involuntarily leaning against the cabin. At the same time, the shipowner, who was squatting at the stern repairing the boat, shouted, "Not good, the bottom of the boat is damaged!" Young Master Zhang, who had already walked some distance away, turned back upon hearing the shout and exclaimed, "Miss Xiong, please get off the boat quickly! Zhang Shitou, hurry and call someone to bring the old lady's coffin ashore, it must not touch the river water!"

Fortunately, the canal dock generally lacks nothing except for boatmen, porters, and stevedores. After Young Master Zhang's loyal servant, Zhang Shitou, scattered a handful of copper coins, dozens of boatmen and stevedores rushed over. They actually lifted the small boat, which had already begun to sink at the bow, and the coffin on board was forcibly carried ashore, without falling into the river as the boat tilted. Upon witnessing this scene, the beautiful tigress, who had almost fainted from fright moments ago, let out a sigh of relief. Without bothering to thank our Young Master Zhang, she immediately shouted at the boatman, "What kind of broken boat is this? You almost let my second mother's coffin sink into the water. What are you going to do about it?"

"Forget it, forget it. People make mistakes, and horses stumble; it is not your fault. Fortunately, the old lady's coffin did not touch the water, otherwise, I would not have let you off easily." Our young master Zhang waved his hand, generously letting go of the pursuit of the boatman's responsibility. Seeing that Young Master Zhang had said this, the beautiful tigress felt embarrassed to continue pressing the issue, and thus asked the boatman: "Can your boat still be repaired? When will it be ready? If it cannot be repaired, we will have to change boats."

"That's right, I did not mistake the person." Our young master Zhang said with tears in his eyes: "The old lady has done good deeds throughout her life. When I was in dire straits, she once extended a helping hand to me. My greatest wish is to repay the old lady's kindness, but I never expected that the old lady..." At this point, our young master Zhang was already in tears, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.

"It can certainly be repaired," the boatman replied hastily, seemingly afraid of being asked to return the fare. "The son of a lowly person has already gone to buy materials, and as soon as they are brought back, we will start the repairs. However, I fear it will not be possible to complete the repairs today; it will at least take until tomorrow morning."

"Miss Xiong, it is all because of this spirit tablet." Our young master Zhang pointed at the spirit tablet in front of the coffin, choking back tears as he said, "Isn't the name of the old lady clearly written on it? Today, I happened to see the old lady's spirit tablet at the dock, which raised my suspicions. Afraid of misidentifying her, I had my servants inquire about it, and only then did I find out that the coffin actually contains my great benefactor!" Saying this, our young master Zhang covered his face and began to cry again. Today, I happened to see the old lady's spirit tablet at the dock, which raised my suspicions. Afraid of misidentifying her, I had my servants inquire about it, and only then did I find out that the coffin actually contains my great benefactor!" Saying this, our young master Zhang covered his face and began to cry again.

Young Master Zhang's words do hold some truth; people these days are exceedingly superstitious. They even consider it inauspicious to carry an empty coffin, let alone one containing a corpse. Thus, the beautiful tigress had to pay a high price in Zhenjiang to hire such an old, nearly falling apart boat. The beautiful tigress, of course, was aware of this reasoning, which only added to her worries, making her ponder: "What should we do? I wonder if the inn here allows coffins to be brought in?"

"You... who are you?" The beautiful tigress, who had just been fierce in front of the Wu brothers on the ship, was dumbfounded, forgetting even to kneel and pay her respects, unable to recall any relatives in Linqing City. The charming maid, who was guarding behind the coffin, was also very puzzled and hurried over to tug at the tigress's sleeve, asking, "Miss, do we have relatives in Linqing? Why have I never heard you mention it to the master?"