Chapter 5: The Hen

Fang Quan held a cage in his hand, inside which was a small hen.

“Son-in-law, as per the master’s orders, since you are marrying into the Xue family, you must abide by their rules,” Fang Quan said, a hint of smugness in his voice as he deliberately raised the cage high.

“No matter what your status or achievements were before, now that you’ve joined the Xue family, you must follow their customs.”

“The wife is the husband’s guide. Although you are a man, you are a live-in son-in-law. Now, bring out the hen and perform the wedding ceremony!”

Xiao Ziguang never expected that after living through a lifetime of hardship, he would still have to endure the humiliation of his past life.

Fang Quan’s face was filled with ill intent, and the onlookers’ gazes flickered with barely concealed malice, all eager to watch the spectacle unfold.

Staring at the cage so close at hand, smelling the faint stench of chicken droppings, Xiao Ziguang’s body trembled uncontrollably. What should he do? Should he endure this first, hold the hen and marry, becoming a laughingstock for everyone?

If he swallowed this insult now and stepped back, would Fang Quan take advantage and continue to humiliate him? Or worse, might he even break his leg?

If that were the case, then what was the meaning of his rebirth?

While Xiao Ziguang was lost in thought, Xue Wen wanted to say something but was silenced by a glare from Fang Quan, leaving her words stuck in her throat.

Having lived twice and once commanded the Xue family’s underground forces, Xiao Ziguang could confidently say no one understood the Xue family better than he did.

Now that the vital ritual had been completed, the Xue family should no longer trouble him—unless someone with ulterior motives sought to disgrace the main branch of the Xue family through such means.

The old patriarch had three sons and two daughters. Xue Shuyu was a maid from the second branch, while Xue Wen was a lady of the main branch. Over the years, the second branch had gained favor and control of the family, and their people inevitably became arrogant.

The main branch, afflicted by illness and blindness, had become almost invisible within the family. Xue Wen was no longer favored either, especially after losing her honor and being cast out.

Relations within such a grand household were complex and fraught with tension, often breeding unsavory affairs.

There is a saying from "Dream of the Red Chamber" that only the stone lions at the gate of the Jia family are clean—this aptly applies to the Xue family as well.

Now, Xue Wen marrying Xiao Ziguang on behalf of Xue Shuyu seemed to preserve the family’s dignity, but it also insulted the second branch, leaving them displeased.

Therefore, someone deliberately sent Fang Quan to disgust Xiao Ziguang. If Xiao Ziguang held the hen to the altar, he would surely become the family’s laughingstock.

All eyes fixed on the disgraced Xiao Ziguang, while Xue Shuyu, who had fled the wedding, was overlooked.

What a cruel and inhumane scheme!

If the guess was correct, the mastermind was likely Xue Shuyu’s brother, Xue Qiang—a wretched man plagued by sores on his head and pus on his feet.

Realizing who was behind this, Xiao Ziguang’s gaze grew resolute. Looking at Fang Quan’s face, it was not just malicious but also feigned authority—no wonder it felt like empty bluster.

Seeing through his opponent’s bluff, Xiao Ziguang immediately had a clever idea. He reached out, took the cage, and raised it high.

Xue Wen anxiously tugged at his sleeve, fully aware that holding the hen during the ceremony would stain Xiao Ziguang’s reputation forever.

“Hmph! Xue Wen, this is the master’s order. I advise you not to interfere,” Fang Quan warned.

“Xiao Ziguang, hurry up; don’t refuse the wine only to be forced to drink the penalty cup!”

With head held high, Xiao Ziguang cast a disdainful glance at Fang Quan, then looked around at the crowd, whose eyes brimmed with schadenfreude.

“Don’t, Little Lele!” Though she didn’t understand, Lele sensed impending trouble.

Xiao Ziguang smiled at her and then loudly announced, “Thank you all, friends and family, for attending my wedding.”

“There’s still some time before the auspicious hour, so I’ll perform a little number for everyone…”

Curious, everyone watched him closely. Fang Quan’s face darkened. “Xiao Ziguang, don’t stall! If you dare play tricks, I won’t be so polite!”

Ignoring Fang Quan, Xiao Ziguang continued, “This performance is called ‘Chaos Among Chickens and Dogs.’ We have the chicken; now we need a dog!”

He looked pointedly at Fang Quan. “Captain Fang, why don’t you do us the honor of playing the dog for this performance?”

Fang Quan was furious. “Xiao Ziguang, what do you mean? Do you dare disobey the master’s orders?”

Xiao Ziguang lowered his voice. “The Xue family patriarchs are three. Was it the eldest who made the rules? The second? Or is someone forging orders and coming up with these rotten ideas?”

Fang Quan’s expression changed but he forced himself to reply, “Xiao Ziguang, you can eat whatever you want, but you mustn’t speak recklessly. The master wants to set rules for you—do you dare defy him?”

Xiao Ziguang slapped Fang Quan’s bald head. “Big head, no brains.”

“Everyone thinks I’m marrying Xue Shuyu, yet you want me to marry holding a hen. Is this to humiliate me or to disgrace the second master?”

“Even if I know you don’t have such guts, who can guarantee the second master won’t take offense?”

“You’re truly a lowly servant of the Xue family, shamelessly slapping the new son-in-law’s face and embarrassing the family head!”

“Are you trying to rebel or overthrow the heavens?”

The truth, when laid bare and dissected, was most frightening. Fang Quan had only been stirred up to play a prank and vent his malice, never expecting such dire consequences.

The second master was not a man with a good temper and was particularly petty. If he felt slighted or displeased, Fang Quan would surely be hung up, flayed alive.

“Heh, I... I’m...” Fang Quan forced a grim smile, wanting to joke his way out of this.

He understood the principle: don’t invite trouble, and trouble won’t come.

Xiao Ziguang opened the cage and tossed the hen to the ground, then slapped Fang Quan’s bare forehead. “Don’t just stand there dumbly—perform for everyone! Bite it! Kill it!”

Between disgrace and death, Fang Quan decisively chose the former. He immediately dropped to the ground and, like a hunting dog, lunged at the little hen.

But Xiao Ziguang was not done. He grabbed Fang Quan by the collar. “Louder! Tell everyone, am I lucky this year or not?”

Though Fang Quan’s eyes burned with hatred, his mouth barked loudly, “Woof, woof, woof woof woof…”

Xiao Ziguang straightened up, casting a contemptuous gaze around. “Laugh! Everyone laugh! Isn’t this performance exciting enough? Don’t you all like to laugh?”

Sparse laughter broke out, dry and forced.

Everyone silently agreed: this son-in-law of the Xue family was no ordinary man, far from a mere fish in a pond.