Chapter Twenty-Five: Great Joy in the Mohist Village

“It must have been the villagers from Mo Family Village. Otherwise, how could that beam have fallen at just the right moment, Master!”

The next day, Manager Wang and Accountant Zhang, their heads bandaged, wept bitterly in the residence of Censor Wang. Accountant Zhang had managed to leap from the carriage and escape with minor injuries, but Manager Wang was not so lucky—his body was covered in bruises, and his arm was even broken. Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening.

“Enough. Where is your evidence? Did any bystanders testify? Did you catch anyone from Mo Family Village?” Censor Wang snapped irritably.

Because he had filed a complaint against Mo Family Village, he had offended Qin Qiong and incurred the displeasure of Emperor Li Shimin. He was filled with regret, and now another fiasco had occurred, further vexing him. What’s more, the young man from Mo Family Village was currently being used by the emperor as a ‘catfish’ in an experiment, making it impossible to touch him.

“Enough. At least this time was not in vain. Once Mo Family Village makes the secret of live fish public, all our efforts will have been worth it!” Censor Wang tried to console the two.

Manager Wang and Accountant Zhang exchanged a glance, then said weakly, “Master, we may not last until the day Mo Family Village reveals the secret recipe.”

Censor Wang frowned. “What’s going on? Wang’s Fish Shop is the largest in Chang’an—who could possibly shake our foundation?”

“That was in the past. Now, all the fish merchants in Chang’an, big and small, get their live fish from Mo Family Village through the southern city gate. We’ve already lost half of Chang’an’s fish market, and now that Mo Family Village has slashed prices, I fear Wang’s Fish Shop won’t survive the year,” Manager Wang said, bracing himself.

“What?” Censor Wang was shocked and furious. Generations of his family had built up this vast fish business, and now, in a matter of months, it was collapsing at the hands of a mere youth.

“That Mo Family brat is utterly outrageous!”

Censor Wang’s anguished roar echoed through his residence.

Gloom hung over the Censor’s household, but Mo Family Village was a scene of jubilation.

Mo Family Village had achieved a sweeping victory, dominating the entire live fish market of Chang’an. The situation had never looked brighter.

At the village entrance, Mo Dun and several villagers, including Li Yi, strolled leisurely along the newly paved road, chatting contentedly.

“It’s a pity this kind of business won’t last. After the New Year, the secret for keeping live fish will be made public, and then our advantage will be gone,” said Master Fish regretfully.

Li Yi sighed as well. This was a one-off windfall, but at least the emperor had promised compensation, and Mo Family Village had survived its crisis. There was no need for regret.

“Enough! Today is a day of great joy—let’s not talk about work!” Mo Dun declared with a sweeping gesture.

“Alright!” The young men of the village burst into cheerful laughter, some blushing shyly.

Mo Family Village had finally shaken off poverty, and good fortune was arriving in waves. The young men who worked on the fish transport team, with their high wages and elevated status, had become favorites of the local matchmakers.

In no time, twenty marriages had been arranged for the eager bachelors, and the village elders, anxious to break the three-year drought of weddings, decided to hold a collective ceremony before the New Year—a momentous event for the village.

The date was set for the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Once again, Mo Dun made a grand gesture, allocating twenty-five newly built houses as bridal homes for the couples. The villagers who had been living temporarily at the Mo Residence, whose houses had collapsed, had no complaints—after all, solving the bachelor problem was the village’s top priority, and everything else could wait. Besides, living in the Mo Residence was a vast improvement over before.

Uncle Wang, the one-armed gatekeeper, even volunteered to give up his new house and just stay at the Mo Residence, watching the gate.

It was this spirit of unity that made matchmaking in Mo Family Village so successful. Before the New Year, another fifty young men had become engaged. Gritting his teeth, Mo Dun promised each couple a new house, though they would have to wait until next year’s festival. Even so, matchmakers continued to flock to the village, some even offering generous dowries.

Mo Dun and Li Yi were waiting at the village entrance for the bridal procession. Behind Mo Dun, a group of young men in bright red wedding robes awaited, none more striking than Li Xin, whose handsome features were all the more impressive in his ceremonial attire.

Li Xin’s betrothal was something of a legend. The chief of the neighboring Guo Village, eager to obtain the secret of live fish, had plotted to use his youngest daughter as bait to seduce Li Xin. Unexpectedly, Li Xin saw through the ruse, but he and Guo Xiaomei ended up falling passionately in love, leaving the chief to lose both his daughter and a sizable dowry.

“They’re coming!” Tie An craned his neck and, seeing the bridal sedan chairs approach, teased, “I bet the one in front is from Guo Village—she’s been the most impatient lately.”

Everyone burst out laughing, making Li Xin’s cheeks flush bright red.

Li Yi laughed good-naturedly too—for a wedding day, a few jokes only added to the joy.

Soon, the bridal procession reached the village entrance.

“The brides are here!” The shout sent a ripple of excitement through Mo Family Village. The whole village was soon in an uproar.

Scores of villagers came to watch as twenty sedan chairs entered the village—a spectacle not seen in living memory, not only in their own village but in any nearby settlement.

The brides alighted, changed shoes, washed their hands, and performed the procession of rituals. The ceremony began in earnest.

The only space large enough was the open ground outside the Mo Residence, which had been cleared and fitted with a raised platform.

Mo Dun stepped onto the stage, having been unanimously chosen as the master of ceremonies.

“Today, Mo Family Village celebrates a momentous occasion—far more important than how much money we’ve made or how much grain we’ve bought. For these couples are the future and hope of our village,” Mo Dun said passionately.

The villagers nodded in silent agreement. Three years without a wedding, and the village’s future had seemed in jeopardy. Now, with new marriages, their lineage would continue.

“And now, we welcome twenty new members to Mo Family Village. I say to all you new sisters-in-law: you’ve made the right choice! Life in Mo Family Village will only grow better and happier, and soon everyone will envy your good fortune in marrying into our village.”

“The auspicious hour has arrived!” Mo Dun called out.

“First, bow to Heaven and Earth!”

Twenty couples knelt and bowed to the sky.

“Second, bow to your parents!”

Forty parents rose awkwardly, caught up in the emotion.

“Third, bow to each other!”

Each couple knelt and pledged their vows for life.

“Serve tea!”

“Father, mother, please drink this tea!” The twenty brides stepped forward in unison, offering their new parents a first cup of tea.

“Now, to the bridal chambers!” Mo Dun shouted.

The entire village erupted in cheers as the newlyweds, faces flushed, were led away, while the rest stayed for the banquet.

Nearly a hundred tables had been set up, a feast for all to enjoy. Master Fish had worked through the night to prepare it. Though there were more vegetables than meat, and most of the meat was fish, the villagers ate as though feasting on rare delicacies, marveling at a life they had never dared dream of before.