He wasn’t very familiar with Young Scholar Warren, but after coming to Songming Mountain many times, they had met a few times. Seeing how indulgent he was toward his younger sister, he felt that this young scholar was actually quite approachable. Now that the other party had accepted his goodwill and even promised to look after his business in the future, he immediately beamed with joy and agreed repeatedly. At the end, recalling recent rumors, and as someone who often went to the city to sell candied hawthorn, he offered a reminder.

“小官人, the rumors outside are spreading fiercely—even I’ve heard about them in the city. The Grand Master has gone to the neighboring Ningguo Prefecture to preside over the Daoist examination, and he might hear the news as well. Sigh, only about twenty scholars pass the entrance exam in She County each year, and not every village gets even one. It’s such a difficult thing, and now that your parents aren’t around, why not invite an elder to come out and speak a fair word?”

From Little Sister Warren’s words, Frank Warren already knew what kind of person the previous one was, so he only smiled at Old Hawker’s sense of injustice. Remembering that this man traveled all around the neighboring villages, a thought suddenly struck him, and he sincerely said, “After Samuel Barker finishes selling his candied hawthorn, could you come to my house for a while? I’ve been recuperating for half a month and know nothing of outside news—I’d like to ask for your advice. Oh, and please save two sticks for my second sister to try.”

Old Hawker immediately laughed, “Isn’t that easy? I’ll just trouble you for a cup of tea, young master.”

By evening, after selling twenty or thirty sticks of candied hawthorn in Songming Mountain Village, Old HawkerSamuel Barker came as promised to Frank Warren’s home. Although Second Lady Warren insisted she wasn’t a child anymore, she was still overjoyed by the candied hawthorn Samuel Barker brought, while James Gold was a bit surprised and excited when Frank Warren paid Samuel Barker and then casually handed him a stick.

After sending the two—one big, one small—off with two sticks of candied hawthorn and closing the door, Frank Warren began to ask Samuel Barker about the rumors in the city concerning himself. He found that the focus was on two points: unfilial conduct and cheating, but the rumors just went around in circles with nothing substantial. He couldn’t help but start calculating in his mind.

“Young master, if you ask me, it’s best to have a clan elder come forward to try to settle things. If this goes on, it might really alarm the Grand Master and bring him back.”

“This matter has blown up so suddenly—it won’t be easy to settle.” Frank Warren said thoughtfully, then suddenly stood up and gave Samuel Barker a deep, formal bow.

Samuel Barker was flustered and hurried to help him up. “Young master, you’re a scholar—how can you pay such respects to an old man like me?”

“If it weren’t for Samuel Barker, I wouldn’t know what’s happening in Huizhou City dozens of miles away. So, I have one more thing I’d like to ask of you.”

Rather than feebly trying to defend himself against the first two accusations, it would be better to take drastic action!

Chapter Five: Young Edward Warren’s Decision

After Old HawkerSamuel Barker finished selling candied hawthorn and lingered at the The Warren Family for nearly half an hour, he finally crossed the bridge back to Xixinan Village on the other side of the Fengle River. Such a small matter didn’t attract any attention from the villagers at all.

Meanwhile, Frank Warren seemed completely unconcerned about the uproarious rumors outside and began to exercise actively.

Every morning, with James Gold’s support, he would go out for a walk. Along the field ridges, whenever he met someone who greeted him, he would always respond with a smile. Over time, the image of the aloof Young Scholar Warren in most villagers’ minds gradually faded, replaced by the respectful, kind, and friendly Brother Lynn. Even though some of the wealthier clan members only nodded casually when they saw him, not taking this precarious Young Scholar seriously, he didn’t mind at all. In his view, the best progress was in the attitude of the ordinary farmers in Songming Mountain Village toward him.

Sometimes, after Frank Warren finished his walk and was doing all sorts of strange exercises under the tree at the village entrance, some farmers would come over and ask with concern.

“Thank you for your concern. After lying in bed for so long, my whole body feels like it’s falling apart. I read about this method in a book—practicing it should help strengthen my body.”

Most of the time, Frank Warren would answer like this. In just over ten days, his walks turned into brisk walks, and brisk walks into slow jogs. James Gold always followed closely behind, and the two of them became a beautiful sight in Songming Mountain Village. Taking advantage of their time alone, Frank Warren told James Gold that after his serious injury, he couldn’t remember many past people and events, so James Gold should remind him often, but must never tell his two younger sisters. James Gold didn’t suspect a thing and readily agreed.

As for the rest of his time, Frank Warren spent it in the study, flipping through the Four Books and Five Classics, so as not to be caught off guard if the Grand Master returned unexpectedly. He also practiced calligraphy for an hour every day to guard against the danger of being exposed as a fraud. He had studied calligraphy before, but after neglecting it for so long, at first he would burn every piece he wrote, not daring to let his two sisters see. But soon, as if by muscle memory, he gradually regained the knack. Comparing the old copybooks he had practiced with his current writing, they looked quite similar. By his estimate, another month or two of practice would be enough, and in the meantime, he could use the aftereffects of being injured by the sedan bearers as an excuse.