Chapter 203: Matters of Children and Family
- Wang Shi leaves on her journey, with emotional farewells from her children.
- Changbai expresses optimism, suggesting she "return soon," which frustrates Wang Shi.
- Sheng Hong reflects on his relationship with Wang Shi, showing a rare moment of regret.
- The Sheng household is managed by the daughters-in-law, with Sheng Hong feeling a bit lonely.
- Hai Shi visits Minglan and reports that Sheng's mother is recovering well.
- Minglan suggests bringing all three children to the new post when they relocate.
- Hai Shi agrees, expressing her joy but also mentions that Changbai wants to instill discipline in their children.
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A few days later, the day for Wang Shi's departure arrived. Changbai bid farewell to his mother in the cool morning, while Hualan and Rulan clung to each other, tearfully saying goodbye. Wang Shi was so overcome with emotion that she could barely speak, yet Changbai still remarked, "Go and return soon"—a somewhat unrealistic statement, given the ten-year duration of her retreat, which left her frustrated and angry.
With Wang Shi gone, the Sheng household came under the management of the two daughters-in-law. Xiang Yiniang, one of Sheng Hong's concubines, was now responsible for taking care of his daily needs. Despite the smooth operation of the household, Sheng Hong began to feel a sense of loneliness without the usual bickering from Wang Shi, as all he had left were his obedient concubines. In a moment of reflection, he commented to Changbai, "Your mother wasn't a bad person by nature, and over the years, I've had my share of faults toward her."
When Hai Shi came to visit Minglan, she shared this news, which made Minglan laugh heartily. Hai Shi also reported that the old lady's health had improved significantly, as she was now able to walk halfway around the pond and eat more at mealtimes. Changbai even mentioned that after his official duties were complete, the family could move together to his post. Minglan suggested they take all three children with them this time, to which Hai Shi, delighted, responded that Changbai was determined to begin teaching their son and instilling proper manners in their daughter. Despite her joy, Hai Shi acknowledged that grandparents, no matter how wise, tended to spoil their grandchildren a little.
Minglan teased, "Of course, who can compare to my brother? He's always been so mature and composed, even from the womb!"
She deeply sympathized with Changbai's children; having such a father must make for a very difficult childhood. Once Gu Tingye returned, she intended to speak to him about it. However, she was surprised to find he held an opposite opinion. Rubbing their chubby son's head, he said, "I've thought about it. If our son wants to practice martial arts, that's fine; I can find plenty of good instructors. But if he wants to study literature… that has to be entrusted to my brother-in-law."
Minglan gasped in shock, "You can actually go through with that!" After all, he had seen Changbai's strictness. He could be so harsh even with his own mother, and a mere reprimand could make someone want to jump into the river.
Gu Tingye lifted their plump son onto his shoulder and sighed, "If I can't do it myself, then I'll have someone else do it."
Minglan: …
The heat at that moment was oppressive, making it hard to breathe. Minglan especially needed to be cautious with ice, wishing she could just tear off her clothes to cool down. This unbearable heat was hard enough for a pregnant woman; it was even more difficult for someone who had just given birth.
At the beginning of September, Xiao Shen finally gave birth after enduring a day and night of pain, delivering a daughter but nearly losing her life in the process. Minglan couldn't visit, but Madam Zheng came by to deliver a red thread-wrapped talisman for good fortune.
"I got this from Guangji Temple a few days ago, one for your sister-in-law. I hoped for her smooth recovery, and when I heard you were expecting as well, I got one for you too," Madam Zheng said, looking exhausted and listless. "But you don't have to wear it; I don't think it's very effective."
"How can you say that?"
Madam Zheng sighed, "Your sister-in-law has suffered greatly this time; the imperial physician said she has fallen ill and may not find it easy to have another child in the future. Alas… she's so young, what will she do?"
Minglan was silent for a while before advising, "Sister-in-law has always treated me kindly. Today, I'll speak frankly: please try to put your mind at ease. Perhaps this talisman is why Sister Shen narrowly escaped this calamity, who knows?"
Madam Zheng, a firm believer in Buddhism, sighed, "Fine, let's consider it fate that she has to go through this trial." She clasped her hands together and softly prayed, "This child will have a weak bond with her parents from a young age, raised by her siblings and brothers-in-law. Now, I can only hope that the Buddha will bless her with abundant fortunes in life."
When faced with such genuinely noble characters—good people who are tolerant and kind—Minglan found herself at a loss for words. After hesitating for a while, she could only ask someone to bring out the chubby little boy and place him on the soft couch, where he could perform a series of wobbly movements.
The little chubby boy, unsteady on his feet, stumbled a few steps before he would end up "like a goose landing on the sand, bottom down." Each time he fell, he would furiously hit the soft couch with his little chubby paws, and then stand up, swaying, to continue moving. This spectacle made Mrs. Zheng laugh heartily, and she picked up the little boy to give him a couple of affectionate kisses. Given her usual serious demeanor, this was quite rare.
After seeing Mrs. Zheng off, Minglan felt grateful for being pregnant at that moment; otherwise, what would she have said when visiting Xiao Shen?
Minglan sighed and fanned herself, realizing she still needed to improve herself.
During this sweltering summer, Rong and Xian had already started their summer break, needing only to attend school for one or two days every ten days. With some free time on her hands, Minglan began teaching the two of them some household chores, ensuring they wouldn't turn into second or third versions of Gu Tingcan—arrogant but incapable of managing a household.
Minglan found a few old account books from the storeroom and picked out three or four that recorded grain purchases. She had the two girls take turns looking through them but instructed them not to share any information with each other. After several days, they were to present their findings to Minglan.
Xian noticed five errors, while Rong spotted eighteen.
As Minglan waved a beautiful fan, she encouraged them to speak freely.
Rong was the first to point out the eighteen errors one by one. "... Since the granary will send grain, the household only buys grain from outside two or three times a year. However, the records show that each time it was more expensive than the last. If it were due to the different seasons, that would explain the price fluctuations; but I compared those years, and even in the same month, it was still more expensive than before. There's clearly something fishy here!"
She became increasingly agitated, almost wishing to catch those unscrupulous servants and give them a good beating.
Xian spoke next, smiling slightly. "I think being frugal shouldn't be too strict. If we penalize every penny, even small coins won't be spared, and that could lead to losing out on bigger things. However..." Her face turned a shade of red, "I compared the annex, and I saw that during those years when 'grain prices rose due to floods,' I heard people say, 'floods harm for three years.' That might be the reason."
Rong blushed immediately and said, "I... I also looked at the annex and saw various hardships written everywhere; it always seemed to be excuses. I feel there's something fishy..."
"Did you verify that?" Minglan asked with a smile.
The two girls shook their heads in unison. How could they verify the records from decades ago?
"Well then, I'll give you a few more days to see if you can uncover anything else."
Rong and Xian exchanged glances and stepped out. After another ten days, the two rushed back to find Minglan, full of excitement.
Xian spoke first, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead as she didn't even take the time to wipe them away. "I found an old maid who cleans in the back courtyard. Her family originally farmed around the capital. She said that thirty-eight years ago, the weather was quite favorable, and she had steamed buns to eat since she was little. It was only in her thirties when disasters struck that she ended up selling herself and her children into the household."
Rong was also full of excitement: "I borrowed a yearbook from Mr. Xue, and it stated that although the years were favorable with bountiful harvests, that year the martial emperor needed troops and urgently requisitioned grain, which caused the prices of grain in the capital and surrounding areas to rise significantly. However, the following year, after the martial emperor returned victorious, the grain prices went back down."
Minglan smiled and asked them to sit down, also calling for Xiao Tao to serve tea.
"So, this year's grain prices being higher than last year's is to be expected," Xian said, flipping through the old ledger, which was about to fall apart. "But in the subsequent years, even though the world was at peace and the harvests were abundant, the grain prices continued to rise year after year, which is indeed not right."
Rong took a sip of tea and nearly burned herself, stammering, "We think it's because this steward has been negligent for too many years. At first, he was honest, but later, after gaining the master's trust, he became less cautious."
The conclusion: even for long-time servants, the master must keep a close eye on them; otherwise, it's easy for pests to arise.
Minglan highly appreciated this response, clapping her hands repeatedly: "My family has a daughter who is no longer the ignorant child of yesterday! Well said, very well said!"
The two girls felt sweet in their hearts from the praise, blushing as they lowered their heads, both proud and delighted.
Minglan called for Xiao Tao to bring out two hairpins she had prepared in advance for them to choose from: one was made of red gold, adorned with several large Ming pearls, with a jingling sound as it swayed, radiating brilliance; the other was entirely made of white jade, warm and clear, with only a finger-sized green gemstone embedded at the top, sparkling with a brilliant emerald hue.
As soon as these two treasures were revealed, the room was instantly illuminated, leaving the two girls stunned in place.
Minglan had often given them small jewelry pieces to wear before, like little earrings and rings, mostly for daily play, but these two items were truly exquisite and too valuable.
Xian was the first to react, quickly trying to decline the offer, while Rong blushed fiercely, adamantly refusing to accept. Minglan gently persuaded them for a long time before they shyly stepped forward, pushing each other to take the pins. In the end, Xian chose the white jade green gemstone pin, while Rong picked the one with the gold and red gems. That evening, the two girls had dinner at Minglan's place, enjoyed quite a bit of fruit wine, and then, with their cheeks flushed, happily clutched their prizes as they returned to their rooms.
As soon as Shao saw the white jade hairpin, she was immediately taken aback. She examined it closely under the light and murmured, "This is a rare and precious item." Even among the belongings left by her late husband, there were few that could compare.
Xian, filled with joy, said, "Aunt said that we are both good children, not only studying hard but also being smart and eager to learn." She had a sense of pride as if she had earned this with her own abilities.
After pondering for a long time, Shao suddenly said, "It seems your aunt intends to find a match for Rong... well, she's a grown girl now. It wouldn't be good to only find a match for her, so she hasn't forgotten you either."
Xian, holding her warm little face, dazed for a while, then exclaimed, "Oh no, Mom, here you go again! You're overthinking things!"
Shao hugged her daughter, speaking lovingly and gently, "You silly child, you don't understand. Back then, your father wasn't very kind to your second uncle; before your father passed away, he only worried that your second uncle would take out his anger on you."
"I think second uncle is quite nice," Xian said as she rested her head against her mother's embrace.
Shao tapped her daughter's small nose and joked, "You've only had one meal, and you think second uncle is nice?"
"Second uncle isn't here tonight; he went to the Zheng family to celebrate a full moon banquet."
Shao shook her head and said, "Who knows if he still holds a grudge against your father? But your aunt is indeed fair-minded..."
The mother and daughter embraced for a moment, and then Xian lifted her head and asked, "Mom, is aunt really going to find a match for Rong?"
She truly didn't want that; if Rong got married, she would be left all alone.
Shao laughed and replied, "Who knows? I don't have much insight, so I might be wrong. It's possible I'm just overthinking it."
However, this time Shao was indeed correct.
As the clock struck the third watch, Gu Tingye returned from outside, carrying a faint scent of wine. For some reason, he started to babble nonsense directed at Minglan's belly.
"...The girl from the Zheng family is quite good, but she's a bit weak; her eyes can barely open. Unlike our son, who, when he was a month old, wasn't afraid at all of the rough-looking men at the table and even scratched old Geng. Hehe..."
Gu Tingye placed his hand on Minglan's belly, laughing breathlessly as he spoke, "For this baby, let's have a daughter. She should be fair-skinned and petite, with big eyes and dimples at the corners of her mouth…" He pointed to the dimples at Minglan's mouth. "She should be well-behaved and pretty, unlike that little rascal who just keeps causing trouble… but she can't be too obedient either…"
Minglan listened to him prattle on, rolling her eyes internally. She knew that silly daddy was envisioning their daughter, but anyone who didn't know might think he was shopping on Taobao, given how specific and comprehensive his requirements were.
"…In the future, I'll be sure to pick a good son-in-law. If he practices martial arts, he must be brave and unmatched! If he studies literature... well," Gu Tingye wasn't quite clear on the standards for literary achievement. Just being "talented" wouldn't satisfy him. Finally, he remembered a saying from Fu Xueqin and boldly declared, "He must achieve the top three positions in the imperial examination! Otherwise, he can forget about marrying my daughter!"
Minglan nearly spat out her tea, slapping the table with one hand while tugging at the man's ear with the other, exclaiming, "Wake up, dear! Since the founding of the country, there have only been two top three achievers (and they were both middle-aged)! How long do you expect our daughter to wait for that?!"
Gu Tingye rubbed his ear and laughed generously, "Then let's say the top three. It doesn't matter who is the top scholar, the second, or the third; as long as they're competent… I can accept that."
"What if she's not pretty?" Minglan was already feeling exhausted. "What if she's just plain or dull?"
"How could that be possible?"
"Anything is possible! Mrs. Duan is beautiful, but look at her second daughter… tsk tsk…" The Duan couple both looked dignified, yet their daughter ended up with all the worst traits.
Gu Tingye was startled awake from his drunken state—no way, please don't let that happen.
"Alright, let's talk about serious matters... I didn't want to bring this up right now, but since the Marquis has mentioned it, I will. Your little girl is still not sure where she is right now; it's your eldest daughter that you should be worried about." [the focus should be on the "eldest daughter," suggesting that she is at an age or situation that warrants more concern or attention.]
"...Rongjie?" After a moment, Gu Tingye finally responded, "But she's only a few years old."
"She's eleven now, and she'll be twelve by the New Year." Minglan thought to herself, how old was that 'little daughter' with the 'fair skin and big eyes' he just described?
Gu Tingye was silent for quite a while, then said, "Isn't that a bit early?"
"Early? Do you think a son-in-law is like vegetables from the backyard that you can just pick whenever you want?" Minglan retorted. "It's not easy to find a good match, you know; it takes a few years!"
She looked like a matchmaker, counting on her fingers. "You need to start looking now, and it'll take a few years to finalize things. Then, you have to prepare the dowry and go through the six ceremonies. This is just for a nearby marriage. If it's a distant marriage, you'll need to see what the groom's family is like…"
"Especially since Rongjie's background is awkward, it's actually simpler if she were just a servant's daughter. But being in this neither high nor low position makes it even harder to find a suitable match."
"...You can think of her this way; I can't compare," Gu Tingye honestly expressed his feelings.
Minglan quietly said, "Even when Grandmother was gravely ill, I never thought about using Aunt's children in any way." Transferring blame doesn't align with the most basic principles of law, even though there are few legal texts I still remember.
"Then, what should be done about this? Please instruct me, madam." Gu Tingye clasped his hands and asked, smiling like a spring breeze.
Minglan felt invigorated; during her pregnancy, she had been so bored that she felt she might grow fur.
She picked up a few sheets of paper from the bedside and energetically read aloud, "It's not that difficult. You can go to your colleagues' homes for banquets, or to the training grounds to spar. If you hear of any outstanding young men from friends and relatives, just pay more attention."
"Absolutely don't choose those who can strike quickly and kill without batting an eye! Either they should be well-practiced and know when to hold back, or find someone who doesn't know martial arts at all. Those who have only learned half-heartedly will definitely be rough when it comes to beating their wives in the future!"
"Good health is essential. Being young and widowed is not acceptable. It's not just about being as strong as an ox; you should observe their physique, feel their bones, and ask their elders if they have a long lifespan."
"The family background should be neither too high nor too low. If it's too high, marriage could be a torment; if it's too low, it would be a humiliation. As for specific measurements, let the marquis decide. It's all about clever application and is determined by one's heart."
"It's best for the household to have a simple population, but if there are many people, the family must have good morals, be harmonious, and maintain a peaceful atmosphere. When it comes to living a household life, harmony is the most important thing."
"Especially be careful with scholars. Those who are overly righteous often end up being treacherous. Don't be fooled by their mild and courteous demeanor; who knows what malicious intentions they have? Those who achieve a little fame can become unbearably arrogant; they are the most detestable! Ahem, the marquis may not know this, but I once had a terribly unsatisfactory cousin-in-law... Never mind, let's not talk about him!"
"There are still two jars of Zhuyeqing (a type of liquor) in the storeroom. Isn't Liu Zhengjie fond of it? I'll send them over later and ask him to help check the details. Let's make sure he's not some Chen Shimei (a traditional character known for marrying for wealth), already having a wife and children at home…"
"Madam, are you done?" Gu Tingye looked at his wife, who had a radiant face and was inexplicably excited.
"Uh, there's just a little bit more, about three major points and nine minor ones."
Gu Tingye chuckled, "Take your time, Madam. Would you like to have some tea first?"
Minglan pushed aside the teacup and spoke firmly, "We must not be like Miss Tingcan, thinking we hold a rare treasure and then become complacent, sitting back and fishing. We must be cautious and not overly proud or impatient! The world is unpredictable; until we perform the wedding rituals, we can't be certain of anything! We need to investigate thoroughly and consider various options. If one doesn't work out, there will be others to consider. Family background, family reputation, parents-in-law and sisters-in-law, character and talent—none of these can be figured out in a day… So we must plan ahead! If we make a mistake with the first daughter's marriage, how can we expect the next few to turn out well? As the saying goes, victory in the first battle allows us to maintain momentum and achieve a hundred victories!"
Gu Tingye: ...