Life was quite dull. To put it nicely, it was leisurely. During the continuous rainy days, Ning Yi played Five-in-a-Row with the young maid, occasionally practiced calligraphy, or read classical literature. Although these activities couldn't compare to modern novels in terms of entertainment, he had always been someone who could tolerate monotony. Since he had come to ancient times, he didn't mind spending half a day deciphering books without punctuation, word by word. To him, this wasn't too painful.
Of course, various other trivial matters had also occurred over the past few months.
As a newlywed son-in-law who married into the family, Ning Yi had little status in this era, especially in the complicated Su family. The actual head of the Su family was Su Tan'er's grandfather, known as the Grand Patriarch, who had three sons. The family was divided into three branches, with Su Tan'er's father, Su Boyong, controlling the first branch. Though Su Boyong had only one daughter, Su Tan'er, her impressive business acumen overshadowed the male members of the other two branches, causing tension. Many in the family had hoped that Su Tan'er would marry out, giving them a chance to inherit the family business. However, the arrival of a son-in-law dashed those hopes. Even when they refrained from outright sarcasm, a disdainful look was inevitable whenever they saw him.
Besides the main branches, the Su family had many extended relatives. The family had grown quite large, with at least three or four dozen cousins and distant relatives who could claim kinship with Su Tan'er. Most of them weren't particularly warm toward Ning Yi, given his status as the son-in-law. In fact, he would have found it bothersome if they were overly friendly. Whenever there were large family dinners, he mostly sat in silence, counting sheep in his head. Other than his father-in-law, mother-in-law, two aunts, and Su Tan'er herself, almost no one spoke to him. These conversations were bland and only added to the boredom. Eating alone in his room would have been much better...
Although Ning Yi didn't mind this isolation—his past experiences had made him immune to such things—it wasn't something he actively sought out either. He had taken a liking to watching Go matches recently. If he had a choice, he would have preferred playing Mahjong with a group instead.
For now, the entanglements of power struggles hadn't reached him. Of course, eventually, he would be swept up in the storm, but that didn't concern him. Both the Grand Patriarch and Su Boyong were still alive, so whatever small conflicts arose within the family wouldn't spiral out of control. As far as Ning Yi was concerned, the first real issue he had to deal with was finding a job.
When he first woke up after being knocked unconscious, his memory was a bit fuzzy, and many things were put on hold. As he recovered, the Su family didn't have any particular expectations of him, but being idle for too long wasn't ideal either. Recently, someone asked him what he wanted to do. He wasn't sure. Going into business, managing a shop, or handling accounts seemed unnecessary, and he wasn't interested. Judging by his father-in-law's attitude, it seemed they were considering having him teach at the family's private academy, given that he had always presented himself as a scholar.
When this idea was first brought up, the Grand Patriarch had temporarily dismissed it, saying they should wait a while and let Ning Yi figure out what he wanted to do. However, Ning Yi knew that eventually, teaching at the academy would be his role. He had spoken with the Grand Patriarch a few times, mainly exchanging pleasantries about the family's history. The old man was sharp, undoubtedly noticing the subtle differences between Ning Yi and the bookish fool he used to be, which was likely why he decided to give Ning Yi more time.
Ning Yi didn't go out of his way to hide anything. Pretending to be a fool was pointless in the long run. He maintained a tourist-like attitude, observing everything with interest. While his demeanor might reveal some aspects of his personality, determining whether someone was fit for business or teaching, or whether they were a good or bad person, was like trying to judge someone's character based on a Go game—it was impossible. As long as he didn't cause any trouble, the Grand Patriarch would eventually tire of observing him and assign him to teach.
That was fine with Ning Yi.
Although he hadn't been a particularly diligent student in his previous life, he could understand classical Chinese. His former identity wasn't that of a great scholar, so no one would have high expectations of him. If he were to teach, he could simply have the students recite texts every day, which would be good enough. On days when he felt more motivated, he could even throw in some modern knowledge to amuse them. This way, he could stay in the Su family and have a legitimate role. Leaving the family wasn't an option—he didn't know anyone outside of it. Even in modern times, success required connections, and this was even more true in ancient times. He didn't delude himself into thinking that with a few taels of silver, he could roam freely and conquer the world. The Su family was, for now, the best shelter he could find.
It rained for several days in a row, and Ning Yi spent most of that time at home. Occasionally, he saw Su Tan'er and her maids rushing out with oil-paper umbrellas, only to return later, their clothing slightly damp from the rain. The pavilions, courtyards, and corridors of the estate were washed clean by the drizzle, and the sight of the women in their green, white, or pale red dresses moving gracefully through the rain was like something out of a watercolor painting. Unlike the women of modern times, who were often tainted by the smell of commerce or worldly concerns, the ladies of this era exuded a serene elegance. Watching them return, carefully avoiding the dripping eaves and gently brushing off their wet clothes before heading upstairs, Ning Yi couldn't help but admire the scene. As evening fell, the courtyards lit up with soft, flickering lamps, casting deep red and dark red glows, adding to the ancient and mysterious atmosphere of the estate.
Of course, this was indeed an ancient mansion, one that Ning Yi had now come to accept as his new reality.
The rules of Five-in-a-Row were simple to grasp but difficult to master. Chan'er quickly learned the game and became quite skilled at it. In the days that followed, whenever Ning Yi played with her, he would often find himself losing more than winning. This form of entertainment quickly spread to the other part of the estate. Three days later, as Ning Yi lit an oil lamp and read in his room, Chan'er checked on him several times to make sure he had no further instructions before leaving. As Ning Yi wandered to the corridor with his book in hand, he spotted Chan'er walking toward the small building across the courtyard, carrying a Go board. Soon after, she entered a room on the first floor with Xing'er and Juan'er. The lights came on, and he could see the three of them playing through the window. Occasionally, their silhouettes were animated with excitement, with Chan'er likely teaching her two friends the game, all of which amused Ning Yi greatly.
The heavy rain lasted for several days before finally stopping. Although Ning Yi had jokingly told Chan'er that he would no longer go to the Qinhuai River to watch Go, it was, of course, just a jest. As expected, when Ning Yi visited the riverside again, the elderly Qin, who always set up the chessboard, noticed him immediately and greeted him warmly.
Not long after, Qin finished a match with a friend, smiled, and waved Ning Yi over. After introducing Ning Yi to his chess partner, they exchanged basic courtesies, and Qin invited Ning Yi to share his thoughts on the game they had just witnessed. While not overly serious, it was customary for Go players to discuss notable moves after a match, much like how people would casually say things like, "If I hadn't made that move, I wouldn't have lost..." Qin, having invited Ning Yi to join the conversation, recognized his Go skills and naturally extended an invitation.
"Would Young Master Ning care to join me for a game?" Qin asked with a smile.
Ning Yi nodded and agreed, helping to tidy up the pieces while chatting with the old man.
"I've been stuck indoors these past rainy days, replaying our previous game with my friends. You had many brilliant moves, Ning Gongzi, ones that were thought-provoking. I've been itching for another match ever since. Now that the rain has stopped, I was hoping you'd come by, and here you are! Haha..."
Although Qin had initially felt that Ning Yi's way of playing lacked the "gentlemanly" spirit of Go, he hadn't taken it too seriously. As a chess player, seeing such novel tactics intrigued him more and more over time. The longer he pondered it, the more it lingered in his mind. And so, while chatting, they began another game, which Qin lost again. After reviewing the moves with Ning Yi, they played another match, but seeing that it was getting late, Ning Yi decided to head home.
The following day, Ning Yi returned to the same spot by the river, and before long, his future "job" was finally settled.
On the first day of July, during a family meal, Su Lao Taigong inquired about Ning Yi's recovery and then mentioned that one of the academy's teachers was preparing to travel. He gently asked if Ning Yi would be interested in teaching at the academy. Though the old man's tone was kind, given his status within the family, his words were effectively a decision. Ning Yi had already mentally prepared for this, so he nodded and agreed. Lao Taigong then called for Su Zhongkan, who managed the family's academy, and instructed him to make the arrangements once the current teacher left.
There was still some time before the teacher departed, so Ning Yi continued to pass the days playing Go, reading, practicing calligraphy, and playing Five-in-a-Row with Chan'er. In the following month, his relationship with the Su family didn't develop much further, but he became quite familiar with the people along the Qinhuai River.
This part of the riverside had pleasant scenery, shaded by lush green trees. Though it was slightly remote, with no large shops nearby, a tea stall had become a regular spot for Ning Yi. Every morning, small vendors selling breakfast or vegetables would pass by. The sparse buildings along the river sometimes extended over the water like stilt houses, and occasionally, Ning Yi would see someone by the river washing clothes or fetching water.
The elder Qin, a well-off and learned man, was far from the stereotype of a pedantic ancient scholar. He never spoke in archaic phrases or quoted sages at every turn. Rather, his words were flexible, pragmatic, and adaptable, yet at the core of his beliefs, he never strayed from the teachings of Confucius and Mencius (孔孟之道, Confucianism, which focuses on ethics and morality). This made him a true master of Confucian thought.
If one stripped away the layers of Confucianism used for ruling, its core was a set of universal life principles summarized by the ancients. Philosophically speaking, many of these ideas were applicable across cultures and time periods. Ning Yi found that he could easily converse with this old man, without having to worry about overstepping any boundaries. Qin had likely been an official in his younger years, but now, in his old age, he spent his days leisurely setting up a Go board by the riverside. He lived nearby with a wife in her fifties and a concubine in her thirties, who was quite beautiful. Occasionally, the concubine would bring him lunch, and Ning Yi had seen her a few times.
Qin had several regular Go-playing companions, all of whom were educated men. Some were from wealthy families, while others appeared more modest. At first, Ning Yi simply observed from the sidelines, but over time, he gradually started participating in the post-game discussions. Naturally, there were those who took issue with Ning Yi's unconventional methods. For instance, an old man surnamed Dong criticized Ning Yi's use of underhanded tactics, claiming they lacked the grace of a true gentleman. Dong was arrogant, and Ning Yi couldn't be bothered to engage him in debates over principles—it was pointless arguing with such people.
Sitting by the tea stall every day, Ning Yi naturally became acquainted with the tea vendor's family. Chan'er, feeling bored, would sometimes chat with the vendor's daughter. At first, the daughter had been shy, inquiring about Ning Yi's background, but when she learned that he was a live-in son-in-law of the Su family, her interest faded. She had initially thought that Ning Yi was a wealthy young master, given that he always had a maid by his side and could converse with a learned man like Qin. It was clear that he was well-educated, and the girl had even imagined the possibility of marrying him—until she discovered he was a mere son-in-law.
During their Go sessions, conversations were mostly harmonious at first. However, after two weeks, familiarity bred more candid discussions. Qin often found Ning Yi's offhand remarks thought-provoking, though at times he considered them unconventional, a reflection of differing customs. Ning Yi was casual and unrestrained, so the two of them would discuss various topics while playing. After about a month, the subject of Ning Yi's status came up again, but this time, with a different tone.
"You're quite knowledgeable, though not formally educated. It's truly a shame that you're a live-in son-in-law..." Qin remarked.
Ning Yi had never delved deeply into the classics, and his rote memorization skills were poor, meaning he wasn't formally trained. Qin, being a great scholar himself, had naturally discerned this over time and gave him the compliment "knowledgeable without formal training," which was actually quite high praise. Ning Yi merely smiled in response.
"There's nothing wrong with being a live-in son-in-law. Look at me: I come out to drink tea and play Go every day. Chan'er handles the money, and I live comfortably. Soon, I'll be teaching students, which is hardly a burden. I'm lazy by nature, so I'd say I'm doing pretty well."
Though he spoke lightly, the reality was that a son-in-law's status was lower than that of a wife's in those days. While a wife's spirit tablet could be placed in the ancestral hall after her death, a son-in-law wasn't even qualified for such an honor. In many ways, he was no better than a concubine. In a sense, becoming a live-in son-in-law meant that all hopes of personal advancement were cut off. He was nothing more than an accessory of the Su family. Ning Yi, with all his worldly experiences from his previous life, could accept this fate, but most young men wouldn't have been able to. Qin, recognizing his talent, couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him.
"Besides, the Su family is a merchant family. Merchants, while they do care about reputation, ultimately prioritize profit. Even if you have talent and knowledge, you'll never gain any real power or prestige."
Qin's words reflected his deep understanding of the situation. Regardless of society's views on live-in sons-in-law, even if Ning Yi had talent, the Su family wouldn't want him pursuing the imperial exams and achieving an official rank. The reason they had him marry into the family in the first place was because they believed him to be a bookish fool. Su Lao Taigong was a man of honor, keeping a promise made to Ning Yi's elders, and Ning Yi's scholarly aura was an added bonus. From Su Tan'er's perspective, he was someone she could easily control. Even Ning Yi recognized that his predecessor had been lucky to marry into the Su family, and he held no grudge against them for it.
However, when Qin began discussing the Su family's affairs, Chan'er, who had been listening quietly, blushed deeply. Unable to hold back any longer, she stepped forward.
"Old Master... our Young Mistress has never treated the Master unfairly. She's a good person and would never wrong him in the future!"
The little maid was so earnest that it was almost comical. She had grown up alongside Su Tan'er and regarded her like a sister. Although she didn't fully understand the deeper meaning behind Qin's words, she could tell that he was speaking ill of the Su family. Normally, a maid would never dare interrupt when her master was speaking to outsiders, but given Ning Yi's unique status as a son-in-law, the boundaries were less clear. Chan'er, being well-bred and loyal, was more concerned about defending Su Tan'er's reputation. Mustering all her courage, she nervously clenched her fists in front of her chest and spoke up.
Chan'er was usually quiet and well-behaved, and Qin had grown accustomed to her presence. Now, seeing her speak up, he was momentarily taken aback. Ning Yi glanced at her a few times before breaking into a smile as he placed another Go piece on the board.
"Haha, you old man, worrying about nothing. Now you've gone and upset Chan'er. If word of this gets back to the Su family, I'll be the one in trouble."
Qin laughed as well. "Haha, I misspoke, I misspoke. I assure you, Chan'er, I wasn't criticizing the Su family. Still, it was wrong of me to comment on someone else's household affairs. My apologies, my apologies..."
Qin apologized good-naturedly, and while Chan'er wasn't truly angry, her expression remained serious. The look of earnest concentration on her face didn't fade, even after they left. In fact, it seemed to grow even more intense. She trailed behind Ning Yi, her small frame seeming even smaller due to her silence. Ning Yi glanced back with a sigh, trying to comfort her.
"What's wrong? Are you still mad?"
Before he could finish his sentence, Chan'er's shoulders shook, her lips quivered, and tears began to roll down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string.
This was more serious than Ning Yi had expected. He paused, softening his tone. "What's the matter?"
"Chan'er..." The little maid sniffled and looked up at him with teary eyes. "Chan'er may be just a lowly servant girl, but I'd never gossip about something like this. When you said it might spread, you were implying that I... that I'm not trustworthy..."
Her shoulders trembled as she sobbed harder. Ning Yi stared at her for a moment, realizing that she hadn't been upset by Qin's words at all, but by his own careless joke. Unable to suppress his laughter, he finally chuckled.
"Master... you're still..."
Before she could finish, her words were interrupted by a gasp. Ning Yi had suddenly reached out and pinched her cheeks, pulling them into a wide pancake-like shape. Chan'er's eyes widened in surprise, round like lanterns, blinking in confusion. After a moment, Ning Yi released her cheeks, gently patted her on the shoulder, and said, "Let's go." Then he turned and walked away.
After a moment, Chan'er caught up, her face still flushed with embarrassment and shock. "Master... Master, you..." She wanted to protest Ning Yi's earlier behavior. In fact, this situation could be seen as either serious or trivial. Over the past few months, the two had spent a lot of time together, and there were occasional moments when Chan'er helped him measure clothes, or even helped him dress. Such instances of physical contact were not uncommon, but they were always incidental and unintentional.
The history that Ning Yi now found himself living in had gone slightly astray, but in many ways, the Wu Dynasty and the Song Dynasty were quite similar. Even though Neo-Confucianism hadn't yet emerged in its exact form, there were already many rules governing the separation of men and women. Chan'er was a maid, and it was her duty to serve the people around her, so she wasn't held to the same standards as other women. If Su Tan'er had married Ning Yi in the traditional sense, then Chan'er, as one of her three maids, would almost certainly become Ning Yi's concubine, and that would have been perfectly acceptable. But now that Ning Yi had married into the Su family, everything was under Su Tan'er's control.
A son-in-law's status was inherently low. Among common people, it was generally believed that any man with even a bit of pride or determination would never marry into a woman's family. In many families, the status of a son-in-law was no better than that of a servant. Some families viewed their son-in-law as nothing more than a long-term laborer. Of course, there were exceptions—if the relationship between the husband and wife was good, or if the son-in-law had some skill, he might eventually earn a respectable place within the family. This wasn't unheard of.
In the Su family, Su Lao Taigong held Ning Yi in higher regard because of an old family connection. As a result, the family members didn't openly disdain him. Su Tan'er, although she had initially resisted the marriage, was treating Ning Yi quite amicably at this point. However, even if their relationship developed further and they became a true couple, it was unlikely that she would allow Ning Yi to have a close relationship with Chan'er. Though the three maids had been with Su Tan'er since childhood, and she would probably never let them go, the most likely scenario was that Su Tan'er would marry them off to loyal, promising servants within the household, ensuring that they would remain with the family for life.
Of course, this was just a harmless joke, and Ning Yi hadn't thought much about it. Chan'er, on the other hand, couldn't think too deeply about such things either. Even if she wasn't truly angry, she was still a bit embarrassed. Her face flushed red as she angrily stomped up to him, trying to come up with the words to describe Ning Yi's mischievous behavior, but in the end, she could only manage to say, "Master, you... you're bullying me!"
"Hmm." Ning Yi nodded with a shrug. "That's right, I'm bullying you. What are you going to do about it?"
"About it..." Chan'er blinked, then grew even more upset. "You're saying things that Chan'er doesn't understand again..."
"Haha." On the street, Ning Yi chuckled, clearly amused.
When he first arrived in this world, he had been somewhat melancholic. But after so many days of boredom, that melancholic mood had gradually lifted. He began to feel that living in ancient times was about finding ways to have fun—like using Go to mess with an old scholar, and now, teasing a little maid. It was actually quite enjoyable.
As they continued walking home, Chan'er trailed behind, hopping and skipping as she spoke. At first, she was still a bit shy, but soon she was chattering away about all sorts of trivial matters. As they approached the busier streets near the Su residence, someone suddenly stepped forward to greet them, stopping them in their tracks.
The Su family was large, and Ning Yi often encountered its members when walking through the streets. Some greeted him politely, while others ignored him with disdain. Occasionally, he would even run into Su Tan'er, as there was a Su family cloth shop along the street. This time, a young man in his early twenties, holding a folding fan, approached with a charming, scholar-like demeanor. From a distance, he called out with a laugh, "Brother Ning, what a coincidence!" Then, accompanied by two servants, he walked over.
It seemed that this person was someone the original owner of Ning Yi's body had known, but Ning Yi didn't recognize him at all. As he scanned his surroundings, he noticed Su Tan'er's carriage parked nearby, and in the shop, a small head popped out, glanced in their direction, and then disappeared again. It was Xing'er, who had spotted Ning Yi and Chan'er, and had run back inside to call Su Tan'er out.
The young man drew closer with a smile, but before Ning Yi could return the greeting, Chan'er tugged on his sleeve from behind. "Master, that's Young Master Xue from Dachuan Cloth Shop," she whispered, her voice tinged with nervousness.
Ning Yi's mind clicked into place. Although he hadn't met Xue Jin in person, he had heard about him.
After pretending to have lost his memory in this world, Ning Yi had spent some time learning about his own background. It turned out to be a simple story, but when people like Chan'er or Xing'er talked about it, they always seemed to avoid certain details—like how Su Tan'er had run away on their wedding night, or how Ning Yi had been knocked out cold.
But after a few months, Ning Yi had pieced together everything he needed to know. The person who had sneaked up on him and knocked him out with a brick that night was most likely the man standing before him—Xue Jin from Dachuan Cloth Shop. Chan'er was probably nervous now because she feared Ning Yi might still be angry and might do something rash.
However, Ning Yi's expression remained calm. He smiled naturally and greeted him warmly, "Oh, Young Master Xue, nice to meet you."
His smile was sincere, his demeanor relaxed. Xue Jin seemed momentarily surprised, glanced at his two attendants, and then chuckled. "I heard that Brother Ning was injured on his wedding day and suffered a bit of memory loss. I was present that day but had to leave early due to some urgent matters. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to visit you since. So... you've really lost your memory? Brother Ning, you don't remember me at all?"
Ning Yi smiled apologetically, his tone filled with sincerity and regret. "I'm afraid I don't, Young Master Xue. I've lost many memories... Please forgive me."
Xue Jin squinted at Ning Yi, his expression a mix of doubt and curiosity. At that moment, Su Tan'er appeared at the shop entrance, frowning as she hurried over.