Chapter 69

Chapter 69

"Must this family be divided?" Wang Youliang asked his younger brother with a grim face.

"Older Brother, it's not me who wants to divide it; it's the two sisters-in-law forcing me to do so."

"Just because of one sentence, you're disregarding brotherly affection?"

Wang Youtian showed rare firmness: "If you and Second Brother still care about brotherly affection, you shouldn't let them talk like this, cursing my husband and child to die!"

"Sigh..." Wang Youliang felt guilty when he thought about it. Once words were spoken, they couldn't be taken back. Having hurt the third brother's feelings, it would be hard to be united even if they didn't divide the family.

"Fine, fine, if you want to divide, then divide." He said, lowering his head and entering his own room.

Wang Youtian felt bitter. On one side was his own older brother, and on the other was his husband and child. Naturally, he had to prioritize his small family now, but he couldn't bear to give up brotherly affection.

"Brother-in-law, I really envy you."

Zhao Beichuan: "Envy what?"

"Your sister-in-law is young; even if she gets married in the future, nothing like what happened in our family will occur."

"I envy you for having parents who can uphold justice for you."

It must be said that Old Man Wang was a righteous person. While he was alive, he could keep the three brothers from dividing the family, but after his death, their conflicts would only grow, leading to an uncertain future.

It might be better to divide the family while he was still healthy to prevent further disputes.

After eating lunch, the family returned to town by mule cart, relieved that Lu's mother was there to look after them.

*

When the child was a month old, they visited again. The Wang family had already divided the property. The six rooms were split with the eldest living in one and a half rooms on the east side, the second in one and a half rooms on the west side, and the middle three rooms divided into one and a half for Wang Youtian and one and a half for the elderly couple.

The farmland was also divided equally, with Old Man Wang not showing favoritism. The things that couldn't be divided, he kept for himself.

Each family got one mule. The eldest complained twice about getting an old mule, which angered Old Man Wang, who scolded him, "If you have the ability, don't take it; buy your own! You're picky about what you get for free; you're spoiled!"

This scared the eldest brother into silence.

In this month, the child grew plump and white, wearing clothes made by Lu Miao. Wang Youtian named him Wang Jin, with the nickname Jinjin.

Lu Yao joked that the next child would probably be called Wang Yin, followed by Wang Tong and Wang Tie, finding it amusing.

After the postnatal period, Lu's mother returned home. From then on, the young couple would have to take care of each other. After the division, Lu Yun seemed much happier and had gained weight.

Time flew, and it was October, with the weather getting colder day by day.

In previous years, Zhao Beichuan would go to the mountains early to chop wood and hunt. This year, due to the shop's busy schedule, he bought twenty loads of firewood from town instead.

Since the conscripted laborers returned, business at the shop had been booming, especially during market days when all four of them were overwhelmed and had to call on Xiaonian for help.

Tomorrow was another market day. Lu Yao prepared the beans and planned to buy some ceramic bowls from the pottery shop. Out of the thirty ceramic bowls previously bought, only twenty remained after some broke.

While enough for daily use, during market days, it wasn't sufficient, causing people to wait impatiently for others to finish their bowls.

Arguments had broken out twice over this issue. To avoid such situations, Lu Yao bought another thirty ceramic bowls and thirty pairs of chopsticks and wooden spoons.

On the way back, he met Xu Bin, the owner of the restaurant. They hadn't seen each other since Lu Yao stopped delivering tofu.

"Lu Xiaolang," Xu Bin called from his sedan chair, lifting the curtain.

Hearing this, Lu Yao hurried forward. "Xu Shangren, long time no see!"

"It has indeed been a long time. I called you today just to say thank you."

Lu Yao was puzzled. "Thank you for what?"

"The tofu recipe you gave me was well-received in Shang Jing. It helped my uncle's restaurant become popular. He brought back many gifts from Shang Jing. I'll send them to your shop when I have time."

"No, no, I can't let you spend money. As long as the recipe is useful, that's good!" Initially, giving the tofu recipe was to ask Xu Bin for help, not for free. He felt embarrassed to accept anything in return.

Xu Bin waved his hand. "It's not expensive. Take it, don't be polite. I have other matters to attend to. Please convey my greetings to Brother Zhao."

"Sure, take care."

Lu Yao assumed the gifts were food from Shang Jing and mentioned it to Zhao Beichuan, but neither took it seriously.

A few days later, two assistants arrived carrying a load of items. Inside was a box full of exquisite porcelain bowls, plates, teapots, cups, and two vases.

Porcelain had only been around for about a hundred years, and its craftsmanship was not as refined as in later times. Still, these were genuine porcelain pieces, smooth and delicate to touch, lighter than ceramic bowls!

Such items weren't sold in town, nor easily found even in the county, making them extremely valuable!

The assistants said, "Our master said these items are valuable here but not in Shang Jing. Use them without worry."

"Thank you for the trouble." Lu Yao quickly gave them some copper coins.

The assistants smiled, accepted the coins, and left.

"What should we do with these porcelains? We don't need them at home." Breaking one would be heartbreaking!

Zhao Beichuan said, "Since he's willing to give them to you, keep them. He must have given them because the tofu recipe proved very useful in Shang Jing."

"Let's put them away then."

Besides the set of porcelains, the box contained a box of pastries and a box of sugar. This sugar was different from what was sold in town; it was pure, soft, and clean. Lu Yao tasted a bit, finding it sweet without any impurities.

"This is a good thing. Let's save it for New Year's to make pastries for you."

Besides the two boxes of tea, which were slightly inferior to what the Lin family had given, Lu Yao planned to save them for use when visiting relatives during the New Year. He let his parents taste them.

After almost finishing the packing, Zhao Beichuan moved the boxes onto the cart and closed the shop, heading home.

Last night, an autumn rain fell, causing leaves to scatter all over the ground. The autumn wind blew, sending chills deep into the bones, signaling the approach of the most difficult season of the year.

Back at home, Zhao Beichuan wouldn't let him wash the bowls or the wooden bucket. "Go inside; I'll finish this quickly. Your hands will crack and ooze pus if they touch cold water again."

"Husband, you're so kind." Lu Yao hugged him and gave him a kiss on the neck.

Just then, Xiaodou came back from school, covering his eyes with his small hands. "Oh, don't look, it's indecent."

Lu Yao pretended to be angry and spat at him. "Pah, you little brat, you don't even have your feathers yet. What do you know about indecency?"

Xiaodou lowered his hands, smiling. "Grandpa Lin taught me that anything inappropriate to see is indecent."

Speaking of Xiaodou, he had been studying at the Lin family's place for four to five months now. During this time, Lu Yao always sent food with him.

Mrs. Lin felt it was too much trouble for him, so she personally brought servants over once. She had their cook learn a few home-cooked dishes from Lu Yao to prepare for the old master.

Lu Yao went inside to start a fire and make lunch. He and Zhao Beichuan had eaten some leftover tofu and fried dough sticks at the shop and weren't very hungry, but the three children needed something to eat. He mixed some ash flour and cooked a pot of thin noodles. He also blanched some tender Chinese cabbage as a side dish, pouring the bone broth directly into the pot.

The three children gathered around the stove, eating heartily from large bowls. After lunch, Xiaodou was going to the Lin family's place for tutoring and ran out with his schoolbag.

"Wear a thicker coat before you go," Lu Yao said, chasing after him with a jacket lined with thin cotton.

"No need. Once I start practicing, my whole body gets warm; it's not cold at all."

"Practicing? Practicing what?"

Xiaodou quickly covered his mouth. "Nothing, nothing. I'm off!"

Lu Yao felt that Zhao Xiaodou seemed to be hiding something lately. He would quietly get up early, recite his books while jumping around in the courtyard after they woke up.

Once, Lu Yao caught him doing this, but Xiaodou wouldn't say anything. He wondered what the boy was up to.

Xiaodou ran all the way to the Lin family's place, where Lin Zijian was already practicing in the courtyard. They were practicing the Five Animals Play, a form of exercise to strengthen the body.

"Beidou, come quick, I'm already on the second movement." Zhao Beidou put down his schoolbag and immediately joined Lin Zijian, mimicking the movements. They practiced the Five Animals Play while reciting the Five Classics, surprisingly harmoniously.

Grandpa Lin told them that to participate in the imperial examinations, having knowledge alone wasn't enough; one must have a strong physique to endure the exams.

For example, the county examination starts on the fifth day of the second lunar month, when it is still very cold. They must take the exam outdoors for three days.

During these three days, they must not only bear mental pressure but also withstand the cold. If their health is poor, they might freeze unconscious before finishing the exam.

Old Master Lin heard the sounds from inside and changed into lighter clothes to join them. His previous poor health was largely due to prolonged sitting at the Imperial College.

Recently, by following his grandsons' exercises and improving his diet, his spirit revived, and he no longer looked like a dying man.

He held a small stick and tapped their arms and legs. "Straighten your legs, don't bend them. Keep reciting."

"The Way of the Great Learning lies in making virtue manifest, in loving the people, and in attaining the highest goodness. Knowing the limit, one can have determination; with determination, one can be calm; with calmness, one can be at peace; with peace, one can think clearly; with clear thinking, one can achieve. Things have roots and branches, events have beginnings and ends." ①

*

It snowed lightly last night, and the roads froze over this morning. This year, winter arrived earlier than usual.

As soon as the coldest days began, Lu Yao's ears developed frostbite, even with a hat on.

Last year, applying mutton fat oil helped a bit, but this year the swelling was worse.

At first, they turned red and itched, gradually becoming ulcerated, one ear worse than the other, oozing pus and looking frightening.

In the evening, Zhao Beichuan applied medicine, and Lu Yao winced in pain. "Ouch—this cursed weather, always against me."

"Why don't you stay home tomorrow and rest for a couple of days?"

"That won't do."

"Why not? The shop isn't busy these days. If it gets too hectic, there's still Xiaonian. Wait until the scabs form on your ears before going back."

Lu Yao thought about it and agreed. It was a good opportunity to finish everyone's winter clothes.

Xiaonian and Xiaodou wore last year's cotton clothes, but the sleeves and pant legs were too short. Well-fed children grow fast, gaining several inches a year.

When they first arrived, Xiaonian reached his chest, and Xiaodou barely reached his waist. In just a year, Xiaonian had grown to his armpit, and Xiaodou had grown to his upper abdomen.

Deciding this, Lu Yao stayed home the next day instead of going to the shop, organizing the trunks.

Just past the hour of Yin, Lu Yao heard movement in the western room. Xiaodou didn't leave for school until the third watch of Mao. Why was he up so early?

Soon, he heard recitation in the courtyard. Lu Yao quickly put on his shoes and looked outside, seeing Xiaodou in a tiger pose, on all fours, stretching forward and backward, raising his waist, and kicking sideways. ②

"What are you doing?"

"Sis, Sis!" Xiaodou was startled. "Why aren't you at the shop?"

Lu Yao walked over and pinched his cheek. "Tell me, what are you hiding from Sis?"

"There's nothing... really nothing..."

"You didn't tell your elder brother, fine. But hiding things from Sis, I'm truly hurt..." Lu Yao pretended to cry, covering his face.

Xiaodou panicked and quickly pulled his arm. "I, I won't hide anything from you. I want to take the county examination next spring and become a scholar."

Lu Yao was stunned. "Take the county examination?"

"Yes, Grandpa Lin said that becoming a scholar exempts one person from corvée labor. Since I'm young, it could be used for my elder brother."

Lu Yao felt a mix of emotions, unsure what to say. "You don't need to worry about this. Your elder brother and Sis have other ways."

Xiaodou shook his head. "I know you can still buy the title of gentry. Grandpa Lin told me everything. It costs five hundred taels of silver to buy the title, and after that, our family will be penniless. I don't want that."

Lu Yao was both amused and exasperated. He flicked Xiaodou's forehead. "You have quite a mind of your own, deciding to take the county examination without even discussing it with us."

"It's just that I'm afraid of embarrassing myself if I don't pass..."

"You'll only be seven years old after the New Year. What's there to be embarrassed about? Keep practicing. Your sister-in-law will make you some winter clothes."

"Okay!" Xiaodou continued his practice while Lu Yao sat inside, listening to the clear sounds of reading, feeling a sense of comfort.

The child is obedient and diligent; my husband works hard. Our life is improving steadily. Although we may not be well-off, we are far better off than many others. Lu Yao felt he couldn't be luckier.

*

In recent days, Lu Yao stayed home to treat his frostbite while Zhao Beichuan took Lu Miao and Second Sister-in-law to manage the shop.

Lu Miao took over Third Brother's duties, helping to serve customers and collect money. With the cold weather, there weren't too many customers, so the three of them could handle it.

Zhao Beichuan continued frying dough sticks at the front. Occasionally, someone would only buy the dough sticks without the soy milk, and he would collect the payment directly.

"Two dough sticks, please," said a woman in bright clothing as she approached.

"Just a moment, they'll be ready soon."

Zhao Beichuan added more fire, and the oil in the pot started bubbling. He placed the freshly rolled dough into the hot oil, and in no time, it turned golden brown.

The woman covered her mouth and giggled coyly. "Brother, you're really skilled. Such a small piece of dough turns so big when fried~"

Zhao Beichuan looked up, and the woman winked at him.

"Four coins."

The woman reached into her bosom, pulled out a purse, and placed four coins in Zhao Beichuan's hand, deliberately scraping her fingernail across his palm, making her intentions clear.

"Do you have a problem?"

"Huh?" The woman was taken aback.

"If you don't have a man, go rub a stone. Don't act like a slut every time you see one!" Zhao Beichuan wasn't the naive young man he used to be. Having experienced the previous incident with Song the widow, he found such behavior repulsive.

Knowing he was married and still trying to seduce him—she deserved a beating.

The woman's face turned red with embarrassment. She didn't even take the dough sticks and hurried away, covering her face.

The people waiting in line burst into laughter. "Even Lady Cuihong can slip up sometimes."

Someone who didn't know asked, "Who is Lady Cuihong?"

"Her husband died on the way to his labor service, leaving only an elderly mother-in-law at home. Unable to keep her widowhood, she opened a brothel. They say you can go in for a few dozen coins."

Zhao Beichuan felt even more disgusted and washed his hands several times before continuing to fry dough sticks for the customers.

I mentioned this to Lu Yao that evening, and not only did he not get angry, he even sneered at me.

"Aren't you jealous?" Zhao Beichuan was a bit upset; his husband had been touched by someone else, yet he still had the nerve to laugh.

"Jealous? Oh, how detestable of her to dare touch our Da Chuan! Just wait until I see her next time, I'll give her a piece of my mind!" Lu Yao tried hard not to laugh, his whole body trembling.

Zhao Beichuan, in a fit of anger, pushed him onto the bed and started tickling him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't enough; why did you laugh at me!"

"Oh, hahaha, stop it... I have something serious to tell you."

Zhao Beichuan let go of him, "What is it?"

Lu Yao smoothed his disheveled hair and sat up, "Xiaodou plans to take the county examination next spring."

"What's the county examination?"

"It's an exam for young scholars. If he passes, one person in our family can be exempted from corvée labor, so we won't have to pay the local gentry anymore." They had already saved nearly five hundred taels of silver, originally planning to buy the exemption after the New Year, but now they had another option.

Zhao Beichuan smiled, "That would be great; if Xiaodou passes, we save five hundred taels!"

"You make it sound easy. Even for young scholars, the exam is very difficult. Most participants have studied for many years, while Xiaodou just started this year. He’s only had a year of schooling, and I’m afraid he might not pass and get discouraged..."

Zhao Beichuan hugged him from behind, his rough hands slipping under his shirt, "It's fine. Kids need to stumble and fall to grow up. You can't smooth every path for him."

"That's true. We can treat this as a trial run. If he doesn’t pass, we can always pay the gentry..." Lu Yao held his hand, leaning against his shoulder with shallow breaths.

"Don't worry about it. Let's put out the light and go to sleep early."

Though they said they'd sleep early, they didn't hold back, staying up late into the night before finally falling asleep.

The next morning, Lu Yao got up early and went to the shop.

He claimed he wasn't jealous, but he still wanted to see what kind of person Cuihong was, daring to come and flirt with his man in broad daylight.

Perhaps because Zhao Beichuan had insulted her so harshly yesterday, she didn’t show up today. They were busy until almost closing time when suddenly, someone from Lujia Village came to deliver a message.

"Lu Yao, hurry home; your father fell off the roof!"