Chapter 12: Uncle Shen’s House

Chapter 12: Uncle Shen's House

Uncle Shen's house was located at the border between the outer city and the inner city, near the intersection of the two. Taking the "long carriage" that shuttled between the inner and outer cities of Bianjing would take about half an hour—not too far.

Since the imperial palace was slightly to the north, Bianjing had the saying "noble in the north, humble in the south," reflecting the city's social hierarchy. However, as Bianjing became more populous and land prices soared, many wealthy merchants had built large mansions in the southern part of the city and moved to live outside.

Uncle Shen was no different. In the inner city, like Shen's father, he also had a shop with a residence behind it. But his house in the outer city had two courtyards, with a total of nine rooms.

On top of that, Uncle Shen owned fifty acres of land in the countryside. He lived in the outer city for the convenience of collecting rent from the countryside and purchasing grain from other regions—after all, Uncle Shen ran a grain shop.

Since they were going out, Shen Miao took the time to dress up a bit. She changed into an apricot-colored, narrow-sleeved jacket embroidered with plum blossoms, paired with a green skirt. The fabric was plain cotton, and this outfit was made the year she first married into the Jinling family. However, since she had taken on all the household chores in the Rong family, she usually wore short shirts, so this outfit had been worn only a few times, making it look almost new.

She took out the only remaining silver hairpin, carved with plum branches, from the box to tie her hair, then wrapped her bun with an apricot-colored headscarf. Beyond this, she wore no other adornments.

When she emerged in her new clothes, Shen Ji silently stared at her for a long time. Shen Miao asked what he was looking at. He just shook his head and smiled, "Sister is beautiful. Father used to brag to the neighbors that Sister was the most beautiful girl within ten miles. It made all the uncles and aunts with daughters roll their eyes, but they couldn't argue."

Shen Miao didn't shy away and instead smirked, "Of course!"

The original owner of the body was indeed beautiful. She wasn't the kind of woman who was stunning at first glance, but her curved eyebrows had the gentle softness of the rain-soaked alleys of Jiangnan, as fresh and lovely as peach branches sprouting in spring, making people forget the mundane world at the sight of her.

Hearing this, Xiang Jieer looked up at Shen Miao too.

Shen Miao took her little hand and bent down to smile at her, "Our Xiang Jieer is also beautiful. One day, you’ll be even more beautiful than Sister!"

Xiang Jieer immediately imitated her earlier manner, puffing out her chest and declaring, "Of course!"

Shen Ji trailed behind, watching the lighthearted scene of his sister and younger sister comparing their beauty, and couldn't help but smile. But when his gaze fell on the lone silver hairpin in Shen Miao's bun, his smile turned somber.

This silver hairpin was likely part of the dowry that Mother had made for Sister. It was a full set, and if he remembered correctly, it included: a top hairpin, a pair of side hairpins, a pair of long hairpins, a centerpiece, a divider, a pair of side ornaments, a pair of earrings, a pair of bracelets, a pair of rings, and several small hairpins and pins.

But now, Sister had only one hairpin left.

Over the past three years, he had harbored resentment toward Sister.

But now, upon reflection, perhaps Sister had also suffered greatly, otherwise she would never have abandoned him and Xiang Jieer. She used to be so gentle and kind, so she must have been severely mistreated in the Rong family, which caused such a drastic change in her personality.

Shen Ji had initially felt somewhat distant from the returned Sister. Although her appearance hadn't changed, her personality was completely different. She had become so straightforward, resilient, and unpretentious... there was no trace of timidity or hesitation in her eyes.

But now, he understood that Sister must have suffered a lot.

Shen Ji's hand unconsciously clenched into a fist until Shen Miao turned back to call him, "Ji Geer, why are you lagging behind? Come on, we need to hurry, or else the long carriage will leave, and we'll have to walk."

"Ah!" Shen Ji loosened his hand and quickly caught up with his sister and younger sister, silently vowing: Starting tomorrow, he would help Sister more with her work. Whether he could continue his studies or not, he had to strive to find ways to save money. Sooner or later, he would buy a complete set of jewelry for Sister!

The most expensive and beautiful one from the gold and silver shop!

It was late spring, and the afternoon sun gently shone on them, neither too hot nor too cold. Shen Miao held one hand each and walked near the livestock market, where three or four "long carriages" for hire were parked—these carriages had canopies and cushions, each could accommodate six to ten people. Adults paid two coins, and children one coin, to ride.

These were "shared carriages" bought by merchants in Bianjing, specifically for citizens to share rides.

Shen Miao paid three coins. Since Xiang Jieer was still small and could sit on her lap without taking up space, she managed to convince the driver not to charge for her. Once the carriage was full, the driver would ask each person where they were going and drop them off along the way.

To Shen Miao, this was somewhat like an ancient version of a bus, just a bit expensive.

After all, the purchasing power of one coin at this time was much stronger than one yuan in later times.

While waiting, Shen Miao noticed a child selling pears by the roadside and bought a bag of them, paying three coins for a dozen round, green pears.

Shen Ji glanced at Shen Miao, puzzled, his eyes full of curiosity: Actually, he had been nervous all the way, worried that Sister would suffer at Uncle's house. Aunt's mouth was not easy to deal with!

Who would have thought that Xiang Jieer, clearly going to quarrel, still had the leisure to buy pears.

Shen Miao didn’t explain, just smiled.

Quarreling, rolling on the ground like a madwoman, even if you win, it’s a Pyrrhic victory, ruining your own reputation. But if you can seize the moral high ground and win the court of public opinion, everything changes.

As they boarded the carriage, the bustling inner city transitioned to a different scene in the outer city. Along the inner city walls were mostly expansive mansions with grand walls, with several carriages and sedan chairs parked by the side gates. The well-dressed servants leaned against the gates, idly chatting. At the sight of any unwanted approach, they would harshly scold and drive them away.

The wheels rumbled past two moats before reaching densely populated areas like those near Jinliang Bridge. Restaurants and inns lined the streets, and various shops and residences appeared newer and larger compared to those in the inner city. Uncle Shen lived in this area.

Shen Miao led Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer off the carriage, guided by memory through the streets and alleys, and soon spotted the sign of "Shen’s Grain Store" in the bustling market.

From a distance, Shen Ji saw the sign with "Rice" on one side and "Shen Da" on the other, his body stiffening and shoulders tensing up.

Shen Miao patted his hand reassuringly and walked confidently inside.

Inside, behind a high counter, a man in his forties, overweight and dressed in silk, lay on a rattan rocking chair, engrossed in a book. He swayed his head, occasionally sucking his fingers and leisurely flipping the pages.

Shen Miao took a moment to prepare, handed the pears to Ji Geer, and then let out a sharp shout:

"Uncle!"

The shout was like thunder, startling Shen Ji and Xiang Jieer, and jolting Uncle Shen from his book. The sudden noise made him jerk, his book flying out of his hands. He hurriedly tried to grab it, but overturned the rocking chair, falling flat on his back with a loud thud.

"Ouch, ouch, my butt..."

Shen Ji took a deep breath, suppressing his laughter.

Shen Miao quickly pursed her lips, trying to maintain her pitiful expression, but Xiang Jieer couldn’t hold back, bursting out laughing at Uncle Shen’s predicament.

"Who?" Uncle Shen, furious, scrambled up from the ground, ready to slam the counter in anger, but froze when he saw Shen Miao. "My niece? Why are you back?"

Shen Miao rushed over, lifted the small barrier, and grabbed Uncle Shen’s silk-clad arm, wailing, "Uncle! I’ve suffered so much—you have no idea! I almost died, and now I’m finally reunited with my family!"

Uncle Shen, grimacing in pain, struggled but couldn’t break free. Shen Miao’s loud commotion had already drawn the attention of neighbors and passersby, who gathered around the store, peeking in.

Uncle Shen, panicked by Shen Miao’s crying, shouted: "Wife, my wife, come out—"

Shen Miao wiped her nose and tears on Uncle Shen’s sleeve, offering a cold smile.

Uncle Shen, named Shen Gaodou, was a businessman who had studied at a private school for years, thanks to his grandfather. Unfortunately, despite his grandfather’s high hopes, he never passed the imperial exams.

Now, he was just a grain merchant who flaunted his literary knowledge, often reading classics like "The Doctrine of the Mean," "Mencius," and "The Book of Rites," acting like a scholar with unfulfilled potential.

But knowing his background, Shen Miao, recalling her original self’s impression of Uncle Shen, had already devised a plan to handle such "mediocre yet self-important" people.

Ancient scholars often said, "A scholar can be killed but not humiliated." They prized their reputation and dignity above all, and public shame was worse than death.

So Shen Miao cried louder, accusing, "Uncle, you’re my only close relative! Blood is thicker than water. My parents died tragically, and I have nowhere to seek justice. I was married off to Jinling, leaving my young siblings in your care and entrusting you with our family store. Why did you drive them out, leaving them to wander the streets, nearly freezing and starving to death?"

In ancient times, families lived together, depending on one another. With Shen Miao’s parents gone, it was Uncle Shen’s duty to care for his brother’s children. Especially since the Shen family only had Uncle Shen and Shen Miao’s father as brothers, abandoning his brother’s orphans would be a grave moral failing, earning him public scorn.

Shen Miao didn’t sue Uncle Shen in court, partly because, as a junior suing a senior, it would be like a wife divorcing her husband—a case of "the lowly suing the noble," requiring thirty lashes before the court would even consider it. Another reason was that Uncle Shen’s neglect was a moral issue, not a legal one, and the authorities wouldn’t bother with such family disputes...

This damned world!

So Shen Miao had no choice but to confront Uncle Shen directly, exposing his selfishness to secure benefits for herself, Ji Geer, and Xiang Jieer!