Chapter 181

Chapter 181

Originally, they had planned to stay in Tianyang for a few more days, but Eldest Cousin advised them to return first. Although Father was seriously ill, he was stable for the time being, and staying longer might delay their important matters.

Li Shi fell ill upon returning, overwhelmed by worry and exhaustion. For four or five days, she couldn’t eat, worrying everyone deeply. Chen Rong stayed by her side to console her, saying, “Sister-in-law, you must accept this. Life and death are fated, governed by Heaven. No matter how much we grieve, we cannot change it. You must think of the children.”

Lying in bed, Li Shi choked up and replied, “I understand what you’re saying, but seeing my elder brother in that state feels like a thorn piercing my heart.”

Chen Rong sighed and said, “I felt the same way when my elder brother fell ill. But life must go on. Qing Yan is about to take up his post in the capital, Qing Yun is pregnant, and Qing Song hasn’t even taken the imperial exams yet. If something were to happen to you, who would take care of them? You can’t rely solely on Wang Ying.”

Li Shi was stunned for a long moment before she broke down sobbing. After crying, she gradually came to terms with it, and within a few days, her health improved.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. If anything had happened to Li Shi, not only would the children be devastated, but Qing Yan’s official position would also be affected. According to the laws of the Wu Dynasty, officials were required to observe a three-year mourning period upon the death of a parent. Missing this golden three-year period would make future promotions difficult.

By mid-May, the ancestral hall was finally completed, and the whole family attended the beam-raising ceremony.

On that day, everyone dressed formally—the men tied their hair and wore hats, while the women adorned themselves with hairpins and wore their most solemn attire.

Little Yuanbao, dressed in a brand-new blue robe, seemed to sense the solemnity of the occasion and sat obediently on Wang Ying’s lap.

When they arrived at the village, villagers were already waiting at the entrance, escorting the carriage toward the hillside.

Wang Ying lifted the carriage curtain and saw the Top Scholar Memorial Arch standing in the distance, inscribed with the words “Zhuangyuan Fang” and details of Chen Qingyan’s life, such as his top scholar designation in the imperial examinations during the 13th year of the Wuping era.

The carriage stopped by the roadside, and everyone walked through the archway to the ancestral hall.

The hall, built according to Wang Ying’s design, consisted of three rooms. The main hall, flanked by two smaller halls on either side, enshrined the ancestors of the Chen family. One of the smaller halls was dedicated to married women and men who married into other families, and children who died young.

According to Wu Dynasty customs, married women and men who married into other families were not allowed to be buried in the ancestral or marital graves, leaving them to be interred in wilderness areas. Without descendants to tend to their graves, these sites would soon become overgrown and forgotten.

Wang Ying proposed building a small hall to ensure that, regardless of the circumstances, these individuals would be cared for and receive offerings from descendants.

Chen Rong was moved to tears upon hearing this. When she had separated from her husband, she had worried about this very issue, as ancient people were particularly superstitious about the afterlife. She had feared she would be left in the wilderness, but Wang Ying had already made arrangements. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she felt this nephew by marriage had thought of everything.

The other small hall was reserved for villagers. Most people in the village shared the surname Chen, whether by birth or adoption. Regardless of their origins, they were now considered one family, eligible to be enshrined in the ancestral hall after death.

The sense of belonging fostered by the clan was indescribable. The entire village now felt a profound connection, knowing they would remain there eternally, receiving offerings from future generations.

Around chenshi (7-9 a.m.), preparations for the beam-raising ceremony began. The elderly man who had presided over the previous beam-raising ceremony for the villa was invited again. Over seventy years old with snow-white hair and beard, he remained spry. Leaning on a wooden cane, he smiled and said, “May the master be blessed with health and peace. I am honored to be here again.”

Chen Qingyan stepped forward to support him, saying, “Thank you for your trouble, Elder.”

“No trouble at all. This is a joyous occasion. I am delighted the master thinks so highly of me.”

In the courtyard, offerings of the three sacrificial animals were arranged. The elder lit incense and candles, chanting intricate verses—first paying respects to Lu Ban, the patron saint of carpenters, then to the local deities, and finally to the ancestors.

After the chants, Chen Qingyan took a brush dipped in cinnabar ink and wrote “Auspicious Beam Installation” on the beam. Chen Xi gathered over a dozen strong men who secured the beam with thick ropes and hoisted it into place with coordinated work chants.

As the beam settled, firecrackers crackled loudly. The elderly wept tears of joy, while the children clapped and cheered. In that moment, everyone felt a deep sense of belonging—a testament to the power of ancient ancestral halls.

The family lined up to offer incense, with Little Yuanbao joining in. Wang Ying placed a lit incense stick in his hand, and they knelt on kneeling cushions together.

“Yuanbao, these are your ancestors. Bow like I do, then place the incense in the burner.”

“Okay,” Yuanbao replied, copying his father's actions by bowing three times before placing the incense into the burner. At that moment, Wang Ying thought he heard laughter around him. Taken aback, he looked around, but the sound faded as if it had never happened.

Rubbing his goosebump-covered arms, Wang Ying quickly left the hall with his son. The villagers then entered to offer their respects.

After entrusting Yuanbao to his grandmother, Wang Ying went with the villagers to inspect the wheat fields, as it was harvest season.

Chen Xi reported, “Since you gave us the wheat seeds, our village has had the highest yield in the area—one shi more per acre than other villages.”

“Have there been any pest issues?”

An elderly man nearby added, “Last spring, we had blight again, but we followed your method and brought it under control. The yield wasn’t affected.”

“That’s good to hear.”

At the edge of the field, Wang Ying plucked a head of wheat. The grains were plump and of excellent quality.

“Many people from other villages wanted to buy our wheat seeds this spring, but I wasn’t sure and didn’t dare sell them.”

Wang Ying said, “Go ahead and sell them. Price them 10 to 20 percent higher than regular seeds to increase your income.”

The villagers were thrilled. With the master’s status as a top scholar exempting them from taxes and Wang Ying taking only 30% of the harvest, they had more than enough to eat and could sell the surplus for additional income.

Wang Ying used the 30% share for village projects such as building bridges, repairing roads, and maintaining the ancestral hall, ensuring the family’s prosperity.

At noon, a communal banquet was held in the village. Villagers, young and old, sat together, eating and chatting in a lively atmosphere.

Some reminisced about the past floods: “Three or four nearby villages were wiped out entirely, and their land was reclaimed by the magistrate's office. Thanks to the master leading us to safety, not only did we survive, but our lives have improved.”

“Yes, life keeps getting better!” Faces beamed with contentment. For ordinary folks, having enough food, clothing, and a little extra money was all they needed.

The feast lasted until evening when the family boarded the carriage to return home. The villagers followed them for miles, seeing them off with heartfelt wishes for health and prosperity—knowing their own well-being was tied to the family’s success.

That evening, Wang Ying told Chen Qingyan about his experience in the ancestral hall: “Did you hear anything when you offered incense?”

“No, why?”

In a mysterious tone, Wang Ying said, “When Yuanbao and I were offering incense, I thought I heard laughter.”

“Probably just people outside laughing?”

Wang Ying shook his head. “No, it sounded like it was right beside me. It gave me goosebumps.”

Chen Qingyan patted his head reassuringly. “Don’t worry. It must have been our ancestors, happy to see you and our son.”

“Hearing that makes me feel better.”

Wang Ying leaned his head on Chen Qingyan’s shoulder. “Once we leave, it might be years before we return. It’s hard to say goodbye.”

“Then let’s come back when we’re old. We can farm a few acres of land. How does that sound?”

Wang Ying looked up, delighted. “That would be perfect! We’ll keep a dog and a cat, but no chickens or ducks—those poultry make a mess everywhere.”

Chen Qingyan chuckled softly, and both felt a warm sense of anticipation.

Time flew by, and soon it was time to depart.

On May 26, a sunny day with a gentle breeze, ideal for travel, the family packed with reluctance and left their ancestral home.

*

They first went to the county town to drop off Third Aunt and her family. The Porter Guild business needed managing, and Cao Kun had returned the day after bringing them.

They didn’t stay long in the county town, resting overnight before continuing their journey early the next morning. Before leaving, Wang Ying called Cao Kun to ask about his plans for moving to the prefectural city.

Cao Kun said, "I discussed it with the Porter Guild workers. Half of them are willing to come with me to the regional capital, while the others, unable to leave their homes and livelihoods, will stay in the county town to continue running the shop."

"Then I’ll help you find a storefront once I return."

"I appreciate it, sister-in-law!"

Wang Ying waved her hand. "We’re family—no need to stand on ceremony. Just let us know in advance when you plan to come, and we’ll arrange a place for you to stay."

"Probably around July or August."

"Alright, we’ll be waiting for you in the regional capital then."

The journey back from the county town was long, and they even had to stop at a waystation for a few days due to rain. They finally arrived home on June 15, utterly exhausted.

Upon returning, the mother-in-law fell ill, likely due to her age and drinking unclean water on the road. Her severe vomiting and diarrhea really scared Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan.

They sent for a doctor who prescribed several doses of medicine, and it took six or seven days for both of them to recover.

Qing Yun came to help care for them for a few days. Her pregnancy had stabilized, and she was no longer suffering from morning sickness. She'd filled out quite a bit since before.

"I’ve been telling Chang Yi at home for days how much I regret not being able to go back with you this time. Who knows when I’ll get another chance to return?"

Wang Ying said, "There will be opportunities in the future. You’re about seven months along now, aren’t you?"

"Seven and a half months. The doctor says the baby is due in August."

Calculating the timing, it would coincide with Qing Yan’s departure to the capital to assume his post. "What a pity we won’t be here then. We’ll prepare a full-month gift for our little nephew in advance."

Qing Yun teased, "Then you’d better make it something decent, or I’ll hold it against you and Big Brother."

"You little rascal, daring to demand gifts from your sister-in-law now!"

The two bantered for a while before Qing Yun quickly gave in. "Oh, laughing like this is making my stomach cramp up. Pregnancy is no joke—I can’t sleep well at all at night. Neither side is comfortable to lie on, and lying flat makes it hard to breathe. I can’t wait to give birth and finally feel comfortable again."

Wang Ying said, "Wait until after the baby comes—that’s even harder. The crying, the diapers, keeping them warm but not too warm—once you become a mother, the worrying never ends."

Qing Yun gently stroked her belly. "It's amazing what women can do, actually giving birth to children."

Wang Ying thought to herself, my brother is even more amazing—a man actually giving birth to a child!