Chapter One Hundred Seventeen: Xiao Dashi

Chapter 117: Xiao Dashi

Yesterday, Tangyuan had been perfectly content, feeling grown-up and independent in his own space. But this morning, upon seeing Lin Qiuran, a wave of sadness and self-pity washed over him.

He felt utterly miserable. The thought of having to leave home alone, go to school by himself, and not see his mother or grandmother all day made his heart ache even more.

To make matters worse, last night, Xiao Xun had been insistent on sending him away, not even allowing him to stay past midnight.

Lin Qiuran nodded, easily discerning his thoughts from his expression. "Yes, Tangyuan has grown up today and won't be sleeping with his parents anymore."

"Sleeping on your own now—what a big step! Tonight, your mother and father will stay with you, tell you a story, and tuck you in until you fall asleep before we return to our room."

"There will be maids on night duty, so you don't need to be afraid of the dark. Tangyuan is a big boy now, a very capable one, Mother thinks."

Lin Qiuran’s soft, gentle voice calmed Tangyuan's heart considerably.

Tangyuan sniffled, wanting to protest that he wasn't capable at all. But since Lin Qiuran had said so, he couldn't disappoint his mother.

Tangyuan pursed his lips. "Alright then, I'll get up soon to pack my things and move them over."

Lin Qiuran smiled. "Tangyuan is so competent; Mother doesn't even need to worry about a thing."

In truth, he would have to move out and sleep on his own sooner or later. With maids watching over him, Lin Qiuran wasn't worried. It would likely be uncomfortable for only the first few days, but with time, he would gradually adjust.

Lin Qiuran asked, "What would you like to eat tonight? Mother will make it for you."

Tangyuan replied, "Wontons, dry-tossed with sesame paste and chili oil."

They used to always have them in soup—spicy broth, sour broth, bone broth… But since coming to the capital, there were more ways to enjoy them. Dry-tossed with sesame paste and chili oil was especially fragrant.

Lin Qiuran’s filling was delicious, with tender minced meat, plenty of shrimp and preserved eggs, and the broth was also very tasty.

Lin Qiuran also planned to start other businesses once Golden Tripod Restaurant's operations stabilized. She was skilled at making food and had the capital. The capital was vast, with no fewer customers than Yu'an, so there was money to be made.

Lin Qiuran nodded. "Alright, we'll have that."

Tangyuan grumbled, "Father's mean. Last night, he already wanted me to leave."

Lin Qiuran smiled. "He was just asking. Come on, get up now."

After getting up, Tangyuan packed his things and moved his commonly used luggage and toys to his own courtyard. His courtyard still hadn't been named. Lin Qiuran wanted to wait until he started studying before naming it. Otherwise, if it were really called "Tiger Courtyard," he wouldn't know how to face that name when he grew up.

There were four maids in the courtyard, all in their twenties and quite mature. There was also a page who accompanied him in his studies and play, named Lin Yang, who was three years older than him.

The two often played together and would also sleep together in the future. So, although his parents weren't there, Tangyuan wasn't alone—he still had company.

At noon, Tangyuan slept in his own courtyard. After waking up, he ran to the main courtyard to find Lin Qiuran.

He hugged Lin Qiuran’s neck. "Mother, I still miss you a lot. I dreamed about you during my afternoon nap."

Lin Qiuran reached out and ruffled his hair. To be honest, if Tangyuan had moved out happily, she, as his mother, would have felt a bit reluctant to let him go. But since he was reluctant, Lin Qiuran thought to persuade him first. Children need to grow up eventually, and he would get used to it after a few days.

Otherwise, when he started school, if he wasn't used to studying or sleeping alone, it would be even harder then.

One day, he would grow wings. Lin Qiuran wanted to let him try spreading his wings. "Mother misses Tangyuan too, but we’re still in the same house, just not in the same courtyard. We can still see each other every day. Even after you start school, we’ll see each other daily."

Tangyuan retorted, "That's not true. When I'm a few years older and go to study, I'll have to live at the academy."

Lin Qiuran spent half a day with Tangyuan in his courtyard. With her there, he could get familiar with the unfamiliar environment more quickly.

Sun Shi saw this and felt a bit reluctant. He was their only child—shouldn't they spoil him a bit? She thought Tangyuan was still young and said to Lin Qiuran, "Why not let him sleep alone after another half year?"

Sun Shi hadn't interfered with Tangyuan’s matters for a long time, and she hadn't spoiled him these past few months either.

Lin Qiuran smiled and said, "Mother, whether we wait half a year or a year, it’s the same. At first, he’ll still be reluctant to leave, so it’s better to do it early so he won’t have a harder time later."

Sun Shi sighed helplessly and could only listen to Lin Qiuran. Just like that, ten days passed, and Tangyuan finally got used to sleeping alone. Now, he was about to start school at the academy.

Raising a child was taxing, but there was finally light at the end of the tunnel.

At the end of the month, Lin Qiuran packed Tangyuan’s school things. She prepared two sets of everything and even brought bedding to leave at the dormitory, as he would need to nap there at noon.

Two students shared one dormitory room. There were no single rooms, as the academy not only taught academics but also how to conduct oneself in society. After ten years of hard study, in the future, he would have not only his parents but also friendships with classmates.

Early on the first day of the second month, Lin Qiuran took a carriage to send Tangyuan to the academy. On the first day of enrollment, there were no other tasks—no lessons, just going to the dormitory to make his bed, receiving uniforms, changing into them, and then meeting the teacher.

Lin Qiuran first helped Tangyuan make his bed—he did it himself. Afterward, they went to the classroom building, passing many children around Tangyuan’s age along the way.

Once they entered, Lin Qiuran didn't follow anymore. She saw that all the children went in on their own.

Under a tree near the school entrance, she bent down to adjust Tangyuan’s clothes and carefully instructed him, "If the teacher asks your name, say you’re called Xiao Lian. Tangyuan is a childhood nickname used by elders at home—don’t mix them up. If anything happens, ask the teacher. Don’t let yourself be bullied, and don’t bully others either."

Tangyuan looked up and nodded firmly. "Mother, I know."

Lin Qiuran was still a little worried but smiled at Tangyuan. "Go on, quickly."

Tangyuan carried his book bag and walked step by step toward the classroom building. He was small, wearing the academy’s light blue uniform. As he walked into the sunlight, Lin Qiuran thought he looked so small and fuzzy.

Tangyuan wore a hat on his head. As he got closer to the school entrance, his initially bouncy gait gradually became more steady.

The teacher waited at the entrance. Tangyuan greeted him first and, before entering, turned back to wave at Lin Qiuran before going inside.

Lin Qiuran sighed with relief inwardly but didn’t rush to leave.

He had a full day of classes and would eat lunch there. Lin Qiuran wasn't entirely at ease and planned to check at noon, waiting until everything was completely fine before returning. But she didn’t need to let Tangyuan know—she could just sit in the carriage for a while.

Probably because of Xiao Xun, the academy’s teachers and staff were quite polite to Madam Lin.

"Madam Lin, rest assured, your son will certainly achieve great success in his studies here."

Lin Qiuran nodded gently. The academy was quite large. Walking around, one could hear the sound of students reading aloud. Those coming to study were allowed to bring one page. When they got older, they wouldn't be allowed to have pages follow them, but study attendants could still come to take care of them.

Lin Qiuran walked around the academy before returning to the carriage. With a warming brazier, it wasn't cold, and besides, spring was almost here.

After noon, a servant from the residence came out and said to Lin Qiuran, "The young master listened attentively in class, though nothing much was taught in the morning. After lunch, he returned to the dormitory for an afternoon rest."

Lin Qiuran asked, "Did he eat well?"

The servant replied, "The young master didn’t pick at his food, though some young masters from other residences were rather boisterous. The young master fell asleep quickly during nap time. The young master from the Marquis of Cheng'en's residence in the same room has a good-natured temperament, though his eyes were red from crying. Our young master comforted him a few words and got along well with his classmates. He’s fast asleep now, so I hurried out to speak with you, Madam."

Lin Qiuran nodded. "Keep an eye on things. Report back to the residence if anything happens."

Lin Qiuran returned first. Tangyuan listened to the teacher, ate well, and even comforted his classmates. Perhaps when he returned, he would tell her about making new friends and how much he enjoyed studying at school.

Back at the Count of Dingyuan’s residence, Sun Shi anxiously asked, "How was it? Is he adjusting? Tangyuan is still so young to be studying in a group setting…"

Xiao Xun had never been to formal school. Sun Shi had originally thought about having a tutor come to the residence, but Lin Qiuran insisted on sending Tangyuan to the academy.

Lin Qiuran smiled and said, "It was fine. I returned once I saw he was settled. Mother, don’t worry. I didn’t see anything too dangerous inside the academy."

There were no lakes or bodies of water, and the many stewards were very responsible.

Sun Shi nodded, "That's good, you should eat first."

Lin Qiuran had a simple meal, while Sun Shi kept her company. With Tangyuan not at home, she wasn't quite used to it.

Lin Qiuran also noticed that Sun Shi was always sighing; if this continued for long, she might get sick from boredom.

She said, "Spring is almost here, and it won’t be cold anymore. You should go out for a walk to avoid staying at home all the time and feeling bored."

Sun Shi didn’t like socializing with ladies from well-off families, always feeling she couldn't connect with them and that being from the countryside made her easily looked down upon. But Lin Qiuran had a point—spring was coming, and it would soon be warm. She ought to find something to do.

Before marriage, her life revolved around her parents and brothers. After marriage, it centered around Xiao Dashi and the people of the old house. Later, when Xiao Xun was born, her world revolved around her son.

Then, after Xiao Xun left, she guarded Lin Qiuran and Tangyuan. Now Tangyuan had gone off to study, Lin Qiuran was busy with her business, Xiao Xun left early and returned late every day, and Xiao Dashi had messed up his own life and was sent back to Xiaojiacun Village.

In truth, Sun Shi hadn't sent Xiao Dashi back to Xiaojiacun Village solely because she was angry at him for wronging her. Rather, if she didn’t intervene, Xiao Dashi might eventually bring people to the capital, which would only create trouble for Xiao Xun and Lin Qiuran.

As an old woman from the countryside who had lived so long, if she did anything wrong, no one could stop her. But if she made Xiao Xun cut ties with his family, people would talk about him. Perhaps she had grown tired of the capital and wanted to go back to live for a few days, to see how Xiao Dashi was really doing.

As for Yu’an City, by early February, it was already the season of spring when everything is coming to life.

The weather was warm, and every household was busy steaming sweet green rice balls and making ingot-shaped cakes.

Occasionally, some families, dissatisfied with their own cooking, would buy some from the street. Wufangzhai sold these items, and they were not expensive. They also shipped to other regions and sold quite well.

Lin Ming had been back for a few days after escorting Xiao Dashi home. They hadn’t delayed much on the road and arrived in Yu’an on the 24th day of the first lunar month.

After returning, Lin Ming first took Xiao Dashi to the Xiao family home to pack his belongings. It seemed the people from the old house had been keeping an eye on the place, because as soon as Xiao Dashi returned, someone came over—Xiao Dashi’s nephew—saying they wanted to take Xiao Dashi over to welcome him back.

Lin Ming had originally thought these people might have taken the opportunity to stay at the Xiao family home while they were away, but they hadn’t. When he escorted Xiao Dashi over, he learned that the folks from the old household had also bought a property in the county town.

They hadn't bought one for so many years, but as soon as Xiao Dashi gave them money, they bought one. It was clear whose money had been spent on the property.

Come to think of it, Xiao Dashi had given over a hundred taels of silver to the old house over the years. Saving up, they could certainly afford to buy a house.

Xiao Dashi was happy, feeling that his nephew could be counted on. "Let me pack up, and I’ll go over right away."

This way, he wouldn’t have to go back to Xiaojiacun Village to live; he could stay in the county town.

Seeing this, Lin Ming kept his thoughts to himself. Once Xiao Dashi was packed, he escorted him over.

The old house’s place wasn't far from the Xiao family home; it was just a short ride by carriage. Xiao Dashi didn’t have much—over the years, his room had only contained his own bedding and clothes.

He had saved some money, but little by little, it had all been given to the old household. In the end, he took only two large bundles, though the clothes were of good quality, and the bedding was made of fine fabric and cotton.

He had no money. The Golden Tripod Restaurant had profits, but none of it went to him. Aunt Yu and Madam Yang wouldn’t give him any money either. There were no other valuables, as most had been moved to the capital, and the remainder was stored in the warehouse.

Lin Qiuran was a filial daughter-in-law, often buying him alcohol and jewelry for Sun Shi. Xiao Dashi had drunk much of the alcohol, and the rest had been taken away months ago.

In the warehouse were his farming tools, which he used often, but these had also been provided by Lin Qiuran. Originally, Xiao Dashi didn’t want to take them, because the family’s land was under Lin Qiuran’s name, and he wouldn’t need to manage it anymore.

But then he remembered he still had three mu of land. Xiao Dashi thought he could have his nephew farm it for him for now, so he took the farming tools with him.

Before leaving, Xiao Erlang blurted out, "Uncle, is this for grandmother? She’s old—if she’s going to sleep, she should have new bedding."

The bedding Xiao Dashi had used was smelly and lumpy; who would want it?

Xiao Erlang couldn’t help but think: Before the New Year, Xiao Dashi had been quite generous, so why was he so stingy after the New Year?

Xiao Dashi said, "What do you mean for your grandmother? This is my luggage."

Xiao Erlang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Right, only you came back for the New Year, and there’s no one at home—it must be lonely. Our place is small, but there are many people, so it’s lively. Grandmother often says, more people mean more blessings, more sons mean more fortune, and a thriving lineage. She also always says that having more brothers means they can help each other. Uncle, when will you talk to Xiao Xun? We’re all family—my elder brother and I can help. Otherwise, he’s out there all alone, and it must be hard."

"And sister-in-law, running the restaurant—once the family leaves, the restaurant is full of outsiders. Who knows, one day they might take over the business without anyone noticing."