Chapter 30

Chapter 30

"Does Old Master Yu want Lu Feifan to get involved in clan affairs?" The clan leader's eldest son frowned. "Yu Geer is simple-minded. Perhaps Old Master Yu doesn't plan to take him back to the capital anymore and wants him and the live-in son-in-law to put down roots in Anping County. Today's tofu delivery might be a move to have that Lu Feifan ingratiate himself with the clan members."

But the clan leader's second son said, "Old Master Yu dotes on Yu Geer. Clan members can't easily see Yu Geer when they visit. He definitely wouldn't leave him behind alone. Having Lu Feifan deliver tofu might just be him caring for the clan members."

"If he cares for the clan members, he doesn't need to send the son-in-law. Any steward could represent the Yu family better than him. Unless... he intends for this husband to build good relations with the Yu clan members," said the eldest son.

The second son thought differently. "Perhaps Old Master Yu wants to cultivate Lu Feifan's social skills. Lu Feifan is alone in the world and lacks experience in human interactions. This move might be to help him make up for that deficiency."

"Old Master Yu dotes on Yu Geer. Building up the son-in-law's standing among the clan members is laying the groundwork for Yu Geer staying in Anping County in the future." The eldest son still believed Old Master Yu would leave Yu Xiaoyu in Anping County. "Our Anping County is a better place for a simple-minded young master than the capital."

"Elder Brother, you are mistaken. Someone like Old Master Yu would never feel at ease entrusting someone important to him to others' care. Ever since Yu Geer took on a calamity for Old Master Yu, he has become his most sensitive point."

"Second Brother, are you saying there isn't a single person in our clan worthy of Old Master Yu's trust?"

"Stop arguing. Second Brother makes a valid point." The clan leader intervened to stop his sons' dispute. "Cousin Yu feels guilty towards Yu Geer. He wouldn't feel at ease letting others care for Yu Geer. If he leaves Anping County in the future, he will definitely take Yu Geer with him."

"What if he doesn't leave? Old Master Yu is already this old. Could he possibly return to the imperial court?" the eldest son questioned.

"Whether he can return to court or not, I don't know. But the Yu family in the capital cannot do without him, their pillar of stability."

As soon as the clan leader finished speaking, his second son immediately pressed, "Father, do you have some news?"

"No news. When I went to the capital a few years ago, I met Cousin Yu's two sons. Huaien has become steady over the years. Huaiqing's ambition to achieve something great hasn't died out yet. He is Yu Geer's father. Cousin definitely doesn't trust him."

The second son followed his father's train of thought. "Now Old Master Yu has returned to his hometown to avoid conflict. Cousin Huaiqing's drive could be problematic."

Seeing his father and second brother conversing happily, the eldest son felt resentful. He masked his displeasure. "Then, them having Lu Feifan care for the impoverished clan members—doesn't that carry even a hint of trying to usurp our authority within the clan?"

Before Old Master Yu rose to prominence, the position of clan leader had been passed down for five generations within the clan leader's lineage. After Old Master Yu became a high official, the authority over many matters naturally shifted to Old Master Yu's branch. The clan leader's eldest son worried that by his next generation, or the one after, this position would have to be handed over.

The clan leader pondered for a long time. "Lu Feifan has no clan. The Yu residence is probably paving the way for his future integration into the clan. But he is just a live-in son-in-law. He doesn't bear the Yu surname after all. The clan members won't acknowledge him."

"They are quite attentive to Lu Feifan. Can we really not seize this marriage? We can have Qin Zhao become a live-in son-in-law too."

Qin Zhao was the person the clan leader had taken to the Yu residence last time.

"The patriarch of the youngest branch said that Lu Feifan and Yu Geer have a predestined marriage from a past life, according to a Taoist priest's reading. Old Master Yu and Yu Changan both believe that Taoist priest. Apart from Lu Feifan, they won't consider anyone else."

"What about Yu Geer's parents and other brothers? Are they willing for their son to bring a live-in son-in-law into the family?" asked the eldest son.

The clan leader shook his head. "Cousin Yu is here. He won't allow them to decide."

"Then we can only go after Lu Feifan," said the second son.

"Young Master Chang'an keeps a close watch."

"We'll find an opportunity. Have Yu Ming and the younger members of our family interact with him more," the second son suggested.

The clan leader nodded.

Lu Maomao had no idea that his simple trip to the village to deliver tofu could spark so much speculation. On the way back, the clear sound of children reciting lessons drifted from afar. Curious, Lu Maomao asked Yu Sui beside him, "Where is the village school?"

"Right next to the ancestral hall."

No wonder he hadn't seen it last time. "How is it run?"

"The clan school has four classes: A, B, C, and D. Classes C and D teach literacy. Class B is for young children preparing for the Student Scholar examination. Class A is for those preparing for the Xiucai examination."

"Why are there two classes just for teaching literacy?"

"Most children in Class D are young children from poorer families in the clan. Before they are old enough to work, their parents send them to learn characters for a year or two, then take them back to work."

Similar to kindergarten.

"Class C requires three years of formal study. Children who graduate from Class C can read and write letters and contracts without issue. With better fortune, they might even become accountants or minor stewards in our household."

That would require great luck. Not everyone in Classes A and B could pass the imperial examinations.

"Don't these classes charge tuition?"

"No. Most students in Classes C and D practice writing on sand trays, so there's little cost. Classes A and B require students to provide their own ink and brushes, which is a significant expense. Fewer than two or three out of ten families in the clan are willing to send their children."

Actually, that's quite a lot, Lu Maomao thought.

"Why doesn't the clan run a class for Xiucai? What do those who pass the Xiucai examination do?"

"There aren't many Juren in Anping County, and even fewer can be invited to teach in the clan. The old master thinks it's better to let the Xiucai gentlemen study elsewhere than for the clan to run its own class. It can broaden their horizons and help them make friends."

Lu Maomao thought this made sense. If these people studied in the clan's comfortable environment without going out, they might develop a narrow perspective. However, imperial examinations in ancient times were truly difficult. The Yu Village clan school had been operating for over forty years, producing over twenty Student Scholars, but only eight Xiucai. Apart from the old master, no one had passed the Juren examination. His elder brother-in-law, his uncle, and his biological father didn't count—they studied in the capital and hadn't attended the clan school.

Lu Maomao remembered Big White Cat saying there were no illiterates in the Yu residence. "I noticed the servants in the residence seem to recognize a few characters."

"Servants are taught rules before they begin serving their masters. During this time, they learn a few hundred characters from the steward teaching the rules."

"What if they can't learn?"

"Those who learn well are assigned to serve the young masters, young ladies, and misses. Those who don't learn well initially can only do rough work."

So that's how it is. Literacy and learning rules are the basis for the initial assignment of duties.

That's really particular.

"Why does this not seem like our Yu family's rules?" Clan members from poor families could only attend school for a year or two, so why would they specially teach servants?

Yu Sui was surprised. It turned out his family's young master-in-law wasn't just lazy and cunning; he also had some insight. "The wife of Master Huaien is a County Princess." The rules were all brought by that County Princess.

Royal relatives have grand airs. Maomao understood.

For the next two days, Lu Maomao continued making tofu. Young Master Chang'an didn't send him to Yu Village to deliver tofu again. Instead, he had him assist Mrs. Lin Shu in frying and pickling the tofu for daily side dishes.

"Young Master-in-law, Yu Sui said you don't need to make tofu tomorrow." Mrs. Lin Shu breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, she didn't have to accompany the young master-in-law in grinding tofu anymore. After grinding tofu for five consecutive days, even she was starting to feel worn out.

People who sell tofu usually grind it in the cool early morning, but her young master-in-law had to work in the fields and rest, so he could only grind it in the morning or afternoon. Boiling soy milk in the room in the middle of summer was like being in a steamer.

Lu Maomao wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I wonder what Elder Brother-in-law wants me to do next."

"Young Master-in-law, didn't you say you wanted to study? Go ask Young Master Chang'an to let you study."

"I already asked. Fifth Brother told me not to rush."

"Young Master-in-law, you lack sincerity."

How many people had said he wasn't sincere? Maomao had lost count. "Why do you say I lack sincerity?"

Mrs. Lin Shu rolled her eyes. "Young Master Chang'an told you not to rush, and you really aren't rushing. Who would believe you genuinely want to study?"

"Elder Brother-in-law, I want to study."

“Why are you thinking about studying again?”

“Big Bro, the imperial exams are too difficult. At my age, if I don’t study now, I’ll never catch up.”

Yu Changan sat up straight in surprise. “You’re actually aiming for an official rank?”

“Isn’t that the whole point of studying?”

“You’ve got some nerve.”

Yu Changan hadn’t even dared to imagine Lu Maomao aiming for an official rank. He never expected Lu Maomao’s ambitions to be so grand. He began to wonder if he had misjudged this cat.

Naturally, the cat didn’t get his way.

Lu Maomao was unconvinced. “Big Bro, I don’t understand. You were planning to let me study before, so why won’t you allow it now?”

“You want to know why? You sleep with the window open every night—your heart is more in cultivating the Dao than in hitting the books. I’m not scholarly enough to teach you the Dao.”

It was no secret that Lu Maomao slept with the window open on moonlit nights. Over time, someone was bound to notice, and Yu Changan naturally found out.

“I’m just used to it,” Lu Maomao said sheepishly. After decades like this, old habits die hard.

“Are you saying the little hut you lived in the mountains had no windows, so you’re not accustomed to it?”

“It had windows, I think… they just didn’t block the wind.” Lu Maomao recalled the house he stayed in for over ten days when he first arrived—it was truly bare, lacking everything.

Yu Changan was speechless. He spoke to Lu Maomao in a very formal tone, “Lu Feifan, I’m not going to give you a hard time. I do plan to start your lessons after the autumn harvest. But if you can impress me before then, I might begin your lessons earlier.”

“Really?” Lu Maomao looked at Yu Changan suspiciously.

“What good would lying to you do?”

“You won’t deliberately make it impossible for me, will you?”

“That depends on what you do.”

The criteria were too vague. What seemed righteous to the cat might be seen as crooked by his brother-in-law. Still, there was good news: at the latest, he’d start his lessons after the autumn harvest. If he could start earlier, he might even avoid the harvest labor. As for how to show sincerity—of course, by working hard and learning characters diligently. Lu Maomao was beginning to understand why others said he lacked sincerity.