Chapter 349 Homecoming

Chapter 349: Returning Home

Folks can never really leave the land behind, especially now in the Yu Dynasty, when a lot of industries aren't developed yet, and every line of work depends on what comes out of the fields.

Meng Wan's Charity School wasn't going to turn out a bunch of gifted kids overnight—they were just ordinary children. As long as they got enough to eat, clothes to wear, and a little income, that was already plenty.

"Growing cotton?" Song Tingzhou said in surprise.

Meng Wan leaned into him, ticking off points on his fingers. "It's just a rough idea I've been kicking around. Every household needs cotton, plain and simple. Bigger pieces go into quilts and bedding, and for smaller ones—look at those cotton dolls Xiao E made for A Yan and Tong'er. They're not as delicate as those Jiangren figurines, but a really detailed figurine takes a craftsman a whole month to make just one—way too much work. Cotton dolls could totally stand in for figurines at a fraction of the cost. One person can crank out at least a dozen or more a day, right? Once they get the hang of it, they'll be even faster. I'll play it safe with my estimate for now."

There's a reason pricier stuff costs more, but cheap stuff has its perks too.

What regular kid ever got to play with a doll? They usually got cloth tigers sewn by doting grandmas, toys that could last from childhood all the way into their teens.

"You're way better at this than I'd ever be. If you need the local officials to pitch in, I'll write to them." Song Tingzhou looked at him with real, heartfelt admiration.

"Not yet. It's just a rough idea—I want to find those kids some work." Meng Wan remembered how schools in his past life used to hand out job assignments to graduates, and he felt like he was giving the kids jobs too. The thought made him smile.

The sun was blazing overhead, and the man in front of him was casually talking about settling hundreds, even thousands, of beggar kids. At that moment, Song Tingzhou felt like the light coming off Meng Wan outshone the blazing sun itself.

Chang Jinhua came back with pork belly for dumpling filling, and she'd also picked up some spare ribs for Meng Wan. Today they didn't invite anyone else—just the three of them, plus Yu Geer who'd come back with Meng Wan, had a quiet meal together.

Meng Wan wasn't picky, but he loved Chang Jinhua's cooking more than anything. He put away seven or eight big steamed dumplings, two pieces of braised ribs, and a few bites of cold wild greens, until his belly was stuffed.

When he was done, he sat nearby chatting with Chang Jinhua while waiting for Song Tingzhou. "Mother, didn't the Song family turn out two Xiucai Masters? When you get a chance, take Yu Geer to go see them." He'd already met one of them in the county seat—pretty steady, but he looked older than his years and was on the short side, a good half head shorter than Meng Wan.

"Shouldn't we check with your... uncle's family first?" Chang Jinhua didn't want to bring up Uncle Chang. He was her own little brother, sure, but over the years he'd never once treated her like a real sister. Over a bit of silver, he even hid their mother's death from her, trying to make her look like an unfilial daughter.

Song Tingzhou set down his chopsticks. "Mother, Uncle's family is in trouble. Now it's just Yu Geer and his sister-in-law left."

"What?" Chang Jinhua was shocked.

Meng Wan didn't want to get into this at the dinner table. Seeing that Song Tingzhou had finished eating, he said, "Mother, let Yu Geer tell you about these things himself. My husband and I are going to step out for a walk."

Yu Geer hung his head. "Aunt..."

Meng Wan dragged Song Tingzhou out the door, grumbling at him, "You're way too blunt. Mother just got over being sick—I was planning to ease her into it."

Song Tingzhou had Huang Ye bring out two medicine pouches—he hung one on himself and helped tie the other around Meng Wan's waist. "Mother's tougher than you think, and she doesn't have that much love for Uncle anyway. It's fine."

Chu Ci had made the medicine pouches—they were great for keeping mosquitoes away in summer. Back when they were still in Heshan, they never went up into the mountains without them.

Even though Meng Wan still worried Chang Jinhua would be shaken by the news of her relatives being locked up, he didn't keep arguing with Song Tingzhou. In their marriage, not everything had to be a win or a loss—they both just wanted what was best for Chang Jinhua.

The Song house sat near the edge of the village. On both sides of the road, the crops were lush and thriving. Hardworking families had pulled every last weed from their plots, while lazy men left their fields alone, weeds towering over the crops and choking them into thin, stunted stalks.

"Whose field is that over there?" Meng Wan pointed.

Song Tingzhou hadn't been back to his hometown in years either, but Sanquan Village hadn't changed much, so he still knew whose it was. "It's Tingyue's family's land. His whole family lives in the county seat—they come in spring to plow and come back in autumn to harvest."

"Nobody helps the Xiucai Master's family with weeding?" Meng Wan teased.

Song Tingzhou squeezed the soft part of his palm. "So even you can miss things sometimes. Haven't you always been the one who sees right through people and their little games?"

"Hm?" Meng Wan looked up and met Song Tingzhou's eyes, then suddenly understood. "His family isn't popular in the village?"

"Aunt Song Liu's family is doing well now too—they even bought another house in town—yet they're much better at maintaining relationships in the village than Tingyue's family. Tingyue's family used to be poor, relying on the money you left with the clan for support. He was exceptionally hardworking and had some talent for scholarship. Once he became a Xiucai, naturally he became different from ordinary folk." Song Tingzhou, having weathered many years in officialdom, had seen plenty of the complexity of human nature.

When everyone was poor, they were poor together. Song Tingzhou was the first from Sanquan Village to pass the imperial exams and become a Xiucai—everyone admired him but didn't think much of it. Aunt Song Liu's family was wealthy, but only modestly so, and she knew how to handle people, always bringing small gifts for relatives when she returned. People benefited from her, which was a different matter entirely.

But when the clan school later produced two more Xiucai Masters and a student candidate, people started looking at them differently. Why should his family—once so poor they survived on eggs given by neighbors—suddenly become different from those who scratched a living from the soil?

Someone like Tingyue, a blockhead, could pass the Xiucai exam?

Those who regretted not sending their own children to study, convinced their sons were far smarter than Song Tingyue, beat their chests in regret. Too embarrassed to admit it to others, they could only gnash their teeth in private.

It wasn't just Song Tingyue—the family of that student candidate also faced sour remarks. The other Xiucai's family had many members in the clan, with formidable aunts and sisters-in-law, so no one dared speak ill to their faces.

Meng Wan was silent for a moment. "The clan school definitely needs to be properly reorganized, and the Song family's rules need to be established."

He had once scoffed at all those outdated regulations of the great aristocratic families, but now he realized that aside from some rules that were truly unreasonable and inhumane, the rest made sense.

Everyone was bound together on the same rope—when one prospered, all prospered; when one fell, it truly meant the destruction of the entire clan. That was no joke.

Meng Wan was living a good life this time around—he had his beloved, his mother, his children, his friends, and his career. Unlike Luo Jining, who fantasized about returning to the modern world on his deathbed, Meng Wan didn't want to go anywhere without Song Tingzhou.

His grip on Song Tingzhou's hand unconsciously tightened. Song Tingzhou immediately sensed his unease and pulled him into an embrace. "This time I came back for two reasons: first, to pay respects at my father's grave—burn incense and add soil—and second, to restrain the clan members."

Meng Wan nuzzled against him, wiping the fine sweat from his nose onto Song Tingzhou's collar. "Good. Song Tingzhou, I'm still waiting to grow old with you."

So you have to make sure we both live long lives.

Song Tingzhou caught the faint fragrance of soap from Meng Wan's hair, and his heart softened into a puddle. "Mm, we will surely... grow old together, side by side."

The two walked back hand in hand. Even when they passed villagers who had come out after dinner to enjoy the evening cool, they didn't let go. Song Tingzhou's expression was natural—he greeted people as he always did, without putting on the airs of a High Official, yet without being overly familiar either.

Though he had always been this way, now people felt more distance from him. The villagers not only smiled stiffly in his presence but didn't even dare gossip about Song Tingzhou behind his back.

Back home, Meng Wan went to check on Chang Jinhua first. Though her expression was grim, there were no lingering tear stains at the corners of her eyes. Song Tingzhou understood his mother better—Chang Jinhua's heart was soft, but it carried a resilience that wouldn't be crushed by storms.

Knowing Meng Wan was worried, she sighed and said, "This is his own doing. He can blame heaven and earth but no one else. It's just a pity for Dashun's wife—so young, and now she's going to..."

Meng Wan sat on the edge of the kang, picking up a palm-leaf fan to cool himself. "It's not certain he'll be beaten to death. Dashun is still young—if he can endure the punishment, prepare a physician and bribe the guards before he's sent off. After a few years of hardship, he'll come back."

Song Tingzhou stood beside him. "Wan'er is right. Mother, you needn't worry."

"Aunt, don't fret. This is their fate." Yu Geer's eyes were red and swollen, and his voice was thick and nasal—clearly he had been crying earlier.

Chang Jinhua felt sorry for him and remembered what Meng Wan had brought up at dinner. "You rest early. Tomorrow I'll go ask around the village."

Ask about what—no need to say it aloud; it went without saying.

The next morning, when Meng Wan woke up, only a few servants were left at home. Chang Jinhua and Song Tingzhou were both out. Chang Jinhua was probably inquiring about that Xiucai's family in the village, while Song Tingzhou had gone to pay respects at his father's grave.

"Fulang, would you like some hot water to wash up?" Zhifan was doing laundry by the well and asked him.

The sun had long since risen by now. Meng Wan picked up his small toiletries basket. "No need—it's summer, why would I use hot water? What's for breakfast?"

Zhifan and Zhimao were waiting nearby and both laughed. Huang Ye said, "Fulang, it's almost noon. Have a bite to tide you over—my mother is just preparing the midday meal."

Meng Wan was brushing his teeth and raised his cup to indicate that was fine.

Song Tingzhou returned first from outside, with Tao Ba and Tao Shi following behind him, each carrying an iron shovel. The mountain paths were rough, and in the early morning they were still covered in dew. Song Tingzhou brought in a bucket of water to wash up, then changed into fresh clothes and came out.

"Hungry?"

When he came out, Meng Wan was nibbling on a plum, his face scrunched up from the sourness—such a vivid expression that Song Tingzhou found it adorable.

"Hiss..." Meng Wan was too sour to speak. On a hot summer day, he didn't want pastries or such things—he wanted fruit. And he'd gotten caught anyway. He should have just eaten a peach.

Song Tingzhou handed him a cup of cool tea. "Would you like to come with me to the clan head's house for a visit? We'll be back in a little while."

"Let's go, back before dinner." Meng Wan went inside and grabbed a palm-leaf fan that Chang Jinhua had bought at the market.

Zhifan asked, "Husband, do you want us to come along?"

Song Tingzhou grabbed Meng Wan's hand and pulled him out the door, answering for him without looking back, "No need."

Once the masters had left, Zhi Mao chuckled and poked Zhifan's forehead. "With the master around, why would they need us to follow?"

Zhifan hung up the washed clothes, looking slightly embarrassed as he replied, "True enough."

---

The village head of Sanquan Village had passed away years ago, and the position wasn't hereditary—whoever had the prestige took it. The Song clan head had thus also taken on the role of village head.

The clan head lived at the far end of the village. When Meng Wan first returned, he had brought gifts to the door—the four traditional items of tea, sugar, cloth, and wine—so this time, he and Song Tingzhou arriving empty-handed wasn't considered rude.

"Tingzhou... no, Master Song." The clan head, advanced in years, rubbed his hands together even more nervously than before. He knew Song Tingzhou was now a high-ranking official in the capital, even more impressive than before.

Meng Wan said with a smile, "Second Granduncle, you're too polite. We're all juniors here—call us whatever you like."

Hearing Meng Wan's pleasant words, the clan head nodded repeatedly. "Ah, don't just stand at the door. Tingzhou, bring your husband inside and sit."

Song Tingzhou's visit was a major event. The clan head's sons and their wives all followed them inside, warmly receiving Song Tingzhou and Meng Wan. In recent years, Song Tingzhou's authority had grown ever more imposing, so they didn't dare initiate conversation with him, instead chatting with the gentler, more amiable Meng Wan.

"Wan Geer, there are fruits here—would you like to try some?"

Meng Wan declined. "Thank you, Third Sister-in-Law. I just had a lot of watermelon at home, and I can't eat another bite right now."

Someone else asked, "Why didn't you bring the kids over to play for a while?"

"That's right, Wan Geer. I've seen your A Yan and Xing Geer playing—they're the spitting image of you. What lookers! When they grow up, won't they charm a whole crowd of lads and lasses?" Others chimed in.

"I have a friend whose family lives in town. A Yan's staying there for a few days and will be back soon."

As Meng Wan exchanged pleasantries with them, Song Tingzhou noticed the crowd gathered around him. He moved to stand beside Meng Wan, took his hand, and spoke in a deep voice, cutting through the noise in the room. "Second Granduncle, if everyone is free tomorrow morning, I'd like to gather the members of the Song clan and discuss the clan rules."

Second Granduncle was a bit hard of hearing, but his sons heard him loud and clear.

"Tingzhou, don't worry. We'll get the word out tonight. Come by tomorrow morning, and I guarantee everyone'll be there waiting to hear you," said Second Granduncle's eldest son.

Song Tingzhou gave Meng Wan's hand a gentle tug. "In that case, we'll head back now."

Meng Wan rose with Song Tingzhou's guidance. They hadn't stayed long—having settled the matter, they went home, just as Song Tingzhou had said, simply taking him out for a stroll.

Coming out of the clan head's house, a whole crowd gathered to see them off. Song Tingzhou politely declined, and the two had just reached their doorstep when Chang Jinhua returned with Yu Geer.

"Where have you two been?" Chang Jinhua asked.

The sun wasn't strong today, but it was oppressively hot. Meng Wan took the cool tea Song Tingzhou poured for him and drank a big gulp, barely shaking off the heat. "We went to the clan head's house. Why are you and Yu Geer back so late?"

Chang Jinhua had her son pour her a bowl too. "That family's way too slick with words. I only asked a few casual questions, and they latched onto Yu Geer and wouldn't let him leave. I had to talk them into letting him go."

Yu Geer sat on a stool under the doorway arch. Meng Wan glanced over and indeed saw him rubbing his wrist—those village women have a strong grip, and Yu Geer's wrist was rubbed raw.

He frowned. "Is it that Song Zhi family?"

There was a low square table under the arch, and Zhifan topped off everyone's tea. Yu Geer thanked him, then replied to Meng Wan, "No, Auntie took me to Song Zhi's aunt's place first."

Chang Jinhua instructed Jin Gu to set the meal out by the door shortly—they would eat outside—then said to Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou, "Your mother's not stupid. Would I take Yu Geer straight to that scholar's doorstep? I figured I'd go to his relatives' place, drop a few hints, and ask about the family. I never expected to get stuck with her."