Chapter 18
Wen Shi's status at home has changed drastically. Along with Ying Xiang, they no longer have to do any work. At this time of year, there isn't much work to do, and everyone is at home. Wen Ersao does her work willingly, while Ying Xiang only lends a hand at most.
"Honey, the New Year is just around the corner, and there will be even more relatives coming this year. We don't have enough wine at home, so the third son has been buying it himself."
Liu walked from the kitchen to the yard with a smile on her face. Although she had been a little unhappy before, she couldn't make the fundamental decisions. She wanted to be in charge, but with her father, Old Man Wen, as a powerful figure, she had no choice.
Old Man Wen glanced at her and then said, "If it's not enough, go buy some more."
“Where would we get so much money? We slaughtered a pig to host a banquet for the third brother before, and although we received gifts, the lion’s share wasn’t with me. It’s not enough.”
Old Man Wen immediately stood up.
"Then let's have some tea."
Two days ago, Wen Shi went to the town again, this time to give a gift to the teacher at the private school to express his gratitude, which cost him another sum of money.
When he came back, he bought some tea. Old Man Wen didn't know what he was thinking.
People in the countryside don't drink tea unless they're particular about it; they usually drink alcohol when there's a celebration or banquet at home.
"Third brother, bring some tea leaves over later."
“There are two scholars in the family. The village head said before that we are a family of scholars, so why do we need to drink alcohol? I think the third son is fine drinking tea every day.”
Old Man Wen also drank some tea with Wen Shi. This stuff wasn't sour or spicy, and he felt the taste was alright. It wasn't undrinkable. When guests came, he would brew a big pot of it, which would show that his family was different from others.
Wen Shi can now sit in the yard reading a book without being scolded anymore. He glanced at his father and nodded.
He guessed that Liu wanted the money from the land listings he had, as well as the gift money the county magistrate had given him before. These two amounts totaled nearly twenty taels. His income from listing land wasn't that much; he mainly helped Yingxiang's family list land for free.
However, this money is enough for them to go to school in the county after the New Year. When they first arrive, they will have to pay for rent, tuition, and gifts for their teachers, which will definitely take up a lot of money.
That night, Liu lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and naturally brought up the matter with Old Man Wen.
“Right now, the third son is in the same boat as the eldest son, so we, as elders, can’t be too biased, or he’ll lose heart. When the eldest son comes over for the New Year, we’ll collect the money together then.”
Old Man Wen hadn't forgotten that right now he just felt it wasn't appropriate.
In the county, as the holiday approached, Wen Chuanzong's mood worsened. Although he had come up with a solution, he was worried that when he went back, the villagers would definitely compare him and his brother.
Xiuyu was in a similar situation. She was mainly worried that her money would be taken away, and she also didn't know if Wen Chuanzong could persuade Old Man Wen, lest he actually bring the whole family over.
Life certainly wouldn't be as good as it is now back then, so even though the couple were reluctant, they still went back on the day off.
Wen Chuanzong sat on the oxcart on his way home, thinking a lot. He had an idea, but he didn't know if it would work. He thought about it and decided not to take his third brother with him, since his third brother wasn't the type to listen to reason.
He told Old Man Wen himself that this was the best possible outcome.
Xiuyu bit her lip, looking at her two sons who were still chatting and laughing without knowing what was going on, and felt even more worried.
The family of four made their way home, the cold wind blowing all the way, making them shiver. The roadside was bare, and the road was muddy from the snow a few days ago, making it really difficult to walk. When they got home, none of the family's shoes were fit to be seen.
Wen Chuanzong entered the house, trying to appear calm.
"Congratulations, third brother. Don't blame the eldest brother for not coming back earlier. There were just too many things to do, and the master wouldn't give him leave. There was nothing we could do."
"It's alright, brother. Your studies are more important."
Wen Shi glanced at his older brother and said nonchalantly.
Now that the family was all together, Old Man Wen originally wanted to call his sons and daughters-in-law to his room to discuss things that night, but Wen Chuanzong pulled him into the room first.
“Father, I know you’re angry because of what I had Xiuyu say to Mother before.”
Old Man Wen hadn't given his son a kind look at all, but when he heard this, he thought his son was going to admit his mistake, and his mood improved a little.
"Actually, I don't want to bring them along, not because I think they're a burden, but more because I want what's best for them."
Wen Chuanzong paused for a moment, then said this.
“Father, people’s hearts are complicated. My brothers have spent their whole lives in the village. If I suddenly take them all away, will they be able to get used to life outside? They don’t have any skills, so what can they do outside?”
Upon hearing this, Old Man Wen's eyes widened immediately. Wasn't this still a sign of disdain for his younger brothers? He was about to unleash a torrent of curses when he heard Wen Chuanzong speak softly.
“The outside world is colorful and tempting. Just a few days ago, my classmate’s younger brother was arrested and thrown into jail in the county.”
"Father, do you know why?"
Upon hearing this, Old Man Wen's expression immediately became serious.
“It’s true that we are scholars, but in the end, we are just respectable people without any official position. The law is strict now, and his younger brother is a farmer who doesn’t know anything. After he went out, instead of staying at home, he went around visiting brothels. Now look what’s happened, he’s been extorted by a madam there who wants a hundred taels of silver.”
"He refused, but he couldn't resist the temptation and slept with the girl inside. Later, he was caught and taken to the authorities."
"According to the law, after being given fifty strokes of the cane, he will also have to serve ten years in prison. This has caused my classmate to be ridiculed by others. Even if he passes the imperial examination in the future, the court will probably not employ him because of this, thus cutting off his career."
“The county is different from the village, Dad. It’s not that I look down on my brothers. I really want what’s best for them. I know that the family has spent a lot of money supporting my education over the years. It was all the blood and sweat of my brothers. I’m grateful to them. I don’t want a single penny of this property. Please give it all to my brothers.”
"Furthermore, I'll give you fifteen taels of silver out of my own pocket. You can buy them an ox and some land. Even if they stay in the village, their lives won't be bad. Why bother going to the county?"
Old Man Wen's expression softened slightly, and Wen Chuanzong seized the opportunity to speak: "I know that with you here, they might not act this way, but to put it bluntly, you can't take care of them for the rest of their lives. I am the eldest in this family, but I can't protect them for the rest of my life either. And it's even harder to say what will happen to the next generation."
"In the end, you still look down on your brothers."
After a long while, Old Man Wen looked at his eldest son with a complicated expression.
Inside the pitch-black room, only half a candle was burning, barely enough to make out objects. He looked at his eldest son, his eyes filled with undisguised disappointment.
“Father, it’s not that I’m disgusted by them, I’m doing this for their own good. I’m just afraid of the worst-case scenario. You want them to go out because you want to live a good life, but they can stay at home. Why do they have to go out? They don’t know anything and are easily deceived and cheated. What if they end up in jail? If they lose their heads, that would be a huge loss.”
“You’ve lived in the village all year round, so you probably don’t know how complicated things are outside. There was a high-ranking official in the capital who was implicated by his family and ended up being exiled and tattooed. Why do that? Everyone has their own difficulties.”
“I will remember my brothers’ kindness for the rest of my life and will take good care of them. They will live a good life in the village. With me supporting them outside, they will not be in a bad situation in the village.”
"Go and call the third son in, and oh, and your mother too."
The father and son spoke softly, and although the crowd outside was curious, they mostly stared at them with curiosity, especially Xiuyu, who was afraid that Wen Chuanzong would not be able to persuade his father.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and then Liu and Wen Shi were called in by Wen Chuanzong.
The cold wind was blowing outside, and everyone was wearing thick clothes, but no one went back inside except for Yingxiang.
Wen Ersao glanced at Wen Laosi, and Wen Laosi glanced at his second brother. Wen Erge sat under the eaves without saying a word, but his eyes were unusually bright.
At home, he was like an old ox, always working hard, but things are different now; he has something to look forward to.
Old Man Wen had said before that since there were two scholars in the family, they would definitely go to the county, and then they wouldn't have to work themselves to death at home anymore.
He's not an animal, how could he not be tired?
If his parents hadn't constantly reminded him that he was the eldest son and needed to study, that he was the head of the family and should work hard so that he would be taken for granted in the future, he wouldn't have been able to work so diligently for so long.
Over time, he was exhausted every day, but he hadn't been treated fairly before. How could he not harbor resentment about that incident? Now things were finally over.
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