Article 533 Family Arrangements
Cheng Wanwan knew that the Cheng family had been very lively these past few days.
Her doorstep was practically worn down by visitors, not to mention the Cheng family. A golden phoenix had emerged from this remote mountain village; one can imagine the sensation it caused.
She heard that the governor of Yuncheng had given him a thousand taels of silver, the prefect of Huzhou had given him five hundred taels, and the magistrate of Ping'an County had given him two hundred taels. All of this silver was given directly to the Cheng family. Some landlords and gentry, who were trying to establish a relationship with the Cheng family, also generously donated money to help Cheng Zhao settle down in the capital.
However, Magistrate Shen and Clan Chief Cheng had instructed that Cheng Zhao was not allowed to accept gifts from merchants, as it might bring him trouble.
The Cheng clan chief naturally dared not take the magistrate's words lightly. The clan held several meetings, forbidding any member of the Cheng family from using Cheng Zhao's name to make money outside. If anyone dared to do so, they would be expelled from the Cheng family genealogy.
After hearing about this, Cheng Wanwan was finally relieved. As long as the Cheng family didn't cause any trouble, Cheng Zhao wouldn't be held back.
However, she didn't believe that the Cheng family had come to repay the money, since the whole family had come today. An old lady who was used to exploiting her married daughter would never take the initiative to repay the money.
Cheng Wanwan walked into the living room and saw that everyone in the Cheng family was there. The eldest, second, and third wives were all present and chattering in the hall.
The room fell silent as soon as she entered.
Sister-in-law Cheng couldn't help but say, "Second Aunt, you must already know that Zhao'er became the top scholar in the imperial examination, right? Oh my, I never expected our Zhao'er to be so outstanding, ranking first among all the scholars in the country. Our Cheng family is truly blessed. And my belly is really doing me a favor..."
"What are you talking about? Let's get down to business." Old Madam Cheng glared at her, then turned to Cheng Wanwan with a warm gaze. "The imperial examination is just around the corner. If nothing unexpected happens, Zhao'er will definitely become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). Then the marriage with the Situ family should be put on the agenda. Zhao'er has been studying since she was little and doesn't know anything. We elders still need to go to the capital to help with the marriage arrangements. I was thinking of going there in advance. However, the mountains are high and the roads are long. Walking is definitely not an option. We'll have to take a carriage... A carriage costs twenty or thirty taels of silver, which is too expensive. With so many people in our family, we'll need to buy three or four carriages. The more than one thousand taels of silver that the officials have given us can't withstand such spending. It would be better to save this money for Zhao'er's marriage. What do you think, Wanwan?"
Cheng Wanwan understood.
They came to her house to borrow a carriage. Her family has two carriages for personal use, and the workshop has four carriages for purchasing and transportation. The Cheng family has so many people... really a lot of people. The old couple, three branches of the family, eight adults, and more than a dozen children. They would need at least four carriages to accommodate them all. No wonder they've set their sights on her.
It's one thing for the Cheng family elders and their eldest and sister-in-law to go to the capital, but the second and third wives are also bringing their families along. With so many people, trouble is bound to arise. Isn't this just adding unnecessary trouble for Cheng Zhao?
On their journey, they arrived in the capital just as the results of the imperial examination were being announced. As a newly appointed Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), he attracted the attention of many. At such a time, the Cheng family's trip to the capital drew considerable attention.
She spoke slowly, "After you finish arranging Zhao'er's wedding in the capital, when will you return?"
"Why would I come back?" Sister-in-law Cheng said casually. "My son has made something of himself and has become a high-ranking official in the capital. As his mother, I naturally want to go and enjoy the good life with him."
“That’s right!” Uncle Cheng Er chimed in. “For the past ten years or so, the Cheng family has supported his studies. Now that he’s successful, he should naturally help us out. He’s an official in the capital, so we’re also people of the capital. We plan to hand over our thirty-odd acres of land to the clan to cultivate, and we’ll just collect some rent each year.”
Sister-in-law Cheng nodded: "Our Rui'er is just as smart as Zhao'er. If she goes to Zhao'er's place, Zhao'er can teach her to study, and she will become an official in the future."
The others started talking all at once about their plans for going to the capital.
Cheng Wanwan felt a chill run down her spine.
A young man who has just arrived in Beijing is not capable of supporting such a large family.
But if Zhao'er refuses, it would be a great act of filial impiety, and she would be drowned in the spittle of the Cheng family. This matter must not be known to Zhao'er.
She paused, then said, "Zhao'er's education over the years has indeed cost the Cheng family a lot of money. Of course, everyone can follow suit. The Cheng family has gone from being peasants to being residents of the capital, which can be considered a change of social standing, right?"
Old Man Cheng slapped his thigh: "I told you this was feasible! You old woman, you insisted that so many people shouldn't go, afraid it would cause trouble for Zhao'er. If Wanwan thinks it's feasible, then there's no problem!"
Cheng Wanwan looked at Old Madam Cheng with new respect. At least the Cheng family still had Old Madam Cheng, a sensible person, so this matter wouldn't be difficult.
"It's Zhao'er's wedding, and the family is going to attend, that's fine. The real issue is how we'll make a living afterward," Cheng Wanwan said slowly. "Even if Zhao'er becomes the top scholar this time, the court won't provide accommodation. That means we'll have to buy a house, but the Cheng family only has a little over a thousand taels of silver. We can't even afford a small courtyard in the most remote part of the capital. So we'll have to rent. But renting a small courtyard won't do; with so many people in the Cheng family, well, that'll be at least a three-courtyard house. I've heard that a three-courtyard house in the capital rents for over a hundred taels a month..."
"Zhao'er's official salary can probably only support three or four people, so the others will have to find their own way to make a living. If they don't have land, then they can do business. I don't know if business is easy to do in the capital... Don't think you can use Zhao'er's name to get things done in the capital. There are first and second-rank officials everywhere in the capital. If you're not careful, you'll offend a high-ranking official and it will affect Zhao'er's career..."
"Things in the capital are expensive, food and clothing are much more expensive than in the village. We can't eat or dress poorly just to save money, that would be embarrassing for Zhao'er. If we calculate it this way, the living expenses for a dozen or twenty people would be three or four taels of silver a day, which would be a hundred taels a month..."
She did the math, which startled Old Mrs. Cheng so much that she jumped up.
The Cheng family only had a little over a thousand taels of silver in total. They spent a lot on the journey to the capital and some more on the wedding. How much would they have left to settle down?
The old lady looked back at the people in the room. Her sons were all farmers, her daughters-in-law were farmers, and although her grandchildren could read, they didn't know how to do business. They couldn't find any work to make a living in the capital. Twenty people, all supported by Zhao'er alone.
Zhao'er hasn't officially become an official yet, and she needs to smooth things over everywhere. She shouldn't let these people drag her down before she's even figured out how to navigate the officialdom.
No, absolutely not!
Grandma Cheng immediately said, "For Zhao'er's wedding this time, my husband, the eldest son's family, and I will go. The rest of you can stay at home."
Sister-in-law Cheng had no objection to these words. She was originally unwilling for so many people to fawn over her son, but because her son had spent too much money on his education over the years, she had no right to refuse. Now that the old lady had said this, she felt relieved and even started to find Cheng Wanwan more agreeable.
Cheng Ersao immediately exploded: "We are Zhao'er's closest relatives, why can't we go? We are all family. Why should our eldest brother and sister-in-law go to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury while we have to stay in the village to farm? If we had known, we wouldn't have supported Zhao'er's education in the first place!"
Uncle Cheng nodded vigorously: "Zhao'er said she wanted to repay our family. Why should she only repay her grandparents and parents? Aren't your uncle and aunt human beings too?"
"It's not like we won't repay her. Zhao'er is just getting started, isn't she?" Sister-in-law Cheng said with a smile. "When Zhao'er has money in the future, she will definitely repay everyone in the Cheng family..."
"No, who knows how much longer we'll have to wait!"
"You first wife's family want to get rid of the second and third wives, don't even think about it!"
"Either we go together, or neither of us goes!"
"..."
"Shut up, all of you!" Old Mrs. Cheng slammed her hand on the table. "What, does my word as your mother no longer carry weight?"
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