Family harmony and the joys of family life
As the prime minister, Shen Qingci was burdened with a heavy workload of official duties. During the day, he would strategize and respond to memorials in the court, often missing his lunch break at dawn. Even so, he always kept the lights of the Shen family residence in his heart. Every day after court, he would immediately take off the heavy court robes, change into a light carriage, and rush home, just so as not to miss the twilight spent with his family.
Shen Nianqing was already a thirteen-year-old boy. His features combined the handsome and upright appearance of Shen Qingci with the gentle and refined features of Su Yunqing. More importantly, he was exceptionally intelligent and insightful, consistently ranking at the top of his class in the Bailu Academy's examinations. He was considered a "promising talent" by his teachers. Every day at dusk, Shen Qingci would set aside half an hour in his study to sit and discuss classics with his son—discussing the power struggles in the *Zuo Zhuan* and analyzing the military strategies in *Sun Tzu's Art of War*. Sometimes, when the mood struck, they would set up a chessboard and play a few games. Although young, Shen Nianqing could already exchange moves with his father for dozens of rounds, and occasionally, his brilliant moves would earn Shen Qingci's applause and praise. Su Yunqing, on the other hand, would teach his son calligraphy and painting in the morning, instructing him on "upright brush and upright heart" as he prepared ink and paper. In the afternoon, he would take him to the family's medicine shed to identify the properties of herbs and explain the principle of "a doctor's benevolence," hoping that he would both have the ambition to benefit the world and retain his gentle and refined nature.
Shen Yanzhi and Madam Shen were in good health and had long since retired from worldly affairs. They spent their days tending to their small garden in the mansion. When the peonies were in full bloom, they would cut a few branches to put in a vase, and when the chrysanthemums were yellow, they would brew some flower wine. Madam Shen was most skilled at making exquisite pastries. Her osmanthus cake was soft, sweet, and glutinous, and her mung bean cake melted in her mouth. Every evening, Shen Qingci and his wife would sit with Nianqing in the flower hall. Freshly baked pastries would be laid out on the table. Madam Shen would chatter about everyday things, Shen Yanzhi would occasionally chime in, and Nianqing would chatter about the interesting things that happened at the academy. In the flickering candlelight, the room was filled with warm laughter.
This day happened to be Madam Shen's sixtieth birthday, and Shen Qingci specially requested His Majesty to adjourn court early. He and Su Yunqing busied themselves early in the morning. Su Yunqing personally kneaded the dough, mixed the filling, and steamed the cakes. The osmanthus cakes used freshly picked golden osmanthus, and the longevity noodles were rolled as thin as silver threads. The broth was simmered for a full three hours, and then sprinkled with emerald green scallions and bright red goji berries, filling the entire kitchen with its aroma. Shen Qingci, meanwhile, was concentrating on his calligraphy in his study. As he ground the ink, he thought of his mother's years of hard work, and his brushstrokes became more profound. The four large characters "福寿安康" (blessings, longevity, peace, and health) were written with both strength and vigor. He added a line of smaller characters at the end: "Respectfully written by your son Qingci to wish my mother a happy sixtieth birthday." Shen Nianqing had also prepared in advance. He spent half a month painting a "Pine and Crane Longevity Picture." The pine trees were upright, and the cranes were graceful. Although his brushwork was still somewhat immature, it was full of childlike innocence and filial piety.
At the birthday banquet, the Shen residence was brightly decorated, and relatives and friends gathered. Madam Shen, dressed in a brand-new brocade gown, sat in the main seat, her eyes slightly moist as she looked at her filial children and intelligent grandchildren. Shen Qingci raised his wine cup respectfully to his mother: "Mother, you have raised your son for many years with great hardship. Now that I can fulfill my filial duty to you, it is the greatest blessing of my life." Su Yunqing also stood up and echoed, "Mother, from now on, year after year, we will be by your side, wishing you a long and happy life." Shen Nianqing even rushed to Madam Shen's side, hugging her arm affectionately: "Grandmother, your grandson will definitely study even harder in the future, and like Father, become a good official who serves the country and the people, so that you will be happy every day!"
Madam Shen smiled, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes. She took the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, her wrinkles smoothing out. "Good, good! With you all here, and with such a sensible grandson as Nianqing, what more could I ask for? Now that the country is peaceful and the people are at peace, and the whole family is reunited, my life has been worthwhile!"
The guests raised their glasses in celebration, and their laughter, along with the aroma of wine and flowers, lingered in the night sky above the Shen residence.
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