Li Zeying's marital troubles
The Li family has another joyous occasion today.
When Li Zeying, the youngest daughter, came of age, the Li family presented her with gifts.
After the family banquet, Wu Linglong's family came to her home to ask for her youngest son, Wu Jigang, to marry Li Zeying.
Apart from Wu Linglong and An Hongdou, the Wu family did not disclose their visit to the Li family beforehand.
Li Haikuo was somewhat surprised to see the Wu family members arrive. He welcomed them in and they sat down to talk. After some laughter and conversation, the Wu family explained their purpose. Upon hearing this, the Li family members reacted in various ways.
Li Haikuo pondered for a moment and felt it was a good match. Li Zeying was overjoyed, but after calming down, she blushed and lowered her head. Li Pan'er looked at Li Zeying's reaction with a hint of envy, which quickly turned into calmness.
Chen Zaoting looked unwell. She gripped her right arm tightly with her left hand, trying to keep herself from making a sound.
Li Haikuo said with a smile, "We are in-laws. If Ruo Zeying marries into our family, our two families will be even closer. It's a wonderful thing! I think this is a good match. The Li family is doubly happy today!"
He smiled and looked at Chen Zaoting, waiting for her to give her opinion. Although she was a stepmother, as the mistress of the Li family, she was still responsible for arranging her daughter's marriage.
Chen Zaoting forced a smile and agreed, "It is indeed a good match." Then she changed the subject and said to Li Haikuo, "Master, our Zeying is already engaged, which is also a good match. Although a good daughter will attract many suitors, there should be a proper order of priority."
This unexpected turn of events caused an immediate silence to fall over the scene.
Seeing that no one objected, Chen Zaoting became smug. "Master, have you forgotten! Tianci is my own son, and Zeying is also my own daughter. Their marriage is a double blessing! Besides, although Tianci is not related to you by five degrees of kinship, they are still of the same clan! If Zeying marries Tianci, it is no different from keeping her in our own home. After she dies, she can enter the Li family ancestral tomb and continue her kinship with us."
Li Haikuo hesitated for a moment.
Seeing this, An Hongdou quickly said, "Father, I remember my husband mentioning to me when he was studying that the laws of this dynasty stipulate that people with the same surname cannot marry! If this is reported to the authorities, it is a serious crime!"
Although An Hongdou was literate, she was ignorant of the law. This matter was indeed told to her by Li Zeli before he left home. After learning this, An Hongdou suddenly understood why Li Zeli was not flustered when he heard that his mother-in-law wanted to marry Zeying to his own son.
Before Li Haikuo could speak, Chen Zaoting interrupted, "Don't use Zeli's name to spout nonsense! I've lived all these years, how could I not know about this? Cousins can marry, so what's wrong with people with the same surname who are beyond the fifth degree of kinship?"
Wu Linglong spoke up, "Mother, don't worry. It doesn't matter if you think Hongdou and I are short-sighted. My father is here today. He is the vice dean of the academy, and he certainly wouldn't make up lies to ruin his reputation for a marriage. Let's hear what he has to say."
Upon hearing this, Li Haikuo said to Wu's father, "Father-in-law, I am good at farming, but unfortunately I am not suited for books and can hardly read any characters. I will have to ask you, a scholar, for guidance!"
Mr. Wu stroked his beard and slowly said, "The laws of this dynasty do indeed stipulate that those who marry within the same surname shall each be punished with sixty strokes of the cane or two years of penal servitude, and shall also be ordered to divorce. The punishment is not light!"
Chen Zaoting dismissed it, saying, "It's not like there's no precedent. The young couple is living a perfectly good life. Why is the father-in-law making it sound so serious?"
Mr. Wu continued, “In the common people’s lives, as long as it doesn’t involve life and death, the powerful and wealthy, the hearts of the people, or have a wide impact, it can be said that if the people don’t report it, the officials won’t investigate. But the Li family is different from other families. Not to mention that their large family and great wealth have aroused the jealousy of the surrounding villages, and countless eyes are watching them. Just look at the present situation. Zeli’s trip to the capital this time is to seek a career advancement. If someone with ulterior motives discovers that his sister has married someone with the same surname, wouldn’t that be a good handle to use against him?”
Chen Zaoting was unwilling to give up and tried to persuade her, "You are the most trustworthy person in the family. You promised to marry Zeying to Tianci. You can't go back on your word. Besides, if we have a low-key wedding, who will know about it? When Zeying marries into Tianci's family, we can tell everyone that she will take her husband's surname and be called Li."
Li Haikuo was extremely cautious about Li Zeli's future. The Li family had many skilled farmers, but few literate individuals. Li Zeren began his education at the age of three and studied for many years, barely managing to pass the lowest level of the imperial examinations (xiucai) under Li Haikuo's relentless pressure. He knew in his heart that this was probably the pinnacle of Li Zeren's academic achievement.
However, Li Zeli was different. He was only eighteen years old, and even if he failed the imperial examination in the capital, he still had a great chance of succeeding in his studies in the future. The Wu family were also teachers at the academy, which would be a great help to Li Zeli.
Seeing that Li Haikuo was about to give in, Chen Zaoting quickly said, "Master, Zeying is still young. Even if we get engaged today, she won't be able to get married anytime soon. Why don't we wait two more years and wait for Zeli to come back to hear what he has to say?"
Chen Zaoting has a strained relationship with her former mother-in-law, and she worries that her son, Tianci, will become estranged from her under her mother-in-law's influence. Li Zeying, whom she raised under her control, is not only hardworking and capable but also dares not disobey her. She is the most suitable daughter-in-law in her mind, and she is unwilling to give up easily.
In addition, Chen Zaoting had other plans in mind.
For decades, no one in the surrounding area had passed the imperial examinations (Jinshi), and even the provincial examinations (Juren) only produced one every ten years or so. Li Zeli was valued by Li Haikuo because he passed the provincial examinations. However, even with his exceptional talent, passing the imperial examinations was probably just a pipe dream. If he returned from the capital in disgrace, having spent all his travel money without any reward, he would likely be too ashamed to stop Li Zeying's marriage.
Li Haikuo trusted Li Zeli, and agreed after hearing Chen Zaoting's words. He said to Wu's father, "Why not wait for my son to come back before discussing the marriage? If he really passes the imperial examination, it will be more joyous and respectable for Zeying and Jiyong to get engaged."
The next day, Li Pan'er came looking for An Hongdou. An Hongdou and Wu Linglong were having a peony embroidery competition. When they saw her come in, the two of them slowed down their needlework.
"Did Zeying show any unusual behavior when she returned to her room yesterday?" An Hongdou asked.
"Nothing has changed from usual. However, my mother threw a huge tantrum last night, and the servants she kept around couldn't take it and came to hide here for a while. It seems she won't give up on Li Zeying's marriage easily."
"It's alright, we have a backup plan," Wu Linglong said.
As the three were talking, they vaguely heard the farmhand shout from the outer courtyard, "Master, someone has brought a message!" The three immediately stopped talking and listened carefully.
Wu Linglong put down her work and looked at An Hongdou, saying, "Judging by the date, it should be a letter from the capital, right?"
The two were somewhat excited and hurried towards the outer courtyard. Li Pan'er followed them, and they went together.
When the three arrived, Li Haikuo and Chen Zaoting were already in the courtyard. Li Haikuo handed the opened letter to An Hongdou, gesturing for her to read it.
Unable to contain her curiosity, An Hongdou took the document and quickly skimmed through it.
An Hongdou remained silent for a moment, but Chen Zaoting couldn't help but speak up: "Third daughter-in-law, just tell me the news! No matter what the outcome, neither my husband nor I will blame Zeli."
An Hongdou snapped out of her daze and asked, "Father, Mother, do you know where Qingyin County is?"
Chen Zaoting was completely baffled: "What does this have to do with Qingyin County?"
An Hongdou explained, "My second brother wrote that my husband passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi. He was helped by a benefactor and became the magistrate of Qingyin County. Because he was in a hurry to take up his post, he went to his post without going home."
Chen Zaoting was somewhat incredulous.
An Hongdou continued, "Second Brother also said that he would accompany my husband to Qingyin County to settle down first, and then return home after everything is settled."
Li Haikuo was overjoyed and instructed Chen Zaoting to prepare fine wine and food, as he planned to host a celebration that evening. He then went out to spread the good news.
Chen Zaoting forced a smile as she saw Li Haikuo off, then left the task of preparing the food and drinks to An Hongdou, Wu Linglong, and the others. She then snorted in dissatisfaction and went back to her room.
Li Pan'er and Li Zeying stepped forward to congratulate her, and An Hongdou responded with a smile. When Wu Linglong came forward, An Hongdou handed her the letter.
"This was written by your second brother; keep it as a souvenir."
"Who cares to keep his letters? They weren't written specifically for me."
"Linglong, are you jealous?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? What I mean is that his handwriting isn't much better than mine, and this letter is just an ordinary family letter. There's nothing about it that I'd keep."
"Alright, alright, I'll do it that way."
"That's exactly how it is! If you keep talking nonsense, don't think that just because you've become the magistrate's wife I can't do anything to you."
The two joked and played around for a while. After calming down, An Hongdou said seriously, "Linglong, my second brother said in his letter that he'll pick me up after they're settled. Will you come with me to Qingyin County?"
"Of course! We'll never be apart."
Starting the day after receiving the news, An Hongdou and Wu Linglong began preparing for their trip to Qingyin County.
“Hongdou, I went home and asked Dad. We’re currently north of the Huai River, while Qingyin County is south of the Huai River and north of the Yangtze River. It’s further south than where we are, so it’ll probably be much hotter. We should bring some light clothes.”
"By the way, I've also heard that mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing are very popular there, and the embroidery techniques are unique and highly regarded by nobles in the capital. We should definitely learn from them when we get there!"
An Hongdou smiled and replied, reminding us, "I don't know if we can buy the storybooks we want to read locally, so don't forget to bring the ones we like. If the stories circulating here are different, we can compare them."
While the two were busy with their tasks with great enthusiasm, Li Zeren returned home.
When Wu Linglong received the news, she was in An Hongdou's room taking stock of their belongings. She quickly said goodbye and returned to her room to wait for Li Zeren's return.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Upon seeing Li Zeren, Wu Linglong took his hand and spoke with him, listening to his account of his journey. When Li Zeren mentioned that he would be setting off in seven days to escort An Hongdou to Qingyin County, Wu Linglong began to speak softly.
"Husband, have you said goodbye to Father? We're going to Qingyin County together this time. Will we all follow Zeli from now on?" Wu Linglong asked, nestled in Li Zeren's arms.
Li Zeren looked at the excited Wu Linglong without saying a word.
"Say something!" Wu Linglong nudged Li Zeren with her elbow and urged him.
"My lady, I will return after delivering An Hongdou to Zeli. I cannot take you with me on this trip," Li Zeren said with some difficulty.
"What did you say!" Wu Linglong sat up straight instantly, shoved Li Zeren away, and glared at him angrily.
"Wife, don't be angry. Let me explain," Li Zeren quickly coaxed.
“My original intention was to take you with me to join Zeli. However, Father said that the Li family's land needs an heir. I am the eldest son, and you are the eldest daughter-in-law, so you should shoulder the responsibility of managing the household. We probably have to stay at home to manage the land and take care of our parents. We can't leave.” Li Zeren said slowly, looking at Wu Linglong's face.
“Who cares about this land! We’re both able-bodied. If we follow Hongdou, I believe we can build a fortune from scratch in just a few years! What? You can’t bear to part with the Li family’s land?” Wu Linglong said angrily.
“My wife, I support you. The Li family’s land is not important to me, but Father doesn’t agree with us giving it up. He says we can’t shirk our family responsibilities and must stay to carry on the family business. Even if we don’t care about it, we have to wait until Zexin comes of age and takes over the Li family before we can be free.” Li Zeren tried to reach out and hug Wu Linglong to comfort her, but she pushed him away several times.
After hearing this, Wu Linglong couldn't help but tear up. She shook off Li Zeren's arm and strode away to find An Hongdou.
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