Chapter 605 Influence
Even after the Emperor's birthday celebrations, the festive atmosphere in Chang'an City did not dissipate; on the contrary, it intensified.
People in every neighborhood and alley were enthusiastically discussing what the young official had said in the Vermilion Bird Square on the Emperor's birthday. Not only ordinary people, but even the young men and women of wealthy families gathered together and talked about it non-stop.
The Wan family's main courtyard, inside a side hall.
Fangniang, the wife of Wan Sanlang, the illegitimate son of the Wan family, is currently having a conversation with the matriarch of the Wan family, the eldest wife of the Wan family, who is also Fangniang's sister-in-law.
"...Sanlang thought that this could be considered a way out."
If we're going, the whole family will definitely go with us. Yu-ge'er doesn't have much talent for studying anyway, but if he goes north with us, maybe it will help him develop his intelligence.
However, sister-in-law, I won't lie to you. Neither Sanlang nor I are smart people. Our family currently has less than two hundred taels of silver in our accounts.
Back then, my family had fallen on hard times. If it weren't for Sanlang keeping his promise, I probably wouldn't have been able to marry into the Wan family.
My aunt passed away early, and Sanlang and I never intended to touch the savings she left behind. We wanted to leave them all to my aunt as her dowry, as she had suggested.
When Father was alive, he said that our branch of the family would be entitled to 10% of the family property.
If we decide that the whole family is leaving, then we still need the money for the division of the family property.
As Fangniang finished speaking, she glanced at Sister-in-law Wan, then lowered her head again.
"Sanlang means that he wants me to ask my sister-in-law if, at this time, it's possible that this 10% of the family property will be divided up in full with us?"
Sister-in-law Wan never expected that the Third Branch, who was usually quiet and reserved, and who only stayed at home and lived a quiet life behind closed doors except for ancestral worship and festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival and New Year's Day that required the whole family to be present, would have such courage this time to take the whole family to that harsh and unstable place in the north.
"Wait a moment, this is a big deal. I'll give you an answer after I've spoken with the Lord."
"Oh, thank you for your hard work, sister-in-law."
The old woman who had escorted Fang Niang returned. Seeing that Sister Wan was lost in thought, she coughed lightly. When Sister Wan came to her senses, she curtsied and replied, "Madam, Fang Niang went straight back to the Orchid Courtyard."
Sister-in-law Wan nodded, indicating that she understood. "Fetch water for me to wash my face. I need to go to the back to see the old lady."
Yes, Sister-in-law Wan was keeping an eye on Fangniang's whereabouts to see if she would go to see Old Madam Wan.
Seeing that Fangniang had not gone, she, as the current mistress of the Wan family, naturally had to go to Old Madam Wan's courtyard to have a proper talk with her about this matter.
When Fangniang returned to the Orchid Courtyard, she saw her dowry maid directing her young master to pack his trunk.
"Where is my aunt?"
"Hui-jie is in the side hall reading with Yu-ge."
Fangniang saw two figures, one tall and one short, diligently studying inside the side hall, so she didn't go in. Instead, she went back to her room to tidy up her belongings.
As Fangniang packed her things, she remembered the night before when her husband, Wan Sanlang, held her hand and analyzed the pros and cons, explaining why they should take advantage of the Tang Dynasty's migration to the border towns to leave Chang'an, so that they could properly break away from the Wan family.
“I am a son born out of wedlock. My biological mother was brought into the family by my father after he was over forty years old. After my mother gave birth to me, she gave birth to my younger sister six years later.”
I've lived at my mother's mercy since I was little. My mother always said that my mother didn't skimp on my food and clothing, and even let me start my education and learn to read and write. That was already the best life I could have.
My mother always taught me to be grateful.
I'm just not good at studying. After all these years of schooling, all I've learned is how to recognize characters and understand some principles.
I was never valued at home, and after my father passed away, my mother became even more impatient with me. If my mother hadn't suddenly passed away from a cough, I'm afraid I would never have been called to her side to speak again.
This is how things are at home, Fangniang. You've really suffered because you married me.
As he spoke, Wan Sanlang's voice choked with emotion; he felt deeply wronged and distressed.
A fine young man, not to mention achieving great things, still has to tell his wife the truth that he is not well-liked at home. Such courage is not something everyone can have.
Some less-than-clever men might pretend to be gentlemen and put on airs with their wives.
In this respect alone, Wan Jiasanlang is already a great man.
"Although my eldest and second brothers are not very close to me, there is still a brotherly affection between us, after all, there is an age difference between me and my eldest and second brothers."
I've been used to reading their expressions and acting accordingly since I was a child.
But, Fangniang, that day, outside the main hall, I saw Zhongge'er (Wan Erxiong's youngest son) snatch the bamboo dragonfly from Yu Ge'er's hand in the courtyard. When Yu Ge'er went to ask for it back, Zhongge'er actually said to him, "It's from a concubine, so I won't give it to you."
I'm so heartbroken.
Fangniang, my heart is filled with bitterness.
When Wan Sanlang said that, Fangniang immediately remembered that evening when Wan Sanlang carried Yu Ge'er back with a bamboo dragonfly in his hand. Fangniang remembered that she had asked Yu Ge'er at the time, "Why are you crying? You didn't wipe the tears off your face. They'll hurt if the wind blows on them."
"My lord!"
"Tell me what you're thinking. The children and I will follow you wherever you go."
Wan Sanlang grasped Fangniang's hand, then took a breath and continued, "We must leave the Wan family. Only by leaving the Wan family can we hold our heads high and live with our heads held high."
I grew up having to be mindful of others' feelings. My children mustn't follow my example, otherwise, my branch of the family will have to be extremely careful and subservient to the main branch of the Wan family just to survive.
What made Wan Sanlang happiest was that when he said he wanted to leave Chang'an City and go to the border town to start over in a strange place, Fangniang and her younger sister not only did not object, but also fully supported him.
“We are a family. Wherever you go, my child and I will go with you.”
“Brother, you are my only family in this world. Wherever you go, I will go.”
At that very moment, in the innermost courtyard on the east side of the Wan family home, Wan's eldest sister-in-law was telling Old Madam Wan what Fangniang had said to her when she came to see her earlier.
"...Mother, that's how it is."
"Look, what should we do?"
She lay on the low couch with her eyes closed, and at the end of the couch, a little maid was massaging Old Madam Wan's calves.
“Ah,” Old Madam Wan, who still had her eyes closed, let out this sound. After three or four breaths, she finally spoke.
"If he wants to leave, then let him leave."
"They are ultimately descendants of the Wan family. Go and discuss with the third branch of the family the one-tenth of their assets, see if they should be converted into silver or something else, and then let them go!"
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