Chapter 023 (2/3)
Author: Feast of Masks
Raws: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3185016
Translated by Pillbug
Edited by Gumihou
Land is the lifeblood of a farming family, passed down through generations. Therefore, no farmer would ever sell their land unless the family was on the brink of starvation.
Sun’shi scoffed, “That’s hard to say. Your Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law have been brimming with desire and greed these past few years. Their desires must be stirring like a hornet’s nest. Do you believe that the fuss made by the Yang family elder was for nothing? Just you wait, the show is not over yet!”
Feeling a little irritated, Xue Qinghuai impatiently replied, “You’re always looking to make a fuss. Even if there’s nothing going on, you will still fuss over something.”
Sun’shi glared at him, “Isn’t it because your family is filled with scheming people? Do you think I would choose to fuss over this and that just to tire myself out?! Who do you think I’m doing this for? Isn’t it for you and our son? When will our family separate? Let’s separate so that I can live in peace and you can live in peace too! However, looking at the situation, we still have to sit in this pot and stew together for who knows how long. Since I have to endure it, why won’t you at least have the decency to let me talk about it? You just have to listen. Even if you don’t want to, you must still listen to me.”
Outside, Zhou’shi called the family for dinner. Sun’shi shot her husband one final glare before stomping out. Xue Qinghuai sighed.
For all her faults, Sun’shi was sharp enough to have a general understanding of the family situation. If not for this, his little family would have fallen apart long ago.
The atmosphere during dinner time was especially tense. Everyone ate in silence with their heads down.
After a few bites of food, Old Zhao suddenly put her chopsticks down and stood up.
“Where are you going? Are you refusing to eat?” asked Old Man Xue.
“I’m going to check on Juncai. He has always been strong and hale since he was a child, but now he’s so sick he could not even bear to eat these past few days. I’m going to make some egg noodles for him. Even if your heart doesn’t ache for your grandson, mine does!”
Old Zhao could no longer hide her anxiety and anger, the more she spoke, the more agitated she sounded. She clutched the key on her waist and headed to the back room to fetch some white flour.
White flour was a luxury in the Xue family and was usually locked away in the inner room’s cabinet by Old Zhao.
“You…”
Yang’shi quickly stood up to say, “Don’t, Mother. What egg noodles, ah? White flour is very precious and no one has even touched it yet. Surely there’s no need to start the stove and make this especially for him?” She said all this to Old Zhao while glancing uneasily around the room.
“I just said I’ll make it, so I will make it. Juncai is sick to this point, what’s a bowl of egg noodles? If anyone has anything to say, let them come and say it to my face!”
Not long after that, Old Zhao came out of the room with a bowl, presumably filled with white flour and headed towards the kitchen. Yang’shi gave the room an awkward smile before hurrying after her.
Dinner was soon over. While Zhou’shi and Xue Tao’er cleared the tables, everyone else returned to their respective rooms.
In the kitchen, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were busily making a bowl of egg noodles together. After that, Old Zhao personally carried the precious bowl to the east wing.
Xue Juncai actually had his own room in the east wing.
The room used to be Xue Qingshan’s study. Later, as Xue Juncai grew older, a kang bed was built there specifically for him. Within the perfectly square room was the kang bed by the window, with bookshelves and a desk as well as two chairs. There were also several calligraphic paintings on the wall. These were bought by Xue Qingshan to appear more cultured.
Xue Juncai lay weakly on the kang bed, his pale face and dry lips made him look especially pitiful. When he saw Old Zhao, he hurriedly propped himself up and called ‘Granny’.
Hearing that pitiful ‘Granny’ was enough to bring tears to Old Zhao’s eyes. She patted his head and said, “Now, get up quickly and eat this bowl of noodles. Even if you don’t feel like eating, you still need to eat a little. Only after you recover will you have the strength to study.”
Xue Juncai’s face crumpled a little as he whispered, “Even if I recover, I won’t be able to study.”
Old Zhao slapped his back lightly, “Enough with your nonsense, what do you mean you won’t be able to study? Your father is still around, how could you not be able to study? Now, get up quickly and eat these noodles. Granny personally made this for you and look, there’s even an egg. Isn’t it fragrant?”
“Granny, this grandson is unfillial, but I really can’t swallow anything. As soon as I thought about… I planned to study really hard for a year and take the exam to become a Xiu Cai and make Granny and Grandpa proud, but…”
Yang’shi, who was standing by the side, began to sob and cry. Old Zhou’s heart felt like it had been sliced with a knife.
Xue Juncai was her first grandson, whom she had personally raised when he was still in swaddling clothes until now. She had always doted on Juncai. Everyone in the Xue family knew Juncai was Old Zhao’s precious treasure, and anyone who crossed him would get in trouble with her. If this matter had not escalated to the point that it involved various village elders and even two Xiu Cais, who knew what she would have attempted? Unfortunately, because matters had escalated to this point, she, a mere woman, had no room to do anything.
“Don’t worry, eat the noodles first. There will always be a way.”
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Old Zhao returned to her room to find Old Man Xue sitting cross-legged on the kang bed, smoking his pipe. On a table atop the kang bed was a basin of water, which was used to keep a bowl of rice warm.
“Eat quickly. What were you doing that took so long?”
Old Zhao sat down at the edge of the kang bed without a word. Seeing her unmoving self, Old Man Xue probed again, “What is it now? You don’t want to eat?”
“What do you mean ‘what’? Are you asking what’s wrong with me? Why not go and take a good look and see what poor Juncai looks like now? He’s not your grandson, is he? He’s just some stranger to you, isn’t he?!” she shrieked those last two lines at him as she scrubbed her tears with her sleeves. “You heartless thing. I told you I will personally deal with that little dogshit but you refused to let me! Now just look at Juncai.
How filial is my grandson, ah? Even though he’s this ill, he still talks about wanting to bring honour to the family. You only care about your face. It’s our money. Are you saying we can’t even decide who to spend it on? Juncai is so good at studying. Everyone who saw him praised him. Eldest even said that he only needed to study at the school for a year or so and he would definitely pass his exams well and become a Xiu Cai. Now, that little dogshit has ruined everything! Those two Xiu Cai must have deliberately suppressed our Juncai. That old Xiu Cai was invited by Zheng Lizheng. Who knows whose side they’re on…”
Old Man Xue’s brow twitched at these words.
He had also spoken to the patriarch about this, who told him not to overthink it. But compared to the suddenly enlightened Xue Tingxiang, Old Man Xue still favoured Xue Juncai.
This deep-seated trust and belief in Juncai was something that had been built up over many years, that Xue Juncai was the eldest grandson who would be the one to succeed and establish the Xue family name in the future.
Could they really stop supporting his education just because he lost this one time? However, studying requires money. Where would the money come from?
Old Zhao continued to cry and complain while Old Man Xue remained as still as a stone as he continued to drag deep lungfuls of smoke from his pipe.
After finishing a whole pouch of tobacco, he finally roused himself, tossed the empty tobacco bag to the foot of the kang bed, removed his shoes and lay down on the kang bed.
“Sleep!”
Old Zhao was startled by his actions but didn’t dare to say anything more.
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Back at East Gate House, Boss Chen flipped through a stack of rice paper, feeling as though he had uncovered a great treasure.
“Not bad, your characters are even more refined now.”
Xue Tingxiang humbly replied, “This is because I have more opportunity to practice.”
Boss Chen instructed Ah Cai to fetch a silver tael from the counter and handed it to him.
“The school will begin in a few more days. Don’t forget to go. Don’t forget the Six Rites of Apprenticeship either. As for the tuition fee, if you don’t have enough money on hand, it’s fine to pay it slowly.”
Before Xue Tingxiang could say anything, Zhao’er cheerfully said, “Uncle Chen, please rest assured. Since this Qingyuan Academy isn’t like that money-grubbing Qinghe Academy. We have enough silver for the tuition.”
Boss Chen nodded and said to Xue Tingxiang, “As for my side, I still have plenty of transcribing jobs. I’m willing to pay you well, so you are welcome to bring the work home or do your copying here. Of course, if you happened to have some free time, you’re welcome to read the books here too.”
“Thank you, Uncle Chen.”
“What are you thanking me for? I need to hire someone regardless and your calligrapy is excellent. In fact, it is so excellent that I should be the one accused of taking advantage of you.”
Boss Chen was a sensible and tactful man who understood a scholar’s pride and knew how to offer help without making it look like he was being too charitable.
In return, Xue Tingxiang was grateful for this kindness.
Therefore, he happily accepted another transcribing job from Boss Chen before leaving East Gate House with Zhao’er.
The two of them made their way down the street. They were about to leave Southside when he suddenly pulled Zhao’er down a different lane.
“What is it? Where are we going?”
Xue Tingxiang said nothing as he continued to pull Zhao’er along until they reached the noodle stall where they had first eaten together that first time they had travelled to town together. Only then did Zhao’er understand.
“Boss, two bowls of Jiupian, with extra toppings.” [2]
Then, he picked a clean, free table and sat down. When he saw that Zhao’er was still standing, he pulled her down to sit beside him.
“What else do you want to eat? I’ll take you there.”
The young man looked very serious. Zhao’er felt a sudden warmth in her eyes and jokingly scolded, “You’ve just earned a little money and you’re already binging and drinking like this.”
Xue Tingxiang’s gaze darkened, but Zhao’er didn’t notice. She kept on talking, telling him that since he had money, he should save it because he would be attending a private academy soon, that he would need to spend money on all kinds of things, that it would be more convenient to have money on hand, and other similar advice.
After talking for a while and not hearing any reply from him, Zhao’er looked up and found that, yes, this little man was upset, angry even.
In fact, Xue Tingxiang rarely displayed outward signs of anger. To most people, he just looked expressionless. But Zhao’er knew him too well and realised it on sight.
Look at the way he pursed those little lips, the way those cheeks puffed up a bit, as for the way those dark eyes looked at her… he’s clearly angry, ah!
“Why are you angry again?” she asked helplessly.
When he still did not say anything, she leaned in to say, “What did I say to make you angry? Fine, fine, I’m in the wrong, alright?”
He pursed his lips further and said, “I said that I would treat you here once I earned some money.”
So, he was angry because of this?
Zhao’er was still too stunned to say anything as he continued, “I’m your man. It is only right that I take you out to eat.”
Hearing that, Zhao’er almost choked on her saliva. After a moment, she stammered, “Gou’er, what’s wrong with you? Why are you saying this?”
Xue Tingxiang narrowed his eyes squinted, and looked at her, “Am I not your man?”
Um…
“Did you actually not regard me as your man?”
“Do you not want to be my wife? Do you have another man in your heart?”
This series of questions left Zhao’er at a loss for words, throwing her mind into chaos.
“Stop, stop, stop, what nonsense are you talking about?!” She struggled to gather her thoughts before saying, “Aren’t we here to eat some Jiupian noodles? Why are we talking about all these random things? Look, the noodles are here.”
Luckily, the boss’s timing was good as he set down two steaming bowls of fragrant Jiupian noodles on the table.
“Careful now, careful now, it’s very hot. Enjoy your meal, dear customers. Please help yourself to the garlic and vinegar,” after that, he left them to it.
“Eat up quickly, it won’t taste good once it gets soggy,” Zhao’er said as she splashed some vinegar into one of the bowls and pushed it in front of Xue Tingxiang.
Xue Tingxiang had always liked a bit of vinegar with his noodles. Just enough for flavour, but not so much that the food would be sour. Back when Qiu’shi was still alive, not even she could not judge how much vinegar to add to his noodles. However, Zhao’er had always known precisely how much to add.
Xue Tingxiang always had this particular preference. However, in his dreams, ever since Zhao’er passed away, he stopped eating vinegar altogether.
Without the person who used to add vinegar for him, he had tried doing it for himself, but every time, it ended up being too sour, enough to choke him to tears.
For some reason, these thoughts actually calmed Xue Tingxiang’s heart down. That’s right, Zhao’er is still alive and well. He still had plenty of time to make her understand that he was her man, not her little brother.
“You should eat too.” Xue Tingxiang pulled out two pairs of chopsticks from the bamboo container and handed one pair to Zhao’er.
Zhao’er stole a peek at him from under her lashes. Although she had no idea why his mood was suddenly better, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Well, it was good that he was not angry anymore. What an odd temper. He had always been like that ever since a child, looks like that had not changed even after growing up!
She could not help but indulge in random nostalgic thoughts as she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
After they were done with their noodles, Xue Tingxiang called the boss over to settle the bill.
He handed the silver teal he had just earned to the fat noodle stall owner who scratched his head embarrassedly. It turned out that small noodle stalls rarely receive silver and customers generally paid with copper coins. In other words, the boss had no change for his silver teal.
Xue Tingxiang was momentarily stunned; he had actually forgotten about this.
Just as Zhao’er was about to take out some copper coins to pay, he suddenly said, “Wait,” and pulled out a few copper coins from his belt— there were exactly eight, no more, no less.
These were the copper coins Zhao’er had given him when they first went to East Gate House. He had intended to use his own hard-earned money to treat her to noodles, but who knew that in the end, he still used the money she had given to him?
After leaving the noodle stall, Xue Tingxiang asked, “Is there anything else you want to eat? Let’s buy it.”
Zhao’er looked at him in surprise. “What are you talking about, ah? I can’t eat anymore, ah.”
Without replying, he took Zhao’er’s hand and led the way to the Eastside.
They bought fruits from one shop, oil cakes from another, and peanuts and broad beans from another. Zhao’er ended up with 6 or 7 tied-up paper packets of snacks swinging from her wrists.
After experiencing his odd behaviour earlier, Zhao’er dared not say anything about him spending money recklessly.
As she trailed after him, arms filled with the paper bags of snacks, Zhao’er felt an odd sensation lingering in her heart.
After a while, she could only shake her head helplessly.
Really, he is such a child!
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After dinner that night, Old Man Xue had Xue Qingshan and his brothers stay back for a talk.
This was a clear sign that something important would be brought up. So, Sun’shi found some excuse to remain in the dining room. Zhou’shi also did not leave after clearing the table. Yang’shi remained unmoving from her seat next to Xue Qingshan.
As for the juniors, they were all sent back to their rooms.
As usual, Old Man Xue took his time. First, he lit up his pipe and gave a few puffs before starting on the heart of the matter.
“What did you say, Father? You want to sell land?”
[Gumihou: Uh oh, drama in coming!]
Gumihou:
[a] Adjust details for a smoother delivery [b]Pillbug: Oi, you think the exam is so easy? Even Senior Yang has failed so many times, and Juncai is no genius!
Gumihou: Yeah, like, this coming from that guy who had failed his Xiu Cai exam several times?
[c] 没钱就没卖地 – if no money then don’t sell land… seems kind of weird? The second 没 seems odd. 没钱就卖地 seems more correct
Pillbug TL Notes:
[1] China did not always use Yuan, they used Wen until the late 19th century: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_cash_(currency_unit)
Gumi circumvented this by using ‘coins’ for money that is less than a ‘tael’
[2] Jiupian noodles, yum! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o730OKe9IFI
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