WSMTATMC C32

Chapter 32

Wang Ying, as if he had never seen the world before, clung to the carriage window, staring eagerly outside.

Chen Qingyan, however, raised his hand to shield his head, fearing he might bump it against the roof when the carriage jolted.

Chen Bo, who had accompanied the master to visit Third Aunt’s home several times in earlier years, was already familiar with the Lin family. He urged the carriage directly toward Sparrow Alley in the eastern part of the city.

“You should tell me about Third Aunt’s family in advance. It’ll help me call people properly when we arrive.”

Chen Qingyan replied, “Third Aunt’s husband’s surname is Lin. He, too, was once a licentiate, previously running a private school, but has since quit and is now accounting at a pawnshop. I have two younger cousins: Lin Qiu’er, who is one year younger than me, and Lin Sui’er, who is the same age as Qingyun.”

Wang Ying carefully remembered this. After about half an hour, the carriage finally stopped in front of the Lin household.

Even before entering, they heard the sound of quarreling inside.

“How could our Qiu’er possibly marry into a family like the Fang’s? Are you pushing him into a pit of fire? What are you—so poor that we cannot fill our bellies? So desperate that you would sell your own children?”

“Don’t speak so harshly! What’s so bad about that young Master Fang? His family heritage is good, and it would be a favorable match for Qiu’er.”

“Bah! A man who wastes his days drinking in brothels—is that what you call a favorable match? For shame—you studied all those books just for the learning to end up in the belly of a dog!”

“Chen Rong! Don’t be unreasonable!”

Unable to listen anymore, Wang Ying jumped down from the carriage and knocked firmly on the front gate.

Knock knock knock. “Excuse me, is this Lin’s house?”

The courtyard fell instantly silent for a moment, then the door creaked open. Chen Third Aunt looked at Wang Ying uncertainly, her tone hesitant, “You are…?”

Chen Qingyan stepped forward and said, “Third Aunt, it’s me.”

Her eyes lit up. “Yan’er? Ying’er? How did you suddenly come!”

“The New Year is near. We came to visit you and Third Uncle.”

“Aiyo, traveling all this way—come in quickly!”

The Lin family courtyard was modest in size. The main house had only three rooms, with two wing rooms to the side. With few family members, however, it was sufficient for them.

When Third Uncle saw them, he looked slightly uncomfortable, greeted them with a few words, and promptly left.

Third Aunt ignored him, pulling the visitors warmly into the room.

Inside, a brazier crackled, giving off the distinct smell of firewood. The warmth was cozy.

“Qiu’er, Sui’er, come out quickly and see who has come!”

From the west room emerged two brothers with somewhat similar appearances. The elder, Lin Qiu’er, had reddened eyes, while the younger, Lin Sui’er, looked at them curiously.

Third Aunt led her sons forward, saying, “This is your Cousin Yan and his husband. Quickly, greet them.”

“Hello, cousin. Hello, cousin-in-law.”

“Yes, yes.” Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan quickly responded.

The last time they had met was over a year ago, when Chen Qingyan had attended the county examination and stayed at the Lin household for a few days. Both brothers had now changed appearance.

Third Aunt looked Chen Qingyan up and down. “When I left you last, you weren’t fully recovered. Now, it seems you are completely well and look much healthier!”

Chen Qingyan nodded.

“You can’t imagine, when I returned last time, I heard the news of your supposed funeral. My heart nearly broke…” Chen Rong’s voice grew thick with sorrow.

Wang Ying gently comforted, “Third Aunt, let’s not dwell on sad matters. Look, isn’t he alive and well now?”

“True, true. Enough of that. Tell me, wasn’t the road cold, wasn’t the journey tiring? You mustn’t have eaten yet. Qiu’er, go to the market and buy some meat, and also a jug of wine. I’ll make dumplings for you.”

Chen Qingyan quickly said, “No, Third Aunt, don’t trouble yourself.”

“It’s no trouble at all. You don’t visit often. Since you are here, treat this like your own home.”

Lin Qiu’er took the money and went to buy things, while Lin Sui’er curiously examined the mule cart standing in the courtyard.

Wang Ying asked Uncle Lin and Dunzi to unload the New Year’s gifts they had brought—six baskets packed full.

“Why did you bring all this again? Spending money needlessly.”

“Ah, but it’s just some trifles. As long as Third Aunt doesn’t mind.”

“You child—why so polite? Even if you came empty-handed, I would never mind. You’re not outsiders.”

The gifts were carried into the side room. Noticing that some baskets contained winter vegetables, Third Aunt exclaimed, “Where did these come from? This season, who sells vegetables?”

“They’re grown at our manor. We have a warm spring nearby, so around it the ground stays mild even in winter. We planted vegetables there.”

“That’s wonderful! Then I can use these greens to cook some side dishes for you, saving us another trip to the market.”

She arranged for Chen Bo and Dunzi to rest in the side rooms while the others gathered in the main hall. She told Lin Sui’er to boil water and steep tea.

“How is your mother keeping these days?”

Chen Qingyan replied, “She’s quite well, but she always misses you.”

“I miss her too. But these family duties—plus the distance—it isn’t easy to visit often.”

Wang Ying remembered the raised voices he had overheard earlier, but since Third Aunt had avoided mentioning them, he also stayed silent.

Chen Qingyan, however, asked directly, “Third Aunt, outside the gate just now, I overheard you and Third Uncle in argument. Has something happened?”

At this, Chen Rong sighed in distress. “Sui’er, go play in the west room. I need to talk to your cousin and cousin-in-law.”

“Out you go.”

Once the child had left, she lowered her voice. “Since you’ve already heard, I won’t hide it. Qiu’er is seventeen this year, the age when marriage should be arranged. We’d already betrothed him to the Zhang family in the county, but before the marriage could happen, their son fell ill and died. So everything fell apart.

We thought to look around again for Sui’ertable matches. But then lately, your uncle suddenly came back claiming he had found Qiu’er an excellent family. At first he wouldn’t tell me which, only saying Qiu’er would ‘eat well and live comfortably’ if he married there.

The more I thought about it, the less it made sense. Matchmaking has always followed the principle of equality between families. You’ve seen our situation—we live on my weaving and their father’s pawnshop wages. We manage, but it’s nowhere near wealthy households.

After pressing him repeatedly, he finally admitted it was the Fang family, who wanted Qiu’er as a second wife to continue their line.”

Just then, Lin Qiu’er returned and heard the words. Putting down what he had brought, he burst into tears and fled to the west room.

Third Aunt’s eyes brimmed with tears too. She dabbed at them with a handkerchief. “The Fang family are not honorable people. Drinking, gambling, brothels—they dabble in everything. That Master Fang married once before, but his wife either died of illness, or—what is rumored—was beaten to death. That’s why no one will marry their son.

I suppose he frequented your uncle’s pawnshop and conned him with flattery, tricking him into offering Qiu’er.”

Chen Qingyan’s face darkened severely. “Third Uncle is foolish! Marriage is a grave affair—how can he agree so rashly? If the husband proves unSui’ertable, regrets will be too late!”

“Exactly! We’ve quarreled for several days over this. But he insists, saying after New Year he’ll finalize the betrothal.”

In ancient times, women and ge’er had no say in their marriages. Parents decided wholly. Luckily, Third Aunt was clear-minded—otherwise, this cousin’s life would surely be doomed.

Yet, she wiped her eyes, straightened, and forced a smile. “Enough, no more of these worrisome things. I’ll go prepare food. You two should rest.”

When Wang Ying and Chen Qingyan tried to help, she stopped them firmly. “You came all this way—no hands of yours will touch work here!”

After she left, the two men exchanged helpless looks.

“Brother, what do you think we should do?”

Wang Ying answered, “Perhaps we should persuade Third Uncle. If he is troubled by some difficulty, he could say so. If we can help, we will.”

“Alright.”

Toward evening, Third Uncle Lin Zhangbin returned, carrying an oil-paper parcel containing smoked chicken.

“You haven’t eaten yet? Qiu’er, chop this chicken and serve it to your cousin as a dish.”

Lin Qiu’er reluctantly rose, carried the chicken into the kitchen. His father washed his hands, removed his cotton cap, and sat down.

He was in his early forties. His thin frame and hollow cheeks made his cheekbones jut sharply, giving him a harsh look.

Perhaps because of diet and lifestyle, ancient people aged more quickly. At forty, he already had streaks of white hair.

“This must be Qingyan’s husband? I didn’t even know you had married. Back then, we never received word.”

Wang Ying quickly stood and bowed. “Greetings, Third Uncle. At the time, Qingyan’s health was poor, and the marriage was rushed. We failed to deliver news, and Fourth Uncle couldn’t attend either.”

“No matter, no matter. Quickly, sit, sit.”

Before long, Third Aunt and Lin Qiu’er served dumplings to the table. Alongside them were stir-fried cucumbers with egg, stir-fried celery with cured meat, and the smoked chicken—all respectable dishes for guests.

Lin Zhangbin picked up a cucumber slice. “Were these bought from the city market?”

“No, brought from our home.”

“Your home has vegetables too?”

“Our estate has a warm spring, so we plant a little around it.”

“Incredible! Do you know how much cucumbers sell for now in the county market? Thirty-five wen each. Who could afford that?”

Wang Ying was astonished. He realized the vegetables being sold in town likely came from Cao Bin, who purchased from them. Clearly, the ten wen per jin price they charged was quite reasonable.

“If you can grow vegetables, you should send them to sell in the county!”

“But we don’t grow many—just enough for family use.”

Hearing this, Lin Zhangbin dropped the topic and turned to wine. After drinking a bit, he started talking more. “Qingyan, how is your studying? Shouldn’t you try the county exam again next spring?”

“My knowledge is limited. I probably won’t achieve much. Instead, I’ve opened a private school at home, to bring in some income.”

“Ah, that’s right. Don’t waste time chasing what is useless. Look at me—I sat those county exams ten times, never passing. Only the rich and powerful can really succeed there. How can we, with our means, ever compare?”

Third Aunt snorted, “If that were true, how come your Fourth Brother passed? It’s you who was incapable.”

“You call that capable? He just got lucky! Do you think everyone has such fortune? Listen to me—earn money instead. In this age, with money, your back stays straight.”

Chen Qingyan hummed vaguely, not arguing.

“Your father refused to take my advice, otherwise he’d have spent the money on opening shops here. He’d be counting silver now with his eyes closed. Ten years ago, a storefront on Changping Street cost just seventy taels. Do you know how much it’s worth now?”

Chen Qingyan stayed silent. Seventy taels already sounded high, but running a shop took far more. Besides, unfamiliar in the county, his father would not have risked such a venture.

“And another thing—when the family property was divided, your mother was given only a small share. After all, she was a married daughter…”

Third Aunt stomped his foot under the table. “Why bring that up? Eat and shut your mouth.”

He nearly flared, but remembering their guests, swallowed his temper and downed his wine instead.

Wang Ying noticed Chen Qingyan’s darkening face and nudged him with his leg.

“I heard Cousin Qiu’er is about to be betrothed?” Qingyan said deliberately.

Lin Zhangbin grunted, casting a glance toward his wife. “Yes, a good match. But your Third Aunt listens to gossip and refuses to agree. Am I, the father, someone who would harm his own child?”

“The Fang family has six shops, wealthy and substantial. Young Master Fang is not as people make him out. I’ve met him several times—his words and conduct are unflawed. Only because he needs to remarry is he hard to match; otherwise, how could our Qiu’er get such a chance?”

At this, Lin Qiu’er put down his chopsticks. “I’m full.” He rose and left.

Lin Sui’er also wanted to go, but lingered to eat a few more bites of meat. Only after quickly gulping down the rest of his rice did he scurry after his brother.

With the children gone, Third Aunt finally spoke. “Are you bewitched? I sent people to inquire—he still haunts brothels, rarely home. Yet in your mouth, he becomes a fine gentleman.”

“Men are like that. After marriage, he’ll settle down.”

“Utter nonsense! If you had been like that before our marriage, would my father have ever permitted me to wed you? But for my son, you refuse to be discerning—you’d throw him into suffering for life. What benefit will you gain?”

“Mind your words! How dare you say I push our son into a pit?”

Seeing the quarrel rising again, Wang Ying hurriedly pulled Third Aunt out into the outer room.

Footnotes

: Licentiate (秀才 xiùcái) was the lowest official degree in the Imperial Examination system, earned after passing the county-level exam. It conferred social respect and certain privileges.

: Wen (文) was a basic unit of copper coin currency in imperial China. Thirty-five wen could represent more than a day’s wages for a poor family.

: Jin (斤) is a traditional Chinese unit of weight, roughly equal to 500 grams, about 1.1 pounds.