WSMTATMC C162

Chapter 162

Partings are always saddening, yet there is no banquet in the world that does not end; early this morning, Fourth Aunt Fang Ling and Qing Huai were set to leave.

They were returning with only three attendants, which worried Wang Ying, so arrangements were made through a martial guild to hire two masters to escort them.

Qing Huai looked puzzled at the two newly arrived men. “What are these men for?”

Wang Ying said, “The journey takes over thirty days, and who knows what one might meet on the road. Hiring these two masters is just in case—both are trained from the guild and can handle three-to-one without issue.”

Fang Ling held Wang Ying’s hand. “Such care—this child is meticulous. Neither Qing Huai nor I even thought of this, only bent on hastening back to Shanzhou.”

Madam Li added, “With escorts, there is peace of mind. The road ahead is long and arduous—little sister, be sure to take good care of your health…” As she spoke, tears fell.

Fang Ling’s eyes reddened as well. “All right, we’ll write once we arrive.”

Chen Qingyan also held Chen Qinghuai’s shoulder to advise, “Be careful on the road. If you see our teacher in Shanzhou, don’t forget to bring him a greeting.”

“Rest easy; it will be delivered. And we’ll also report our provincial exam results to the old gentleman.”

Chen Qingyan patted his shoulder. “See you next year in the capital.”

“See you in the capital!”

Everyone saw them into the carriage and walked with them to the turn of the alley, returning only once they were out of sight. Madam Li’s eyes brimmed with tears; she had the softest heart and could not bear farewells. Holding Chen Rong’s hand, she said, “Luckily you all came—otherwise, with little sister leaving so suddenly, there would be no one to talk to.”

Chen Rong teased, “So, it turns out I’m the stand-in for little sister.”

Madam Li smiled through tears and pointed at her. “Don’t tease your sister-in-law.”

Seeing her mood ease, everyone felt relieved. As age advanced, Madam Li’s health had not been very robust; there was worry that once Fang Ling and Qing Huai left, she might fall ill in her grief.

Back home, Chen Rong again consulted her about Lin Sui’s marriage. “Cao Kun said he met Marquis Wuping briefly on Qingyun’s wedding day. He didn’t look too old and seemed quite proper—only, there’s a birthmark near his eye. Who knows how he took a liking to our Sui’er.”

Madam Li reassured her. “Don’t fret—perhaps this is a red thread tied by Heaven.”

She told of the first meeting at Qingfeng Monastery with Li Mu, and then of how Li Mu’s daughter, by a twist of fate, climbed into their ice-cart and ended up at the ice shop, where she met Lin Sui—leaving Chen Rong to clap in amazement.

“Hearing it like this, it does sound like fate. Otherwise, how could these two, who are eight poles apart, have met at all?”

“As the saying goes, children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. We are old; fretting is useless. In the end, it depends on whether they themselves are willing.”

“That’s the truth!”

After chatting for a while, Madam Li felt drowsy, so Chen Rong rose and went to the back courtyard, where she had been staying with her son these past few days.

Since Qingyun married off, only Lin Sui was left in the western side courtyard—very spacious for one.

When Chen Rong entered, Lin Qiu was there as well; the brothers were talking privately.

“Mother, here you are.”

“What are you two doing?”

Lin Qiu said quietly, “Checking Sui’er’s pregnancy mark.” Lin Sui’s pregnancy mark grew behind the ear; it had once been very vivid and easily seen at a glance.

After what had happened, the mark had grown very faint, changing from bright red to brownish—hard to notice without close inspection.

Perhaps because his health had improved somewhat over the year, the mark had changed a little, but its color was still far from that of a normal ge’er.

Lin Sui covered the mark. “Brother, don’t look anymore…”

Lin Qiu tapped him lightly. “Fool. If after marrying into the Marquis household there is no child by your side, and the Marquis takes a new spouse later, where will your place be?”

Lin Sui lowered his head. “It’s just my fate that I have no such blessing.”

Chen Rong disagreed. “Back in the county we couldn’t find a physician and delayed you. Now that we’re in the prefectural city, let’s find a doctor to have another look; perhaps it can be nursed back.”

“When I first came, Sister-in-law took me to a clinic. The resident physician felt my pulse and said my vital essence was injured, and it likely can’t be restored.”

Chen Rong sighed. For this child, she truly did not know what to do. Marrying down risked suffering; marrying up risked future unhappiness; not marrying was impossible, and she had no means to support him forever—besides, living alone was no solution.

“Forget it—let’s wait to meet this Marquis Wuping and then decide.”

—

The next day, a calling card from Marquis Wuping arrived, inviting Lin Sui’s family and the Chen family to a meal at Hongyun Pavilion.

Upon receiving the invitation, Chen Rong brought out her best clothes, worried about being looked down upon.

They took a carriage to Hongyun Pavilion; since Madam Liu had previously treated them there, everyone was familiar with the place and followed the page into a private room on the second floor.

There, besides the Marquis, were his military adviser and strategist, as well as Madam Luo and little Qing’er.

Bringing a strategist to a matchmaking—Marquis Wuping was something else indeed.

On seeing Lin Sui, Qing’er wanted to fling herself into his arms, but Li Mu quickly held her hand. “What did father say before we came out?”

Little Qing’er calmed immediately. Father had said to behave like a demure young lady, or else others would be displeased.

Lin Sui wasn’t used to seeing her so restrained, so he secretly winked at her. The little girl beamed at once, showing her small tiger teeth.

Li Mu hurried to greet them and, seeing they didn’t dare sit, realized his lapse. “Please, be seated. Auntie, there’s no need to be so formal.”

As Chen Rong took her seat, she thought: this Marquis Wuping is truly tall. Cao Kun was tall enough, yet the Marquis was broader and stronger. When Lin Sui stood, the top of his head reached only to the Marquis’s chin—if they quarreled in the future, the opponent would be…

Li Mu, unaware of his mother-in-law’s thoughts, was clumsy at first-meet courtesies and, after a light cough into a fist, looked to his adviser for help.

The adviser’s surname was Guan, given name Shiqian, a man in his thirties. Though dressed like a scholar, he was also capable of fighting in formation.

“Since this is the first meeting and the Marquis is not eloquent, allow me to introduce him, so Auntie can know his situation. The Marquis’s formal name is Li Mu, childhood name Li Geda.”

Li Mu kicked him under the table and muttered, “That part can be skipped.”

Guan Shiqian ignored him and continued, “He is twenty-five this year, born in the Year of the Tiger, while Little Mister Lin is of the Pig—these signs are a harmonious pair.”

Chen Rong straightened, listening carefully.

“The Marquis has been married before, to a merchant’s daughter, and they have the young lady Qing’er. But some matters arose, and within a year the marriage was dissolved.”

He didn’t elaborate; it would be improper to discuss the girl’s mother’s faults in front of the child—better left for later in private.

“These years, the Marquis has kept himself clean—no singing birds and swallows about him; on this point, I can testify. With nowhere to spend his energy, he drills the soldiers in camp every day, nearly working the lads to death!”

Li Mu’s face darkened; he longed to cuff him. Was this supposed to be an assist or a complaint?

Seeing enough had been said, Guan Shiqian drew back. “The Marquis is sincere toward Little Mister Lin; hence the special escort to the prefectural city to discuss the match. What do Auntie and the gentlemen think?”

Chen Rong looked to Lin Qiu; neither had objections. “Does the Marquis know all there is to know about our Sui’er?”

Li Mu said solemnly, “I know everything. Auntie, be at ease. Since I’ve decided to marry him, I am prepared in mind. Also, I do not intend to have further offspring—Qing’er alone is enough.”

Such promises, made now, could not fully persuade Chen Rong. Words are easy; what if the heart changes later? Having suffered similar betrayal herself, she heard him with some skepticism.

Li Mu, seeing this, showed further sincerity. “After marriage, Qing’er will be registered directly under Lin Sui’s name, with Qing’er’s own consent. Henceforth, Lin Sui will be her rightful a-fu.”

This point was good, and Chen Rong nodded slightly.

“I serve in the army, with an annual stipend of several hundred strings; in Jizhou, I also have one hundred shang of fief land, granted when I was first ennobled—divided into three estates. After the wedding, all will be handed to Lin Sui for management.” One hundred shang is a thousand mu—Marquis Wuping did have some family resources!

Chen Rong grew increasingly satisfied. Other things were empty; only household authority in her son’s hands would ensure the days could be lived in ease.

Seated to the side, Madam Luo had said nothing from start to finish; such affairs were no longer hers to manage.

The old lady’s thinking was clear: the son’s abilities were his own, and she would follow along and enjoy blessing, not coveting anything else. At her age, how many years remained? To fret over nothing and ruin mother-son relations was not worth it.

After the meal, both families were quite satisfied, and Li Mu began making preparations for the marriage.

Though this would be a second marriage, Li Mu did not cut any corners: matchmakers, betrothal rites—all done properly, even more attentive than the first wedding.

His first marriage had been arranged by the Li family’s primary wife; outwardly grand, inwardly sordid beyond words.

Many matters he learned only when he divorced her. At the start, he had provided five hundred taels of silver for betrothal gifts; the primary wife used less than one hundred strings.

As for other items, all told they did not amount to fifty strings. Fortunately the other party was a merchant family and did not fuss over it, wanting only the Marquis’s status.

After the divorce, Li Mu did not reclaim the dowry; he returned it all. The other side returned the betrothal gifts, and he then realized how ridiculous the primary wife’s arrangements had been.

As for the present match, their eight characters were cast at Qingfeng Monastery: the hexagram showed qián’s firm virtue and kūn’s gentle virtue, yin and yang in harmony, Heaven and Earth in concord—an auspicious union.

The priest also helped select a date: next year in the sixth month, a time that did not clash with their zodiac signs and would make quarrels less likely after marriage.

With the wedding settled, Chen Rong felt at ease. Because the rickshaw shop still had business and could not be delayed, Cao Kun returned first.

Chen Rong and Lin Qiu stayed on, as the days were growing colder and Xiaomai and the baby were too little; on the road, they might catch a chill.

Madam Li also did not want them to go. The home had too few people as it was; if Chen Rong left, it would be all the more desolate.

The household began preparing Lin Sui’s dowry. Compared to Qingyun’s, it was not nearly as lavish—by Lin Sui’s own request.

First, the Marquis did not care about such things; if he did, he would not be marrying a ge’er of humble background who had already been divorced.

Second, one should wear shoes that fit one’s feet; no need to put on airs and have others spend money to save face. Thus, all the dowry money came from his own savings.

The Huang family’s thirty strings in compensation plus the wages Sister-in-law had paid during half a year in the prefectural city—though half had been remitted home, the two busiest months of summer ice sales had brought a wage increase, so he had fifty to sixty strings in bits and pieces.

Chen Rong and Madam Li added fifty taels of silver; not much, but they were older with no income of their own—this was their greatest token of heart.

Wang Ying did not hand cash directly; instead, patting Lin Sui’s shoulder, said, “The vegetable stall’s horse-trading has wrapped up; help Sister-in-law sell vegetables through the winter, and Sister-in-law will pay extra wages.”

Lin Sui smiled. “All right!”