WSMTATMC C160

Chapter 160

Relatives and friends of the Liu family were many today; there were thirty banquet tables set, and every seat was packed.

Wang Ying and Lin Qiu each holding a child found seats first. Both had risen in the middle of the night and been busy since early morning, so they were exhausted and sleepy. The second baby was too little and had not come, staying at home with Chen Rong and Madam Li.

Yuanbao had cried all the way over; now both his eyes were swollen like peaches, and he kept sniffling.

Wang Ying wiped his tears. “In a little while, Aunt can be seen again. Later, whenever Aunt is missed, she can be visited anytime.”

“Really?”

“Really. When has a-fu ever lied?”

Yuanbao’s lips trembled and tears welled again; the little face was pitiful.

After a while, Lin Sui brought over two bowls of steamed egg custard. “I asked their kitchen matron for these. Let the two little ones put something in their stomachs first.”

Yuanbao wanted to feed himself, so Wang Ying set him beside them and let him sit on a bench to eat on his own. Xiaomai was a bit smaller and couldn’t reach the table, so Lin Qiu held the ge’er while Lin Sui fed the custard.

Before long, Cao Kun and the three Chen brothers came over. “Did Mother and the others not come?”

Wang Ying said, “Mother had a headache and didn’t come. Third Aunt is at home watching the baby as well. Fourth Aunt did come; she just spotted acquaintances and went over to talk with them.”

“Hungry? I’ll find something for you to nibble on.”

Wang Ying and Lin Qiu quickly waved it off. “These two littles are already eating. We’re fine—eating later isn’t too late.”

Cao Kun said, “We just bumped into Marquis Wuping.”

Lin Qiu quickly asked, “Did you greet him?”

“Yes. The Marquis was very courteous and said he hadn’t realized our second baby was so young; he hoped we wouldn’t take offense at being fetched on short notice.”

Feeding a spoonful to Xiaomai, Lin Sui said, “I was wondering how you could bear to bring such a little one on the road—turns out he sent people to fetch you.”

Lin Qiu said, “The officers cared for us along the way, and the children are sturdy. No major issues.”

Cao Kun nodded. “That’s what I said too. The Marquis said our family must be busy with Qingyun’s wedding, so there’d be no time; we’ll gather in a few days.”

A small smile tugged at Lin Sui’s lips; he finally felt more at ease.

Near the end of the si hour, the banquet opened. The Liu family’s spread was one of the finest in the prefectural city; the chefs were all master cooks from renowned restaurants, and the dishes needed no further praise. Twelve dishes in all—four cold and eight hot—well-balanced in meat and vegetables, more substantial than eating at an inn.

As the bride’s family, Wang Ying and the others sat at the head tables, and the dishes were better than those at other tables. Everyone was hungry and didn’t stand on ceremony; once the dishes arrived, they picked up their chopsticks and began.

During the meal, Liu Changyi came over to offer a toast. Knowing his limited tolerance, Chen Qingyan did not press him; he drank one cup and let him go.

This was grain liquor, not high proof; Wang Ying did not get drunk even after two cups.

After eating and drinking their fill, Wang Ying and the others rose and took the children to the courtyard where Chen Qingyun lived.

All along the way, Lin Qiu marveled. “This Liu residence is truly grand. I thought Sister-in-law’s new compound was large enough, but this is even bigger!”

Wang Ying said, “This is nothing. It’s this street that’s truly impressive. Houses here can’t be bought even with money. This courtyard alone could buy ten of ours with change left over.”

Lin Qiu clicked his tongue. “The prefectural city really is more particular than the county.”

They passed through a winding corridor to the eastern side courtyard. It was far from the main residence with its own gate; in the future, if they didn’t wish to live together, another entrance could be opened and the households separated.

It could be seen that Madam Liu planned far ahead. After all, with people living together a long time, who knew how relations would turn; arranging things this way warded against future troubles.

The eastern side courtyard was tidy, the ground paved with neat stone bricks, with several holly trees pruned into round balls at the side, looking quite charming.

Inside sat two young matrons—likely Liu family relatives—who rose and left when they arrived.

Chen Qingyun was eating dumplings. She hadn’t eaten in the morning and was starving by now; the sister-in-law from the eldest aunt’s branch had brought her a bowl.

Seeing Wang Ying and the others, she rose joyfully to greet them. “Come in quickly. Have you eaten?”

“We ate before coming.”

“Aunt!” Little Yuanbao rushed over and leaped into her arms.

Qingyun lifted the child onto her lap. “Oh my, Yuanbao’s been crying—why are the eyes so swollen?”

Yuanbao buried his head in her bosom in embarrassment.

Wang Ying said, “He couldn’t bear the thought of Aunt marrying, and cried all the way.”

“Good Yuanbao, Aunt hasn’t doted on you in vain.”

Aunt and nephew nuzzled cheek to cheek for a while. “Did Mother come?”

“No. Mother didn’t sleep last night and felt a bit dizzy this morning, so she stayed home to rest.”

Qingyun sighed. She understood her mother best—she had surely gone to cry in secret.

Lin Qiu said, “Don’t worry. In a couple of days at the return-to-door, she’ll be seen. The home is so close—come back to stay whenever there’s a wish.”

Lin Sui said, “Spacious, too. This carved canopy bed is even better than the dowry one.”

Qingyun said, “It is said this bed was sent from the capital. Come, let me show you around.”

They toured the place. The eastern side courtyard had nine rooms in all, roughly equivalent to a two-bay compound. Bedrooms to the east and west, with a central hall for receiving guests; in the courtyard there was also a study and guest rooms.

As for staffing, since it was just the two of them, there was one kitchen matron and one attendant granny.

Wang Ying said, “The Liu family has been thoughtful. Live well with Changyi; no bullying him.”

“Okay, understood.”

It was getting late, and the outdoor banquet was nearly over; they all rose to head back.

Qingyun grabbed a handful of crisp candies and tucked them into the two children’s pockets. “Good Yuanbao, Aunt will return to the door the day after tomorrow—no more tears then.”

“Mm.” Yuanbao nodded obediently.

Walking them to the main gate and watching them go far, Chen Qingyun’s long-suppressed tears brimmed over—she wanted to go home too…

—

No sooner was Qingyun’s wedding done than it was time for the provincial exam results to be posted.

In past years, the provincial exam list was usually released in mid-tenth month. The long timeline came down to two reasons: the sheer number of candidates, and the extreme labor required for marking.

This year, Jizhou Prefecture had eight graders plus one chief examiner. On average, each grader had to mark the papers of roughly ninety candidates; just the marking took seven to eight days.

Out of seven hundred papers, only the top thirty were selected and sent to the chief examiner for ordering. Once confirmed, they were forwarded to the capital; the same happened for other prefectures.

There were seventeen provinces nationwide (excluding barren regions such as the Western Marches and the Southern Yue). Papers from each prefecture took about a month to reach the capital. Finally, the Hanlin Academy selected the top two hundred candidates to become “juren.”

The final lists were then sent back across the country, and those who passed could enter the capital the following third month to sit the metropolitan and palace examinations.

As Jizhou was among the prefectures closer to the capital, two months to receive results was considered good; other prefectures might wait even longer.

On the ninth of the tenth month, the day of Qingyun’s return-to-door, Madam Li rose at dawn to prepare the meal.

“Yun’er loves smoked chicken. In a bit, have Ershun go buy one from Madam Luo’s smoked-chicken shop—go late and it’ll be sold out.”

“Okay,” Wang Ying answered. “For the staple, how about dumplings? There’s still plenty of wild boar meat the Marquis sent last time.”

“Good. Qingyun likes Chinese cabbage and pork filling.”

“I don’t know what Brother-in-law likes—let’s stir-fry a few home dishes too.”

Madam Li nodded. “All right, leave the arrangements to you.”

Wang Ying pulled some scallions and picked a few tender cucumbers from the test plot to make a cold salad. The vegetables in the test plot would be ready in about ten days—just as the weather cooled enough to sell vegetables again.

Around the hour of chen, Chen Qingyun and Liu Changyi came back by carriage with big bundles and small packages.

As soon as she got down, Qingyun rushed into the courtyard. “Mother, Sister-in-law!”

Hearing her daughter’s voice, Madam Li hurried to put on her shoes and nearly fell in her haste. Chen Rong quickly caught her. “Don’t rush—your child is back, isn’t she?”

When mother and daughter met, their eyes turned wet. Qingyun threw herself into her mother’s arms and sobbed, “Mother, I missed you so much…”

Madam Li stroked her head. “Mother missed you too. How have these days been?”

Qingyun nodded, wiping her tears. “Quite good.”

“Where’s Changyi?”

“Moving things in outside.”

They went to meet them, seeing Liu Changyi and the page carrying seven or eight boxes inside, faces flushed with exertion.

Wang Ying and Lin Qiu hurried to help. Madam Li said, “Why bring so many things!”

Liu Changyi scratched his head with a silly grin. “Prepared a few gifts for everyone.”

Soon the three Chen brothers arrived, and they pulled Liu Changyi into the study to chat.

“I hear people from the capital have arrived in the prefectural city; the provincial exam results should come out in a day or two.”

“From the capital?” Chen Qinghuai rubbed his hands and sprang to his feet in excitement.

Liu Changyi nodded. “They arrived last night, and someone summoned my father to the relay inn to receive them.”

“Then it really may be soon. Wonder if we can pass this time.”

After more than ten years of bitter study, the mixture of anticipation and nerves at this moment was beyond words.

Suppressing his thumping heart, Chen Qingyan said, “How are these days of marriage? Not bullying my sister, are you?”

“Loving her is barely enough—how would I dare let her suffer the least grievance?”

“Qingyun is young and a bit spoiled—yield to her when things arise.”

“Rest assured. My mother is far more spoiled than Qingyun—have you seen my father dare say a word these years? I’m the same. It’s the Liu family’s hereditary virtue.”

The Chen brothers broke into smiles; this fellow admitted being henpecked with pride.

In the main room, Madam Li also asked Qingyun, “Have these days gone well? Have they made things difficult for you?”

“No. Every day we sleep in until the sun is well up, then study what to eat after waking, and then Brother Changyi takes me out to play.”

Wang Ying couldn’t help laughing. “These two are still children at heart.” Eighteen and sixteen—by modern standards, a high-school romance.

Madam Li worried. “Don’t you go pay respects to your mother-in-law? Won’t the in-laws mind?”

“Mother-in-law said we’re all one family and won’t fuss over empty surface formalities. If we want to eat something, just tell the servants and she’ll make it.”

Wang Ying recalled that Madam Liu especially loved to cook; in fact, Chen Qingyan had brought back her cooking before.

Chen Rong said, “From the sound of it, your in-law truly is easy to get along with.”

Still, Madam Li urged her daughter, “Your mother-in-law indulges you, but don’t be rude. Go keep her company when there’s time. Only if relations are good will I be at ease.”

“Okay, understood.”

Qingyun had just finished speaking when a sudden clanging of metal on metal sounded outside.

Wang Ying rose in puzzlement and opened the door, only to see Chen Fang trotting in. “Officials have arrived to announce good news!”