WSMTATMC C180

Chapter 180

When Chen Qingyan first returned, Wang Ying immediately began discussing with the family their plans to move to the capital. He had decided to bring Yuanbao along—he simply couldn’t bear the thought of leaving their child behind in the imperial city.

However, Madam Li could not go. Qingyun was only a few months away from giving birth, and Qingsong was still studying at the prefectural academy. She needed to stay behind to look after both children.

Once they departed, the household would consist only of women and children. Wang Ying couldn’t help but worry. He thought that if the Cao family could move to the prefectural city as well, his mother-in-law would at least have company.

Still, such matters couldn’t be rushed. Moving an entire business was no small undertaking—it needed careful planning.

They had just about finished their meal when a knock came at the private room door. Cao Kun went to open it and returned moments later with a guest—none other than the Magistrate of Longquan County himself.

Everyone immediately stood to greet him.

“No, no, there’s no need for such formality,” the magistrate said with a wide smile, waving a hand. His eyes swept the table until they landed on Chen Qingyan. “You must be the new Zhuangyuan, are you not?”

Chen Qingyan rose and bowed politely. “I am he.”

“I have been waiting eagerly for your arrival,” the magistrate said. “When you have a moment, might I have the honor of hosting you at the yamen?”

“How about tomorrow?” Chen Qingyan replied evenly.

“Excellent, excellent! Then I shall not intrude on your meal any longer.”

Though they tried to persuade him to stay, the magistrate declined after exchanging a few pleasantries and soon took his leave.

After he was gone, Wang Ying suddenly realized how much their status had changed. This was the county magistrate—a man equivalent to a modern-day county head—bowing and smiling at his husband as though to a superior. The thought left him both proud and dazed.

After dinner, they went to arrange lodging. The Cao household had only one spare room, far too cramped for everyone. So Chen Rong decided to take Madam Li to stay with her in-laws instead. Cao Mother lived there alone, and having company would be good for her.

Cao Kun hitched up the carriage and personally sent them off. The servants were arranged at an inn in town to rest for two nights, as they planned to head to the village the day after tomorrow.

The next morning, the county yamen’s sedan chair arrived at the Cao residence, waiting to escort Chen Qingyan. Cao Kun accompanied him, and they returned around midday.

As expected, the visit yielded another pile of gifts—though Chen Qingyan, knowing the rules of propriety, refused anything too lavish.

In truth, the magistrate’s visit had no real purpose other than to curry favor. With a man destined for high office, it was wiser to build goodwill now than regret hostility later.

The county also took responsibility for the ancestral shrine project. Before the family’s arrival, the magistrate had already sent men to Qingshui Village to survey the land, preparing both for a Zhuangyuan Archway and a shrine to honor the Chen ancestors.

The following morning, the group set out in carriages toward Qingshui Village. They would be staying there for some time until the shrine was completed.

Madam Li’s heart filled with joy at the thought of returning home. That old courtyard held half her life’s memories—her happiest days and deepest griefs all bound to its soil.

Chen Rong and Lin Qiu came along as well. The construction of the ancestral hall was no small affair, and as the Chen family’s only daughter, Chen Rong naturally needed to be present.

After several days of travel, they finally reached Qiushui Town. The moment they stepped onto familiar ground, something in their hearts loosened. Even Wang Ying felt a rush of nostalgia. He thought back to the day he had first arrived in this world—each memory vivid as though it had been yesterday.

When they passed the old storefront, they saw Dashun’s wife bargaining animatedly at the door.

“Big sister-in-law!” Ershun shouted in surprise.

She looked up, blinking for a moment before recognizing him. Overjoyed, she hastily concluded her sale and came running over.

“You’re back! Are the masters with you?”

“They’re in the carriages,” Ershun said with a grin. “Is anyone home?”

“Of course, Father and Mother are there! I’ll close the shop and go with you right now!”

Moments later, they reached the house. Ershun jumped down and knocked, and a curious voice called from behind the door. It was the little nephew, Huzi.

“Who are you looking for?”

“You brat!” Ershun laughed, ruffling his hair. “Don’t you recognize your own uncle?”

Huzi’s eyes went wide. “Uncle! Uncle’s here! Grandpa! Grandma! Uncle’s home!”

“Hey, open the gate before you go shouting!” Ershun said, chuckling.

Soon, Chen Xi came hurrying out and threw the gates open. Seeing the line of carriages waiting outside, he instantly understood who had come. “Quickly, come in, come in!”

When the family stepped into the courtyard, Madam Li’s eyes misted over. The place hadn’t changed much—time had only deepened its warmth.

Chen Xi pulled his grandson forward and bowed deeply. “We pay our respects to the young master.”

“Please, don’t,” Chen Qingyan said quickly, lifting him up. “You’re too senior to kneel to me.”

“How has the young master been?”

“All is well,” Chen Qingyan replied kindly. “And you, uncle?”

“Thanks to your good fortune, we’re well enough. My wife’s in the back garden tending vegetables. She’ll be out in a moment—please, come inside and rest.”

The old house had long stood empty. Though it was kept clean, there lingered a faint scent of mildew. Wang Ying and Lin Sui quickly opened all the windows to let the air flow.

Madam Li stood by the window, watching Yuanbao run about in the yard. “He looks just like Qingyan did when he was little—always running up and down this courtyard.”

Chen Rong sighed. “Indeed. They could be the same child. How time flies—we’ve all grown old.”

The others began cleaning the rooms. Wang Ying pried open a back door, and a rush of stale air met them. They opened every window, swept the cobwebs, and wiped down the dusty tables. Soon, the place began to feel alive again.

In the western wing, Lin Sui and Lin Qiu did the same, setting up bedding and airing out the rooms until everything gleamed.

By dusk, all was ready. Chen Xi sent his sons to slaughter a pig and prepared a great pot of stewed pork for lunch.

“We didn’t know the masters were coming,” he said apologetically. “We weren’t prepared at all.”

Madam Li smiled. “Nonsense—we’re family, not guests. There’s no need for such formality.”

They sat together for a warm, boisterous reunion meal—though Qingyun, heavy with child, could not attend, her absence was keenly felt.

After dinner, Chen Xi said, “A few days ago, some men from the county came, saying they were here to build a memorial arch for the Chen family. I didn’t quite understand, so I just let them measure the land by the manor.”

“That’s from the yamen,” Wang Ying explained. “They’re building the arch because Qingyan became Zhuangyuan.”

Chen Xi’s eyes went round as saucers. “Heavens above! Our master passed as Zhuangyuan! The very star of literature has descended to earth!”

“We’ve also come to build an ancestral shrine here,” Chen Qingyan added. “We’ll enshrine our forefathers’ tablets properly this time.”

“A fine thing indeed,” Chen Xi said with emotion. “The old master always wanted to build a shrine before he fell ill. It’s good that you can finish what he started.”

They also began work on restoring the family genealogy, filling in missing branches and names.

By the next day, news of the Zhuangyuan’s homecoming spread through the entire town. Visitors poured in—friends, neighbors, distant kin, and curious strangers. Even Madam Li’s old acquaintances came calling.

Among them was Madam Lu, the very same woman whose son had once followed Scholar Zhang in mocking the Chen family at their vegetable stall.

Years had not been kind to her. Her husband had died of illness after the floods; her son had accomplished nothing, her daughter-in-law was cruel and sharp-tongued. The proud woman of years past now looked aged and worn.

Madam Li barely recognized her at first. When she did, her smile cooled.

Madam Lu gave an awkward laugh. “You still hold a grudge against me, don’t you?”

“That was long ago,” Madam Li replied evenly. “There’s no grudge left—but there’s no need for us to visit each other either.”

Madam Lu flushed scarlet. “I… I just wanted to see how you were. I’ll take my leave.” She turned and left in haste.

A nearby friend, Madam Song, sighed. “She’s fallen on hard times. The floods ruined their business, her husband died soon after, and her son’s failed every exam he’s taken. He’s squandered a fortune chasing titles. Last I heard, they sold their shop and now live off rent.”

Hearing that, Madam Li’s heart softened slightly. “Let’s not dwell on her misfortunes. Tell me instead—I heard you’ve just welcomed twin grandchildren?”

…

As the saying went: ‘When poor, even your neighbors turn away; when rich, kin appear from a thousand miles.’

For days on end, the Chen family’s doorstep was crowded. Visitors came bearing gifts, some to offer congratulations, others—shamelessly—to propose adding concubines for the newly risen official. Madam Li, exhausted by the commotion, finally ordered the gates shut and refused all callers.

Meanwhile, Chen Qingyan, Chen Qingsong, and Chen Xi went together to the manor grounds to meet with the county’s craftsmen. They decided to build the ancestral hall on the old courtyard foundation.

Men from every nearby village came to help. Within a month, the hall would be complete. During this time, Chen Qingyan also gathered all relatives from nearby towns to revise the family register, restoring lost records and names.

The Chen lineage had migrated generations ago, and beyond their great-grandfather’s era, little could be traced. Still, within five days, the record was complete.

Once the genealogy was restored, Chen Qingyan decided to take his mother to Tianyang County to visit her elder brother. Though she never said it aloud, he knew she longed to see him again.

On the sixth day of the fourth month, he set out with Qingsong and Madam Li.

Before leaving, Wang Ying reminded him, “Let her stay a few days. They’re both old now—and the distance is long. Who knows if they’ll ever meet again.”

He and Yuanbao stayed behind. The boy had grown tired from all the travel and had caught a mild stomach upset, leaving his little face thin and pale. Yet his spirits remained bright; every day he played with Qing’er and Xiaomai, climbing trees and splashing in the mud.

Life in the countryside passed peacefully—slow and sweet. They slept until the sun was high, tended the flowers, cleaned the yard, and wandered to Lin Sui and Lin Qiu’s courtyard to chat away the afternoons.

The days rolled gently by until mid-May, when Madam Li returned from Tianyang, her face pale with grief.

She brought with her heartbreaking news—her elder brother, the Li family’s patriarch, had fallen gravely ill. He could no longer leave his bed… and the physician said his days were numbered.