Three more days until New Year’s Day. The Yun household was as lively as previous years. After the farmers slaughtered their pigs and sheep, they habitually brought a leg to the Yun family, then carried away a basket of cakes and pastries. These cakes couldn’t be made in the farmers’ homes. Yun Ye was actually quite impatient making these things—four or five kitchen maids in the household busied themselves for three to five days, only to end up with pig legs and sheep legs piled high as mountains in exchange. It was equivalent exchange.
The old grandmother loved it though. She personally sat in the gatehouse, drinking tea with several elderly people from the estates, chatting about this year’s harvest, gossiping about the estates—whose young daughter-in-law gave birth to twin sons, whose wife was divorced by her in-laws for having big feet, whose family got rich this year selling fruit. The old lady most loved hearing these things.
Chubby boys from the estates carried pig legs to the house. The old grandmother would joyfully pat the children’s heads in praise, then press the pig leg with her hand, saying it was a fine pig leg. Quickly take the basket and fill it with pastries—pick a variety, arrange them nicely at home, don’t just pick what you like to eat.
Then that silly boy who blew snot bubbles when he laughed would grin and go get pastries, only to be slapped on the back of the head by the cleanliness-loving kitchen maid, told to blow his nose and wash his hands, otherwise he couldn’t touch the pastries.
Interaction with the farming families was necessary. Xinyue also had the household maids string many pearl strands, each with three pearls smaller than soybeans. Any family with a little girl received one, so much so that many came carrying month-old baby girls, prying open the children’s legs for Xinyue to verify these were girls qualified to receive pearl strands.
The most imposing was the Luo family who brewed osmanthus wine. A cartload of black pottery jars was delivered to the residence. Rather than going to the accounting office for payment, they only implored the old grandmother to mention to guests during banquets that the osmanthus wine came from the Luo family. They’d deliver it every festival without delay. The old grandmother, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, always nodded in agreement, promising that even if Empress Dowager came, she’d introduce them.
The Yun family’s gift carriages shuttled through Chang’an’s streets and alleys. Steward Old Qian, Accountant Old Sun, the Yun family’s various aunts and in-laws, Xinyue with Na Rimu, Yun Ye with Yun Baobao—they worked hard delivering gifts everywhere. No choice—among the princes, dukes, marquises and earls, he had the lowest seniority and youngest age. There was no reason for elders to deliver gifts to him first.
Cheng Yaojin hoisted Yun Baobao onto his neck to drink wine, sighing continuously. Princess Qinghe only turned fifteen this year—she couldn’t marry Cheng Chumo until next year. So his household only had one granddaughter born to Jiu Yi. He himself wanted a grandson but had to wait two years. He greatly envied Yun Ye having both son and daughter.
“What a pity about the girl at home—not born of the principal wife, so she can’t marry into the Yun family as a daughter-in-law. If you work harder and have a few more boys, this girl will have a chance.” He tilted his head back and downed a bowl of wine, slammed the bowl on the table, and said regretfully to Yun Ye.
“My household doesn’t have such rules. In the future, as long as the two children find each other agreeable, I won’t obstruct it.” Yun Ye filled Old Cheng’s wine and spoke reassuring words.
“Nonsense! Children don’t understand—do you also not understand? Baobao is the eldest legitimate grandson, of precious status. You’re a disciple of immortals—your status is sufficient to match any family. Your wife’s status is just a bit low. When you married, this old man wasn’t there, otherwise I never would have allowed you to marry a girl from a small household. Otherwise, your achievements wouldn’t stop here. Your children’s days in the future would be much better too. Family, family—it requires being deeply intertwined, with branches upon branches.”
“Uncle underestimates this junior. I’d rather fight bare-assed than suffer the airs of those great families. Look at those great families’ daughters—how many are worth looking at? Always with stern faces like Bodhisattvas. This nephew respects ghosts and spirits but keeps them at a distance. If I can’t provoke them, I won’t. Living comfortably now—what’s wrong with that?”
“When people get old, they easily meddle. Don’t take offense.” Old Cheng looked appreciative and said to Yun Ye with a smile.
“Uncle is thinking of my family—how could this nephew not know? When entering Chang’an, you also led the way for me. The Yun family won’t forget this kindness.”
“I know you value loyalty, which is why Old Niu and I spare no effort helping you. Now you’ve achieved success and fame—tell uncle about future plans. You see far ahead—the Cheng family is prepared to follow in your footsteps.”
“That won’t do. From this year on, the Yun family will close its doors and reduce opportunities to appear before people. Your family can’t do that. Chumo is one thing, but Chuliang and Chubi have no prospects yet. You still need to accumulate achievements.”
Cheng Yaojin laughed heartily, took Yun Baobao down from his neck, fed him a chicken leg, and watched Yun Baobao tear at it while muttering to himself: “Fathers can’t escape working heart and soul. This old man has always yearned for the battlefield—not because I love killing, but for a family like ours, to prosper, besides drinking blood from blade-tips, there really is no other way.”
“You’re quite wrong there. Chubi may take after you, but Chuliang may not. Master Yuanzhang has taken a liking to him and wants to accept him as his last disciple. He asked me to come inquire your opinion. If Chuliang follows Master Yuanzhang, he probably won’t be able to wield weapons anymore.”
Cheng Yaojin suddenly stood up and asked: “Boy, is this true? Don’t fool me—the Cheng family is also producing a scholar?”
“Naturally it’s true. How would this nephew deceive you? Master Yuanzhang specifically instructed me. Just take Chuliang to ask and you’ll know.”
Cheng Yaojin happily rubbed his hands, turning circles on the ground, and said to Yun Ye: “Weren’t you going to Old Niu’s house? Hurry along, don’t eat—just take a couple more chicken legs for the child to fill his stomach. Haha, the Old Cheng family producing a scholar?”
Seeing Old Cheng so happy he lost composure, Yun Ye was also happy for him. Li Gang forcibly trained a nine-foot-tall giant into a pervert skilled at writing delicate calligraphy. This skill made Yuchi Dasha rank first in the academy. Now he was transforming toward being a hydraulic engineering expert, running constantly to the Ministry of Works and the Directorate of Construction, obtaining countless maps. Leading a group of interested junior students, he calculated construction periods, earthwork volumes, terrain differences daily, and had to avoid places with loose soil.
The two-hundred-eighty-li canal had already taken initial shape. Old Yuchi, to pave the way for his son, worried the Ministry of Works wouldn’t lend materials, so he personally visited, saying he planned to train troops in Hebei and needed to see terrain maps. Who knew how a capital general would train troops in Hebei? The Ministry of Works held their noses and believed his reason, watching as that father and son nearly swept clean all of the Ministry of Works’ Hebei maps. The Yuchi family even sent swift horses overnight to Hebei to bring back all the local gazettes and county records for their son to study. Cheng Yaojin was extremely envious of this. Now hearing his son was favored by Yuanzhang, how could he not immediately nail it down?
Niu Jianhu had gone to Haizhou, leaving the Niu household cold and deserted. The old couple guarded the vast Niu residence with nothing to say to each other. The steward saw Yun Ye arrive with his son and was overjoyed—the household finally had some warmth.
In recent years, Old Niu most liked sitting alone in a daze, not knowing what he was reminiscing about. Yun Ye was very worried Old Niu would develop depression—he must find something for him to do.
No need for announcement—Yun Ye directly entered the inner residence. Seeing Old Niu sitting alone in the warm pavilion in a daze, these big shots’ military authority was always recalled once they returned to the capital, held by deputy generals. They themselves also avoided suspicion, not going to the military camp even once a month. Once busy people became idle, this was how they looked.
Yun Baobao most loved the bearded Grandpa Niu. Gripping the two chicken legs obtained from the Cheng family in both hands, he pattered into the warm pavilion and held the chicken legs high, inviting Grandpa Niu to eat.
Extremely joyful laughter rang out from the pavilion. One old, one young made merry in the warm pavilion. Yun Ye smiled and ignored them, letting the old man be happy for a while. He followed the teary-eyed steward to deliver gifts to Auntie Niu.
“Young master, you should come often. The master now speaks less and less each day. When the eldest young master refused to take his family to Haizhou, wanting the young madam and young grandson to accompany the master, he was stubbornly driven away by the master. Now only when you and Young Master Cheng come can we see a bit of a smile. Other times he doesn’t speak much.”
Old Niu had served as military justice officer for many years, so military colleagues didn’t particularly like him, finding him too ruthless back then, never showing leniency. When fighting it was fine, but in recent years the old generals rarely went to battle, replaced by younger commanders like Hou Junji, Xue Wanche, Xue Wanjun—these middle-aged generals. Gradually, no one came to the Niu household to cultivate connections.
“Auntie Niu, just you and uncle alone at home guarding such a large mansion—what for? The plains are freezing to death. This nephew has already cleaned out the small building at Yushan for you. You and Uncle Niu should move to the mountains. The house is small, so it feels lively. After paying respects to ancestors, go. My aunts and in-laws are waiting for you—they’ve been mentioning while playing mahjong that they’re missing a good partner. This nephew needs to discuss military strategy with Uncle Niu and has no time to care for you. You can just go to my house and make a fourth for mahjong. Each has their own pleasure.”
Auntie Niu wiped the corners of her eyes and said: “Guarding the big mansion is useless. Only you few juniors come to deliver New Year gifts. The emptiness makes people uncomfortable. As long as you can persuade your Uncle Niu, Auntie will follow your arrangements.”
Just as he was talking with Auntie Niu, Old Niu walked in carrying Yun Baobao, a chicken leg in his mouth. One old, one young gnawed happily. Seeing Old Niu enter, Yun Ye rose to bow, but Old Niu waved to stop him. He bounced Yun Baobao in his hands a few times and said happily: “Truly a plump boy, a full twenty-some jin. Eat more—don’t be like your father, so light a gust of wind could blow him away.”
The steward happily went to instruct the kitchen to prepare food. Young Master Yun was famously particular about food. He’d personally go to the greenhouse to pick vegetables, preparing to make a sumptuous feast.
“Boy, although your Yushan is good, it’s not Old Niu’s home—this is. During the great New Year, one must guard the ancestors. I appreciate your good intentions. Don’t worry, this old man won’t die anytime soon.”
“Uncle Niu, this nephew isn’t inviting you for a vacation. I estimate the Great Tang will soon have big trouble. Even if we two can’t turn the tide, at least we should be informed.”
“Good. After I pay respects to the ancestors, I’ll go to Yushan. After eating in a bit, you go visit other households. Don’t become a loner like this old man.”