As the New Year approached, most shops had closed their books and ceased operations. Yang Jingyuan and Sang Shisi searched several familiar restaurants before finally finding a shabby tavern in an alley.

Presumably due to financial difficulties, the husband and wife who owned it hadn’t closed their establishment. When they saw two elegantly dressed young gentlemen arrive, the proprietress’s hands trembled as she poured the wine.

Sang Shisi was quite satisfied with the place’s secluded and humble nature. After all the dishes were served, he had the proprietress bring over the hot water basin for warming wine, then tossed them a tael of silver and sent the couple to wait aside.

Yang Jingyuan was extremely puzzled by his behavior. Sang Shisi had come alone, indicating that he shouldn’t bring any servants. He had something private to discuss.

“Quick, drink a cup with your big brother to thank me for being your matchmaker,” Sang Shisi personally poured the wine, waiting with a smile.

Yang Jingyuan cheerfully toasted him, feeling quite proud: “Seventh Miss comes of age in September, right? Though my engagement came later than yours, I’ll be married earlier.”

“Indeed. That trip to Chang’an has made you more patient.”

Though Yang Jingyuan noticed something was amiss, he held back from asking. It was Sang Shisi who couldn’t contain himself any longer.

“Third Brother, before the new prefect arrives, my father is temporarily in charge of the prefecture office. After the prefect takes office, he’ll naturally be wary of my father. But my father has served in Yizhou Prefecture for ten years, and his relationships in the office are quite good.”

Yang Jingyuan looked at him suspiciously. Had he specially called him out just to talk about how Chief Secretary Sang would engage in power struggles with the prefect?

Sang Shisi took a drink of wine and lowered his voice: “Chief Clerk Huang at the prefecture office is my father’s trusted subordinate whom he promoted. Yesterday he brought someone over. They were discussing matters with my father in the study. I happened to overhear. When I heard it concerned you, that’s why I called you out today.”

Having neither an official title nor position, what business could he have with the prefecture office? Yang Jingyuan’s curiosity was piqued, and he waited patiently for Sang Shisi to continue.

Sang Shisi imitated Chief Clerk Huang’s official speech with their Jiazhou accent: “Sir, the Elder Master Yang from Yang Family Lane wants to transfer ten shops to Mr. Shu’s name. Along with three mountainsides of mulberry gardens covering a thousand mu in Longquan Post, including the estate and two thousand silk households.”

Then imitating Mr. Shu’s tone: “Please help arrange this, Chief Secretary, and be sure to keep it from Military Advisor Shi.”

Not wanting Military Advisor Shi to know meant they wanted to keep it from Yang Shi’s wife. Why would Elder Master Yang want to transfer such substantial assets to Mr. Shu while keeping it secret from his wife?

The other party had sent one thousand taels of gold as a thank-you gift. That converted to ten thousand strings of copper cash—equivalent to ten years of Chief Secretary Sang’s salary. Elder Master Yang’s private assets were his to give to whomever he wished. It wasn’t illegal. Though Chief Secretary Sang and Chief Clerk Huang had their suspicions, they didn’t ask further and readily agreed.

Sang Shisi patted Yang Jingyuan’s shoulder, filled with emotion: “Your father has quite a lot of private assets. This is no small transfer. Do you know this, Mr. Shu?”

Among Yizhou’s silk households, having a hundred mu of mulberry gardens and five hundred silk households would qualify as a middle-class family. Not to mention ten well-located shops on top of that.

Such substantial assets were transferred to an outsider who had never appeared in the Yang family before—Yang Jingyuan’s mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg.

He shook his head and said: “You called me out just for this? I’ve never known of anyone surnamed Shu among my father’s old friends and acquaintances.”

Sang Shisi’s eyes sparkled: “You’ve just gotten engaged, and your father has transferred such substantial assets to Mr. Shu. Your father hasn’t managed the family business for decades—he couldn’t possibly owe someone so much money that he needs to use assets to repay them? There’s no reason to give assets to an outsider for no cause. I guess these assets are either for your concubine mother or for you.”

Thinking of how his father had him secretly learn the business from the old steward, Yang Jingyuan felt both bitter and touched and after a while said: “Father’s private assets shouldn’t just be limited to these, right?”

His voice was very uncertain. By rights, after his father’s passing, the assets would be divided into three portions, and as a son of a concubine, he should receive the smallest share. In wealthy households, even giving a concubine’s son one residence and two shops would be considered generous treatment.

“I guess it’s certainly not just these. Otherwise, why would your legal mother be suspicious? Your father must have another portion in hand. When the time comes, that will be divided into three, and you’ll get another share.”

The bulk had been given to Yang Jingyuan, with the remainder to be divided into three parts merely as a facade.

Yang Jingyuan still wouldn’t believe it: “Perhaps Father did owe someone from before, and is now paying them back.”

“Why don’t you quietly ask your father when you get home? Once you’re married, you definitely won’t be able to withdraw money from the accounts like before. Your legal mother will treat all three daughters-in-law equally, certainly allocating monthly allowances from the common fund. And unlike your first and second brothers who manage the silk business and the shops, that little allowance won’t even be enough for you to eat out.” Sang Shisi analyzed it shrewdly for Yang Jingyuan to hear. “While your father’s alive, he won’t divide the family. If you have those assets, when you eventually separate from the family, you can live well just by maintaining them. Without them, you’ll have to figure out how to earn money to support your wife, right? When your big brother heard such private matters, he rushed to find you—you need to be clear about this.”

Yang Jingyuan lowered his head.

Sang Shisi was still dreaming: “If it is left for you, then in the future, your big brother will get to enjoy the good life with you.”

“I don’t want it,” Yang Jingyuan raised his head. “Even if it’s true that father entrusted it to an outsider intending to leave it to me, I don’t want it.”

Now it was Sang Shisi’s turn to be shocked.

“Family harmony brings success in all things. My legal mother and two brothers have treated me and my concubine mother well. I don’t want to cause family discord because of my father’s favoritism. Shisi, I plan to ask Father to let me separate from the family after I’m married, and I’ll make my living.” Yang Jingyuan had already decided. If they separated, Ji Yingying wouldn’t have to get involved in the Yang family’s silk business. Though she had talent, the Yang family’s century-old silk business wouldn’t fail without her.

“Fine, you’ve got spirit.” Sang Shisi rolled his eyes, admiring Yang Jingyuan while also feeling sorry for him. “If you don’t want it, can you give it to me instead? Your big brother wants it!”

Yang Jingyuan stuffed his mouth with a chopstick full of food.

After returning home, Yang Jingyuan felt uneasy and went to find his father in the outer study.

Elder Master Yang dismissed everyone else and, after hearing him out, said with a smile: “Third Son, I have other assets set aside for your two brothers.”

This was as good as admitting it.

“Father, paper can’t wrap up fire. When my mother and my brothers find out in the future, it will cause ill feelings. With so many private assets, even if divided into three parts with me taking the smallest share, I’d still live without worries for life. Why secretly set aside a portion for me first?” Yang Jingyuan tried to persuade his father to abandon the idea.

Elder Master Yang was very pleased. He liked his youngest son more and more and said slyly: “Third Son, I’ve already handed over the family assets to your legal mother and brothers for accounting. It wasn’t easy for me to keep these assets hidden. Your legal mother’s dowry can’t be given to you—what’s wrong with your father giving you more private assets? The Yang family is quite wealthy. This bit of property is nothing.”

Yang Jingyuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Mother’s dowry should rightfully go to my two brothers. First Brother and Second Brother are also your sons. Father, you’re showing me too much favoritism. I don’t want it.”

“That’s what I’m leaving for your concubine mother’s security.” Elder Master Yang thought to himself that his private assets were only one-tenth of the Yang family’s wealth, and without the silk business, consisted only of some shops and mulberry mountain silk households. In the future, when Yang Jingyuan received these, he wouldn’t need to worry—just rent out the shops and sell the silk, and he could live a prosperous life.

Hearing it was left for his birth mother’s security, Yang Jingyuan said angrily: “Father, who gives so many assets to a concubine? If the Madam takes this to court, Concubine Mother would be in the wrong.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Shu has always managed my private assets, only reconciling accounts with the old steward. No one will know.”

“Chief Secretary Sang and Chief Clerk Huang couldn’t guess? Even Sang Shisi guessed it!”

Father and son stared at each other for a while, then Elder Master Yang said displeased: “My private assets, I can give them to whoever I want. You little brat dare complain about your old man’s wealth?”

Seeing he really couldn’t persuade his father, Yang Jingyuan had to close his mouth. He made a new request: “Father, after I’m married, please let me separate from the family.”

Elder Master Yang slapped him on the head, truly hurt: “Your old man’s not dead yet, how unfilial!”

The slap was quite heavy. Yang Jingyuan rubbed his head in surprise: “Father, have you learned the Mountain-Splitting Palm? This slap was as strong as a young man’s.”

Then he noticed his father’s ruddy complexion, spirited demeanor, and excellent health.

Elder Master Yang stroked his graying beard proudly and said: “The medicinal wine your Second Uncle sent—I’ve only drunk it for a few days, but your father feels like he’s gone back twenty years.”

Yang Jingyuan remembered. At the engagement feast that night, Second Uncle had mentioned some Daoist immortal wine recipe. His master also made medicinal wine and had brought some back for father to drink before, but it hadn’t had such effects. Very curious, he asked: “Let your son try a cup?”

“When you get married, father will give you a jar. Drinking it now, I’m afraid you couldn’t handle it,” Elder Master Yang said with a laugh.

Yang Jingyuan’s face reddened, and he didn’t dare ask further.