Cheng Jing showed his displeasure and asked Cheng Chi, “Such a major matter—why didn’t you consult with me about it?”
Cheng Chi smiled. “Isn’t this me consulting with you now? Minister Song recommending me for an official position isn’t something that just happened today or yesterday!”
Cheng Jing was left speechless with frustration.
He thought he had made himself very clear last time, but it turned out Cheng Chi hadn’t taken it to heart at all and was still doing exactly as he pleased.
Old Madam Guo couldn’t stand seeing Cheng Jing or Cheng Wei suppressing Cheng Chi.
If they hadn’t sacrificed Cheng Chi back then, could they have been smoothly reinstated and enjoyed such smooth sailing in their official careers?
She was still alive, yet eldest brother was already pointing fingers at fourth brother, reprimanding him like a father scolding his son whenever things didn’t go his way. If she died, would eldest brother still remember this younger brother who had sacrificed himself for his future?
This thought flashed through her mind. Old Madam Guo had originally not been very supportive of Cheng Chi going to Jining in Shandong to serve as an official, but she immediately changed her stance.
Fourth son must not only enter officialdom, but do so in a high-profile manner—accepting Song Jingran’s invitation to serve.
She immediately said with displeasure, “Eldest son, what kind of talk is this? Others may not know, but don’t you? Previously, fourth son didn’t enter officialdom because Cheng Xu insisted that fourth son manage the household affairs of Jiuru Lane. Now that we’ve separated from the Jiuru Lane branch, household affairs are naturally managed by the stewards. Fourth son should naturally enter officialdom. When fourth son told me that Song Jingran recommended him for an official position, I was puzzled. You’re fourth son’s elder brother—you should have already made plans for fourth son’s affairs. Now I finally understand—you haven’t given fourth son’s matters any consideration at all… What have you been doing all this time? When you were making such a fuss about separating the branches, did you never once consider how life would be after the separation? And you still dared to separate the branches? Has your brain filled with water?”
Cheng Jing was severely scolded by his mother in front of his two younger brothers, his wife, and sister-in-law. He opened his mouth to defend himself but was lightly kicked twice by his wife.
He quickly looked toward his wife.
But she signaled him not to act impulsively, to say nothing, and to quickly apologize to his mother and fourth brother.
He understood the principle that family harmony brings success in all things. But what his mother and youngest brother did this time was too excessive.
This time, he didn’t heed his wife’s signal and continued, “Mother, the Ministry of Personnel doesn’t always have good positions available. I wanted to secure a better position for fourth brother, so I’ve been carefully selecting and that’s caused the delay. It’s not that I haven’t been doing my utmost. I’ve actually been eyeing the position of Deputy Director of the Huai River Salt Administration for fourth brother. It’s just that the Deputy Director position is of the fifth rank, upper grade. Fourth brother has never held office before. The censorate side isn’t easy to arrange, so I was thinking whether to first secure a judge position, sixth rank. Keep a low profile, which would be acceptable, and when the Salt Administration assignment is complete, he could return to the capital. Then smoothly secure a fifth-rank position…”
Before he could finish, Old Madam Guo spat at him and sternly said, “Who doesn’t know that our Cheng family made its fortune through the Salt Administration in the current dynasty? Back then, the Huai River Salt Administration was helping the River Conservancy Director-General repay debts. Your younger brother ran back and forth between Huai’an and Jinling for two whole years. During those two years, I never had a peaceful night’s sleep, always afraid something would happen at the Huai River Salt Administration that would implicate your brother. Even Xiang Zhiyong, the Registrar of Huai’an who helped your brother, your brother found a way to help him transfer to become County Magistrate of Songjiang. To this day, Xiang Zhiyong still sends people to pay respects to me every New Year. Do you think your brother spent those two years carrying satchels there to collect silver? Your brother had his life hanging by a thread earning money for you all to spend! Are you perhaps seeing that the family fortunes are now greatly damaged and still thinking of scooping up some silver from the Salt Administration? Before, your brother was a merchant, and merchants seek profit. That’s understandable. But now you want your brother to become a Judge of the Huai River Salt Administration and then funnel silver home—that’s embezzlement! Are you trying to find a future for your brother? I think you want your brother to die sooner!”
Speaking to this extent, not to mention Cheng Jing, even Cheng Wei listening on the side was greatly startled. Cheng Jing fell to his knees before Old Madam Guo with a “thud,” urgently saying, “Mother, don’t be angry! Listen to me—we’re three brothers, how could I let fourth brother come to harm? I just thought that fourth brother is familiar with the Salt Administration, so it would be better for him to start from there…”
With Cheng Jing kneeling, Cheng Wei couldn’t remain standing and also knelt down.
When Yuan Shi and Second Madam Qiu saw this scene, they too had no choice but to kneel.
Second Madam couldn’t help but wipe the sweat from her forehead.
Having been in the capital for over ten years with little contact with the old madam, she had only known before that the old madam was a strong-willed person, but she hadn’t expected that in her old age, the old madam would throw such a childish tantrum over fourth uncle’s matters.
As the old sayings go, they do have their truth.
Parents always love their youngest child.
Old and young—when people grow old, they become like children.
Yuan Shi, however, couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.
The old madam’s favoritism was truly excessive.
Elder son hadn’t even said anything, yet the old madam was already carrying on like this about life and death… She had experienced this before, but eldest son wouldn’t listen. Now look—everyone’s lost face together.
However, the old madam’s words also reminded her of something.
The Cheng family had made its fortune through the Salt Administration—what kind of business was that? It was said that in the homes of those salt merchants in Yangzhou, silver was piled up like small mountains in their storerooms… The Cheng family had been wealthy and noble for so many years—no wonder when Jiashan married, the old madam produced twenty thousand taels of silver without batting an eye… After Miss Min from the Min family married in, she must remind her that proper etiquette toward the old madam could not be lacking in the slightest!
Having borrowed the opportunity to scold her son thoroughly, Old Madam Guo felt somewhat better.
Seeing his mother’s expression soften slightly, Cheng Chi quickly poured a cup of tea and handed it to Old Madam Guo, persuading, “Mother, eldest brother doesn’t have all those schemes you’re attributing to him. Please don’t be angry. I’m not a child anymore—wherever I go, I have my own judgment. Don’t force eldest brother to run around on my behalf. He’s now a Grand Secretary—who knows how many people are watching him. Some matters still require avoiding suspicion. Minister Song’s recommendation is perfect—it also spares people from gossiping, and when I take up my post, I can adapt more quickly.”
Old Madam Guo was still not appeased and said coldly, “I think he doesn’t look down on the position Minister Song secured, but rather feels that your position being recommended by Minister Song has embarrassed him, doesn’t he?”
“How could that be, how could that be!” Cheng Jing awkwardly explained. “If I were concerned about appearances, I would have forbidden fourth brother from associating with the Song family. I’m afraid that fourth brother’s actions, in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, might be seen as my manipulation…”
In the end, it was still about fearing others’ misunderstanding.
Old Madam Guo didn’t want to speak with her eldest son anymore. She simply interrupted Cheng Jing’s words without ceremony and said to her second son Cheng Wei, “Regarding fourth brother’s matters, you help keep an eye out. What kind of temperament does Yang Shoushan have, where is he from, what are his interests, who are the people in his household, does he have any close relatives by marriage… You help investigate all of this. When fourth brother goes there, it will help him get along with people. As for Madam Song, I’ll personally go thank her. No matter what, we’ve troubled Minister Song to expend effort on our behalf!”
Cheng Chi, however, was thinking about Song Mu.
Rather than waiting for him to learn about his betrothal to Shaojin from others, it would be better if he personally told him, so Song Mu’s heart could feel better about it.
The three brothers lingered in Old Madam Guo’s room for a good while. Seeing that Old Madam Guo was showing signs of fatigue, they finally rose to take their leave.
When leaving, Yuan Shi tugged at Cheng Jing’s sleeve.
Cheng Jing understood and slowed his pace, falling behind Cheng Wei and Cheng Chi.
Cheng Wei paid it no mind and discussed with Cheng Chi the backgrounds of those sixth and seventh-rank officials in the court who held positions of real power.
Seeing that Yuan Shi and her husband had something to discuss, Qiu Shi was about to walk a few steps forward, moving ahead of Yuan Shi and Cheng Jing to give the couple some space, when a group of maids and servants from the opposite covered walkway came toward them, surrounding a young lady of about fifteen or sixteen years old.
Yuan Shi’s steps halted.
Qiu Shi nearly bumped into her.
Then she heard Yuan Shi say with surprise, “Axuan, what are you doing here?”
Cheng Jing and the others couldn’t help but turn back.
They saw the young lady walk over with light steps and curtsy to Yuan Shi: “Aunt, Mother asked me to learn calligraphy from the old madam. I’ve come to submit my practice!”
The Fang family was also a renowned scholarly family, a prestigious clan of a hundred years. If one wanted to practice calligraphy, why would one need to specifically seek Old Madam Guo’s guidance?
Yuan Shi was surprised.
The Cheng brothers had already turned back and continued walking forward—many of their relatives by marriage admired Old Madam Guo’s character and wanted to send their daughters or nieces to receive guidance from her. However, Old Madam Guo refused more often than she accepted… Even counting those she accepted, there were only two or three… Even so, it was merely Mother using this to pass time when bored. The brothers hadn’t paid it much attention.
Yuan Shi, however, couldn’t avoid chatting with her for a bit: “How is your mother? I just returned from Jinling, and the household hasn’t been properly settled yet. I’ll only be able to visit your mother in a few days… Though it’s been barely over a year, you’ve grown even more beautiful…”
Fang Xuan responded graciously.
Cheng Chi, who had already walked some distance away, suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to glance at Fang Xuan.
Yuan Shi found this somewhat strange.
Regardless of their different temperaments, the Cheng brothers were all the same on one point—they never paid attention to women. How could today…
Her mind stirred, and she remembered something.
Cheng Chi hadn’t yet married!
Old Madam Guo had been picking and choosing for him all these years with such an attitude that even if a princess were matched with Cheng Chi, the old lady would probably feel it wronged Cheng Chi.
But sometimes, fate isn’t up to oneself!
Cheng Chi was, after all, already in his late twenties, nearly thirty. Even if he were perfectly fine, with such constant picking and choosing, those families who cherished their daughters might not be willing to form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family.
Now, the old madam, being such an aloof person, was actually willing to instruct an unmarried young lady from the Fang family!
The corners of Yuan Shi’s mouth curved upward. Originally just standing and talking, she now took Fang Xuan’s hand and warmly and sincerely invited Fang Xuan and her mother to visit: “…Once October arrives, I’ll have to busy myself with your cousin Jiashan’s wedding, and even with the will, I won’t have the energy to gather together!”
Fang Xuan didn’t notice Yuan Shi’s unusual behavior.
These Jiangnan official families in the capital often gathered together.
Fang Xuan smiled and accepted the invitation on her mother’s behalf.
Only then did Yuan Shi release her hand and look toward Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi had already turned and left with Cheng Wei.
As if what had just happened had never occurred.
After seeing off his brothers and sisters-in-law, he returned to his room, changed his clothes, and decided to make a trip to Elm Coin Alley.
If this position truly came to fruition, he should at least inform Shaojin.
Moreover, if he went, he would have to stay in Jining for at least four or five years. He couldn’t bear to leave Shaojin alone in the capital. But he also couldn’t bear to have Shaojin follow him to Jining to suffer hardship. However, if he didn’t enter officialdom and achieve something in his career, he would have even less face before Zhou Zhen.
For the first time in his life, Cheng Chi found himself caught in a dilemma.