When the eldest grandsons returned, they insisted on arranging opera performances for the old matriarch, and once they started, it was for six full days. Since the weather was bitterly cold, Chen Dazhong’s wife, Madam Li, took charge of the arrangements—distributing porridge and medicine at the Qingfeng city gate, and setting up a stage at the Grandmother Temple to invite opera troupes, adding blessings and longevity for the old matriarch.
The Grandmother Temple was the closest to home, and once the gongs and drums started over there, the old matriarch’s side was still crowded with people. Even Xique had recovered her liveliness, playing on the heated kang, stomping on the quilts.
Pregnant Dingxiang had mixed feelings about this little cousin, but with a small life growing in her belly, her heart had softened, and she kept telling people to watch over her carefully.
Laughter filled the room. The aunties who used to gather at the ancestral hall entrance to gossip were now all gathered in the house. The old matriarch wore a light-colored padded jacket, her hair bound with a wide longevity-character headband, and she smiled as she called out to everyone, “Aren’t you going to watch the opera up front? Choutou’s wife told me today’s troupe is from Yanjing, performing ‘Record of Passing the Imperial Exam’—it’s supposed to be wonderful.”
Everyone laughed together, saying it was too cold outside and the old matriarch’s room was the warmest place to be.
The old matriarch loved hearing pleasant things and loved to boast. With such an eager audience, she bragged about herself with gusto. But these days she also knew how to handle people properly—knowing that to keep people around, you had to give them benefits. So she instructed Yiyue: “Yiyue, go to the kitchen and have them make a hot pot, and warm up some wine too.” Then, smiling, she took Madam Gao’s hand and said, “Go on, bring the child. Starting today, we won’t cook separately—everyone eats here.”
Madam Gao, who used to boast constantly about how things were in their prefecture city, was now especially well-behaved in front of the old matriarch. In her heart she envied the Chen family’s prosperous life but would never dare say anything sour, so she smiled and openly admired instead: “You don’t even need to say it. Today I’ll tell the kitchen to only cook for those few masters. When I come back from picking up that little rascal of mine from school, I’ll come straight here. Don’t worry, we won’t eat you out of house and home.”
When she finished, the room burst into laughter, and Madam Wan chimed in from the side: “Old madam, she’s not just eating a little—I saw her carry over her family’s own food basin. After finishing here, she’ll probably fill it up again to take home, then sell it to the tenant masters for silver!”
This brought another round of laughter.
The old matriarch was generous these days—she was actually happy when others ate from her house. Besides, when the whole family gathered for a joyous occasion, the more you gave away, the more blessings you received in return.
After laughing it off, she asked, “Is one basin enough? Don’t worry about it, if it’s not enough, fill up more. There’s plenty—eat as much as you want.”
Hearing the old matriarch say this so sincerely, the room fell silent for a moment. Chen Dayi’s wife, Madam Kou, who was quietly doing needlework off to the side, pricked her finger with the needle right at that moment. She yelped, which seemed to break the tension, and everyone—including the old matriarch—burst out laughing until tears came to their eyes.
Madam Gao glared at Madam Wan with mock annoyance and scolded her: “My family just needed this little bit of face saved, and you try holding an event at your house and see if I show up! I like eating at the old matriarch’s house.”
The old matriarch held her hand and laughed, “That’s right, that’s right! I’m not boasting, but Choutou and the others bought over thirty sheep from the herders near Qian Baiquan Mountain—enough to last these six days. I don’t care how much outsiders eat. How much can you all possibly eat? Eat up, eat up!”
This was quite something, coming from Chen Wu Shi, who wouldn’t give away so much as a strand of hair for free during their journey of hardship.
Madam Wan, who had gained a good ten pounds this year, held the old matriarch’s hand with her plump fingers and said gratefully, “During festivals and holidays, whenever there’s a good meal to be had, I always remind my children not to forget the Chen family’s kindness. Just look at who lives on Quanhou Street now, and think back to how foolish we all used to be. Old madam, your whole family is like family to us.”
She used to have a loud voice, but ever since becoming a widow she rarely spoke much. The Chen family didn’t mind her widowhood—this was the only place on Quanhou Street she could still come to.
Hearing Madam Wan say this, she nodded rapidly like pounding garlic and chimed in, “Yes, yes, old madam, everything you told us about before, your family has it all now. From now on, just enjoy your good life!”
Everyone laughed again, and just as they were laughing, the door curtain to the east room was lifted by a young maid. Li Dazhong’s wife, Madam Li, entered supporting her belly and said to the old matriarch, “A’Nai, they’ve put up the canopy in the courtyard! Didn’t you want to see it?”
The old matriarch was overjoyed at this news and quickly scrambled to the window, pushing open the window lattice and calling to everyone, “Come look, everyone come look!”
The old matriarch’s courtyard was spacious. Today the area outside the livestock shed had been swept spotlessly clean, and seven or eight burly men from outside were stretching a huge tung-oil cloth up against the courtyard wall.
According to country customs, if a family was hosting a communal feast, they worried about sticky-fingered people, so they’d keep a meat pot simmering continuously in the main courtyard where everyone could see.
This kind of meat pot couldn’t be allowed to go out, couldn’t run out of meat—if you were hosting a celebration for several days, your family needed one of these grand pots to maintain face.
Of course, this was a rural custom. Most official families on Quanqian Street didn’t do things this way—they had proper kitchens. Only someone like the old matriarch cared about such things. Back in their hometown, she used to go on about how, if their family ever struck it rich, they’d keep a pot burning for two days straight in the main courtyard—only then would a person’s life not have been lived in vain.
Chen Dasheng was a fool—he wasn’t the thoughtful type.
The truly thoughtful ones were the old matriarch’s two eldest grandsons from the senior branch. As soon as Dazhong and Dayi returned, they immediately arranged all this for their grandmother.
A group of women who had once been poor pressed against the window, watching without moving as the men set up the tung-oil canopy, mixed yellow clay to build the stove, and mounted the large black iron pot over the fire pit.
Finally, Chen Dazhong lit a torch and turned to call out to his grandmother: “A’Nai, give the word—I’m lighting the fire!”
The old matriarch nodded, fussing anxiously to straighten her hair—this was a wish she’d held for half her life. Once she’d composed herself, she leaned out and called, “Prosperity! Prosperity! Prosperity!”
Chen Dazhong nodded and called back, “Yes! Lighting it now!”
He raised the torch and touched it to the four corners of the courtyard, then threw it into the stove. Instantly, the crackling sound of dry firewood catching flame rang out loudly. Everyone praised how good the firewood was, how quickly it caught, how the flames were already reaching the top of the canopy—of all the pots they’d seen lit, this one caught the smoothest…
Meanwhile, Qiqian’er, sitting in the east side room snacking on dried fruit while watching the excitement, turned to Zhang Wanru and said, “Isn’t this fascinating!”
Zhang Wanru, being a proper young lady from an official family, had never seen anything like this. She was watching with great interest and, without turning her head, asked, “What did you say?”
Qiqian’er’s eyes sparkled as she said, “I mean, we’re all people who came from hardship, and even I didn’t know that my grandmother’s greatest wish in this life was to invite everyone to come eat a meal at our home.”
Yu Daniu earnestly explained to Qiqian’er, “Auntie, it’s not just one meal—it’s six days.”
The little girl sighed with a troubled expression after hearing this: “A’Nai won’t let the kitchen light the stove. When I came, she had them give me three basins to carry. I said my brother is stronger, why not have him carry them? A’Nai said my brother is thin-skinned—I suppose that makes me the thick-skinned one…”
Someone nearby laughed, and when the little girl turned around, it was the new young wife from the Meng family across the way. This made the girl blush even more furiously, and she covered her face and cried, “I can’t go on living!” Then she ran off.
Qiqian’er laughed helplessly and quickly told someone to follow her: “Go make sure to watch over those girls—there are so many people from outside streets and villages around, don’t let our young miss get bumped into.”
The little maid standing in the courtyard hurried after her. Once the figures had disappeared from view, Zhang Wanru closed the window and sat chatting with Qiqian’er on the small kang.
She popped a salted bean into her mouth and turned to ask Qiqian’er, “With such a big event happening, they really didn’t involve you at all?”
Qiqian’er smiled and nodded upon hearing this. “Not at all. It’s the senior and second branches handling their big event—why would they need me? I’m a guest today, you know. Didn’t you notice I came as a visitor? They have their own household servants brought from Wuyang—why would they need anyone from my third branch?”
Ever since her daughter had become pregnant, Madam Dong—the happiest mother-in-law on Quanhou Street—had been staying at her daughter’s house, never leaving her side. She spoke up lazily from the side: “This is actually for the best. If she consulted Qian’er about everything, that would just complicate matters. First of all, this keeps the accounts clear. Your eldest sister-in-law is a capable woman, just a bit too strong-willed. But Qian’er, let your aunt say something proper to you—don’t be upset.”
Madam Dong affectionately stroked Qiqian’er’s head and continued, “Our old customs—not just Qingfeng customs, but customs across all of Daliang—state that if an elder has a son to live with, and that son is gone, she moves in with the eldest branch. Your eldest cousin’s family, by rule and propriety, are the ones who bear the weight of continuing the family line. Your fourth uncle’s disappearance this year makes his position clear—he’s stepped away from his responsibilities! When your eldest cousin came back and saw the situation, he took on the full weight of the family without a word of complaint. I know this isn’t pleasant to hear, but please take it to heart. Tomorrow, hand over to the senior branch whatever belongings the old matriarch has kept with you. From then on, you can let go of these matters. Since you’ve all already divided the household anyway, it’ll be simpler this way. Just don’t let it weigh on your heart, alright?”
Qiqian’er’s hand, which had been holding food, stopped. She blinked and looked up at the ceiling, and after a good while, she nodded and said, “Everything the old matriarch harvested last year is in her hands. The court granted her two hundred mu of land, and later I helped her buy another two hundred mu. Oh, and the deed to this old house is also in the old matriarch’s name. There’s nothing else. Don’t worry, Auntie, I’ll send it all over to the old matriarch tomorrow. She can give it to whoever she wants—I won’t fight over it, and I won’t hold any grudge in my heart either.”
Hearing Qiqian’er say this, Madam Dong felt reassured. She held Qiqian’er’s hand and said, “A family that pulls together as one is a good life. You’re right too—the old matriarch’s accounts should go back to the old matriarch. As for how the senior branch chooses to show filial devotion, let them do as they please.”
Qiqian’er had long anticipated this day. It wasn’t that Madam Li was a bad person—she was simply strong-willed. And not just Madam Li—her eldest cousin Chen Dazhong was also a tough, unyielding person. In their past life, it was entirely because of this couple’s suppression that the fourth branch hadn’t dared act recklessly.
But back then, Chen Siniu’s official fortunes had been rising, and he was outwardly the recognized heir, so what could the senior branch do, being so far away besides?
Li Dazhong had spent years trying to work his way back to his grandmother’s side, and just when he’d finally gotten a glimpse of hope, the old matriarch had passed away.
Well, this was good too—now grandmother and grandsons were reunited, and old Li Choutou had also fulfilled his wish.
Qiqian’er truly hadn’t thought that far ahead—she just thought, how wonderful, now that Madam Li, Madam Kou, and Dingxiang were all pregnant, the old matriarch would be so happy she might live another decade or more, giving her more chances to show filial devotion—that alone was a blessing. As for the senior branch wanting to take over caring for the old matriarch in her old age, wanting to manage her accounts—
Heh, that would never happen! It wasn’t that she looked down on the Chen family men, but put together, they were all soft as chickens in front of the old matriarch.
The courtyard grew hotter and hotter as large chunks of meat were thrown into the iron pot, and the smell of cooking meat became too much for Chen Dingxiang to bear.
She covered her mouth and, with her maid Taozhi in tow, retreated to the neighboring courtyard. Only after rushing into the west wing room did she slowly let out a breath.
Sitting in the main hall discussing matters with his subordinates, Cui You jumped up the moment he saw her, calling out repeatedly, “Slow down, slow down… Wife, what are you running from?”
Chen Dingxiang slowly exhaled and said, “I don’t know how eldest sister-in-law can stand it. The old matriarch’s courtyard is cooking meat, and that gamey smell could knock a person out cold…”
As she said this, Chen Dingxiang noticed Cui You’s two advisors and several of his usual assistants were all in the room, and she stopped talking, smiling instead, “Then I’ll go back to my room.”
Cui You quickly grabbed her and said, “Wife, wife, you’re actually needed here. Come sit down and discuss this with us.”
Cui You never discussed outside matters with Chen Dingxiang, so this surprised Dingxiang quite a bit today.
Once Dingxiang sat down, Cui You explained what they’d been discussing.
It turned out that the Cui family had brought too many people this time. Cui You was fifteen years older than Dingxiang, and his deceased first wife had left him two daughters. Last year, once the realm had settled, he’d sent people back to his hometown to bring his elderly mother and his two younger brothers’ entire families to enjoy the comforts of Wuyang.
Now that he’d been promoted a rank and come to serve as an official in Yandu, naturally he was bringing his whole household along again.
Even with all Qiqian’er’s foresight, she hadn’t expected the Cui family, including masters and servants, to arrive with over forty people. Fortunately, the front of this courtyard was still empty, or there really wouldn’t have been room to arrange everyone.
But Cui You was, after all, a son-in-law marrying into influence, and now a fifth-rank general in his own right. Though he often joked about “eating soft rice,” this reality was hard to swallow—he couldn’t have his wife’s family support dozens of his own people indefinitely.
Cui You wanted to buy a house in Yandu, but after having someone inquire, he found that a Yandu property large enough to house all his people would cost no less than three thousand strings of cash. He’d decided this time to spend the money to have his two younger brothers split off into their own separate households. By his calculations, even settling down in Qingfeng would require at least ten thousand strings of cash to establish stability.
Upon hearing this, Dingxiang immediately grew anxious. Ten thousand strings! She didn’t even have five hundred strings on hand. Where would she find ten thousand strings?
Her husband supported his mother, and she hadn’t dared complain even once about his brothers living under their roof. Her own two cousins had also been sheltered under her husband’s protection—he’d even personally handled arranging their marriages, helping out enormously.
But their household simply didn’t have ten thousand strings.
Dingxiang looked at Cui You with a troubled expression, and finally gritted her teeth and said, “My lord, your idea is good, but where would our family get ten thousand strings?”
Cui You pursed his lips and glanced sideways at his accountant.
This accountant, who kept a wispy beard, coughed twice and stood up to bow: “Reporting to my lady, our household currently has seventeen thousand strings in ready cash.”
Hearing that her household had money, Chen Dingxiang was first delighted, then furious. Right in front of Cui You’s subordinates, she reached out and grabbed his ear, scolding him: “You heartless scoundrel! Were you bullying me for being a fool? For just this bit of daily food and drink, I’ve been too ashamed to even walk with my head up, practically wanting to pick up scraps off the ground…”
Cui You didn’t dare resist, only pleading as she twisted his ear: “Wife, wife, let go first, let me explain…”
Cui You genuinely adored his young wife. It was just that he was shrewd and stingy by nature, having served as an official on the battlefield—how could he not have skimmed a bit here and there for himself? He’d never dared reveal this money back in Wuyang, worried his wife hadn’t seen much of the world and wouldn’t understand the need for discretion, so he’d simply played poor every day.
Chen Dingxiang wouldn’t dare make a scene in Wuyang, but this was her maternal family’s home, so naturally she had the nerve to throw a fit. She dragged her husband by the ear straight into her third elder brother’s room across the way.
In the east wing, Chen Dayong was sitting cross-legged calculating accounts. Yes, he too was feeling the pinch financially. He’d brought back his wife, his brother-in-law’s couple, and six newly purchased household servants—ten people in total. Unlike his brother-in-law’s cramped household, his own place was still tight given the numbers.
Grandmother had said she’d arrange a house for him, and he’d secretly gone to look—it was spacious, but the problem was he’d have to wait over two more years. So he was considering moving into the ancestral house in the meantime. He was used to his independence and didn’t want to live under someone else’s roof.
Just as he was pondering where might be suitable to live, he heard a commotion outside the door, then saw his sister dragging his brother-in-law into the room.
Chen Dayong disapproved of this and scolded her: “Let go already, this is Choutou’s house! Your husband is a fifth-rank official now—word getting out would be embarrassing!”
Chen Dingxiang was afraid of her brothers. She released her grip and, sobbing, recounted how Cui You had been hiding a private fortune.
After hearing this, Chen Dayong looked at Cui You with open envy and said, “Well done, General Cui, you’ve skimmed quite a bit, haven’t you!”
Cui You covered his ear and complained, “This is barely anything, just leftover scraps. Your sister’s got a big mouth—now she’s told you, and before long the night-soil collector down the street will know too. Third brother, you can’t blame me for this…”
Before he could finish, Chen Dasheng walked in with a dark expression, hands clasped behind his back, and said, “Dingxiang knows her limits—if not her fault, then whose? You’ve got demons in your own heart, and you’re blaming my sister for having a big mouth? I think you used to look down on our family for being poor, worried she’d get money and help us out—isn’t that right, General Cui?”