Though the answer still had its flaws, for a child barely six years old it was quite remarkable.
Xu Lingyi did not press him further, but said in a noncommittal tone, “Go and find Hong Wen to help you wash up. Your mother has something to say to you.”
Jin Ge’er went off happily with Hong Wen, clutching his case. Shi’er Niang could not hold back any longer. “Marquis, what sort of way is that to teach a child? I understand — you want Jin Ge’er to excel, but he is still very young. He has not yet begun his formal studies, let alone come to understand principles and the ways of the world. If he learns only to prevail through schemes, he will inevitably see things in a lopsided way. As the saying goes: ‘To perceive clearly the world and all its ways is learning; to know how to move among people is wisdom.’ All matters in this world begin and end with people. To know how to get along with others, to treat others with kindness — these are what bring friends to your aid, carry you through difficult times, and allow you to accomplish great things. Otherwise, why would you take Zhun Ge’er with you wherever you go to meet people?”
Xu Lingyi listened with a raised brow, then smiled. “I had no idea you had such views.” His tone shifted. “But what a teacher imparts, what a master teaches — these are lessons from the open surface of things, the kind one reads on paper. Not only are they easy to say and difficult to do, they may also carry a certain bookishness that is out of touch with the world — they do not necessarily teach a child ‘how to get along with others and treat others with kindness,’ as you say.” He gave a laugh. “Have the little maids bring in hot water. I noticed just now you had something to say to Jin Ge’er. It is getting late — once you and he have spoken, let us turn in early.”
He was not willing to continue the discussion.
Rather than contend with a person whose thinking was already set, it would be better to simply focus on teaching the child well.
Shi’er Niang gave a quiet “mm,” called the little maids in to attend to Xu Lingyi’s washing, and herself went to Jin Ge’er’s alcove room.
Jin Ge’er had just finished washing up, and was sitting bare-footed on the bed. When he saw Shi’er Niang come in, he immediately scrambled to his feet, calling out “Mother, Mother, Mother!” — his two small fair feet bouncing happily on the crimson brocade quilt.
Shi’er Niang sat down on the edge of the bed with a smile. Jin Ge’er immediately threw himself into her arms. From the corner of her eye, Shi’er Niang caught sight of the yellow boxwood stationery case sitting upright beside his pillow. Her smile deepened.
“Mother,” Jin Ge’er snuggled and coaxed in his mother’s arms for a moment, then turned to pull a picture book from the headboard shelf. “Tell me a story.”
Shi’er Niang took the picture book, ran her hand over her son as he sat beside her in a posture of attentive listening, and smiled. “Today we won’t tell a story — let’s have a little talk. Does that sound good?”
Jin Ge’er looked puzzled.
Shi’er Niang slipped off her shoes and settled onto the bed, letting Hong Wen bring two large ink-dabbled bolster pillows, then leaned back against the headboard.
Jin Ge’er nestled contentedly into her lap with a grin.
Shi’er Niang asked him gently, “At this hour, why did you so very much want to go to Shen Ge’er’s?”
Jin Ge’er smiled and said nothing.
Shi’er Niang tickled his armpit.
Jin Ge’er laughed and rolled about on the bed, reaching back to tickle his mother’s armpit in return.
Mother and son played wildly on the bed for a while, until Jin Ge’er lay on his side, resting his head on his mother’s arm against the bolster pillow.
Shi’er Niang put her arm around his shoulder. “Now then — you still haven’t answered Mother’s question.”
Jin Ge’er pressed his lips together and smiled. “Seventh Brother would be so envious when he sees my beautiful things.” He looked thoroughly pleased with himself.
“And then what?” Shi’er Niang asked.
Jin Ge’er was puzzled. “What do you mean, ‘and then what’?”
Shi’er Niang said patiently, “You said you wanted to make Shen Ge’er envious — and I want to know: once Shen Ge’er is envious, what do you plan to do then?”
Jin Ge’er had never once thought about this. After a long moment of consideration, he said, “If he’s taken with my things, it means my things are good!”
“But then Shen Ge’er would certainly want one as well, wouldn’t he?” Shi’er Niang smiled, watching her son.
Jin Ge’er nodded.
“Then he would certainly ask your Fifth Aunt for one!”
Jin Ge’er nodded again.
“Now this case was something I had specially commissioned from the Treasure Pavilion. Even if your Fifth Aunt were to send someone there to buy one, the Treasure Pavilion would need several days to make another set to order. If Shen Ge’er could not have it right away, he would certainly pester your Fifth Aunt about it. Do you not think so?”
“Yes!” Jin Ge’er nodded once more.
“Your Fifth Aunt is teaching your Second Sister embroidery, and also looking after your Eighth Brother.” Shi’er Niang said softly. “In the middle of the night, with Seventh Brother clamoring for something, and Fifth Aunt unable to produce it immediately, she would surely feel flustered — and might even scold Seventh Brother…”
Before she could finish, Jin Ge’er sat bolt upright and cried, “Last time Seventh Brother carried my golden pheasant home, and Fifth Aunt found out and said our golden pheasant was dropping droppings everywhere, and Eighth Brother stepped on one and cried so hard he didn’t even want his shoes anymore. Fifth Aunt scolded Seventh Brother then. And said that if Seventh Brother ever brought the pheasant home again, she’d tell Fifth Uncle and have Fifth Uncle give Seventh Brother a real beating.” His tone was indignant, as though recounting a great injustice.
Shi’er Niang suppressed a laugh with great effort. “Well then, knowing all that — why were you still going to show off in front of Shen Ge’er?”
Jin Ge’er was taken aback.
Shi’er Niang seized the moment. “Shen Ge’er is your little brother, always by your side. When you have something fine, knowing full well that he will be envious, you ought to share it with him — or ask Mother to commission one for Shen Ge’er as well. Not let him be scolded by his Fifth Aunt on your account. That is no way for an elder brother to behave.”
Jin Ge’er lowered his head.
“I was also at fault in this matter,” Shi’er Niang said, smiling as she drew her son close. “Mother only thought about Jin Ge’er starting school, and did not think that Shen Ge’er might want one too. How about this — we put the case away in the chest for now. I’ll have the Treasure Pavilion craftsmen make another set, and once it arrives, you can bring it to show Shen Ge’er. One set each. What do you say?”
“Yes!” Jin Ge’er answered with a ringing voice.
“Our Jin Ge’er is such a good elder brother!” Shi’er Niang smiled and kissed his little cheek.
Jin Ge’er broke into a bright smile. Then he quickly collected himself, gently tugged Shi’er Niang’s sleeve, studied her expression with care, and said haltingly, “Could we… not carve little monkeys… the little monkeys are mine…”
Shi’er Niang could not hold back a laugh.
Everything had to come step by step. Jin Ge’er had always kept things to himself. That he was willing to come this far was no small progress.
“Of course!” She looked at her son with a smiling warmth. “You tell me — what should we carve for Shen Ge’er?”
Having only just been told to think of his little brother, Jin Ge’er was already drawing the line at not letting Shen Ge’er have the same little monkeys as him… he was worried his mother might be displeased. But seeing Shi’er Niang agree quite cheerfully, his spirits lifted at once and his eyes brightened. He said with sudden enthusiasm, “We could carve a cat — Seventh Brother likes cats… but he also likes dogs. A dog would be good too…”
With Shi’er Niang letting him have his way, the two sat there deliberating for quite some time, and in the end decided on a tiger for Shen Ge’er. Only then did Shi’er Niang coax her son to sleep, and return to the inner room.
“What were you two whispering about for so long?” Xu Lingyi had been waiting for her.
“Nothing much,” Shi’er Niang said, giving a brief account of what had passed.
Xu Lingyi thought Shi’er Niang had handled it very well. “Send the steward first thing tomorrow morning to speak to the Treasure Pavilion. Tell them to be quick about it. We can add a bit extra to the wages.”
Shi’er Niang agreed with a smile. Xu Lingyi then asked about Xu Siyu’s matters: “How is the packing coming along on their end? Do they need more people to accompany them?”
Xu Siyu was setting off for Le’an in three days; Xiang Shi would remain at the Yongping Marquis residence to attend upon her parents-in-law.
“I looked in on things today, and most of the packing is done,” Shi’er Niang said. “As for who is to accompany Zhun Ge’er… ” she paused, then asked Xu Lingyi, “Does the Marquis remember Wenzhu, who serves in Zhun Ge’er’s room?”
“Wenzhu?” Xu Lingyi’s tone held a note of speculation. “Zhun Ge’er’s senior maid?” He clearly did not remember her at all.
“Yes,” Shi’er Niang smiled. “During the New Year, Zhun Ge’er’s wife came to tell me that Wenzhu had been attending on Zhun Ge’er all this while, and that she wished to have Wenzhu continue on with them to Le’an. But since Wenzhu is getting on in years, after discussing it with Zhun Ge’er, they thought to pair her with his page boy Mo Zhu. She came to ask my opinion. I left the decision to them. Not long after, Zhun Ge’er’s wife chose an auspicious date and had the two wed. They will both be going with Zhun Ge’er to Le’an.” She smiled. “Zhun Ge’er is now married — he is a grown man, and has his wife to help him manage the household matters. It would be better if we stepped back and let him be. The Marquis will have to grow accustomed to that too.”
Xu Lingyi laughed, and gave her bottom a light pat — quite casually. “Go wash up and let us get to bed.”
Shi’er Niang gave an exclamation, shot him a glare, and then went off to the washroom.
The following day, Hupo came in to pay her respects to Shi’er Niang.
Shi’er Niang took her by the hands and looked her over from head to toe.
She had grown considerably more rounded — full and lustrous, her curves all the more defined, like a flower in full bloom, fragrant with a ripened woman’s warmth.
“The child is barely a year old — how did Guan Qing bear to let you go?” Shi’er Niang smiled.
Hupo’s face flushed a little, and she said with a show of bravado, “It was all settled when I married him — it was never up to him whether he was willing or not.”
Shi’er Niang laughed out loud.
Hupo’s face went even redder.
Shi’er Niang took her by the hand and led her into the inner room.
“Don’t let this cause any rift between you and Guan Qing,” Shi’er Niang said, her tone earnest. “What was said before was said before — things are different now. Nothing matters more than the two of you living well together.”
“I know,” Hupo said, her eyes growing moist. Madam was one who cherished the bonds of the past. And the ones who had come from Yuhang with her — how could they bear to leave her either. Zhu Xiang was no longer young; it could not be put off any further. The word was that the best of those who had come to discuss a match were current stewards in good standing at the Xu household. There was no way Zhu Xiang could remain at Shi’er Niang’s side. Wan Daxian had his own domain in the accounts office now; Binju was again with child, and on top of that had taken in an abandoned infant — she could even less likely return to the household. Though Madam was no longer what she once had been, Madam still needed someone to lean on — how could she go away and rest easy? “I wanted to come,” she said, her voice taking on a slightly petulant tone. “You have no idea how exhausting it is to raise a child. They cry at any given moment for no reason. You have barely finished nursing and they have already spit up all over themselves, you wash the garments and before the diaper change is done they’ve wet themselves again, the diaper is barely changed and they are already crying and fussing to feed again… more tiring than working in the fields. I counted the days hoping Madam would send for me to come back on duty.” Then she said, “If you had waited any longer to call for me, I would have come to put myself forward.”
“Working in the fields, you say?” Shi’er Niang found this quite funny, and teased her. “When did you ever work in the fields? As though I don’t know what it is to raise a child — how do you think Jin Ge’er grew up?”
“I did work in the fields when I was small!” Hupo said. “Picking cotton out in the sun. The sun beat down so hard you wished you were dead. When I got to Yuhang, I swore that no matter what I would never farm again, that I had to make something of myself in service…”
The two spoke of old times past, and both their spirits brightened.
Binju arrived with her eldest son Chang’an and her adopted second son Chang Shun to pay their respects to Shi’er Niang.
—