Early the next morning, Xu Lingyi washed up, changed his clothes, and took Xu Sijin to the ancestral hall.
They offered sacrificial rites, paid respects to their ancestors, and after Xu Lingyi had admonished his son at length, the moment they stepped out through the ancestral hall’s gate, he spotted a young manservant who managed the hall standing beside the green pine tree nearby, craning his neck and looking out expectantly.
“My lord, Sixth Young Master.” Seeing the two emerge, he hurried forward and bowed, speaking with reverence, “The Grand Madam has already sent word several times asking when you and the Sixth Young Master will be coming over.”
Xu Lingyi gave a slight nod, without so much as glancing at the manservant, and walked slowly on.
Xu Sijin, noticing that his father had the look of a man with more to say, respectfully fell into step beside him. “Father, is there anything else you wish to instruct me?”
Xu Lingyi stopped in his tracks and looked at his son — a young man now half a head taller than himself, whose solemn expression carried an air of quiet gravity — and could not help but hesitate for a moment. Yet in that very moment of hesitation, Xu Lingkuan suddenly appeared from the far end of the covered walkway.
“Jin Ge’er, Jin Ge’er — quick! Grandmother is waiting to have breakfast with you, and says she has more to tell you!” Having said that, he seemed to notice Xu Lingyi only then, letting out an “oh,” and said, “Fourth Brother, you should have said everything you needed to say by now. If you’re done, then I’ll go on ahead with Jin Ge’er — Mother has asked several times already. She’s in a temper over a few manservants she thinks aren’t doing their jobs properly, and even Second Sister-in-law can’t calm her down. I had no choice but to come and find you both myself.” As he spoke, he shot Xu Sijin a meaningful glance, then turned and walked straight out through the ancestral hall’s gate. “Jin Ge’er, Grandmother’s matter is urgent,” he called out, paying no attention whatsoever to what expression Xu Lingyi might have on his face.
Xu Sijin was quick-witted — how could he fail to grasp Xu Lingkuan’s intention? He hurriedly said to his father, “Father, I’ll go on ahead then,” and quickly caught up with Xu Lingkuan’s stride.
“Fifth Uncle,” he murmured, “is Grandmother really in a temper?”
“Your grandmother is just a little impatient,” Xu Lingkuan replied in a low voice. “If I hadn’t put it that way, could you have gotten away? I know your Fourth Uncle better than anyone — once he starts lecturing, there’s no end to it. When I first went to join the Imperial Guards, after we paid respects to the ancestors he pulled me aside for a dressing-down that lasted two full hours. I stood there until my feet went numb. If your grandmother hadn’t noticed we were taking too long and sent the estate manager to find us, I’d probably have had to keep standing there.” Then, with a curious look, he added, “How did Fourth Brother let you leave so quickly this time?”
Xu Sijin felt a warmth toward his Fifth Uncle that words could not quite express, and quickly said, “He already gave me a thorough talking-to the day I came home. Besides, I’m about to set out — if he says too much, it’ll delay the journey.”
“That’s true enough!” Xu Lingkuan nodded. “Word has it that Elder Chen and Minister Lu both put in a word this time, so the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War have both sent people to see you off. If you’re late and keep others waiting, that would reflect poorly on you. They may only be fifth or sixth rank officials, but they are capital officials of the Six Ministries all the same. You’ll have cause to deal with them again in the future — it really isn’t worth offending them over a trifle like this.”
That officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War should come to see him off was by no means the usual custom. It was evidently Elder Chen and Minister Lu acting deliberately to honor and elevate him.
“I understand, I understand. I’ll make sure to attend to the people from both ministries properly,” Xu Sijin said promptly. “Fifth Uncle will still be here in the capital — I do hope you’ll keep an eye out for me when things come up.”
“Don’t worry about that. Your Fifth Uncle may not have your father’s ability, but when it comes to connections, there isn’t a single official — high or low — in all of Yanjing who isn’t on good terms with me. If anything comes up, come straight to your Fifth Uncle!”
Xu Lingkuan was patting his chest confidently as the Grand Madam’s courtyard came into view just ahead.
The two exchanged a smile, said nothing more, and quickened their pace into the courtyard.
Xu Lingyi entered the Grand Madam’s room, smiling and shaking his head, and found the Grand Madam mid-conversation with Xu Sijin.
“…When you get to Guizhou, remember to write home. Don’t worry about the cost — eat well along the way, sleep in good places, and if you run short of silver, your grandmother will make it up to you.” The Grand Madam repeated her instructions over and over, glancing sidelong at Jiang Shi and Ying Niang as she did so. “Since you haven’t yet started your own household, the family is obliged by custom to give you your monthly allowance. Yes, you have your official salary now, but that is one matter and this is another — what ought to be given to you must still be given. Otherwise, what would be the point of having rules?”
There was an undercurrent to these words. Ying Niang was not in charge of the household, so it mattered little to her — but Jiang Shi heard it clearly and flushed crimson to the roots of her hair.
Xu Sijin could not help but inwardly wince.
No wonder people always said that being the principal wife of an eldest son was a thankless task. Fourth Sister-in-law had not said a single word, and yet she had just been handed a rebuke out of thin air. If she had shown even the slightest displeasure, wouldn’t she have been scolded first by Grandmother and then by her mother-in-law?
The thought passed in a flash, and he was already smiling and saying: “Look at Grandmother — the way you say it, it sounds as though I’m someone who counts every coin. You watched me grow up right here before your eyes. Surely you don’t think I have so little generosity of spirit? You have nothing to worry about. I would rather spend extravagantly than put myself through hardship!”
The Grand Madam had already gotten what she wanted. Hearing this, she turned to the Second Madam with a chuckle: “Did you hear that? I say one thing and he gives me ten back.”
“That’s all because you spoiled him,” the Second Madam laughed, and everyone burst into laughter together.
Amid the laughter, Jiang Shi cast Xu Sijin a look of quiet gratitude.
Then the Grand Madam, Eleventh Madam, Second Madam, Fifth Madam, Jiang Shi, Ying Niang, and the others all had their turn at parting words and instructions. As the auspicious hour drew near, the whole gathering was reluctant to let go, and they all personally accompanied Xu Sijin to the main gate.
Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie had been up before dawn, overseeing the loading of Xu Sijin’s baggage in the outer courtyard. By now the carriages were long since prepared — more than twenty of them lined up end to end, one after another. Tall, powerfully built guards stood in absolute silence beside the carriages, each holding the reins of a matching bay horse. The sight was one of imposing grandeur.
The Grand Madam could not bear it, and broke into quiet, sorrowful weeping.
The women hurried forward to console her, and Xu Sijin anxiously pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the Grand Madam’s tears.
Xu Lingkuan, uncharacteristically, stood to one side and said nothing.
Seeing that this could not go on, Xu Lingkuan pushed his way in and murmured to his mother: “You simply must hold yourself together. Jin Ge’er is a Military Commissioner now — all these men going with him will be serving under his command. If he comes across as soft and weepy, how will he ever command their respect?”
The Grand Madam immediately swallowed her tears. Gazing at Xu Sijin with undisguised reluctance, she urged him: “Go on — mount up! If you delay any longer, the people waiting at Desheng Gate to see you off will begin to worry.”
Xu Sijin was about to say something more when Xu Lingkuan grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the gate: “Mother, Jin Ge’er will be back after the New Year!” Xu Sijin had been feeling his scalp tingle at the whole scene, so having someone step in to help him make his escape, he ran faster than a hare — and actually mounted his horse before Xu Lingkuan, turning to wave to those behind him: “I’m off! I’ll bring everyone back something delicious for the New Year!”
Xu Sizhun, Xu Sijie, Xu Sijian, Xu Sicheng, Ting Ge’er, and Zhuang Ge’er all saw him off at the main gate. The younger generation stood at the gate, waving their arms vigorously, some calling out “Sixth Brother!” and others “Sixth Uncle!” — a clamor of voices all saying things like “Safe travels!” and “Come back soon!”
He was now a high-ranking frontier official, and the stage of farewell ought to be ceded to those in the world of officialdom — it was best for the Xu family to say their goodbyes here.
Xu Sijin smiled and looked back, and in the corner of his eye he happened to catch a glimpse of his mother — she was gazing at him, her eyes shimmering with tears.
He froze.
The guards had already swung up into their saddles one after another. The coachman had already raised his whip, and the sharp crack rang out into the open air. The carriage began to roll slowly forward.
Xu Sijin could not help but turn his head to look at his mother once more.
She was smiling at the corners of her lips, and her eyes held not a single trace of moisture.
She stood there quietly — serene and beautiful, steady as a great rock. No matter how fierce the wind and frost and snow outside, no matter how changeable the world beyond, she would always be there waiting for him: with hot, steaming meals, with fresh, bright clothes, with a warm embrace. He did not know what awaited him in Guizhou. To command an entire military command was an entirely different thing from being a soldier posted there. He had his worries and his fears, his moments of hesitation and uncertainty — yet the moment he caught sight of his mother’s figure, he felt a sense of steadiness settle deep within him, unlike anything he had known before.
No matter what came, his mother would always be there, waiting for him.
Xu Sijin resolutely turned his gaze forward. His expression was full of longing for the unknown world ahead. Facing the sun as it rose slowly into the sky, he gave a great laugh and called out “Let’s move!” and with spirited composure urged his horse into a trot, riding out of Hehua Lane.
There would be many things yet to come — but as long as the brothers stood together, watching out for one another, no obstacle should be impossible to overcome.
Xu Lingyi stood alone in the distance, behind the womenfolk, his hands clasped behind his back. He listened to the sound of hoofbeats and rolling wheels growing gradually fainter, and a look of warm, contented pride crossed his face.
—