Year 23 of the Yuande Reign
“Haidong.”
The elderly man surveyed the neat three-courtyard tiled house and began coughing slightly once more.
“Although the clan has gone a bit too far this time, it was also unavoidable.”
He knocked his glossy dry tobacco pipe, shook the fire stick in his hand, took some tobacco shreds and stuffed them into the pipe. Pressing the fire stick against it, he took two quick puffs before contentedly exhaling several mouthfuls of smoke. “Although these matters were agreed upon long ago, there are many wagging tongues and endless disputes within the clan. As a concubine-born son, even if you’re guarding a thousand hectares of good farmland, how could you possibly manage it all? If you push the people from the Eighth Branch to desperation and they sue you in the provincial capital, the face of our Baoji Yang family would be completely lost.”
The Eighth Branch currently had an in-law serving as Commander-in-Chief in Xi’an. If it really came to a lawsuit in Xi’an, what good could possibly come to the Small Fourth Branch?
Yang Dalang lowered his eyes. When he lifted them again after a long moment, they were completely clear.
“Third Uncle, I’ll say the same thing as before—how could our Small Fourth Branch not understand the clan’s difficulties? Over these three years, we’ve already given up more than half our farmland, either made into clan fields or sold off to clansmen without land… But if you elders still want to strip away these three hundred mu of paddy fields, that’s really pressing people too far. Are you trying to force me to beat the drum and cry out my grievances in front of the Northwest Governor’s office? The clan’s actions are going a bit too far, aren’t they?”
Third Uncle’s eyes immediately contracted.
He thoughtfully took a puff of his dry tobacco pipe.
After a long while, he sighed with the pipe stem still in his mouth. “Ai, the Eighth Branch is indeed too greedy. You two brothers aren’t having it easy either. All these years your food expenses have depended entirely on these three hundred mu of superior farmland… Their appetite really is too large.”
Yang Dalang immediately let out a breath of relief.
Good—at least Third Uncle hadn’t become so senile as to be beyond saving.
The three hundred mu of paddy fields that the Eighth Branch was scheming for—their yield in recent years had accounted for more than half of the Small Fourth Branch’s annual income. If they lost this large sum of income all at once, within a few years the Small Fourth Branch wouldn’t even count as a middle-class household anymore and would sink to the lower classes.
Although the family wasn’t without cash reserves, he himself was young, and his younger brother was even more ignorant of worldly affairs… If they didn’t fight for these three hundred mu of paddy fields, those who didn’t know better would think the Small Fourth Branch still had a thick foundation, and there would likely be more unrest.
“That Third Uncle can understand our Small Fourth Branch’s difficulties truly shows the benevolent heart of a parent…” He put on a face of infinite gratitude and let out a deep breath. “These past years, if it weren’t for your protection, Old Sir, our meager family property would probably have been… If Haidong ever becomes someone important one day, I certainly won’t forget Third Uncle’s great kindness!”
Third Uncle couldn’t help but let out a long sigh as well.
“Every family has its own difficult scriptures to recite. You’re just unfortunate to be a concubine-born son…” He showed some degree of opening his heart to him. “You know yourself that in the Northwest region, birth status is valued most highly. You and your brother both happen to be concubine-born sons, so your backs can never be straight within the clan. If you had legitimate son status, those lowly scoundrels wouldn’t dare make such a fuss. Ai, it’s also that the clan leader is incompetent and cannot discipline the younger generation! Even if we elders have fire in our bellies, we can’t release it! What’s more, we can’t overstep the clan leader to discipline those unfilial younger generation…”
The clan leader came from the Ninth Branch and had family ties with the Eighth Branch—how could he possibly speak up for the Small Fourth Branch?
Yang Dalang lowered his eyes slightly and glanced at the Tianhuang stone Flying Horse Treading on a Swallow pedestal ornament on the curio shelf by the window.
Last time he came to Third Uncle’s place, this ornament hadn’t been there yet.
Tianhuang stone was fashionable now—this ornament alone couldn’t be worth less than three to five hundred taels of silver…
Third Uncle’s several sons were all good-for-nothings. The Third Branch’s substantial family fortune had been eaten and drunk away by them in just a few years, showing signs of decline. This ornament absolutely couldn’t have been filially presented by them.
He’d heard that recently the Eighth Branch had started a jade business…
He raised his eyes again with a sincere expression. “What sort of character those uncles from the Eighth Branch have, Third Uncle naturally understands even better than Haidong does.”
He’d heard his father mention that the Third Branch in those years had also fought many lawsuits against the Eighth Branch…
A trace of discomfort indeed flashed across Third Uncle’s face.
“That’s right, that’s right.” He covered up by taking another hard puff of his dry tobacco pipe.
The room filled with the pungent, choking smell of tobacco smoke.
However, in the end Third Uncle didn’t promise to stand up for the Small Fourth Branch to reclaim those three hundred mu of good farmland.
Yang Dalang wasn’t surprised.
He accompanied Third Uncle in lamenting the decline of social mores and the deterioration of human hearts before rising to take his leave.
Third Uncle actually rose personally to see him off to the eaves, gripping Yang Dalang’s hand with earnest advice: “You must still study!”
“When you passed the xiucai examination at thirteen, you already shocked the Eighth Branch. At this year’s autumn examination, if you can pass the juren examination, those three hundred mu of paddy fields will naturally return to your Small Fourth Branch even without anyone speaking up for you… You must still study!”
Yang Dalang smiled and thanked Third Uncle for his encouragement. “Yes, Third Uncle’s instruction—this nephew has taken it to heart!”
He bowed again and asked Third Uncle to go back inside. “Don’t see me out any further, I’ll go back on my own, on my own.”
Third Uncle stood still under the eaves, watching Yang Dalang turn and leave the house.
Under the scorching northwestern sunlight, that gray cloth robe washed to the point of fading appeared even more shabby, but the person beneath the robe was extremely spirited. Even in such straitened circumstances, Yang Dalang’s back remained straight.
Third Uncle suddenly felt his eyes blurring.
He rubbed away the eye discharge that had seeped out and turned to enter the tiled house.
Though the tiled house was cool inside, it was also somewhat excessively cold and gloomy.
He began muttering to himself.
“Don’t bully the old, don’t bully the young—never look down on a poor youth…”
He shook his head and laughed at himself.
“Juren? Juren—how could it be so easy to pass that examination…”
#
After leaving the Third Branch’s courtyard, Yang Dalang took familiar turns through several side alleys and cut across a path along the field ridges.
He entered the large courtyard of the Small Fourth Branch.
When this courtyard was originally built, it was on the outskirts of Yang Family Village. Whenever there was banditry, it bore the brunt. The several households living inside had never met good ends.
Later, when the Small Fourth Branch’s house in the inner side of Yang Family Village was reclaimed by the clan, they simply moved to this large house to settle down. Over the years they’d managed it reasonably well, giving it the feel of a proper home.
Several servants were in the courtyard waving fans to swat mosquitoes while smoking dry tobacco pipes. Seeing Yang Dalang return, they all quickly stood up and gathered around, looking at him with concerned anticipation.
Yang Dalang gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “The Eighth Branch learned their lesson this time and greased palms at the Third Branch beforehand. I’m afraid this time Third Uncle won’t stand up for us either…”
Everyone’s faces immediately fell.
A kind-faced middle-aged servant woman asked, “Young Master, what about Thirteenth Aunt from the Fifth Branch…”
Yang Dalang’s expression darkened slightly.
“Thirteenth Aunt is after all a woman. Bringing this kind of matter to her puts her in a difficult position too.”
He shook his head and gritted his teeth. “Let’s see how things go for now.”
The servants exchanged glances, all feeling the heartache.
The Small Fourth Branch only had Young Master and Second Young Master left, both concubine-born sons. The clan held absolute power and had nearly counted the Small Fourth Branch as an extinct line. All these years of lawsuits back and forth—the family property had grown thinner and thinner…
The Eighth Branch, emboldened by their recent good fortune, had grown increasingly bold, seemingly intent on completely destroying the Small Fourth Branch.
What’s more, when the Small Fourth Branch was powerful in the past, they weren’t without enemies within the clan…
If the Eighth Branch seized these three hundred mu of good farmland, their annual income would be cut in half right before their eyes.
They probably wouldn’t even be able to pay the servants’ monthly wages.
Some people began rolling their eyes, calculating their own plans.
Only that middle-aged servant woman drew up a watermelon that had been cooling in the well, cut a plateful, and brought it to Yang Dalang in the east wing room.
With few people in the household, the main house remained empty year-round. The two brothers simply slept on the north and south kang platforms in the east wing room—they could also save some coal in winter that way.
Summer in the Northwest was scorching. Though the east wing room was well-ventilated, its walls still couldn’t compare to the thick walls of the Small Third Branch’s house. The heat pressed through the house from all sides. Yang Dalang simply filled a basin with water and soaked his feet in it.
With both hands covering his face, propped on the table, he didn’t know what troubles weighed on his mind.
“Young Master, eat some melon.” The servant woman brought the plate to the table.
She also comforted Yang Dalang, “Don’t be too troubled. The boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge… At worst, the Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother left silver… If we give the Third Branch some benefits, surely they’ll step forward…”
“No!” Yang Dalang immediately took his hands away and straightened up. “Nanny, how many times have I told you—this money cannot be touched right now!”
The wet nurse was startled. “Young Master…”
Yang Dalang looked at his nurse and smiled bitterly again.
“Without a capable adult to support the household, no amount of money can be kept.” He said in a low voice, “How strong-willed was Thirteenth Aunt back then? Didn’t she still have to give away her family fortune bit by bit just to barely preserve her own foundation? If it weren’t for Sixth Brother’s ability in passing the jinshi examination and coming home, and getting her a chastity memorial arch… Ai, but that’s another family’s business. In short, if this money is exposed, the Eighth Branch will only press harder! Even in your dreams, you must not speak of this money!”
The nurse quickly agreed repeatedly, “I understand, I understand.”
After a moment, she worried again, “But if even the Third Branch won’t stand up for us, are we really going to let the Eighth Branch swallow those three hundred mu of farmland?”
Yang Dalang fell into thought.
While slowly biting into a refreshingly cool piece of watermelon.
The sweet juice revived his spirits.
He also remembered to ask, “Where’s Second Brother?”
Just looking at the nurse’s expression told him the answer. He waved his hand with a bitter smile. “Don’t mention him. Just mentioning him annoys me.”
The nurse also smiled bitterly.
Second Young Master Yang Haixi had been mischievous since childhood. As a posthumous child, when Young Master himself was just a child who didn’t understand worldly affairs, Second Young Master grew up without anyone to discipline him, developing a temperament that both people and dogs found detestable.
He’d naturally wandered off somewhere again to cause trouble.
“These three hundred mu of farmland…”
Yang Dalang began pondering his words carefully. “I’m afraid it really does depend on success or failure in this examination. Back then Father was on good terms with several secretaries in the Governor’s office. If I can pass the juren examination, when I call on them they’ll think more highly of me.”
The nurse hesitated, “Since they’re old friends, surely calling on them now would also…”
Yang Dalang looked at the nurse and shook his head with a sigh.
After all, she was just a woman.
Who among worldly people wasn’t born with eyes that favor the powerful? If you, a mere xiucai, called on them, that bit of past friendship might not be useful. But if you really passed the juren examination in the future, it would be awkward to go seeking connections then—wouldn’t that waste such good contacts?
Although it’s possible that among those secretaries there might be some upright ones willing to look after him for his father’s sake.
But how could he afford to take such a risk?
He wearily wiped his face.
“The autumn examination is coming up soon.” He simply brought up the autumn examination to placate the nurse. “I think we shouldn’t let the Eighth Branch’s matters disrupt our focus. We should concentrate on studying first—that’s what matters!”
The nurse was immediately cowed. “Yes, yes, you study hard, you study hard. I’ll go out now.”
She gently closed the door to the east wing room.
But it couldn’t block out the piercing cicada calls outside.
Or the sounds of servants walking back and forth, laughing and talking.
Yang Dalang fiercely wiped the sweat from his face again and picked up an examination practice book to read.
As he read, his confidence faltered: he’d been delayed by mundane affairs for too long. These past six months, he’d only been able to touch his books before bed each day, amidst his brother’s snoring.
Looking at these words of the sages now, they actually felt somewhat unfamiliar.
Suddenly, he wasn’t quite certain whether he could really pass the juren examination this time.
But what if he didn’t pass?
This household was full of holes inside and out, everything waiting for him to prop it up.
If he didn’t pass the juren examination, how could he carve out a bloody path under the clan’s layer upon layer of oppression?
He closed his eyes and swept away all distracting thoughts from his mind.
Then opened his eyes and began reading the practice examination paper word by word, sentence by sentence.