The night was brief. The next day, the Ge family would depart for their hometown, likely spending New Year’s Day itself on the road. Old Lady Cheng’s precious heart unexpectedly stirred with reluctance and she spoke to persuade them to stay, but Grand Duke Ge declared, “We cannot leave this wicked woman here to ruin the auspicious energy of the Cheng family’s New Year ancestor worship.”

The Cheng family tried earnestly to make them stay but could not succeed. They could only escort them out as a complete household, sending them all the way to the outskirts of the city, still reluctant to part. Shaoshang looked left and right but didn’t see Ge Shi, not knowing whether she was obediently staying inside the carriage to avoid ruining the atmosphere, or had been tied up like a dumpling and tossed inside.

The parting scene was quite moving. On one side, Cheng Yang held her uncle and aunt’s hands with tears to bid farewell, each wishing the other well. On the other side, Grand Duke Ge had one hand on Cheng Cheng’s shoulder, speaking with earnest words—this was the second time Shaoshang had experienced such an amicable divorce scene.

When Yu Cailing’s parents divorced, they also didn’t quarrel at all. They even hosted three tables at the town’s first-opened restaurant, clearly explaining the details of their separation before both families’ relatives. Aside from the dark-faced Vice Mayor Uncle and the dazed scholarly uncle, everyone else was quite comfortable, chatting and laughing. The restaurant attendants even thought it was a celebration and almost said “wishing you a hundred years of harmony” when settling the bill. The townspeople spoke of it like a joke, and little Yu Cailing was also part of that joke.

…Shaoshang shook her head, casting off those lingering ghosts of the past. She only heard Grand Duke Ge saying to Cheng Cheng: “Zi Rong, don’t be discouraged. You’ve loved reading since childhood. When Master lectured at the village school, you went to listen for half a day every day while cutting grass and herding cattle. Under the scorching summer sun, through the drenching rain, you never missed a single day. Heaven does not fail those who work hard—you will certainly achieve success in your studies in the future.”

Looking at Grand Duke Ge’s kind face, Cheng Cheng’s nose started tingling again.

“Don’t feel you’re inferior to others, feeling inadequate about your disability or your age, letting it wear down your ambition.” Grand Duke Ge smiled and said, “Yi Yin was originally a slave, yet he assisted four generations of Shang Tang’s rulers. Sun Bin suffered the punishment of having his kneecaps removed, yet he could still write books above and wage war below. As for how many ancient sages achieved success at an advanced age, you’re well-read, so this old man won’t show off.”

This made Cheng Cheng say embarrassedly: “But those are ancient sages…”

“Exactly! You don’t even need a walking stick, you’re not that old, and you have capable brothers—aren’t you in an even better position than them? We dare not compare ourselves to the sages’ achievements, but surely we can compare ourselves to their drive.”

Cheng Cheng finally smiled. Grand Duke Ge gently patted his back and sighed: “This old man knows your heart’s desire. When you achieve success in your studies in the future, return to our village and open a school to lecture and discuss the classics with students. Regardless of whether they’re poor or rich, even if they’re still herding cattle and cutting grass, as long as they want to study, you’ll teach them—then we won’t have lived this life in vain.”

These words struck right at Cheng Cheng’s heart. He smiled through his tears and said loudly: “Accepting Grand Duke’s words, Zi Rong will certainly not disappoint these expectations!” His voice was decisive, resonant and firm.

Hearing his previously submissive second brother finally show spirit and ambition, Cheng Shi felt both gratified and a bit sour.

Cheng Zhi nearby quickly whispered in his ear: “Eldest brother, you’ve been advising second brother for so many days but it wasn’t as effective as Grand Old Master Ge’s few sentences. Look at second brother’s expression…”

“Get lost!” Cheng Shi said irritably. “I told you to counsel him, but all you could say was useless literary nonsense. You’ve read so many books, and they’re completely useless!”

Cheng Zhi said with a grin: “If even eldest brother couldn’t do it, how could I?”

Shaoshang stood behind them, watching this situation with interest—a very typical case for developmental psychology analysis.

The artist Grand Duke Cheng only cared about his own pursuits, neglecting education, while Old Lady Cheng lacked the great wisdom to fulfill both mother and father roles. Thus the three brothers flew off in different directions according to their individual natures.

Cheng Shi possessed natural leadership qualities and was also precocious and strong-willed, shrewd and capable. He shouldered family responsibilities early and led a group of younger brothers to establish some foundation. Even without the great upheaval in the realm, if he ran caravans, managed canal transport, opened workshops… his future development probably wouldn’t have been bad. But encountering a dynastic change, he directly achieved a class leap. Cheng Zhi was about ten years younger than his eldest brother, so naturally the eldest brother became like a father. However, their relationship was more like that buddy-style father-son relationship—insufficient respect but abundant intimacy.

Cheng Cheng had it worst. Though he also greatly admired his eldest brother, in temperament one was bold and outgoing while the other was reserved and introverted—they couldn’t connect emotionally. With only two years between them, emotionally they couldn’t achieve that “eldest brother as father” relationship. Instead, from childhood they had a subtle competitive relationship, and he suffered comprehensive defeat early on, constantly being compared by neighbors and family, thus becoming increasingly inferior. Grand Duke Ge was the tall and noble father figure in his heart, but unfortunately Ge Shi held him back too much. Otherwise, after fully turning toward the Ge family, it wasn’t impossible for his character to develop in another direction.

Thinking of this, the Ge family’s caravan of carriages had gradually moved far away. The three brothers Yong, Song, and Shao were commanded by their father to ride horses to escort the group to the checkpoint ahead, making it easier for the Ge family to pass through.

Cheng Shi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly led his family to climb into their own carriages, ordering the attendants to crack their whips and return to the residence. Old Lady Cheng had Nanny Hu stoke the fire in the carriage warmer, firmly grasping Cheng Zhi and pulling him into the carriage, murmuring “my son must be frozen, come quickly to mother to warm up,” yet she paid no attention to the fact that the frail Cheng Cheng was already trembling from the cold.

Cheng Shi couldn’t bear to watch. He raised his voice and said: “Mother, if you stoke the fire any more, be careful the carriage catches fire—I won’t come to put it out then!” Then he tossed the horse whip to Cheng Song nearby, abandoned his horse, pulled Cheng Cheng into another carriage, and while doing so, pulled out a small animal-hide wine pouch from his waist, telling Cheng Cheng to drink two mouthfuls to warm up.

The four women naturally shared one carriage.

Cheng Yang leaned against the carriage wall, still sniffling about “Maternal grandfather is so old, traveling day after day—I wonder if he’ll be safe.” Madam Xiao and Sang Shi kept softly comforting her. Shaoshang found this wishy-washy personality most tiresome. After enduring half an hour, she finally said: “Cousin, rest assured. That maternal grandfather of yours is quite formidable. He’s arranged everything properly—this journey will certainly go smoothly.”

Madam Xiao shot her a glance: “Speaking ill of elders again? How improper.”

“…Fine, then I’ll say something cheerful.”

Shaoshang said helplessly: “Cousin, your maternal grandfather is rushing through wind and snow like this, even willing to travel near New Year’s Day to take second aunt back. Don’t be too heartbroken. In the future, if second uncle and second aunt should have a day when spilled water is gathered back up again, it will absolutely be due to today’s efforts!”

“Really?” Tears still glistened on Cheng Yang’s face. Though Ge Shi wasn’t kind, she still hoped her parents wouldn’t completely divorce.

Madam Xiao sat bolt upright with a “swoosh,” glaring at her daughter: “You must not speak carelessly about this.” After thinking, she added, “Especially don’t mention it to your father!” Her daughter’s intelligence was truly too sharp.

Shaoshang fanned herself with her sleeve, dispersing the charcoal fumes, and said coolly: “Oh? Yesterday Mother said that children should speak freely to their parents, hiding nothing and keeping no secrets. How is it that now you’re forbidding me from telling Father?”

Madam Xiao glared furiously but said nothing.

Sang Shi finally burst out laughing with a “puchi,” reached out to pinch Shaoshang’s ear, and pretended to scold: “You troublesome little imp, listen to your mother!”

—Except for the bewildered and unknowing Cheng Yang, all three women in the carriage understood clearly that if Cheng Shi heard those earlier words and knew there was still possibility of reconciliation between Cheng Cheng and Ge Shi, he’d probably be so frightened he’d start arranging to find a new sister-in-law tomorrow.

But Madam Xiao felt this matter shouldn’t be so hasty. Cheng Cheng had been useless for half his life, always living for his elder brother, for his mother, for the family clan, never independently considering his own future. Now it was time to let him think for himself. Whether in the future it would be separation or reconciliation, or meeting a woman he loved and remarrying, it should all be proposed by Cheng Cheng himself, not handled entirely by Cheng Shi. Cheng Cheng should grow up.

Shaoshang understood Madam Xiao’s thoughts but privately disagreed: People’s natures varied. Some had their own opinions from childhood—like herself. Before even finishing elementary school she decided to become a delinquent, and even when Grandma cried for ages it was useless. Before her period even came she decided to leave the underworld and reform to study properly, and even when her direct superior Big Sister tried both carrot and stick it was equally useless. But some people just lacked opinions and needed someone to give them a push.

Second Uncle Cheng was also a softhearted person. Imagine if in the future Grand Duke Ge on his deathbed summoned him to his bedside for a tearful entreaty, then seeing Ge Shi’s pitiful appearance, he might well agree to reconciliation. Then wouldn’t this sticky nuisance stick to him for life? Following Cheng Shi’s approach of straightforwardly finding a gentle and virtuous woman for Cheng Cheng who would know when he’s cold or hot and care for him—wouldn’t that be clean and neat?

Sang Shi watched this mother and daughter each with their own thoughts, smiled without commenting, rummaged through her personal brocade pouch, and stuffed the last milk candy into Shaoshang’s mouth—payment for her silence.

Having received someone’s trust, loyal to their business, the next day when Madam Xiao handled household affairs she brought Cheng Yang along. Because they needed to prepare for New Year ancestor worship and honoring the gods, Madam Xiao taught Cheng Yang everything hand-in-hand, from arranging the altar and offering tables, procuring sacrificial items and tribute fruits, inquiring about the estate manager’s report on the harvest and plans for the coming year, all the way to distributing New Year money and goods to the retainers and widowed dependents’ families, even how to speak with the retainers’ womenfolk.

As for Shaoshang, she continued reading, writing, reciting texts, never stepping outside—even though her heart burned with desire to know what this world was like.

At least there were two happy matters.

First, Shaoshang had grown taller. When A’Zhu compared against her own height, she was at least two or three inches taller, with a slender waist and delicate limbs. When she moved there was a graceful, willowy quality, no longer that clumsy, childish appearance of before. A’Zhu smiled as she unpicked the hems and edges of Shaoshang’s robes and skirts, letting out the extra fabric, feeling that all these days of feeding her chicken, duck, beef, lamb, milk, and vegetables hadn’t been in vain. At the same time she allowed Shaoshang to move about more in the courtyard, and wouldn’t even discourage her from running and jumping anymore.

Second, A’Mei arrived after completing her orientation training. With this lively and clever little girl chattering away at her side, Shaoshang finally felt the days weren’t so lifeless.

Arriving together with A’Mei were over ten new maidservants. Lady Qing Cong introduced them to Shaoshang one by one. Their ages ranged from eleven to fourteen, with heights varying from tall to short, fat to thin. Their skill configurations were complete with various abilities from excelling at needlework and embroidery to incense preparation and pest control to possessing mountain-rivaling strength. At this point, Fourth Miss Cheng’s team was finally complete.

This was exactly opposite to the era Shaoshang came from. In that era material goods were unprecedentedly abundant, but human labor was increasingly expensive. An ordinary middle-class household could only afford to support one nanny at most plus a part-time worker. But here… looking at the nearly twenty “employees” before her serving herself, Shaoshang didn’t know what to think for a moment. In this confusion she welcomed her first New Year’s Day in this era.

On New Year’s Day, before dawn Cheng Shi and Cheng Zhi went to attend the grand court assembly. When they returned both brothers were frozen with purple faces. It turned out that only ministers and officials of two thousand bushels rank and above could enter the hall to offer congratulations. Someone like Cheng Shi with only one thousand bushels rank could only stand on the palace steps, while someone like Cheng Zhi with only a few hundred bushels rank could only stand in the central courtyard to offer distant congratulations—this nearly made Old Lady Cheng want to have her youngest son resign his post out of heartache.

Cheng Shi deliberately joked to comfort the womenfolk: “Lucky that we brothers have low official ranks—after offering congratulations we were dismissed. Brother Wan is still waiting to receive the Emperor’s feast and wine.” Then turning to Sang Shi he said, “I saw your elder brother. I heard His Majesty adopted Minister Huangfu’s remonstrance, and from now on after the New Year court assembly with all officials ends each year, he’ll summon people to lecture and discuss the classics. I saw Brother Zi Huai leading a group of Confucian scholars—I don’t know if he’ll have time to visit our home before returning to White Deer Mountain.”

“Huangfu Yi? He, he isn’t still at…” Before Cheng Zhi could finish, Sang Shi quickly pinched him and said with a smile to Cheng Shi, “He’ll certainly come. I originally wanted elder brother to stay at our home, but His Majesty won’t release him—he’s locked them all up at the Classics Discussion Platform.” While glaring at her husband, Cheng Zhi could only sheepishly close his mouth.

At this time, Madam Xiao summoned everyone to go inside and begin the New Year ceremony.

In ancient times, New Year’s Day was more of a ceremonial activity—reporting to the spirits to seek blessings, worshipping ancestors to continue seeking blessings, then watching exorcism dances, listening to the loud gongs and drums outside driving away evil filth, then slaughtering some livestock for superstitious activities, and finally the inevitable family feast. The Cheng family members, regardless of gender, were seated according to age. They each presented cypress and pepper wine to Old Lady Cheng in turn, then together raised their goblets to wish the old woman long life and good health.

The three Cheng brothers, thinking that soon they would again be separated and each pursuing different futures, gathered before Old Lady Cheng’s seat exchanging toasts back and forth, making Old Lady Cheng laugh heartily. Madam Xiao had worked hard for many days and was persuaded by Sang Shi to drink more, making her cheeks flush crimson. In her happiness, she pointed here saying “This was arranged by Yangyang,” then pointed there saying “That was arranged by Yangyang,” causing everyone at the family feast to praise Cheng Yang as virtuous and intelligent.

Others were one thing, but Cheng Yong had always been meticulous. He noticed something odd, and after the feast ended quickly stepped forward to Madam Xiao, bowing and asking “Why does Mother only teach Yangyang these things but not teach Niaoniao?”

Madam Xiao’s expression remained normal. She smiled and said: “Niaoniao doesn’t even recognize many characters—can she read the genealogy or recite the account books? Moreover, before doing things one must first understand principles. At least she should read a few volumes of sage writings. All things cannot be accomplished in one step—one must proceed step by step.”

Cheng Yong was most filial. Though he still felt vaguely that something was wrong, he couldn’t ask further. He only felt even more pity in his heart for his youngest sister’s difficult childhood, unable to receive the proper education that daughters of ordinary official families received.

After thinking for a long time, he cleared out his qilin four-headed purple sandalwood lacquered desk that he’d used for many years—this was given to him by his teacher when he was eleven after making some progress in his studies. He instructed attendants to clean it and tie it up properly to send to Shaoshang tomorrow as a New Year gift to his youngest sister, encouraging her to study and learn characters well. He would make do with his old desk for now and find someone to craft a new one later.

Such sincere sibling affection moved even someone as heartless as Shaoshang. She knew that for ancient scholars, let alone a desk they’d used for many years, even a brush, an inkstone, or a single bamboo slip were not to be casually touched by others.

However, Shaoshang also didn’t expect that her first major verbal battle with Madam Xiao would actually be because of this desk.