The day after New Year’s Day, all matters were auspicious, including quarreling.
When the incident occurred, Shaoshang was writing characters. She would write one stroke and look at the copybook, draw another stroke and look at the copybook again, tiring herself until her forehead broke out in faint sweat. These past days she had already noticed that these characters seemed even closer to pictographs—each character like a small simple sketch. “Water” was several curved winding lines resembling flowing water. “River” was water beside dwellings and mountain forests. “Eat” was lip and throat shaped lines with a small bowl moving toward them.
She put down her brush and flipped through the wooden strips beside her desk. These were folk interest stories that Cheng Song had brought her from the marketplace a few days ago. Each strip was about three inches wide and four to five inches long, with surfaces not very smooth and small burrs on the edges—naturally the commoners’ marketplace items couldn’t compare to the smoothly polished bamboo strips used within the residence. Yet unexpectedly Shaoshang liked them more and more, because she recognized over 95% of the characters on them.
Also, she now had some understanding.
Things like copybooks, classics, genealogies, even among scholars, officials, and Confucian students, most still used that earlier pictograph-like script. But among common folk and even when minor officials conducted business, that later script style she was familiar with had already become very popular. And this script style, even across several space-times, the entire nation’s people could probably automatically convert it without difficulty. However, she still had to earnestly study the earlier script, as she would need it for reading related materials and documents.
Shaoshang sighed, picked up her brush and continued tracing on the bamboo strips. Beside her, A’Zhu watched her with loving eyes while roasting bamboo strips piece by piece over the brazier. The commonly used writing mediums of this era included cloth, silk, brocade, even bronze vessels, but most common were still wood and bamboo. Madam Xiao managed the household frugally and didn’t allow her children to be wasteful and extravagant, so the wooden chips and bamboo strips Shaoshang used for practicing characters were written on, washed clean, dried and roasted, then strung together with hemp cord to continue using. For ease of washing, the ink used for practice was made from soot and tree resin mixed with bran paste—naturally not black, bright, or fragrant enough. Thus Shaoshang treasured even more the pine soot ink Cheng Yong had given her.
Madam Xiao was the type of boss who only asked about performance results, not working hours, so that kind of defense of “Do you know how hard she’s tried?” was pure comedy.
This day Cheng Shi rose early. After wielding his broadsword one hundred times at the newly arranged front courtyard training ground, he dragged his two still-sleeping brothers from their warm beds, saying they would go together to “reminisce” with Sang Shi’s elder brother Sang Yu. Upon hearing this, Cheng Cheng immediately came out after splashing his face with cold water. But Cheng Zhi was reluctant—he often saw his brother-in-law these years, so where was there any reminiscing to do? Moreover, today he had originally wanted to paint for his wife the eyebrows most fashionable in the capital right now. Only after Cheng Shi glared at him did he react. Looking at his second brother before him brimming with enthusiasm, he could only accompany them.
Old Lady Cheng hadn’t recovered from her hangover yet, though even if she had awakened she’d probably be groggy all day. Madam Xiao was leading Cheng Yang in assigning today’s tasks to the servants—originally the household mistress needn’t do everything personally, but she did this deliberately to teach Cheng Yang.
Sang Shi personally made several snacks, gathered her three young children together with the two boys Zhu and Ou, leisurely told the little ones stories, and led them to play games and recite nursery rhymes together.
On the other side, Cheng Yong wanted to visit his teacher’s fellow disciples, but Cheng Song said those Confucian scholars definitely hadn’t been released by the Emperor yet—better to go find Uncle Wan and beg some wine to drink. The two brothers couldn’t agree, so they caught their third brother to cast divination. Cheng Shao Gong had just taken out the turtle shell and divination coins, before he could calculate the direction with his fingers, a maidservant came to report “Madam Xiao summons the three young masters to the lady’s main hall.” All three brothers were dumbfounded.
Cheng Song sighed: “What did you two do wrong this time?”
Cheng Yong raged: “If I’d known, why cast divination at all? Today no matter where we went would be better than staying home!”
Cheng Shao Gong said to his attendant nearby: “Quickly go request Third Aunt to come too.” New Year’s Day had only just passed yesterday, yet Madam Xiao was already summoning people for reprimands—clearly this wasn’t a small matter. Finding the amiable Third Aunt would be safer.
Their brothers’ residence was farthest from Madam Xiao’s Nine Stallions Hall, so they arrived last. Walking near the hall from afar, through the wide doorway they could only see Madam Xiao sitting high in the central position of honor. On either side of her sat the early-arriving Sang Shi and the worried Lady Qing Cong. Cheng Yang had her head lowered, kneeling with Nanny Fu on the left side. Rather peculiarly, Shaoshang was actually kneeling alone in the central position directly below—could today’s protagonist not be the brothers after all?
Before entering the door, they heard Madam Xiao furiously questioning Shaoshang: “…What a fine thing you’ve done! Originally I thought you were merely ignorant and incompetent, but I never imagined you were also narrow-minded and covetous of others’ belongings!”
Shaoshang was truly baffled: “Mother might as well speak plainly. Since rising this morning until now, I’ve been practicing calligraphy continuously and haven’t stepped outside my door even once. What could I have done?”
Sang Shi smiled slightly: “Yes, I also don’t know what happened. I wanted to invite you to taste the sugar cakes I made, but unexpectedly…” She inwardly cursed Cheng Shao Gong thoroughly—the message wasn’t clear, leaving her confused for ages.
Madam Xiao questioned Shaoshang: “How could you snatch your cousin’s belongings?” Then turning to Sang Shi said, “You don’t know—today after I finished discussing household matters with Yangyang, she invited me to rest at her residence. Who knew I would witness this evildoer’s servants making trouble and injuring people there, trying to snatch away a purple sandalwood desk!”
Cheng Yong outside the door and Shaoshang inside were both shocked—a desk?!
Just as they were speaking, Lady Qing Cong’s maidservant had already led five or six servants with bruised and swollen faces from the rear hall into the main hall. At the front was Lian Fang, her makeup smeared, hair disheveled, a piece of her collar torn, face full of snot and tears.
Shaoshang laughed: “This morning I merely told you to carry back the desk that eldest brother gave me, and even allocated some people to help you. How did it turn out like this—did you go rob a money shop?”
Sang Shi watched her with interest. When Madam Xiao’s anger flared, few could withstand it, yet this little girl remained composed.
Hearing these words, Madam Xiao said in surprise: “That desk was a gift from Zi Su to you?”
Before Shaoshang could open her mouth, Nanny Fu beside Cheng Yang had already spoken: “Perhaps the eldest young master did give Fourth Miss a desk, but that purple sandalwood desk may not be it.” Lian Fang cried urgently: “It is that desk, it is, it is!”
That Nanny Fu smiled slightly: “If it’s what the eldest young master gave to Fourth Miss, how did it end up at our young lady’s place? That’s not even on the way.”
Beside her, Cheng Yang’s face flushed red with anxiety, saying softly: “Nanny Fu, stop talking, stop talking.”
Lian Fang said urgently: “It was Calamus who told me to move it there!”
That Nanny Fu glared: “Nonsense! Calamus was just struck on the head by your people and passed out—she still hasn’t awakened. Now you’re pinning this crime on her?”
Shaoshang saw that Lian Fang had also been beaten severely, her left eye red and swollen, cheek highly swollen, even her speech slurred. She smiled and said: “This is simple—let cousin look at that desk to see if it’s hers or not. Won’t that make it clear?”
That Nanny Fu’s eyes darted around, then she smiled: “Fourth Miss doesn’t know. When we came from the Ge family, they procured many items for us. There are many even our young lady doesn’t recognize.”
Outside the door, Cheng Yong could no longer endure it. He called out loudly: “Then bring it here for me to see whether it’s my desk or not—I at least can recognize it!” While striding into the hall.
That Nanny Fu was greatly shocked, truly not expecting that for a small dispute between sisters in the inner chambers, Madam Xiao would even summon the three sons. But she didn’t know that Madam Xiao had always been accustomed to summoning the other sons to listen when reprimanding one, so that after one person made a mistake the others wouldn’t repeat it—the results were quite good. Madam Xiao had now reined in her anger and waved for her sons to sit in order on the right side.
As soon as Cheng Yong sat down, he immediately bowed and said: “Mother, I indeed gave a desk to Niaoniao—it’s that purple sandalwood one carved with qilin heads that Master Shangguan gave your son. You’ve seen it too. Why not have that desk brought here for inspection? Then we’ll know the rights and wrongs of this matter.”
Madam Xiao’s expression showed some hesitation. Lady Qing Cong pondered briefly, then rose and quietly went out.
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, that Nanny Fu quickly smiled: “With qilin heads? Oh my, this slave truly deserves death. In the earlier chaos I didn’t look carefully. If it’s carved with qilin heads, then it’s undoubtedly the eldest young master’s. But why did it end up at our place? Could it be…” Her eyes glanced at Lian Fang, “Could it be this lowly servant deliberately carried the desk there to show off to our young lady?”
Cheng Yong thought to himself that this Nanny Fu was quite cunning.
Lian Fang cried: “No, no! It was Calamus who told me to move it there! It’s all this slave’s fault, this slave acted on her own initiative! This slave had a boastful heart and unexpectedly was deceived by someone!”
Cheng Yong said coldly: “Whether it was showing off or deception, just summon that servant called Calamus and question her.”
That Nanny Fu smiled apologetically: “Eldest young master, Calamus is still unconscious and hasn’t awakened…”
Cheng Song was already furious and shouted: “A mere lowly servant can’t be touched?! Splash her with water, burn her with fire, chop off two of her fingers—let’s see if she stays unconscious!”
Madam Xiao slammed the table and scolded: “What are you shouting about? Are you shouting for me to hear?” Though her mouth scolded fiercely, in her heart she already knew there was more to this matter. She glanced at Cheng Yang kneeling anxiously on the lower left side. Her heart stirred with pity, thinking she couldn’t let this honest child suffer injustice.
At this moment Lady Qing Cong returned, dragging behind her a maidservant with wet clothes—it was Calamus.
Though named Calamus, this maidservant had a rather stocky appearance, her face full of honest dullness. In contrast Lian Fang was delicate and clever-looking, yet unexpectedly had been devoured by a pig playing tiger. Calamus fell to her knees with a thud and hurriedly confessed everything. With Lian Fang interjecting from the side, everyone finally pieced together the full story—
Originally early this morning, Lian Fang had directed four or five strong maidservants to the front courtyard where the young masters resided to carry the desk. Halfway back they encountered Calamus. Lian Fang loved to talk, Calamus loved to ask. The former wanted to show off that her young lady was favored, while the latter ingratiatingly said “My young lady also recently wants to have a new desk made—could she perhaps look at the style?” Lian Fang, flattered until she was floating, thus fell into the trap.
After arriving at Cheng Yang’s residence they didn’t see the mistress. Lian Fang wanted to leave right then, but Calamus called over a dozen maidservants to surround them completely, smiling and saying “Why not leave the desk here first? After our young lady looks at it we’ll send it back to you.” How could Lian Fang agree? Thus with disagreement the two sides started fighting with crashes and bangs, tables and chairs overturned everywhere, blood spattered on the ground—just in time for Madam Xiao to witness it all.
“So it wasn’t Niaoniao trying to snatch Yangyang’s belongings, but rather Yangyang trying to snatch Niaoniao’s belongings?” Cheng Shao Gong said coldly.
Madam Xiao immediately said: “What are you implicating!”
Cheng Yang wept: “It’s all my fault. The cause was actually like this—I truly didn’t know. I apologize to my brothers and Shaoshang.” While speaking, she repeatedly bowed and kowtowed to everyone.
Madam Xiao said: “You’ve been with me since this morning—what does this have to do with you?”
Cheng Song said indignantly: “But Niaoniao has also been practicing calligraphy since this morning, so Mother why did you…” Before finishing his words, he was pressed down by Cheng Yong, who signaled with his eyes to shut up.
Madam Xiao was silent for a long while, then exhaled and said slowly: “The servants from both sides were all wrong—all acted on their own initiative! Calamus, whether Yangyang wants this desk or not is for her to decide—what business is it of yours to act on your own?! Lian Fang, Niaoniao told you to move the desk so you move it—what are you running around everywhere for! This whole incident was caused by you, and you properly deserve punishment!”
That Nanny Fu was very alert and immediately came forward kowtowing: “The lady speaks truly. It’s all because we didn’t discipline them strictly. We’ll teach them properly when we return.” She also tugged at Cheng Yang, who quickly said: “Auntie, please forgive us—it’s because I didn’t manage them well…”
Madam Xiao consoled her with gentle words. Cheng Yang cried while apologizing. Seeing the atmosphere gradually becoming harmonious, all unpleasantness could be glossed over, Madam Xiao looked at her daughter again. She saw Shaoshang kneeling with lowered head in the center, not saying a word, not knowing what she was thinking.
Madam Xiao felt displeased and snorted coldly. The three Cheng brothers quickly signaled to their youngest sister, telling her to also cry a bit and say some face-saving words—unfortunately, a person with lowered head cannot see facial expressions. Cheng Shao Gong became anxious and called out in a low voice “Shaoshang!”
Only then did Shaoshang seem to awaken from a dream, raising her head to look at everyone with confusion. Actually everyone didn’t know that she hadn’t been in a daze just now, but rather was considering a serious question—
Should she silently endure fate’s tyrannical poisoned arrows, or rise up to resist life’s boundless suffering? Should she be like Cheng Yang, weeping and begging for forgiveness while admitting fault, letting everything be glossed over to satisfy Madam Xiao? Or should she absolutely refuse to bow her head and definitely seek justice for herself?
She chose the third path. What use was justice? Better to gain something practical!