Chapter 42: Inviting the Su Family to Join the Ancestral Association

After speaking, Qian Cuimiao returned to her room to pack her things. She took Jinbao by the hand and was about to leave.

Zhang Laoda, despite the pain, hurriedly tried to stop her. “Wife! Let me explain. Yuanbao has gone to the Zhao family. The concubine there will pave the way for him. When the time comes…”

Bang!

Zhang Lishi slammed the table and stood up impatiently. “Qian, have you caused enough trouble? All the money is with me. If you take Jinbao away, who’s going to give you the money to send him to Boya Academy?”

Boya Academy was the best private academy in the county. The dean was Dong Wenzhao, a renowned scholar of the current dynasty and a former Hanlin academician. Every year, over thirty students passed the county-level imperial exams from there. Countless people fought to get their children admitted.

Qian Cuimiao was no exception.

She trembled with surprise, turned back while holding Jinbao’s hand, and asked, “Mother, are you serious?!”

If he could get into Boya Academy, then she would no longer need to worry about her son’s future!

Zhang Lishi didn’t speak. She simply took out the money box and placed it in front of her.

“This is the tuition fee, twenty taels.”

Zhang Laoda breathed a sigh of relief and quickly gave Qian Cuimiao an out. “Wife, hurry and apologize to mother. I told you, she’s doing it for our own good!”

Qian Cuimiao wiped her tears, quickly accepted the money, and blushed as she bowed and smiled. “Mother, it was my fault. From now on, I’ll listen to you and won’t cause trouble again!”

With that, she clutched the money box tightly and went back to her room with Jinbao.

Zhang Lishi spat in the direction of her back. “Long hair, short insight.”

…

The green-topped carriage from Qingshui Village headed straight to the capital. Entering through Chongwen Gate, it stopped in front of a wealthy residence bearing the plaque “Zhao Residence.”

Granny Wang led Yuanbao across the threshold and through the front courtyard into the warm pavilion of the main hall.

On the Luohan bed sat an elderly woman dressed in black lotus-patterned clothing, adorned with plain silver hair ornaments. Her face showed signs of aging with fine crow’s feet around the eyes. She bore some resemblance to Zhang Lishi in her features, but was more refined. However, her lack of expression gave her a cold and stern demeanor.

“Madam, Granny Wang has returned!”

A maid at the door announced, and Granny Wang brought Yuanbao in and bowed. “Madam, everything has been taken care of.”

Madam Zhao looked at Yuanbao and unexpectedly smiled. She beckoned him over.

Yuanbao obediently approached, somewhat reserved. “Greetings, Great-Aunt.”

“Ah! Good child, so you’re Yuanbao?”

Madam Zhao looked at him with fondness. “From now on, you’ll be my grandson. The name ‘Yuanbao’ doesn’t sound good. I’ll rename you ‘Chengyi.’ How about that?”

Yuanbao was a bit unhappy. He’d been called Yuanbao since birth—why change his name?

As if knowing what he was thinking, Madam Zhao waved her hand, and the maid brought over a plate of rice cakes. Yuanbao immediately forgot everything else and happily ate the treats.

Madam Zhao looked up and said calmly, “From now on, he is our young master Chengyi. Wet nurse, take the young master to meet the tutor.”

“Yes.”

A wet nurse stepped forward and coaxed, “Young Master Chengyi, let’s go to the study. There are even tastier snacks there.”

“Really?”

Yuanbao quickly spat out the rest of the rice cake and followed her.

Once he left, Madam Zhao looked at Granny Wang. “Anything else?”

Granny Wang replied, “Madam, I’ve already warned the Su family as you instructed. The old matriarch of the Su family seems well-behaved, but your maternal uncle from the Li family seems intent on seeking out Jin Zhenhai from the gambling house Fan Yun Lou to deal with them.”

“That’s not our concern. If the Li family sends anyone again, throw them out. Don’t let them get close to Chengyi.”

“Yes.”

…

In the past few days, the Su family had been busy making cured meat and sausages.

The two pigs in the yard couldn’t stay frozen forever. After feasting on pork dishes, Old Madam Su led the whole family in chopping up a large basin of minced meat. They used Zhang Xiaolan’s special spicy and sweet-salty seasonings to make two flavors of sausages.

Half of the remaining pork was kept frozen. The rest was turned into cured meat. One pig’s head was braised, the other cured.

When Wang Bairui’s wife arrived with a basket of vegetables and two young men, she saw how busy they were and smiled. “Oh my, I came at a bad time, didn’t I? I didn’t mean to bother you. We got some fresh vegetables at home and had extras, so my husband thought we’d share some with you.”

Old Madam Su wiped the grease from her hands, smiled, took the basket, and invited the three into the main room. She then fetched hot tea from the stove and poured them each a bowl. Sitting beside Sister-in-law Wang, she said, “You’ve come at just the right time. I was just thinking of taking a break and having a chat. These are chestnuts we picked from the mountain last time—just boiled today. Please try some.”

She pushed the plate of chestnuts toward Sister-in-law Wang.

Sister-in-law Wang smiled and introduced the two young men. “Elder sister, let me introduce you. This one on the left is Chen Daniu, and on the right is his younger brother Chen Dali. The two brothers are leaders of the ancestral association. Every spring, when we fight with nearby villages over water, they lead the charge. Since your family moved here, according to custom, someone from your household should join the association too.

Our village is different from others. We don’t have formal clans anymore. The elders have mostly passed, and many able-bodied men were taken away. Our ancestral lines in Qingshui Village dissolved years ago, so the remaining folks formed an association. Besides competing with other villages for land, tools, water, firewood, and government-issued tax reductions, members of the association also defend against wild animals and bandits to ensure villagers’ safety.

Similarly, when the village faces major decisions, it’s the association that makes the call. So, the more one contributes to the association and secures benefits for the village, the more influence their family has here.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that my husband is village chief—it’s the same in the association.”

The Chen brothers nodded to Old Madam Su, affirming Sister-in-law Wang’s words.

After hearing this, Old Madam Su realized that their recent smooth purchase of farmland and the rental of the fish pond must have been thanks to the association giving them face. She quickly asked, “Who are the most influential villagers in the association right now?”

Sister-in-law Wang said, “The Chen brothers here are one group. Their elders are gone, so Chen Daniu is head of the family now. The other two are the Lin family and our Wang family. You know the Lins—Brother Lin who drives the ox cart. Two of his sons joined the association. As for the others, well, you know us.”

The Chen brothers looked kind enough. Brother Lin was known for being amiable. The village chief’s family was diligent and responsible too.

Moreover, joining the association would help them gain a foothold in the village faster. Sister-in-law Wang hadn’t said it outright, but she clearly implied that the more influence one had in the association, the more benefits they could enjoy.

And that influence was directly proportional to how much one contributed.

Old Madam Su was immediately tempted. She pushed the chestnuts toward the three and forced down her eagerness with a smile. “This is a good thing! Thank you for letting me know. But we’ve been busy these days, and my head’s a bit muddled. I don’t dare agree right away. Sister-in-law Wang, how about I discuss it with my son and daughters-in-law, and give you an answer tomorrow?”

With so many people in the Su family, many of them young and strong—if they weren’t brought into the association, what if they caused trouble later?

Sister-in-law Wang quickly said with a smile, “Oh, what’s the rush? Take your time, sister. I can wait!”

Old Madam Su smiled and recalled the discussion she had with Li Sumei the other day, so she asked, “By the way, Sister-in-law Wang, does our village have a school? Or for families like us who just settled this year—where can our children go to study?”