Against the Current - Chapter 103

Chapter 103 - Going Home (Part 1)

Now, after Song Ke left, the Lin family sent people over within a few days to take Maternal Aunt Song and Song Tanchai to stay at their estate for a short visit. Xianglan, however, felt a sense of relief. Maternal Aunt Song was gloomy and ignored her completely, making it rather uncomfortable for Xianglan to get along with her. While Song Tanchai was somewhat affectionate toward her, she was also someone who tended to overthink everything; every word Xianglan spoke to her required careful handling, leaving her exhausted from all the socializing and forced cheer. Now that the two of them had departed, Xianglan finally relaxed, spending her days managing the household chores, reading books and practicing calligraphy in the study, occasionally spreading out paper and brushes to paint a picture, and exchanging a few lighthearted words with Yuexi to pass the time.

Chen Wanquan and his wife eventually purchased the small courtyard in the south of the city. Because the remaining silver had to be saved for the upcoming New Year, they only hastily repaired and tidied up the courtyard without adding any new furniture. Since the Chen family had very few belongings, on an auspicious day, two donkey carts transported everything over.

Xianglan went home that very day to take a look, finding a small, neat, square courtyard consisting of one main room and two side rooms. The place was not large, but it was clean and orderly, resembling a respectable household of modest means. Madam Xue had designated the east wing as Xianglan's bedchamber, furnished in the center with an embroidered bed and brocade quilt, scattered-flower soft curtains, a dressing table, a writing desk with brushes and ink by the window, and landscape calligraphy scrolls hanging on the walls—altogether resembling the proper bedchamber of a young lady of a good family.

Xianglan touched things here and there, feeling that all the luxurious boudoirs of wealthy aristocratic houses she had ever seen could not compare to the warmth and charm of this tiny room. She pushed open the window to find a jujube tree and a long grape trellis in the courtyard, while Madam Xue was still muttering, "I even talked about raising a few chickens in the yard, but your father insisted it would make the place dirty and wouldn't let me keep them."

Xianglan replied, "We can get a dog later; it will also be useful for guarding the house and keeping watch."

Madam Xue said, "We'll get one tomorrow." She beamed with delight as she added, "When we were handing over the silver, it felt genuinely painful, but now that we've actually moved in, it feels like every penny was well spent. This is the first time I've ever lived in a place of my own, and your father even laughed out loud in his sleep last night. With everything so full of festive joy these days, he's already pondering buying back some antiques to sell for a profit."

Xianglan pulled out five taels of private silver and pressed it into Madam Xue's hands, saying, "Take these five taels to buy some pots, bowls, basins, and pans. You and Dad should also make two new sets of quilts, and the tea cups we use at home have chipped porcelain; since we've used them for over a decade, it's high time we replaced them with new ones."

Madam Xue still tried to refuse, saying, "The New Year is fast approaching, you should keep the silver to buy yourself a fresh outfit..."

Xianglan said, "I still have some left, so Mother should just take and use these. Now that we've moved into a new home, how can we not stock up on necessities? Besides, with the New Year coming, the two of you should also make yourselves new clothes. Now that you and Dad have had your household registers removed from servitude, we shouldn't let others look down on us."

Madam Xue felt this made sense, so she finally accepted the silver. Mother and daughter then sat together to share some private talk.

Before long, Xia Yun brought gifts to congratulate the Chen family on their housewarming. Chen Wanquan's face was wreathed in smiles as he deferentially ushered him into the house.

Xianglan peered out secretly from the window and saw that Xia Yun was dressed in a brand-new dark cyan satin straight-hem robe, cinched at the waist with a matching belt. Having discarded his rough hemp clothing, combined with the triumphant look on his face, he instantly appeared much more spirited than usual—the very picture of a distinguished and accomplished scholar.

Madam Xue hurriedly remarked, "Young Master Xia has also passed the provincial examination, placing one hundred and twenty-ninth! He is now a proper provincial graduate!"

Xianglan was startled. In recent days, she had been entirely preoccupied with spinning around Song Ke, devising all sorts of dishes to cook, and managing the household. As for who Xia Yun was, she had long since tossed him to the back of her mind, completely forgetting that he was also sitting for the provincial examination. She murmured, "One hundred and twenty-ninth—that's quite near the bottom of the rank list."

Madam Xue said, "Do you think everyone is like Elder Master Song, who takes the examinations and immediately captures the top spot? Young Master Xia has already done remarkably well. The district magistrate even came here personally to offer congratulations, saying he admires Young Master Xia's talent and wishes to summon him to the county office for promotion and cultivation. The Xia family is completely different now; they are about to change their social standing entirely." Here she sighed softly. "Young Master Xia also has a sense of ambition. Even though the magistrate thought highly of him, he declined the offer, choosing instead to head to the capital for the metropolitan examination. Ah well, to pass the provincial examination at such a tender age—who knows what kind of fortune awaits him in the future."

Xianglan thought to herself: The political situation is murky right now, and the Eighth Prince is mired in foolishness, caring only for decadent amusements and debauchery. The court is dominated by the eunuch faction, with treacherous ministers manipulating power. Without great fortune, how could a son of a humble family ever hope to get ahead? Even if Xia Yun passes the metropolitan examination as a jinshi scholar, without money and connections, it will be difficult for him to secure an official post, let alone how grueling it is to pass the jinshi exams in the first place. She gently shook her head.

Presently, Madam Xue went off to entertain the guest, leaving Xianglan to tidy up the room indoors, neatly folding the clothes garment by garment in the chests and trunks, before taking some oiled paper to repaste the wall partitions.

Xia Yun's visit this time was motivated by a desire to show off. Previously, because the Xia family was impoverished, Chen Wanquan had always treated Xia Yun with polite indifference. Now that Xia Yun had become a provincial graduate, Chen Wanquan was naturally brimming with warmth, his face plastered with smiles. Xia Yun felt deeply gratified inside. Although he still looked down upon Chen Wanquan in his heart, he wore a courteous smile on his face as he exchanged pleasantries with him. He hoped to catch a glimpse of Xianglan, but to his disappointment, she never once appeared. Feeling a wave of disappointment and too proud to ask about her outright, he sat for only a short while before taking his leave.

Madam Xue observed, "Young Master Xia has truly made something of himself now. If he has intentions in that direction, he would certainly be a suitable match for Xianglan."

Chen Wanquan glared at Madam Xue and snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting! No matter how much he's achieved, can he ever compare to Elder Master Song? Elder Master Song has set his sights on our Xianglan, so stop talking about all this useless rubbish."

Madam Xue sighed again and said, "It's true that Elder Master Song has achieved prominence, but can he ever marry our Xianglan as his legitimate primary wife? It would be far more worry-free to choose Young Master Xia instead."

Chen Wanquan scoffed dismissively, "So what if Young Master Xia became a provincial graduate? His family is dirt poor, and if Xianglan married him, she'd only be walking into a life of hardship. Elder Master Song is from an official lineage, and their family fortunes are substantial. Besides, the Song family saved Xianglan, released us from our servile status, and I still hold an appointment and duties within the Song estate—our entire family must remain deeply grateful!"

Madam Xue fell silent after that.

For a time, all was peaceful. After staying at home for two days, Xianglan returned to the Song residence. Another two months passed before she received a thick stack of letters from Song Ke, stating that he had arrived safely in the capital and that all was well, urging her not to worry. He wrote about various amusing anecdotes along the journey and local customs, and instructed her to take good care of her health. Xianglan read the letters several times over and safely tucked them away.

It was already the depths of winter, and the weather was bitterly cold. Xianglan glanced out the window, noticing that the sky was overcast and looked as though snow might fall at any moment. A cold draft began to slip through the cracks of the window, prompting her to give it a sharp clack and firmly latch it shut.

The vermilion double doors of the Lin residence slowly swung open with a heavy clack—Lin Jinlou had returned home!

Lin Jinlou strode through the entrance clad in a heavy fur cloak, while the pageboys bolted ahead to announce his arrival, shouting at the top of their lungs, "The Eldest Master has returned! The Eldest Master has returned!"

Three days prior, the Lin family had received an imperial edict: for his meritorious service in suppressing bandits, Lin Jinlou was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Fourth Rank, conferred the title of Valiant General, and additionally awarded a white horse and a hundred taels of gold by imperial decree. This news sent a shockwave through the entire Lin household. Grandfather Lin Zhaoxiang immediately ordered incense tables to be set up, requested the imperial edict, and opened the ancestral hall to offer sacrifices to their forebears. Officials high and low, near and far, caught wind of the news and flocked to offer their congratulations, turning the Lin family threshold into a bustling marketplace almost overnight. Senior elders of the clan also hastily dispatched messengers to send their felicitations.

Everyone had expected Lin Jinlou to take another year or half to return home, and no one anticipated his sudden arrival today. Surprised and flustered, the entire household burst into a flurry of activity.

Lin Jinlou remained unhurried, handing his riding whip over to Xishuo as he walked inward. Xishuo, being quick-witted, asked, "Does the Eldest Master wish to return to the Zhimun Lodge first to wash up and change clothes before paying respects to the elders?"

Lin Jinlou replied indifferently, "There is no need." He proceeded directly to kowtow and pay his respects to Grandfather Lin Zhaoxiang and Old Madam Lin. Lin Zhaoxiang had always held high expectations for his eldest grandson. Although the boy was untamable and somewhat wild and rebellious abroad, he understood the big picture in his heart. Within half a year, he had fought his way back as a fourth-rank general; in a few more years, once the Lin family leveraged their connections, he could easily secure a high-ranking post in the Ministry of War as an official of the second or third rank.

Old Madam Lin's face beamed with boundless affection. Pained to see her eldest grandson travel-worn and weary, she secretly mused that since his beloved concubine had passed away and there was no one by his side to care for him or offer warm comfort, she happened to have two fine maidservants in her own quarters—not only remarkably pretty, but also sensible and understanding of others' feelings. Later on, she would simply make the executive decision to send them to her grandson's chambers, just to see if the Zhao woman dared to utter a single word of objection. Clasping Lin Jinlou's hands, she asked him about everything under the sun, and as she spoke, she once again wiped away a tear.

At that moment, footsteps sounded by the entrance as Lin Zhangzheng and Madam Qin arrived. Old Madam Lin smiled through her tear-rimmed eyes, saying, "It's all because their parents missed him so; look, he couldn't even wait for his son to call upon them before they rushed over themselves."

Lin Jinlou immediately knelt to kowtow to his parents. Lin Zhangzheng noted that his son had grown increasingly majestic and steady, feeling a quiet swell of pride. Madam Qin, however, looked upon the wind-bitten, weather-worn lines of Lin Jinlou's brow and felt her heart ache fiercely, tears rushing to her eyes. Her crying instantly triggered Old Madam Lin into weeping as well, and it took a long round of consoling from everyone before the tears finally stopped.

After reminiscing for a while, Lin Zhaoxiang called Lin Zhangzheng and his son Lin Jinlou into the inner chamber. Lin Jinlou helped the old man settle into his rocking chair and personally served him a water pipe. Lin Zhaoxiang took two deep puffs, making a gurgling sound, and asked, "Are the military campaigns finished? To return so quickly—is there some hidden reason behind it?"

Lin Jinlou sneered. "What hidden reason could there be? The military forces are utterly lax, a pack of wine-sacks and rice-bags who would practically wet their pants upon reaching the battlefield. The camps are filled with the old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled; there's virtually no one usable, and the military provisions were entirely embezzled into empty pockets. I had no choice but to deploy my own men to fight a few engagements. Fierce though the bandits were, they hadn't yet grown into a serious climate, but there were traitors who sold out their country to collaborate with Japanese pirates, launching pincer attacks from both land and water routes. I ordered fifty of them executed on the spot, and had their skins stripped and hung from the ship masts and city gates as a public warning—only then did I manage to cow them into submission. Those petty demons and evil spirits, seeing that the bandit threat was about to be quelled, all jumped out to drum up support for the Emperor to send his own men to snatch the credit. Yet fearing I might turn hostile, they could only hand me promotions and wealth to shut my mouth."

Lin Zhangzheng remarked, "Still, returning home without official permission is hardly proper. Ultimately, you must proceed to the capital to have an audience with the Emperor."

Lin Jinlou replied, "How would the Emperor have the leisure to see me? And the people in the court aren't willing to let me return either. If I just stick my head in there, how are they going to claim credit for themselves? I have already submitted a memorial to the Emperor stating that my wartime injuries have flared up, so I am returning home first to recuperate before proceeding to the capital for an imperial audience."

Lin Zhaoxiang tapped his finger against the armrest of the rocking chair and said, "Lou'er has handled this with proper discretion. The current political situation in the capital is chaotic, and even the eunuch faction is experiencing internal strife; we'd do better to observe for a while longer." Turning to Lin Zhangzheng, he added, "And you as well—seeing that your period of mourning is about to expire, I will arrange an official post outside the capital for you later. Leave the capital's place of right and wrong behind and hide away for a couple of years... cough, cough... Countless prominent clans have fallen into ruin throughout history, and the only reason our family has managed to weather the ups and downs without sinking is precisely because we know how to seek out advantages and avoid harm."

Father and son nodded in instruction.

Lin Zhaoxiang sighed and said to Lin Jinlou, "Although your second uncle is also in the military, we ourselves know him all too well—he is a mediocre man of no particular distinction, yet burdened with ambition. If he comes to you for help, you must under no circumstances assist him in his schemes."

Lin Jinlou nodded in acknowledgment.