Chapter 10

Lu Ming, seeing that Lu Qing was shy, stopped teasing him and no longer urged Song Sheng to drink.

Song Sheng knew his own poor tolerance for alcohol, so he didn’t dare drink much. His face was slightly flushed, but fortunately he hadn’t drunk too much.

Lu Ming, however, drank quite a lot. Although unpleasant things had happened earlier, the outcome was good, and with a capable son‑in‑law in the family, he was happy and drank two extra bowls of wine. Now he was staggering, unable to walk steadily.

Lu Da helped him to his room to rest, while Lu Qing came to support Song Sheng.

Seeing that his husband’s face was only a little red and otherwise fine, Lu Qing breathed a sigh of relief, then went to the kitchen to bring a bowl of sobering tea.

He had just finished scrubbing the pot and brewed a whole pot of sobering tea. One bowl had already been given to his uncle, and this one was for Song Sheng.

Although Song Sheng hadn’t drunk much, he obediently drank the tea Lu Qing brought.

Country folk didn’t grow tea leaves, so the sobering tea was bitter and astringent, but it did clear the head.

Just as Song Sheng put down the bowl, he noticed a plate of candied fruit on the table. Sugar wasn’t cheap, and the household’s malt sugar was reserved for the little nephew, so Lu Qing had brought out some candied fruit instead.

These candied fruits were made from wild fruits picked from the back mountain, dried, and coated with a layer of white sugar frost, sweeter than fresh fruit.

“This… is for me?”

Lu Qing nodded, his eyes shining: “The tea leaves at home aren’t very good, so the sobering tea doesn’t taste nice. Husband, eat some candied fruit to offset the bitterness.”

If Lu Ming had been there, he would have complained that Lu Qing was being biased again, why did Song Sheng get the sweet candied fruit while he didn’t?

Song Sheng didn’t say it aloud, but inside he felt warm. The words “no need” turned into “alright” at his lips.

The two of them stayed a while longer at the Lu household, then prepared to leave as the sun set behind the western hills.

Before leaving, Lu Xun called Lu Qing over to speak with him for a while.

Today, Song Sheng had helped his father‑in‑law, and Lu Xun was truly grateful. Yet gratitude was one matter; when it came to his son Lu Qing, he still worried.

Song Sheng’s looks and cleverness suggested he would surely achieve something in the future. Even if he failed to pass the scholar’s exam, his life would not be poor.

But Lu Qing’s reputation in the village was not good, and his “gē ér mark” was shallow. If Song Sheng ever despised him, how could Lu Qing live on?

Lu Xun had only this one child. Though married, he could not help but worry.

He called Lu Qing over and asked: “You’ve been married to Song Sheng for three days now. Tell me honestly, how does he treat you?”

“Father, don’t worry. Husband treats me very well. The other day, when some gē ér spoke ill of me in the village, he stood up for me. Afterwards, he didn’t ignore me but comforted me instead.”

“He’s a scholar. Does he truly not despise you for being a gē ér?”

Lu Qing shook his head. Though only three days together, Song Sheng gave him a steady feeling.

Lu Xun felt somewhat reassured, but reminded him: “At the Song household, you must be diligent. Don’t let others find fault. Song Sheng is a scholar, and I hear he will sit for the exam next year. You must serve him well in his studies and not burden him with other matters.”

“Yes, Father, I’ll remember.”

“And about having children, as I told you before marriage — you must take it seriously. Your gē ér mark is shallow, so children won’t come easily. You must try harder. Only with children can you secure your place. Sweet words mean nothing without that.”

Hearing this, Lu Qing blushed. He and his husband had not yet consummated their marriage. How could he “try harder” alone? But he dared not tell his father, lest he worry.

So he nodded obediently, saying he understood.

On the way back from Shangxi Village, the burden on his back felt lighter.

They walked home together, arriving after dark.

The Song family had already prepared dinner.

The leftover dishes and meat from the wedding had been eaten over the past two days. Tonight’s meal was sorghum bran cakes and pickled vegetables. Salt was costly, but a jar of pickles lasted long, so it was worthwhile.

The cakes were coarse and hard, scratching the throat, so Song Sheng ate them with wild vegetable soup.

The family ate quickly together. After dinner, instead of going to bed, they were called to the main hall by Zhang Xinghua.

By moonlight, Zhang Xinghua said: “You all know how much we have. The wedding cost us dearly, and soon the academy will open and tuition must be paid. The little money left will be for Sheng’s studies. Do you have any objections?”

Song Laoda and Song Lao’er had always been filial, and Madam Lin and Madam Zhao said nothing. Although their nephew had studied for years without passing the licentiate exam, he had become a tongsheng earlier than most, four or five years ahead. Even though he had failed to pass the licentiate after seven or eight years, he was still young.

For a family to support one licentiate was no easy feat. They knew the imperial exams were difficult. If he succeeded, they would be relatives of a licentiate, and the family’s farmland could be registered under his name, exempting them from the household tax. So even though the whole family had pooled resources for Song Sheng’s studies, neither Song Laoda nor Song Lao’er’s households complained.

As for Song Laosan, he had even less objection. Song Sheng was his own son, gifted in learning, and the family was willing to encourage him to study. He himself hoped to be the father of a licentiate.

Since his first wife had died, he had not remarried. For years he worked hard to earn money for his son’s education. During the farming off‑season, he labored at the docks carrying goods to earn small change for household expenses. His own hardship mattered little; his son’s studies were most important.

Song Ping and Song Feng, the grandsons, had nothing to say. Since their fathers kept silent, they naturally followed suit.

Song Cheng and Song Xia also listened quietly.

Only the eldest sister‑in‑law, Sūn shì, seemed hesitant. Her son had just turned five and was ready to begin learning characters. She too wished for her son to study and one day sit for the imperial exams.

She said: “Mother‑in‑law, Dà Máo will be six after the New Year. In ordinary families, children at this age can already begin their studies.”

Dà Máo was the only male child among the great‑grandchildren, and Zhang Xinghua usually doted on him. Whether grandson or great‑grandson, they were all dear to her, so it was hard to choose.

But Zhang Xinghua quickly made up her mind: “Dà Máo is still young, but indeed it’s time for him to start learning characters. I think we should first let Sheng teach him to recognize words. In two years, when Sheng passes the exam, he can properly begin his studies.”

“Not only Dà Máo. In the future, if you and Second Brother’s wife have sons, Sheng can also teach them to read and write. Then uncle teaches nephew, nephew teaches son, and generation after generation it will continue. Slowly, our Song family will become a family of scholars!”

The future Zhang Xinghua described sounded beautiful, and Sūn shì felt it made sense. Her younger brother‑in‑law would sit for the exam next year, and the family’s money had to be saved for his studies, so she could only give up her idea.

Still, the expenses for her brother‑in‑law’s studies were heavy, and she wondered when these tight days would ever end.

Song Cheng, wanting life to be easier, asked: “But Grandma, what if Third Brother never passes?”

“Bah, bah, bah, you crow‑mouth! How could your Third Brother not pass? If not this time, then next time. He’s still young. Haven’t you seen some men keep taking the exam even at forty?”

After speaking, Zhang Xinghua pointed at Song Ping, Song Feng, and Song Cheng, scolding: “Before, I sent each of you to study, hoping at least one of you would succeed. But every one of you complained of headaches as soon as you started. Was it that I didn’t want you to study? No, it was you three who lacked ambition. Only Sheng can be relied upon!”

“Starting tomorrow, eldest daughter‑in‑law, second daughter‑in‑law, and the two granddaughters‑in‑law, we women must take on more work. Now that it’s cold, if embroidery jobs are few, then sewing, mending, and washing will do.”

The women all answered in agreement.