Mo Sang – CH 300

Chapter 300. A win-win situation

The New Year’s feast at Prince Changsha’s Mansion was scheduled for noon on the seventh day of the lunar New Year.

Although Li Sangrou dressed as usual, she was now dressed entirely in new clothes. Her usual plain sheepskin coat had been replaced with an indigo-colored cotton cloak, and her usually somewhat disheveled hair was neatly combed.

Around the hour of Si¹, Li Sangrou turned into the wide alleyway leading to Prince Changsha’s Mansion.

The servant guarding the alleyway entrance hurriedly announced her arrival.

Shi Acai led the way, followed by Yang Nanxing and the Eldest Madam of the Wei family, who quickly came out to greet her.

When they were still a dozen steps apart, Li Sangrou took two quick steps, cupped her hands in greeting, and said with a smile, “I dare not accept such praise.”

Yang Nanxing chuckled.

“Look at you!” Shi Acai slapped Yang Nanxing back, then quickly stepped forward and curtsied.

“Please forgive me, Boss, it is just that you are too famous for that title,” Yang Nanxing said, curtsying and explaining with a smile.

“I truly am unworthy of such praise,” Li Sangrou replied, bowing slightly.

“Hmm! That title is also very famous. Unworthy of praise, truly unworthy!” Yang Nanxing mimicked Li Sangrou’s tone.

“Getting more and more presumptuous!” Shi Acai frowned slightly, then slapped Yang Nanxing on the back.

“Nanxing is a straightforward and adorable child, a bit like Princess Ninghe’s temperament,” the Eldest Madam of the Wei family said with a smile after exchanging greetings with Li Sangrou.

“She gets along very well with Ninghe and Ah Fei. By the way, among the three of you, who’s the best fighter?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Yang Nanxing.

“This is Jianle City; how dare I fight! I’ve never fought before!” Yang Nanxing quickly shook her head.

Her sister-in-law constantly reminded her and her two younger brothers to be extremely careful and never act recklessly; how could she dare to fight?

“That’s true. It has only been half a year, and I’ve never heard of the princess and the county princess fighting. Did you persuade them to stop?” The Eldest Madam of the Wei family smiled at Yang Nanxing.

“No, not at all. I never even considered fighting. They are probably just understanding,” Yang Nanxing replied with a smile.

“Princess Consort Shi is like a mother to her; she’s strict in managing the household,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

In a few words, the four of them entered through the side door. Outside, at the alley entrance, a voice announced their arrival.

“Just let them lead me in. You all go about your business,” Li Sangrou said with a smile, pointing to a long row of servants standing respectfully at their sides.

“I will accompany you,” Yang Nanxing said, hurrying to Li Sangrou’s side.

Shi Acai and the Eldest Madam of the Wei family smiled and agreed. The Eldest Madam gestured for Shi Acai to go first.

Shi Acai took two steps forward. As the Eldest Madam of the Wei family turned around, Li Sangrou lowered her voice and said with a smile, “Thank you for your trouble.”

The Eldest Madam of the Wei family smiled broadly, nodded slightly to Li Sangrou, and hurried after Shi Acai.

“The Eldest Madam arrived yesterday afternoon, and my sister-in-law was quite worried,” Yang Nanxing said softly, half a step behind Li Sangrou.

“What’s she worried about? Are there many rules and customs surrounding the New Year’s feast?” Li Sangrou asked casually.

“No, it is not that; it is just…” Yang Nanxing paused, then laughed. “It’s nothing; sister-in-law is overthinking things.”

Li Sangrou looked at Yang Nanxing. “Anyone would overthink things. It is best to get through it yourself. After all, Jianle City and Longbiao City are very different, and the future will be very different from before.”

“Yes, Sister-in-law said so too.”

“When the Fourth and Fifth Brothers first went to the Imperial Academy, the fifth one was always so aggrieved; he cried many times. Sister-in-law kept scolding him, saying, ‘We all need to learn to live under their roof.'” Yang Nanxing’s voice was low.

“Yes, your two younger brothers are both very good, known throughout the school for their humility and politeness.” Li Sangrou smiled.

“The fourth one has a good temperament, always quiet and reserved. The fifth one is very spoiled. Once, he cried and cried; I almost beat him up,” Yang Nanxing snorted.

“How are their studies?” Li Sangrou asked with a laugh.

“It’s just that his studies are not very good. They say the teacher knows he does not know, but he still makes him talk, saying he does not have to take exams, so why is he always being watched?”

“My sister-in-law asked him, ‘Why do you not have to take exams? Are you going to inherit a title or lead troops? If you do not take exams, what will you do in the future? Just laze around and wait to die? Will your Eldest Brother let you laze around and wait to die your whole life?’

Fourth Brother is alright, just looks utterly defeated. Fifth Brother burst into tears on the spot, and no amount of persuasion could calm him down. That time, I almost beat him up.” Yang Nanxing snorted again.

“Are they really going to take the exams? When are they going to take them? I heard that students of the Imperial Academy do not have to take the preliminary exams. They can directly take the autumn exams. Is it this autumn?” Li Sangrou asked curiously.

“With their studies!” Yang Nanxing pouted. “However, my sister-in-law wants them to try this year. Fourth Brother is alright; he did not dare refuse, but Fifth Brother cried again. Sigh, I really want to beat him up!” Yang Nanxing said, patting the air.

“Would hitting them have helped?” Li Sangrou asked, watching Yang Nanxing’s outstretched hand.

“No! I’ve beaten them too many times since they were little. Sigh!” Yang Nanxing sighed deeply.

Li Sangrou patted her shoulder. “Were they the only two entertaining guests today?”

“How can they manage? They do not even know everyone.”

“Yesterday afternoon, Chancellor Huang came over. He said many classmates had asked him to come and help. It was Madam Wei and Chancellor Huang who discussed it and decided to send about ten people,” Yang Nanxing explained carefully.

“The Wei family is always very thoughtful,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

“Yes, thank you very much,” Yang Nanxing said, curtsying slightly.

“I am truly flattered.” Li Sangrou quickly nodded in return. “Where’s your Eldest Master Ye? Is he also entertaining guests over there?”

“He did not come.” Yang Nanxing paused, then lowered his eyes. “His status is not suitable. He does not know any of the people coming today, and the Ye family are merchants. Besides, the Ye family has no intention of entering officialdom.”

Li Sangrou hummed in agreement.

“After the first month of the lunar calendar, Eldest Master and I will go back and bring my Second and Third Sisters here.

Mother wrote a letter saying that although Great-Grandmother had instructed us three sisters not to return to the Yang family, times have changed, and we do not need to rigidly adhere to that instruction.

She said that Great-Grandmother’s instructions were simply her wish for the three of us to live well. Now, with Second and Third Sisters back in the mansion, it will be better for them and for the Yang family,” Yang Nanxing whispered to Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou again hummed in agreement, saying nothing more.

This was a matter for the Yang family; they had the capacity to handle it, and it was not her place to interfere.

Yang Nanxing accompanied Li Sangrou, talking as they walked, their steps slow. The two entered the large, warm pavilion facing the stage in the lake. Just as they sat down, through the open window, they saw Shi Acai accompanying Old Lady Jiang and Old Madam Qiu, the matriarch of the Wei family, towards the pavilion.

“Let’s go greet them,” Li Sangrou gestured to Yang Nanxing and stepped forward to meet them.

………………………………

The New Year’s banquet at Prince Changsha’s Mansion was a gathering of almost every household in Jianle City, including women and young men, and an unprecedented number of matriarchs and grandmothers.

Shi Acai, with her son and daughter, each received a large basket of gifts. Her younger daughter, Ale, was especially pampered, being held and cuddled by the matriarchs and grandmothers.

As the opera reached its climax on stage and the audience erupted in laughter, Li Sangrou quietly excused herself from Shi Acai, slipped out of the warm pavilion, and exited through a side gate.

………………………………

On the morning of the sixteenth, after the fifteenth, Li Sangrou sat in the back courtyard of the Shunfeng headquarters, facing the clear river, clutching a military report. She was considering whether to send Xiao Lu and the others to Chenliu County to see what Lady Fu was doing and if anything was wrong. Meng Yanqing, followed by Wei Fu, entered through the stable courtyard.

Li Sangrou stuffed the half-read military report into a brocade bag, looking at Meng Yanqing, who was frowning, and Wei Fu, whose face was ashen.

“What’s wrong?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Wei Fu.

Wei Fu, however, looked at Meng Yanqing.

Meng Yanqing, his brows furrowed, dragged over two chairs and handed one to Wei Fu. “Tell the Boss yourself.”

“Alright.” Wei Fu lowered his eyes, sat down on the bamboo chair, rested his arms on his legs, and rubbed his hands together.

Li Sangrou looked at Wei Fu’s rubbing hands and his ashen face, waiting for him to speak.

“I am…” Wei Fu started to speak, but then stopped, instinctively looking at Meng Yanqing.

Meng Yanqing frowned, waved his hand, and gestured for him to continue.

“I came to ask the Boss for instructions,” Wei Fu swallowed hard. “Yes, um…”

“Take your time; say whatever comes to mind. We are free today anyway,” Li Sangrou said gently.

“Yes.” Wei Fu lowered his head, gathered his thoughts, and looked up at Li Sangrou. “Before the New Year, when we came back, Yan-niang was preparing New Year’s goods. Later, I said there was no need to prepare them ourselves, as Master Chang had already prepared everything.

Yan-niang said, ‘How could we not prepare New Year’s goods for the New Year?’ So she did prepare some.

On New Year’s Eve, when we ate the New Year’s Eve dinner, Yan-niang prepared some dishes, but we always eat New Year’s Eve dinner together; it has been like this for decades,” Wei Fu paused.

Li Sangrou leaned back slightly in her chair, looking at Wei Fu with a clear understanding.

“Later, after the New Year, Yan-niang told me she wanted to pawn a woman for me, for two or three years, to have two or three children. I did not agree.” Wei Fu lowered his head.

Li Sangrou looked at Wei Fu without speaking.

She had seen Yan-niang’s medical records.

For the past twenty years or so, she had suffered greatly. The imperial physicians diagnosed that if she were ten or eight years younger and with careful recuperation for another ten or eight years, perhaps she might have a chance. But at her age, it was virtually impossible for her to have another child.

“Later, Yan-niang said she wanted to go back to her hometown and choose a boy and a girl from the Wei clan, preferably very young, even infants, to be adopted,” Wei Fu said, lowering his head and eyes, pausing for a long time, and then continuing, “Yan-niang’s idea is that it would be best to go back to her hometown, buy a house in the city, and a few hundred mu of land, and I would also take a job.”

Li Sangrou looked at Meng Yanqing.

Meng Yanqing rested his arms on his legs, staring expressionlessly at the opposite corner tower, as if he had not heard anything.

Li Sangrou looked back at Wei Fu, who was hanging his head, and asked with a smile, “Old Meng will not let you go back?”

“No, Boss Meng said you said I was free to come and go,” Wei Fu hurriedly explained, raising his head.

“Hmm,” Li Sangrou hummed in agreement, looking at Wei Fu, waiting for him to speak.

“It’s that I do not want to go back. I do not want to go to the yamen to take those errands, I do not want to take in adopted children, and I do not want to move out. I think Yan-niang and I are doing just fine as we are now, are we not?” Wei Fu was silent for a moment, then looked up at Li Sangrou and said in one breath.

Li Sangrou met Wei Fu’s questioning without speaking.

“I told Yan-niang, is it not good as it is now?

Yan-niang said that the little courtyard is not home, and this is not how we live. Nobody lives like this. She said I am gone for half a year or a year without a word, and she does not know if I am alive or dead. She worries and has nightmares every night. She said she waited for me all these years so that we could live a good life together, not this kind of life.” Wei Fu spoke rapidly, a string of words flying through his throat.

Li Sangrou leaned back in her chair, silent.

“I spoke to Head Meng, and Head Meng said that this matter is for the Boss to decide,” Wei Fu glanced at Meng Yanqing.

“This is between you and Yan-niang; I cannot make a decision either. How you two live your lives is something only you two can discuss,” Li Sangrou looked at Wei Fu and said gently.

“This trip with the Boss and everyone else, these past year or two, in Yuzhang City, Jiuxi Shidong, Muzhou, this whole journey, I’ve never felt so carefree, never felt so happy.

The thought of leaving everyone, taking a government job, staying home, and dealing with trivial matters makes me feel like I’d rather be dead!

But Yan-niang says that the life we are living now is worse than death for her.

What should I do?

I know she’s suffered for me for over twenty years. I cannot let her down; I should not let her down, but when I think about the life she talked about, I just…!” Wei Fu’s words suddenly choked, and it took him a while to catch his breath. “I cannot endure those days for more than a few days.

What should I do?” Wei Fu looked up at Li Sangrou.

“I do not know either.” After a moment of silence, Li Sangrou said gently, “You have to figure it out yourself or make your own choice.

“Either you find a way to make her follow your arrangements, or you decide between the life you want and her. Whichever you decide, I will not think it is bad.

I never believed that any favor is worth giving up the life you want, but if it is for her, because you feel sorry for her, love her, and you think it is worth it, then it is.

If you insist on living the life you want, then you have to think carefully. Maybe she will die—die of depression, die of illness, or even commit suicide.

To persuade her, or to persuade yourself, only you can persuade yourself.

If you give up the life you want, or persist, you alone will bear the consequences, and you alone will have to make this decision; you alone will have to think it through and decide.”

Wei Fu covered his face with his hands for a long time, then leaned back in his chair and said with a bitter smile, “Brother Liang’s wife is seriously ill, and he only secretly sent money and hired a physician through intermediaries. At the time, I thought he was overthinking things, but now I realize I was underthinking.”

Li Sangrou looked at him silently.

Wei Fu sat there blankly for a while, then slowly stood up. “I will go back and think about it.”

“Hmm,” Li Sangrou watched Wei Fu turn around and drag his feet out, looking at Meng Yanqing, who was about to stand up, and said softly, “Have someone keep an eye on him.”

“I’ve already had someone keep an eye on him, do not worry, Boss.” Meng Yanqing sighed, stood up, and walked out with his hands behind his back.

Li Sangrou watched the two enter the stable courtyard one after the other, shifted her chair, stared at the slowly flowing river for a long while, and then let out a long sigh.