Chapter 129 - 130: Holding a Banquet
Building the ancestral hall was the top priority for the Gu Family. They had looked at so many potential sites, but for one reason or another, had yet to settle on one.
While they were still deliberating, Ancient Wen Heng returned with Jin Qianqian, having finally concluded a great many social engagements.
He was the first Scholar to emerge from the village, and they had barely sat down at home before people from every household in the clan started arriving.
Jin Qianqian brought out the small pastries she had prepared earlier to serve her guests. Whenever a sweet-talking child came by, she made sure to stuff a few extra into their pockets.
"The Scholar’s wife really is different, so much more generous," Liu Liu said, pushing her two children forward. "Hurry up and have your Seventh Aunt fill your pockets too. She’s so generous with other people’s children, she can’t possibly be stingy with her own nephews and nieces."
Jin Qianqian ground her molars. "It’s been a while, Fourth Sister-in-law, and you haven’t changed a bit. They are my nephew and niece, part of our own family. Naturally, we must attend to our guests’ children first. That is the proper way to host. Don’t you agree?"
Liu Liu snorted. "It seems a few days in the county town have changed you a lot, Seventh Sister-in-law. I just wonder if Seventh knows that you draw such a clear line between family and outsiders."
Jin Qianqian retorted, "Why don’t you go ask him?"
"You—" Liu Liu, recalling how fiercely protective Ancient Wen Heng was, knew she would only be asking for humiliation. She instantly put on a smile and sized up Jin Qianqian from head to toe. "Tell me, Seventh Sister-in-law, you and Seventh have been married for so long. How is it there’s been no reaction from that belly of yours?
You’d better be careful. After all, Seventh is a Scholar now. What if he decides he wants a new Scholar’s wife? You’ve put in both money and effort—if you end up losing both the man and your fortune, you’ll have nowhere to turn to cry."
Jin Qianqian rolled her eyes. "..." ’I’m richer than you could possibly imagine. Besides, my mother-in-law hasn’t even rushed me, so what right do you have to butt in?’
"I don’t suppose you know, Fourth Sister-in-law," Ancient Wen Heng said, walking over to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Jin Qianqian. "While the courtyard here in the village is registered in my name, the house and the storefront in the county town are all part of my wife’s dowry. If I really were to leave my wife, I’m the one who would find it impossible to get by."
He paid no mind to the fact that this news had stunned everyone. "Besides, have you forgotten what our situation was like before, Fourth Sister-in-law? Only an idiot would let his wife get pregnant and give birth during a time like that.
As a sister-in-law, it’s not proper to be meddling in your younger brother-in-law’s private household matters, is it?"
This one-two punch of a rebuttal shamed Liu Liu so much that she covered her face and fled.
Gu Yuanshui interjected, "Seventh! How can you talk to your sister-in-law like that? Don’t think that just because you became a Scholar, you can disrespect your elders!"
Jin Qianqian countered, "Fourth Brother, as the saying goes, ’discipline your son in public, but admonish your wife in private.’ My fourth sister-in-law spouts all sorts of inappropriate things without a second thought. Surely you aren’t the one who taught her to speak that way?"
"You..."
Just as his face turned beet red and he struggled for words, Li Cuicui cut in to stop him. "That’s enough. It’s a joyous day, Fourth. Don’t go looking for trouble.
But you really ought to have a talk with that wife of yours. There are some matters that even I, your own mother, haven’t meddled in. For a sister-in-law from a separate branch of the family, she sure has a wide reach."
"Mother, Liu Liu means no harm. She’s just concerned for Seventh’s wife, she simply doesn’t know how to phrase things."
Jin Qianqian was speechless. ’...’ ’Her mouth is already that venomous. If she actually learned how to talk...’
Ancient Wen Heng, not wanting to get dragged any deeper into the argument, called over Gu Yuanjin and Gu Yuantu. "We bought all this back from the county town. Eldest Brother, I’ll have to trouble you to ask everyone to lend a hand. We’ll be hosting a meal for everyone here today."
He lifted the cover on the donkey cart, and an entire butchered pig immediately drew everyone’s gaze. Without Ancient Wen Heng having to say anything more, they could all guess that the Scholar was planning to host a grand banquet upon his return.
Besides the pig, there were chickens, ducks, over a hundred pounds of rice and white flour, and of course, a miscellany of accompanying side dishes.
"This is all so lavish!" Gu Yuanjin felt a pang of heartache over the cost. "This must have cost a great deal of Silver, didn’t it?"
Ancient Wen Heng replied, "Everyone has worked hard lately. Just prepare everything, Eldest Brother. If it’s not enough, we’ll just take the donkey cart back to town for more."
Gu Yuantu quickly insisted it was more than enough. ’This Seventh of ours is really changing,’ he thought.
Li Cuicui pulled Jin Qianqian aside as well. "Don’t pay any mind to what your sister-in-law said. However, you should also put in some effort. Now that life has stabilized, it’s about time you gave Seventh a child or two."
Jin Qianqian was speechless. "..."
"You silly girl," Li Cuicui said, growing a bit anxious at Jin Qianqian’s stunned silence. "Men care most about carrying on the family line. Having a child soon will only be a good thing for your little family."
"Mother, are you anxious about it too?" The moment the words left her mouth, Jin Qianqian wanted to slap herself. ’What a stupid question. All mothers-in-law under heaven are the same. Of course she wants grandchildren.’
But to her surprise, Li Cuicui simply rolled her eyes. "What’s there for me to be anxious about? I already have grandsons and granddaughters. Besides, it’s not like the baby would carry my surname. I’m not going to be the bad guy here."
’This daughter of the Jin Family is really a bit naive. She’s lucky she got me as a mother-in-law. Anyone else would probably be tormenting her by now.’
Jin Qianqian gave the old woman a thumbs-up. ’If every mother-in-law thought like her,’ she mused, ’this era would be full of kind mothers-in-law and devoted daughters-in-law.’
＆
After a full day of receiving congratulations, night fell, and Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian finally found some peace and quiet.
Jin Qianqian wore a wry smile. "What on earth did I go through today?"
Although she had managed to fend off Liu Liu earlier, the subsequent parade of aunts and gossips gave Jin Qianqian a fresh taste of just how intense the pressure to have children could be.
It seemed as if it was the only topic anyone could talk about.
Ancient Wen Heng stroked her head. In a courtyard of this size, he had inevitably overheard some of the conversations.
"Don’t listen to them. Our priority is to get you back to full health," Ancient Wen Heng said. He had been feeling pent-up lately, too. The torture of being able to look but not touch was bad enough; now these people were just adding fuel to the fire.
He stroked Jin Qianqian’s face, which had started to get a bit plump, and silently urged himself, ’Just a little longer. Let her get a little healthier.’
Gaining a scholarly title granted him more of a say in clan matters. In the past, for any issue, major or minor, the Clan Leader would simply consult with a few clan elders before making a final decision. This time, however, Ancient Wen Heng was summoned to join them.
"Building the ancestral hall is an excellent undertaking," Ancient Wen Heng said, taking the hint. He untied his brocade bag and pulled out a small silver banknote worth ten taels. "Unfortunately, my teacher has instructed me to return to my studies soon, so I cannot contribute my meager efforts to the project. I can only trouble you elders to take on the burden."
"Your sentiment is more than enough," Gu Sanbu said, glancing at the money but making no move to take it. "You have a long road of scholarship ahead of you; keep this for your expenses. As for the ancestral hall, the rest of us will find a way to manage it. We only called you over to keep you informed."
Ancient Wen Heng was the hope of the entire clan, so Gu Sanbu naturally prioritized his needs. Preparing for the imperial examinations was an expensive endeavor.