Chapter 130 - 131: Backyard
In the end, Gu Sanbu couldn’t refuse Ancient Wen Heng and silently put away the silver note.
"I wonder where they plan on building the ancestral hall?" Ancient Wen Heng was rather curious. All the empty lots nearby already had houses built on them. ’Are they going to build it on the back mountain?’
Thanks to the news of Ancient Wen Heng becoming a Scholar, Gu Shulin had been living quite comfortably lately. At the very least, the new residents no longer dared to pick fights and cause trouble.
"Do you remember that plot of land Liu Heizi came across?"
Ancient Wen Heng nodded. ’How could he forget?’ That was the only place where skeletal remains had been found. Even though Chief Li and his men had come and cleaned it up afterward, everyone still felt uneasy about it. Not a single family was willing to build a home there.
"They’ve already been clearing the ground these past few days. We’re just waiting for the ancestral hall to be built. Then we’ll find an opportunity to go back and retrieve the ancestral tablets. It will finally feel like we’ve put down roots." As soon as they spoke of this gratifying matter, the elders’ faces shone with a special radiance.
"This is the other reason we asked you to come," Gu Sanbu said, his expression suddenly growing solemn. "You’re familiar with Chief Li and his men in the county seat. If you know anyone, you could ask them to help inquire about the current situation in the Northern Three Provinces."
"If the rainfall has returned to normal, we can have some of the young men from the clan make a trip back. We must bring the ancestral tablets here, no matter what."
Ancient Wen Heng replied, "We’ll probably have to wait for Lord Niu, the comforting envoy, to return before we can get any definite news. I will have someone keep an eye on it, though."
The elders then asked about his future plans and offered him their blessings before finally letting him depart.
＆
"Father," Xiao Wanyu shoved open the door to the study and barged right in. "Since he doesn’t want me, there’s no way I, the dignified daughter of a Magistrate, am going to go groveling to him."
Xiao Yunhai retorted, "Have you no manners at all? Who gave you permission to come in like that?"
"Father, there are no outsiders here," Xiao Wanyu said. "Why stand on ceremony with your own daughter?"
"You still haven’t answered my question. I can’t be married off like that! He’s just some worthless Scholar. What gives him the right to be so arrogant?"
"Sigh..." Xiao Yunhai heaved a sigh. "Right now, every family in the Prefecture City is shunning us. Before your father is officially charged with a crime, the best I can do is find you a Scholar. That’s a lot better than you ending up married to a farmer, isn’t it?"
"But he’s not even willing, is he? And look at my older sister! Why does she get to marry into a prominent, noble family in Shangjing, while I’m stuck with some poor, pathetic Scholar?"
Xiao Yunhai looked helplessly at his daughter by a concubine. "I’ve explained this to you countless times. Your older sister is the legitimate daughter of the main wife. Moreover, this marriage was arranged with the family of your mother’s closest childhood friend. The two situations are not comparable."
They were both his daughters, and Xiao Yunhai’s heart ached a little for this younger one. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let her act so spoiled and imperious around the manor recently.
"We’re both your daughters, but the difference in treatment is just too vast! In any case, I don’t care. If he looks down on me, I’m not going to cling to him. Father, why don’t you try to find someone better for me?"
Xiao Yunhai shook his head. ’If he truly had a choice, he would have sent both his daughters to the palace long ago. But now, the matter was completely out of his hands.’
He tapped his finger on the few names on his desk. In truth, the one he favored most was Ancient Wen Heng, the top-ranked scholar. It was a pity the man was already married. In his current situation, it was unwise to make any drastic moves, so he could only look at other options.
This Deng Yuanhang fellow was a good prospect—he had a wealthy family, and his exam ranking was quite high. It was just that every time Xiao Yunhai had broached the subject, the young man had deftly deflected it.
Just when he decided to state his intentions plainly, the man unexpectedly packed up and left overnight.
He ground his teeth in frustration. The other high-ranking, unmarried scholars were either too poor or already engaged. The situation was driving him to his wit’s end.
"Father," Xiao Wanyu said, suddenly twisting the handkerchief in her hands. "What about that Ancient Chief? Why isn’t his name on the list?"
Thinking of that elegant young man, as refined as a rare orchid, Xiao Wanyu felt her cheeks flush. Some people could just stand there without saying a word and still capture everyone’s attention.
Xiao Yunhai slammed his hand on the desk. "What nonsense are you spouting? The man is already married! Is a daughter of the esteemed Magistrate supposed to go and be a mere concubine?"
"Why should *I* have to be the concubine? Can’t he just repudiate his wife?"
Xiao Yunhai shot back, "So, you think your father’s position isn’t precarious enough? You have to stir up even more trouble before you’ll be happy?"
"Since you look down on Deng Yuanhang, you can keep looking for someone else. But either way, you will be married and out of this house before Governor Niu returns."
"And another thing, your mother is busy preparing your older sister’s dowry right now. Stop going and making a scene with them."
Ordinarily, he might have sided with this younger daughter, but right now, he had to rely on the power of his future eldest son-in-law’s family. He certainly couldn’t afford to arouse the discontent of his principal wife and her daughter.
"Why should I?" Speaking of this, Xiao Wanyu stomped her foot in a fury. "Ever since we were little, my older sister has had to be better than me in every respect! She gets to marry into a prominent, noble family and gets a massive dowry."
"But when it’s my turn, all I get is a measly several hundred taels of silver from the public coffers."
She had heard plenty of gossip these past few days. Never mind the gold, silver, and jewels in Xiao Shi Yu’s dowry chests; her private emergency fund alone was said to be tens of thousands of silver taels. The disparity was just too enormous.
"That is all from the dowry your mother brought into this family, plus gifts from her maternal uncle," Xiao Yunhai said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I will compensate you privately later. After all, there is a distinction between the children of the main wife and those of a concubine. Now, stop making a scene."
Having competed against her legitimate sister for so many years, Xiao Wanyu naturally had her own methods for survival. Now that Xiao Yunhai had relented, she had achieved her main goal for the day. After a few more petulant remarks, she departed with a triumphant smile on her face.
Little did they know, the conversation they just had in the study reached the ears of Mrs. Xiao and Xiao Siyu within moments.
"Ignorance truly is bliss. To be squabbling over such petty trifles at a time like this." Mrs. Xiao shook her head and waved dismissively at the old serving woman who had delivered the report.
"Father really does dote on Second Sister," Xiao Shi Yu said, pursing her lips. "My wedding date is already set, yet Father has made no mention of anything for me."
Mrs. Xiao took her daughter’s hand, her heart aching for her, and patted it gently. "Don’t you worry. Your mother knows exactly how many Silver Taels your father has stashed away."
"Besides, if my own daughter goes without, what right does that wretched girl have to get anything?"
Seeing her daughter’s face fall, Mrs. Xiao’s resentment toward Xiao Yunhai deepened. ’If not for the wealth her own maiden family had accumulated over the years, and the support from a few of her close friends who had married well, her status as Mrs. Xiao might have long since become a title with no real power.’
"My child, you just focus on preparing for your wedding. I guarantee you, tomorrow your father will come running with his private stash to add to your dowry."
As the woman who shared his bed, and with the latest news from Shangjing, how could Mrs. Xiao possibly fail to grasp the situation?
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have so hastily written to her dear friend to finalize this marriage arrangement.
’If she’d ever held any illusions, they were all shattered now. All she wanted was for her own son and daughter to escape being implicated. As for the others, she wasn’t magnanimous enough to care whether they lived or died.’