Chapter 34: First Step (Part 2)

"Husband is a strange person."

"Hmm?"

Snowflakes fell as the two who were husband and wife stood on either side of the pillar, looking at the surrounding sprawling courtyards, and tilting her head, Su Tan'er lowered it slightly, a smile spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Actually... it's not really that Husband is strange. When I was little, Tan'er also liked standing up here watching. Has Husband noticed? The view from here is the best." She pointed toward the distance. "Look, that's where Father and Mother live... Second Aunt's... Grandfather's is slightly blocked... Third Uncle is over there... That lantern, should be Wenying and his group walking by..."

Under the night sky, each area of the Su mansion was clearly divided under Su Tan'er's pointing, and there were also figures carrying lanterns walking between the courtyards, which Su Tan'er expertly pointed out one by one. After a moment, she thought for a bit.

"I didn't live here when I was little, but I often liked coming here to play, sitting up here looking around. When Nanny couldn't find me, she knew to come look here. When I saw Nanny coming from up here, I'd often hide inside. Hee, I'd hide in the same place every time. Nanny was so silly—once when I changed hiding spots, she couldn't find me and called for a long time outside..."

"Every time Nanny came looking, she'd say it was windy up here, or that it was time to eat. Husband might not imagine, but I was very healthy as a child. A little wind wouldn't make me sick at all. I liked running around like a boy, chasing and fighting, but later they all stopped playing with me. As for eating, why did we have to eat? Sometimes it seemed like I couldn't feel hunger. I asked Nanny, but Nanny didn't know either. Heh, when Mother gave birth to me, Father said he wanted a boy to inherit the family business, but what came out was a girl. Father said that was fine too, he'd have a proper lady. Actually, I'm not really like a proper lady..."

She raised her chin and smiled, but there was no shadow in that smile. Though she didn't have deep learning at this time, whether in appearance or behavior, at least in "looking like a proper lady," there was absolutely no problem.

"So later... mm, later when I could choose my own courtyard, I moved here with Xiao Chan and the others. Husband might not know, but when we first dared to move in, I lived in the room on this side because the view was better here. But... later I moved to that side. Does Husband know why?"

"Can't see others, and others can't see you either, right?"

Ning Yi answered casually. Su Tan'er was silent for a long while: "Did Husband have any ideals or ambitions before?"

"Me..." Ning Yi thought about things from long ago. "Wanted to build houses."

"Eh?" This answer clearly surprised Su Tan'er. After a moment she said, "Build houses? Like... a mason?"

"Haha." Ning Yi looked up and laughed. "That's right, mason, carpenter, things like that... mm, more or less."

"I never would have thought..." Su Tan'er murmured, and Ning Yi's fingers tapped lightly on the railing a few times before he took out a washed century egg and passed it over across the wooden pillar: "Oh right, try this."

"A duck egg?"

With the snow falling, the light shining up from below on this corridor was quite sufficient, but distinguishing the slightly different patterns on the eggshell wasn't possible—Su Tan'er didn't really mind either. She took the duck egg and gently tapped it on the railing, slowly peeling the shell. After peeling a few pieces, she stopped again.

"I... when I was little, I actually wanted to be a juggling performer... Heh, of course I just thought about it. Every year the family invited opera troupes to perform. When I was little, watching them seemed so magical. I always thought if I learned it, maybe I could fly to heaven and earth and become an immortal. Later I did learn some things, like what you taught Xiao Chan that day. Husband, look..."

She extended her left hand on that side. In the snow, her bright wrist seemed to glow. Her delicate slender fingers held the eggshell pieces she'd just peeled off. Then her fingers gently rubbed together, and glowing dust fell from her fingertips like fine threads, magical and magnificent. This was probably some secret learned from those performers. After finishing the performance, she laughed softly, somewhat happy.

"But of course, Father and Mother would never allow me to become some performer. When I was too young, I couldn't sense some things. Gradually as I grew up, I discovered Father and Mother were both somewhat unhappy. Father wanted a male heir, but even after marrying two concubines later, they still couldn't give me a younger brother or sister. Sometimes, Father would of course... of course feel..."

Perhaps because these words were hard to say, Su Tan'er paused for a long time on that side before taking a deep breath: "Anyway... from that time on, I felt it was very strange... Why couldn't girls inherit the family business? They clearly couldn't do anything as well as me. Even when I went to the school to study poetry and arithmetic, I dressed up as a boy... Of course I'd be discovered, but no matter what I wouldn't leave. Whether beaten or scolded, I wouldn't leave. I had to sit there and finish listening to the lessons. Fortunately it was our family's own school, and later Grandfather also spoke up... So now Little Seven and those girls can go to school to attend lessons—I was the one who stubbornly fought for that..."

While speaking, she slowly peeled the eggshell, and at this point she smiled slightly before making a sound of surprise as if discovering something. She held up the half-peeled century egg. The amber egg white with its patterns glowed in the light from below.

Ning Yi turned around, leaning against the railing: "Century egg, you can eat it."

"Hmm?"

Never having seen this type of duck egg before, Su Tan'er thought for a moment, then brought the century egg to her mouth and took a bite before returning to the main topic.

"I know Husband might not like hearing these words—men don't like hearing women talk about these things, and I never tell others either, but I feel... I must tell Husband these things. Even if Husband doesn't like it... Tan'er still wants to say it. Tan'er is not a domineering, overbearing, unreasonable woman. Living with Husband for half a year, I feel Husband's temperament might be able to listen to these strange thoughts. Tan'er indeed wants to... wants to manage the Su family well in the future, but that's just how I feel. Tan'er and Husband are husband and wife, we have a promise to grow old together. Tan'er doesn't want Husband to have too many misgivings about me like they do... If... If..."

She carefully chose her words. Ning Yi smiled: "What if I really went to be a mason?"

Su Tan'er thought for a moment and smiled: "I also want to be a juggler."

"Heh, actually..." Ning Yi took out a folded piece of rice paper from his chest, waved it open in the air a few times, and handed it to Su Tan'er. "Look at this."

The light was insufficient. The rice paper had some strange drawings done with brush, then various patterns here and there, a blurry mess. Su Tan'er looked at Ning Yi with slight confusion, then took the paper and carefully examined it in the dim light...

The shapes of various objects on this rice paper were all somewhat strange, with many completely incomprehensible lines and text that looked somewhat similar to Persian or foreign scripts from the west. After looking for quite a while, Su Tan'er admitted she couldn't understand it and looked up: "Is Husband doing... investigation of things¹?" She might not understand blueprints, but could somewhat guess what category this belonged to. Her family started with silk weaving, so she'd naturally seen many blueprints for looms and such. Speaking of which, it was hard to say which was more complex.

In this era, Confucian learning emphasized humanities over investigation of things. Su Tan'er never imagined her usually indifferent husband who behaved so mysteriously was seriously researching these things. In fact, the Su family also had people specifically researching loom improvements, but they were basically used as repairmen. Craftsmen and artisans indeed had low status in this society. Even if exaggerated a bit by adding a name like "investigation of things," others wouldn't understand. Though many years later, so-called "investigation of things to attain knowledge" would be understood as the physics-oriented aspect contained in Confucian learning, in this era, true investigation of things really had little to do with these things. They explored the inner patterns of things as a direction of life philosophy. If it developed toward physics, that would be strange techniques and excessive skill², despised by people.

However, as a merchant who could understand the value of craftsmen, Su Tan'er clearly had no prejudice about this matter. Ning Yi smiled: "Do it when bored, don't know if there'll be results in two or three years..."

Su Tan'er said: "Actually, the family also has several old masters who have some insights into these matters. But..." She didn't discriminate against these things, but craftsmen's status was low after all. If this husband ran around chatting with them all day, even though those elders were relatively respected in the Su family, Ning Yi would obviously face criticism. She wanted to say more but stopped. Fortunately, Ning Yi also shook his head.

"It's not urgent, just like thinking about it when I have nothing to do."

"I didn't know what Husband draws is actually for?"

Ning Yi paused: "Food. Hard to say right now."

He looked at the object in Su Tan'er's hand. Su Tan'er then also noticed and only now reacted, looking at the century egg with only a small portion left: "Could it be... this is also Husband's..."

"Mm, basically yes."

Su Tan'er was stunned for a long while, then put the remaining small half of the century egg in her mouth, slowly chewing and swallowing. Ning Yi gazed toward the distant courtyard. Su Tan'er supported herself with both hands on the railing, head lowered, not knowing what she was thinking. After a long time, she quietly smiled. That smile seemed somewhat enlightened, yet also as if she felt she'd done something unnecessary.

"Actually, Husband already knew what Tan'er came to say, right?"

After a moment, Ning Yi nodded: "Could probably guess some of it."

"Husband isn't a bookworm."

"Heh..."

"Husband had deep meaning in telling stories at the school."

"That really was just said casually."

Su Tan'er ignored him, looking into the distance, continuing: "Water Melody Prelude also wasn't said by a Daoist."

"..."

"Husband is a person with real talent and learning."

"Cough, I really don't have that..."

Su Tan'er had decided certain things in her heart and was now talking to herself. After a while she tilted her head to look over. This time it was probably a question: "But that day at the He mansion, did Husband really see through the He family's intentions and also guess about the Xue family matter?"

Ning Yi met her gaze for several seconds: "If I said yes, would you believe it?"

"Then Husband would be born knowing³, and all of Tan'er's years of experience would be completely useless..."

Su Tan'er wrinkled her nose and smiled brilliantly. She'd clearly already found her answer. On this point, she was actually very confident, and this confidence had its basis. In fact, from Ning Yi's perspective, he hadn't really guessed correctly. He'd just happened to collide with the He family's thinking due to some fragmentary information. Since Su Tan'er could think this way, Ning Yi naturally had no need to explain anything.

"Husband is a strange person." She summarized thus.

"Wife is too, right?"

"Hee." Su Tan'er laughed happily. "Tan'er is relieved."

Snow fell silently, covering all of Jiangning city. In this world of myriad disturbances, this moment of laughter was like a warm yellow window quietly opening in some corner, gently embraced by heaven and earth.

In the winter of the seventh year of Emperor Jinghan of the Wu Dynasty, time seemed like an eternal painting scroll. In the heavy snow, all was peaceful and warm.

Song Mao's courtyard.

The lamplight in the room flickered, shadows swaying slightly on the window lattice, and the young man had already entered and paid his respects. On one side of the room, the honest and upright-looking middle-aged man sat at the table, writing while chatting intermittently with the other, though as for what was said, probably not a single word entered his heart.

Su Wenxing didn't dare question his uncle. At this time he could only go along saying things, just hoping his uncle would give an answer sometime.

After who knows how long, a bell sound came from far outside, and Song Mao put down his brush and looked up, pressing down the rice paper.

"This letter isn't finished yet. I'll write it after returning." He smiled and stood up, turning to look at his absent-minded nephew before walking over and remaining silent for quite a while: "Wenxing, how hard do you think it is to defeat your cousin Tan'er and control the Su family?"

Su Wenxing had been thinking about Ning Yi's matter, but hearing this question, he still thought seriously: "I won't deceive Uncle. Cousin Tan'er... indeed has outstanding ability. If she really controls the first branch, this nephew... has no confidence at all..."

These words were difficult to say, but being frank was clearly most important before his uncle. After Su Wenxing finished, Song Mao shook his head and patted his shoulder: "You're overthinking it. There's one thing you must never forget—your cousin Tan'er is just a woman."

"I... I understand, but the things she does, truly..."

"Why do you all always want to defeat her?" Song Mao smiled. "The Su family is still run by Old Master now. Even after Old Master passes, there are still Old Master's brothers. Even branch families have speaking rights. You need to think—if Su Tan'er really controls the Su family, when she truly stands alone, the pressure she faces from the outside world because of her female status will be the greatest. Old Master gives her opportunities, now letting her manage things, but it's still under your First Uncle's protection. Do you think the pressure she faces in the Su family compared to the pressure she'll face from the outside world when she controls the Su family in the future—which is greater?"

Su Wenxing was confused for a moment: "Uncle means..."

"Heh, you all... don't need abilities surpassing hers, nor do you need to defeat her in business. As long as she can't smoothly take over the Su family, swallow your second and third branches, or directly suppress your second and third branches—this is breaking the situation. At the root, she's just a woman. Her abilities need to be dozens of times higher than yours to accomplish what you can accomplish, while you only need to maintain the status quo. If her abilities can't take down the second and third branches but only maintain the first branch, then Old Master will absolutely not hand this family to her, because as a woman, just this much means she can't shoulder the Su family. Wenxing, will your second and third branches peacefully let her swallow you?"

Su Wenxing had already understood and was somewhat excited now: "How... how could that be possible? How could we sit and wait for death!" This was simply a battle they could win by sitting.

"Your father understands this principle, your Third Uncle also understands, but they won't explain clearly to you children, afraid you'll lose your fighting spirit. Now that you know the principle behind it, don't spread it around carelessly. What needs to be done, you still need to do with full effort. Understand?" Song Mao patted his shoulder. "Come, accompany Uncle to reminisce with your father and mother."

"Mm." Su Wenxing nodded and was about to follow when he remembered: "But Uncle, what about that Ning Yi... He's cousin Tan'er's husband. If he causes trouble for her, wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity?"

"This matter..." Song Mao walked to the side and picked up the now-cold sobering tea for a sip, deliberating on words in his mind. Someone who could chat and laugh with people like Qin Siyuan and Kang Xian—whether talented or not, how could a little brat like you handle him easily? Years of official experience made him automatically filter out some things. He never wanted to speak harshly, but looking back at this nephew's appearance and remembering there were some real feelings over these years, he still sighed.

"This matter... however others want to handle it is fine. I want you, Wenxing, to stay out of it. Regardless of whether that Ning Yi has talent, you must remember this matter." He paused, saying the one sentence he least wanted to say tonight: "...Lest you bring humiliation upon yourself."

(End of Volume One: Jiangning Morning Breeze)

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1. Investigation of things (格物) - Confucian concept of studying the principles of things, often misunderstood in this era ↑
2. Strange techniques and excessive skill (奇技淫巧) - Traditional Chinese disdain for overly clever craftsmanship seen as frivolous ↑
3. Born knowing - Confucian concept of innate knowledge, the highest form of wisdom ↑
4. Reference to the Doctrine of the Mean about how sincerity leads to foreknowledge ↑