Chapter 04: Group Portrait - Old Man, Little Maid, and Young Master

Life was boring, or to put it nicely, leisurely. During the continuous rainy days, he played gomoku with the little girl, occasionally practiced calligraphy, and read classical texts. Though they couldn't compare to modern novels for entertainment value, he'd always been someone who could endure this kind of monotony. Since he'd come to ancient times, holding a book without punctuation marks and reading for half a day, figuring out the meaning word by word, wasn't particularly painful for him.

Of course, other random matters naturally happened over these months.

A new son-in-law marrying in as a live-in husband had always been without status in this era, and the Su family's situation was actually quite complex. The Su family's true power holder was Su Tan'er's still-living grandfather, whom everyone called Old Master. Old Master had three biological sons, divided into the first, second, and third branches, with the first branch holding external power—that was Su Tan'er's father Su Boyong. But Su Boyong only had Su Tan'er as his daughter, and unfortunately Su Tan'er had quite a talent for business, directly suppressing the male heirs of the other two branches and becoming the main cause of these complex relationships. The male heirs of the other two branches had always hoped Su Tan'er would marry out and become water thrown away¹, giving them a chance to inherit the Su family in the future. Now that a live-in son-in-law had come and shattered their hopes, when they met him daily, even if they restrained themselves from mockery, a cold look was inevitable.

Besides these three main branches, Old Master Su also had brothers and sisters, and the Su clan had now grown branches and leaves on a huge scale. Just those who could claim to be Su Tan'er's cousins numbered no less than thirty or forty. Regardless of whether relationships were close or distant, good or bad, toward this live-in son-in-law, most couldn't be called warm—of course, if they were warm he'd actually find it troublesome. Just being from a large family, eating together every evening made the situation quite awkward. He could only sit to one side counting sheep since except for his father-in-law, mother-in-law, two concubine mothers, and Su Tan'er, basically no one would talk to him. It was quite boring, and what these few people said had no substance, making him even more bored—just eating a meal, how nice it would be to take it back to his room to eat...

He naturally wasn't afraid of this boring feeling of isolation, as his past experience was enough to let him now easily face any situation. But taking a step back, of course no one liked or pursued this feeling either. He now watched Go games with great interest, but given the choice, naturally playing mahjong together would be more enjoyable.

Interest entanglements, scheming and plotting—at least they hadn't affected him yet. Of course, if he stayed here, sooner or later there'd be some waves, but the problem wasn't big since Old Master Su and Su Boyong were both alive. A family's minor squabbles had limits no matter what. Of course, as he currently resided with the Su family, the first problem before him was actually work.

When he woke up, it was because he'd been hit with a brick on the head and also seemed to have some memory loss. Many things were temporarily set aside, but later he gradually recovered, and the Su family had no expectations of him. But if he was truly too idle, that naturally wasn't good either, so only recently had someone brought up the question of what he wanted to do. He wasn't clear on this question either—business, becoming a shopkeeper or accountant at some branch store, or more likely becoming a supervisor or such, were actually quite unnecessary. He was also too lazy to get involved again. Looking at his father-in-law's attitude, it seemed he intended to have him become a teacher at the Su family's private academy, where he could also do some scholarly work. After all, the image he'd given before was of a poor bookworm scholar.

After this matter was raised, it was temporarily vetoed by Old Master Su, who said to wait a while longer and let him see what he wanted to do himself. But in Ning Yi's view, going to be a teacher after some time was probably already certain. He'd also had several conversations with Old Master Su, mostly the old master talking about ancestral friendships, making small talk. But the old man who could support such a large family was naturally a shrewd character. He'd probably seen that his recent temperament was somewhat different from the previous bookworm and had extended the timeframe a bit.

He naturally hadn't deliberately concealed too much recently. Forcing himself to look like a stupid bookworm wasn't the way since the days were still long, so he'd been using a tourist's mentality to look at all this. Of course, from temperament and behavior one could probably see part of someone's character, but to determine from this whether someone was suited for business or teaching, or whether this person was good or bad, was like judging character from Go—basically impossible. As long as he didn't do anything chaotic, after continuing like this for a while, when Old Master got bored of observing, he'd probably arrange for him to teach.

Pretty good.

Though in his previous life he wasn't some model student, coming here he could at least understand classical texts. His previous identity also wasn't some great scholar, so no one should have too high expectations of him. If he were to teach, being conservative would just mean having students shake their heads reciting articles every day, barely passing. When in a good mood, taking out some modern knowledge to fool people wouldn't be a problem either. Living at the Su family this way would be legitimate. As for leaving, in the present where he didn't know a single person, that was completely unthinkable. Even in modern times, to live well required considerable connections. Ancient times were especially so. Even having once built such a huge commercial empire, he wouldn't think that coming to ancient times with a few taels of silver meant "the world is mine to roam." No matter what, the Su family was currently still the best safe harbor.

Of course, this was originally an ancient deep courtyard residence.

Gomoku was simple to learn, not hard to master, and Xiao Chan quickly learned and became a master. In the following days when Ning Yi played with her, he was always losing more than winning, and this entertainment spread to the small building opposite at an extremely fast rate. Three days later in the evening, Ning Yi lit an oil lamp to read while Xiao Chan came to check several times, confirming he had no instructions before leaving. When Ning Yi closed his book and walked to the corridor, he saw in the courtyard corridor below the scene of the girl carrying a Go board walking to the opposite small building. Then she entered the first floor room opposite with Xing'er and Juan'er, lights came on, and he could see the three playing chess inside. Occasionally silhouettes gestured animatedly, jumping with joy as that girl Xiao Chan was probably chattering away teaching the two sisters the method—he couldn't help but find it amusing.

This heavy rain weather continued for many days before stopping. Though he'd previously told Xiao Chan he couldn't go watch Go by the Qinhuai River anymore, it was naturally just a joke—indeed, when he went this time, that chess-playing Old Qin noticed him and greeted him.

Not long after, when this old man finished a game with his friend, he smiled and waved at Ning Yi who was watching nearby. First he introduced him and his opponent friend, then naturally Ning Yi and that person greeted each other. After basic courtesies were done, he had him also roughly share his views on the game just played. Though not too serious, after each game if there were brilliant moves, it was necessary for chess friends to review or show off a bit. The nature was equivalent to saying things like "If I hadn't done that I wouldn't have lost..." after finishing. Since the old man invited him to participate, he naturally recognized his Go level. Afterward he also made an invitation.

"Is Young Master Ning interested in playing another game?"

Ning Yi smiled and nodded agreement. While collecting pieces, the old man smiled and talked.

"These rainy days at home, I recalled that game with several good friends. Young Master Ning had quite many brilliant moves, thought-provoking. For this, this old man's heart has been itching for days. Today when the rain stopped and I came out, Young Master indeed came, haha..."

Though that day he'd somewhat felt Ning Yi's playing methods weren't "gentlemanly" enough, he hadn't really taken it to heart after all. Instead, as a chess player suddenly seeing such novel playing methods, the longer time passed, the more he recalled and deduced in his mind, the more he "brooded" over it. Thus while chatting idly they played a game. The old man lost again, and Ning Yi did some deduction with him, played another game, then only returned home when he saw it was getting late.

The next day he continued coming, and not long after, his future "work" problem was finally settled.

On the first day of the seventh month when the whole family ate together, Old Master Su asked about Ning Yi's recovery matters, then mentioned that a teacher at the academy would soon travel far, asking if Ning Yi was willing to teach at the academy. The old man's attitude was amiable, but with his position in the family, once he spoke, it was basically settled. Ning Yi had already been psychologically prepared and naturally nodded in agreement. Then Old Master called over the second son Su Zhongkan who managed the family academy, having him arrange things after the previous teacher left.

There was still some time before that teacher left. The main way to pass time was still going to play Go, otherwise it was reading, practicing calligraphy, playing gomoku with Xiao Chan and such. After another month passed this way, his relationship with the Su family hadn't developed much, but he'd become familiar with some people on that street by the Qinhuai River.

This street had nice scenery with green trees providing shade, but the location was somewhat remote with no big shops—besides the somewhat fixed tea stall nearby, mornings would also have several breakfast or vegetable vendors come by. The surrounding houses were sparse, with some houses built along the river extending one end over the water, like riverside stilt houses. Occasionally one could see people going down to the river to wash clothes or fetch water and such.

The Go-playing Old Qin should have good family circumstances—he was quite a learned and erudite scholar, experienced and knowledgeable. Speaking of ancient scholars being pedantic, this old man wasn't like that—he absolutely wouldn't speak in classical phrases, nor would he constantly quote sages. He was extremely flexible in speech and judgment, but if carefully savored, the core never left Confucius and Mencius's way. This was someone who truly understood Confucius and Mencius.

If Confucian learning removed the outer garment changed for ruling purposes, the core part was actually still life principles summarized and refined by the ancients. On the philosophical level, many things were universally applicable. Ning Yi could converse with this old man, and occasional idle chat didn't require too much consideration. This old man had probably also been an official before, but now old, he came out daily in boredom to set up a chess stall. His home was nearby with a wife in her fifties, plus a beautiful concubine probably in her thirties who occasionally came out to deliver lunch. Ning Yi had thus met her twice.

The old man also had some regular chess friends, mostly learned elders—some had comfortable family circumstances, others looked poor and honest. At first Ning Yi mostly sat to the side watching, but later he could gradually participate and say a few words during reviews. Naturally there would also be those who held themselves aloof, criticizing what a junior like him said. For instance, an old man surnamed Dong had criticized his unscrupulous small techniques. His attitude was arrogant, so Ning Yi was too lazy to pay attention to him—debating principles with this kind of old man was most pointless.

Sitting daily by that tea stall, naturally one had to eat and drink tea, and he'd also become familiar with the tea stall owner's family. Xiao Chan being bored would occasionally sit to the side chattering with the tea stall owner's daughter, and in the initial period, that tea stall owner's daughter had supposedly even shyly inquired about Ning Yi's background. When she knew Ning Yi was the Su family's live-in son-in-law, she revealed a disappointed expression. Because looking at it, Ning Yi seemed like a young master from a good family. Being able to take a maid around everywhere was proof, and that he could talk and chat with Old Qin, occasionally saying things others couldn't understand, proved he was very learned. If she could marry him... Unfortunately he was a live-in son-in-law.

When playing chess and chatting, initially it was naturally still conducted in a harmonious and friendly atmosphere. After two weeks they were familiar. The old man might feel some things Ning Yi casually said were thought-provoking, but of course there were also times he felt they strayed from orthodoxy—this was a difference in customs. Ning Yi didn't stand on ceremony, and the two would debate while playing chess. A month later, they seriously brought up the issue of his identity again.

Ning Yi hadn't concealed much about his identity. He'd mentioned it before, and the old man had just nodded with an "oh." At that time he was just a newly met chess friend. Now that everyone could chat together, barely counting as friends despite the age gap, bringing it up again naturally had different meaning.

"You're also somewhat unlearned yet skilled. This matter of marrying in... truly a pity..."

Ning Yi hadn't extensively studied the classics, history, and philosophy. His rote memorization wasn't good—he wasn't from orthodox training². Old Qin was a great scholar in this area, and after interacting this long, he'd naturally seen this point, thus giving an evaluation of "unlearned yet skilled," which was actually already very high praise. Ning Yi just smiled.

"Marrying in isn't bad either. Look, I come out every day drinking tea, playing chess. Xiao Chan pays the money. Food and lodging treatment are all good. In a few days I'll go be a teacher, teaching a bunch of students without any burden. I'm lazy and gluttonous, this is already very good."

Though he said this, in this era a live-in son-in-law's status was lower than a proper wife's status in ordinary families. When a wife entered the door, after passing away her spirit tablet could be placed in the ancestral hall. A live-in son-in-law didn't even qualify to enter the ancestral hall, no different from a concubine³. Whatever he did, people would look down on him. He'd basically cut off all paths to pursuing fame and fortune, only able to work as the Su family's appendage. Ning Yi had experienced everything in his previous life, but ordinary young people wouldn't have such a mentality. Old Qin probably saw he had some talent and learning, and couldn't help feeling regret for him.

"...Moreover, that Su family is also a merchant family. Merchants beyond pursuing profit, though they also like fame, even if you have talent and knowledge, matters of official position and salary will ultimately not fall on you."

The old man said this because he saw deeply. Not to mention outsiders' attitude toward a live-in son-in-law—even if Ning Yi truly had talent and learning, the Su family wouldn't hope he'd go take exams and gain official rank. Initially bringing him in to marry was precisely because they saw he was a bookworm. Old Master Su was a man who valued loyalty, remembering the agreement with Ning Yi's elders. And Ning Yi also had some scholarly air, but not to the point of being truly learned. Marrying in, Su Tan'er could also suppress him. Even from Ning Yi's perspective, the previous bookworm had actually benefited. He had no ill will toward the Su family and just smiled indifferently. However, hearing the old man discuss the Su family's faults, Xiao Chan sitting to the side and inadvertently hearing had flushed red and couldn't help coming over.

"Old... Old Grandpa, after Young Master came to the Su family, Young Miss never mistreated Young Master. Young Miss is a very good person and won't mistreat Young Master in the future either!"

The little girl looked nervous, serious to the extreme. She'd grown up by Su Tan'er's side since childhood, like sisters. At this moment she might not understand the deeper meaning behind the old man's words, just roughly knowing the old man was discussing the Su family's faults. In ordinary families when the master conversed with outsiders, a little maid basically had no room to speak or interrupt. But a live-in son-in-law's status was special—some gave face, some even maids disdained. But Xiao Chan followed Su Tan'er and was extremely well-raised, naturally not the latter. She was just anxious about Young Miss and even the Su family's reputation. Who knew how much courage she'd mustered to say these words with refuting meaning. Her hands formed little fists in front of her, nervous as could be.

Previously Xiao Chan had always stayed quietly to the side, well-behaved and sensible, and Old Qin had already gotten used to this little maid's existence. At this moment he paused slightly while Ning Yi looked at Xiao Chan a few times and had already laughed, raising his hand to make a move.

"Haha, you old man, minding others' business for no reason. Now you've offended Xiao Chan. If your words spread in the Su family, I'd be the one suffering."

The old man also laughed: "Haha, my mistake, my mistake. Please let Miss Xiao Chan know, this old man's words had no intention of criticizing the Su family. However, idly discussing others' family matters was indeed this old man's mistake. My apologies, my apologies..."

He openly apologized to Xiao Chan. Xiao Chan wasn't really angry, just serious, and that nervous, serious expression hadn't faded even when leaving with Ning Yi. It even seemed to deepen a few degrees as she lowered her head all along the road following behind Ning Yi. Her originally petite body seemed to become even smaller because of that silence. Ning Yi helplessly pursed his lips and turned back to comfort: "What's wrong? Still angry?"

Before he finished speaking, he saw Xiao Chan's shoulders shrink, her little mouth flatten, and tears roll from her eyes like broken pearls.

The matter seemed quite serious... Ning Yi paused, then softened his voice: "What's really wrong?"

"Xiao Chan..." The little girl choked, looking up at him. "Xiao Chan may be a little maid who doesn't understand anything, but she wouldn't gossip about this kind of thing. Young Master, you said if the words spread, that means Xiao Chan, means Xiao Chan... isn't dutiful..."

Xiao Chan's shoulders shook, choking even more. Ning Yi looked at her for a long while. He'd originally thought this little girl had been sulking all the way because of that old man's words. Who knew it was because of his own joke that she felt wronged. Then he couldn't help laughing.

"Young Master... you still... goo—"

The little girl's choking words hadn't finished before they leaked air. It was because Ning Yi suddenly stretched out both hands, pinching her cheeks on both sides and pulling her face into a big pancake. This time it was the little girl's turn to freeze there. Both eyes widened round like lanterns, blinking twice. Ning Yi let go of her face and gently patted her shoulder: "Let's go." He turned and left.

After a moment, the little girl followed up with a frightened look, at the same time her whole face bright red: "Young Master, Young Master, you..." She wanted to denounce Ning Yi's earlier behavior. Actually this matter could be big or small. In the previous months, the two could be said to have been together morning and night. Occasionally Xiao Chan helped him measure clothes, more often helped him dress. There was actually physical contact, but those all counted as inadvertent touches.

Ning Yi had come to this period of history that had basically already gone off track. But the Wu Dynasty and Song Dynasty were actually very similar. Though Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism hadn't appeared exactly the same, by this time the separation between men and women was already quite particular⁴. Xiao Chan was a maid who had to serve those around her. She couldn't have the same requirements as ordinary women. If Su Tan'er had married Ning Yi, as one of the three maids, it was almost certain she'd become Ning Yi's bed-warming concubine in the future. Then there'd be no problem. But now Ning Yi had married into the Su family—everything was actually up to Su Tan'er.

Live-in son-in-laws after all had low status, and among the common people, it was generally believed that any man with slight backbone or persistence wouldn't marry in. This was also because in many families a live-in son-in-law's position was actually no different from a slave. Most women's families only treated the man marrying in as hiring a long-term laborer. Of course, each family's situation was different. If the couple's feelings were good, or if the live-in son-in-law actually had some ability, naturally he could have his own place in the family. This also wasn't unusual.

In the Su family, Old Master Su remembered the friendship from previous generations and actually took quite good care of Ning Yi. The family members thus wouldn't openly despise him. Though Su Tan'er had once shown resistance to this marriage, her attitude toward Ning Yi at this time was also considered peaceful. But even so, or even if their relationship developed further and they became a real couple, the possibility of her allowing Ning Yi to have an intimate relationship with Chan'er in the future wasn't high. Though the three maids had all followed Su Tan'er since childhood, and Su Tan'er would probably never let go of these three home-raised little girls for her whole life working, what was more likely to happen might be marrying them to some loyal and promising servants while keeping them in the Su family for life.

Of course this was just a casual prank—Ning Yi might not think so much, and the little girl naturally couldn't think too complexly either. But even if she wasn't angry, she was still somewhat shy after all, and at this moment, red-faced and puffed up, she rushed up working hard to organize words sufficient to describe Ning Yi's libertine behavior. In the end she only said: "Young Master, you, you're bullying!"

"Mm." Ning Yi nodded and shrugged. "So I bullied you. Whatcha gonna do?"

"Do..." Chan'er blinked, then got angry again. "Again saying things Chan'er doesn't understand..."

"Haha." By the street, Ning Yi laughed somewhat happily.

When he'd just arrived here, his mood was actually quite gloomy, but after being bored for so long recently, the gloomy mood had gradually dispersed. He felt coming to ancient times was just to bully people—using Go to bully old scholars a bit, now bullying little girls a bit. Actually quite interesting.

Thus walking all the way toward home, Xiao Chan hopped and skipped behind following and talking—at first still somewhat shy, then she rambled on about other trivial matters. Walking all the way to the relatively prosperous street not far from the Su family, someone suddenly walked over to greet them, stopping the two.

The Su family had many family members, and coming back from here daily, they'd often meet some Su family people. Some were willing to greet Ning Yi, others disdained talking to him. A few times they'd also met Su Tan'er coming back from here, because there was a Su's Cloth Store by the street. At this moment that man was just coming out of the Su family's cloth store. Also in his early twenties, holding a folding fan, looking like a romantic scholar. From far away he cupped his hands with a laugh: "Brother Ning, what a coincidence." Then he walked over with two servants.

Probably someone this body's former owner knew, though at this moment Ning Yi couldn't recognize him. In his confusion his gaze swept over and saw Su Tan'er's carriage also stopped by the roadside not far away. A little head shook in the cloth store, looked this way, then ran inside. It was Xing'er who followed Su Tan'er. Seeing Ning Yi and Chan'er, she ran to call Su Tan'er out.

That man smiled and gradually approached. Though Ning Yi didn't know his name, dealing with this kind of thing was very simple. He was just preparing to smile and greet when Xiao Chan behind pulled at his sleeve: "Young Master, that's Young Master Xue from Dachuan Cloth Store." In her words, she was slightly uneasy.

Ning Yi reacted. Though he hadn't met this person, he'd indeed heard of him.

After coming to this era and pretending to have amnesia, regarding his previous identity issues, he'd inquired about some—it was always a simple life, but when Su family people like Chan'er and Xing'er spoke of it, there were always some things they avoided. Like the matter of Su Tan'er running away on their wedding night, the matter of him being hit with a brick.

But even avoiding them, after several months Ning Yi already knew what he should know—the one who secretly hit him with that brick should be this Xue Jin from Dachuan Cloth Store before him. Xiao Chan was uneasy at this moment, probably afraid Ning Yi would get angry and do something that would result in suffering instead.

But how could Ning Yi put any complex expression on his face? At this moment he just smiled and nodded: "Oh, Young Master Xue, hello."

His smile was natural, his attitude peaceful, causing Xue Jin on the opposite side to pause slightly, looking at his two followers beside him before smiling again: "I heard Brother Ning accidentally got injured on your wedding day and actually had some memory loss. This younger brother was originally there that day but left early due to business. Later couldn't find time and thus never went to visit. How... is there really memory loss? Could Brother Ning really not remember this younger brother?"

Opposite, Ning Yi seemed somewhat embarrassed, showing an apologetic smile with sincere, thick apology: "About previous matters, truly... heh, Brother Xue please forgive, forgive..."

Xue Jin stared at him with a complex gaze suspiciously. At this moment, at the shop entrance opposite, Su Tan'er had already come out frowning.

(End of Chapter)

1. Water thrown away: Traditional saying meaning a married daughter no longer belongs to her birth family ↑
2. Orthodox training: Formal education through imperial examinations and classical scholarship ↑
3. Ancestral hall status: Only legitimate wives could have spirit tablets in the family shrine; concubines and live-in sons-in-law were excluded ↑
4. Separation between men and women: Confucian propriety rules restricting interaction between unmarried men and women ↑