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Chapter Eight:
The First Family Banquet (Part 1)
Madam Xiao wasn’t happy for long. When Cheng Shi returned to her room, she saw a lump on her husband’s forehead and asked for the truth. After a moment, she couldn’t help but feel angry. She picked up a lacquer wood wine jar and smashed it on the other side of his forehead, making a perfect set of lumps for General Cheng.
That night, Cheng Shi waited until his mother’s anger had dissipated, and then went to her room with a pair of well-proportioned lumps on his forehead. Finally, he showed his acting skills and true feelings that he hadn’t during the day, and the mother and son finally reconciled.
The next step was to consolidate the situation.
First, Cheng Shi brought out an old woman with a hard-working face and gray hair, and Old Madam Cheng burst into tears when she saw her. When the Dong family was prosperous, Old Master Dong once hired some farmhands. This old woman was the daughter of a farmer who helped the Dong family. Old Madam Cheng grew up playing in the countryside with her and they had a sisterly bond. Later, when the family’s financials became more and more difficult, Old Master Dong had to dismiss the helpers.
Madam Xiao was quite scheming. When she went around with her husband, she kept looking for fellow countrymen who had fled from all directions. She wanted to find a few distant relatives of the Dong family for help, but there was no news from them. It was obvious that the Dong family were almost dead and had scattered.
As Cheng Shi fought and his reputation grew day by day, the old woman named Hu came to him on her own. When Old Lady Hu left her hometown with her newly married husband, Old Madam Cheng had just given birth to Cheng Shi. If it was any other son of the Cheng family, Old Lady Hu might not have dared to come forward and reach out to him.
Madam Xiao realized this was a precious opportunity and quickly arranged for Old Lady Hu’s injured son and grandson to be brought back to the capital. Cheng Shi planned to bring Old Lady Hu directly to his mother once they arrived, but Madam Xiao dissuaded him and decided on a four-step strategy.
“Mother is the elder of her own family, not an enemy army to be conquered by soldiers. If you bring down your hammer, you can kill or injure anyone, and defeat them.” Madam Xiao smiled and said, “You need to take your time. First, ask Mother to take away the anger of these ten years. Then mother and son will have no grudges, and then an older sister will recognize the other and get to know each other again. Only then can things come to fruition and get twice the result with half the effort.”
Old Madam Cheng was really overjoyed, hugging Old Lady Hu and crying and laughing, slapping Cheng Shi and scolding him as to why he didn’t invite Old Lady Hu earlier. Cheng Shi quickly remembered his mental outline and said, “At that time, Mother was angry. If I brought Old Lady Hu here, it would seem like I had an ulterior motive. Now that Mother is happy, I brought her to you. I’m just trying to make Mother happy.” Old Madam Cheng was even more moved when she heard this and knew that Cheng Shi had included the Hu family’s children and grandchildren and left Old Lady Hu by her side to accompany and manage affairs. Only then did she feel that her son really treated her with care.
Old Lady Hu had suffered for decades on the outside. She was well-versed in the world, could coax and persuade, and her ability to probe Old Madam Cheng’s mind was far better than Aunt Dong. She already saw how powerful Madam Xiao was and naturally knew how to speak and act.
Even better, throughout the entire process, Madam Xiao made herself scarce. She busied herself with household affairs, letting mother and son catch up with the old woman. They spoke about the difficulties of war, the countryside, and past experiences. For a moment, mother and son were simply more in love with each other.
Old Madam Cheng heard from Old Lady Hu how fierce the war was. Many generals were missing arms, legs, eyes and ears. She felt the old wounds on her son’s body, and her heart shattered. Thinking that it was not easy for her son, Uncle Dong would have to dig a wall and make money in the back. She wished she could immediately cut off her younger brother’s flesh to make up for her son.
Madam Ge wanted to visit Old Madam Cheng’s place several times to give some eye drops. Either she ran into Cheng Shi telling a story and mother and son didn’t want a third party to intervene and ignored her, or Old Madam Cheng and Old Lady Hu were immersed in feelings of the past, and was scolded out of anger.
Cheng Shaoshang didn’t know the specific process. She only knew that every day her father seemed to be happier than the day before, until Cheng Shi told her about Old Lady Hu joining her grandmother. After knowing a little about the causes and consequences, Cheng Shaoshang couldn’t help but sigh. Before, Madam Xiao was busy working hard with her husband. Family business was important. She didn’t have time to argue with Old Madam Cheng or Madam Ge. Once she freed up her hands, she had to tidy up family affairs, and she could easily handle these ignorant women in minutes, crushing their strength.
When she got up early that day, A’Zhu had a smile on her face and said to Cheng Shaoshang, “The whole family will eat lunch together today.” She realized today would be the day the battlefield was cleared.
As she finished drinking her medicine and circled around the room three times, Qing Cong brought out a new dress and a lacquered wooden box. The brocade dress was woven with branches of plum blossoms on a beige brocade, and the collar and cuffs were inlaid with four-finger wide vermillion satin. The inner dress was made of a brand new, snow-white fine cotton. Lian Fang and A’Zhu helped Cheng Shaoshang dress. The exquisite brocade was tied up around her multiple times, and it was matched with a dark red jade-decorated belt with the same four-finger width. Even without a full-length mirror, Cheng Shaoshang could feel the beauty of the clothes.
Then Qing Cong personally combed Cheng Shaoshang’s hair. Facing the blurred bronze mirror, Cheng Shaoshang vaguely saw her combing a pair of playful and cute double locks for herself, and the excess hair in the back was simply tied up. At this time, Lian Fang opened the small lacquered wood box, and Qing Cong took out a pair of dazzling pearls, and fastened them onto her double locks, one by one.
A’Zhu looked at it and frowned slightly, saying, “Madam Qing, this…”
Qing Cong smiled and said, “Don’t worry.” She bowed her head again and said to Cheng Shaoshang, “These good things have been saved for the Fourth Young Lady for a long time, and can finally be used.”
Because Cheng Shaoshang was still young, she only wore a pair of lightweight gold lilac earrings and a pair of thin gold bracelets with bright red coral beads on her wrists. A’Zhu, Lian Fang, and Qiao Guo watched and praised her repeatedly.
Cheng Shaoshang was wrapped in a gray fur cloak and ushered along down the corridor. She looked around unobtrusively, it really was a small courtyard and she could see the second gate ahead. She became more and more puzzled. Compared to her luxurious clothes and accessories, why was the house so small? Could it be that the housing market in this time was sky-high?
Within fifty or sixty steps, they arrived at Old Madam Cheng’s residence. Lian Fang helped Cheng Shaoshang up the steps and removed the heavy fur cloak. The snow-white flannel socks stepped on the dark red lacquered wood floor, making her look more petite and exquisite. People were divided into two rows during mealtime during this era, and it was one person per table. Cheng Shaoshang was the last to arrive and immediately felt that something wasn’t right.
Sure enough, the ‘good aunt’ Madam Ge, who was sitting at the third table on the left, couldn’t help herself and said shrilly, “Oh, the elders are all here and it is the Fourth Young Lady who we are waiting on. How did your aunt teach you in the past? To be filial and polite, today…”
Before she could finish speaking, Old Madam Cheng, who was sitting in the middle at the head of the room, became impatient and said in a rough voice, “Don’t start. Everyone here is older than you except for the small ones, and we haven’t opened our mouths. What is the matter with you?”
Old Madam Cheng was not afraid to speak straight and bluntly. In her early years, it was easy for people to feel embarrassed when they were in front of her. In the past, Madam Xiao had been the target for scolding’s and Madam Ge always enjoyed it. Now that it was directed at her, she found she didn’t like it as much.
A’Zhu quickly helped Cheng Shaoshang to her knees and she began to greet the elders, one by one. First, Old Madam Cheng, who was front and center, then Uncle Dong, who was leaning slightly in his seat. Then, Cheng Shi and his wife, who were in the first positions on the right and left respectively, followed by Uncle Dong’s son, who was sitting in the second position on the right. She was instructed to call him her uncle. Madam Dong Lu, who was sitting in the second position on the left, stood up and left her seat. “Niao Niao really is beautiful and I didn’t even realize it. These days, when Sister-in-law tidies and dresses up, her daughter changed into a different person.”
Cheng Shaoshang was dizzy from all the greetings and didn’t respond, but everyone else knew what Madam Dong Lu meant. Madam Ge straightened up and asked angrily, “What are you saying, that I treat the Fourth Young Lady poorly every day?”
Madam Dong Lu glanced at Madam Xiao and smiled back, “Sister-in-law is thinking too much. I meant the Fourth Young Lady has reunited with her parents after a long separation. When she is happy, her energy comes back and her complexion improves.”
Madam Ge sat down angrily. When Madam Dong Lu returned to her seat, she said in a ‘soft voice’ that everyone else could hear, “Poor child, it’s obviously the father that bought good clothes and things with his life outside, every time I come and see her, others have picked and decided what she should wear.”
As soon as these words were spoken, Madam Ge and the girl sitting at the end of the table blushed. Cheng Shaoshang rubbed her forehead and thought, ‘Madam Ge must have taken what her father had given her.’ Before she could think about it again, A’Zhu pressed her into another bow for her Second Uncle Cheng Cheng and Madam Ge one by one. Madam Ge was trembling with anger and couldn’t speak.
Cheng Shaoshang was directed to three seats and the end of the row. She sat in the middle. On the right was the girl with the red face, and on the left was a white-faced, fat little boy who looked old enough to be able to use chopsticks well*. Both of them were dressed in gold and silver. The girl’s skin was light and honey-colored, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. She was trembling and looked listless, as if her life was worse than Cheng Shaoshang’s.
[The age to use chopsticks well is about 4-6 years old.]
At this moment, the servants rushed into the room and served dishes to each table one by one. It was a small feast, including a scorched roasted pig, a steamed plump chicken with winter bamboo shoots, venison soup, and two pickled vegetables. There was also wine on the adult tables while Cheng Shaoshang and the others only had a pot of newly made rice milk, which was hot and fragrant.
Uncle Dong raised a lacquered wooden double eared bowl and said to Cheng Shi, “I’ll pay tribute to my nephew for the first drink. This time I was able to come back safely, thanks to my nephew, I, I…”
Cheng Shaoshang peeked up and saw that Uncle Dong and Old Madam Cheng were quite similar, both tall and plump. However, it seemed that he had recently undergone a massive weight loss, and his cheeks were sullen and sagging. He was afraid of Cheng Shi, his gaze wouldn’t reach his face, and his speech stuttered.
Madam Ge’s eyes flashed and she chuckled, “Why does Uncle seem to be scared? My own relatives, what are you afraid of?”
Madam Xiao glanced at her and slowly said, “The Northern Army Prison is too careless. Although they were asked by my husband to suspend the punishment, they killed several others who shared the same crime in front of Uncle. Uncle is probably scared.”
As soon as these words came out, Uncle Dong couldn’t even hold his cup. When Cheng Shi led him out of prison, he specially invited him to pass through various torture chambers along the way. Inside, ghosts and wolves wailed and howled, and all kinds of bone-scraping and flogging torture was witnessed one by one. Uncle Dong’s legs were so soft he almost couldn’t walk.
Madam Ge didn’t know how to answer this. Madam Dong Lu hurriedly said, “Thanks to the general, otherwise Uncle would have suffered a lot.” As she spoke, she glared at her husband on the opposite side. Dong’s son quickly expressed his gratitude to Cheng Shi.
Younger Uncle Dong had a famous name in opera, Dong Yong. He had a boyish face that was commonly seen in plays. His eyes flickered and his face was loose, showing excessive alcohol and color. While expressing his thanks, he kept looking at Madam Xiao.
Cheng Shaoshang was immediately amused, wondering if Dong Yong thought that everyone else was blind. He didn’t see the way Cheng Shi’s eyes bulged – for the quick glance, Dong Yong was badly beaten by unknown people on the road the next day. He was left bedridden for several months and would not enter the palace again.
After staring at Dong Yong, Cheng Shi also raised his cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp, saying, “Uncle, it’s time to enjoy a peaceful life. In the future, take good care of the fields and shops at home and live in peace.”
Uncle Dong was anxious and hurriedly said, “How can this be done? The so-called tiger brothers, father and son soldiers in battle, my nephew’s words are seen outside. You are fighting hard outside, how can I enjoy the blessings, how can I help…”
Cheng Shi was impatient to listen to his nonsense and went directly to see his mother. Obviously, the communication between mother and son had been very smooth in the last few days. Old Madam Cheng patted the table and said heavily, “Shut up! Why didn’t my son see you when the war started? Brother who fights the tiger? Why didn’t I see your father and son soldier when my son was fighting for his life? It would be easier for me if you helped less!”
Uncle Dong looked at his older sister in shock and said, “Sister, you, you…”
He glanced at Cheng Shi and his wife, wanting to say, “Sister, how could you beat the bride without my help?” But he couldn’t say it straight in front of others. He turned his eyes and said with a smile, “Sister, you are considerate of your younger brother, but my nephew and his bride are busy all day. Sister, if you want to hear interesting things, who will tell you?”
Old Madam Cheng said expressionlessly, “In the future, when I’m free, I’ll just ask my niece and daughter-in-law to come and talk. You and my son are men, it is not convenient for the women in this house to go in and out. In the future, if you have nothing to do, don’t come back.” She looked at Old Lady Hu, who was serving chopsticks and spoons off to the side and added, “If there is something at home, I’ll ask Madam Dong Lu to tell me. Anyway, don’t come. As the official rank of Shi’er is about to rise, the family also needs to follow some rules. It is not the same as when we were in the countryside. Little uncles and big brothers cannot wander around the house.”
Uncle Dong was tongue tied and glared at his daughter-in-law, Madam Dong Lu. “You bitch! What did you say to my sister?”
Dong Yong stood up and rolled his sleeves to slap Madam Dong Lu. Cheng Shi, who was sitting beside him, didn’t get up. He stretched out his arm and dragged Dong Yong down, turning and pressing his arm against the floor. His other hand moved and a loud smack followed. Dong Yong’s face immediately began to swell like a pig’s head.
Cheng Shi said coldly, “This is the Cheng family, it is not your place to show off your power.” He glanced at Uncle Dong.
Cheng Shaoshang thought to herself, ‘They really are mother and son. They can scold and fight, but are not tactful at all.’
Everyone present had different expressions: Old Madam Cheng turned her head and pretended to not see or care, Second Uncle Cheng lowered his head and didn’t know what he was thinking, he really didn’t see or care, Uncle Dong was trembling, Madam Dong Lu covered her face with her sleeves, but the corners of her mouth were slightly upwards, Madam Xiao acted as if nothing had happened. Only Madam Ge and the two children by Cheng Shaoshang were stunned.
Madam Xiao took a sip of her wine and put it down gracefully, saying, “Uncle and his son are so prestigious. If I didn’t know, I would think you were in charge of the Cheng family.” She turned to Madam Dong Lu and said gently, “Your aunt here is usually lonely. Come and visit her.”
Uncle Dong knew about Cheng Shi and his wife’s plans and immediately fell to the ground crying. “Sister, you don’t care about your brother anymore! Have you forgotten what you promised before our father passed away? Are you worthy of our father?”
There really was no way anyone could escape Madam Xiao’s plan. Old Madam Cheng had long been coached by Old Lady Hu and said, “I don’t care about you anymore. Now you wear brocade and fine cotton, eat duck, chicken, and fish, go in and out. There are servants at your beck and call. How could our father have such a good life when he was alive? It’s much more comfortable now than before. How can I not be worthy of our father?”
Uncle Dong stammered, “But Sister… you have a better life with silk and satin…”
“What better life?!” Old Madam Cheng interrupted. “The good days of the Cheng family are fought and earned by my son’s blood and fire. What does it have to do with you? If you were willing to contribute one or two times, you could live like this now.”
Uncle Dong’s tears welled up and he angrily said, “Sister, if you wear gold and silver yourself, can your younger brother only live a slightly better life than the farmer?”
Cheng Shaoshang was already enjoying herself watching this, thinking, ‘You can only blame your Dong family’s low starting point. There is too much room for improvement.’
Old Madam Cheng slapped the wooden chopsticks in her hand down. “Then why don’t I move half of the Cheng family’s warehouse to you?” If her younger brother had been gentle and pleading, maybe things would turn around. It was a pity that Uncle Dong used the wrong method. Old Madam Cheng cursed, “Over the years, you have been eating from the Cheng family and using the Cheng family, but now you still want to show off your prestige with the Cheng family?! You have to figure out that you are the son of the Dong family and I am the Madam of the Cheng family. Although we are brother and sister, our ancestors are different now. I can’t give all the Cheng family to compensate you.” Old Madam Cheng spoke bluntly. Uncle Dong was confused.
Cheng Shi was satisfied with his old mother’s performance and smiled obediently at her through his big beard. Cheng Shaoshang couldn’t help but shiver, but Old Madam Cheng was extremely satisfied and became even happier.
Uncle Dong lost his composure and quickly organized his words, whispering, “Sister, I dare not show my authority in front of my nephew. But now my nephew is becoming more outstanding and I, I…” He started sobbing. “I just want to shine some light. Who told you your younger brother was worthless? If I don’t succeed in literature or the military, I will not have face to see Father in the afterlife…”
Seeing her younger brother’s soft submission, Old Madam Cheng couldn’t bear it again. Madam Xiao gave a soft smile and turned sideways to Madam Dong Lu’s gentle words, “Go back and bring the children to see me. I haven’t seen them for ten years and I want to see how they have grown.”
Cheng Shi said, “That’s right! Those who should study should study and those who work should seek employment. Don’t teach them how to be like their father and ancestors – they only know how to enjoy life and hate work, cheat and play tricks!”
Madam Dong Lu’s spirit was shaken, and she felt that having a husband was not as good as not having one. Now, all her efforts were focused on a few children. With the words of the Cheng Shi couple, she couldn’t resist.
Old Madam Cheng turned to her younger brother. “Don’t cry, you know the age of destiny and are set in your ways. Can you suddenly change who you are when you are old? Nephew Yong is the same. If you are really determined, you will not wait until today. Since you are worthless, live an honest and worthless life. Don’t think about taking advantage all day long, bullying others in the name of your nephew, and causing trouble for the Cheng family. Hurry and teach the children what is important. That is how you can be called worthy of our father!”
Uncle Dong didn’t know what to say at this moment.
Seeing her younger brother’s lips move as if he were unconvinced, Old Madam Cheng said, “Do not try to deceive me with sweet words all day long. The Empress Dowager from the previous dynasty… didn’t she want to make up for her maiden family? She kept giving and giving the country’s money to her nephew. This is why the world is so chaotic and why so many people had to die! She didn’t know what remorse was until it was too late and had seen what had gone down.”
Cheng Shaoshang was surprised, why hadn’t she heard of such a wonderful Empress Dowager? She was an incredibly pure science and engineering student, but what about history classes? It felt like she hadn’t attended one for several lifetimes.
Cheng Shaoshang only knew of two famous empress dowagers in history; Cixi and Wu Zetian, plus a bit of Xiao Zhuang. Xiao Zhuang couldn’t send money even if she wanted to, because of her grandson. If Cixi gave the country’s money to her maiden family, what could the powers do? Could it be that they were talking about Wu Zetian? Cheng Shaoshang looked down at her chest in confusion. If this was the Tang dynasty, why was her collar so high and chest not exposed? Even if she was flat chested, Madam Xiao was voluptuous and still dressed in a conservative way.
Compared to this unlucky Empress Dowager, Old Madam Cheng felt she was simply too measured and proudly said, “There is also the wife of the third branch of the Dong Lu family, who also subsidizes her mother’s family all day long. The husband said that he was going to study with Yan Shen Xian, and he could only take one student with him. She secretly let her maternal nephew go. Hmph, can’t the big Dong Lu family find a clever child? Her two sons were quite capable! Her maiden family was studying to become officials and the Dong Lu family were to bow down to her! Hmph! All the women in the world should know of this!”
As she spoke, Old Madam Cheng deliberately glanced at Madam Xiao who had a calm expression. Cheng Shi awkwardly said, “Mother what are you talking about?” The previous story was told by Madam Xiao to tell Old Madam Cheng, while the newest story was about Old Madam Cheng herself. “If the nephews are really promising, I will help. Besides, is the Dong Lu family worse now?”
Old Madam Cheng glared and said, “That’s the official rank they risked the lives of their children and grandchildren to serve under your command! It is not as good as being an official sitting comfortably in a library!”
The more Old Madam Cheng spoke, the more confident she became, and she said to Uncle Dong, “Don’t think too much about it. This time, you stole military supplies and caused a lot of trouble for your nephew. And you still want to continue to implicate him. You come to get rich and enjoy the blessings, and my son suffers and fights for his life. How can there be such a good thing! You are the ancestor of the Cheng family, so you must be supported!”
The Dong family’s father and son didn’t have anything to say to that. The whole room was silent, save for Dong Yong, covering his face and whimpering. Cheng Shi was very satisfied, and turned his head and said fiercely to the Dong family’s father and son, “If I am to find out there is an injury to Madam Dong Lu, I will make sure it happens to the two of you!”
Cheng Shi had been fighting hard in the sea of blood for many years, and this show of ruthlessness was no small matter. The Dong family’s father and son were soft-legged shrimps, so they could only agree. Cheng Shaoshang shouted ‘bravo’ in her heart. This idea was too genius, taking into account everything without any flaws; there was nothing to say at home or outside.
Cheng Shi glared at the Dong family’s father and son and said in a deep voice, “Do you understand?” Dong Yong was fearful of being beaten again and quickly nodded. Uncle Dong nodded after a slow nudge.
“Let’s eat then!” Cheng Shi shouted, and the Dong family quickly returned to their seats, picking up the wooden chopsticks, faster than rabbits.
Everyone also raised their chopsticks and began eating, only Madam Ge was restless at the table. A few days ago, after Aunt Dong was expelled, she faintly felt that something was wrong. Old Madam Cheng seemed to have reached an understanding with Madam Xiao. When they met in the past few days, the mother and daughter-in-law were not angry anymore. No matter how much she poked and prodded, they only found her boring and ignored her.
She looked at her husband across from her and then at Old Madam Cheng who was in charge. Just now, there was a stormy argument, and she couldn’t even get in the way. Besides, it was related to the Dong family, and the slap in the face from a few days ago was still slightly painful.
After enduring it again and again, as the atmosphere calmed down, Madam Ge couldn’t help but smile and say, “Mother…”
Cheng Shaoshang was as happy as a happy little mouse. Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes! Here comes a deserved beating.
Unexpectedly, without waiting for her to continue, Cheng Shi said, “Today’s banquet has two purposes. One is to welcome home my uncle, and the other is that I have a happy event to announce.”
Interrupting Cheng Shaoshang’s good show, she thought angrily to herself, what kind of happy event, do you want to please your little wife?
…
: The First Family Banquet (Part 2)