Chapter 38: Chapter 34, Mother and Child Heart-to-Heart Talk_i
Translator: 549690339 |
Yan Zhigao stormed into Old Madam Yan’s room, only to find the place eerily silent, save for the old lady and the serving grandma. There wasn’t another soul around.
Seeing Yan Zhigao enter, the serving grandma bowed respectfully, then silently slipped out of the room, carefully closing the door behind her.
At this, Yan Zhigao paused, taken aback.
“Where have you come from?” Old Madam Yan’s voice rose, emotionless.
Yan Zhigao glanced at the Old Madam and, noting she wasn’t looking his way felt unsure of her intentions, so he said, “Son has just returned from the Governor’s Office.”
Old Madam Yan cast a fleeting glance at her eldest son, still seething with anger, and asked, “If you’ve just come back from the Governor’s Office, what is the reason for this demeanor? Did something happen there that you couldn’t resolve?”
Yan Zhigao shook his head and walked towards a chair below the Old Madam, sitting down, “No, it’s not about the Governor’s Office. I’m furious because I heard Daohua openly defied Master Qin, upsetting him to the point where he couldn’t even conduct his class.”
Old Madam Yan asked, “Who told you this?”
“It was the Lin Family who told me.”
Yan Zhigao spoke without much thought, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt they were ill-advised. Sure enough, with a loud ‘bang’, Old Madam Yan fiercely slapped the table.
“Oh? So now, for a mere concubine, you’d even deceive your own mother?” Hearing this, Yan Zhigao panicked, “Mother, what are you talking about? How could your son dare to deceive you?”
Old Madam Yan scoffed coldly, “Dare not? When I just asked you where you were coming from, why didn’t you say it was from Madame Lin’s place?”
Yan Zhigao, “… Son thought you disapprove of Madame Lin, so I just…”
At these words, Old Madam Yan grew even angrier, “So in your eyes, your mother is such a petty and vindictive person? Why the secrecy on behalf of Lin? Are you afraid that I would hit her, or scold her?”
In desperation, Yan Zhigao said, “Mother, that’s not what I meant.”
Old Madam Yan looked at Yan Zhigao with a hint of disappointment, “You are aware of my disapproval towards Madame Lin, but have you ever considered why?”
Yan Zhigao glanced at the Old Madam, also curious in his heart.
Madame Lin was well-read and virtuous. Logically, she should be the kind of daughter- in -law Old Madam Yan would like. However, the reality was that even after having been here for so long, Old Madam Yan never showed her a shred of kindness.
He felt it inappropriate to question his mother directly about this matter, and was also reluctant to make further pleas on behalf of Madame Lin, fearing it might backfire. So, he fell silent.
The room sank into a brief silence.
Feeling the mood strange, Yan Zhigao felt compelled to find another topic,
Mother, it’s almost time for dinner, why hasn’t everyone arrived?”
Old Madam Yan scoffed, “Knowing that this is the time when everyone comes here for a meal, you still barged in here furiously looking for Daohua. Tell me, what are you trying to do? Do you want to scold her harshly again in front of ’ everyone?”
“For your Madame Lin, you could conceal the truth from me. But why can’t you think about Daohua? Scolding her in front of so many people, do you want her to have no face left to stay in this house?”
Yan Zhigao wore a helpless expression, “Mother, it’s not that your son wishes to scold Daohua. It’s just that she has gone too far this time. Directly confronting a teacher, utterly lacking manners. I couldn’t just ignore it.” Old Madam Yan’s expression soured, “Daohua was raised by me. By saying she has no manners, are you accusing me?”
Yan Zhigao felt a headache coming, “Mother, don’t be obstinate. Can we talk about the matter at hand?”
“Bang!”
Old Madam Yan slammed the table once more, “Am I being unreasonable, or are you being unduly credulous?”
Yan Zhigao moved his lips to argue, but seeing the steely look on the Old Madam’s face, he could only bow his head in silence.
Old Madam Yan chuckled disdainfully, “I’m not senile yet. In these past days I have come to see clearly, those three from Shuangxin Courtyard are the apple of your eye. I’m asking you, you only know that Daohua defied her master, but did you even inquire about the reason?”
Yan Zhigao mumbled, “No matter the reason, one shouldn’t defy their teacher.”
Old Madam Yan shot a glance at her eldest son and revealed what had happened to Daohua in the classroom, “You are the Lord County Magistrate, used to judging cases. Now, tell this old woman, did this Master Qin fulfill his duty as a teacher?”
Yan Zhigao looked surprised, he hadn’t expected Master Qin to target his eldest daughter in class, and ventured tentatively, “Could there be some mistake?”
Old Madam Yan snorted, “There were many others in class. If you don’t believe me, you can go ask someone else.”
“This…,” Yan Zhigao was puzzled, “Isn’t it, why is that?”
He couldn’t quite understand the reason behind Master Qin’s actions.
Daohua was his eldest daughter, targeting her, wasn’t it disrespectful to him? Old Madam Yan looked at her eldest son and sighed, “Zhigao, since childhood, you’ve been good at your studies and competent in handling affairs, but when’it comes to dealing with people, you still have much to learn.”
“I know you disdain the Li Family for their merchant background, but ask yourself, without the Li Family managing the household over these years, would you have been able to focus on your work in the front courtyard?” Yan Zhigao weakly retorted, “Mother, ever since Wenxiu and Wenkai were born, I’ve stopped looking down upon the Li Family.”
In the ranking of gentries, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants, merchants were at the bottom; indeed, in his youthful arrogance, he had despised the stench of copper on merchants.
But now, the Li Family had given him two sons and a daughter, and he no longer cared as much about her merchant background.
Old Madam Yan said, “Then why did you still take the Lin Family into your home? Wasn’t it because she had a Scholar for a father and her own learning was good, so she could add fragrance to your sleeves, and converse with you by candlelight into the night?”
Yan Zhigao felt uncomfortable at Old Madam Yan’s words, and he looked down not speaking.
Old Madam Yan continued, “I don’t care to manage the affairs of your rooms. You can favor your concubines if you wish, but you absolutely must not neglect your principal wife and her children. You should know, being too partial is the root of familial chaos.”
At this, Yan Zhigao couldn’t help himself, “Mother, when have I ever neglected the Li Family and Wenxiu and the others?”
Old Madam Yan gave him a sidelong glance, “My eyes aren’t blind. You know for yourself. Think about how you treat Wenbin and Yishuang, and then how you treat Wenxiu, Wenkai, and Daohua.”
“The Li Family may not come from a high status, but over these years, she has managed our household affairs very well. Even if she hasn’t accomplished great deeds, she has put in the hard work; whereas that concubine of yours, what has she done to help you?”
“Zhigao, one should not forget their roots. If I hadn’t intervened today, surely you would have scolded Daohua without asking any questions, right?”
How your other children are, I may not be aware, but Daohua, this girl has a strong temperament. Regarding the classroom incident, she was the one aggrieved, and if you scold her without clarity, be mindful she might become alienated from you.”
Yan Zhigao frowned, “Mother, you pamper Daohua too much. Yes, today I failed to investigate the incident in the classroom, and that was my fault, but for Daohua to talk back to her teacher, regardless of the reason, is unacceptable.”
Old Madam Yan retorted, “Would this have happened without your concubine’s instigation?”
Yan Zhigao helplessly said, “Mother, weren’t we discussing Daohua? How did it turn to the Lin Family again?”
Old Madam Yan snorted coldly, “Does this matter have nothing to do with her?
Did Master Qin dare to treat Daohua as he did, if not for her backing? Go tell the
Lin Family to behave and keep her place. All this talk about ‘Master’ and
‘Brother,’ does she think the Yan Family is her own household?”
Yan Zhigao replied, “Mother, if the Li Family could have invited a master earlier, I wouldn’t have taken the advice of the Lin Family to have Master Qin come to our home to teach. As for the brother of the Lin Family, he does have good knowledge and genuinely helps our son from time to time.”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Yan sighed inwardly.
A woman’s status in her husband’s family is directly related to her family of birth, and indeed, the Li Family’s background pales in comparison to that of the Lin Family, with just one ‘Master’ from the Lin Family outshining several merchant brothers from the Li Family.
Regardless, instruct the Lin Family to be more composed. She is but a concubine; she should not aspire to meddle in the education of the young ladies. And you, you may be their father, but children have their own thoughts, especially Daohua. She wasn’ t raised closely by your side since childhood, naturally there’s some estrangement. If there’s an issue, and you start wi’th scolding, you will only push her further away.”
Yan Zhigao was speechless, “Aren’t you worried that she will push me further away?”
Old Madam Yan replied, “If that’s indeed what happens, then it’s what you deserve.”
With nothing left to say, Yan Zhigao conceded, “Mother, I see now, Daohua is truly the apple of your eye.”
Old Madam Yan glared at him, “Your perception is really lacking if you’re only realizing this now!”
Yan Zhigao was thoroughly defeated.
Old Madam Yan became annoyed upon seeing him and waved her hand dismissively, “Go away, tonight let everyone dine in their rooms, you can go wherever you please.”
“Your son takes his leave!”
Yan Zhigao left the Songhe Courtyard with a somewhat aching head, instinctively heading towards the Shuangxin Courtyard. As he was about to step into the courtyard, he recalled his mother’s words and turned his steps towards the main courtyard instead.
Upon entering the main courtyard, he immediately heard joyful laughter coming from the central room.
