vstars Chapter 38 Father, Son, and Son's Father
Chapter 38 Father, Son, and Son's Father
Changshou County School
A tall, thin middle-aged man was carrying a bundle on his back, with his back to the door.
"Sir, please get in the carriage!"
Jiang Wenqing sighed and threw the bundle into the carriage: "Big Head, let's go!"
When the gatekeeper of the Jiang family saw that his carriage had returned, he quickly opened the gate.
When the villagers of Changshou Village saw the Jiang family's carriage return to the village at this time, they started discussing it:
"Sister-in-law, didn't Master Jiang just take a break three days ago? Why is he back today?"
While cracking sunflower seeds, Aunt Liu said, "You guys don't know yet? Jiang Wenqing has been expelled from the county school!"
"What?! They've been enrolled for almost a year, and they still got sent back? How badly did they study?"
"Oh dear, if it were that simple, we would just let it go. He's made quite a few jokes out of nothing," Aunt Liu said mysteriously.
"What's going on? Stop keeping me in suspense!"
"Visiting prostitutes?! It's one thing for you to be a pretentious intellectual, but your family has never restricted you from attending those ridiculous poetry gatherings!"
You scoundrel! How dare you do such a thing, tarnishing the reputation of scholars and disgracing the Jiang family! You unfilial son!
Jiang Wenqing knelt on the ground, clutching his bundle, head bowed, and remained silent.
Madam Jiang was trembling with rage. Pointing at him, she cursed, "How could our Jiang family have such a shameless wretch like you! Your father cherished his reputation his whole life, yet you have fallen so low!"
Old Master Jiang's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected his son to bring honor to the family; he just wanted him to study peacefully and pass the imperial examination. But now, this upsetting thing had happened.
Jiang Wenqing wanted to defend himself, but his expulsion from school was a done deal. What difference did it make whether he was implicated or framed? He could no longer return to the county school.
Jiang's father took a deep breath and said to Jiang Wenqing, "From today onwards, you shall not leave the house and shall stay at home to reflect on your mistakes."
What could he do with his good-for-nothing son? Kill him?
After Old Master Jiang left, Jiang Wenqing slowly stood up. This was the only time his father had lost his temper but hadn't resorted to family discipline. Was his father completely disappointed?
As time goes by, the temperature gradually rises, and the summer heat gradually spreads.
In this sweltering season, the Chiang family's private school unexpectedly announced a holiday.
This move caused cheers and excitement among the clan members. After being away from home for half a year, they had the opportunity to return home. Who wouldn't be happy?
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't want to waste time on the road, but with so much money in his hands, he still had to go home and discuss with his mother and grandfather whether they should acquire some more properties in Changshou Village and Changshou County.
Jiang Xiaoqi returned to the Jiang residence with several large boxes of luggage. The gatekeeper, seeing Jiang Xiaoqi return, nervously stepped forward to greet her.
Gatekeeper: "Master just returned from school a few days ago after being expelled, and now the young master is back too. Could he have been expelled as well?"
"Young Master, you must be tired from your journey. Are you on vacation?" the gatekeeper asked tentatively, not wanting to ask directly, "Young Master, were you kicked out of school like the Master?"
Jiang Xiaoqi smiled and said, "Well, this year there are more than twenty days of summer vacation, so I came back to see my parents and grandparents."
"That's good, that's good! Hahaha, young master, please go in quickly. The old master often talks about you; he must miss you terribly!" The gatekeeper suddenly burst into laughter.
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't understand why the gatekeeper was smiling so strangely, so she had the servants move her luggage to her own courtyard first, and then walked towards the main hall.
Before even reaching the main hall, they heard arguing coming from inside: "I disagree! Those guys are just spoiled brats, how can we go on this study tour with them?" came Old Master Jiang's voice.
Jiang Xiaoqi gestured for the servants to leave, and then slowly walked to the window.
“Father, I can’t go back to the county school. I can’t just stay at home doing nothing. It’s rare that Brother Zhao and the others still remember me while they’re traveling for their studies…”
"Is it thinking of you, or of your purse, your wallet, that they should take you along as a walking bank to provide for their travels, food, and entertainment!"
Old Master Jiang interrupted without any mercy, saying that his muddle-headed son was truly hopeless. He was not only bad at studying but also made bad friends, following a bunch of scoundrels and getting the short end of the stick.
Jiang Xiaoqi heard her grandfather's angry yet somewhat helpless voice outside the door, 'Did my adoptive father cause trouble?'
“But…” Jiang Wenqing wanted to argue something, but was interrupted by Old Madam Jiang.
"Alright, Wenqing, from now on you will study with your father. Although your father did not pass the imperial examination, he has been reading all these years and has long been capable of becoming a scholar."
Your father has promised you that once you pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, he won't interfere anymore. Whether you continue your studies or where you want to travel and study is entirely up to you!
Jiang Xiaoqi stood outside the door and waited until there was no sound inside before pretending to have just returned and entering.
The door opened, and Jiang Wenqing saw Jiang Xiaoqi standing in the doorway. His expression turned somewhat awkward: When did this kid get back? Was he eavesdropping outside the door?
"Ming-ge'er, why are you home at this time?" Old Master Jiang asked in surprise.
"Oh, my dear grandson, come and rest. You must be exhausted from the journey."
Madam Jiang lifted her beloved grandson onto the armchair and piled all the snacks in front of him.
Jiang Xiaoqi accepted it with a smile, while Jiang Wenqing, standing to the side, grimaced with envy: "This is what it means to have a grandson but no son! The parents are like this, and so is the wife!"
He tilted his head to look at his four-year-old son. He didn't feel very close to him; in fact, he felt a little unfamiliar with him. He had never seen a child with such an old man's personality. He wanted to say something strange, but he didn't dare.
After all, this was the child prodigy his father recognized, the future hope of the Jiang family! But in his opinion, that was not necessarily true. A child prodigy may not necessarily be a great adult. Throughout history, how many of the high-ranking officials were child prodigies?
Moreover, those who display extraordinary talent too early often end up like the tragic figure of Zhong Yong, a prodigy who failed to live up to his early promise.
Jiang Xiaoqi had no idea that her cheap father had been secretly criticizing her out of jealousy. She put on a cute childlike act, which amused the two elders and dispelled much of the pent-up anger they had just had with their son.
Jiang Wenqing: ...I feel so superfluous...
Mr. and Mrs. Chiang: You're only just realizing this?
"By the way, Grandfather, although I came back this time for a break from the clan school, I have something to discuss with you."
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't intend to say it in front of his adoptive father. Old Master Jiang was a wise old man and naturally understood what his grandson meant.
"Alright, go see your mother first, then rest for a bit, and come see your grandfather after dinner."
He glanced up at his son, who was lost in thought: "Wenqing, Ming'er is back, why don't you, as his father, seem happy?"
This is your only son. I don't expect you to discipline Ming-ge, but at least don't hold him back in the future!
Jiang Wenqing was lost in thought when his father suddenly called him, making him feel flustered and embarrassed. Sigh~ His father didn't even give him face in front of the younger generation. He really wanted to run away from home!
Grandpa Jiang: "What? Trying to run away from home again? You can leave, but you can't take a single penny of the Jiang family with you. If you have that kind of backbone, your mother and I won't stop you!"
Jiang Wenqing opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
After dinner, Jiang Xiaoqi went to Grandpa Jiang's study and got straight to the point: "Grandfather, this is the money my mother earned from selling medicine. My mother and I have discussed it, and apart from keeping some for our own use, we want you to help us use the rest to buy some property."
Old Master Jiang's eyes widened. His ancestors had been wealthy, but even the main branch wouldn't casually hand over tens of thousands of taels of silver notes. And this was from the Zhengyuan Money Shop in the prefectural city! And behind this money shop was…
"Mingfei, is your mother really agreeing to take so much money to purchase assets for the Jiang family? This should rightfully be your mother's personal savings!"
Grandpa Jiang wouldn't be so greedy as to eye his daughter-in-law's money, but he wouldn't object if his daughter-in-law asked him to help her acquire property for her three children.
Jiang Xiaoqi roughly understood his grandfather's thoughts, so he complied with the request: first, he wanted to buy a larger estate, since grain was still a hard currency in this era.
Another thing is to buy a few shops in the county towns, which will be given as dowries when the sisters get married.
Whether it was her eldest sister or her half-sister, as the matriarch, her mother had to take care of them to some extent. However, her mother's dowry was limited, and it was barely enough for both of her sisters.
To avoid putting his mother in a difficult position, he prepared some things on the side, so that as the only younger brother, he could also add to his sisters' dowry.
It was already late, and the lamps were lit after all that was said. Jiang Changshou looked at his grandson, who was so mature for his age, and sighed: his children and grandchildren really made him feel like he was in heaven one moment and on the other the next.
This father and son... the son doesn't act like a son, he acts like a worried old man, and the father doesn't act like a father, he acts like a boy who never grows up!
Sigh... When those two old folks pass away, this family will really be weighing down on their little grandson's shoulders...