Chapter 632
Greetings
The day after the wedding.
The rooster crowed, but it was still dark.
In the dimly lit main room of the Zhang family's East Garden, the air was thick with the smell of alcohol exhaled with every breath.
At the entrance, a charcoal fire had burned down to ashes, leaving only a faint trace of warmth.
On the east side, there was a canopy bed, completely covered by a red bed curtain, so that no one could be seen inside.
As the rooster's crow broke through the window, a hand parted the gap in the bed curtains, and Zhang Xia, rubbing her eyes and still half asleep, got out of bed and walked towards the octagonal table, wanting to drink some water to sober up.
The next moment, she stepped on something soft and squishy.
Chen Ji groaned softly, clutching his stomach, and curled up like a shrimp on his makeshift bed.
Zhang Xia was completely sober.
She then remembered that there was someone else in her room, lying on her way to get a drink of water: "You..."
Chen Ji, wrapped in a blanket, said in a muffled voice, "I'm fine."
Zhang Xia looked down at her white undergarment, hurriedly pulled back into the bed curtains, and only after she was dressed properly did she reopen the bed curtains.
At this moment, Chen Ji had already gotten up, and Zhang Xia was sitting cross-legged on the bed, staring at Chen Ji on the floor, neither of them knowing what to do next.
After a moment of silence, Chen Ji spoke first: "What should we do after we get married?"
Zhang Xia sat cross-legged on the bed, looking up as she recalled, "First, I have to pay respects to my parents-in-law and perform the four bows. This can be omitted... no, it can't be omitted. Your birth mother was very good to you and left you the Gu Fu Lou property. So I'll bow in the direction of her grave."
As she spoke, she knelt on the bed and bowed four times in the direction of Guyuan, leaving Chen Ji stunned.
Zhang Xia sat up again and recalled: "Next, the bride served tea and snacks to her parents-in-law, offering them with both hands and kneeling to hand them over... This can be omitted. After that, there was the ancestral worship and the entry into the family genealogy... This was also omitted. Finally, there was the recognition of relatives, which was also omitted."
Chen Ji seemed to be deep in thought: "These are all things the bride has to do. Is there anything the groom has to do?"
Zhang Xia sat down at the table and poured herself a glass of water: "The groom's task is to 'return to his parents' home' three days later, which means he has to pay his respects and express his gratitude to his father-in-law and mother-in-law."
Chen Ji thought for a moment: "This is simple."
Silence fell in the room again, the two of them staring at each other.
Chen Ji felt a little uncomfortable being stared at. He got up and went to the table to pour himself a glass of water. But as soon as he picked up the glass and drank it, he spat it out.
This pot contains nuptial wine, not water.
Just then, a young woman's voice came from outside the door: "Miss, young master, it's time to pay your respects to Madam."
“Coming, coming,” Zhang Xia called out loudly through the door, then muttered to herself, “Mother never needed me to pay my respects before… Quickly put the bedding in the closet.”
Chen Ji responded with an "eh," got up, folded the bedding on the floor, stuffed it into the mother-of-pearl inlaid wardrobe on the east side, and then went to open the door.
The door opened, and Nuanchun, Madam Zhang's personal maid, peeked inside, only to be pushed out by Zhang Xia: "What are you looking at?"
Warm Spring exclaimed, "I didn't see anything."
Nuan Chun was followed by two maids, one carrying a basin of hot water and the other carrying a tray containing salt, two toothbrushes, and two wooden cups.
The toothbrush handle is made of ivory, with double rows of holes. It is then made of carefully selected southern pig bristles, which are steamed and dried three times, soaked in lime water, and then inserted into the small holes of the bone handle and sealed with pine resin lacquer.
In the past, we always used willow twigs; this is the first time we've used something so fine.
Nuanchun said to the two of them, "Miss, young master, please wash up."
Chen Ji and Zhang Xia picked up their cups together to rinse their mouths, squatted down to brush their teeth, looked up to rinse their mouths again, making a spitting sound, and then spat the salt water onto the snow.
Nuanchun couldn't help but exchange a glance with the little maid beside her.
Zhang Xia placed the cup and toothbrush on the tray: "Where is my mother?"
Nuanchun snapped out of her daze: "Madam is at Zhuocaotang."
Zhang Xia thought for a moment, then turned to Chen Ji: "Zhuocaotang is where my father receives guests. My mother chose to wait for you there, so be careful."
Zhang Xia led the way, while Chen Ji silently followed behind, looking around.
He arrived at night yesterday and hurriedly went to the bridal chamber. Only today did he realize that the Zhang residence was more plain than he had imagined.
As we passed a pavilion, we saw a plaque hanging above it that read: "Half-Mountain Pavilion".
Without turning his head, Zhang Xia explained, "The pond in the mansion is fed by the Xu family and is called Half-Acre Pond. The garden is called Half-Acre Garden. These names were given by my mother, meaning to be content and not to seek perfection."
After passing through a moon gate, a plaque hangs above the gate, bearing the four large characters "登世龙门" (Deng Shi Long Men), the calligraphy bold and vigorous, which clashes with the elegant moon gate.
Zhang Xia explained, "The Xu family and the Zhang...our family are connected. This small door leads to the Xu family's house."
Chen Ji asked curiously, "That plaque?"
Zhang Xia was silent for a moment: "That was written by my second grandfather himself, to remind my father that he was able to rise to prominence thanks to the Xu family. It was originally meant to be hung on the lintel of the main hall, but hanging the 'Dragon' plaque in the main hall would be inappropriate, so it was hung here instead."
Zhang Xia said calmly, "In the past, what my father hated most was being called a son-in-law of the Xu family. Although he never said it, I knew he was unhappy. So my father didn't go to the Xu family often, and even when he did, he would go around to the main gate. Now, my father goes to the Xu family every day to review memorials, and he still takes the detour every day... However, after my father entered the cabinet, no one called him a son-in-law anymore."
The Zhang Mansion was built right next to the east wall of the Xu Mansion, covering an area of about 20 acres. From the air, the layout of the Zhang Mansion seems to have been "borrowed" from the Xu Mansion: the rockery in the Zhang Mansion's Half-Acre Garden is of the same lineage as the Taihu stone group in the Xu Mansion's Zhen Garden; the stream in the Zhang Mansion's Half-Acre Pond is drawn from the living water of Zhen Garden.
In the past, when outsiders entered the Zhang residence, they always felt that it resembled the Xu residence in every way, but it was smaller in every way. It was like a wonderful eight-legged essay, with all the elements of introduction, opening, and entry, but it was ultimately missing the key point of breaking the topic.
Looking at it now, the Zhang residence resembles a vermilion seal pressed against the lower right corner of a painting.
The two arrived at Zhuocao Hall, and Zhang Xia suddenly stopped in her tracks when she saw the heavy cotton curtain at the door.
Chen Ji also stopped and turned to look: "What's wrong?"
Zhang Xia looked up at the plaque of Zhuocaotang: "Chen Ji, from high-ranking officials to commoners, no one looks down on a son-in-law. Today I will talk to my mother and ask my father to buy back the house in Shaojiu Hutong, so that you and I can move there."
Zhang Xia turned to look at him: "I helped you out of that predicament yesterday because of our life-and-death bond. You don't need to be troubled by this, nor do you need to endure the humiliation and the infamy of being a live-in son-in-law like your father did."
Chen Ji remained silent for a long time before smiling and saying, "No need."
After saying that, he took the initiative to lift the curtain and walk into Zhuocaotang.
Inside the Zhuocao Hall, the charcoal fire burned brightly in the main hall, making it warm and cozy. It was burning silver-thread charcoal, so there wasn't a trace of smoke or dust.
Madam Zhang sat in the main seat at the octagonal table, dressed in a deep purple robe, her hair neatly combed, and two pearls dangling from her earlobes.
She slowly skimmed the tea leaves from the cup with the lid, her head bowed, not even glancing at the two of them: "It's so late in the morning, I had to send someone to invite you over..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Ji bowed and said, "Greetings to Mother."
Zhang Xiadun remained where he was.
Madam Zhang stopped scraping the tea leaves.
She paused for a moment, then said slowly and deliberately, "Sit down, the porridge is still hot, drink it while it's hot."
Chen Ji responded with an "Eh," and tugged at Zhang Xia to sit down at the table.
The maidservant brought out porridge and side dishes. The porridge was made from rice and was so thick that chopsticks could stand upright in it. The side dishes were pickled cucumber, fermented bean curd, and a dish of pickled radish.
Chen Ji picked up the bowl and took a small sip: "Mother, you should drink too."
Madam Zhang carefully examined the traces, then lowered her head and blew on the tea leaves in the covered bowl: "I'm not hungry."
She blew on the tea leaves, realizing that her momentum had weakened, so she straightened up and said slowly, "Now that you've moved in, there are some rules I need to explain to you."
Chen Ji hummed in agreement: "Mother, please speak."
Zhang Xia re-examined the traces and felt they were somewhat unfamiliar.
At this moment, Madam Zhang said calmly, "First, I won't ask about or interfere with your affairs outside. But within the Zhang family's residence, you are the Zhang family's son-in-law, not Hai Dongqing, nor are you some Wu Xiang Viscount."
Chen Ji nodded: "I know."
Madam Zhang took a sip of tea and placed the covered bowl on the table: "Secondly, I will not interfere in your affairs with A-Xia, but there is one thing: she must not be wronged. If I find out that you frequent brothels, I have plenty of ways to make things difficult for you. If you have a child outside, I will find a way to put him in a lowly status so that he can never get out of this situation."
Chen Ji took a big gulp of porridge: "Don't worry, Mother, it won't happen."
Madam Zhang paused again: "Third, now that you're a commoner, what do you plan to do in the future? Xia is someone I've cherished since she was little, and she's never suffered a bit. The ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) she wore when she was four was made of Suzhou textiles. The jade hairpin she wore when she was five was made of Hetian jade. The pen she used when she was six was a Shanlian Huzhou pen... Now, everything she eats, wears, and uses is the best."
Madam Zhang looked up at Chen Ji: "Although you live in the Zhang family, you are not truly a son-in-law. It is now your turn to uphold her former dignity. You don't have much money left, do you? What are your plans for the future?"
Zhang Xia began, "Mother..."
She had barely uttered a word when her mother glared at her and shut her up.
Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "I'll figure out a way to get the money."
Madam Zhang shook her head: "Dignity is more than just money."
Chen Ji hummed in agreement.
Madam Zhang said calmly, "Go on with your work after you finish eating."
Chen Ji stood up, and Zhang Xia followed suit, but then Madam Zhang said, "Xia, stay here, I have something to say to you."
Zhang Xia reluctantly stayed in the room.
Madam Zhang gave her a cold look: "Are you sober now?"
Zhang Xia whispered, "She's awake..."
Madam Zhang softened her tone and sighed, "Back when your father became the top scholar in the imperial examination, he was dashing and spirited. I fell in love with him at first sight and begged your second grandfather to act as matchmaker. Unexpectedly, he already had a wife. He left behind the words, 'Even without me, the Xu family's daughter is still a dragon among men; without me, my wife will be nothing but withered bones,' and then resigned from his official post and returned to his hometown. Sadly, his wife died young. He buried her and then returned to the capital to marry me, but I know it wasn't for me, but for the sake of his country and its people. When you were born, he told me, 'I've suffered in this life; in the next, I'll be your servant.'"
Zhang Xia said softly, "Over the years, Father has always kept you in his heart."
Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "You don't need to speak up for him. I know he has me in his heart, but I can never tell how much of his heart belongs to me and how much to his deceased wife."
At this point, she looked at Zhang Xia: "What woman in the world wouldn't want to be the only one loved? I didn't want you to repeat my mistakes, but you've gone down the same path as me. Let me ask you, do you know how much of Chen Ji's heart belongs to you and how much to Bai Li?"
Zhang Xia remained silent. (End of Chapter)