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Chapter 29: Reciprocity and Rising Tides.
A physical description of a man appeared on the emergency arrest warrant issued by the prefectural government.
The man was quite handsome, sporting a long, elegant beard. His eye shape was indiscernible, obscured by long, thick eyebrows. The portrait carried a somewhat eerie, heterodox aura. Tan Ting frowned as he read the accompanying official document: the man was a sea pirate who had come ashore to scout the terrain. He was extremely dangerous. Any citizen who spotted him was ordered to report to the authorities immediately; a verified lead would be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver.
"One hundred taels?"
What kind of bandit could justify a hundred taels of silver for a mere scrap of information? Tan Ting raised an eyebrow. It was clear that Magistrate Zhou did not know the specific details either; he was simply following orders from his superiors.
Seeing this, Tan Ting planned to visit the Ningnan Prefectural Office himself within the next few days. The world was becoming increasingly unstable. Life was hard enough as it was; in such turbulent times, let alone building a career or achieving great things, simply finding a place to settle down and live in peace was a luxury.
As Tan Ting stepped out of the county yamen, he instructed his servant Zheng Ji to send word to the clan. He ordered everyone to watch out for bandits and marauders. Whenever they traveled, they were to go in large groups and carry weapons for self-defense. They could not afford to be careless. As the clan leader, he naturally had to worry about the affairs of everyone in the family.
Zheng Ji complied repeatedly, then suddenly remembered something.
"Master, the Madam is not in the residence right now. She has gone out."
Tan Ting was surprised. She had only just returned today, why had she gone out again? "Where did she go? How many guards did she take?"
Zheng Ji told him everything he knew. When he mentioned that the Madam had not taken many guards with her, he saw his master’s expression darken with worry. Tan Ting had just learned that a dangerous bandit was roaming the area, only to hear that his wife had gone out to the farmstead.
He immediately called for Zheng Ji to send more men, but then changed his mind. "I will go myself."
However, when he reached the residence, he saw that all the family's carriages and horses were present. Upon inquiry, he learned that the Madam and the young miss had already returned. Tan Ting breathed a sigh of relief and headed straight for the main courtyard.
To his surprise, the main courtyard was silent. Xiang Yi was not there. He found a young maid playing with pebbles in a sheltered corner and asked her; he learned that there was a sudden matter at the storehouse, and the Madam had been invited there to oversee it.
Not finding her, Tan Ting returned to their room. The room carried the faint, lingering scent of calming incense. She wasn't sitting by the window doing needlework, but as Tan Ting looked over, he noticed an extra wooden box sitting beneath the window.
He had never seen this wooden box before. He stepped forward and opened it, then paused. It was a common medicine chest. Inside were several types of frequently used medicines, but a few bottles had been singled out and placed to the side. Tan Ting took a closer look; they were all ointments for treating external injuries.
The scent of calming incense drifted past his nose. The wound on Tan Ting's arm didn't hurt; instead, it felt itchy, as if someone were lightly brushing it with a soft feather. The fragrance of medicine wafted from the box. As Tan Ting looked at the ointments that had been specifically set aside, his gaze couldn't help but soften.
Xiang Yi had just returned from the storehouse when she heard that Tan Ting was also back. She remembered the medicine she had temporarily left by the window and hurried to the main room. As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw the man sitting in the spot by the window where she usually sat. He held a book in one hand, silently reading.
Beside the book was the very box of ointments she had taken out earlier. Seeing her look over, he looked back at her, just as she usually did, and spoke softly.
"You're back."
In the room, the scents of calming incense and medicine swirled together. For a moment, Xiang Yi didn't dare to speak. On one hand, she hadn't expected him to suddenly take the initiative to speak today; though it was a common greeting, the situation felt inexplicably strange. More importantly, the ointments were right at his hand.
Xiang Yi gave a low response and walked over somewhat uncomfortably. She was about to put away the medicine chest on the tea table and pour him a cup of tea, but he suddenly spoke.
"I am already much better."
Xiang Yi's hand, which was reaching for the medicine chest, paused. Tan Ting didn't look at her as he spoke. The corners of his mouth were slightly curled upward. He kept his head half-lowered, flipping through his book every now and then. Seeing that she didn't move for a moment, he lightly cleared his throat.
Her hand lingered on the box for a second before she opened it. "Even so, let me change the dressing for you again, Master."
As she spoke, she had already efficiently picked out the ointment he needed to use. The "feather" in Tan Ting’s heart brushed against him again, itching unbearably. The curve of his lips grew more pronounced. He cleared his throat once more and said warmly, "I shall trouble Madam."
Xiang Yi quickly replied, "It is no trouble," though a few beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.
The next day, the sky cleared completely. Bright sunlight shone on the plum blossoms blooming one after another in the courtyard. Various branch families of the Tan clan sent people to the main house to offer New Year's greetings.
The entire Tan family main branch was bustling throughout the day. It wasn't until evening that things quieted down. Zhao Shi called her children to Autumn Radiance Courtyard for dinner. After experiencing the recent predicament where Xiang Yi suddenly returned to her natal home and left the entire clan’s internal affairs unattended, Zhao Shi was more satisfied than ever with this daughter-in-law. Seeing that she looked tired, the Old Madam immediately excused her from serving at the table, fearing that she might fall ill from exhaustion.
Xiang Yi sat down next to Tan Ting. Tan Ting also noticed the fatigue on her face. Seeing her sit, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and made a mental note to promote a few more stewards to help share her burden.
After several days of busy labor, Xiang Yi was indeed tired. However, her greatest concern was not daily chores, but her sworn brother, Gu衍盛 (Gu Yansheng), who was staying at the farmstead. Qiao Xing had told her about the notice posted at the county yamen the very day she saw it. Although the portrait was obscured by a long beard and eyebrows, features her brother had already removed, he was still an outsider who had suddenly arrived in Qinglong County. It was hard not to arouse suspicion. Furthermore, her brother was heavily injured; she didn't know how his recovery was progressing.
As she was thinking, Zhao Shi asked Tan Rong a question. "Rong-er, did you send medicine to that tiger-hunting hero at the farmstead today?"
This matter naturally couldn't be hidden from everyone, and Xiang Yi hadn't planned to hide it. But being mentioned so suddenly, she couldn't help but tense up. No one noticed anything. Tan Rong simply said she had sent the medicine.
"Mr. Sheng was injured while protecting our farmstead’s tenants, he was injured for my sake. Naturally, I had to send medicine, and it couldn't be cheap medicine."
Xiang Yi hadn't figured out how to send the medicine without attracting attention, but Tan Rong had solved it for her. However, because she mentioned it, those who didn't know about the matter couldn't help but ask.
"A tiger-hunting hero? What does he look like?" Yang Zhen was curious. Tan Jian also asked, "He actually killed a tiger? Where is the tiger?"
Xiang Yi saw the Master of the Tan family raise an eyebrow. Unlike Yang Zhen and Tan Jian, who were either excited or puzzled, the man's gaze grew focused. "What is this person's background? When did this happen?"
He asked with such a serious expression that the hall fell silent. Immediately, Tan Jian thought of something else. "Could it be a bandit in disguise who managed to sneak in?"
This thought frightened Zhao Shi. The spoon in her hand clattered against the rim of her bowl. Xiang Yi's heart sank. Before she could speak, Tan Rong grew anxious.
"How could that be? Mother, Brother, you are all too tense. Mr. Sheng was invited into our farmstead only because he helped us drive away a tiger. He truly has the manner of a scholar and even has a literate young servant with him. How could he possibly be a bandit?!"
She was desperate to explain, but the doubts of the others were not completely dispelled. Tan Rong hurriedly called out to Xiang Yi, "Sister-in-law saw him too. Sister-in-law, you tell them! We mustn't let Mr. Sheng's reputation be ruined."
At her words, everyone looked toward Xiang Yi. Hearing this, Xiang Yi unhurriedly stood up and served Zhao Shi another spoonful of eight-treasure porridge. Because of her movement, the tense atmosphere in the hall loosened significantly.
Zhao Shi also asked her, "You saw that person too? What were his manners like? Did he follow the rules?"
Xiang Yi smiled. "Mr. Sheng is indeed a scholar, refined and polite. Because he was suddenly injured and staying with the Tan family, he was afraid it would harm the young miss's reputation, so he specifically asked her to inform the head of the household." She paused, then took a slow breath and added, "If he were a bandit wanted by the government, he would be hiding his tracks as much as possible. Why would he take the initiative to mention it?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Tan Rong said, "Exactly!"
Zhao Shi trusted Xiang Yi; otherwise, she wouldn't have entrusted her with everything. She breathed a great sigh of relief and took a sip of porridge. "That's true."
Tan Jian also felt that a bandit wouldn't dare act that way. He placed a piece of rock-sugar braised pork hock into Yang Zhen's bowl. Yang Zhen popped it into her mouth quite nonchalantly. Amidst the savory and delicious flavor, she narrowed her eyes with satisfaction and said, "In this day and age, eighty percent of people brave enough to fight tigers are heroes. We really shouldn't be making wild guesses about others."
Everyone stopped doubting. Only Tan Ting remained silent. He put down his chopsticks and sat in silence, lost in thought. Others didn't matter, but he...
Xiang Yi had no choice but to speak, asking him softly, "Is there anything else the Master is worried about?"
As she asked, she silently waited for Tan Ting's answer, having prepared a set of excuses to counter his questions. He was the clan leader of a prestigious family and far more alert than the others. Xiang Yi hadn't planned on letting Gu Yansheng stay at the Tan house for too long, but if Tan Ting discovered him after only two or three days...
She was secretly worried, but Tan Ting looked up at her. "Since you have seen him, I have nothing to worry about."
His meaning was clear: he trusted her. Xiang Yi was stunned; this was something she hadn't expected. She didn't say anything more and sat back down next to Tan Ting, silently serving him some food. Seeing this, the focused look in his eyes softened and dispersed. With a faint smile on his lips, he also picked up some food and quietly placed it, piece by piece, into her bowl.
The two of them went back and forth, not thinking much of it, but Zhao Shi watched them and smiled secretly. If only Xiang Yi could become pregnant while Ting-er is still home...
The matter of the tiger-hunting hero, "Sheng Gu," was over. The Tan family continued their dinner in harmony.
Gu Yansheng’s temporary stay at the Tan house had officially been "cleared." Xiang Yi had planned to look after her sworn brother in secret, but she didn't expect that she wouldn't have to worry about a thing. Tan Rong was more proactive than anyone, sending him ointments and even clothes. Furthermore, Zhao Shi was only focused on choosing a husband for Tan Rong from among the noble families and didn't pay any attention.
Xiang Yi breathed a sigh of relief. But one day, when she opened her wardrobe, she almost thought she had walked into the wrong room. In the wardrobe of the main room, the man’s clothes had been moved to the bottom at some point. In the upper compartments, every shelf was packed full of winter clothes of various styles, materials, and colors.
She stood before the cabinet, dazed. Qiao Xing walked over, took a look, and gasped. "When did this happen? Madam is finally willing to make clothes for herself?"
Xiang Yi shook her head. She hadn't made these clothes.
The wind at the door shifted, and the door curtain was lifted as the man walked in slowly. Tan Ting saw her standing by the wardrobe with a dazed expression, yet she wasn't touching the clothes inside. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
"One must wear new clothes for the New Year. I also had several sets made for myself."
The Tan family main branch used to have standard allotments for seasonal clothing. Later, as the clan grew wealthier and the female family members were all from prestigious backgrounds, no one lacked clothes. They all brought their own fine fabrics and had the needlework department tailor clothes according to the current fashions. Consequently, the seasonal allotments became mediocre in material and style; even if they were made, the ladies wouldn't wear them. Giving them to servants was against the rules, and leaving them at the bottom of a chest was a waste.
In a year when the harvest was poor and the clan needed to save money, the matriarch at the time set an example and simply abolished the needlework department's seasonal clothing allotment. Now, the clothes for each branch of the main family were either made by the branch's own staff or made by the needlework department using materials provided by the branch.
For anyone else, this wouldn't be a problem. But Xiang Yi was different. She was as pure as freshly fallen snow and would not touch a single thing belonging to the Tan family. Tan Ting had to take matters into his own hands.
He gave this ambiguous explanation, implying that they both needed new clothes for the New Year. However, as Xiang Yi looked at the wardrobe again, she saw that the new clothes he had made for her were already more numerous than all of his own winter clothes combined.
Xiang Yi was at a loss for a few moments. But the man had already walked away and gone to the bookshelf to look for a book. Qiao Xing saw that she didn't refuse and happily stepped forward to pick out a lilac-colored, double-breasted long coat with light red trim.
"Madam will look vibrant in this. Let me pick out a horse-face skirt for you..."
Qiao Xing continued to chatter, but Xiang Yi didn't hear her. She remained standing in the same spot, unable to help but look at the man by the bookshelf. The man was tall and upright with a well-proportioned build. From behind, his shoulders were broad and his arms were long. At that moment, he lightly raised his hand to take down a book from the top shelf, gently brushed the dust off it, and turned slightly. His sharp profile looked softer in the faint morning light filtering through the window.
Xiang Yi couldn't help but remember the question her brother had asked her at the farmstead: "Yi-zhen, how does the Tan clan leader treat you?" If she had had a bit more time back then, she might have been able to give an answer immediately. But today...
Xiang Yi withdrew her gaze and looked at the wardrobe again, silently lowering her eyes. It shouldn't be like this between them.
Xiang Yi was not someone who didn't understand how to return a favor.
The next day, for some reason, Yang Zhen decided to make a set of clothes for Tan Jian with her own hands. But the instructions from her Nanny Lu were too complicated, which scared Yang Zhen. Yang Zhen didn't have the patience to do it, but she had already promised Tan Jian. Remembering how Tan Jian's eyes had lit up, she couldn't bear to tell him she couldn't do it. Instead, she got angry and lost her temper with Tan Jian twice.
Tan Jian didn't even know what he had done wrong. His brother had been in a good mood lately and hadn't been scolding him severely, yet his own wife was angry for no reason. He felt quite aggrieved.
Yang Zhen saw that this wasn't working and felt that she had to find her sister-in-law for matters she couldn't decide. So she came to the main room.
Xiang Yi naturally didn't have as many requirements as the nannies. Seeing that Yang Zhen couldn't manage cutting patterns, sewing, or embroidery, she simply told her to let the needlework department help. Yang Zhen would participate in a bit of every step, and the needlework department would assist with the rest; in the end, it would count as her having made the whole thing. Tan Jian surely wouldn't mind.
Yang Zhen exclaimed that it was a great idea and praised Xiang Yi repeatedly. "If it weren't for you, Sister-in-law, I would be done for!"
Xiang Yi pursed her lips and smiled. Seeing her run off, she suddenly thought of something. Perhaps she should also make a set of clothes for the head of the family, at the very least, it would be a gesture to show that she had accepted his gift of clothes.
That evening, Xiang Yi told him what she was thinking. Tan Ting was speechless for a long while. Xiang Yi thought he had high standards for needlework and didn't trust her skills, so she began to back down.
"If the Master is not used to it, then we shall let the needlework department do it..."
"No." He interrupted her before she could finish.
Xiang Yi looked over. Under the lamp light, the man's usually resolute face radiated a gentleness like hazy moonlight. His eyes beneath his thick eyebrows were shimmering as he looked directly at her. Xiang Yi was not used to such a gaze and turned her face away.
Only then did he speak again. "Do not work too hard."
Under his gaze, Xiang Yi barely dared to raise her eyes. She whispered, "I am not tired," and found another excuse to leave the room temporarily.
The winter night wind was like ice water, making one feel clear-headed. Xiang Yi slowly rubbed her arms and looked at the bright crescent moon hanging in the sky. She hoped the New Year would pass quickly. Once the Master returns to the capital, everything would likely return to normal. As for what would happen after that, she didn't dare think too deeply.
Before the New Year, Tan Ting visited the villa of the Fifth Elder again. This time, he finally met him. The Fifth Elder was in good health and high spirits. Seeing Tan Ting and Tan Jian visit in person, he smiled and had someone brew tea for the brothers using mountain snow water he had collected a few days ago.
Compared to the highly respected Third Elder, the Fifth Elder was more easygoing. He asked the brothers how they had been lately. Tan Jian was naturally studying hard and writing essays in preparation for next autumn's provincial examination. Tan Ting didn't point out that his brother's academic level was just making up the numbers; instead, he discussed current politics with the Fifth Elder.
First, he talked about the situation in the capital , then he mentioned the friction between the aristocratic families and the commoners, including what they had encountered at Liuyang Village. Even someone as composed as the Fifth Elder couldn't help but furrow his brow and stroke his beard.
The old man sighed. "I remember when I was young and traveled everywhere. I stayed with commoner families and they heard I was from a famous clan, though they were envious, they were also friendly. They would ask me for ways to study and learn etiquette. If their families were better off, they would also send their children to school. In the future, they might even become families with a legacy."
It used to be like that. No matter how poor or bitter the people were, as long as their background was clean, they could change the fate of an individual, a family, or even a clan through the imperial examination. At some point, the number of commoners who succeeded through the examination began to dwindle. Children from aristocratic families were immersed in poetry, books, and etiquette from a young age, so they naturally had an inherent advantage. But the opportunities for commoners to rise were becoming pitiably fewer year by year. It had been especially so these past few years.
Commoners had no opportunities to rise and were being exploited to the bone by the various aristocratic families. How could they not be filled with resentment? If this continued, it might cause a tremor that would shake the imperial court. When that time came, who could ensure their own safety?
As the Fifth Elder lamented, Tan Ting couldn't help but think of his wife at home. Once the two classes reached the point of taking up arms, her situation would be the most difficult.
He couldn't help but say, "The aristocratic families and the commoners shouldn't have reached this point. If they truly meet with swords and spears, the foreign tribes to the northwest will surely take the opportunity to move south. The court and the common people will only face another bloodbath."
The Fifth Elder was silent for a long while. "Although there are no major waves right now, your concerns are not without reason." The Fifth Elder slowly looked at Tan Ting. "The Tan family of Qinglong has always been friendly with its neighbors and doesn't want to find itself in a state of mutual hostility with those around it. But this is not just an affair of the Tan clan. That you can think of this shows that your years of experience outside have given you a broad vision." He chuckled. "In that case, give this matter some serious thought. Perhaps the Tan clan of the next sixty years will rise in your hands."
These words were spoken casually, but Tan Jian, who was listening quietly to the side, felt his blood boiling. He blinked and looked at the Elder, then at his elder brother. His elder brother was as steady as ever; he simply cupped his hands to the Fifth Elder and said one word.
"Yes."
The days passed until it was New Year's Eve. Everything in the Tan family was stable. Xiang Yi didn't even have to worry about Gu Yansheng staying at the farmstead. For some reason, Tan Rong was very attentive to him and prepared everything for him. She had inadvertently helped Xiang Yi, saving her a lot of trouble. Hearing that her sworn brother was doing well at the farmstead, she didn't go to disturb him and didn't tell Xiang Yu and the others for the time being.
In a flash, it was New Year's Eve. In three years of marriage, this was the first time Tan Ting was home for the New Year.
In the morning, he put on a dark red brocade robe trimmed with grey squirrel fur. He noticed that his wife, seeing him wear a color he didn't often wear, also chose a madder-red long coat embroidered with white plum blossoms and trimmed with snow-rabbit fur at the collar. Her neck was fair and slender; the fluffy white rabbit fur around her red collar made her look a bit more playful. Tan Ting had never seen her dressed like this. Throughout the day, he stole several glances at her.
Xiang Yi didn't notice. First, she had the Tan clansmen send many dumplings and food to the neighbors. Then she distributed the New Year's couplets written by Tan Ting and the clan members to the people in the city. After handling some other chores, she was called away to play cards by Yang Zhen, who had married in this year and was full of energy. Xiang Yi didn't play much, but Yang Zhen was in high spirits, so she also found some interest in it. Without realizing it, they played until it was time for the New Year's Eve dinner.
Fortunately, the servants usually did their work in an orderly fashion, so Xiang Yi didn't have to worry too much. It wasn't until they finished the New Year's Eve dinner at Autumn Radiance Courtyard that she began to yawn. She was used to going to bed early and waking up early, so staying up all night for the New Year's vigil was a bit much for her. In previous years, Xiang Yi usually let Qiao Xing stand vigil for her for a while while she quietly slept for a few hours.
But this year, the Master was home.
Xiang Yi sat by the window doing needlework for a while, but her eyelids began to feel heavy. Tan Ting was practicing calligraphy at his desk. Seeing that his wife intended to brew strong tea and continue the vigil with him, he said helplessly:
"You go to sleep first. I will stand the vigil."
As soon as he spoke, Xiang Yi woke up halfway. "That is not appropriate," she said. "I should stay with the Master."
Tan Ting stopped his pen and looked at her for a long while. She was always so polite and observant of the rules with him. Tan Ting fell into a habitual silence, but then he thought that if he didn't say anything, she really would follow the rules and force herself to stay awake.
He sighed. "I am not sleepy. You go to sleep." Seeing her still hesitate, he had no choice but to add another sentence. "Between us as husband and wife, why is there a need for so many rules?"
At the man's words, Xiang Yi lowered her head and fell silent. Neither of them spoke, and the room grew quiet again. Outside, there were scattered firecrackers set off by children. Along with the candles in the room, they made occasional crackling sounds.
Xiang Yi only held on for a little while longer before her eyelids began to fight again. She almost bumped her head against the window. She looked up and noticed the man at the desk, looking helpless yet not knowing how to speak. Xiang Yi was also very helpless. Fearing she would embarrass herself again, she finally stood up, gave him a word of greeting, and went to the inner room to sleep.
Only after she spoke did she notice that his expression had softened. Xiang Yi didn't have the energy to look into it further; she closed her eyes and actually slept until dawn.
However, on this first day of the New Year, as soon as she woke up, she heard hurried footsteps outside. The voice of Zheng Ji came through, announcing someone's arrival. The man, who either hadn't slept or had woken up early, called him into the room.
"What is the matter?"
"Master, the fifth son of the Chen family of Fengling, has come to visit."
The man paused. "You mean Chen Fuyou, the thousand-man commander of the Brocade Guards? Why has he come on the first day of the New Year?"
Zheng Ji said that the Fifth Master Chen also knew it was improper to visit on the first day of the New Year. "But Fifth Master Chen asks for your forgiveness, Master. The Brocade Guards are trying to catch a person of great importance. This person disappeared in our Ningnan Prefecture. Fifth Master Chen has likely come to ask for your assistance."
After all, in the Ningnan area, neither the prefectural office nor the various county offices could compare to the Tan family of Qinglong.
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"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." Today, we join together in remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross and the profound sacrifice that changed the world forever. Have a blessed and reflective Good Friday.
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