AD (QT) Chapter 123

Han Ze really wasn’t overthinking it, nor was he being vain; Ge Cuiju truly still harbored the desire to become his concubine. After her second husband died, it wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about marrying again, but she simply hadn’t encountered a suitable match.

She figured that since her cousin hadn’t been able to give Han Ze a healthy son over the years, Han Ze must be getting anxious. Although the man lacked a backbone, she couldn’t ignore the fact that his family had land and plenty to eat and drink. If she could just bear him a son, the rest of her life would be secure. The only problem was figuring out how to get Han Ze to agree to endure the beating to take her in.

Ge Cuiju’s gaze was too scorching, and the looks from Ge’s parents and Ge Hongbu were too anxious. Han Ze sat in his chair and said something seemingly unrelated: “Dad, Mom, our Xiaoliu is all better now. Once he’s speaking fluently next year, I plan to send him to the school in town.”

The unease in Ge Hongbu’s heart vanished. That’s right—Xiaoliu wasn’t a fool anymore, and he could speak. She knew her husband’s expectations for their son, and she knew the Han clan rules even better. Even if he wanted to take a concubine, he couldn’t. She had nothing to worry about.

Ge’s parents thought the same; they had worried for nothing. Now that Xiaoliu was normal, according to the Han rules, their son-in-law would never think of taking a concubine again. Cuiju’s hopes were bound to be dashed. Relieved, Ge’s mother smiled and said, “I’ll go slaughter a chicken. Old man, help me catch it.”

Hearing Han Ze’s words, Ge Cuiju’s body stiffened. Xiaoliu was better? Han Ze was even sending him to school? When did this happen?

Hearing Ge’s mother, she looked up: “Auntie, can I have lunch at your house today?”

Ge’s mother was a bit unwilling. Normally, she wouldn’t begrudge someone a single meal, but since her son-in-law was here and Cuiju had those intentions, she didn’t want the girl staying around. However, since Cuiju had asked, it would be awkward to refuse. She could only say, “Fine. Just you, so you don’t have to go back and prepare food.”

Ge Hongbu stood up. “Mother, I’ll help you.”

Ge’s mother said without thinking, “No need. Stay here and keep Han Ze company.”

Silly daughter, she thought, with Cuiju here, shouldn’t you be a bit more mindful and watch Han Ze? Why go to the kitchen? Even if the Han rules forbade concubines, what if Cuiju was determined and tried something crooked? If something happened, how Han Ze felt about it might not be up to him to decide.

Ge Hongbu gave a bitter smile and followed her mother into the kitchen anyway. She knew her mother’s thoughts, but if Han Ze had other ideas, it wouldn’t matter even if she watched him every second of the day.

Ge’s mother shook her head and sighed, “You… oh, you!”

Ge Hongbu lowered her head and began chopping vegetables, saying nothing.

…

With the parents and Ge Hongbu gone, Han Ze ignored Ge Cuiju and spoke only with his brothers-in-law. Every time Ge Cuiju tried to strike up a conversation, he brushed her off or changed the subject.

Ge Cuiju felt a hidden resentment. She said jokingly, “Brother-in-law is truly good to Big Sister. Even after she had so many girls and Xiaoliu was a fool, Brother-in-law never thought of divorcing her or taking a concubine…”

The two brothers-in-law frowned. What kind of thing was that to say?

Han Ze paused and then said, “Taking a concubine is for the sake of continuing the bloodline. Now that Xiaoliu is fine, why take one? Besides, while I look sturdy, I wouldn’t survive two hundred strokes of the board. I have no desire to turn myself into a cripple just for a concubine.”

The eldest brother-in-law smiled, looking at Han Ze with a satisfied gaze.

Ge Cuiju’s face darkened. She knew Han Ze was a coward; otherwise, she would have entered the Han household long ago. She gave a hollow laugh. “Is it really that serious? Besides, for the sake of a son, two hundred strokes is actually worth it.”

Seeing she still hadn’t given up, Han Ze said with a smile, “One cannot live life solely for the sake of a son. Besides, I already have a son. I’m not willing to stake the rest of my life on having more. One son to carry on the name is enough. If you have too many, you have to raise them, get them wives, and eventually support grandsons too. It wastes strength and silver. To waste a perfectly good life on birthing and raising sons—in my view, that’s a losing deal.”

The eldest brother-in-law’s lip twitched. Should he be glad his sister only had one son?

Ge Cuiju’s expression turned even uglier. No matter how she sliced it, Han Ze simply didn’t want a concubine. Her face went black as she couldn’t help but ask mockingly, “Do you really cherish Ge Hongbu that much?”

Han Ze’s eyelid jumped, and he said unpleasantly, “That is not for you to ask.”

The eldest brother-in-law had also reached the end of his patience. If he didn’t realize Cuiju’s intentions by now, he would have lived his thirty-plus years in vain. He was furious; he had never seen a sister covet her brother-in-law so blatantly. Who gave her the nerve?

He barked, “Ge Cuiju, have you lost your mind?!”

Ge Cuiju sat expressionlessly, her defiance clear to everyone.

Han Ze glanced at his brother-in-law. “Brother, I’m going out to check on Xiaoliu.”

The eldest brother-in-law grunted in response. Ge Cuiju watched Han Ze’s back, suddenly stood up, and ran out. The brother-in-law jumped in alarm, thinking she was going after Han Ze, but he saw her run past Han Ze and keep going until she was gone. He breathed a sigh of relief. At least the girl hadn’t gone completely insane.

…

After returning from the Ge house, Han Ze put Ge Cuiju out of his mind and focused on teaching the children at home.

During the autumn harvest, Han Ze hired help and paid them wages. It took half a month to finish the fields. After the harvest, he took back the land he had rented to Han Xingwang’s family. Liu Jiahua made a scene, but it was useless.

Once the wheat was sown, Han Ze resumed teaching the children.

Wang Lanhua’s two sons were already married with children of their own. Han Maode had built their houses next to the Han residence. They had seen Han Ze’s actions lately; since their own children were of age to learn, they had some thoughts about letting Han Ze teach them, but they found it awkward to bring up.

Wang Lanhua’s first husband’s surname was Chen. Her eldest son was Chen Dashui, married to Madame Zheng; the second was Chen Xiaoshui, married to Madame Yang.

What the men found hard to mention, the women had no qualms about. Zheng and Yang went to Ge Hongbu to discuss the matter.

Regarding her sisters-in-law’s request, Ge Hongbu felt conflicted. Xiaoliu had returned to normal and was speaking much more. She heard from Da Niu that Xiaoliu was very bright and talented at studying—he might really pass the exams one day. Because of this, Han Ze had been in a great mood and hadn’t lost his temper. Even so, she didn’t dare agree on his behalf. Who knew if Han Ze would flare up again?

She only said, “I’ll have to ask Han Ze about this.”

The two women understood and didn’t pressure her, unaware that even the request itself was a burden for her. Nevertheless, Ge Hongbu found a moment to ask Han Ze. He frowned. “Our six children plus my two sisters makes eight students. If the nephews come too, the study won’t be big enough to fit them all.”

Besides, he wasn’t a professional schoolteacher. If they really wanted the kids to study, why not send them to the village school? It wouldn’t cost much silver.

Ge Hongbu agreed. “I’ll tell my sisters-in-law.”

Han Ze said, “I’ll tell Mother myself. You stay out of it so you don’t get blamed.”

Ge Hongbu stared at Han Ze’s back in a daze. Was her husband… showing concern for her?

…

Han Ze went into the courtyard. Wang Lanhua was stitching a shoe sole while Han Maode smoked his pipe nearby. Han Ze sat down. “Mother, the two sisters-in-law went to Ge Hongbu hoping I could teach my nephews. The study is too small; it’s not right to cram the kids together. Besides, come spring, I plan to send Xiaoliu to the private school in town. The nephews should go to the village school or the town school; the teaching there is better anyway.”

Wang Lanhua paused and put down the shoe sole. “Zheng and Yang said that?”

Han Ze confirmed it. Wang Lanhua nodded. “I understand. I’ll talk to your brothers.”

After Han Ze left, Wang Lanhua couldn’t help but frown. Sending a child to the village school didn’t cost much, but her two sons had grown so accustomed to being frugal that they were stingy even about their own children’s education. This wasn’t frugality; this was being a miser.

She called her two sons over and scolded them: “Your father raised you, built your houses, and got you wives—a biological father couldn’t have done more. We usually don’t ask for your filial support, yet you won’t even pay for your own children’s schooling? You want to take advantage of every little thing? Is that how I raised you?”

Chen Dashui and Chen Ershui were filled with shame. Seeing they knew their mistake, Wang Lanhua added, “No matter how much silver your father has, it has nothing to do with you. If it’s not yours, don’t want it and don’t plot for it. Silver earned by your own hands is the only kind that feels solid. Go find some work in town during the slack season. You can earn dozens of copper coins a day; over a winter, it adds up to a lot. Look at Han Chengming to see what happens to those who try to be clever. I heard his two sons are doing well at the village school, but now he’s running all over the village trying to borrow silver for their tuition and no one will lend him a cent… I don’t want my sons to end up like that.”

The two brothers felt even more ashamed. It wasn’t that they had no silver; they were just reluctant to spend it on tuition. But their mother was right—they couldn’t expect others to help with everything. Han Ze helping them was a favor; not helping was his right. Chen Dashui said, “Once spring comes, I’ll send the kids to the village school. If they do well, they can go to town later.”

Wang Lanhua felt relieved. “That’s more like it. No matter how poor we are, we can’t skimp on the children’s education. If Xiaochun and Xiaodong had been allowed to study back then, their marriage prospects wouldn’t be so difficult now.”

The brothers always listened to their mother. The next day, they went to town to find work and earn silver.

…

Xiaoliu did indeed have a certain level of intellect. In Han Ze’s view, this boy had more talent for studying than his son-in-law who had been a Top Scholar in a previous life. He could memorize many things after just two explanations. By the end of the year, Han Ze intentionally slowed the pace, but the boy still finished several primer books. Meanwhile, Da Niu and her sisters, because they had to spend time learning embroidery, had only just finished the Three Character Classic.

Thinking that Xiaoliu would be going to private school after the New Year, Han Ze considered giving the children proper names. Calling them Da Niu, Er Niu, San Niu, Si Niu, Wu Niu, and Xiaoliu wasn’t appropriate anymore.

When the girls heard their father was going to give them names, they were eager. Now that they were literate, they also wanted beautiful-sounding names.

Han Ze said with a smile, “Don’t worry. I’ll give all of you wonderful names.”

Hearing their father’s promise, the girls were finally at ease.