AD (QT) Chapter 139

After finishing his tasks, Han Ze stood outside the study and peered in. He saw his daughters all focused intently on their books. Only Han Xiaodong’s expression was unnatural, carrying a look of shame. He looked at Han Shubuo with surprise, and the boy blinked back at him.

Han Ze raised his hand, signaling for his son to come out and talk.

The father and son walked to the gazebo in the garden and sat down. Han Ze asked, “You’ve always been the one receiving a teacher’s guidance; how does it feel to be the one teaching others?”

“Not bad.”

Han Shubuo looked up and smiled. “They aren’t taking the Imperial Exams, and they’ve already finished the Four Books. There’s no rush to learn more advanced academic knowledge, so I’m letting them read some essays and travelogues first to broaden their horizons.”

Han Ze nodded. “Mm, good. It’ll prevent them from developing a flighty temperament by reading nothing but play scripts and romance stories like your aunt did.”

Han Shubuo nodded in agreement. “Aunt is currently reading Admonitions for Women. Once she’s finished, I plan to have her read Classic of Filial Piety for Women and Regulations for Women to reshape her character.”

Han Ze’s lip twitched. After a long pause, he asked, “What if she finishes all of those and her personality still doesn’t change?”

It was important to remember that while some could be enlightened, others were simply beyond teaching.

Han Shubuo said in a heavy tone, “If she truly cannot change, then we simply won’t bother with her. Let her do as she pleases, and she can bear the consequences of her actions herself in the future.”

Han Ze offered no objection. Knowing his father agreed with his decision made Han Shubuo quite happy. He was a xiucai now; even though he was young, his father would consider his views on family matters. This was one of the many benefits of having an official title.

After a moment, Han Ze looked at Han Shubuo again. “A scholar can be exempt from taxes on eighty mu of land. In the future, if you become a juren, that exemption increases to three hundred mu. I plan to buy five hundred mu and put them in your name as your private property. What do you think?”

Five hundred mu? How much silver would that cost?

Han Shubuo was stunned for a moment. “Dad, is there a need?”

He was a scholar now, and his brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were all top-grade, costing vast amounts of silver every year. He felt embarrassed to take on private property as well.

But Han Ze insisted, “In a while, once this batch of flowers is sold, I’ll go to the county seat to see if I can buy a small manor.”

Han Shubuo frowned. “Doesn’t our family already have two manors in the county?”

Han Ze said, “Those two cannot be given to you. I’ll buy a smaller one as a reward for you passing the exams.”

Seeing his father was determined, Han Shubuo said no more. He returned to the study and saw the girls were still immersed in their books. He sat at his desk, took out a book he had bought in the prefectural city, and began to read.

An hour later, Han Shubuo asked, “Have you all finished reading?”

Han Shuxin and her sisters shook their heads. Han Shubuo looked at Han Xiaodong. “Aunt, what about you?”

Han Xiaodong nodded. Admonitions for Women wasn’t long, and she had finished it.

Not surprised, Han Shubuo asked, “Do you understand the meaning within it?”

Han Xiaodong stammered, “I… I mostly understand.”

Han Shubuo pressed further, “What are your thoughts after reading it?”

Han Xiaodong felt humiliated and a bit angry. Her nephew gave her no face at all, leaving her with zero dignity as an elder. How would her nieces respect her in the future? She gripped the book tightly, her lips pursed, and said nothing.

Han Shubuo didn’t mind. He pulled out two more books and placed them in front of her. “Since you have no thoughts, read these two as well. If you still have no thoughts after these, then memorize them. That way, in the future, when you act, perhaps remembering these words will give you pause.”

Han Xiaodong looked at the first book: Regulations for Women? She frowned, a bad premonition rising in her heart. She looked at the next one: Classic of Filial Piety for Women?

She snapped her head up to look at Han Shubuo. “Shubuo, what do you mean by this? I came here to learn to read with you, not to read this mess of books.”

Who are you insulting? she thought. If anyone was unfilial, it was this brat—she was his aunt, yet he was making her learn “Admonitions” and “Filial Piety.” It was absolutely unfilial.

Han Shubuo frowned. “Aunt thinks Regulations for Women and the Classic of Filial Piety are a ‘mess of books’?”

Han Xiaodong remained silent, but Han Shubuo could see her thoughts at a glance.

The second girl, Han Shuqing, spoke up from the side: “Shubuo, can I read those books?”

Han Xiaodong looked up at Shuqing, who gave a bright smile. “Dad said that the daughters of noble families have to memorize ‘Admonitions’ and ‘Regulations’ from a young age. We are farm girls, but our family is well-off. If even the daughters of the nobility must study these things, then even if we don’t memorize them by heart, we should at least read through them.”

Han Xiaodong’s face heated up. She knew Shuqing was telling the truth, but in this context, the fact that Shubuo made her read them while the nieces didn’t have to made it feel intentional—as if he were using the lesson to say she lacked manners or was unfilial.

Han Shuxin and the other sisters thought carefully about Shuqing’s words. Though they were farmers, they were different from ordinary peasants; they had a deep family foundation, and their choices for marriage in the future would be different.

Their father hadn’t made them learn these books yet likely because he didn’t think they were at that level, or they hadn’t reached that part of the curriculum. Since noble girls had to know these, if someone asked them in the future and they couldn’t recite them, wouldn’t it make people question their upbringing?

Han Shubuo hadn’t expected that what his aunt rejected, his sisters would be so eager to learn. He was dazed for a moment. Han Ze walked in and asked gently, “What’s the matter?”

Han Shubuo gave a bitter smile. “The sisters want to learn ‘Admonitions’ and ‘Regulations’…”

Han Ze paused, picked up the copy of Admonitions for Women in front of Han Xiaodong, and skimmed it. Then he said, “You may learn them.”

Han Shubuo looked at him in surprise. He felt he understood his father; Han Ze wasn’t likely to be the type to favor the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues” or women who strictly followed every rule of these books. So why let them learn it?

Han Ze thought for a moment and said, “I’m letting you learn these not so that your every word and action must strictly follow what is written. Rather, it is so you understand them and master them, turning them into your tools to be used by you.”

The sisters gaped in astonishment, staring at their father. Han Shubuo, however, looked as if he had realized something.

Han Ze continued, “You are girls and don’t need to take the Imperial Exams. You learn to read and study so that you know how to survive better, to make your own judgments, and not to simply follow the crowd…”

Of the sisters, only Han Shuqing truly understood her father’s meaning. The others were only half-sure. Han Xiaodong, however, felt she understood perfectly. She said smugly, “Big Brother means that once we master these rules, we can use them to deal with people who provoke us by saying they have no upbringing?”

Han Ze: “…”

He had to admit, though they all studied under him, there was a reason only this sister had been raised “crooked.” This sister was born with a rebellious streak.

Seeing Han Ze remain silent, Han Xiaodong asked proudly, “Big Brother, am I right?”

Han Ze gave her a speechless look and said, “Fine, if you think you’re right, then you are.”

Han Xiaodong no longer felt any disdain for the books in her hand. Thinking of the humiliation she felt when Shubuo first gave them to her, she now imagined how she would use them against unreasonable people after she married. Regarding them like treasures, she said, “Big Brother, give those books to me. I’ll take them back, memorize them, and then write them out from memory.”

Han Ze gave her the books and turned to Han Shuqing. “What does Shuqing think?”

Han Shuqing thought for a moment. Although she hadn’t read them yet, she generally knew the contents. She said thoughtfully, “Since these are required learning for noble ladies, those women must act according to these rules in social situations. In the eyes of the nobility, this is a sign of a woman’s upbringing and etiquette; it is the key by which a woman is measured…”

She paused and shot an embarrassed look at her father.

Han Ze encouraged her, “Go on!”

Shuqing’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Dad said that by studying, we learn to survive and have our own views. We cannot fight against the nobility, so I feel we should learn these rules and keep them in our hearts. As for whether we act according to them, that depends on where we are and who we are with.”

Han Ze nodded. “Good. You have your own insights.”

Han Shuqing smiled. Han Xiaodong, however, was incredibly awkward. Compared to Shuqing, her interpretation was shallow and blatantly opportunistic. Feeling ashamed and annoyed, she argued, “There’s a ‘Classic of Filial Piety’ here too. Do you have to ‘measure’ things even when practicing filial piety?”

Han Ze frowned, his expression turning displeased.

Han Xiaodong looked at them stubbornly.

Han Shuqing asked blankly, “Filial piety is in the heart; why do you need to read a book to learn it?”

Han Ze laughed. Han Shubuo laughed too.

Han Xiaodong, however, froze.

Shuqing added, “There’s no need to measure it. Respecting elders comes from within; if you want to be filial, you just are. If you aren’t filial, then of course you’d have to think about it so much.”

Han Xiaodong felt that studying here was simply a self-inflicted humiliation.

In reality, she was overthinking it. Finding a man she liked was fine; they were a farm family and didn’t have that many strict rules. But she shouldn’t have defied her parents for a man, especially by giving her belongings to him before marriage. That was why they were displeased.

Returning to her room, she collapsed on the bed and began to wail.

Wang Lanhua heard the commotion, frowned, and went to her room. She asked irritably, “What are you crying for?”

Han Xiaodong just kept crying and ignored her. When she heard the question, her sobs actually grew louder.

After the Qian Hong incident, Wang Lanhua had lost most of her patience with this daughter. Annoyed by the crying, she shouted, “What exactly are you crying for?!”

Startled, Han Xiaodong stopped sobbing. Wang Lanhua roared again, “Speak!”

Only then did Han Xiaodong take out a handkerchief to messily wipe her eyes, her voice shaky and choked with sobs. “Sh-Shubuo, Shuqing, and Big Brother… th-they all bullied me.”

Wang Lanhua was speechless. She thought something serious had happened.

Han Xiaodong sobbed, “I’m not studying with them anymore.”

Wang Lanhua countered, “Those children are all sensible. They wouldn’t bully you for no reason.”

Han Xiaodong looked at her mother in anger. “Mom, I’m your daughter! Why don’t you believe me?”

“Then tell me how they bullied you. A grown aunt like you—how do you have the face to even say it?”

Wang Lanhua thought to herself: You’re my daughter, but Shubuo and the girls are my grandchildren. Even if we aren’t blood-related, they are closer to me than blood.

Han Xiaodong sniffled. “Han Shubuo made me read ‘Admonitions,’ ‘Regulations,’ and ‘Filial Piety’… he… he even said I was unfilial…”

Wang Lanhua laughed. “Shubuo wasn’t wrong. You are unfilial. You should read those books. I don’t know what’s in them, but from the titles, they are exactly the books you should be reading.”

With red-rimmed eyes, Han Xiaodong thought: Shubuo is a nephew; I can ignore him. But I can’t ignore my mother. After all, my mother wouldn’t harm me. “Mom, do you really think I should read them? Do you really think I’m that disgraceful?”

Feeling both angry and pained for her, Wang Lanhua sighed. “Xiaodong, you’re eighteen and your marriage isn’t settled. Two years ago, matchmakers were nearly breaking down our door, but lately, everyone who comes is asking for Shuxin and Shuqing. If you keep being picky, the nieces will marry and you’ll still be at home.”

Han Xiaodong pursed her lips. Do I not want to marry? It was just that the ones who came were all “crooked melons and split dates.” Marrying such people—wouldn’t that be humiliating? When her sister and brother-in-law married, her brother-in-law was at least a scholar. Even if he wasn’t, he was handsome and tall. If she married poorly, she would be too ashamed to visit her relatives.

Wang Lanhua was so anxious she had developed mouth sores. She said angrily, “If you keep this up, your father and I will settle a marriage for you, and you won’t have a say in the matter!” She poked her daughter’s forehead hard. “You really are trying to be the death of me!”

Wang Lanhua asked sternly, “Exactly what kind of family are you looking for? Speak up!”

Han Xiaodong whispered, “At least… at least not worse than Brother-in-law’s family.”

Wang Lanhua frowned. “Your brother-in-law is a juren. There are only a few in this entire region, and they are all already married. Where am I going to find such a match for you?”

Han Xiaodong kept her head down. “A xiucai would be fine. Brother-in-law was a xiucai back then.”

Wang Lanhua could only say, “Your brother will have to handle this.”

Han Xiaodong felt awkward. Her brother was already sick of her; she didn’t know if he would be willing to bother with her affairs.

If it weren’t for Wang Lanhua, Han Ze truly might not have cared. But out of respect for her and the old man—who was also secretly worried—he looked through the families he’d met over the years. He picked a young man he felt was suitable.

“This family is in the county seat and is in trade. The one I’m considering is the second son. He has no academic title and won’t inherit the business, but he will receive a significant portion of the family assets. His life will be wealthy and comfortable. Talk to Xiaodong; if she agrees, they can meet.”

Wang Lanhua thought it sounded good. Even without a title, commerce meant comfort. She said with a smile, “I’ll talk to her.”

Han Ze nodded noncommittally. Under her mother’s persuasion, although she was still a bit dissatisfied about the lack of a title, Han Xiaodong agreed to try.

After Han Ze discussed it with the young man’s father, they set a date. He took Han Maode, Wang Lanhua, and Han Xiaodong to the county seat. After the meeting, Xiaodong’s dissatisfaction vanished. The young man’s looks were impeccable—even better than her brother-in-law’s. Furthermore, as a farm girl marrying into the county seat, it was considered a “marrying up.” She had nothing to complain about.

Han Ze wasn’t surprised at all. The young man, though without a title, was handsome beyond measure, far surpassing Qian Hong. He was also frank and bold. Han Xiaodong was quite superficial when it came to looks, so he knew she would be smitten. In fact, he felt the young man was the one being slightly wronged by the match.

With the marriage settled, Han Ze didn’t skimp on the dowry. If he did, he wouldn’t be punishing Xiaodong; he would be offending the groom’s family. He wouldn’t do something so foolish.

As for the courtyard house in town he had originally promised, since she was marrying into the county seat, it was no longer appropriate. Since he was buying a manor for Shubuo anyway, he bought a small courtyard in the county for Xiaodong for five hundred taels. He didn’t buy her land; instead, he bought her a shop. Since the groom’s family was in trade, a shop would be more useful.

Receiving the deed from her brother, Han Xiaodong cried. With red eyes, she said, “Brother, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“I’m giving you a dowry not for your sake, but for our parents. I can’t bear to see the two elders worry.” Han Ze didn’t care about her apology, but seeing her shame, he added, “It’s good if you truly realize your mistake. At least Shubuo’s effort wasn’t wasted.”

He didn’t care if she repented, but Shubuo truly viewed her as family. Despite teaching her a lesson, it was for her own good. If she harbored resentment, then Shubuo’s heart would have been spent in vain.

Han Xiaodong felt awkward but said, “I did feel humiliated and angry at the time, and I even wanted to hit the kid. But after reading those books… I realized he was right. I was unfilial and flighty. If I continued to act as I did, even if I married into the county seat, my life wouldn’t be good.”

Han Ze hummed, giving her a surprised look. Seeing she truly repented, he felt a measure of relief. At least his son’s effort had a result.

…

Not long after Han Xiaodong’s marriage, Han Shubuo prepared to go to the government school in the county seat.

Even though his grandson was a scholar, he was only ten. Han Maode couldn’t be at ease. He said to Han Ze, “I want to accompany Shubuo to the county.”

Han Ze didn’t refuse. “Fine. We have a house there with servants; go if you wish.”

Wang Lanhua asked, “What about me?”

Han Maode waved a hand. “Xiaodong only just returned for a visit after her wedding, and Xiaochun also has a house in the county. Both daughters are there; you go too, so you can see them.”

Wang Lanhua looked at Han Ze. He nodded. “The county house is large. Go if you like. When you’re bored, you can invite the two sisters over to keep you company.”

Ge Hongbu looked at her son with reluctance. She said tentatively, “I… I want to go with Shubuo too.”

Han Ze: “…”

Wang Lanhua looked at Han Ze with a smile and said, “You can’t go. Shuxin and Shuqing are nearing the age for marriage. If you, their mother, aren’t home, what will happen?”

At this, the sisters hid in their rooms in shame. Ge Hongbu realized she had forgotten. Han Ze said helplessly, “Fine. Let’s all go. The whole family will move to the county seat to accompany Shubuo.”

Wang Lanhua immediately understood Han Ze’s intent. It would be hard to find suitable matches for the sisters in the countryside; they would have better luck in the county seat.

…

When Liu Jiahua heard Han Ze’s family was moving to the county, she finally panicked.

She had hurt her waist previously, and when she complained to Han Ze, he said her injury was caused by Han Chengming and his brothers. Since she was their mother, they couldn’t ignore her; the cost of the doctor and medicine was split between the four sons. Han Ze had also given her a few taels of silver.

But what could those few taels do? It all went to medicine. Her health improved enough for her to walk, but she was miserable. She craved meat but didn’t want to spend her silver; she had to be stingy with every purchase.

Looking at Wang Lanhua, she saw her wearing gold and silver with maids to serve her. Wang Lanhua was only a stepmother, yet Han Ze was so filial. After everything, Liu Jiahua stopped trying to compete; she just wanted to be able to eat her fill of meat.

She looked at Han Ze and said, ” I have no other requests; I just want to eat meat every day. That isn’t too much, is it? I heard your maids and servants eat meat every day. I’m your mother—I may not have raised you, but I’m the one who birthed you. You can’t even grant this tiny request?”

Han Ze saw her tragic expression and knew that to an outsider, he would look like an unfilial son. But she was right—the Original Owner was birthed by her. However, giving her silver for meat would just benefit Han Xingwang’s family. He looked at her and suddenly smiled. “Fine. I’ll tell the maids at the manor to cook half a bowl of meat every day and bring it to you. Is half a bowl enough?”

He wouldn’t do this for anyone else, but this family was truly loathsome.

Liu Jiahua froze. Half a bowl was enough for her, but what about the rest of the family?

She frowned. “That’s too much trouble. Just give me the silver and I’ll buy and cook it myself.”

Han Ze laughed. “Since we’re all moving to the county, the maids at home will have nothing to do. If I don’t give them tasks, won’t I be wasting silver?”

Liu Jiahua gave a dry laugh. To her, Han Ze was like an “iron rooster”—every penny was counted. If she argued, even this half-bowl might disappear, so she agreed. Something was better than nothing.

Only after Han Ze left did she realize that half a bowl of meat, meant only for her, was not easy to eat. Within a few days, her family was full of complaints. They whispered about her eating alone, and even her daughters-in-law stopped listening to her, speaking to her in sarcastic tones. When she scolded them, her sons took their wives’ side, leaving her fuming with rage.