Chapter 34: The First Step (Part 2)

“My husband is a strange man.”

“Hm?”

Snow was falling. The couple, husband and wife, stood on either side of a pillar, gazing at the continuous courtyards around them. Su Tan'er turned her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“Actually, it’s not really that my husband is strange; when I was a child, Tan’er also loved standing here on this balcony. Has my husband noticed? The view from here is the best.” She pointed into the distance. “Look, that’s father and mother’s courtyard… Second Auntie’s… Grandfather’s is a little blocked… Third Uncle is over there… That lantern, it must be Wenying and her group walking by…”

Under the night sky, the various sections of the Su Manor were clearly delineated by Su Tan’er’s指点. There were also figures holding lanterns, moving through the courtyards, which Su Tan’er pointed out with ease. After a moment, she thought a little.

“When I was little, I didn’t live here, but I often liked to come here to play, sitting on this balcony looking around. When my nanny couldn’t find me, she knew to come here to look. When I saw my nanny coming, I would often hide inside. Heh, I always hid in the same spot. Nanny was silly. Once, I changed my hiding spot, and she couldn’t find me. She called out for a long time outside…”

“Whenever Nanny came looking for me, she would say the wind was strong up here, or that it was time to eat. My husband might not know, but when I was little, I was very healthy; a little wind wouldn’t make me sick at all. I liked running around and playing like a boy, but they later stopped playing with me. As for eating, why eat? Sometimes I didn't even feel hungry. When I asked Nanny, she didn't know either. Ha, when Mother gave birth to me, Father said he wanted a boy to inherit the family business, but it was a girl. Father said it was fine, at least a well-bred young lady. Actually, I’m not really like a well-bred young lady…”

She lifted her chin and laughed, but there was no shadow in her smile. Even if she wasn't deeply learned at this moment, in terms of appearance and demeanor, she certainly looked the part of a well-bred young lady.

“So later… well, later, when I could choose my own courtyard, I moved here with Xiao Chan and the others. My husband might not know, but when I first dared to move in, I lived in the room on this side, because the view from here was better. However… later I moved over there. Does my husband know why?”

“You couldn't see others, and others couldn't see you, right?” Ning Yi replied casually.

Su Tan’er was silent for a moment. “My husband, did you… ever have any ideals or ambitions?”

“Me?” Ning Yi thought back to a long time ago. “I wanted to build houses.”

“Uh?” This answer clearly surprised Su Tan’er. After a moment, she said, “Build houses? Like… a mason?”

“Haha.” Ning Yi looked up and laughed. “That’s right, a mason, or a carpenter… well, something like that.”

“I never would have thought of that…” Su Tan’er murmured. Ning Yi tapped his fingers lightly on the railing, then took out a washed preserved egg and handed it over, past the wooden pillar. “Oh, right, try this.”

“A duck egg?”

With the snow falling, the light shining up from below onto this corridor was quite ample, but it wasn't enough to discern the slight variations in the duck egg’s shell patterns. Su Tan’er didn’t mind much. She took the duck egg, tapped it gently on the railing a few times, and slowly began to peel it. After peeling a few pieces, she stopped.

“When I… when I was little, I actually wanted to be a magician… Heh, of course, that was just a thought. Our family invited opera troupes to perform every year, and when I was little, it seemed so magical. I always thought if I learned it, maybe I could fly or become an immortal. Later, I did learn a few things, just like you taught Xiao Chan the other day, my husband, look…”

She extended her left hand. Amidst the snowflakes, her fair wrist gleamed as if radiating light. In her slender, delicate fingers, she held the few pieces of eggshell she had just peeled. Then, her fingers gently rubbed them, and shimmering dust scattered downwards from her fingertips like fine threads, magical and exquisite. This was probably a secret technique she learned from those performers. After the display, she laughed softly, quite pleased.

“But of course, Father and Mother would never allow me to be a performer. When I was too young, I didn't notice some things, but as I gradually grew up, I realized that Father and Mother were both a little unhappy. Father wanted a male heir, but even after marrying two concubines, he still couldn't give me a younger brother or sister. Sometimes, Father would, of course… of course, he would feel…”

Perhaps finding the words difficult, Su Tan’er paused for a long time before taking a deep breath. “Anyway… from then on, I felt very strange… Why couldn’t a girl inherit the family business? They clearly didn't do anything better than me. Even when they went to the academy to study poetry and arithmetic, I dressed up as a boy and went too… Of course, I’d be seen through, but no matter what, I wouldn't leave, not even if they beat me or scolded me. I had to sit there and listen to the whole lesson. Thankfully, it was the family’s own academy, and later Grandfather also gave his permission… So now, the girls like Xiao Qi can go to the academy to listen to classes; that’s because I was so stubborn…”

As she spoke, she slowly continued peeling the eggshell. She smiled faintly, then suddenly seemed to discover something, uttering an “Eh?” She held up the half-peeled preserved egg, its amber-colored egg white and patterns glowing against the lamplight below.

Ning Yi turned, leaning against the railing. “It’s a preserved egg. You can eat it.”

“Hm?”

She had never seen a duck egg like this before. Su Tan’er thought for a moment, then brought the preserved egg to her mouth, took a bite, and returned to the main topic.

“I know, my husband, you might not like to hear these things. Men don’t like to hear women talk about such matters. I’ve never told anyone else, but I feel… I must tell my husband, even if my husband dislikes it… Tan’er wants to say that Tan’er is not an autocratic, overbearing, or tyrannical woman. Having been with my husband for half a year, I think my husband’s disposition might be able to listen to these strange thoughts. Tan’er truly wants to… wants to manage the Su family well, but it’s just this feeling. Tan’er and my husband are a married couple; we have a promise to grow old together. Tan’er doesn’t want my husband to be like them, holding too many grudges against me… If… if…”

She struggled to choose her words. Ning Yi smiled. “What if I really went off to be a mason?”

Su Tan’er thought for a moment and laughed. “I also want to be a juggler.”

“Heh, actually…” Ning Yi took a folded piece of Xuan paper from his sleeve, unfurled it with a few waves in the air, and handed it to Su Tan’er. “Take a look at this.”

The light was dim. The Xuan paper had some strange drawings done with a brush, and various other模糊 patterns. Su Tan’er looked at Ning Yi with slight confusion, then took the drawing and examined it carefully in the faint light.

The objects on the Xuan paper all looked somewhat odd, and many parts had lines and characters that were completely incomprehensible, somewhat resembling Persian or foreign scripts. After looking for a while, Su Tan’er admitted she couldn’t understand it. She looked up. “My husband, is this… the investigation of things?” She might not understand the drawing, but she could somewhat guess its category. Her family’s business started with silk weaving, so she had naturally seen many loom diagrams. In terms of complexity, it was hard to say which was more intricate.

In this era, Confucianism valued humanities over the investigation of things. Su Tan’er never imagined that her usually detached husband, whose actions were often puzzling, was actually seriously researching such matters. In fact, the Su family also had skilled craftsmen dedicated to improving weaving machines, but they were generally treated as repairmen. Artisans and craftsmen indeed held a low social status in this society; even exaggerating by calling it the “investigation of things” wouldn't make others understand. Although many years later, the so-called "investigation of things and extension of knowledge" would be understood as the emphasis on physics within Confucianism, in this era, the true "investigation of things" had little to do with these practical matters. They explored the inherent laws of things as a direction of life philosophy. If it developed into physics, it would be considered peculiar and immoral, despised by people.

However, as a merchant who could understand the value of artisans, Su Tan’er clearly had no prejudice against this. Ning Yi smiled. “I do it when I’m bored; I wonder if there will be any results in two or three years…”

Su Tan’er said, “Actually, there are a few old masters in the family who have some insights into these things, but…” She didn’t discriminate against them, but after all, artisans had low status. If her husband were to spend all his time talking to them about these things, even if those old men were respected in the Su family, Ning Yi would clearly face criticism. At this moment, she hesitated to speak further, but Ning Yi shook his head.

“It’s not urgent; I just like to think about it when I have nothing to do.”

“But I don’t know what these drawings my husband made are for.”

Ning Yi paused. “It’s for eating. It’s hard to explain right now.”

He looked at the object in Su Tan’er’s hand. Su Tan’er then noticed it too and reacted, looking at the preserved egg, only a small portion of which remained. “Could it be… this also belongs to my husband…”

“Yes, basically.”

Su Tan’er was stunned for a moment, then put the remaining small piece of preserved egg into her mouth, slowly chewing and swallowing it. Ning Yi looked towards the distant courtyards. Su Tan’er leaned on the railing with both hands, lowering her head, lost in thought. After a long while, she quietly began to smile, a smile that seemed to show a realization, as if she felt she had done something superfluous.

“Actually, my husband already knew what Tan’er was going to say, didn’t you?”

After a moment, Ning Yi nodded. “I could probably guess some of it.”

“My husband is not a bookworm.”

“Heh…”

“My husband’s stories in the academy have deeper meaning.”

“Those were actually just off the cuff.”

Su Tan’er ignored him, looking into the distance, and continued, “The poem ‘Shui Diao Ge Tou’ wasn’t said by a Taoist priest either.”

“My husband is a talented man.”

“Ahem, I really am not…”

Su Tan’er had made up her mind about certain things and was now talking to herself. After a while, she turned her head to look at him. This time, it was probably a question. “But, my husband, that day at the He Manor, did you really see through the He family’s intentions and also guess about the Xue family’s affairs?”

Ning Yi looked into her eyes for a few seconds. “If I said yes, would you believe me?”

“Then my husband would be born with knowledge, and all of Tan’er’s years of experience would be completely useless…”

Su Tan’er wrinkled her nose, smiling brightly. She had clearly found her own answer. On this point, she was actually quite confident, and this confidence had its basis. In fact, for Ning Yi, it wasn't truly a correct guess; he just happened to coincide with the He family’s thoughts due to some fragmented information. Since Su Tan’er thought this way, Ning Yi naturally didn’t need to explain anything.

“My husband is a strange man,” she concluded.

“My wife is too, aren’t you?”

“Heh.” Su Tan’er laughed happily. “Tan’er is relieved.”

Snow fell silently, covering the entire city of Jiangning. In this bustling human world, the sound of laughter was like a warm yellow window quietly opening in a corner, gently enveloped by the vast expanse of heaven and earth.

It was the winter of the seventh year of Jinghan in the Wu Dynasty. Time seemed like an eternal painting, and in the heavy snow, there was a profound tranquility.

In Song Mao’s courtyard.

The lamplight in the room flickered, shadows swaying faintly on the window lattice. The young man had already entered and paid his respects. On one side of the room, a straightforward, honest-looking middle-aged man sat at the table, writing, while casually chatting with the other person. As for what he was saying, perhaps not a single word registered in the young man's mind.

Su Wenxing dared not question his uncle. At this moment, he could only go along with the conversation, hoping his uncle would provide an answer soon.

After an unknown period, a distant bell chime echoed from outside. Song Mao put down his brush and looked up, pressing down on the Xuan paper.

“This letter isn't finished yet; I’ll write it when I return later.” He smiled and stood up, turning to look at his distracted nephew. He then walked over and remained silent for a long while. “Wenxing, how difficult do you think it would be to defeat your sister Tan’er and take control of the Su family?”

Su Wenxing had been preoccupied with Ning Yi, but hearing this question, he seriously considered it. “I dare not deceive Uncle. Sister Tan’er, she… indeed has outstanding abilities. If she truly takes charge of the main branch, your nephew… has no confidence at all…”

It was difficult to say these words, but honesty was clearly most important before his uncle. After Su Wenxing finished speaking, Song Mao shook his head and patted his shoulder. “You’re thinking too much. There’s one thing you must never forget: your sister Tan’er, she’s just a woman.”

“I… I understand, but what she does is truly…”

“You lot, why do you always want to defeat her?” Song Mao smiled. “The Su family is still managed by the Old Patriarch now. Even after he passes away, there are his brothers, and even collateral branches have a say. You must consider that if Su Tan’er truly takes charge of the Su family, when she truly stands alone, the external pressure she faces because of her female identity will be the greatest. The Old Patriarch is giving her an opportunity, allowing her to manage affairs now, but she is still under your elder uncle’s wing. Do you think the pressure she faces within the Su family is greater or smaller than the pressure she will face externally when she eventually takes full control?”

Su Wenxing was confused. “Uncle means…”

“Heh, you… your abilities don’t need to surpass hers, nor do you need to defeat her in the marketplace. As long as she cannot smoothly take over the Su family, swallow up your second and third branches, or directly suppress them. This is how you break the situation. Ultimately, she is just a woman. Her ability would have to be dozens of times greater than yours to achieve what you can achieve, while you only need to maintain the status quo. If her ability cannot control the second and third branches, and she merely maintains the main branch, then the Old Patriarch will absolutely not hand the family over to her. Because as a woman, merely doing that means she cannot bear the responsibility of the Su family. Wenxing, will your second and third branches meekly allow her to swallow you?”

Su Wenxing now understood and was somewhat excited. “How… how could that be? How could we sit idly by and await our demise!” This was practically a battle one could win just by sitting.

“Your father understands this principle, and your third uncle understands it too, but they won’t tell you directly, fearing that you children will lose your fighting spirit. Now that you know the truth, don’t spread it carelessly. What needs to be done, you must still do with all your might, understand?” Song Mao patted his shoulder. “Let’s go. Accompany your uncle to reminisce with your father and mother.”

“Yes.” Su Wenxing nodded, about to follow, then remembered. “But Uncle, what about Ning Yi… he’s Sister Tan’er’s husband. Wouldn’t this be the best opportunity to cause trouble for her?”

“This matter…” Song Mao walked to the side, picked up the cooled sobering tea, and took a sip, carefully choosing his words in his mind. A person who can converse and laugh with the likes of Qin Siyuan and Kang Xian, regardless of whether he has talent or not, is not someone a mere youngster like you can easily contend with. Years of experience in officialdom made him automatically filter out some things. He never liked to speak harshly, but looking back at his nephew, and remembering the genuine affection he held for him over the years, he sighed.

“This matter… let others do what they may, but I want you, Wenxing, to stay out of it. Regardless of whether that Ning Yi has talent or not, you must remember this.” He paused, then uttered the words he least wanted to say that night: “…lest you disgrace yourself.”