Chapter 291

The Li family was busy with wedding preparations, while the Wang family was also arranging for their eldest son to find a suitable match. Everything was ready, just waiting for Wang Xiubo to return to the capital. Unaware of his family's intentions, Wang Xiubo was on his way home, unable to recall how many years it had been since the entire family celebrated the New Year together. He brought a carriage loaded with goods, including seafood his younger brother loved, intending to have a proper conversation with him over the holiday. Between brothers, there were no real barriers.

On the day before Little New Year, everyone in the Wang family had gathered except Wang Xiubo, who was still traveling. They sat around the table, which was laden with several plates of meat, all kinds of meatballs, and vegetables—mainly cabbage and pickled greens. A steaming charcoal hotpot was brought out, and all chopsticks rushed toward the meat, eliciting laughter. Each person picked some slices and dropped them into the pot; Wang Xiujin added plenty of meatballs and cabbage. Clearly, everyone preferred the meat, and as it simmered in the pot, their eyes were fixed on the slices. It didn’t take long for the plates to be emptied, prompting the servants to bring more.

The house had a window half-open for ventilation, but even so, everyone—young and old—ate till they were sweating profusely. Wang Xiujin placed a handkerchief by his son’s side, while Wang Xiuyun occasionally wiped the boy’s brow. Li Linshan and Song Hongyi shed their winter coats, Zhi Yuan looked after his two younger brothers, and Wang Xiujin, along with his elder sister, would sometimes snatch pieces of meat for the three children. The lively scene brought great comfort to Madam Wang.

Usually, Madam Wang and her daughter ate little, but today they indulged more. After the meal, Master Wang summoned Li Linshan and Song Hongyi to the study, while Wang Xiujin sent the children off to play and stayed to chat with his mother and elder sister. They spoke of this family and that, how each fared this year; Wang Xiujin listened with great interest. He never would have imagined that one day, he’d find gossip about the neighbors so amusing. His mother spoke with particular seriousness, though the tales she told sounded much like everyday chatter.

He poked at Zhiyuan’s little face, growing ever fonder of his niece. If anyone mentioned adoption again, he’d rather have a daughter to raise by his side—even if she became a tomboy, so be it. His children would never lack for marriage prospects, and if his daughter wished to go to battle, he wouldn’t stop her. He didn’t believe girls needed to be cloistered, hearing only of the outside world from others. Both boys and girls needed to broaden their horizons to develop a proper worldview.

As dusk approached, Wang Xiujin and Li Linshan took Yachang and left the Wang family home. On the way, Wang Xiujin brought up Li Linyi’s marriage. Li Linshan was silent for a long time, and Wang Xiujin sighed. He knew Li Linshan had suffered greatly as a child; though he understood, he couldn’t truly empathize. Holding Li Linshan’s hand, he thought: The past cannot be judged as right or wrong. Madam Li’s ignorance was like someone stubbornly heading down a dead end, never to turn back, convinced she was right.

"After the New Year, I’ll make a trip to the shipyard. The new warship will be launched, and I’ll have to go out for a while," Wang Xiujin changed the subject, talking about going to sea. He considered whether to visit Kou Garden, perhaps toss a couple of cannonballs to scare them.

Li Linshan said nothing. He’d heard about the warship’s launch, but this time, he couldn’t join Wang Xiujin for the trial. He was to accompany the Fourth Prince south, where they planned to extend the sea wall and even change their usual claims of poverty, building their own coastal defenses. The emperor ordered the Fourth Prince to go, wanting to see if the south truly aimed to guard against Kou Country or had other intentions. Before the imperial decree was formally issued, anything could change. Even knowing the emperor’s decision, Li Linshan didn’t want to worry his family prematurely.

Back at the General’s Mansion, the festive air of the New Year mingled with the joy of wedding preparations. Yet Li Linyi’s status meant that, while the celebration was ample, the scale was modest. No sooner had Wang Xiujin entered than the steward called him away, while Li Linshan took his son to practice martial arts. Yachang was in low spirits; his father rarely had free time, and he hated that he’d be gone again after the New Year. He trained hard, hoping to protect his father, but now felt a sense of uselessness.

Manager Mi discussed with Wang Xiujin about visiting a merchant’s home the next day. Wang Xiujin didn’t object, but he considered Li Linshan’s feelings. Manager Mi was a bit resigned: "You’re just going to make an appearance, nothing more. Once she’s married, things will continue as before. After the New Year, she’ll set up her own household, but when help is needed, you can’t stand by. Linyi is this way, her brother as well; it’s the same for the second and third uncle’s families."

Wang Xiujin nodded, mentioning his second uncle and wondering how things were on the frontier, and about the children. "I wonder if the New Year gifts sent to second uncle arrived. It’s not cold there, but damp, and living long in such conditions isn’t good for the health."

"Frostbite in the north, rheumatism in the south; the garrisoned soldiers have it tough everywhere. Next year, the defensive posts will be swapped north and south, so your second uncle should be able to stay in the capital for a while," Manager Mi recounted what he’d heard from General Li. "The old master hasn’t been well lately. Your courtyard is close to his; pay attention."

The old general looked robust, but years of campaigning had left him with many lingering ailments. Now, his health was not as sturdy as other elders, especially in winter, when all sorts of pains converged, making life difficult. The earth dragon under the floor had helped somewhat these past years. This winter, the emperor, out of sympathy, hadn’t called the old general to court, but age was catching up. A few days ago, he caught a chill and had been coughing since.

Wang Xiujin replied, "Yesterday, the imperial physician visited and checked grandfather’s pulse. He’s much improved since, and the prescriptions have been changed."

Manager Mi nodded. Li Linshan cared more for the old master than for his own father, and naturally took it to heart. "Keep an eye on New Year’s supplies. The palace isn’t holding a banquet this year, so don’t go overboard with the mansion’s reunion dinner."

Wang Xiujin stayed with Manager Mi until supper, then hurried back to change clothes, repeating the conversation to Li Linshan. Li Linshan simply nodded, saying nothing.

The days before the New Year were busy with holiday preparations. Because the Empress Dowager’s illness was uncertain, they prepared for both possibilities. Li Linyi’s marriage was scrutinized and rescheduled, finally set for the tenth day of the first month. Even so, Manager Mi was uneasy, worrying until the wedding was safely concluded.

From before the New Year until the wedding ended, Wang Xiujin only appeared twice: once to visit the merchant, and once on the wedding day. He was busy, not making excuses; the shipyard had encountered trouble. Someone bold had sneaked in, attempting mischief, but was caught by the overseer, who was injured in the process. Wang Xiujin hurried to the shipyard on the third day of the month, then rushed back for the wedding, and afterwards returned to the shipyard. The man caught refused to admit any wrongdoing, and Wang Xiujin, seeing the label atop his head, could only sigh. He was a scoundrel, paid to cause trouble, yet tight-lipped—no matter how they questioned him, he wouldn’t confess. Even when money was found at his home, he claimed it was a frame-up.

"Send him away! If he won’t talk here, there are places where he’ll be compelled to tell the truth." If it weren’t for avoiding bloodshed during the New Year, Wang Xiujin would have beaten him himself. Frustrated, he summoned all the shipyard’s craftsmen, and after dismissing four or five, felt even more irate.

Why can’t people just do their jobs honestly? Why must they stray into crooked paths? Those Wang Xiujin expelled weren’t sent home; the guards took them elsewhere for a chat about life. If the shipyard weren’t his personal responsibility, Wang Xiujin wouldn’t have reacted so strongly, even if he’d seen someone labeled as trouble. But the shipyard belonged to him, and he’d paid the emperor a hefty sum. How could he let others meddle under his nose?

Only when the new ship passed inspection did Wang Xiujin return to the capital. Meanwhile, all those expelled or caught confessed fully. The expelled ones had taken money from an obscure southern shipyard owner, who sought the warship’s blueprints—though Wang Xiujin didn’t trouble himself over his motives. As for the one caught, the story was laughable: he’d been hired to target one of the craftsmen.

A young nobleman had taken a fancy to a craftsman’s beautiful wife, was beaten by the craftsman, and sought revenge by hiring the scoundrel. The scoundrel slipped into the shipyard under the guise of hiring laborers. Since he could glimpse the blueprints while moving materials, someone offered him money to steal them.

The scoundrel, not knowing what the blueprints were for, thought it easy money and didn’t refuse. Just as he was about to snatch them, the overseer caught him, leading to a scuffle.

At first, the interrogators didn’t believe his story, but after several rounds and various methods, the confession remained the same, forcing them to accept it. Wang Xiujin believed him, given the label on his head. But the emperor did not; when word reached him, he ordered the man sent to the Ministry of Justice for further questioning.

Wang Xiujin returned home, relieved, planning to rest a couple of days and arrange matters in the capital, when he received the invitation for his elder brother’s wedding. He hurried to the Wang family. Since his brother’s return before the New Year, both had wanted to sit down for a drink and chat, but various matters had prevented it. Wang Xiujin regretted it. When he returned to the capital, he’d assumed his brother had gone back to Feng’an, and hoped to visit him during the ship trial. Unexpectedly, his brother was still in the capital.

Author’s Note: I spent New Year’s Eve writing, and this is the first update of 2017. It doesn’t feel cute at all. Waving goodbye and heading to bed—will continue tonight at 166 Reading Net.