Chapter 109: The Honest Man, The True Face

Wang Ge finally returned home. After the initial joy and the sharing of stories about their time apart, Old Master Wang summoned all the households to the main room to announce that they would be dividing the family estate and living separately after the Lantern Festival.

"What?" Wang Erlang, who had just returned from Reed Pavilion, was stunned to hear his father speak of moving there. How could he not be anxious? "Reed Pavilion is such a wasteland! It’s overgrown with wild reeds taller than a person, not to mention the thickets. And it’s so cold—where would we live there? What would we eat..."

His voice trailed off as his father reached for the small whisk broom used for dusting.

Old Master Wang declared, "Anyone who interrupts before I finish will be beaten until they are unable to speak for the rest of the first lunar month! Moving to Reed Pavilion is a necessity. Firstly, it will save Ge’er a day of travel whenever she returns home. Secondly, Lord Huan has promised that Hutou may attend the Qinghe Manor primary school during the mid-autumn period as a formal student, just like Ge’er. This is a rare opportunity, but Hutou is young and cannot handle such arduous travel; moving to Reed Pavilion will make it much easier, as he can reach the manor in a single day. Thirdly, since Lord Huan has become the Pavilion Chief of Reed Pavilion, he will surely reside there frequently. If Hutou is there, he can continue to recite scriptures and learn characters under his guidance. Fourthly, and most importantly, Lord Huan has shown kindness to our family, and now it is time for us to repay it. His position as Pavilion Chief will not be easy; the first task he must undertake is undoubtedly clearing the wasteland!"

Swish, swish...

As soon as the old man paused, the sound of Erlang frantically scratching his knees could be heard. Old Master Wang glared at the foolish man until he realized what he was doing and hurriedly hid both hands behind his back.

Wang Ge, her younger brother, and their cousins Wang Shu and Wang Peng all bowed their heads to suppress their laughter.

Old Master Wang continued, "The area around Reed Pavilion is covered in wild reeds and thatch; their deep roots must be unearthed and the soil plowed repeatedly before it can be farmed. Lord Huan has only managed to take in twenty refugee households from Xunreng Township. How many acres of wasteland can they clear before the end of spring if they work themselves to the bone? We must help where we can. Therefore, since we are to move, we shall do so early—right after the Lantern Festival. Now, let me speak of the distribution of our family’s assets."

"Erlang, Sanlang. I, your mother, Shushu, Peng’er, and A'ai will all move with the eldest branch." The old man tapped the mat with his broom, and no one dared to interrupt. "Clearing wasteland is not easy, and we cannot let our family’s fields go to waste just because we are moving. I have decided to hire two tenant farming families. Lord Huan will help draw up the contracts. We will take a forty-percent share of the harvest, and we will advance them their rations, with the hire period set for two years. For the first year, until the harvest is turned over in the ninth month, the rations advanced to the tenants will be provided entirely by the eldest branch. These nine months of rations need not be repaid to us. The ox, the cart, the wooden plow, the farm tools, and all the new grain and soy paste in the storage room will be left for you; we will take the old grain. That is all. Now, it is your turn to speak. Erlang, starting with your branch, state any confusion, objections, or feelings of unfairness. Once you are finished, the third branch may speak."

Wang Erlang had indeed been full of questions, but his father had already addressed them all. He tugged his eldest son’s arm and said, "He, you speak."

Wang He, braving his grandfather’s stern gaze, pleaded, "I... I want to go with Grandfather, too."

*Swish, swish, swish...*

The silent gazes turned toward him, yet Wang He felt as if he could hear the sound of the broom.

Wang Erlang: "Tsk? What are you saying?"

Old Master Wang: "You, be quiet. Let He speak."

Wang He said, "I want to learn skills from the two Iron brothers. Grandfather, I am not afraid of hardship. I will work hard to clear the land and will not neglect the farm work, but I do not want to spend my whole life just farming. I want—I just want to learn skills! Take me with you, Grandfather! I have been immature in the past, but I will change! Grandfather!" He kowtowed, his voice choked with emotion.

Old Master Wang sighed softly. In truth, he had sensed Wang He’s aspirations for some time. Whenever Tie Feng or Tie Lei visited, Wang He would proactively serve them water and show great respect. Tie Lei had even praised the boy and allowed him to touch his bow and arrows. "With two tenant families, our own fields will be well-tended. Erlang, you are his father. If He leaves home as well, can you bear it?"

"I can! I certainly can! It’s just... even if he wants to learn, the Iron brothers might not be willing to teach him."

"How will you know if you don't try?" At these words from the old master, Wang He wept with joy. He knew his father’s temper; if he had insisted on going to Reed Pavilion, his father would have surely agreed, but he had feared his grandfather would refuse. He never expected his grandfather not only to allow it but to persuade his father on his behalf!

The matter of Wang He was thus settled.

Old Master Wang looked at Wang Shu.

Wang Shu said, "I will listen to Grandfather. It’s just... Father, can you come to see me often?" She pouted, wiping away tears. "I cannot bear to leave you, Father. You must visit Reed Pavilion often."

"Yes! Yes!" Wang Erlang’s eyes were also brimming with tears. He looked at his parents and gestured toward his chest, saying excitedly, "Don't leave me out, take me too—cough!" Unfortunately, the tender moment between father and daughter was severed by the raising of the broom. After a forceful cough, he told the terrified Wang Shu, "Once you’re at Reed Pavilion, look after A'ai, help with the cooking, and assist in clearing the land. Oh, and the reeds you cut can be used to learn weaving. And make plenty of straw sandals; bring them back when I come to visit."

"Yes, yes," Wang Shu replied repeatedly.

The second branch was settled.

Old Master Wang said, "Sanlang, you speak."

Wang Sanlang raised his head, his chin visibly trembling, and said, "Fa... Father, you did not... you did not mention the money."

Grandmother Jia looked at her son in shock, suddenly feeling a sense of alienation and heartbreak, as if she did not recognize him at all.

Old Master Wang calmed his wife with a look and asked, "Sanlang, you have been thinking about that surplus of four strings of cash, haven't you?"

"No, it is not that I am thinking of it. Those two tenant families—we are advancing them grain every day, and every meal costs money..."

"Did you not understand what I said? That money is paid by the eldest branch! It will be paid until the harvest in the ninth month! Furthermore, the tenants will build their own huts and live on the edge of the fields; they can work two hours more each day than we can, which will allow them to clear at least two more acres of wasteland."

"But we have not divided the household."

"What did you say?"

"We have not divided the household, so those four strings of cash do not belong solely to the eldest branch."

Grandmother Jia could bear no more. She snatched the broom and struck her unfilial son’s back, shouting as she did so, "You beast! That money was earned by Ge’er; even if it doesn't belong to the eldest branch, it belongs to your father and me. It never would have come to you! You useless beast, you have no ability of your own, yet you want to covet the money of the eldest branch!"

"Mother!" Wang Sanlang endured the blows, bowing his head low and shouting through his tears, "I am useless, so what can I do? Ah? Father, Mother, have you ever thought about it? I was born this way—useless! I only know how to farm! If you leave a useless son like me behind, if there is a drought or a flood, I will not even be able to feed myself! It is because I have no talent that I am afraid, and why I hoped you would leave some private money for me! Woe... I am incompetent, I am timid, I am a coward. Do I not know this myself? Woe..."

Grandmother Jia threw down the broom, hugged her son's back, and wept, "Why are you so good at infuriating people, you unfilial wretch."

Old Master Wang’s eyes grew moist. He looked up, blinking back the tears, and said, "Sanlang, have you ever thought about what would have happened if Ge’er had not earned that money? Would we not have been able to survive?"

Wang Sanlang, still bowing his head, said, "If we had not had that money, Father, you likely would not have gone to Reed Pavilion."

Wang Ge stared at her third uncle. She never imagined that the root of the third branch's depravity lay here! Before, with his wife Yao, the third uncle did not have to worry about anything; he only needed to play the role of an honest, long-suffering man. After Yao left, she was replaced by Wang Zhu... No, it was because of the third uncle’s cowardice that he forced Wang Zhu to learn narrow-mindedness, spite, and greed from Yao. Wang Zhu became wicked and gloomy at such a young age—in truth, the real culprit was the third uncle!

So, the third uncle hadn't suddenly changed today or found the courage to talk back; he simply knew that if he did not fight now, if he continued to play the honest man, his grandfather would take his branch to Reed Pavilion! He knew that if he did not fight, if he did not burn his bridges, he would have no more opportunities!