21: The Heart of Parents in the World
“Who?!” The clan elders couldn’t hold back their shock. Su Daxiang perked up his ears and asked, “Are you talking about the Chen family?”
“No, it’s the damned Cheng family,” the Old Master corrected.
The clan elders erupted into an uproar, exclaiming, “Old Six, are you joking?!”
“Exactly, how could our Su family possibly form a marriage alliance with the Cheng family? Even if the Matchmaker himself tied the knot, it wouldn’t work!” They grew increasingly indignant:
“Have you forgotten our Langquan Well? Forgotten why our family has been declining? Forgotten how you lost your official position?!”
“Of course, I haven’t forgotten! I was about to become a battalion commander!” The Old Master slammed the table with such force that the bowls and chopsticks rattled, silencing the elders…
“You’re right—it was the Matchmaker who tied the knot. The two youngsters, for some inexplicable reason, are dead set on marrying each other. What could I do?!” The Old Master threw up his hands in resignation.
“What do you mean, what could you do? In matters of marriage, parents have the final say!” His fourth brother, Su Dayou, glared fiercely. “If you stand firm, what can they do?”
“If I stand firm, those two will throw themselves into the Chishui River,” the Old Master said grimly. “Have you heard of the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai?”
He then sang in a strained voice: “Dreaming of butterflies by the pillow, tears and blood among the flowers, risking life and death, vanishing with the heavens…”
“Sixth Brother, please stop. We don’t deserve this punishment…” Su Daji said with a bitter smile. “And that’s not ‘Butterfly Lovers’—it’s ‘The Tale of Jiao Hong,’ isn’t it?”
“See? Another tragic example!” The Old Master, though caught in his mistake, grew even more assertive.
“When families insist on tearing lovers apart, the young ones end up turning into fluttering moths.”
“They turned into butterflies,” Su Daji retorted helplessly.
“It’s all the same,” the Old Master waved dismissively and declared firmly, “I raised my son to care for me in old age, not to turn him into a fluttering moth. So, I need him to stay alive.”
He paused before continuing, “I’ve beaten him, scolded him, even broken his legs. But that stubborn brat insists on hanging himself from that one tree. I have no choice but to beg all of you—let him bring that tree home.”
“Sigh…” The clan elders sighed in unison, all turning their eyes to Su Daxiang.
The Su clan leader silently chewed on his louye roll, remaining quiet for a long while. This matter had serious implications, and under normal circumstances, he would have rejected it outright. But Su Dacheng was an exception.
Back when Su Dacheng was an official in Lincheng, he could have avoided that violent clash. It was Su Daxiang who, feeling their side lacked confidence, had called the Su father and son back. As a result, Su Dacheng was imprisoned, stripped of his position, and sent home in despair, where he remained despondent.
To this day, Su Daxiang still felt indebted to Su Dacheng for what had happened back then…
~~
Seeing the old clan leader’s silence, the Old Master understood his stance. He slammed the table again, seizing the moment to press his case: “For Old Three’s wedding, none of you need to contribute a single coin! Just come and eat. If you don’t want to come, I won’t hold it against you!”
“Well then…” The clansmen, who had been firmly opposed moments earlier, suddenly seemed… less resolute.
Mountain folk had little money, relying on pooled contributions from the clan to cover expenses for weddings and funerals. Each contribution was a significant burden for every family. Saving one meant a little more breathing room for the New Year.
Many immediately saw the appeal and chimed in, “It’s not about the money.”
The old clan leader, hearing this, knew they were all looking to save. He sighed and said, “Well, what’s done is done. What else can we do? We can’t truly drive the child to despair, can we?”
“Thank you, Elder Brother!” The Old Master finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly picked up the jar, poured a full bowl of strong liquor, and raised it solemnly to the clan members. “Thank you, brothers and nephews, for your understanding! I, Su Dacheng, offer my apologies!”
With that, he tilted his head back, ready to down a whole pound of liquor in one go… The sorghum liquor from Erlang Beach was already indistinguishable from modern high-proof spirits.
“Old man, don’t drink it—you can’t handle it…” The Uncle, who had been cowering like a quail in the inner room, finally couldn’t take it anymore. He rushed out, weeping.
But the Old Master shoved him aside and snapped, “Remember this, you little bastard—in the Wumeng Mountains, we survive by sticking together! Anything that harms our own is forbidden, and those who do it must pay the price!”
“If I were ten years younger, I’d have to atone by enduring three stabs and six wounds. It’s only out of respect for my old bones and past contributions that everyone allows me to settle this with a bowl of liquor.” Gritting his teeth, the Old Master drained the bowl until not a drop remained.
Then he tossed the bowl aside, his legs giving way as he started to collapse…
“Grandpa!” Su Tai and Su Lu hurried forward, tearfully catching the Old Master.
“Learn your lesson, you fool.” Su Daxiang and others sighed. Su Dacheng had handled it so thoroughly that the clan had no choice but to forgive him…
~
The Old Master employed a three-pronged approach—playing on emotions, waiving the contribution, and nearly drinking himself to death—finally managing to placate the clan.
As for how much Elder Master Cheng suffered on his end, no one knew for sure. But within a few days, a letter arrived saying he had resolved things as well.
Neither side could afford delays. To avoid complications, they rushed through all the steps—proposal, matching birth charts, betrothal gifts, formal engagement, and setting the date—in just half a month, scheduling the wedding for the twentieth of the winter month.
By then, only a month had passed since the Old Master and Cheng Pixian had secretly met…
The lightning speed of it all left both clans stunned and bewildered. Even the old clan leader Su Daxiang remarked, “Since it’s come to this, there’s no need to rush so much. It’s not like we’d go back on our word, is it?”
The Old Master thought to himself, If we don’t hurry, the truth will come out, but outwardly he defended his stance: “I’ve let the clan down in this matter. The longer it drags on, the angrier everyone will get. Better for both sides to cut through the mess quickly, get it over with, and spare everyone the anxiety!”
“Ah, it’s really not that serious… Sixth Brother, you’re too proud.” The old clan leader was filled with sympathy. His lifelong proud sixth brother had ended up with such a troublesome son.
“This isn’t about pride—it’s about that little bastard breaking the rules!” The Old Master grew even more defensive. “I’ve made up my mind. As soon as they’re married, I’m kicking the couple out. I won’t have them lingering around to offend everyone’s eyes.”
“No need for that, really no need for that. Once married, they should live properly together. Why leave Erlang Beach?” The clansmen who came to help with the wedding feast were deeply moved, feeling that Sixth Uncle was too concerned with propriety and too considerate of their feelings.
“Exactly, traveling a hundred miles from home is fraught with difficulties,” they all urged the Old Master to change his mind.
“No need to persuade me. It’s not just for your sake. Both of them have been spoiled by their families. Let them go out and suffer a bit, so they understand the vastness of heaven and earth, and the beauty of mountains and waters!” the Old Master declared resolutely.
After the Old Master’s performance, his image among the clan actually became even more towering than before this incident…
Many clansmen who had originally held grudges and planned to make things difficult for the groom’s family tomorrow, and then vigorously tease the newlyweds in the bridal chamber that night, now abandoned those plans.
The young couple was already pitiable enough, being driven away right after marriage—there was no need to add salt to their wounds…
Thus, the wedding the next day proceeded harmoniously on the Su family’s side, without a hint of tension.
The bride’s brothers who came to escort her were utterly astonished, admiring Old Master Su’s ability to control the situation with utmost reverence… Their own father had been cursed to death by the clan, and just last night someone had thrown a dead chicken into their courtyard.
In the depths of winter, the bride wore thick wedding attire and a red veil, so no one could detect anything amiss. In short, the day concluded smoothly…
After seeing off the last wave of guests, the Su family’s anxious hearts finally settled back into their chests.
As soon as Su Youcai and his two sons returned to their room, they collapsed in unison, too exhausted to even lift a finger. These past two days had worn them out completely.
“I truly admire Grandfather,” Su Lu murmured, gazing at the blackened roof beams. “This maneuver was like ‘the Old Dragon King moving house—incredibly powerful’!”
“Of course. Look, your grandfather hasn’t involved himself in anything all these years, but his skills have never faded,” Su Youcai sighed regretfully. “If not for that incident, your grandfather would have been promoted to Deputy Battalion Commander, and our family would be much better off than now.”
“Such a capable grandfather couldn’t defeat a mere Xiucai?” Su Lu puzzled.
“First, the opponent had timing on their side. Second, an individual’s ability is ultimately limited. In truth, the position one occupies is what matters most…” Su Youcai remarked with deep feeling.
“Second Uncle is right. Why do we study? Isn’t it precisely because the position of a military household is so wretched?” Su Man’s voice suddenly sounded from outside the window. Of course, he had returned today for his uncle’s wedding.
The three men were startled by him. Su Youcai smiled wryly and said, “Spring Boy, why don’t you come in and speak?”
“I’m afraid of being suffocated by the smell,” Su Man coughed, eyeing their steaming feet. “Autumn Boy, come to my room for a moment.”
With that, he fled back to his room as if escaping.
Su Lu picked up his foot and took a whiff—good heavens, it nearly knocked him over. He hurriedly got out of bed, pulled out the basin for washing face, feet, and clothes, poured in cold water, scrubbed vigorously, then slipped into wooden clogs and went to report next door.
At this point, Su Tai finally couldn’t hold back and asked, “Dad, why is ‘the Old Dragon King moving house’ called ‘incredibly powerful’?”
“You’re still stuck on that?” Su Youcai chuckled. “Because the homophone for ‘powerful’ is ‘leaving the sea’.”
“Oh,” Su Tai understood.
Su Youcai couldn’t help but click his tongue and said, “Summer Boy, with your reaction speed, can Autumn Boy really explain Mencius to you clearly?”
“Indeed, Qiu Ge’er explained it very well,” Su Tai said with an admiring expression. “I’ve learned many principles recently.”
“Oh?” Su Youcai asked with keen interest.
Su Tai then recounted all the principles he had learned to his father. Though halting and somewhat incoherent, the main ideas were generally correct.
After listening, Su Youcai was astonished once more. He hadn’t expected Qiu Ge’er to truly succeed in teaching Xia Ge’er, and for Xia Ge’er to then relay it back to him…
As Su Tai finished explaining the passage about ‘the king looked left and right and spoke of other matters,’ he said softly, “Father, I’ve been pondering for several days, and I still think Mencius went too far…”
“Oh? How so?” Su Youcai inquired with interest.
“As a guest minister, Mencius insisted that King Qi admit he was incompetent in governing and unfit to be king—isn’t that excessive?” Su Tai ventured cautiously. “If King Qi had admitted it, wouldn’t that have led to the downfall of his state… right?”