Free Web NovelChapter 23: Chapter 21: The Shan Family’s Children
’If this is true for Martial Arts, then Immortal Dao Techniques probably follow the same principle...’
Wei Tu realized this.
Then, Wei Tu reminded himself that Martial Arts cultivation was far from the final goal. It was fine to use Martial Arts to gain official rank and raise his status, but he had to remember to avoid conflict and fighting at all costs to preserve his life.
He had a bright future ahead; there was no need to fight someone to the death over a trivial matter.
’However...’
’A sword may not be unsheathed, but one must still be carried. Killing Skills are a means to protect one’s path, so they must be learned as well.’
...
Time flew by.
「In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the 24th year of Qing’an.」
It was New Year’s Day.
Early in the morning, Wei Tu finished washing up in his side room, put on his winter clothes, and picked up the festival gifts he had bought in town a few days prior. Led by a maidservant, he then entered the inner residence.
After passing through a corridor, he arrived at Shan Wuju’s living quarters.
In the courtyard, a middle-aged Confucian scholar in a scholar’s robe was already standing there. He bore a strong resemblance to Shan Wuju.
However, though their faces were similar, the middle-aged scholar’s temperament was quite different from Shan Wuju’s. His figure was gaunt, and he looked very refined.
"Brother Yanguo." Wei Tu stepped forward and bowed to the middle-aged scholar.
The middle-aged scholar before him was none other than Shan Wuju’s only son, Shan Yanggong, who had long resided in the Prefecture City.
Shan Yanggong had been frail since birth and thus did not follow in his father’s footsteps to practice Martial Arts. Instead, he pursued the path of the imperial examinations. More than a decade ago, he had passed the provincial examinations and become a Second-Class Scholar of Qingfeng Prefecture.
A month ago, Shan Yanggong had returned to the Shan Mansion with his mother, Mrs. Min of the Shan Family.
"Brother Wei."
Upon hearing his name, Shan Yanggong turned. A smile appeared on his face when he saw it was Wei Tu. He gathered his sleeve-robes and bowed in return.
A moment later, the door to the room opened. Wei Tu followed Shan Yanggong into the living quarters, and together they kowtowed before Shan Wuju and Mrs. Min of the Shan Family to pay their respects.
"This child, bringing gifts again. You’re always so formal," Mrs. Min of the Shan Family said with a chuckle, noticing the festival gifts still in Wei Tu’s hands as he paid his respects.
"This is your New Year’s money."
After a moment’s thought, the gray-haired Mrs. Min of the Shan Family rubbed her lower back as she stood up. She walked into an inner room, took out a stack of red envelopes, and pressed one into Wei Tu’s hand.
"Thank you, Mrs. Min."
Wei Tu didn’t hesitate to accept the red envelope from her and voiced his thanks.
’Even though I’m married and a grown man, no longer a child who receives New Year’s money, I can’t refuse a gift from an elder. Besides, it’s not a lot of money, so there’s no harm in accepting it.’
It was a token of Mrs. Min’s goodwill.
After paying their respects, Wei Tu and Shan Yanggong stood in attendance on either side of Shan Wuju and his wife, waiting for the other female family members to arrive and do the same.
"Why isn’t our youngest daughter here yet?" After waiting a short while and seeing the doorway was still empty, Shan Wuju frowned, his voice filled with displeasure.
"Perhaps she was tired yesterday and woke up late this morning." Mrs. Min also looked displeased, but she still offered an excuse for their daughter.
Seeing this, Wei Tu also frowned to himself, growing annoyed with the discourteous Shan Fang. But as he was an outsider, he suppressed these feelings and let nothing show on his face.
’Waking up early on New Year’s Day to pay respects to one’s elders is proper etiquette.’
’This isn’t the modern world. This is the past, a time when etiquette is taken very seriously.’
’Especially for a prominent family like this one, every word and action must adhere to the rules of propriety. One cannot overstep their bounds.’
’Shan Fang’s rudeness could be treated as either a major or minor offense. If her elders were pedantic old masters, she would, at the very least, be accused of being unfilial.’
The group waited a while longer.
A beautiful woman in red appeared at the door, followed by a large man in brocade clothes who walked half a step behind her.
The man in brocade held the hand of a seven or eight-year-old Child whose hair was tied in a towering topknot.
Upon seeing the Child, Mrs. Min’s expression softened. She patted his head and gave him one of the red envelopes she had brought out earlier.
"Why are you up so late today?" Shan Wuju demanded, slamming his hand on the tea table beside him in a burst of anger.
Everyone in the living quarters, including Wei Tu, seemed accustomed to this scene, as no one showed any surprise.
Shan Wuju was polite to everyone. Even toward his hired hands, he was generous and informal, never haggling over trivial matters.
But when it came to Shan Fang...
In the month since Shan Fang had returned to the Shan Mansion, Wei Tu had seen Shan Wuju lose his temper six or seven times.
"Last night, Yiwu was making a fuss, saying he wanted to go horse riding. I... it took me a long time to calm him down. I told him those horses are your treasures and can’t be touched..." Shan Fang said with an aggrieved tone.
An impatient look crossed Shan Wuju’s face. He knew his youngest daughter’s character well and understood that she was once again scheming to get her hands on his property.
However, he couldn’t bring himself to scold her about it, deciding to let her save some face.
"Father, you don’t ride those horses in your stable often, and your health hasn’t been great lately. Why not give one to Yiwu?"
"Yiwu has been pestering me about it for ages."
Seeing Shan Wuju’s imposing aura weaken, Shan Fang took a half-step forward. Lowering her head, she forced a gentle expression onto her face and spoke in a rapid, pressing tone.
As she spoke, she saw Shan Wuju press his lips together, his left hand gripping the armrest of his straight-backed chair, his body rigid. She knew then that she had a chance, so she took another step forward, getting close to his left arm, and repeated her request.
This time, her voice carried a more pleading tone.
"Yiwu is still too young, he can’t ride a horse... That old horse in the stable... take it with you when you leave."
Shan Wuju closed his eyes for a moment, as if deep in thought. After a few breaths, he finally spoke, his words coming out haltingly.
After he finished speaking, he released his grip on the armrest. His body seemed to deflate as he slumped limply back into the chair.
For a Martial Artist, a good horse was a second life.
Shan Wuju groomed every horse in his stable until its coat was sleek and its Spirit was high.
But when faced with his daughter and his grandson, Yiwu...
Shan Wuju still couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
"Yiwu, did you hear that?"
"Your grandpa agreed to give you a horse. You’ll have a horse to ride when you get home."
Shan Fang didn’t thank Shan Wuju for his generosity. Instead, she held Shan Yiwu, walked up to her father, and said this to her son.
"Younger Sister, you’ve gone too far," Shan Yanggong rebuked, his expression turning grim from his spot behind Mrs. Min of the Shan Family.
"Big Brother, the family assets haven’t even been divided yet, and you’re already criticizing me for asking Father for a horse? It’s for Yiwu to ride, not me..."
Shan Fang pursed her lips.
"Besides," she added, "you’re a man of letters; you don’t practice with swords or spears. Can’t you indulge your own nephew a little?"
"Oh, right, Father."
"Yiwu is almost old enough to start practicing his Pile Skill. I was thinking his father could also learn our family’s Fist Technique..."
"If his father can teach him personally, Yiwu will surely be able to pass the Military Examination and achieve official rank when he’s older."
Shan Fang glanced first at Wei Tu, then shifted her gaze back to Shan Wuju as she spoke with a smile.
"Of course, if Brother Wei agrees to teach Yiwu martial arts in the future, then it doesn’t matter whether we get the family technique... It’s all for Yiwu’s sake..."
Shan Fang smiled.
"This..." Hearing this, Shan Wuju immediately fell silent. He cleared his throat and waited for Wei Tu’s reply.
