Chapter Forty-Seven: Prosperity and Well-being

Ten days passed like this, and Jiang Li’s wounds had healed completely. Xiao Liu, Xiao Shun, and Da Tong had reported back to Uncle Fu, while Changxing and Changsheng still needed some rest, though there was nothing seriously amiss. That evening, Master Liu announced a new development to everyone: the household had hired a martial arts instructor. From now on, the young masters would study literature in the mornings and practice martial arts with Master Mu in the afternoons. Master Liu had no wish to train them into martial arts experts; he simply hoped they would be able to protect themselves, so that next time they encountered someone like Fang, they wouldn’t be so helpless.

Although Master Liu hadn’t openly spoken about his daughter’s humiliation last time, he had never forgotten it. Old grudges and new resentments were not ignored—they simply awaited the right moment. When the time came, he would settle accounts properly. The Liu family was not so easily bullied.

As for Fang Yiming, he had indeed sent people to investigate them, only to discover they were distant relatives of the Liu household. He paid no further attention. The Fang family’s thoughts mirrored those of the Liu family: sooner or later, the two families would have a reckoning, and for now, they would simply keep a tally, to be collected later with interest.

Seeing her father in good spirits and satisfied with her mother’s recent attitude of contrition, Liu Qin seized the opportunity to make another request. “Father, let Xiao Liu, Xiao Shun, and Da Tong join us at Xuanlu to attend lessons.” To persuade her parents, Liu Qin described in vivid detail how diligently the three studied and how bravely they saved her on the street, so much so that her father nodded with a smile, and her mother voiced no objection.

In the end, Master Liu made the decision. “Very well.”

Sister-in-law Cai Xinlan, as the household manager, considered things more thoroughly and interjected, “Father, Mother, how about this: Cousin Anuo is now a proper master in the household and ought to have someone serving him. Cousin Ali has always said that two servants at Moxiang Courtyard were enough and didn’t wish to burden the household. Now, this is a good chance—let’s rearrange the duties of the three. Send one to Moxiang Courtyard, assign another to Master Zhou, who previously had an old maidservant. Now he’ll have a young attendant; the last one can serve Master Mu. This way, they’re all nearby, whether attending lessons or practicing martial arts, and no one else in the household will gossip.”

Master Liu and the old lady both agreed, and the old lady praised her daughter-in-law’s thoughtfulness. Liu Qin ran to her sister-in-law and gave her a big hug, rewarding her.

The next day, the three—Xiao Liu and his companions—received the news and were overjoyed. They waited early in Moxiang Courtyard to kowtow to the lady. When Liu Qin and Cuiyu entered, the three followed in single file, knelt before Liu Qin, startling her. Once she understood, she could only accept with a smile and a sigh.

Liu Qin had already decided on their assignments: Zheng Datong would stay at Moxiang Courtyard, serving alongside Changxing and the others; Xiao Liu, being steadier, would go to Master Zhou; Xiao Shun would go to Master Mu. Although Xiao Liu and Xiao Shun would no longer serve directly by Liu Qin and Jiang Li’s sides, Liu Qin already regarded them as her own, so she naturally said, “Xiao Liu, Xiao Shun, now that you follow me and Brother Ali, why not adopt names like Changxing and Changsheng?”

Xiao Liu and Xiao Shun were delighted and said together, “Please grant us names, miss.”

“Hm, let’s call you Chang’an and Changkang—‘prosperity and health,’ how wonderful. Brother Ali, what do you think?”

Jiang Li patted her head and smiled, “Excellent.” Xiao Liu and Xiao Shun naturally had no objections. Changsheng came up behind them, putting an arm around each of their shoulders. The three brothers, close since childhood, would now be even closer. They exchanged glances and smiled.

Zheng Datong felt a touch of envy, but he knew his situation was different. To be regarded so kindly by the lady and young master was already more than he could hope for; he resolved to work doubly hard in the future to repay their kindness.

Changxing stepped forward as well. Of the four, Changxing was the eldest and naturally the big brother. Changsheng was just slightly older than Ankang, and Changkang—formerly Xiao Shun—was the youngest. Their friendship had always been strong, and now, with their order established, they felt like true brothers and dispensed with their given names, addressing each other by rank: eldest brother, second brother, third brother, fourth brother.

Liu Qin watched their affectionate camaraderie and felt a warm happiness in her heart. This lifetime, she was living well and happily, and so she especially liked to see those around her cheerful and joyful. There was no need for endless strife between people; harmonious coexistence was not hard at all.

On the third day, everyone returned to Xuanlu for lessons, even Changxing and Changsheng, who were still recovering. After more than ten days away, only Brother Hai and his two attendants, Dongxiang and Dongping, remained in Master Zhou’s class. The once lively classroom had lost more than half its students, and Brother Hai and his companions were unaccustomed to the quiet. Now, seeing everyone return, they were overjoyed.

Outside the door, Dongping greeted Changsheng with a playful punch. “Changsheng, you’re a real trooper. Are your wounds healed?”

Changsheng clutched his chest, feigning imminent collapse. “You rascal, you’d even harm a healthy man! I’m still an invalid—can’t you show me a little mercy?”

“Mercy? If I show you mercy, do you dare accept it?” Dongxiang flexed his fists beside him, scaring Changsheng into waving his hands frantically. “No need, no need.”

Changkang spoke up, disgruntled. “Dongxiang, you have two brothers, but we’re four! Why don’t we all spar together?”

This time, Dongxiang waved his hands. “No need, no need.”

Once inside Xuanlu, everyone refrained from making noise, respectfully saluted Master Zhou, and found their seats. No matter who he faced, Master Zhou was always gentle, and regardless of the student, he treated them all equally. To Liu Qin, this was exceedingly rare. For someone who had grown up reading the classics in a society so marked by hierarchy, Master Zhou’s fairness showed he truly possessed a heart of kindness and generosity.

Some time ago, Liu Qin had expressed a desire to learn arithmetic. After some preparation, Master Zhou adjusted their schedule. They still had three sessions each day: two devoted to classics and history, the last to arithmetic. With so many, there was no longer any need to divide into classes; everyone learned together, and those who struggled simply had to work harder afterward.

Master Zhou had originally wanted to tutor Jiang Li separately, but Jiang Li made it clear he had no intention of taking the imperial examinations or becoming an official. Master Zhou regretted this—Jiang Li was exceptionally bright, with a solid foundation, and if he tried, could, within two years, become the youngest scholar in Wucheng. But Jiang Li’s ambitions lay elsewhere; after two unsuccessful attempts to persuade him, Master Zhou had to let it go.

Master Zhou did not know that Jiang Li’s decision had been a long struggle. His parents, impoverished as they were, had still raised him as a young master, shielded from worldly troubles. The family couldn’t afford servants, so in the bitter cold of winter, his mother’s hands became cracked and frostbitten from household chores, no longer bearing any resemblance to the delicate lady she once was. Yet, even in such hardship, his mother insisted on buying a young boy to serve as his study companion, growing up alongside him and attending to him personally.