Chapter 3

The Su family was a prominent scholar-gentry clan in Jianzhou, Wu Kingdom, but Su Lin’s father’s lineage had become a minor branch. Fortunately, Su Lin’s father passed the prefectural examination at the age of thirty, earning the status of a scholar-gentry, which revitalized the family. Additionally, he married Liu Gui-zhu, the daughter of a major grain merchant in Fengle County, Liu Shuncai. With his father-in-law’s support, the family’s wealth grew significantly.

At this moment, in the main hall of the Su residence, Su Liu-zhu, dressed in a green silk robe, sat in the main seat, chatting happily with the butcher Wang. She nodded continuously.

"Madam Su, I’m just a coarse butcher. I wouldn’t dare to aspire to marry a scholar’s daughter, but since Madam Su is willing, I, Old Wang, will even go bankrupt to provide the fifty taels of silver as the dowry for my foolish son."

Wang Butcher was a large, rough man with dark skin and wore hemp clothing, which seemed to shine with grease from handling pork. Standing next to him was a dark-skinned young man with sunken eyes, uneven features, and a slightly crooked mouth—his gambling-addicted son, Wang Tiezhu. At twenty-one, he had yet to find a wife, spending his days idly and stealing money from his father’s pork shop to gamble, making him a notorious troublemaker in Fengle County.

"Of course! Of course! Although our Su family is a scholar-gentry clan, if Tiezhu has feelings for my daughter Su Ru, I, as her stepmother, will naturally agree to this marriage."

Although Su Liu-zhu spoke cheerfully, she was inwardly cursing: "You, Su Lin, have gone mad today, daring to break the porridge bowl and soil my dress. Now I will marry your own sister to this butcher’s son!"

"Of course! Of course! Marrying a scholar’s daughter is a blessing for our family, one that Tiezhu has earned in eight lifetimes." Wang Butcher, excited, patted his son’s buttocks and said, "Quickly, Tiezhu, thank Madam Su for her kindness."

"Thank you... thank you, Madam Su. I, Wang Tiezhu, will... treat Su Ru well." Wang Tiezhu grinned, his mouth almost drooling.

"Yes, yes... Madam Su, I guarantee that once Su Ru marries into our family, we will treat her well and never let her suffer." Wang Butcher, delighted, quickly promised.

"That’s not necessary! Although Su Ru is our Su family’s daughter, once she marries into your family, she will be your family’s daughter. A scholar’s daughter is still a woman; you can command her as you wish..." Su Liu-zhu, with a sharp nose and narrow cheeks, was interrupted as Su Lin and Su Ru burst into the main hall.

"I want to see who dares to command my sister Su Ru while I’m here!"

As soon as they entered, Su Lin threw a half-roasted chicken at Wang Tiezhu, angrily saying, "Take your roasted chicken! You scoundrel, how dare you think of marrying my sister Su Lin?"

"Su... Su Young Master, this marriage was... was personally agreed upon by Madam Su..."

Wang Butcher, fearing Su Lin’s status as a scholar-gentry, turned to Su Liu-zhu, "Madam Su, what should we do?"

"Su Lin, stop making a fuss! I have already agreed to this marriage. Su Ru must marry Wang Tiezhu."

Su Liu-zhu stood up fiercely, glaring at Su Lin.

"The scholar-gentry status is in my hands, so I have the final say in this family, Su Liu-zhu. You are just a woman. Ru is my younger sister, and as the eldest brother, I have the right to decide her marriage. I won’t let anyone force her to marry!"

Su Lin stood his ground, his argument unassailable. Just mentioning his status as the eldest son and a scholar-gentry left Su Liu-zhu speechless. In the world of Tianren Continent, which followed Confucian principles, the head of the household with the scholar-gentry status had the final say. Although Su Lin was not yet of age, as the eldest son with the scholar-gentry status, he was the de facto head of the family, and Su Liu-zhu, even as his stepmother, could not act on her own.

"Su Lin, you... you’re getting too cocky! Using your scholar-gentry status to pressure me, we’ll see how long you can keep this up. Next year, when you come of age, my son Su Wen will take your scholar-gentry status, and I will marry Su Ru far away, so you’ll never see her again."

Su Liu-zhu, knowing she was in the wrong, could only vent her anger in this way. Wang Butcher and his son, sensing the tension, quickly excused themselves, not wanting to get involved.

"Brother, I... I don’t want to marry far away. I might never see you again." Su Ru, frightened by Su Liu-zhu’s anger, hid in Su Lin’s arms. Su Lin comforted her, "Ru, don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one can force you to marry."

"Su Liu-zhu, in the past, I was young and often suffered your oppression and abuse. My sister Ru was also mistreated. Today, although I am not yet of age, according to Wu Kingdom’s laws, a man can manage the household at fifteen. From now on, all matters of the Su family will be decided by me. Hand over the keys to the account room, and I will inventory all the family’s assets."

Su Lin spoke with righteous indignation, each word firm and resolute, advancing toward Su Liu-zhu. For every step he took, she took a step back.

"Ridiculous! What assets does your Su family have? From the smallest pots and pans to the largest houses and estates, everything came from my family, the Lius. Su Lin, tell me, how much have you saved from the food and clothing I provided for you and your sister over the years?"

Su Liu-zhu laughed, but Su Lin countered, "Our Su family is a hereditary scholar-gentry clan, receiving one tael of silver per month from the government. Father passed away nine years ago, so that’s 108 taels of silver. You fed us thin porridge and white steamed buns, and dressed us in hemp and rags, costing less than ten taels of silver. I’ll give you 58 taels, so you owe us 50 taels. From now on, I will collect the monthly stipend myself."

Su Lin’s argument was logical and precise, leaving Su Liu-zhu speechless and fuming. Just then, a joyful cry came from the back hall. Su Liu-zhu’s ten-year-old son, Su Wen, ran in excitedly, "Mother, Mother, I have opened my wisdom!"

"What? Wen, you’ve opened your wisdom? With what doctrine? A great scholar’s or a Hanlin scholar’s?"

Su Liu-zhu, who had been sweating under Su Lin’s pressure, immediately beamed with joy, forgetting all else, and hugged Su Wen, "What did you use to open your wisdom?"

"Respecting one’s parents is filial piety, and respecting one’s elder brother is fraternal duty. I used this doctrine, which is from the great scholar Lu Ji."

Although only ten, Su Wen was wise, with a full forehead and bright eyes, speaking each word clearly to his mother.

"Good, good... My son has opened his wisdom at ten with a great scholar’s doctrine, showing great potential. Even if he doesn’t become a jinshi, he will surely become a juren. Unlike some people, who are already fifteen and still haven’t opened their wisdom."

Su Liu-zhu gloated, taking the opportunity to mock Su Lin, feeling vindicated. Her son had opened his wisdom at ten with a great scholar’s doctrine, while Su Lin, at fifteen, had not, a stark contrast that lifted her spirits.

However, Su Liu-zhu’s triumph was short-lived. Su Wen bowed to Su Lin, apologetically saying, "Brother, I apologize to you and Sister for Mother’s mistreatment over the years. She has not fulfilled her duties as a mother and has made your lives difficult."

"Wen, what are you saying? Apologizing to them? Have you gone mad from reading too much?"

Su Liu-zhu screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Mother, I have seen how you have treated Brother and Sister over the years. Although they are not your biological children, I have always felt it was wrong. I read in the Analects, 'A disciple is filial at home and respectful to his elder brother.' This touched me, but I didn’t fully understand it until today, after reading Lu Scholar’s interpretation. Filial piety and fraternal duty must come from the heart to open the wisdom. 'Respecting one’s parents is filial piety, and respecting one’s elder brother is fraternal duty.' Brother Su Lin is my half-brother, and I have stood by while he suffered under Mother’s mistreatment, which is unfilial and my fault!"

Su Wen’s words were powerful, each one carrying a subtle authority, the effect of the divine power, even if only a small amount, striking directly at the heart. His words, ostensibly about his own shortcomings, were actually a veiled criticism of Su Liu-zhu’s harsh treatment of Su Lin and Su Ru, each word like a blow to her heart.

"Wen, how can you side with outsiders against your own mother?" Su Liu-zhu, unsteady, felt dizzy. No matter what Su Lin said, she could only be angry. But now, her own son was criticizing her, a public humiliation she could not bear. She suddenly fainted.

"Mother! Mother..."

Su Wen, not expecting his heartfelt words to cause his mother to faint, quickly supported her, calling for servants to carry her inside and fetch a doctor.

"Brother, what happened to Su Wen? Why did he suddenly side with us and criticize our stepmother?" Su Ru asked, puzzled.

"This is the power of moral teaching. Su Wen was inspired by the Analects and opened his wisdom with Lu Scholar’s doctrine, which is based on filial piety and fraternal duty. Naturally, he can discern right from wrong and criticize Su Liu-zhu’s faults, even at ten."

Seeing that Su Wen had opened his wisdom at ten, Su Lin felt a strong urge, clenching his fists and vowing, "I must open my wisdom as soon as possible!"