Chapter 4

Xiaoming walked into the main room, glanced at the ancestral tablets on the central altar, and took a few steps to the front of the old lady's room. Xiaoming poked his little head in and saw his grandmother sitting by the open window, squinting as she sewed something. Not wanting to startle her, he gently knocked on the wooden door and timidly called out, "Grandma."

The old lady, upon hearing someone, turned around with some difficulty. Seeing it was Xiaoming, she greeted him with a cheerful smile, "Little grandson, what brings you to grandma's place? You didn't get beaten by your mother again, did you, and come to grandma for refuge?"

Mentioning the previous embarrassing incident, Xiaoming blushed and smiled, shaking his head, "No, I've been good since then. I came specially to pay my respects to you, Grandma."

Hearing this, the old lady was even happier. She put down the clothes and needle, got up, and walked to the door with a smile. She squatted down to pick up Xiaoming but found herself lacking the strength. She patted Xiaoming's little bottom and sighed with a wrinkled face, "Little one, you've gotten so heavy."

Xiaoming quickly tiptoed to try to help the old lady, but being too short, he could only awkwardly raise his hands.

The old lady grinned widely, grabbed his little hand, and put it down. Then she patted his head and walked to a chair, sitting down with a sigh, "Grandma is old, I can't even pick up my little grandson anymore. Sigh..."

Seeing her frail appearance, Xiaoming lied, "Grandma, you don't look old at all. You look very healthy."

Actually, the old lady was only in her early fifties, but she already had white hair and a face full of wrinkles, making her look much older than people in the future.

"Little grandson, you know how to say nice things now. You've grown up... Your grandma can't help but get old when her grandson grows up."

Xiaoming didn't want to talk more about age, so he smiled, "Grandma, I don't think you look old at all. You will live a long life."

The old lady chuckled, very pleased. Who doesn't like to hear nice things, especially from their grandson?

"Grandma, I want to hear stories from the past."

"Ha, why do you want to hear about the past now? Have you changed your mind? I remember you used to hate listening to grandma's rambling."

Xiaoming lowered his head, a bit embarrassed, then looked up at the old lady, showing a row of white teeth, "Grandma, I was just being naughty before. If you feel up to it, please tell me some stories."

The old lady smiled and nodded, then sighed, her eyes filled with nostalgia, "Little one, when grandma first married into the Shen family, the Shen family was very prosperous. In our county, even the county magistrate would bow to us... Although times have changed, the glory of the Shen family is still vivid in my mind."

"Unfortunately, your great-grandfather was idle and did nothing but drink, gamble, and womanize... You're too young to understand these things, but later, your grandfather and his three brothers had a falling out and split the family. Sigh, the Shen family's assets were divided, and your second great-uncle and your grandfather's brothers only inherited less than one-tenth. It was called a family split, but it was really your great-grandfather being kicked out."

"You young ones can't even imagine how big the Shen family's assets were back then. Unfortunately, they were all squandered by your great-grandfather."

Hearing this, Xiaoming tilted his head curiously, biting his finger, "Grandma, did we eat meat every day back then, and not have to eat wild vegetables?"

The old lady looked at Xiaoming's innocent face and smiled kindly, "Not just meat, anything that flies in the sky, swims in the sea, or grows on the land, we had it all... Seafood and mountain delicacies, you name it."

Xiaoming's mouth watered, and he asked, "Grandma, did we have a lot of money back then?"

The old lady laughed, patting Xiaoming's head, "We had more than just money. In the busiest street of the county town, about a third of the shops belonged to the Shen family. But that was nothing compared to the Shen family's wealth. Do you think we were rich?"

"Grandma, where did all those houses come from?" Xiaoming was very curious.

"Your great-great-grandfather was a fifth-rank official in the imperial court. Although he never became a fourth-rank magistrate, he was a high-ranking official responsible for salt, grain, and military affairs. How could the county officials not respect us? So, when we wanted to buy land or houses, it was always very convenient... Actually, that's not the main reason. As an official, you can turn one tael of silver into a hundred. This cycle of wealth accumulation is natural. You're young, so you don't understand these things yet, but you will when you grow up."

"Back then, the Shen family was very generous. We had seven granaries. In good years, we stored grain, and in bad years, we didn't raise prices. We even set up soup kitchens to help the poor. County magistrates often visited us, ostensibly to chat, but really to ask for our support in their careers. Many high-ranking officials in the capital came from our county."

"Unfortunately, your great-grandfather was no good and offended everyone. Now, we have no connections. Sigh... Nowadays, besides a few dozen acres of land, we only have this big house. Your father even works for others... Look at how we've fallen."

Xiaoming knew that in this world, the eldest son inherited the family business, so he didn't find it strange. Instead, he thought it was normal.

"The Shen family's vast assets were truly ruined by your great-grandfather. Although we still have some assets, compared to the past, we are like the sun setting in the west. Only a few people from the four branches are still studying, and none have passed the imperial exams. That's why we are in this situation."

"Your great-grandfather's eldest brother is a kind person. He has worked hard for the past decade to revive the Shen family, but he is too honest, and the Shen family hasn't improved much. But it's not his fault. He has a noble character, and under his leadership, the Shen family is much better than under your great-grandfather."

Seeing the old lady lost in her memories, Xiaoming felt a bit melancholic. He thought for a moment and said, "Grandma, when I grow up, I will help my elder brother revive the family business."

The old lady was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Good boy, good boy, I'm so proud of you."

Xiaoming's words made the old lady look at him differently. What impressed her most was that Xiaoming didn't say he would revive the family business himself but would help the eldest son. This showed he understood the family's values.

In the Shen family's branch in Taohuacun, since the grandfather didn't want to split the family, the old lady naturally wanted to keep the family together. The youngest son and grandson were her treasures, but her youngest son, Xiaoming's father, Shen Mingjun, was too rigid and upright, so the eldest son and grandson became her treasures.

Then she might have thought of her eldest son and said, "Little grandson, when you grow up, if your elder brother goes astray, don't hesitate to lock him in the attic to reflect. If anyone asks, say it was grandma's order. If your great-grandfather hadn't been so spoiled, he wouldn't have fallen so low."

After chatting with the old lady for half an hour, Xiaoming saw her yawn and look tired, so he got up to leave.

Through the door curtain, Li Shi watched Xiaoming's back disappear, then turned to look at the ancestral altar in the hall, muttering, "Respect for elders is important, but all are grandchildren. As long as it's for the good of the Shen family, what's wrong with it?"

"The Shen family hasn't produced a decent talent in three generations. If this continues, the eldest branch won't last much longer. Old man, if you had been more ambitious, I wouldn't be in this situation."

The ancestral tablets on the table were Li Shi's lifelong burden.

...

After leaving the old lady's room, Xiaoming went back to his family's house in the southwest corner of the courtyard. Seeing Zhou Shi sweeping the yard, he smiled and said, "Mom, something bad happened..."

Zhou Shi, seeing him return, looked up and glared at him, saying harshly, "Where have you been causing trouble? You come back and start shouting."

Xiaoming laughed and pulled on Zhou Shi's sleeve, saying, "Mom, Uncle is locked in the attic, and I can't go to school anymore."

Zhou Shi was taken aback, then threw down her broom, her face unchanged but her voice quickening, "How do you know?"

Xiaoming pouted, "I saw it with my own eyes."

Zhou Shi frowned for a long time, then sighed and picked up the broom again, "You poor thing, you can't go to school, and you're still happy? Don't tell me you don't want to study, or I'll beat you."

"Mom, I have some good news too."

Zhou Shi rolled her eyes and squatted down, pinching Xiaoming's cheeks, "Little brat, how dare you tease me? Tell me clearly!"

Xiaoming yelped in pain a few times, and Zhou Shi let go. Xiaoming, holding his face, said, "Mom, Grandma said she will choose a child from the four branches to send to the county school."

Zhou Shi was pleasantly surprised and asked, "Is that true?"

Xiaoming nodded, "Yes, I just saw Grandma. She told me many things and praised me for being ambitious."

Zhou Shi nodded heavily, "That's the county school. I've only been to the county town twice in my life, once for my wedding and once to meet your father at the Wang family. You must do well. If you go to the county school, I can visit you often under the pretext of seeing you."

The Wang family where Shen Mingjun worked was in the county town. Xiaoming, hearing this, bluntly said, "Mom, you want to see Dad, don't you?"

Zhou Shi glared at him, "You little brat, you're too nosy. Are you asking for a beating?"

Seeing Zhou Shi's fierce look, Xiaoming took a few steps back and said, "No way, Mom. Don't worry, when I become an official, we'll move to the provincial capital, not just the county town."

Zhou Shi, seeing Xiaoming's confident look, sneered, "You're dreaming. If you really do well, I'll take your father and me to the provincial capital to see what it's like. I'll pray for that."

Xiaoming said firmly, "Mom, don't worry, I will do my best."

"Brat... I need to go see Grandma and flatter her a bit..."

Seeing Zhou Shi's awkward flattery, Xiaoming shook his head and held her back, "Mom, don't go. Grandma doesn't like that."

Zhou Shi stopped and looked at Xiaoming suspiciously, "When did you get so smart?"

Xiaoming was startled but pretended to be confused, "I've always been smart... Mom, I have a secret. I'm the Star of Literature from heaven."

Before he finished, Zhou Shi grabbed his ear and said angrily, "Little brat, trying to fool me? The Star of Literature has always been a top scholar. You're too young to be so naughty. Wait until I teach you a lesson."

Xiaoming, in pain, tiptoed and held his ear, shouting, "Mom, stop... It hurts..."

"Will you stop lying?"

"Mom, I really am the Star of Literature... Ah, it hurts."

"Brat, if you're the Star of Literature, I'm his mother! You're just boasting. Go and pass the imperial exams if you can, or I'll teach you a lesson."

Xiaoming, in pain, raised his hands in surrender, "Mom, I'm sorry. I won't lie anymore. Please let go... If you twist my ear, I won't be able to become a top scholar. Top scholars are all handsome. Don't make me ugly... If I'm ugly, the emperor won't choose me as the top scholar."

Zhou Shi, hearing this, let go and scolded, "You brat, you can't even talk about the emperor. Do you want to die?"

Xiaoming, startled, shrank his head and said, "Mom, I made a mistake. I won't do it again."

"Good, or I'll tear your mouth apart."

Seeing Zhou Shi's serious face, Xiaoming realized he had been too bold and quickly ran to his room.

Zhou Shi took a deep breath, put away the broom, and walked out of the courtyard, heading to the east wing where Xiaoming's aunt lived.

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