Chapter Thirty-Eight Prestige

  It's already December 20th today, which is a day for ancestor worship.

  Wang already knew that Su Jun had been sent out and was in Fuzhou, Fujian. He had been away for over a month. Although she was somewhat resentful, she couldn't say anything about the current situation in the mansion, which had undergone great changes. The steward had become Su Pingyang, who was actually in charge of things. Moreover, the people he had personally selected to stay behind were also undergoing subtle changes in their attitudes.

  This is something she can't stop.

  This time back, Wang can be considered a thorough failure. Originally thought that suppressing Su Tiancheng would work, but it had the opposite effect, and Su Tiancheng underwent a huge change, making her feel surprised. Although Su Tianhao got most of the land, Su Tianran didn't get anything, in Wang's view, Su Tiancheng didn't even have the qualifications to get any property.

  If it weren't for thinking about staying behind to pay respects to their ancestors, the Wang family would have returned to Taiyuan long ago.

  There is a special place for ancestor worship in the mansion, which is a separate house. Someone is arranged to light incense every day. Merchant families attach great importance to such etiquette, which is related to the protection of ancestors and the prosperity of family business.

  Early in the morning, Su Tiancheng got up. He still hadn't moved into the east wing, although he had thoroughly defeated the Wang family this time. However, it was impossible for the Wang family to be convinced and surrender. The conflict between them still existed. The current Su family was a powder keg, and who knows what might happen next, reigniting the flames and triggering another fierce battle.

  Su Tiancheng felt somewhat disheartened, but had no choice but to accept it. As the saying goes, everything depends on one's own strength.

  Before worshiping ancestors, all family members must bathe and burn incense to show piety, including the servants in the house. This is a must, or else they would offend their ancestors.

  There were only thirty servants in the mansion, Su Jun had not returned after going out, leaving twenty-nine people. When Wang Shi and Su Pingyang came back, they brought two servants with them. These two servants also showed respect to Su Tiancheng, they weren't stupid.

  "Kun Yuan, today is the ancestor worship day, you stand by my side."

  "Dad, it's enough if second brother stands by your side and I stand behind."

  "No, you stand on the left, Tianran stands on the right."

  The family had finished bathing and was preparing to enter the house for ancestor worship. Su Huawen announced this arrangement, and Wang's eyes sparkled with anger. Su Tiancheng was a son born out of wedlock, why should he take Su Tianhao's place? Even if Su Tianhao couldn't come back, this position would be left empty. In the past when they worshipped their ancestors, Su Tianhao and Su Tianran stood in front, while Su Tiancheng stood behind them.

  "Kunyuan is right, as the master of the house, this rule must still be followed."

  "Shape up! I mean it, no arguing, what I say goes."

  Wang looked at Su Huawen and was about to lose his temper, but seeing Su's cold expression, he knew it would be pointless to say anything.

  The ancestral worship ceremony began, and Su Huawen made another surprising decision.

  In order, first is Su Huawen, then Su Tianran, followed by Su Tianding, and finally Liu Shi.

  After Su Huawen paid his respects, he asked Su Tiancheng to pay his respects first.

  Mr. Wang could hardly bear it and almost spoke out, probably thinking that the environment was different at this time, so he didn't say anything, but his face already looked very unpleasant.

  Su Tiancheng didn't care about such formalities, but Su Huawen had been holding back his temper these days. He was quite displeased with Wangshi and Su Tianran, and he knew it, but he still needed to be careful not to let the family have another big disagreement, which would be detrimental to his future development.

  "Second brother, please offer incense first."

  Su Tiancheng took a step back, he didn't look at Su Huawen.

  Su Huawen was somewhat stunned and did not expect Su Tiancheng to say such words. He didn't speak, but his face wasn't very good-looking either.

  Su Tianran hesitated for a moment, looking back at Wang Shi, then at Su Huawen, and finally at Su Tiancheng.

  The Wang family's expression slightly eased up a bit, and this incense represented the position of children in the household.

  Su Tianran held up the incense and finally walked forward to pay his respects.

  After the ancestor worship ceremony ended, Su Huawen didn't say anything and went straight to the study.

  Su Tiancheng followed him into the study.

  "Isn't Father dissatisfied with the child's decision today?"

  "Kunyuan, I'm doing this with profound meaning, why can't you understand?"

  "The child understands the father's intention, but the child cannot do so. The rules set by our ancestors must be followed. If the child were to offer incense before the second brother today, who knows if the ancestors would blame the child for not knowing the rules."

  "I know you think so, and I'm glad to see you're so broad-minded. But I also know that nature won't produce anything too extraordinary. Not to mention the Heavens, even the Haos may not have any remarkable achievements. The Su family has continued for over a hundred years, always as merchants. I'm not resigned to it! Take Lei Wentong, for example. Although he's plotting against me, what can I do? His nephew is a jinshi, after all, and the Leis have a reputation for producing scholars. What can I do but watch them scheme?"

  "Father, I have taken note of this debt, I will definitely study hard and take the imperial examination to achieve success."

  Su Huawen let out a sigh, stood up, glanced at Su Tiancheng, and walked out of the study.

  At noon, Liu Zhongji arrived at the government office.

  Liu Zhongji hasn't come for a while, probably also knows that Su Huawen and Wangshi have both returned.

  Liu Dahua was after all a clerk in the Pingyang Prefecture's Office of Official Seals, so Liu Zhongji's status was also somewhat different.

  According to the regulations at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, officials were not allowed to participate in the imperial examination. However, during the Zhengde period, this rule was changed. Any official with good political achievements could be recommended by the county government office, prefectural government office or the governor's office to take part in the provincial examination and seek fame and fortune.

  As for the yamen runners, the situation is still the same. The yamen runners are divided into two categories: Minzhuang, Kuding, Puzheng and Liangmin are good citizens, while Zao, Kuai, Bu, Wu, Jinzu and Menzi are lowly citizens. Among them, the social status of the capture runner is the lowest, almost as if they were considered quasi-criminals.

  The status of a yamen runner is lowly. If one becomes a yamen runner for various government offices, it will be recorded in the archives, and not only the individual but also their children will be barred from taking the imperial examination. Therefore, wealthy families and the scholar-official class absolutely do not allow their sons to become yamen runners.

  Liu Zhongji came to visit, Su Tiancheng felt a bit strange. It's said that Liu Zhongji vaguely knew the situation of the Su family, so why did he come to visit?

  Liu Zhongji was a shengyuan, and with some background, Su Huawen also came out.

  Liu Zhongji respectfully saluted Su Huawen, which made Su Huawen somewhat surprised.

  "Such a great gift from Master Liu, I dare not accept it."

  "Uncle, don't say that, I came to your house today with good news, and it's about Brother Su."

  Su Tiancheng, who was sitting on one side, also found it strange and stared at Liu Zhongji. It's almost New Year's, what good news could there be? Could he be thinking of letting himself go to the government office to do things?

  "Su's actions have been praised by the Magistrate, and I also heard Father mention it. Su has once again distributed grain, refined salt, and meat to the tenants, sharing the worries of the officials."

  Su Tiancheng glared at Liu Zhongji with a bad temper, what good news is this.

  Su Tiancheng didn't care, but Su Huawen was excited. The Su family had caught the attention of the county magistrate, which was definitely good news. Not to mention others, even Lei Wentong would have to be cautious upon hearing such news.

  Wang and Su Tianran soon found out, Su Tianran was a bit jealous, thinking that Su Tiannan had turned over at home, affecting his own authority. Wang, however, sensed something wrong from the middle, it seemed that the Su family would have a good future, maybe this Su Tian really succeeded. A woman's intuition is very keen, Wang vaguely felt that the Su family might be undergoing major changes.

  Lunch was naturally eaten at the Su residence, and this time, Su Tianran also accompanied him in drinking.

  Su Tiancheng saw it, Liu Zhongji's attitude towards Su Tianran was perfunctory, as if he didn't care at all.

  This made him even more convinced that Liu Zhongji was influenced by his father, Liu Dahua, who looked at people's development prospects rather than their noble identity.