Chapter 4 Parents

  Cao Gu's thoughts were in disarray, and the old lady had already opened her eyes, calling for all the maids on duty to come over. The four first-class maids stood in the front row, including Zhenzhu and Shanhua, as well as Feicui and Liuli who had just been mentioned.

  The two of them seemed to have gotten the message, their faces flushing bright red as they lowered their chins onto their clothes. Both were senior maids by Old Lady's side, one in charge of seasonal clothing and the other in charge of headwear and accessories.

  The old lady said a few words of "respecting the elderly and not being naughty", then pointed to Manao and Zijing, taking over their tasks. The others were fine, but Chajing, although young, was proud and saw that the two had been promoted to senior maids, with a hint of displeasure in her eyes.

  Feicui and Liuli gave the old lady a few bows, went down to hand over to Manao and Zijing. In this way, two more second-class maids were vacated from the old lady's side, and the rest of the maids waited eagerly for the old lady to speak. The first-class maid in the mansion was paid two taels of silver per month, the second-class one tael, the third-class five hundred coins, and those who did not enter the class three hundred coins. After all, there were only four first-class maids in the entire mansion. Even if they were promoted to second-class, their seasonal clothes, headwear, and jewelry were all subject to certain rules.

  The old lady's gaze swept through several rows of maids, finally settling on the agate in the front row. She pointed at her and said: "You're a meticulous child, I can trust you with Yan'er, from now on you'll be serving Yan'er!"

  Jadeite nodded in front of him and then turned his head to kowtow to Cao Yu, acknowledging his master. Only then did he get up and stand beside Cao Yu.

  The old lady saw that the gifts were all in order and was very satisfied, smiling and nodding her head. She looked at Cha Jing again: "You are the most clever one among the maidservants, go and keep Xiaoyu company, so she won't be like a gourd with its mouth blocked, silent for half a day!"

  Cha Jing respectfully replied and also gave Cao Gong a bow, then retreated to Bi Xi's side.

  Suddenly, four second-class maid positions were vacated, and all the little maids in the house stretched their necks, waiting for Old Lady to select people. Old Lady only pointed to a melon-faced one in the third row, and was not satisfied with the others, instructing the butler to choose some good ones again tomorrow, and then waved her hand to dismiss everyone, leaving only Biyu and Chajing to attend.

  Cao Gong was dizzy from the smell of hair oil filling the room, and when he saw everyone leaving, he let out a sigh of relief. The old lady held his hand and said: "Gong Er, these past few nights I've heard you sleeping restlessly, did your grandmother disturb you?"

  Cao Gong hastily shook his head, not because the old lady was scolding him, but for other reasons. Firstly, he wasn't used to sleeping early, and secondly, he was worried about this inexplicable transmigration.

  The old lady sighed: "Good child, it's grandmother who is old. Every day at the hour of Chou, she wakes up but doesn't want to disturb your rest!" She instructed Mei and Cha Jing to find Shan Hu, arrange for the east house to be prepared for Cao Yun to live in. All the curtains had to be new, and a list of missing items was made out and handed over to Cai Mai to go out and purchase.

  Cao Cong was willing in his heart, and he agreed half-heartedly. In this warm pavilion, it's too lacking in privacy to be just a hundred paces away from the old lady's bedroom through the Baibao Pavilion. Given how much the old lady dotes on him, wanting a separate courtyard is like a fool's dream. Even if the old lady lets him out, Li Shi would take her son back to her own courtyard to raise him. The eastern house, although connected to this one by a ridge, has several rooms between the two bedrooms, so as long as he doesn't make too much of a commotion, he can do whatever he wants here, such as flirting with the little maidservants and whatnot. However, it's just a thought - this small body of his wouldn't elicit any reaction even if he stuck to someone else.

  In front of it is Kaiyang Temple.

  This was the residence of Li and Cao Ying's couple, in front of which were two gates, outside the two gates were two empty courtyards, where adult males lived in the government office, because Cao Yun was still young, it had been empty all along. The several small courtyards behind were inhabited by Cao Ying's two concubines.

  Li and others returned with Cao Yin, the concubine served them, and the couple had dinner together.

  After dinner, when only the couple was left in the house, Li told her husband about the affairs with Liu Li and Fei Cui. Cao Yin looked at his wife with some emotion: "Why bother? You've suffered enough!"

  Although she didn't say much, her words were warm and thoughtful. Li's eyes reddened slightly, almost shedding tears, but she held back and smiled: "Raised by the old lady, they are all of high quality, Luli, I think she's pretty good!"

  Cao Yin didn't want to continue this awkward topic, and slightly furrowed his brow: "How's that scoundrel doing? He's been absent from school for four days already, it's really unreasonable!"

  "Li heard the mention of her son and hastily spoke up to explain: "Yu'er has been bedridden for several days, only recovering a bit today. His small face is thin and pale, he's lost weight, and at dinner time, he only ate half a bowl of rice. Now that summer has begun, let him rest for two more days!"

  Cao Yin sighed, and at the age of 36, he finally had this son. If he said he wasn't heartbroken, it would be a lie. But according to tradition, he had to adhere to "strict father, loving mother" and "holding grandchildren but not children". As a father, he could only put on a stern face to discipline his son. After chatting with his wife for a while, seeing that the sky outside was getting dark, the couple went together to the backyard where Old Lady was.

  At this time, it is particular about "morning and evening inquiry", which means serving at night and inquiring about safety in the morning. This is the daily etiquette of serving parents.

  The sky outside was still not completely dark, and Xuan Rui Tang had already lit the lights.

  The old lady leaned on the kang, with a lamp on the small table on the kang. Cao Guang was lying on the table reading "Analects of Confucius", while Shanhu was reciting "Diamond Sutra" to the old lady on one side. Although Cao Guang had only been studying for half a month, he had already learned from the old lady by hand "Three Character Classic", "Hundred Family Names", "Thousand Character Essay" and other books of elementary education.

  Now, although Cao Kun's memory is still there, reading "The Analects of Confucius" is still a struggle. He is not used to reading vertically, not used to traditional characters, and not used to no punctuation. What can be done about it? Can he still pretend to be illiterate? It's like starting first grade all over again, but not being a real little kid. Half guessing, half understanding, slowly but surely, there will come a time when everything is clear.

  When Cao Yin and his wife came in, Cao Yun got down from the kang and waited for them to pay their respects to Old Lady Li. After they had done so, Old Lady Li asked her son and daughter-in-law to sit down. Then Cao Yin again asked how Old Lady Li's dinner was, and she nodded that it was good. Old Lady Li asked whether someone had been sent to prepare the courtyard in front for the new daughter-in-law, and Mrs. Li replied in detail.

  Cao Yin saw his son holding a copy of the Analects and standing, although he was delighted in his heart, but still with a straight face, asked: "Which chapter have you read to?"

  "For Governance!" Cao Huai glanced at the book in his hand and replied.

  Zao Yin nodded and pondered for a moment, then asked: "'Zi Gong asked about the gentleman, and the Master said: First do what you say, and then follow it.' What does this mean?"

  The old lady and Mrs. Li stopped talking and looked at the two men as Cao Yin asked Cao Gong about his lessons. The old lady saw that Cao Gong was silent with his head down, fearing he was unhappy in his heart, so she scolded Cao Yin: "He's still young, how can he understand these things? Now he has mastered 'Three Character Classic', ' Hundred Family Surnames' and 'Thousand Character Essay', which is already much stronger than children of the same age!"

  Cao Yin hastily responded with a "yes", but looking at his son's gaze, he couldn't help but feel some disappointment.

  Zi Gong asked what constitutes a gentleman. The Master said, "He puts his words into action before doing them; afterwards they follow him."

  Cao Yin's face was calm, but his eyes had a few hints of delight. Next to the old lady and Li Shi saw Cao Yun standing there, like a little adult, answering cleverly, all with happy faces.

  Cao Gong lowered his head, with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, secretly feeling fortunate that in his previous life he had read part of the Analects of Confucius, specifically the "Xue Er" and "Zheng Zhi" chapters, which happened to be the opening chapters. If it were any other text, it would have been a struggle to understand, let alone interpret.

  Cao Yin saw Cao Guang's expression and thought he was being arrogant, so he coldly snorted: "You only know half of it!"

  Cao Gong didn't bother to argue with him, but the old lady wouldn't let it go. She glared at her son: "Gong'er is absolutely right! Although his words are a bit blunt, that's exactly what he means!"

  Cao Yin didn't like going against him, and repeatedly agreed. He glanced at Cao Gong, hesitated for a moment, and still brought up the matter of going to school.

  The old lady listened and shook her head: "No, no, now that we've entered the hottest period, it's unbearable outside, even adults can't take it. What about such a small child? A few days ago, he had heatstroke and lay in bed for three days, just recovering today. I dare not let him exert himself again. I told you to invite the teacher to our house earlier, but you didn't listen, always causing trouble!"

  Cao Yin smiled and said, "Most of the students are from their own families or relatives, thinking that since Yuan'er doesn't have any siblings to rely on, it's also good for her to make some friends in school to progress together."

  "It's that principle, but it won't work for now. Let's talk about it after these few hot days have passed!" The old lady was as still as a mountain, apparently having made up her mind not to let her grandson leave the house.

  Cao Yin's last hope was shattered, but Cao Gong thought to himself that if he followed the old lady's wishes, he would be trapped in this courtyard all day, watching the various maidservants come and go, which would be suffocating. So, he hastily said: "Ancestor, I've already recovered from my illness, I'll go back to school tomorrow!"

  The old lady was slightly surprised, waved her hand, called Cao Kun to the edge of the bed, and held his hand: "Good boy, don't force it, it's okay in a few days!"

  Cao Gong shook his head: "No need to force it, Sun Er wants to go read books!"

  Cao Yin and Li's wife were amazed to see their son so sensible, with a mix of surprise and delight. The old lady had already burst out laughing, nodded her head, and said: "This is really the true father-son pair! Your current appearance, about to enter school, is exactly the same as your father back then!" She pointed at Cao Yin and continued: "I remember that winter, your father had just chosen a study partner from the palace, and every day he would get up at two in the morning, even earlier than the officials. The winters in the capital are not like ours here, it's freezing! By the time the coldest days arrived, one could freeze their ears off. That year, after a big snowfall, I pitied your father and wanted to ask for a few days' leave for him, but he refused, fearing that he would fall behind in his studies."

  The old lady spoke with pleasure, but Cao Yin and Li Shi had different expressions. Cao Yin was embarrassed to smile in front of his wife and children as he mentioned the embarrassing things of his childhood; Li Shi only knew that her husband had been a palace guard in his youth, and it was the first time she heard about the companion reader, thinking that before she got married, her brother told her that her husband was talented since childhood, and now her eyes were filled with even more tender feelings.

  The old lady was not muddled, of course she knew that only reading books is the right path, but because she doted on her grandson, she spoiled him a bit more. Now seeing that he himself wanted to go, of course there was no reason not to comply. Immediately, she carefully instructed Cao Yi and his wife about what carriage to send Cao Ning to school in tomorrow, who to send with him, and so on.

  After finishing all this, it was completely dark outside, and the old lady's face looked a bit tired. Mrs. Li first called for Dai Nai to serve Cao Yu'an, then she and her husband supported the old lady into the inner bedroom. Cao Yi made the bed, and Mrs. Li helped the old lady take off her outer clothes. After the old lady lay down on the bed, the couple finally left.

  In the emerald pavilion, Cao Guang lay on the bed, with Biyi keeping watch at night. On the ground, a ceremonial mat was spread out. In his heart, Cao Guang lamented the evil feudal society, and in a low voice, he said: "Biayi, there's no need to keep anyone in the house, you can go out and rest!"

  "Come on, old lady will scold you, can't have master getting up in the middle of the night to pour water for himself, can we?"

  Cao Guang closed his eyes weakly, and outside the hundred treasures, the old lady had already fallen asleep, accompanied by a soft snoring sound. Cao Guang couldn't sleep, at this time, it was probably around 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening.

  Jade listened to Cao Fu's uneasy sleep and softly asked: "Sir, are you feeling hot?"

  "Hmm!" Cao Guang hastily replied.

  Jade heard this, took a round fan, went to the bedside, and slowly fanned.

  Cao Gong's heart skipped a beat, and he asked: "Are you surnamed 'Hua' from the 'Flower Grass' family?" He thought to himself, looking at her gentle and considerate demeanor, she was indeed a typical Flower-like person.

  Feng shook her head: "I'm a servant surnamed Feng, born into this household. My father and mother are both working as servants in the estate outside the city."

  The master and servant whispered a few words, Cao Gong saw Ai Xi turn her head to yawn, knowing she was sleepy, so he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. Ai Xi sat on the bed for a while, carefully putting away the mosquito net before going down to rest.

  Cao Guang opened his eyes and began to miss his loved ones from that life. He was helping Chen Lu, a lawyer from the law firm, collect materials when he got into a car accident. The impact was too great, and he lost consciousness immediately. When he woke up again, it was already during the Kangxi period. His parents were both over 60 years old, with white hair sending off their black-haired children - how heartbreaking and sad. His older brother and sister-in-law were also like this, as they had taken care of him like a child since he was young. Thinking about these things, Cao Guang's eyes became wet again. In his heart, he felt unwilling to accept that in that life, he had not yet married, had children, or established a career before dying; was it destined that he would die young in this world? No, he must live for a long time and have many children and grandchildren. Having made up his mind, Cao Guang clenched his fists and told himself so.