TTTQF Chapter 58

Gossiping Man

Before dawn, the servants at the Jiang residence are already bustling around. They clean the floor until it is spotless and wipe down the doors, windows, and pillars, all in preparation for the visit from the Duke's residence.

Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang sleep uneasily the first two nights. Everything in the house is too unfamiliar, making them feel out of place. After two days, they have somewhat adjusted and no longer wake up with dark circles under their eyes.

"Why do city people's clothes have so many parts? It's so troublesome to wear them!" Uncle Jiang clumsily puts on the clothes piece by piece. These clothes are light and have many straps, making them extremely uncomfortable to wear.

"You really are like a wild boar that can't eat fine grain. Given something good, you still complain," Aunt Jiang says, stroking her clothes lovingly. Being handy, she has learned how to wear them after the maid demonstrates once.

"Would you be happy wearing these clothes to work?" Uncle Jiang retorts, feeling indignant. "They're so long and cumbersome, it's just not convenient!"

"You make me laugh. Have you ever seen anyone wear these clothes to work in the fields?" Aunt Jiang mocks him. "Besides, we're enjoying some of Miao-ge'er's fortune these few days, experiencing the city life of the wealthy. Who said you could take these clothes back home to wear?"

"Do you think that nephew of ours, who's so particular, would want clothes we've worn?" Uncle Jiang feels awkward calling Pei Che by his name and refers to him as "this one" or "that one." However, when they meet, he still addresses him as Young Master Pei.

"Whether he wants them or not, we need to show the right attitude. We don't want people to think we're poor relatives coming to take advantage and make things difficult for Miao-ge'er," Aunt Jiang, being a daughter-in-law, has thought about these things more thoroughly than Uncle Jiang.

"You're right!" Uncle Jiang immediately becomes nervous, thinking he must be careful not to accidentally take anything with him when they leave.

Jiang Miao is unaware of his elders' careful considerations. He is still sound asleep in bed. Although he is the main character today, he is also the most relaxed. According to tradition, the bride does not need to make an appearance during the betrothal.

Jiang Miao does not feel the need to prove himself nor does he think that not being seen as a man matters. Man or woman, they are all just people. Not having to show up is perfect for him; he is not in the mood to put on a smiling face.

Pei Che, as the other main character today, isn't so fortunate. He has to follow his uncle and second uncle, carrying the betrothal gifts, and set off from the Duke's Mansion together.

Just as families with daughters prepare dowries for them from a young age, families with sons prepare betrothal gifts. Over the years, the betrothal gifts that Pei Che accumulates for his future partner are innumerable. 

Among these are gold, silver, jewels, paintings by famous artists, and antique jade artifacts. However, no matter how precious the betrothal gifts are, they can only be placed in boxes and sent over. All these treasures are overshadowed by the two domesticated geese in the lead cart, honking loudly.

These two geese are kept in a wicker basket, stretching their necks and honking "ga...ah...ga...ah..." along the way, as if mocking Pei Che for being a fool who spends a fortune to marry a male wife.

Inside the carriage, Pei Shiyuan looks at Pei Che with a sarcastic smile and says, "Does the heir know what others say about our family?"

Pei Che raises his eyes slightly, his lips curving into a standard smile, "I would like to hear the details."

"They say that since ancient times, prestigious families give wild geese as a symbol of deep affection when marrying. Only common folk give domesticated geese. They wonder if it's because the heir is marrying a commoner and thus following local customs? Now, rumors are spreading throughout the city, and the Duke's reputation is almost ruined!" For the upper-class society of Liangjing, this is a very degrading matter.

"Is the Duke too idle, that he even pays attention to such baseless gossip? How about I find a job for you instead? Otherwise, when others hear this, they might think it’s just some idle villager gossiping at the village entrance," Without waiting for Pei Che to respond, his eldest maternal uncle retorts with a stern face.

His eldest maternal uncle now holds a position in the Ministry of Personnel, overseeing the evaluations of all officials. These evaluations determine whether they will be promoted or demoted, retained or transferred in three years, so most people would not dare to offend them easily.

Pei Shiyuan's face turns somewhat ugly at this rebuke. At that moment, Gao Shichang, who comes to observe the ceremony, speaks up.

"Lord Feng, what an imposing official manner you have. No wonder people say that the two Fengs can support half the sky in the court. In my opinion, the Duke's words make sense. Marrying a male wife is not an honorable thing, and yet you still suffer under others' control, losing the family's dignity. If such unfilial descendants were in my Gao family, they would have been expelled long ago."

Gao Shichang originally thinks his visit will not go smoothly, but he doesn't expect the Pei uncle and nephew to be at such odds, even speaking harshly in front of others. He doesn't mind adding fuel to the fire.

Eldest Uncle Feng sneers, "Does Lord Gao know the meaning of 'rumors stop at the wise'? Are you questioning the emperor's decision? My nephew's marriage is decreed by the emperor; whether it's thunder or rain, it’s all the emperor's grace. How can you have a say in it? As for your Gao family's rules, ha, it's best not to mention them."

The single word "ha" is filled with contempt. Gao Shichang remembers last year's incident, which, although it only involves the death of a clansman, is a great humiliation to him! He lets his face fall and engages in a war of words with Uncle Feng. The two scholars, arguing with literary flair and occasionally quoting classics, create a heated and intense scene. The fierceness of the battle is jaw-dropping.

Pei Shiyuan and Pei Che quietly listen to the two argue all the way until the sound of deafening firecrackers reaches their ears. They then realize that the procession has arrived at the entrance of the alley.

Uniformly styled carriages, numbering in the dozens, move forward in an orderly fashion, nearly blocking the entire street. The townspeople stop to watch, wondering which family's daughter could receive such lavish treatment. Given the grandeur of the scene, they assume she must have caught the eye of a prominent family in Shangcheng.

In Daliang, the most extravagant firecrackers can last up to a thousand bursts, but now the continuous crackling sound goes on for a long time without stopping. Uncle Feng loudly asks, "Che'er, where did you buy these firecrackers? By my reckoning, they've gone off about five thousand times."

"Uncle, this is Ah Miao's idea. He asked people to connect the firecrackers in pairs. They only need to be lit once and they will keep going for a long time." Pei Che replies. It is a simple idea, but since no one has thought of it before, it is quite ingenious.

After the firecrackers finally stop, the procession slowly moves into the alley, stopping in front of the Jiang residence. The main gate of the Jiang residence is wide open, and the surrounding area is filled with onlookers, adding a festive atmosphere to the scene.

"The Pei family of the Duke of Zhongguo household has come to present betrothal gifts, seeking to marry a son of the Jiang family to the heir of the Duke's family. May the couple be as harmonious as a pair of mandarin ducks, their lives filled with music and love. We respectfully request the Jiang family's elders to grant their approval," the ceremony host announces. He has been hired at great expense by the Duke's household, known for his flexibility and not being overly rigid. He has even modified the traditional proposal speech to suit the special circumstances of the couple.

A response of approval quickly comes from within, and after it is given, the guests are respectfully invited inside to take their seats. The host then stands in front of the Jiang residence and reads out the list of betrothal gifts from the Duke's household one by one. As he announces each item, servants carry it inside.

The betrothal gifts come in an endless stream. It takes nearly half an hour to finish reading the list. Such a scene has never been witnessed in the western part of the city. While everyone is amazed, their thoughts remain fixated on the first sentence the host has uttered.

What does it mean that the Duke of Zhongguo Mansion's son wants to marry the young master of the Jiang family? How could the bride be a young master?

While the crowd is puzzled, someone with sharp ears and a quick tongue explains, "It's said that the upper city's high society has been abuzz about this. The emperor bestowed a male wife on the heir of the Duke of Zhongguo's household, as the Imperial Astrologer determined they were a match made in heaven. Moreover, the heir himself personally requested this marriage!" Small families only dare to discuss this in whispers, fearing repercussions. But now that the betrothal gifts have been presented, there is no need for secrecy.

"A male wife!" The crowd expresses their astonishment. While they've heard of romantic relationships between men, these are usually kept hidden, for fear of being discovered. They never imagine that these two would be so bold as to seek an imperial decree!

"That's right! I heard that the heir of the Pei family was so enamored with that man that, despite his family's objections, he knelt in the palace for three days and nights before the emperor showed mercy and issued the decree for their marriage!" The person sharing the gossip speaks with pride, spreading what is likely a highly embellished tale, causing everyone to marvel at the depth of the heir's affection. They wonder what kind of exceptional man could win the heart of the heir of the Pei family!

The chatter outside the house is in full swing, and the people inside the house are no less lively. When Gao Shichang first sees the two elders in the main hall, he immediately notices their nervousness. After all the formalities are completed, he takes out the emperor's decree and begins to read it aloud. Since the emperor is the matchmaker, he has also added a gift with the decree.

With the decree still in hand, Gao Shichang prepares to vent his remaining anger on them, smiling as he says, "I am here by the emperor's order to witness the ceremony. Are you from the Jiang family of Liyang or Fengyuan?"

The families he mentions are prominent Jiang clans in the region. Although Jiang Miao's family might have been distantly related to them five hundred years ago, they have no connection now.

Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang don’t quite understand what he is saying. After a servant whispers an explanation, Uncle Jiang suddenly realizes—it turns out they are asking about their residence.

"Sir, we are from the Jiang family in Jiangjiawan, just fifty miles east along the official road." Uncle Jiang smiles naively.

Gao Shichang chuckles, "I have never heard of this place, it must be quite remote. I wonder what you two do for a living?"

After another whisper from the servant, Uncle Jiang says, "We tend to some farmland and raise a few chickens."

Gao Shichang laughs heartily and turns to Uncle Feng and Pei Shiyuan, saying, "Congratulations to you both on this excellent match. You won't be short of grain and chickens to eat in the future."

Pei Shiyuan gives an awkward smile, while Uncle Feng's face remains stern. If not for the decree still in Gao Shichang's hands, he would love to punch the smug look off his face. 

Pei Che's expression mirrors Uncle Feng's. This man, an official, shows no compassion for the common people and even takes pleasure in mocking them—He is really a scum!

Feeling extremely pleased with himself, Gao Shichang continues, "Farm work must be plentiful. If you ever get too busy, you could ask your in-laws for help. I wonder if our young master here can work the fields? Ha ha ha."

"Listening to you, sir, you must be skilled in farm work?" a voice suddenly interjects. Gao Shichang is taken aback and turns to see a handsome, sharp-eyed young man emerge from inside, glaring at him coldly.

"Who are you?" Gao Shichang demands.

"Aren't you here to witness the ceremony? How can you not know who I am? Have you no respect for the emperor, to be so negligent in your duties?" Jiang Miao had initially not wanted to come out, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he had hidden inside to listen. Unable to tolerate Gao Shichang's incessant mocking, he finally can't hold back any longer.

"Are you Jiang Miao?" Gao Shichang, somewhat displeased by the label Jiang Miao has attached to him, says, "On the day of the betrothal, you should be sitting inside, waiting. How is it proper to come out and show your face!"

"Is there a law that says one cannot come out during a betrothal?" Jiang Miao rolls his eyes. "If there isn't such a regulation, don't you think you're being a bit overbearing? Although we farmers may not understand all the protocols, we still know how to observe the proper manners when visiting other people's homes."

Hearing Jiang Miao's mocking tone, Gao Shichang sneers, "Such a sharp-tongue. No wonder Pei Che is under your control."

"Ah Che loves and respects me. We are clearly a match made in heaven. What control are you talking about? It's just a matter of married couple affection. Why are you prattling on about it?" Jiang Miao's shameless remarks shock everyone. Even Pei Che, knowing it is just for show, can't help but blush slightly.

"Shameless!" Gao Shichang, unable to continue the argument on this front, changes the subject. "What did you mean by your earlier remarks?"

"What I mean is, if you understand farming, you would know the hardships of the common people. How can you make jokes about such matters? If you don't understand, then isn't mocking others just a case of the pot calling the kettle black?"

"Ha, no wonder you're a street vendor, always dealing with people and honing your sharp tongue." Gao Shichang begins to criticize Jiang Miao's status, trying to suppress him from a class perspective. Unfortunately, Jiang Miao comes from a land of freedom and equality, where ancient class distinctions mean nothing to him.

"I'm just a street vendor, at the bottom of the social hierarchy, so I don't understand why someone like you, who is at the top, would argue with me here. Look at others with culture and grace; they remain silent. I usually only debate with other gossipy fellows on the street."

"Hahaha, the term 'gossipy fellow' is quite apt. Che'er, your companion has quite a sense of humor," Uncle Feng says, laughing loudly without any restraint.

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