Chapter Thirty-Three: The First Step (Part Two)

"My husband is a strange man."

"Hmm?"

Snow was falling gently. The two who bore the title of husband and wife stood on opposite sides of the pillar, looking out over the sprawling courtyards. Tilting her head, Su Tan'er lowered her gaze a little, and a faint smile crept onto her lips.

"In truth… it’s not that you’re strange, husband. When I was a child, I also liked to stand up here and look out. Have you noticed? The view from here is the best." She pointed into the distance. "Look, that's the courtyard where Father and Mother live… Second Aunt’s is over there… Grandfather's is a bit blocked… Third Uncle is in that direction… see that lantern? That should be Wen Ying and the others passing through…"

Under the night sky, the Su residence was clearly divided into its various sections as Su Tan'er indicated them, and the figures carrying lanterns between the courtyards could be seen. She pointed them out with practiced familiarity, and after a moment's thought, continued.

"I didn’t live here as a child, but I often came to play. I’d sit up here, looking all around, and when my nursemaid couldn’t find me, she’d always know to look here. If I saw her coming, I’d hide inside, always choosing a different spot. She was rather slow; once I changed hiding places and she couldn’t find me, calling outside for ages…"

"Every time she came to look, she’d say it was too windy up here, or that it was time to eat. You might not believe it, but as a child, I was quite healthy—wind never made me sick. I liked running about like the boys, chasing and playing, but eventually they stopped playing with me. As for eating, sometimes I didn’t feel hungry at all. When I asked the nursemaid why, she didn’t know either. Heh, when Mother gave birth to me, Father said he wanted a boy to inherit the family, but when I was born a girl, he said, ‘Well, at least we have a proper young lady.’ But honestly, I’m not much of a proper young lady at all…"

She lifted her chin with a smile, the expression clear and untroubled. Though she might not be deeply learned, in appearance and demeanor, she was every bit the picture of a noble daughter.

"So later, when I could choose my own courtyard, I moved here with Xiao Chan and the others. You might not know, but when I first dared to move in, I chose this room because the view was better. But… later I moved over there. Do you know why?"

"So that you couldn’t see others, and others couldn’t see you?" Ning Yi answered casually. Su Tan'er fell silent for a while. "Did you ever have any ambitions or ideals, husband?"

"Me…" Ning Yi thought back over the years. "I wanted to build houses."

"Eh?" The answer clearly surprised her. After a pause, she said, "Build houses? Like… a bricklayer?"

"Haha." Ning Yi threw his head back and laughed. "Exactly—bricklayer, carpenter, something like that… more or less."

"I never would have imagined…" Su Tan'er murmured. Ning Yi tapped his fingers on the railing, then produced a washed preserved egg, passing it to her around the wooden post. "Here, try this."

"A duck egg."

Though snow fell, the gallery was well lit from below, but distinguishing the patterns on the eggshell was impossible. Su Tan'er didn’t seem to mind, though; she took the egg, tapped it a few times on the railing, and began to peel it, pausing after a few fragments.

"When I was little," she mused, "I wanted to be a performer—a magician. Of course, that was just a child’s dream. Every year, the family would invite troupes to perform, and it always seemed so magical. I thought if I learned, maybe I could fly or become immortal. Later, I did pick up a trick or two—just like you taught Xiao Chan the other day. Look, husband…"

She extended her left hand, pale and delicate in the snow, her slender fingers holding the eggshell fragments she’d just peeled. Rubbing them lightly, a sparkling dust fell from her fingertips in fine lines—mysterious and dazzling. It must have been a secret she’d learned from performers. When the trick was done, she laughed softly, clearly pleased.

"But of course, Father and Mother would never let me become a performer. When I was young, I didn’t understand, but as I grew, I realized they were often unhappy. Father wanted a son, but even after marrying two concubines, still no little brother or sister for me. Sometimes… sometimes Father would…"

She hesitated, perhaps because the words were hard to say, then took a deep breath. "Anyway… from then on, I found it strange—why couldn’t a girl inherit the family business? I could do anything they could, sometimes better. Even when I went to the academy disguised as a boy—of course, I was always found out—but no matter what, I wouldn’t leave, no matter the beatings or scolding. I insisted on finishing every lesson. Luckily, the academy was run by our own family and Grandfather eventually gave his approval… That’s why now Xiao Qi and the other girls can attend classes—it’s all because I was so stubborn…"

All the while, she peeled the egg. Then, as if noticing something, she exclaimed softly and held up the half-peeled preserved egg. The amber-colored white and marbled patterns gleamed in the light below.

Ning Yi turned and leaned against the railing. "It’s a preserved egg. You can eat it."

"Hmm?"

She’d never seen a duck egg like this before. After a moment’s thought, she brought it to her lips and took a bite, then returned to the previous conversation.

"I know, these are not things men like to hear. I’ve never told anyone else, but… I had to tell you, husband, even if you dislike it. I want you to know I’m not an overbearing woman, not domineering or unreasonable. In the half year we’ve been together, I think you might understand these odd thoughts of mine. I truly do want to manage the Su family well, but that’s all it is—a wish. We are husband and wife, bound by a promise for life. I don’t want you to be like the others, holding so many misgivings about me… If… if…"

She struggled to find the words. Ning Yi smiled. "And if I really do go off to be a bricklayer?"

Su Tan'er thought for a moment, then smiled. "Then I’ll go perform my tricks, too."

***

"Actually…" Ning Yi produced a folded sheet of xuan paper from his robes, waving it in the air before handing it to Su Tan’er. "Take a look at this."

In the dim light, the paper was covered with odd sketches and patterns, blurred and difficult to make out. Su Tan’er glanced at Ning Yi with mild puzzlement, then took the sheet and examined it closely.

The objects on the paper were strange, many of the lines and symbols entirely unfamiliar, though they bore a passing resemblance to Persian or steppe scripts. After studying it for a while, Su Tan’er finally admitted defeat and looked up. "Is this… scientific investigation?" She might not understand the drawings, but she could guess at the category. The family dealt in silks, and she’d seen plenty of loom diagrams—though it was hard to say which were more complicated.

In these times, Confucian education valued the humanities over the investigation of things. Su Tan’er could never have guessed that her mild-mannered, enigmatic husband was earnestly studying such matters. The Su family did employ craftsmen to improve weaving machines, but they were regarded as mere repairmen. In this society, artisans were of low status—even if you dignified it as scientific inquiry, few would understand. Though centuries later "the investigation of things" would be recognized as the early spark of physics in Confucian thought, for now it was considered a mere philosophical pursuit—if it strayed into mechanics or invention, it was dismissed as mere trickery.

But as a merchant who understood the value of craftsmen, Su Tan’er had no prejudice. Ning Yi smiled. "Just something I do when I’m bored. Who knows if it’ll amount to anything in a few years’ time…"

Su Tan’er replied, "Actually, we have a few old craftsmen at home with some expertise in this… but…" She did not look down on them, but since artisans held low status, if her husband spent his days with them, even if the old men were respected, Ning Yi would draw criticism. She hesitated, but Ning Yi shook his head.

"It’s not urgent—just a pastime."

"But what are these drawings for, husband?"

He paused. "Food, but it’s hard to explain now."

He glanced at the object in her hand. Su Tan’er followed his gaze and realized, looking at the half-eaten preserved egg. "Wait… did you…?"

"More or less," he replied.

She was stunned, then popped the last half of the egg into her mouth, chewing and swallowing slowly. Ning Yi gazed out at the distant courtyards, and Su Tan’er leaned on the railing, head bowed, lost in thought. After a long while, she smiled quietly, as if at some sudden understanding, or perhaps at her own foolishness.

"In fact, you must have known what I came here to say tonight, didn’t you?"

After a pause, Ning Yi nodded. "One can always guess a little."

"You’re no bookworm."

"Heh…"

"And there’s meaning in the stories you tell at the academy."

"That one, I really did just say off the cuff."

She ignored him, looking into the distance. "And that poem at the temple wasn’t really from a Daoist priest."

"…"

"You are a man of great learning, husband."

"Ahem, not really…"

Su Tan’er had clearly made up her mind about something by now; she was talking to herself more than to him. After a while, she glanced over, this time with a question: "At the He family’s banquet the other day, did you really see through their intentions and guess what the Xue family was up to?"

Ning Yi met her gaze for a few seconds. "If I said yes, would you believe me?"

"Then you must have been born knowing, and all my years of experience were for nothing…" Su Tan’er wrinkled her nose and laughed brilliantly. She was clearly confident in her own judgment, and with reason. In truth, Ning Yi had not really guessed right; he had simply chanced upon the He family's intentions because of some incomplete clues. Since Su Tan’er believed as she did, he saw no need to explain.

"My husband is a strange man," she concluded.

"And you are a strange woman."

***

"Xi." Su Tan’er laughed happily. "Now I’m at ease."

The snow fell silently, blanketing the whole city of Jiangning. In this bustling world, the warmth of laughter in some corner seemed like a golden window opened quietly, the whole universe gently cradling it within.

In the winter of the seventh year of Jinghan under the Wu Dynasty, time was like an enduring painting; amid the heavy snow, all was serene.

***

In Song Mao’s courtyard.

The lamplight in the room flickered, its shadows wavering on the window lattice, as a young man entered to pay his respects. On one side of the room, a middle-aged man with a sturdy, upright face sat at a table, writing while making idle conversation—though not a word of it entered his heart.

Su Wenxing did not dare question this uncle of his, so he simply made small talk, hoping for some kind of answer in due course.

After some time, a distant bell sounded. Song Mao put down his brush and pressed the paper flat.

"This invitation isn’t finished yet. I’ll write more when I return." He stood, smiling, and turned to his distracted nephew. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Wenxing, how hard do you think it would be to defeat your cousin Tan’er and take charge of the Su family?"

Su Wenxing had actually been thinking of Ning Yi, but at this question, he answered seriously, "I won’t lie, Uncle. My cousin Tan’er is truly exceptional. If she were really to take charge of the main house, I… wouldn’t have any confidence at all…"

It was hard to admit, but honesty was what mattered before his uncle. Song Mao shook his head and patted his shoulder. "You’re overthinking things. There’s one thing you must never forget: your cousin Tan’er is still just a woman."

"I… I understand, but what she’s accomplished is…"

"Why are you all so intent on defeating her?" Song Mao smiled. "The Su family is still ruled by the old patriarch, and even if he passes, his brothers remain—and even the collateral branches have a say. You have to consider: if Su Tan’er really does take over, the pressure she’ll face as a woman from the outside world will far outweigh what she endures within the family. The patriarch gives her chances, lets her manage things, but she’s always under your uncle’s wing. Do you think the pressure inside the Su family is greater than what she’d face outside, should she ever truly take command?"

Su Wenxing was puzzled. "You mean…"

"You don’t need to outdo her, or defeat her in business. As long as she can’t peacefully take over, can’t swallow up the second and third branches, or directly suppress them, that alone is a victory. In the end, she’s only a woman. Her abilities would have to be ten times yours to accomplish the things you could do naturally, while all you need to do is maintain the status quo. Wenxing, will your second and third branches just let her take over without a fight?"

At last, Su Wenxing understood and grew excited. "Of course not! We’d never sit and wait for doom!" It was a victory handed to them on a platter.

"Your father understands this, and so does your third uncle, but they won’t say so outright, for fear you youngsters will lose your fighting spirit. Now that you know, don’t spread it around, but keep doing your utmost. Understood?" Song Mao patted his shoulder. "Come, let’s go greet your father and mother together."

"Yes." Su Wenxing nodded, then remembered something. "But Uncle, what about Ning Yi? He’s Tan’er’s husband—wouldn’t this be the perfect chance for him to make trouble?"

"That…" Song Mao walked over to fetch his now-cold tea, pondering his words. A man able to converse with the likes of Qin Siyuan and Kang Xian—regardless of true talent—was not someone a boy like you could handle. Years on the official circuit had taught him to filter out certain things, and he seldom spoke harshly. But seeing his nephew’s earnestness, and thinking of their genuine bond, he sighed.

"This… whatever others may do, I want you, Wenxing, to stay out of it, no matter Ning Yi’s talents. Remember this well." He paused and spoke the words he least wished to say that night. "…Lest you bring humiliation upon yourself."

***

Tonight, thunder and lightning struck, knocking out power to the whole neighborhood. I almost dashed off to an internet café, but luckily the lights came back and I managed to finish this chapter. Oh, and just before the outage, I did something awesome: as the first lightning bolt flashed outside, I decisively hit save in WORD, and three seconds later the screen went black. Seems my luck is incredible lately. The path of sincerity truly lets you foresee the future. Soon I’ll achieve enlightenment and become the legendary Banana Great Demon King ^_^

Given how much trouble this chapter took, please support with votes and recommendations—thank you all! ^_^

(End of Volume One: Morning Winds of Jiangning)