Truly a young man of jade-like beauty and soaring spirit...
“A Qiao, if you ever feel wronged or upset, you can always write to your uncle to confide.” Jiang Shaohua patted Wen Qiao on the shoulder and added, “And even if nothing’s wrong, you can still write.”
Wen Qiao replied, “Alright.”
Jiang Shaohua then took out an ingot of Qianqiu Guangmo ink, three purple-haired brushes, five sheets of Chengxintang paper, and a Duan inkstone to give to Wen Qiao. “Your uncle doesn’t know what you like. If there’s anything you don’t care for, you can give it away as gifts.”
Ordinarily, the mansion gave each young master and young lady five taels of silver monthly. Wen Qiao also had in his name paddy fields, land deeds, estates, and shops left by his late maternal grandfather, plus a personal inheritance of one hundred fifty thousand taels. His own stationery was already top-notch, and he knew that the gifts his uncle had chosen were truly thoughtful.
After Wen Qiao thanked him, Jiang Shaohua began discussing current affairs with him. At first, mindful of Wen Qiao’s youth, Jiang Shaohua deliberately kept things simple, but after hearing Wen Qiao’s own views, he realized that deeper discussions would better broaden his nephew’s horizons. After only a short conversation, Jiang Shaohua grew increasingly fond of Wen Qiao, knowing that his future would be brilliant and that he was destined to be a dragon among men.
The carriage stopped at Lamp Market Intersection, where shops stood in rows, bustling with activity. Jiang Shaohua got off first, followed by Wen Qiao.
Jiang Xuesui, who was choosing a kite at a stall, was alerted by Hailan. She ran to her father, calling him “Father” affectionately, then threw herself into his arms for a hug and a cuddle. Jiang Shaohua rubbed his daughter’s head, beaming.
Jiang Xuesui asked, “Father, did Grandmaster Li agree to accept Brother A Qiao as his student?”
Jiang Shaohua: “As soon as your Brother A Qiao met him, that fine young man was so impressive that Grandmaster Li accepted him without a word.”
Jiang Xuesui laughed. “Grandmaster Li has good eyes. Yesterday I learned a saying that fits him perfectly: ‘sharp eyes recognize a jewel.’”
Jiang Shaohua told his daughter to congratulate Wen Qiao. Jiang Xuesui turned to Hailan. “Bring out the scholar-bread for Brother A Qiao to take a bite.”
Hailan handed Wen Qiao the scholar-bread wrapped in bamboo-patterned oiled paper. Wen Qiao took a bite and felt something hard against his teeth. He spat it out onto the paper—it was a gold medal engraved with the words “Do not lose heart.”
Jiang Xuesui gave a surprised “Eh?”
Hailan apologized, “I wrapped the two scholar-breads wrong before leaving.”
She then handed Wen Qiao the scholar-bread wrapped in plum-patterned oiled paper. Wen Qiao took another bite, and this time the gold medal he spat out bore the words “No effort is wasted.”
He immediately understood Jiang Xuesui’s kind intentions. His heart suddenly warmed, and his eyes grew moist.
“Brother A Qiao, you’re lucky not only in scholarship but also in wealth. I only meant for you to get one gold medal, but now you’ve gotten both of mine.” After saying this, Jiang Xuesui turned to comfort the remorseful Hailan, cheering her up in just a few words.
Jiang Shaohua tapped his daughter’s upturned nose, pretending to be hurt. “You only prepared a gift for your Brother A Qiao. Even if I have no great merit, I deserve a gift for my trouble, don’t I?”
“Father, hug.”
Jiang Xuesui raised her little face and stretched out her arms to her father. Jiang Shaohua picked her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. Jiang Shaohua’s smile broadened—until he saw his daughter turn and lean over to kiss Wen Qiao’s forehead as well. His smile immediately froze.
Wen Qiao was also startled, his face and ears turning bright red.
“Yesterday, Brother Xiao Lin kissed Yuanyuan’s forehead. He said it’s a custom in Sujing—if you want someone to share your luck, you kiss their forehead.” Jiang Xuesui explained slowly.
Jiang Shaohua: “Nonsense.”
Wen Qiao: “Absurd.”
The two spoke almost in unison.
Jiang Shaohua examined his daughter’s forehead, feeling that her fair, smooth skin had been defiled by that little rogue named Lin. “That young man has no manners. Yuanyuan, from now on, don’t play with him, or with his brothers, cousins, or any relative of his. Any young man related to him is bound to be no good either.”
Though Jiang Xuesui didn’t understand the reason, since her father said so, he must have his reasons. So she crossed her arms and snorted at Wen Qiao. “My father said I’m not allowed to play with you. If you get mad, don’t be mad at me—be mad at my father.”
Wen Qiao: “…” He had been implicated by that shameless little rascal He Lanlin.
“A Qiao, what relation is that young man to you?” Jiang Shaohua asked.
Wen Qiao made a bow. “That young man is my cousin, and also the current Prince Duan.”
“So that’s His Highness.” Jiang Shaohua had been on good terms with He Lanlin’s late father and hadn’t expected his son to be so frivolous. “His Highness is of noble status, but he shouldn’t act so recklessly. A Qiao, you must admonish His Highness properly.”
“Yes,” Wen Qiao agreed.
Jiang Shaohua carried his daughter from one end of the street to the other, from one street to the next. Whenever Jiang Xuesui saw something she liked, she made her father buy it for her. Noticing that Wen Qiao never asked for anything, she kept a careful eye out and, whenever she saw something suitable for him, made her father buy it as a gift.
At first, Wen Qiao tried to decline. Each time, Jiang Xuesui insisted firmly: “Brother A Qiao, you have to take it whether you want it or not.”
This put Jiang Shaohua in an awkward position. Watching his daughter give gifts like an unreasonable bandit, he could only laugh. Wen Qiao eventually gave in to Jiang Xuesui’s wishes, accepting whatever she gave him.
Jiang Xuesui’s purchases filled two carts, including gifts for her grandmother, uncles and aunts, cousins, and the servants.
Back at Duke Xiangguo’s Mansion, during the evening feast, Jiang Shaohua drank and chatted cheerfully with his three brothers-in-law. While toasting with Duke Xiangguo, he specifically said, “A Qiao is your eldest son. He is bright in spirit, jade-like in appearance, noble in character, and pure in conduct. I find him delightful. Unfortunately, my wife Xincheng and I have no son, and I worry that Yuanyuan will have no full-blooded brother to rely on in the future. I have considered adopting A Qiao. What do you think, brother?”
Duke Xiangguo thought carefully. To become this brother-in-law’s adopted son would be the child’s fortune for several lifetimes. “A Qiao’s temperament is rather aloof and eccentric. Why not adopt my second son, A Yu? He is bright and honest, and most importantly, he is healthy. He won’t make your family line wither.”
Jiang Shaohua knew Duke Xiangguo had misunderstood. “People say that endless descendants are the true continuation of a family’s incense. I don’t adhere to that rigid view. My Yuanyuan is the ever-burning incense. Besides, I want to adopt A Qiao because I truly value and admire him. I have no thoughts about any other child.”
Duke Xiangguo smiled but said nothing.
Jiang Shaohua continued, “In your eyes, A Qiao is aloof and eccentric. But in my eyes, his reticence shows he can keep his mind calm and his temper steady—just the right qualities for a scholar. His perpetually cold face means he doesn’t reveal his myriad thoughts; he values himself but isn’t narcissistic. Once he enters officialdom, he will certainly become a prime minister and a pillar of the state.”
Duke Xiangguo was moved. This brother-in-law was a keen judge of character. He had praised his eldest son so highly that it seemed the glory of the Wen family would largely depend on A Qiao. Unconsciously, he began to regard his eldest son more highly.
“Brother, do you agree to the adoption or not?” Jiang Shaohua pressed.
“In principle, I should agree. But I fear A Qiao might think I’m casting him off because I find him unacceptable.” Duke Xiangguo was willing to do the favor, but if his eldest son later rose to high office, he would have made a wedding dress for someone else.
“I won’t force the issue. But since you don’t agree, you must treat A Qiao well. Your handling of the Taichu Academy affair has already chilled his heart.” Jiang Shaohua hadn’t truly intended to adopt Wen Qiao—his daughter was enough for him. His real aim was to make Duke Xiangguo value his eldest son.
“A Qiao studies diligently and has great talent. Even without Taichu Academy, he can succeed. But A Yu and A Yang are different—they need the teachers at Taichu Academy to teach according to their abilities.” Duke Xiangguo believed he had made a fair decision.
“Your considerations are not unreasonable, but a father who blindly pursues fairness is being profoundly unfair. Ask yourself: which child doesn’t want their parents to favor them alone? A Qiao’s academic excellence has become your excuse to stab him in the back. Discord among siblings is often due to the parents’ lack of virtue. Brother, you should ponder that.”
Jiang Shaohua stopped there. If Duke Xiangguo still wouldn’t listen, he could foresee that father and son would grow increasingly estranged.
Duke Xiangguo glanced at Wen Qiao, remembering how, when his eldest son was born, he had often held him in his arms, placing great hopes on that beautiful infant. But after learning of his congenital cold disorder, and with a second son and now a youngest one, he seemed to have completely given up on his eldest. Because a sick child, one who could not carry on the family line, had limited potential no matter how outstanding.
Duke Xiangguo felt guilty toward his eldest son, and that guilt, accumulated day by day, only grew.
“Shaohua, I cannot firmly choose A Qiao. I cannot firmly choose him.”
Jiang Shaohua sighed deeply. “Very well. Then let’s do this: I won’t adopt him, but if you trust me, entrust A Qiao’s education entirely to me. An uncle is also a father; a teacher is also a father. I can always stand firmly by A Qiao.”
Duke Xiangguo toasted Jiang Shaohua three cups.
Before leaving the capital, Jiang Shaohua left three hundred volumes of books for Wen Qiao, along with a collection of his own essays. He felt a knot in his heart. Those who are parents but fail to plan for their children are unworthy of being parents. A Qiao was such a good child—he must not be left without someone to support his lofty ambitions.
By the end of the year, the medicine was finally prepared. After taking three doses, Wen Qiao was cured of his cold disorder.
Six years later, in the provincial examination, he came first as a jieyuan.
Everyone said that this Wen, the Provincial Graduate, was truly a young man of jade-like beauty and soaring spirit.
Author's Note:
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