SFL Chapter 39

The Liu family, as the in-laws of the Mei family, naturally knew Mei Mingxuan’s decision to no longer participate in the imperial examination. The next day, Mei Mingxuan went to the county town, delivered the copied books to the bookstore owner, took the reward, and then visited the Liu family.

Carrying a gift, Mei Mingxuan was received by Mr. Liu. After sharing his future plans, Mr. Liu frowned slightly. Mei Mingxuan’s previous achievements were indeed impressive, and stopping here seemed a bit regrettable to Mr. Liu.

Mr. Liu, after earning money, aimed to improve the family’s status. Mei Mingxuan, as his son-in-law and someone he supported, was just a backup in his eyes. What he truly wanted to cultivate were his own heirs. However, since they couldn’t participate in the imperial examinations for a few more generations, he decided to establish good relationships with scholars for now.

“If son-in-law has decided, I won’t say much. Have you chosen a location and when will you start accepting students?” Mr. Liu asked with concern.

“I plan to open a school in the county town, which will be closer to Jin Niang’s family. Additionally, it will attract more students. If uncle is willing, you can send your nephew to the school to study along with my nephews,” Mei Mingxuan said.

“Is that true?!” Mr. Liu was excited. Businessmen faced difficulties in official careers, not only because it was not allowed, but also due to the disdain from scholars. Mei Mingxuan’s decision to teach the sons of businessmen surprised Mr. Liu.

Mr. Liu hadn’t expected Mei Mingxuan to accept students who couldn’t participate in the imperial examinations. Mei Mingxuan said solemnly, “Education is crucial, and since I have the ability, teaching is my responsibility.”

“Thank you so much, son-in-law. We are now family. You don’t need to worry about finding a place for the school. In Jin Niang’s dowry, there’s a suitable residence. If you don’t mind, you can tidy it up, and we can start classes right away,” Mr. Liu eagerly suggested.

“Uncle, please calm down. Let me first go to the government office to prepare the necessary documents. After that, we can proceed,” Mei Mingxuan advised.

“Oh, right, I got so excited that I forgot about these important matters,” Mr. Liu admitted. Most of their acquaintances were businessmen, and they knew little about the affairs of scholars.

As Mei Mingxuan bid farewell to the Liu family and completed the necessary procedures at the government office, he returned to the village after dark.

“How did it go, Mingxuan?” Mei’s mother, who had been waiting at home, asked immediately.

“Everything is settled. I just need to find the location for the school and then visit the government office again,” Mei Mingxuan replied.

Mei’s mother, always caring for her son, served him a warm meal. She couldn’t understand the scholarly matters but wanted to share a few words with her son.

“Since the lights in Mingxuan’s room are off, do you feel he’s become distant?” Mei mother asked Mei father.

“Children grow up, and after they get married, they may not be as close as before. It’s normal for Mingxuan to be like this,” Mei father explained.

While Mei mother felt that something might be wrong, she couldn’t pinpoint it. She sighed and decided to put the matter aside.

The day before the wedding, Mei Mingxuan returned from the county town with enough money to establish the school. He handed some to Mei mother, surprising his parents with the unfamiliar sight of silver coins in a plain hemp purse.

“Mingxuan, where did you get this money from?” Mei Mother exclaimed, assuringly not suspecting her son of engaging in any illicit activities since Mei Mingxuan didn’t have the physique for such deeds.

“I earned it by transcribing books,” Mei Mingxuan truthfully revealed.

Mei Father and his brothers gasped, “Transcribing books can actually make this much money?” They felt like they had missed out on several fortunes.

“Of course not. Ordinary transcription doesn’t pay that well. The bookstore owner recommended me to transcribe a Buddhist scripture because he appreciated my writing. Such opportunities are rare, and it was a one-time deal,” Mei Mingxuan explained.

“A one-time deal that’s worth quite a bit,” Mrs. Mei exclaimed joyfully, holding the scattered silver coins.

“Dad, Mom, I want to discuss something with you. After everything is settled with the school, I will be spending a lot of time in the county town. Since all four of us brothers are already married, I suggest you consider dividing this household now,” Mei Mingxuan proposed.

“What did you say?!” Mei Father exclaimed in shock.

“Divide the family?! Mingxuan, what are you talking about?” Mei Mother disagreed, ignoring the silver coins and urging her son to take back those words.

“Dad, Mom, I’ve thought about this thoroughly. Over the years, my pursuit of education has burdened the family. I owe you both a lot. The three elder brothers have their own families and children now; it’s time to consider their households too,” Mei Mingxuan explained.

Mei Da Zhu and his brothers were deeply moved, feeling that their years of love and sacrifice for their younger brother had paid off. Though they didn’t share many common interests, their familial bonds were unbreakable.

“Mingxuan, is it because of Liu Jin Niang that you want to divide the family?” Mei Mother or Mrs. Mei angrily questioned, realizing that if the family split, Mei Mingxuan wouldn’t have to live with the elders. This arrangement would favor his new wife, Liu Jin Niang.

“What does it have to do with Liu Jin Niang? Could she force me to agree to something I don’t want? I’m not that easily influenced,” Mei Mingxuan retorted, appearing hurt by Mrs. Mei’s accusation.

Seeing his son’s reaction, Mrs. Mei’s anger subsided, leaving her feeling uneasy.

“Well, even if we divide the family, once you have a wife, it won’t be as easy for me to see you,” Mrs. Mei said.

Hearing Mrs. Mei indirectly blaming Liu Jin Niang, Mei Mingxuan sighed, acknowledging the consistent traits between the original host and Mrs. Mei. They truly shared a common lineage.

“Dad, please talk to Mom for me,” Mei Mingxuan appealed to Mr. Mei or Mei Father.

Although Mrs. Mei usually took the lead, Mr. Mei was the actual head of the household. Similar to how Mrs. Mei played the role of the “villain” for the sake of the original host, over the years, she had maintained the family’s authority on behalf of Mr. Mei.

Despite Mrs. Mei’s emotional outbursts, Mr. Mei was the one who least wanted the family to split. Once the four sons divided, his role as the family patriarch would become nominal.

Witnessing Mei Mingxuan, their most promising son, determined to divide the family, Mei Father sighed inwardly. He persuaded Mei Mother, “Alright, alright. As the tree grows, it branches out; as the child grows, he establishes his own household. They are all at such an age; it’s time for them to have their own families. Besides, even if we split, we will still be their parents. They still have to show filial piety to us.” Mei Father directed the last sentence specifically to Mei Mingxuan.

Mei Father had come to understand that the three elder brothers above ensured they wouldn’t starve, but it was Mei Mingxuan, the youngest, who was their hope for a comfortable life.

Mei Mingxuan promised, “Naturally, Dad and Mom won’t feel distant because of the family division. I just feel guilty towards my elder brothers. If I can teach my nephews a thing or two, it eases my conscience.”

“Younger brother is right. Mom and Dad won’t become distant due to the family division. We brothers will definitely take good care of you in the future,” Mei Da Zhu and his brothers assured Mei Father and Mei Mother repeatedly.

What did family division mean? It meant they could manage their own finances without surrendering them. It meant they could close their doors and live happily with their wives and children. They had no objections.

With the sons in agreement, even if Mei Mother was reluctant, the family was divided with the witness of Mei’s family members.

As the eldest son, Mei Da Zhu received sixty percent of the family property. Among this, Mei Mingxuan explicitly refused to keep two portions for himself, intending them for Mei Da Zhu to support their parents.

Mei Mingxuan, on the other hand, became a son-in-law in the family. He would move to the county town, but his responsibilities towards Mei Father and Mei Mother would not cease.

The next day, Mei Mingxuan married Liu Jin Niang. Although not a grand wedding, it came with a substantial dowry, mostly consisting of significant items for the couple’s life together. The extravagant display surprised the Mei family, especially Mei Mingxuan’s three sisters-in-law, who felt slightly inferior. Fortunately, their status as rural women provided a stable position against Liu Jin Niang.

Liu Jin Niang, still radiant, held a red fan in her delicate hands, her face adorned with the unique blush of a newlywed. Mei Mingxuan expressed, “I apologize for any inconvenience, Madam.”

“As long as Mei Lang treats Jin Niang well, Jin Niang won’t feel inconvenienced.”

“On the contrary, if Mei Lang makes Jin Niang feel inconvenienced,” Liu Jin Niang boldly added.

Mei Mingxuan raised an eyebrow again, confirming that Liu Jin Niang was not someone to be easily manipulated.

Thus, the exit of the original host became intriguing.

After the bridal chamber candles were lit, and emotions peaked, Liu Jin Niang whispered in Mei Mingxuan’s ear, “Mei Lang, you promised before to let Jin Niang go into business. Does that promise still stand?”

As for why she asked again, last time, her identity was that of a Liu family girl. This time, she asked in the capacity of a Mei family wife.

“Of course, the promise stands,” Mei Mingxuan had no intention of breaking his word.

Hearing the satisfying answer, Liu Jin Niang openly increased her favorability towards Mei Mingxuan.

【Ding, the current favorability of the target towards the host is 50%.】

Unaware that Mei Mingxuan had a system to gauge her emotions, Liu Jin Niang, with a genuine favorability of five, demonstrated a favorability level of twelve.

The next day, as a newlywed, Liu Jin Niang showed great humility and politeness in the Mei family’s residence, leaving Mei Mother with no way to criticize her.

Mei Mingxuan, accompanied by his wife, stayed in the village for three days. Afterward, Liu Jin Niang returned home, and Mei Mingxuan left for the county town with the purchased residence, accompanied by several nephews from the Mei family.