Chapter 43: The Mystery of Gifts

After four years of managing the sea dikes in the prosperous regions of Jiangnan, Zhang Xin not only failed to lose weight but even seemed a bit plumper, though his skin tone remained unchanged. The two concubines who had followed him back were also with him; one of them gave birth to a son before the New Year, and now the child was ten months old. A nurse brought the child over to pay their respects, and after examining him from head to toe, everyone offered auspicious words, though each had their own thoughts in mind.

Zhang Yue felt somewhat peculiar looking at the only illegitimate son of the third generation of the Zhang family in the swaddling clothes. Having spent four years in a large family, he had a deep understanding of the rules regarding legitimate and illegitimate descendants. His father, Zhang Zhuo, had done his best over the years, and Zhang Yue had also tried his utmost when it was time to act, yet still, the third branch of the family was not looked down upon. No one could predict what would become of this cousin in the future.

On the other hand, if Zhang Xin had truly worked hard managing the sea dikes, exposed to the sea winds every day, he should have become dark-skinned by now. Instead, his fair and plump appearance suggested he had spent four years recuperating in the water towns of Jiangnan, with no signs of hardship at all.

Zhang Xin and Zhang You, brothers who hadn’t seen each other for years, naturally exchanged many sighs upon reuniting, showing a deep brotherly bond. Yet, anyone with eyes could sense something unusual in their joyful reunion. Though they talked and laughed heartily, their words seemed deliberate, lacking familiarity and more like those of colleagues in officialdom rather than brothers. Zhang Yue had heard his father, Zhang Zhuo, mention that his two uncles used to hang out together as children and seemed to have a good relationship, but now it didn’t seem that way at all.

“Enough, enough! It’s rare for you brothers to be back together. Let’s hold a proper feast in my room today so we can all enjoy ourselves!” Lady Gu, seeing the lively scene with grandchildren all around, couldn’t hide her joy. “Actually, as an old woman, I don’t expect you to achieve great success. As long as you brothers work together, I’ll be satisfied.”

Hearing this, not only did Zhang Xin and Zhang You quickly agree but Zhang Zhuo also stepped forward with a smile, saying things like brothers should support each other. With the sons having expressed their commitment, the three wives naturally followed suit, emphasizing that a harmonious family brings prosperity and taking the opportunity to praise the younger generation of children and grandchildren.

Upon hearing them praise the younger ones, Lady Gu’s face lit up even more, and she nodded, saying, “Chao has been diligent in practicing martial arts these years, and it won’t be long before he achieves great things. Yue and Jiu excel in their studies and have also performed well in the imperial examinations. Our Zhang family has never produced any dissolute heirs, so I can live up to our ancestors’ legacy.” With Lady Gu setting such a positive tone, the whole family sat down to eat together, filled with laughter and joy. Pleased by the compliments, she even forgot her usual habit of being cautious about her health and ate half an extra bowl of rice. After dinner, when tea was served, Zhang Xin and Zhang You had gifts brought in from Jiangnan and Jiaozhi. Everyone in the family received something, not to mention the maids in Lady Gu’s room—everyone was overjoyed. As for Lady Sun, being pregnant, though she had been sitting and talking the whole time, she looked tired when she returned to her room in the western courtyard. Seeing Pearl arrange the various silks and Suzhou embroidery gifts from Zhang Xin on the bed, she said to Zhang Zhuo, “Uncle gave us and the second branch the same silks and embroidery this time, and also gave Yue two Xiangfei bamboo fans and a set of the Four Books and Five Classics. But the box sent by the second uncle is really strange; we won’t know what’s inside until we open it.” “Times have changed. Second brother now has great military achievements. Since he’s been promoted to a general, the rank of Fourth-Class Guangwei General seems a bit low for him. He’s likely to be promoted further, and by then his rank might be on par with that of the eldest brother. The Ministry of Works is originally a low-ranking department, and the current emperor values military strength. It’s hard to say who will be superior in the future. If we show favoritism now, it could lead to criticism. It’s better to treat everyone equally. Besides, our family is not what it used to be.” At this point, Zhang Zhuo suddenly noticed Zhang Yue standing there muttering to himself and immediately scolded him, “Yue, what are you murmuring?” Unprepared for his father’s sharp eyes, Zhang Yue tried to deflect, but then thought that phrase was perfectly fitting here, so he simply said with a smile, “Either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. Since uncle has received praise and the second uncle has been promoted, it’s only natural for them to compete when they get home. Anyway, it has nothing to do with us. We should just do what we need to do.” Hearing this, Zhang Zhuo couldn’t help but laugh. After lightly scolding Zhang Yue a few more times, he shook his head at Lady Sun, “It’s all because you’ve spoiled your son. He’s cautious and reserved in front of others but speaks carelessly at home.”

“I just like Yue’s personality. If he acted like a little lord in front of us, what fun would that be?” Lady Sun pursed her lips before looking at Zhang Yue with a smile. “Yue is right. It’s either the east wind overpowering the west wind or the west wind overpowering the east wind—either way, it’s none of our business. We can just sit back and watch the fight. You two, father and son, hold your strength quietly. When the time comes, if you don’t make a sound… well, you’ll shock everyone!”
Lady Sun suddenly came up with this idiom, causing Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Yue to burst into laughter. Pearl, who was busy tidying things on the kang, seemed completely unaware of their conversation. Only after she sorted out the gifts sent by Zhang You did she exclaim in surprise, then turn around with a smile and say, “Master, madam, and young master, these things are really strange.”
Zhang Yue only knew that his second uncle Zhang You had sent them a large box of items and hadn’t noticed Pearl taking things out one by one. Now, seeing the object she was holding, he almost popped out his eyes.
It was an ivory tusk!
It was as if a treasure chest had been opened—ivory, tortoiseshell, amber, and even things like black wood chopsticks… In short, all kinds of valuable and worthless items were piled up in the box, leaving the four people in the room stunned. Finally, when Pearl took out a beautifully carved wood sculpture of a crane, Zhang Zhuo finally sighed.
“All these years, my second brother still has his old habits—liking to mix good and bad things together. Pearl, call a few maids to sort these out properly, categorize them, and put any unknown items aside for now… My eldest brother’s Hangzhou silk and Suzhou embroidery are indeed valuable, but they pale in comparison to these. My eldest brother knows how to appraise things. If he saw these gifts now, he’d surely be troubled.”
Zhang Yue looked at the mix of expensive and cheap items and thought that his second uncle was truly generous, sending over a whole box of unprocessed “local products” right away. But these days, whose home would have a pair of large ivory tusks or a big tortoiseshell shell hanging on the wall? Undoubtedly, these items would still allow some sculptors in Kaifeng to make a fortune.