Chapter 534: The New Year Is Also a Day of Reunion; Hard Times Eventually End

The 27th day of the 12th lunar month is the day when ordinary families slaughter chickens and go to the market, while the busy officials in the court also take time off. Although during the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, there were only three days off per year—on the Emperor’s Birthday, the Winter Solstice, and the New Year’s Day—more than fifty years have passed since the founding of the dynasty, and the rules have somewhat relaxed. Except for the Cabinet, the six ministries, and the Censorate, other government offices closed early for holidays. Even the children in private schools took a break from their studies, and every family gathered joyfully together. In the streets and alleys of the capital, people walked with cheerful expressions.

It was a bright sunny day, and the area in front of the western gate of the Marquis of Wu’an’s residence was quiet. Since their lord was in Xuanfu and the rewards for this festival had already been distributed, it was not the time for family visits, so the gatekeeper enjoyed taking a break, with an old man and a young man standing there chatting idly. Their conversation soon turned to the neighboring residence of the Marquis of Yangwu.

“Although that family’s title isn’t as high as our lord’s, after this campaign in Jiaozhi, the Marquis of Yangwu’s title will surely be made hereditary. And that third young master, at such a young age, is already serving as governor of Xuanfu alongside our lord—one in civil affairs and the other in military affairs. What great favor! Did you see the rewards given out a few days ago? They weren’t less than ours!”

“No matter how great the favor, it can’t surpass that of the Duke of Yingguo. Unless Lord Zhang can achieve similar feats as the original Duke of Yingguo in pacifying Annam, things will remain as they are. Besides, yesterday the lady went to that residence with several aunts to pay a visit. Didn’t you hear any rumors? That old lady, strong as a rock, probably won’t last much longer.”

“Really? That old lady has always been in good health. She’ll be turning seventy after the New Year… Sigh, if she really falls ill, it’s probably out of longing for her son. But our lord should be returning soon. That’s what they say, but if the old lady passes away, the others, after all, are separated from the Duke of Yingguo by a layer of distance. It’ll be hard for them to be as close as before.”

“They didn’t rise to power through the Jingnan Campaign. It’s already a great fortune for them to be where they are now. They can’t rely on others forever. Their family now faces uneven fortunes among the legitimate and illegitimate members, as well as among the elders and younger ones. If something happens to that old lady, there will likely be many troubles… Hey, someone’s coming over there!”

As he spoke, the older gatekeeper saw a dozen riders speeding toward the alley entrance. He quickly narrowed his eyes to take a closer look. Realizing they weren’t dressed like his own family, he was about to pull back his head when he noticed the middle-aged man at the front, looking disheveled, seemed somewhat familiar. After a moment’s thought, he immediately figured out who it was. By the time he peeked out again, the group had already passed by.

The main gate of the Yangwu Bo’s residence had been opened frequently in recent days, but things had calmed down a bit now that the money and grain from the estates had been delivered before the New Year, making the duties at the gate much less busy. Seeing people coming, the two middle-aged gatekeepers hurried forward to greet them. Just as they were about to ask about their identities, one of them suddenly exclaimed in shock, “My lord, you… you’re finally back!”

This outburst alarmed the gatekeeper in charge, who rushed out to take a look. Overwhelmed with surprise and joy, he forgot entirely to bow or greet them and dashed inside like the wind. Seeing others approaching—some to pay respects, others busy leading horses—he, Zhang Xin, who hadn’t seen his family in five years, felt a pang of sadness. After finally regaining his composure, he dismounted and asked a few questions to everyone. However, after taking a few steps forward, near the west gate, he suddenly glanced at the main gate.

Under the midday sun, the three-room gate adorned with gold-painted animal faces and tin rings shone brightly. The four characters “Yangwu Bo’s Residence” on the gate tower appeared powerful and bold, almost dazzling to the eye. The animal face patterns on the gate were imposing, but the gate was tightly closed, with not even a crack.

After pausing for a moment, Zhang Xin put aside these thoughts and entered through the west gate. He felt unfamiliar with this residence, which he had only returned to after being exiled. Yet as he walked further in, he gradually found the plants and courtyards to seem somewhat familiar. Gao Quan, who was leading the way, noticed his expression and smiled apologetically, explaining, “It was the old lady who said that even though we’ve moved away from Kaifeng, we must not forget our roots. So she insisted that the house be arranged just like the old one, and even the plants were chosen from the same varieties as before…”

“Father!”

Before Zhang Xin could nod, he heard a voice call out from ahead. Seeing a very tall young man rushing toward him, he was momentarily stunned. It wasn’t until he saw the man fall to his knees in front of him and kowtow three times that he snapped out of it. At that moment, he could no longer maintain the stern demeanor of his former self and instinctively reached out to help the man up.

After five years apart, he could hardly recognize his own son—not only had he grown taller and stronger, but his appearance also bore an increasing resemblance to his own youth. Only, while he had been serious since childhood, Zhang Jiu’s round face gave off a gentle appearance. It was hard for him to imagine what changes his once proud and impulsive son must have gone through to become what he was now. After examining him from head to toe for a long time, he finally resisted the urge to touch Zhang Jiu’s head and nodded in approval.
“You’ve finally grown up!”
Hearing his father’s praise, Zhang Jiu was overjoyed. He stepped forward carefully and supported Zhang Xin’s arm. When they reached the front gate, Zhang Zhuo came out with several nephews, and there was another round of greetings and chatter. Seeing that his second son, who had been just an infant when he left, was now a robust child, Zhang Xin couldn’t help but sigh again. As they walked further, after passing through the three rooms in the north courtyard, he suddenly hesitated, not knowing what mood to bring when meeting his mother.
“The eldest master has arrived!”
As the sky-blue curtain was lifted high, Lady Gu, helped up by Du Wan and Li Yun, finally recognized Zhang Xin who rushed in. Seeing her son, who was nearly at the age of 40, kneel down as soon as he entered and kowtow several times, she felt her throat tighten, unable to utter a word of the prepared speech.
“It’s good you’re back… It’s good you’re back!”
She reached out to press on his shoulders, filled with joy. In that moment, the weight that had been pressing on her heart suddenly lifted, making her feel lighter. Wiping her tear-streaked eyes with her sleeve, she pulled Zhang Xin up. After looking him over, she noticed he had lost a lot of weight but still seemed in good spirits, which reassured her. She just couldn’t bring herself to let go of his hands. It wasn’t until Linglong came to announce it was time for lunch that she finally released his hands, shaking her head with a smile.
“In our family, we can never be together during the New Year—someone always misses out each year. This year, you and the third son are back, but the second son and Yue Ge are not. I don’t know if I’ll ever see the day when the whole family can sit together at the table.”

Seeing Lady Gu so sentimental, everyone quickly changed the subject. Even Zhang Xin didn’t mention any difficulties he had faced in his duties, choosing instead to talk about pleasant and amusing things. After the tables and chairs were arranged in the room, the younger members of the family came forward to pay their respects, and then everyone sat down according to their seniority. The three daughters-in-law stood aside, ready to serve.

Although Zhang Xin was away, he was only aware of the family matters described in the letters home, but he also knew the backgrounds of his three daughters-in-law. Having studied since childhood and entered officialdom after passing the highest imperial examinations, he felt that Du Wan, from a scholarly family, seemed more generous compared to Li Yun and Zhao Fen, who came from noble families. So, while eating, he pondered his son’s marriage.

After the meal, after rinsing his mouth, a maid brought tea. Seeing that Lady Gu had sent everyone else away, leaving only him and Zhang Jiu, he became even more certain of his thoughts. After chatting with his mother for a while, he said with a smile, “Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. Now, Mother even has great-grandchildren. Our family can truly be considered prosperous.”

“Not just our family—what about the Duke of Yingguo’s household? They’ve been longing for years, and now they have both sons and daughters. Moreover, Xi Yu is also pregnant. Such a wealthy and prestigious family surely needs to thrive and expand.”

Having long awaited her son’s return before the New Year, Lady Gu was in high spirits. She waved for Zhang Jiu to come closer and said, “Since the imperial academy is on holiday, Professor Chen gave you an excellent evaluation, showing how hard you’ve worked. Next year, you’ll take the provincial exams in Shuntian Prefecture. With your father’s return bringing good fortune, you’ll surely pass! I’ve been delaying your marriage because, first, I wanted your father to be present to oversee your wedding; second, I wanted you to come from a respectable family so you wouldn’t be looked down upon at marriage. Do you understand?”

Zhang Xin thought his mother was just trying to find a marriage match of equal status, which was why she had delayed it. But Zhang Jiu, worried about his father, wasn’t in any hurry about his own marriage. Hearing Lady Gu’s words, both father and son were deeply moved. Zhang Xin wasn’t expecting his mother to have such confidence, while Zhang Jiu felt a heavy weight in his heart due to her earnest hopes.

Gently bringing the father and son’s hands together, Lady Gu said earnestly, “We’ve already gotten through the toughest times, so the whole family should stick closer together—there should be no estrangement. Eldest, now that you’re back as an official in the capital, you must be cautious in your words and actions. You need to change that arrogance in your nature. As for the fourth son, I’m pleased to see you’ve grown wiser over the years, but young people must strive when it’s time to strive. Though I’m a woman, I know that determination is just as important in official matters…”
“Grandma, Grandma! Another happy event!”
With that cry, Bai Fang rushed in in a hurry, barely catching her breath before saying joyfully, “Just now, the Duke of Ying sent someone to tell us that because the young master won another shipment of over a hundred thousand bushels of military grain during the second auction in Xuanfu, the emperor was so pleased that he praised the Zhang family in court for their excellence in both civil and military affairs, calling them an example for all officials! And now… now it’s said that Lord Du has been released by imperial decree!”