[R18] The stars are brilliant, so lucky even (The stars are brilliant, the moon rises over the sea) – Chapter 15 of “The Stars Are Brilliant, Even Lucky (The Stars Are Brilliant·The Moon Rising Over the Sea)” [English]

Chapter 15

Mrs. Xiao decided to correct her mentality and do what she said.She thought that since her daughter grew up next to a person with evil intentions like Gurdjieff, she would have to teach her from the beginning. It would be better to rectify her character first.

On the next day, she sent more than ten bamboo slips to Shaoshang, including four volumes of “Jijiuzhang”, four volumes of “Fanjiang Pian”, and several volumes of “Cangjie Pian”.I don’t know whether it was because it was inconvenient to approach the end of the year, or because there was no custom in this era to ask for a tutor. In short, Mrs. Xiao did not find a special tutor for Shao Shang. On weekdays, Mrs. Qingyuan and Cheng Shaogong came to teach a few words whenever they were free, but they did not miss it every day.

Sometimes Mrs. Xiao would condescend to teach the young merchant how to hold a pen, and said that after learning these, he should start to recite basic classics, such as Confucianism, Taoism, Political Strategists, The Book of Songs, Chu Ci and Sima Fu, making incense, labeling flowers, throwing pots and playing Cuju, etc., so that she could be regarded as a qualified lady of a high family.

Shaoshang didn’t think so. She had decided to make a living for herself in the future. What she really wanted to learn was not at all. Literacy was fine, but what about those classics… What’s more, literacy would not delay learning practical skills.After enduring it for two days, she finally couldn’t help but said: “You might as well memorize the book slowly. My daughter now wants to know more about economics and common people’s affairs.”

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Xiao dismissed her with a single sentence: “Reading and understanding is the foundation of everything. If you understand the book, there is no need to worry about not being able to achieve something in life.”

Only now did Shao Shang understand Yang Xiaoguo’s pain back then: You were eager to learn martial arts and settle down, but she didn’t rush and asked you to memorize moral articles. Who would be reliable if one day they got beaten up?It’s not like Shaoshang hasn’t mentioned it to his great supporter Cheng Shi, but Mrs. Xiao’s quoting of classics is something that Father Cheng can’t handle.So, she could only continue to memorize and read, without leaving home, woohoo.

Not long ago, it started to snow heavily outside. It was high and cold in the north, and the snowflakes did not melt when they fell to the ground. A thick velvety blanket of snow quickly accumulated on the ground, covering the sky and the earth as white as a flour mill.

It was rare for the Cheng family brothers and son to go out to visit friends and socialize on this day, so the family sat around the stove, talked, laughed and drank as they did in the cold days. When they talked about their happy moments, the three Cheng family brothers would beat the wine with wooden chopsticks and sing loudly hometown tunes. The songs could be rough or clear.Bright, the voices circled around the pillars, and when the song was in full swing, Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Sang also sang in harmony. Everyone sang with great interest, and even the servants patrolling outside looked at each other and smiled. Among the juniors, only Cheng Shuo could follow a few words, and the rest could only smile and clap their hands on the table.

Cheng’s mother herself was a music-deaf person and couldn’t sing even a single tune correctly. Now she was so happy to see her children and grandchildren in the house, and she wasn’t even picky about the two brides who didn’t like her.Unexpectedly, at this time, the maid suddenly came to report: Taigong Ge is here.

Cheng Chengju’s wooden chopsticks, which he was about to knock down in mid-air, fell on the food table with a clatter, his face full of panic.

Everyone looked at each other, at a loss.

Although Cheng Shi sent people to the Ge family to inform them of everything, he thought no one would come until at least Zhengdan. Unexpectedly, it was only four days before Zhengdan, and Taigong Ge came in person.Cheng Cheng was at a loss and even knocked over his wine when he stood up. Only Cheng Shu, when he heard that Taigong Ge came with his eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law, his eyes lit up and he couldn’t hide the excitement on his face.

Ge Taigong has gray beard and hair, a handsome figure, and simple clothes. His face is probably weathered because he is in a hurry. He is supported by the eldest son and daughter-in-law on one side and the other. The three people in this family have gentle faces and gentle words. They have the kind of appearance that makes people think they are good people at a glance. Young Shang simply cannot connect with the gloomy and violent Ge family.I heard from Lianfang that Taigong Ge also brought more than ten large carts, which seemed to be loaded with a bunch of pigs, sheep, rice, millet, wine, dried berries and other new year goods.

Cheng’s mother couldn’t stand it, so she hurried out to greet him. Cheng Shu, who was following behind, endured it again and again, and finally couldn’t help but come out of the crowd, knelt down in front of Taigong Ge, and said with tears: “Uncle, uncle, aunt!”

Aunt Ge hurriedly stepped forward to help Cheng Shu up. Her eyes were wet at that time, and she couldn’t hide the loving look in her eyes. She stroked Cheng Shu’s face and murmured: “… our sister has grown taller and looks much prettier.”

Cheng Shu cried and laughed, hugging Aunt Ge and refusing to let go. She wished she could hide her head in her warm clothes and beg her aunt to carry her back to the Ge family.Uncle Ge couldn’t let go of his father and come over on his own, so he could only hang his neck to look at it. The concern on his face was something that only a truly loving father would show. He said in a long voice, “Sisi, my uncle has brought you a lot of things. Sisi, don’t cry. Don’t cry. It’s cold and your face will get frostbite…” In fact, this was quite rude, but no one cared about it.

Shao Shang slowly took a step back, the playful smile on his face slowly faded, and he leaned quietly against the edge of the porch, hiding himself in the corner. It was not until everyone had exchanged greetings that he walked into the inner hall, then she slowly walked out. She lowered her head and spread out her clenched fists. There were four dark pink nail marks on her white palms.Looking at the direction where the crowd was going, Shao Shang turned his head and went straight back to his small courtyard regardless of Mrs. Xiao’s scolding later.

——She has no objection to Cheng Shu. Judging from his honest words and deeds, he knows that she has been taught well.

However, she has known since she was very young that the most hateful thing in the world is not that her parents are both cold and mean, but that she is helplessly watching a pair of wonderful parents around her, but she just can’t get enough of them.

…

Mrs. Xiao had no time to take care of her at this time. In a hurry, she not only had to arrange the guest rooms for the three Ge family members, but also had to accommodate a large number of people accompanying the Ge family’s motorcade. Seeing that her feet were too busy to touch the ground, Sang volunteered to help, and went to take the Ge family out of the old house and clean it up before returning it to the Ge family.

Because Ge was unable to go out, she could only eat and sleep these days. Therefore, not only did she not lose weight, her cheeks were actually much plumper. After knowing that her family was coming, she proudly said: “Just wait! I must have an explanation for the grievances I have suffered these days!”

Sang looked at her in bewilderment: “Do you think your father is here to open his eyes for you?” Not to mention the current Cheng family, even the Cheng family that had not yet prospered had never looked down on the Ge family.

Ge Shi was suffocated. Even though she was locked up, someone still informed her of the news from outside. She also knew that Cheng Shi had been promoted and made a fortune, and she could no longer control him. It was just her habitual harsh words.

Sang felt that her IQ would be affected if she continued talking to Ge, so she quickly ordered the maid given by Mrs. Xiao to drag the person to the inner hall of the new house.

At this time, the stove in the inner hall was still burning, making the whole room warm, but it no longer had the joyful feeling it had when the Cheng brothers beat their mousts and sang loudly.The juniors were cleared away, and the food and drinks were restocked. However, no one touched the chopsticks, leaving only an awkward silence in the room. Even Cheng Shi, who was always full of talk, didn’t know where to start. It was Taigong Ge who spoke first –

“…I took pity on her because she lost her mother when she was young, and I pampered her too much. Knowing that she had many wrongdoings, I still shamelessly married her into the Cheng family, which only made everyone suffer. I have been patient over the years, so I will apologize first!”

As he spoke, he turned down to bow to Cheng Mu and Cheng Shi. Uncle Ge and Aunt Ge on both sides also followed suit. Cheng Mu was so frightened that she shrank back and almost knocked over the table. Cheng Shi quickly stepped forward and helped Taigong Ge up, saying no.

Ge Shi, who was kneeling beside him, screamed: “Father! What are you talking about? It’s the Cheng family that has wronged me a lot…” Before she could finish speaking, Uncle Ge couldn’t bear it any longer. He stood up, walked over and slapped Ge Shi hard on the face, until half of her face turned purple and half of her body collapsed on the ground.

“Ever since you were born, your father has been devoted to you. How much love and care you have. Have you ever fulfilled your filial piety?! Day after day, you make trouble and cause trouble! My father is already seventy this year. For you, he braved the wind and snow for days and nights, and you still don’t feel the slightest bit guilty. You, you are worse than a pig or a dog! You are like a beast!”

Uncle Ge himself is a grandfather and is quite prestigious in the countryside, but he still has to brave the wind and snow to come to the Cheng family to apologize for his ignorant young sister. Thinking that his father’s suffering is worse than his own, he becomes doubly angry.

Ge was so beaten that he was dizzy. When he looked up, he saw Uncle Ge gnashing his teeth in hatred and his eyes were bloodshot. He was afraid and guilty, so he had to turn his head and didn’t dare to open his mouth again.

Taigong Ge didn’t even look at his daughter. He stood up and sat down on Cheng Shi’s arm. He continued to talk about Ge’s evil deeds. He apologized so sincerely that Cheng Shi was embarrassed to say it directly. He said, “My grandpa is like this, which puts me to shame. I think that when I started to rebel, if Grandpa didn’t help me with food and grass, how could I…”

Taigong Ge waved his hand to stop Cheng Shi from talking, and sighed: “General, don’t mention these words again. Only an ignorant woman like my daughter would talk about that food and grass every day. That day, the world was in chaos, and soldiers and bandits were causing trouble in the fields, just like my family.With so few assets and no support, the general is nothing but a spoiled man.Thanks to the general’s help, our neighbors can be saved.As for the case of the thief, the general need not worry about it…”

As he spoke, he gave a wry smile: “To put it bluntly. That thief Chen went around plundering wealthy families, leaving no grass behind. He just robbed property, not even people. If the general had died, the Ge family would have been destroyed. What can I say thank you for!”

In fact, Cheng Shi had thought about these words several times, and he felt that he did not owe the Ge family anything. But now that Taigong Ge said it himself and spoke from the bottom of his heart, he felt embarrassed again.I had no choice but to sit aside silently, thinking that this good guy would be much harder to kill than the bad guy.

Taigong Ge turned to Cheng’s mother again and said: “To tell you the truth, if a woman like my daughter were to be given to my family, I would have to divorce her. Thanks to the kindness of the Cheng family, I have endured so far. In the past ten years, I have been blinded in the countryside. I thought that her temperament would gradually improve as she got older. But after hearing the reports from others, I realized that this evil obstacle has not only not changed, but has become worse, which only hurts Zirong…” As he said, heLooking at Cheng Cheng, he cried: “I didn’t teach my daughter well, but I hurt you…”

Cheng Cheng was already restless just now, and now he knelt down in front of Taigong Ge, crying: “Don’t say that, I, too, I have faults, she originally…” As he said that he wanted to tell his story again, Cheng Shi secretly cursed him for being useless and not easy to speak.

Who knows that Taigong Ge is not called he?He went on and said in a trembling old voice: “Don’t say anything. You have been looked down upon by an old man since you were a child. How could I not know your character? I thought that being a son-in-law in this life would be a great fate, but I didn’t expect that it would make you suffer a lot.”, I’m losing my ambition!How can I see you in person?Today, I will take this evil thing back and give you a letter of divorce!From now on, if you still want to recognize me as the old man next door, just call me old man!”

As he spoke, the old man burst into tears, and Cheng Cheng couldn’t help crying.

Although he hates Ge, he has always had admiration for this kind old man who helped the weak and pitied the poor. When he was young, he thought it would be great to have a father like Taigong Ge. When he first married Ge, I felt secretly satisfied deep down, but I didn’t want to end up in the situation I am in today.

Cheng Shi originally thought that this messy matter would take a long time to resolve, but he didn’t expect that Taigong Ge would be so straightforward.He was overjoyed and wanted to end it on the spot, but now seeing the three Ge family members and Cheng Cheng all crying, the atmosphere was so touching. Could it be that he was so overjoyed that he immediately ordered someone to lay out the desk and write a letter of divorce?!This seems…unkind and ruins the atmosphere.

Cheng Zhi, who had been transparent for a long time, finally straightened up, cleared his throat and said, “My father-in-law, let me tell you, Rong Xiaoke, it is almost the first day of the year. It is unlucky to write a letter of divorce at this time… This, this is unlucky…”

Cheng Shi breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Exactly. It’s better, it’s better…” He looked around and remembered that Mrs. Xiao had escaped under the pretext of settling down the Ge family. He couldn’t help but secretly cursed his wife for being so naughty and hiding so quickly. Where could she find someone to advise her at this moment!

Seeing that it was not going to end well, Mrs. Sang hurriedly drew her sword to help, and said softly: “It’s better than this. After all, my second brother is going to Bailu Mountain to study. Why don’t you take me back first, and wait for the future…” She thought about her words, “No matter what is decided in the future, my family will inform the village. Sirs, do you think this is okay?”

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the Cheng family breathed a sigh of relief. They all felt that this “separate first and then divorce” plan was very good. It saved both families face and prevented them from breaking up on the spot.

Mrs. Xiao outside the door heard this and silently retracted her toes. As one of the top victims of Gu’s family, she really didn’t want to get involved.What do you mean by letting her in?She felt upset when she said nice things to Mr. Ge, but when she said bad words, it would add insult to injury. Thinking that Taigong Ge was indeed a kind and honest gentleman, she simply refused to come forward.

Walking out of the courtyard, the thick snow crunched all the way. Mrs. Xiao thought for a moment, it was better to train her daughter if she was idle. Unexpectedly, as soon as she walked to the door of Shaoshang’s residence, before she could take off her shoes and go up the steps, she heard the gentle voice of Qing Yu from inside.

“…How could the young lady just leave on her own? She didn’t even say hello to Mr. Ge. It’s so rude.”

Then there was Shaoshang’s lazy laughter: “Did Grandpa come here to visit relatives? They are here to do ‘big things’. What are you doing here, watching my second uncle write a letter of divorce? My second uncle has done a lot of ‘help’ for me in the past ten years. Do you want to hear that Grandpa wants to say ‘I’m sorry’ to my grandson?”The day before yesterday, my mother told me that I should avoid talking to my elders, so I just avoided it.Besides, not long after I walked away, the three brothers came over, and they must have been sent away… Speaking of which, Aunt Qing, it is rare that the eldest brother and the second brother have time to talk to me about what they have learned in Taixue, and you drove them away…”

The girl was very eloquent, reasonable and coquettish. Qing Yuan was silent for a moment.

Mrs. Xiao shook her head slowly outside the door. In her opinion, her daughter was more difficult to deal with than the eighteen Ge family members put together. However, in just a few days, Qing Yuan was no longer Shao Shang’s opponent.

——Is leaving on your own the same as being dismissed by your elders?Fortunately, she is still plausible.

“… Of course, leaving on your own is different from being sent away by your elders.” Shao Shang said suddenly, “I didn’t think carefully. Aunt Qing turned around and helped me talk to my mother. In fact, I knew something was wrong as soon as I walked away. I will definitely change it in the future, I will definitely change it.”

Now Qingyuan had nothing to say. For a moment, she felt pity for the girl who had suffered a lot at the hands of the Ge family. Now it was understandable that she was tired of seeing the Ge family. At the same time, she felt that what the girl said made sense. It would be awkward to meet and greet each other, so it would be better to avoid them quietly.

Mrs. Xiao frowned, and two sentences immediately came to mind: Wisdom is enough to refuse advice, words are enough to cover up mistakes.