[R18] The stars are brilliant, so lucky even (The stars are brilliant, the moon rises over the sea) – Chapter 17 of “The Stars Are Brilliant, It’s Even Lucky (The Stars Are Brilliant·The Moon Rising Over the Sea)” [English]

Chapter 17

The night was short, and the Ge family was about to leave for their hometown the next day. It was about time for Zhengdan to be on the way. Mother Cheng’s old heart could not bear it, and she tried to persuade her to stay, but Taigong Ge said, “You can’t keep this evil girl to ruin the Cheng family’s good luck in worshiping their ancestors at Zhengdan.”

The Cheng family couldn’t stay, so they had to go out as a family to see him off, and then sent him to the suburbs, still reluctant to leave.Shaoshang looked left and right and couldn’t see Ge Shi. He didn’t know whether he stayed in the car obediently and didn’t come out to spoil the atmosphere, or whether he was tied into a rice dumpling and thrown in.

The breakup scene was very touching. On one side, Cheng Shu took his uncle and aunt to say goodbye with tears and said they would take care of each other; on the other side, Taigong Ge patted Cheng Cheng on the shoulder and spoke warmly – this was the second time Shao Shang had experienced such an amicable divorce scene.

When Yu Cailing’s parents divorced, there was no quarrel at all. They even set up three tables in the first restaurant in town, and explained the details of the breakup in front of the two relatives. Except for the sullen uncle of the deputy mayor and the dull-looking scholar uncle, everyone else was at ease, talking and laughing. The waiter in the restaurant thought it was a happy event, and almost said “I wish you a happy marriage” when paying the bill.The townspeople told it like a joke, and little Yu Cailing was also part of the joke.

… Shaoshang shook his head and shook off the lingering memories of the past.Just listen to Taigong Ge saying to Cheng Cheng: “Zirong, don’t be discouraged. You have loved reading since you were a child. My master lectures in the field school. You have to go there to cut grass and herd cattle for half a day every day. The summer is hot and the rain is drenching, but you work hard all day long. God will be worthy of your hard work, and you will definitely succeed in your studies in the future.”

Looking at Taigong Ge’s kind face, Cheng Cheng started to have a sore nose again.

“Don’t feel that you are inferior to others. You are inferior to others, you are inferior to your limbs, you are inferior to your age, and your ambition is wasted.” Taigong Ge said with a smile, “Yi Yin was originally a slave, assisting the four kings of Shang and Tang Dynasties. Sun Bin was tortured to have his bones cut out, but he was still able to write books and fight. As for how many sages in ancient times achieved their achievements only at their young age, if you read a lot, you will not show off.”

Cheng Cheng felt embarrassed and said, “That person is an ancient sage…”

“That’s right, you don’t even need a stick, you’re not old, and you have brothers who can help you. Aren’t you stronger than them? We don’t dare to compare with the achievements of the sages, let’s compare their combined strength.”

Cheng Cheng finally laughed.Taigong Ge gently stroked his back and sighed, “I know how you feel. When you succeed in your studies, you can return to our village, open a bookstore, and give lectures to students. Regardless of whether you are rich or poor, even if you are still herding cows and cutting grass, as long as you are willing to study, you can teach. We will not have wasted this life.”

These words touched the heart of Cheng Cheng, who laughed with tears in his eyes and said loudly: “According to the Grand Duke’s words, Zirong will live up to his expectations!” The voice was decisive, loud and firm.

Hearing that his second brother, who had always been submissive, finally gained courage and ambition, Cheng Shi felt both relieved and sour.

Cheng Zhi, who was on the side, quickly came to bite his ear: “Eldest brother, you have tried to persuade the second brother for so many days, but these few words from Brother Ge are still not effective. Look at the second brother’s face…”

“Go away!” Cheng Shi said angrily, “If I ask you to persuade him, you will only talk nonsense. You have read so many books, and it is of no use at all!”

Cheng Zhi said with a smile: “My eldest brother can’t do it, how can I do it?”

Shaoshang stood behind and watched the situation with interest – a very typical case of growth psychology analysis.

The artist Cheng Taigong only cared about being beautiful alone and neglected upbringing, and Cheng’s mother did not have the great wisdom that could replace the role of mother to father, so the three brothers flew in different directions according to their own temperaments.

Cheng Shi was born with a leadership temperament, he was also precocious, strong, shrewd and capable. He took on the responsibility of the family early, and even led a group of brothers to establish some situations. Even if there was no chaos in the world, he would run horse racing gangs, carry water transport, open workshops… It is estimated that the future development will be the same.However, when there was a change of dynasty, a class leap was achieved directly.The eldest brother Cheng Zhi is about ten years apart. It is natural that the eldest brother is like a father. However, they have more of a buddies-like father-son relationship, with more respect than intimacy.

Cheng Cheng is the worst. Although he admires his elder brother very much, one is bold and extroverted, and the other is reserved and introverted, so they can’t get along with each other.They are only two years apart. Emotionally, they are not as elder brothers as their fathers. On the contrary, they have had a vaguely competitive relationship since childhood, which was completely defeated very early. They are constantly compared with each other by their neighbors and family members, so they have become increasingly inferior to each other.Taigong Ge is the tall and noble father figure in his mind, but it is a pity that Mr. Ge is too much of a hindrance. Otherwise, it is not impossible that his character will develop in another direction after fully falling in love with the Ge family.

Thinking of this, the carriage of the Ge family was gradually moving away. The three brothers of Yongsong Shaogong were ordered by their father to ride horses to the pass ahead, so that the Ge family could pass through the pass more easily.

Cheng Shi breathed a sigh of relief, quickly led his family into his car, and scolded his entourage to whip back home.Cheng’s mother asked Hu to turn up the fire in the car. She held Cheng Zhi firmly in her hand and pulled her into the carriage. She murmured, “My son will freeze to death. Come to my mother to warm him up.” However, she ignored the thin Cheng Cheng’s trembling body from the cold.

Cheng Shi couldn’t see it anymore and said in a rough voice: “Mom, please stir the fire again, be careful if the carriage burns down. I won’t be here to put out the fire!” Then he threw the riding whip to Cheng Shun aside, abandoned the horse, and pulled Cheng Cheng into another carriage. He took out a small animal skin wine bag from his waist and asked Cheng Cheng to drink a few sips to warm it up.

The four female dependents naturally share a car.

Cheng Shu leaned against the wall of the car, still sobbing, “My eldest father is so old, and I don’t know if he is safe on the road for days.” Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Sang couldn’t help but comfort her softly.The young Shang was the most impatient with this irritating character. After suffering for half an hour, he finally said: “Don’t worry, cousin, your eldest father is very powerful. Everything has been arranged. It will go smoothly.”

Mrs. Xiao glanced over: “Aren’t you the senior speaker again? There are no rules.”

“…Okay, then let me say something happy.”

Shao Shang had no choice but to say, “Cousin, your eldest uncle is going through wind and snow like this, and he has to take his second aunt back just before Zhengdan. Don’t feel too bad about it. If your second uncle and your second aunt are able to overcome the situation one day, it will definitely be today’s achievement!”

“Really?” Cheng Shu’s face was still shining with tears.Although Gemini was unkind, she still hoped that her parents would not terminate their marriage.

Mrs. Xiao sat up straight and glared at her daughter: “You are not allowed to say this nonsense.” After thinking about it, she added, “Especially not to your father!” Her daughter’s wisdom is really too sharp.

Shao Shang fanned the wind with his sleeve to drive away the smoke of the charcoal fire, and said coolly: “Hey, my mother said yesterday that children should tell their parents everything they know and should never hide anything. Why are you not allowed to tell my father now?”

Mrs. Xiao glared angrily and remained silent.

Mrs. Sang finally burst out laughing, stretched out her hand to twist Shao Shang’s ears, and pretended to curse, “You inconsiderate little enemy, listen to your mother!”

——Except for the ignorant Cheng Shu, the three people in the car knew very well. If Cheng Shi heard what Shi Cai said and knew that Cheng Cheng and Ge Shi had the possibility of getting back together, they would probably be frightened and start looking for a new wife tomorrow.

But Mrs. Xiao felt that this matter should not be so hasty.Cheng Cheng has been a coward for half his life. He has always lived for his brother, mother and family, and has never thought about his future independently; now it is time for him to think about it by himself.Whether they break up or get together in the future, or whether they meet the woman they love and marry another, it should be proposed by Cheng Cheng himself, not Cheng Shi.Cheng Cheng should grow up.

Shao Shang knew what Mrs. Xiao was thinking, but he disagreed in his heart: There are different kinds of people in the world, and some people have their own opinions since childhood – for example, she herself decided to be a girl before she graduated from elementary school. It was useless to cry to her grandma for a long time, she decided to quit the world before her aunt came to study, and it was useless to have her direct superior’s elder sister give her hard and soft words; but some people just don’t have their own opinions and need others to push them.

Second Uncle Cheng is a soft-hearted person. He imagines that he will call Taigong Ge to his bedside when he is dying. He will cry out and ask for advice, and then look at Ge’s pitiful appearance. Maybe he will agree to get back together. Then he will be unable to get rid of this brown candy for the rest of his life.Follow Cheng Shi’s approach and simply find a gentle and virtuous woman for Cheng Cheng, who knows how to feel cold and hot, and will feel sorry for others.

Seeing that the mother and daughter were having their own thoughts, Sang smiled and refused to comment. She took out her bag of tips and flipped through it, then stuffed the last milk candy into Shao Shang’s mouth as hush money.

Entrusted by others and loyal people, Mrs. Xiao took Cheng Shu with her when doing housework the next day. Since she had to prepare for the Zhengdan Festival to worship ancestors and worship the gods, Mrs. Xiao taught Cheng Shu step by step from setting up altars and tables, buying sacrifices and fruits, asking the village head about the harvest and plans for the coming year, all the way to distributing New Year’s money and materials to the tribe and the orphans’ families, and even how to talk to the women’s family members of the tribe.

As for Shaoshang, she continued to read, write, and memorize books without leaving home—even if she wanted to know what the world was like.

Finally, there are two happy things.

First, Shaoshang has grown taller.A-Zhi is at least two or three inches taller compared to her own height. She has a slender waist and soft limbs. She has a graceful look when walking around. She no longer looks like the clumsy and childish child she used to be.A-Zhi smiled and opened the corners of Shao Shang’s robe and pants, and released the excess fabric. She felt that the chickens, ducks, cows, goats, milk and vegetables she had been feeding these days were not in vain. At the same time, she promised Shao Shang to walk around the courtyard more, even if he was running and jumping, he would not dissuade him.

Secondly, Amei came after completing pre-job training.With this lively and smart little girl chirping by his side, Shao Shangfang felt that his life was less lifeless.

There were more than a dozen new maidservants who came with Amei, and Mrs. Qingyuan identified them one by one. Their ages ranged from eleven to fourteen, and they were all tall and short, fat and thin. Their talents ranged from being good at knitting and embroidery to incense and insect repellent to being strong in mountains and rivers. At this point, Miss Cheng Fourth’s team was complete.

This place is exactly the opposite of the era when Shaoshang came. At that time, materials were unprecedentedly abundant, but manpower was becoming increasingly expensive. An ordinary middle-class family could only afford a nanny and at most part-time workers. But here… Looking at the nearly twenty employees who “served” him, Shaoshang didn’t know what to think for a moment. In confusion, she ushered in her first official career in this era.

On the first day of the new year, before dawn, Cheng Shi and Cheng Zhi went to attend the imperial meeting. When they came back, the two brothers’ faces were purple with cold. It turned out that only ministers with two thousand dan and above could enter the palace to congratulate. Cheng Shi, who only had one thousand dan, could only stand on the steps of the palace, and Cheng Zhi, who only had a few hundred dan, could only stand in the atrium to congratulate – Cheng’s mother was so distressed that she almost asked her youngest son to resign.

Cheng Shi deliberately joked to comfort the female relatives: “Fortunately, our brother’s official rank is low, so we sent him off after the greetings. Brother Wan is still waiting to give the emperor food and wine.” Then he turned to Sang and said, “I saw your brother. I heard that your majesty has adopted Mr. Huangfu’s advice and will invite people to lecture on Confucian classics every year after the congratulations to Bailuo on the first day of the year. I see that brother Zihuai is leading a group of Confucian scholars, and I don’t know.”Do you have time to come and get together at home before going back to Bailu Mountain?”

“Huangfuyi? He, isn’t he still there…” Cheng Zhi came to his senses. Before he could continue, Sang quickly pinched him and said to Cheng Shi with a smile, “Of course he is coming. I originally wanted to ask my brother to live at home, but your majesty refused to let him go. His thoughts went to the sutra discussion platform.” While glaring at her husband, Cheng Zhi had to shut up.

At this time, Mrs. Xiao invited everyone in to start the Zhengdan ceremony.

Zhengdan in ancient times was more of a ceremonial activity. You prayed to the gods for blessings, paid homage to ancestors and continued to pray for blessings. Then you watched the Nuo dance, listened to the loud gongs and drums outside to drive away evil spirits, and then slaughtered some animals to engage in superstitious activities. Finally, of course, there was an inevitable family feast.Everyone in the Cheng family, regardless of gender, arranged their seats according to age and age, presented pepper and cypress wine to Mother Cheng in turn, and then raised their glasses together to wish the old woman longevity and health.

The three brothers of the Cheng family thought that they would be separated again soon and go their separate ways, so they gathered in front of Mother Cheng’s table and exchanged toasts, making Mother Cheng laugh.Mrs. Xiao had worked hard for many days, and was persuaded by Mr. Sang to drink more. Her cheeks turned red and beautiful, and she felt happy. She pointed here and said, “That’s what Sisi arranged,” and then pointed there and said, “That’s what Sisi arranged.” Everyone at the family banquet praised Cheng Siu for being virtuous and intelligent.

As for others, Cheng Yong was always attentive and noticed something was wrong. After the banquet was over, he hurried to Mrs. Xiao, raised his hands and asked, “Why did my mother only teach Sisi these but not Niao Niao?”

Mrs. Xiao’s expression was as usual and she said with a smile: “You can’t understand a few words in Niao Niao’s family tree, or can you read a flower book aloud? What’s more, you need to be sensible before doing anything, at least read a few volumes of sages’ books. Everything cannot be accomplished overnight, it must be done step by step.”

Cheng Yong was extremely filial. Although he still felt something was wrong, he didn’t bother to ask more questions. He just felt more pity for his younger sister who had a rough childhood and couldn’t receive the proper upbringing like a daughter-in-law from an ordinary official family.

After thinking for a long time, he put away the Qilin Four Songs and Rosewood lacquered bookcase that he had used for many years – it was given to him by his master, Xiao Cheng, who was a student when he was eleven years old. He ordered his entourage to clean it up and bundle it up and send it to Shaoshang tomorrow. It was considered a New Year’s gift to his younger sister to encourage her to study well and become literate.I’ll make do with an old bookcase first, and then find someone to make a new one later.

The brotherly love is so strong that even a heartless person like Shao Shang is moved. She knows that ancient scholars, let alone the book desks they have been used to for many years, are not allowed to be easily touched by others, even if they are a single stroke, an inkstone or a piece of writing.

However, Shaoshang never imagined that the first large-scale verbal fight between him and Mrs. Xiao would actually be because of this bookcase.