Chapter 9: The Shape of the Future

As dusk settled in, the sunset painted the sky red, bathing half of Jiangning City in a warm, glowing light. On her way back home, Su Tan'er ran into Xiao Chan, who informed her that Ning Yi had caught a cold. While inquiring about the doctor's advice, she led the three maidservants toward the courtyard of Grandfather Su Yu, the patriarch of the Su family.

She had something to discuss with her grandfather today, and knowing that Ning Yi wasn't seriously ill, there was no need to rush over and see him. Upon entering the courtyard, she noticed that her Third Uncle, Su Yunfang, and Third Aunt were already present, along with their second daughter, who was affectionately called Little Qi. At the moment, Little Qi was standing in front of Grandfather Su and telling a story. Several maidservants attended the group.

"... And then, General Zhou Yu gave Huang Gai a good beating..."

Su Tan'er approached, pulled out a stool, and joined her grandfather, third uncle, and third aunt in listening to the girl's story, which was about the Three Kingdoms. It was quite entertaining. Soon, the story ended, and Little Qi stood up and greeted her, "Sis Tan'er."

"Wow, Little Qi can tell stories now. Did you go to a teahouse with Father to listen to a storyteller?"

"No, it's something Brother Yi told us at school."

"Hmm?" Su Tan'er paused, slightly puzzled. "Which teacher?"

"Brother Yi, of course. Brother Yi knows lots of things."

Even though the title son-in-law was not a flattering one, and it implied a certain subservient status, in the Su family, Ning Yi was treated more like a brother than an outsider. Thus, Little Qi called him Brother Yi rather than brother-in-law. Su Tan'er smiled slightly at this but inwardly pondered the implications. Beside her, Third Uncle Su Yunfang said, "Isn't he teaching Confucius's Analects these days?"

Little Qi nodded. "Yes, Analects. We're studying the section on Li Ren..." She looked slightly nervous, as talking about schoolwork often led to a recitation test.

However, her father didn't ask her to recite anything this time. Instead, he turned to Su Tan'er and said, "Discussing The Three Kingdoms during a lesson on the Analects? Children might enjoy stories, but a teacher must command respect through knowledge. Drawing on different references is fine, but there must be moderation. You should remind Li Heng of this."

It was a stern criticism, and Su Tan'er could only nod in agreement. Grandfather Su chuckled lightly from beside them. "There's no need to be so harsh. If he's earned the children's affection in just a few days, that's a good sign. You don't know the full context, and without it, how can you be sure that the Analects and the Three Kingdoms have no connection? How can you be certain that Li Heng didn't have a deeper intention? Let's not jump to conclusions."

Though Su Tan'er herself had reservations about mixing The Three Kingdoms with Analects lessons, it was clear that Grandfather Su liked Ning Yi's approach. He didn't care much about Ning Yi's scholarly prowess—he had likely been aware of his son-in-law's limited education from the start. Instead, Grandfather Su was focused on something else entirely.

The Su family's situation was complex. Su Tan'er's father, Su Boyong, had the most influence among the three brothers—Su Boyong, Su Zhongkan, and Su Yunfang—who each managed different aspects of the family business. While everything still seemed harmonious on the surface, thanks to Grandfather Su Yu's presence, deeper tensions loomed. The third generation, in particular, had no competent male heirs, leaving Su Tan'er as the family's brightest hope. Grandfather Su had already decided that she would take over the family business, a decision that wasn't without its challenges.

The hen crows (a phrase meaning a woman is taking charge, traditionally seen as a reversal of roles in a patriarchal society).—a woman taking charge of the household—was not widely accepted. If any of the Su family's men were even remotely capable, things might be different. But they weren't, and Su Tan'er's calm, strategic manner, along with her commanding presence, gave her the potential to lead. Now, Grandfather Su had officially handed over part of the family business to her, a formal trial to see how well she could consolidate and surpass the influence of the other branches of the family.

The pressure on Su Tan'er was immense, but for Ning Yi, his role as a son-in-law was simply to ensure that she could stay within the Su family. Grandfather Su valued his relationship with the Ning family and treated Ning Yi well. The family conflicts hadn't escalated yet, but if they did—especially once Grandfather Su was no longer around—those looking to harm Su Tan'er would surely see Ning Yi, with his relatively low status, as an easy target.

Anticipating this, Grandfather Su had sent Ning Yi to teach at Yushan Academy, where many of the Su family's younger members were studying. If Ning Yi could gain their respect as a teacher, he would hold a more respected position in the family dynamic, making him harder to undermine. For Grandfather Su, the fact that Ning Yi had already won the children's favor was a promising sign. He asked for more details about Ning Yi's teaching, and Little Qi excitedly shared them.

"Sis Tan'er, do you know what our teacher will talk about tomorrow?"

Su Tan'er smiled, "I don't think there will be a lesson tomorrow. Brother Yi has caught a cold, and he's resting today. I doubt he'll be well enough to teach tomorrow."

"Oh?" Grandfather Su inquired about Ning Yi's condition, and Su Tan'er relayed everything she had heard from Xiao Chan. Little Qi asked, "Can I go visit Brother Yi?"

Su Tan'er shook her head. "Colds can be contagious. It's better if you wait until Brother Yi recovers before visiting him."

After Third Uncle, Third Aunt, and Little Qi left, Su Tan'er stayed to chat with her grandfather a little longer. Later, when she went to check on Ning Yi, he was lying in bed drinking medicine, his expression showing clear displeasure. After a few words of concern, she decided not to mention the stories from earlier.

Su Tan'er was capable and had ambitions of making a name for herself, but she was also a very traditional woman. Despite not having been thrilled about her marriage, she had accepted it and was trying to get along with Ning Yi. This willingness to accept her role showed that while she had personality, she was still bound by societal norms.

She hoped that as a teacher, Ning Yi would maintain an air of authority, not win over his students with little tricks. While she appreciated cleverness, she would have preferred for him to be a more traditional scholar, even if somewhat rigid in his ways. At the moment, she was still getting to know him, and wouldn't make any judgments too soon. Still, she couldn't help but begin to imagine the kind of husband he might be.

At this stage, though, it was still a time of mutual understanding, and she wasn't ready to make any final judgments. But she was slowly starting to form a picture of her husband in her mind.

She understood that Ning Yi was an ordinary scholar with modest learning, limited vision, but a good heart and temper. This, it seemed, would be the man to whom she would entrust her future.

Though there was room for some capriciousness now, time was not unlimited. Eventually, they would need to live together, and she would bear his children. As long as he wasn't wicked or malicious, these things would happen naturally. The future seemed settled, with little room for surprise or change.

At the end of autumn in the seventh year of Jinghan in the Wu Dynasty, the elegant Su Tan'er, who had only recently become a wife in name, looked up as the wind brushed her cheek and ruffled the strands of hair near her ear. Her clear eyes reflected a certain helplessness, but her expression remained mostly calm. Dressed in a pale green robe that swayed gently in the breeze, this bright and intelligent young woman was beginning to accept the nature of her marriage.

But at this moment, her thoughts were not fully consumed by her marriage. There were still other things to consider, other tasks to focus on. Ordinary life, with its occasional distractions, would continue on its course. If everything progressed as expected, perhaps decades later, she might look back on this moment and recall the wind of a certain day. But for now, everything was still in abundance; there was no need to overthink the future.

And so, in this peaceful and almost imperceptible flow of time, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.

When illness strikes, it does so swiftly like a mountain collapsing, but recovery is as slow as drawing silk from a cocoon. In this era without effective medicine, Ning Yi, whose body had always been weak, was still confined to his room on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, nursing a cold. He passed the time reading an ancient novel written in colloquial Chinese.

From Ning Yi's previous experience, he was well enough to walk around the courtyard, but this was ancient times. With poor medical conditions and fragile health, his caretakers were particularly cautious about preventing the illness from worsening. As autumn neared its end and the weather cooled, Xiao Chan firmly guarded the door, refusing to let him, an unsettled patient, wander around. Ning Yi understood her concern.

"Alright, alright," he thought. He wasn't an overly active person anyway, so he contented himself with opening the window every now and then to get some fresh air. Even that, however, earned a puffed-up look of disapproval from Xiao Chan. Bored, Ning Yi spent his time explaining to her the health benefits of fresh air, taking the opportunity to educate the little maid.

By evening, Ning Yi had put on an extra layer of clothing and, with Su Tan'er and others, prepared to attend the family banquet. Despite his cold, he still had to participate in the large gathering for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Su family, with its many masters, stewards, servants, maids, and guards, was a massive household, and tables filled the main hall and several courtyards. The atmosphere was lively and chaotic.

In modern times, Ning Yi had experienced large-scale banquets, like the company's annual parties. But he had to admit, the more modern society became, the more distant people grew from one another. In this ancient setting, even though not many in the Su family were genuinely warm toward him as a live-in son-in-law, he still felt a sense of closeness amidst the lively commotion. Firecrackers crackled outside, children ran back and forth, and the air was filled with shouts, greetings, and conversations. He joined Su Tan'er in greeting people, and he found that he actually enjoyed this kind of atmosphere.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the banquet got underway, the sound of cheers, chatter, and laughter echoed throughout the courtyard. Soon, torches and lanterns were lit, and night descended. Children recited poems, while the maids, including Xiao Chan, Juan'er, and Xing'er, ran around excitedly, occasionally reporting to Su Tan'er or laughing and joking with Ning Yi. "Master, master, they're talking about the stories you told!"

Apparently, the few stories Ning Yi had casually shared during class had spread among the younger generation, even reaching the servants.

"Ah, in a time so lacking in entertainment..."

The banquet started early, and though it was still early in the evening, it was already winding down. But of course, being the Mid-Autumn Festival, admiring the full moon was still a key tradition. After dinner, Grandfather Su Yu, the patriarch of the family, would speak to everyone, and the family would gather in his courtyard to chat. Everyone was expected to talk to him, and even the younger generation couldn't leave before going through the proper formalities.

Grandfather Su was over seventy years old but still healthy and full of energy. Ning Yi and Su Tan'er had already greeted him during dinner, but now they had to go through the formality again. The elderly patriarch gave them the usual advice: "You must support each other in the years to come." Then, noticing Ning Yi's cold, he urged him to return to bed and rest, even though Ning Yi seemed perfectly fine aside from a slightly hoarse voice.

If this had been in the modern era, a twenty-year-old body could easily handle a cold without medication. But here, a seventy-year-old man was reminding him to take care of himself, and Ning Yi couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. Still, considering the poor state of his body and the mild exercise routine he had been following, he knew he had to start planning a more rigorous workout regimen soon.

When they returned to their room, Su Tan'er hesitated before explaining that she would still be attending the Puyuan Poetry Gathering that evening, as she had mentioned earlier. Even though Ning Yi was ill, this business-related event was too important for her to miss.

While Ning Yi understood the importance of the event for Su Tan'er, it was clear that as his wife, she was trying to balance her business responsibilities with her marital duties. She wasn't willing to neglect either, even though their marriage was still more of a formality than a true union, with her holding the reins in their relationship.

Finding her effort to balance both sides endearing, Ning Yi smiled and reassured her to go and return early. As Su Tan'er was preparing to leave, she instructed Xiao Chan to stay behind and take care of Ning Yi. However, Ning Yi waved it off: "No need, let Xiao Chan go and enjoy herself. I'm feeling fine; I'll just read a bit and go to sleep."

The Puyuan Poetry Gathering was a grand event, with six boats linked together, filled with performances and offering views of the illuminated Qinhuai River. Xiao Chan had been excited about it for days, having accompanied Su Tan'er to the event in previous years. Ning Yi, fond of the little maid, didn't want to spoil her fun. But before Su Tan'er could respond, Xiao Chan shook her head with a smile. "I won't go. I'll stay home and keep Master company."

Su Tan'er, who treated her three maids more like sisters than servants, was likely more emotionally attached to them than to Ning Yi. But Xiao Chan's dutiful response saved Su Tan'er from having to insist. Ning Yi tried to convince her a few more times, but to no avail.

Once Su Tan'er and the others had left, Ning Yi and Xiao Chan sat on the second-floor terrace, gazing out at the expanse of the Su family estate. The flickering lanterns and the bustling streets of Jiangning City stretched out before them, a scene that could rival any modern-day skyline. Though it would have been nice to enjoy the full view from a high point, that would have to wait for another time.

"Master, let's go inside," Xiao Chan said with a smile. "Can you tell me a story too?"

"We'll just bring out the chairs and tell the story here..."

"Then I won't listen," Xiao Chan pouted, and then hesitated with a little frown. "The wind is strong out here, let's go in."

"It's fine, it's fine, look, there's barely any wind. Plus, I'm all bundled up... I could put on a hat too if you like... We can enjoy the view from here. That's settled then, bring out the chairs and I'll tell you... Journey to the West... or maybe the story of The West Chamber."

With Ning Yi being so insistent, Xiao Chan had no choice but to give in. The two of them brought out their chairs and sat on the small platform. By this time, the Su family's courtyard had quieted down, with only a few people heading out, and the distant sounds of firecrackers, gongs, and shouts reached them. While Mid-Autumn was traditionally a family celebration, there were still plenty of social engagements, especially for someone like Su Tan'er. Lantern festivals, banquets, and poetry gatherings were in abundance. Even for ordinary families, staying at home wasn't the only option—going out to the marketplace to enjoy the festivities of dragon dances, lion dances, and riddle-solving was often the highlight.

Meanwhile, across the city, the main events of the night were just about to begin. Some poetry gatherings had already displayed their first poems, and certain well-known establishments would soon be selecting poems to be sung. As for the grandest gatherings, people were still arriving in droves. By the time Su Tan'er left for her event, the entrance to the Pan Mansion, which was hosting the prestigious Zhishui Poetry Gathering, was already swarming with notable figures. Even Master Qin, who often played chess with Ning Yi by the riverbank, had donned slightly more formal attire for the occasion, and, accompanied by his concubine Yun Niang, stepped out of a carriage. A large group of attendants immediately came over to greet them.

"Master Qin is here! The entire Pan Mansion is honored!"

The man welcoming them was none other than Pan Guangyan, the head of the Pan family and elder brother to Pan Mingchen, who served as the Minister of Rites and an esteemed Hanlin scholar. Pan Guangyan himself was known for his scholarly pursuits, particularly his exquisite paintings of cranes. He was widely respected and often referred to as "Crane Elder." Despite his own prominence, he still held Master Qin in high regard. The two were of similar age, and Master Qin quickly smiled in return.

"Oh, no need for such courtesy, Elder Crane. If you keep treating me like this, I'll be too embarrassed to come next time!"

"Haha, Master Qin, you're as humorous as always... Oh, by the way, Master Ming is already here..."

The two exchanged pleasantries as they made their way inside.

Not long after, the Zhishui Poetry Gathering commenced. On the Qinhuai River, six large, ornate boats linked together as one began to drift away from the bustling shore. One poem after another was recited at various gatherings, spreading throughout the city. Amidst the lanterns and music that filled the night, the refined and elegant atmosphere only grew stronger. The vibrant Mid-Autumn night in this city was now reaching its grand climax.