"Wife, I want to eat meat” 《娘子，我要吃肉》Chapter 40

Beiding City, summer, middle ten days of July.[1]

Chinese trumpet vines’ captivating red flowers played a supporting role adorning verdant and lush on white walls and black tiles, during the breakout of anger it seemed even more tranquil.

The old housekeeper of the Wang family sat in the small hall, looking into the distance out of the window, uncertain if he was looking at the view of the garden or those rowdy people, in a moment, the unhappy expression on the old person’s face also showed kindness.

A young maid with practice offered refreshments, moving closer and taking a look, with a small voice: “That is the young master, this year is the first time he has come here, the old housekeeper must not have seen him before.”

Wang housekeeper was woken with a start, clasping the tea cup, he still didn’t drink, smiling: “Indeed I have not seen him before, but the master has mentioned him in his letter, said the mistress’s adopted son was naturally the master’s adopted son. This old servant of course accept the young master as the young master.”

The young maid smiled showing three incisors: “The young master is difficult to deal with, the other young masters in the residence cannot beat him.”

Wang housekeeper who was in charge of everything inside and out, trifle and miscellaneous matters of the residence, had already found out about the new young master by other means. However, the old man was overconcerned, he only ever listened and not spoken. In contrast the elderly lady who had just come in heard what the young maid had ignorantly said and sneered, the young maid immediately quivered, lowering her head in a well-behaved manner, in fact her upright posture was already trembling.

The elderly lady won’t enforce rules in front of outsiders, she would only display an appropriate smile, saying to the Wang housekeeper: “Young master Fen has been with the Xia family for six years, since young he’s grown up under General Xia. General Xia as father and as teacher, young master Fen studied martial arts under a general, inevitably he would be quite strong.”

Wang housekeeper appeared to not have heard what was said, only standing up, and greeted the elderly lady, asking: “Is the lady well?”

“Fine.” The elderly lady lead the way in front, “I just finished speaking with the old matriarch, I was prepared to take a nap just now, knowing Wang housekeeper had arrived, I got up again.”

This elderly lady had a Buddha like expression, smiling her eyes became a single line, making it so people couldn’t see her expression within them, but every sentence came out like a knife, clearly she didn’t like the old housekeeper. But this old Wang housekeeper had also perfected himself, not uttering a word or being vulgar he followed behind, following the other person turning two or three times roaming the corridors, in the distant he saw a pond, on top there was a not too big water pavilion.

Muslin hung from the three sides of the water pavilion, ice chunks were placed underground, emitting out from minuscule holes, even the surface of the pond emitted a bit chilly steam. Inside was a couch with a marble beauty with inlaid conch, the young master Fen who was just seen outside with his stomach sticking out laid on top of it, a head full of sweat, clearly having just fallen asleep. Xia Ling Mei held onto a circular fan unhurriedly fanning him, the small wind tickled the young master Fen like velvet, young master Fen muttered: “So hot.”

He still wanted to tear open his clothes, Xia Ling Mei pressed down on his small hands: “It’ll be fine in a while, don’t move.”

The young master shook out his legs, his lips shrivelled, in a daze for quite a while before falling asleep.

Wang housekeeper respectfully bowed, quietly saying: “This old servant has met the mistress before.”

Xia Ling Mei pointed at the circular bench to the side, Wang housekeeper sat down, a young maid delivered bitter tea, the old housekeeper did not ignore her, drinking it down unhurriedly.

The bitter tea was bitter stem tea, dark in colour and bitter in taste. Since Xia Ling Mei had returned to the Xia family, Wang housekeeper every few days would come to drink a cup of bitter stem tea. The bitter taste, when it was heated up and drunken it would still make the tip of the tongue turn, if it was steeped in hot water then ice was added, that bitter and astringent taste would hover on the back of the tongue not leaving, it was the best for torturing someone who one didn’t want to see but couldn’t get rid of.

Sadly, Wang housekeeper was just like his young master[2], inadequate in other things, but completely patient. The mistress had returned over half a month ago, this was the still the first time he saw the young master, he couldn’t help carefully from top to bottom, inside and out scrutinise him once through.

Young master Xia Fen’s skin was slightly tanned, it must be from the years at sea, his skin was also not exquisite enough, the small hairs on his head were sticking up, incessantly displaying his anger. Unlike the soft like satin of the young masters of the influential families of Beiding City, the young master’s hair was short in comparison, each strand looking like the octopus’s leg’s being waved about, forced down onto a green jade coloured pillow, giving up. The young master’s eyelashes were long, he wasn’t tall, his small hands were also not chubby enough, his red feet had been cleaned by the maids, the main difference between this child and others was, he wasn’t holding a book in his arms, rather a precious blade with an inch-long handle. On the handle was an exceptionally glossy agate jadeite, evidently the young master often touched and used it.

This child, other people may say he isn’t the imperial censor Wang Yun Feng’s son, but can definitely be certain he was Lady Wang’s son.

Xia Ling Mei knew the reason for Wang housekeeper’s visit. Although Wang Yun Feng had not said, based on feelings and reasoning this time returning home, Xia Ling Mei ought to return to live at the Wang residence. After experiencing so many things, Wang Yun Feng still felt ashamed towards Xia Ling Mei, on the face of things he didn’t want to make things difficult for her, he could only ask the Wang housekeeper with his back bent clear up things for Xia Ling Mei to return home.

This household, Xia Ling Mei had left behind for seven years, so called familiar feeling of returning home…

During the seven years she never once asked about Wang Yun Feng’s life, and did not ask the Xia family to intentionally probe who had entered the Wang residence, she was faintly scared.

In the seven years, which men of the influential family would sincerely preserve their own wife’s integrity on their behalf, did not take on another wife, did not take maids and concubines, so much so that even the most considerate person did not? In front of other people, Xia Ling Mei could overbearingly say: Wang Yun Feng having Xia Ling Mei as a wife is the blessings from several lifetimes, if he dares to bullies me, I will kill him. However only she understood in her heart, the more she appeared strong, in fact the weaker she was.

And the her like this, could remember when she was very young the short-lived tender 

Wang Yun Feng.

After the Wang housekeeper had drank three cups of bitter tea, then did he bring out two gold gilded invites. Xia Ling Mei tilted her head to take a look, one invite was addressed to the current residence of Lord Li imperial tutor. This Lord Li was the greatest scholar of the great Dayan, what more he was the instructing teacher of the young late Emperor, collaborating in mending the criminal laws of Dayan, experiencing through three emperor’s reigns, most severe in the interest of others, he was also the backbone of the current Ministry of Justice. The second invite was addressed to the residence of the general of the national auxiliary General Zhao. The current emperor liked to campaign, most of the generals had achieved their position from fighting at the risk of their own lives on the battlefields. This General Zhao was the same as General Xia, protecting the borders all year round, only having been transferred into the Imperial City these last few years, taking on a position with practically no obligations. Even so, they are still fondly looked upon by the emperor, because they were honest in their prime of life, his silhouette could also not be without in future battlefields.

Two invitations, one a scholar official, one general, the meaning in them were not clear.

“These are the teachers the master has specifically chosen for the young master, if the mistress agrees, this old servant will pick an auspicious date to invite the two lords to come and see the young master.”

Xia Ling Mei’s hand flapping the fan stopped. Wang Yun Feng that devious person, could it be he had nothing to do? From dusk to dawn plotting against his own wife and child, thinking of ways to trick her to take their son back to Wang residence, and using such a grandiose reason.

Xia Ling Mei secretly ground her teeth, speaking lowly: “Fen Er’s surname is Xia, not Wang.”

The old housekeeper smiled: “Regardless of the young master’s surname, he is still the mistress’s son, then he is also the master’s son. The master selecting teachers for his own son, is right and proper. Mistress, the young master is already six years old, the customs of Dayan, a child should enter school at five years old, the young master has already missed one year, it cannot be delayed any longer.”

Xia Ling Mei put down the invitations: “Xia family only has scholar and martial arts teachings, even though Fen Er is an adopted son an exception can still not be made.” This would create a gap between Xia Fen and the children of the same age in the Xia family.

Wang Yun Feng just doesn’t want Xia Fen to be close to the Xia family! He wanted to kill three birds with one stone, how easy!

The Wang housekeeper as the housekeeper of the Wang family with no one above him apart from the emperor, his greatest ability was to accomplish tasks other people cannot accomplish for this young master.

“Mistress…” the Wang housekeeper appeared to hesitate for a bit, considering: “please understand the love the master has for the oldest young master.” The oldest young master, is Wang Yun Feng’s first son.

The three simple words already made clear of Wang Yun Feng’s thoughts, he didn’t care what Xia Fen’s surname was, he would treat Xia Fen as his own son, regardless of whether Xia Fen was his own flesh and blood, whether Xia Ling Mei gave birth to him. Wang Yun Feng would cherish this child as his first son. He would be the same as any father, giving all he has to fulfil his child’s wishes, spend his thoughts to provide the best teachings to his child, give his most important position to Xia Fen, even if they have a second son after, Xia Fen would still have the best things as before.

Not only did Wang housekeeper make clear of Wang Yun Feng’s attitude, but also reminded Xia Ling Mei not to overboard.

Because, no man would allow his own son to take his mother’s surname, what more there wasn’t a husband who would allow his first wife’s son to become an adopted son with another surname.

Wang Yun Feng did not want to make things difficult for Xia Ling Mei, the Xia family would also not gain an inch, and wanting a mile, stop the Wang family from giving special care to his own child.

The sun had already gradually creeped to the top of the water pavilion, the scorching sun evaporated the cooling air of the water pavilion, a little bit longer and it would be stifling hot.

Xia Ling Mei’s fan which flapped once, stopped once finally halted, Xia Fen had already slept for an hour, his thoughts were still not clear, his body had already sat up.

The maids offered things to wash his face and rinse his mouth, Xia Ling Mei personally wiped Xia Fen’s face, changing him into dry and clean clothes, Xia Fen’s cheeks were flushed: “Adoptive mother, practice martial arts with me.”

Xia Ling Mei watched the calm surface of the pond: “It’s too hot, let’s turn to reading and practice writing this afternoon.”

Xia Fen simply did not care for these things: “Those things are boring. In the future I want to be a great general, not a bookworm.”

Xia Ling Mei looked distracted: “Only an ignorant and brave soldier cannot become a great 

general, great generals also have to read military books and write letters from a young age, then can they have the ability to go to the barracks.”

The Wang housekeeper beamed and nodded, interrupting: “It’s not easy to be a great 

general, our Dayan’s generals are also split into nine ranks, working its way up step by step from the ninth ranked gui de zhi ji, deputy military officer, military officer, si ge, zhong hou, si jie, lang jiang then a guerrilla warfare general.[3] As a general not only must you be able to go into battle, you must also understand the eight divinatory trigrams of the Book of Changes, military formations, at crucial moments you must also understand the enemy’s country, using everything to wisely plan in secret, using the least amount of effort at the weakest point is the greatest victory. If you can’t read military books, unable to speak of military strategy and tactics, and not know of military formations, a general who doesn’t understand army provision logistics and other important matters, will not be a good general. En, when necessary, a general must also know how to scold people, a good general can curse the enemy’s high-ranking military officer, letting loose a stream of curses making them wish they were dead, spitting out blood five steps away.”

Xia Fen stuck out his small belly: “I can curse people.”

“Can the oldest young master beat a bookworm at cursing?”

Curse…unable to, boo hoo. He could not win against the lively chattering Juan Shu in cursing, unable to bellow louder than the unhinged and deranged Bai Yan, he was no match for the warm faced and cold hearted Hei Zi, the cockroach like Xiao Bai who won’t die…as for their immediate superior Wang Yun Feng, Xia Fen felt he could never achieve that level of zombie face.

The Wang housekeeper secretly guided him: “Our Dayan Bailu academy’s bookworms could beat the previous fifth ranked generals in arguments.”

Xia Fen’s eyes flickered: “Bailu academy?”

The Wang housekeeper gestured with his hands: “The oldest young master must definitely not like to be powerless, the fools who only know the four common characters of classical Chinese rigidly studying. Let’s not talk about it, let’s not talk about it.” He again picked up those two invitations, “Mistress, please don’t let down the master’s painstaking efforts. Lord Li and General Zhao will definitely guide the young master into Dayan’s useful and able…”

Xia Fen made a fist: “I want to be an important general.”

“Yes, yes.” The Wang housekeeper nodded.

“I want to curse the enemy that they’ll wet their pants.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I will beat the whole world unequalled.”

“Right.”

Xia Ling Mei supported her forehead with her hand. The previously kind and honest old housekeeper had been corrupted by Wang Yun Feng, even planning against his own young master, how can she bring an extremely stupid Xia Fen to the Wang residence, that would simply be leading a lamb into a tiger’s den!

“I will take Xia Fen to Bailu academy tomorrow.”

Other teachers must not be sought, and Xia Fen cannot be placed in the Xia family for teaching, so just send him off to Bailu academy, this was also the outcome everyone had wanted from the start.

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[1] First of three hottest periods of the year.

[2] Referring to Wang Yun Feng

[3] The military ranks of generals, really complicated to translate so I’ve left it untranslated.