<h4>Chapter 230: Momo Chang and Her Affairs (3)</h4>
Trantor: Iris
Hearing Momo Chang’s honest statement, Chang Hu shi finally felt awkward. She sat up straight and stopped talking. Momo Chang cast her daughter-inw another disapproving re before continuing slowly, “After my short-lived son died, if it were not for Master Ye who sent guards to escort us, we didn''t even dare to bring my son’s coffin to our hometown. Thanks to Master Ye that Nian’s father could have his bone buried!”
On these words, Momo Chang started to choke with sobs with her eyes turning red. Minnforted her right away, “Momo, don’t be so upset, that’s not good for your health. You are the only one Sister-inw Chang and her two kids could rely on.” Chang Yan and Chang Nian also came over to console their grandmother.
“Madam, pardon me for acting like this.” Momo Chang recovered herself and wiped the tears with her handkerchief while saying that with a smile.
Right at this moment, Mama Hua brought Rong here.
“Rong, look who’s here?” Minn said with a smile. “Come give your obeisance to Momo.”
Rong was wearing a light-red shimmery coat in gauze, which made her face look tender and fair. After she arrived, she nced at Momo Chang, Chang Yan and Chang Nian at first. Then she gave her obeisance reverently while saying in a low voice, “Momo, pleasure to see you.”
The look on Momo Chang’s face wasplicated. She seemed to sympathize Rong but also a bit sick of the girl. After Momo Chang adjusted the expression in her eyes, she said, “You... did have grown up. You look prettier, that’s great.”
Rong raised her head to look at Minn and opened her mouth. However, she still didn’t utter anything.
Momo Chang looked at Minn and said bluntly, “Rong is so lucky to have a madam like you. She’s a stubborn girl, don’t take it personally. She needed to be taught and disciplined.”
Minn nodded and didn’t say anything. After that, she asked Rong to sit by the side. Momo Chang stared at Rong for a while and then turned around to say to Minn, “We have talked for a long time but I haven’t asked about your condition, Madam. And how’s Master Ye doingtely?”
Having seen the deeply concerned look on Momo Chang’s face, Minn was touched. Then she said gently, “Everything is fine. I have just started to manage the family affairs, there are lots of things I need to learn. Master is busy at work, but he is always in a good spirit.”
After hearing Minn’s sincere words, Momo Chang’s wrinkled face beamed, “That’s great, truly. I’ve said that Master Ye is a promising young man. I knew one day he would bring glory to his family!”
Minn fixed her eyes on the kids who were sitting there. Chang Yan was whispering to Rong right now. Chang Nian sat upright on his seat while listening to the adults’ conversation. Then Minn smiled and asked, “So, I haven’t asked about Yan and Nian. What do they usually do in ordinary times?”
Momo Chang glimpsed at her grandchildren and answered smilingly, “The girl could read a few words and do some needlework. I’ll find her a decent family to marry into. Nian is studying now.”
Minn turned around to look at Chang Nian. The boy heard them talking about him and then stood up right away. Minn stared at this boy and asked him tentatively, “Like aversion to evil deeds and affection to beauties. What does this phrasee from?”
Chang Nian took a look at Minn with a seemingly surprised look. The next second, he put on a serious look on that immature face, saying, “What is called being honest to oneself? Never deceive yourself. Hate evil deeds like aversion to stink and pursue goodness like affection to beauties. From The Great Learning.”
“What is the meaning?” Minn asked again.
Chang Nian answered fluently, “We should not only be honest to others but also to ourselves. Being honest to ourselves is like the feelings we have when we hate the stink or adore beauties.” The boy’s voice still sounded childish but his attitude was clear and his words were convincing.
Minn raised her eyebrows andmented nothing but only asked again, “ording to (the character of ) the vige, judge the vige; ording to (the character of ) the state, judge the state. Where does thise from?”
Chang Nian chuckled with two of his tiger teeth exposed and said in a clear voice, “
Who is firmly established is not easily shaken.
Who has a firm grasp does not easily let go.
From generation to generation his ancestral sacrifices
Shall be continued without fail.
Cultivated in the individual, character will be genuine;
Cultivated in the family, character will be abundant;
Cultivated in the vige, character will multiply;
Cultivated in the state, character will prosper;
Cultivated in the world, character will be universal.
Therefore:
ording to (the character of) the individual,
judge the individual;
ording to (the character of) the family,
judge the family;
ording to (the character of) the vige,
judge the vige;
ording to (the character of) the state,
judge the state;
ording to (the character of) the world,
judge the world.
How do I know this is so?
By this.’ It’s from Tao Teh King.” (Borrowed from Lin Yutang trantion ofTao Teh King.)
Before Minn raised any question, Chang Nian already began to exin, “Diffusing one’s fine character in a family, a vige, a country and even the whole world will extend the virtue. Moreover, observing others ording to one’s own condition will help us know everything in the world.”
Minn smiled this time while feeling amazed inwardly.
Considering a simple analogy, if one wanted to take the imperial exam, the Four Books and Five ssics were like thepulsory courses for him. As for other books such as Tao Teh King, those were all optional courses for the examinee. What surprised Minn a lot was that a young boy who lived in the countryside would have such a solid foundation of knowledge. Minn remembered that when she had learned the article which Chang Nian had just recited, she had transcribed a whole page of annotations. However, this boy only used a few words to conclude the article in a clear and simple way. That really was impressive.
Minn turned around and looked at Momo Chang with a meaningful look. Momo Chang felt quitefortable seeing the evident admiring and surprised look on Minn’s face. She looked at her grandson proudly, with happiness all over her face.
“Where is Nian studying now?” Minn asked.
Momo Chang sighed and answered, “When we lived in my hometown, he was taught by an old schr in the countryside for a period of time. After we arrived at the capital, he learned with a tutor from the countryside in a private school, but Nian always read the books by himself.” ording to the looks on Momo Chang and her grandson’s face, this tutor was less than their satisfactory.
Minn started to ponder with her head lowered. There truly was distinction in everyone’s talent in studying. She didn’t want to make her own family look bad. Actually, the studying atmosphere in Sheng family was excellent. Not only had every man in her family passed the imperial examination, Sheng Hong also supervised Changdong and urged him to study every day. However, to be honest, Changdong didn’t study as well as the boy in front of Minn.
Although Chang Nian was younger than Changdong, his behaviors and style of conversation were more natural and graceful. This boy hadn’t shown a sign of fear in front of the nobles, nor was he in an indignant or jealous mood while visiting a rich family. He was only appreciating everything around him with an optimistic attitude, being neither humble or pushy, like an adult of noble character.
Only until then did Minn understand Momo Chang’s former action.
If Chang Nian wanted to be an official in the future, his family background must be clean. Otherwise, he would be an easy target for his enemy in official circles. Having a grandmother who had used to be a wet nurse was fine, but his grandmother’s name must not be registered on the servants list. Perhaps, Momo Chang had considered for her only son like this before.
Every parent is admirable!
Seeing Minn remaining silent with her head lowered, Momo Chang said tentatively, “Madam, you are from a literary family. I heard that your brothers are all good at studies...” Minn raised her head and said with a smile, “I’m ttered, Momo. My father does value the children’s studies very much. My little brother is about the same age as Nian. He is also studying in a school right now.”
The school where Changdong studied was the famous Hai Family School. The school faculty included Lin Sheng (schrs who lived on government grants), Xiu Cai (One who passed the imperial examination at the county level), Jin Shi (A sessful candidate in the highest imperial examination), the retired old schrs and some famous literary celebrities who made a long stay in the Hai family. Every time Changdong came home from school, there would be dark circles under his eyes.
Momo Chang said in a trembling voice, “If you can find Nian a good teacher, I’ll be so grateful, Madam!”