Several days later.
At the Chen family's old home in Dongxi Village.
"What? Father, you want Ergou and me to become vassals of the Xu Household?"
Chen Daming looked horrified, while Chen Ergou fell into thought.
"This concerns all of you, so you must each think it through. Daniu, Fangfang, that goes for you too. If you don't want to do it, I won't force you."
"I'm old now. There's little I can do for you. This time, I had to put my own wrinkled face on the line before San Shu agreed."
"If you're willing, you can stand alongside the Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, and Zhou Households."
Uncle Chen hunched over, his old tobacco pipe still in hand, and urged them earnestly. "Those households may not measure up to you now, but when one man attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven. However high the Xu Household climbs, that's how high you'll be able to go."
"San Shu told me Great Wei's Aristocratic Clans are divided into nine ranks, and the Xu Household hasn't even entered their ranks yet."
"He said the Xu Household has only just begun."
"His heart is as broad as the sea, his bearing as steady as a mountain. He's laying the foundation for a legacy that will last a hundred generations."
Chen Daming's face darkened with resentment. "His children may all be exceptional, but how many years does Xu Chuan have left? However far ahead he plans, won't it all come to nothing once he dies?
"How can he guarantee the Xu Household will prosper generation after generation, without a single wastrel among its descendants?"
"The Xu Household happened to seize the right moment. But if the Chen Household keeps growing through the generations, someone who brings glory to our ancestors will naturally emerge too."
"You certainly are looking far ahead."
Uncle Chen glanced at him, then at his children.
Madam Lü also spoke. "Father, my husband is right. My A Weng built the Lü Household from nothing and made it one of Qingjiang County's wealthy, prominent families in just over a decade. But by my generation, we're already in decline."
"The world changes without warning. No one can say what the future holds."
"I know where you stand. Ergou, what has your family decided?"
Uncle Chen turned to look at him.
"I..."
Chen Ergou and Xu Yan both remained silent.
"A Weng, I agree." Chen Daniu was the first to step forward.
"I'm not trying to belittle my own family, but Uncle Chuan truly is the wisest person I've ever met."
Chen Daniu seemed to recall something, and his face turned bitter. "I used to think I was no worse than A Yuan or Brother Shitou."
"But after these past few years and everything life has put me through, I've come to understand that people really are born with different gifts. For a household to flourish, though, what matters more is having someone farsighted to guide it."
"Make full use of everything, and let everyone put their talents to work."
"Everyone in the household has their own role."
"That's how the Xu Household works. Uncle Chuan is its pillar in a stormy sea. He guides its steps forward, nurtures each person, and lets them make the most of their strengths."
"Brother Shitou is the eldest son of the main line, the one who will inherit the household. What he needs is steadiness and authority."
"A Yuan is quick-witted and smooth with everyone. He's a genius at business, and he oversees all the Xu Household's ventures. Even Uncle Chuan rarely steps in."
"Charcoal Head was sent to the Martial Arts Hall when he was little, and he's devoted himself entirely to the Martial Way."
"Even Aunt Bai Jing only manages the inner household. She never interferes in anything else."
When he mentioned Bai Jing, he cast a seemingly casual glance at his mother.
In his heart, he compared the two.
A smile touched Uncle Chen's lips, and he nodded. "That's my good grandson. With eyes like yours, even if you don't become a vassal of the Xu Household, you could make the Chen Household wealthy merchants in your lifetime."
"Ergou, what about you?"
Chen Ergou thought for a moment, then raised his head. "So be it. I was never cut out to make decisions. Since I have a chance to return to my old trade, I'll keep following Brother Chuan."
"In that case, Daming, take your family home and live your lives well."
In the end, Chen Daming did not want to take the path Uncle Chen had laid out for him.
Perhaps that had been inevitable from the beginning.
Uncle Chen relayed Xu Chuan's terms to Chen Ergou and Chen Daniu: the Chen family's property would be folded into the Xu Household's holdings and managed by it.
Xu Yan, however, flatly refused.
Chen Ergou tried to persuade her to no avail. At last, he gritted his teeth and decided to divorce her.
Knowing her greedy nature, he left her seventy percent of the family estate. He, Chen Daniu, and Chen Fangfang then willingly joined the Xu Household as its vassals.
Uncle Chen told Xu Chuan what Chen Daming's and Chen Ergou's families had decided.
Xu Chuan was astonished, and his opinion of Chen Ergou rose considerably.
"Ergou, why should a man fear he won't find another wife? In a few years, I'll find you a better one."
Xu Mingyuan was there too. He patted Chen Daniu's shoulder and, seeing his miserable expression, comforted him. "Daniu, don't fret over that little bit of property your family lost."
"Come work with me from now on."
Xu Mingyuan glanced at Xu Chuan, who smiled and nodded. "Treat Daniu well."
"Thank you, Second Young Master. Thank you, Household Head." Chen Daniu cupped his hands.
"Listen to yourself. Business is business, but when it's just us, you can still call me A Yuan."
Chen Daniu and Chen Fangfang smiled. The gloom in their hearts cleared like skies after rain.
Uncle Chen had one less worry weighing on his mind.
Two months later, he passed away, never living to see the end of that year's Year Sacrifice.
The Xu Household held a grand funeral for him.
In the blink of an eye.
The second day of the second lunar month arrived, when the Dragon Raises Its Head.
Streams chimed through the mountains, and white shepherd's purse blossoms opened along their banks.
Xu Mingwei was getting married—another grand occasion for the Xu Household.
Many prominent families from the county seat came, along with close elders of the Yang Household from the Commandery Seat.
After more than three hundred years, the Yang Household had grown vast. There was no way everyone could attend.
Only elders close to Yang Zhao's branch had come.
Had Yang Shichang been marrying into the Wen Household in the Commandery Seat, it would have been another matter entirely. The celebration would certainly have been far livelier.
At the Xu Household's front gate.
Xu Mingwei wore a bright-red, round-collared robe woven with gold cloud patterns. A black jade belt with gilt fittings circled his waist, while a subtle pattern of five bats surrounding the character for longevity flickered across his hem as he walked.
On his head was a black gauze hat with outstretched wings, a gilt palace flower pinned on each side. It made his swordlike brows and bright eyes stand out all the more.
His nose rose straight as a peak, and nerves pressed his lips into a thin line.
Blue satin court boots with pale soles covered his feet, and a great red silk flower was fastened across his chest. He shone like cinnabar fresh from the forge.
A moment later.
Xu Mingwei mounted a black steed, ready to set out with the bridal procession.
Xu Mingshu came running over with the White Tiger.
"Big Brother, wait."
"Xueji, what is it?" Xu Mingwei turned and asked with a smile.
"I heard from Father that people from the Commandery Seat are coming with the Yang Household. I bet they'll be looking down their noses at us. Ride Little White and take them down a peg."
Xu Mingwei looked at Xu Mingshu. "Is that really necessary?"
Xu Chuan knew many in the Yang Household were unhappy about the marriage. After a moment's thought, he said, "Do as Xueji says. Our Xu Household may not compare to the Yang Household, but we can't let them look down on us."
"All right, Father."
"Little White, crouch down. Let my big brother ride you today, and I'll bring you something tasty when you get back."
Xu Mingshu leaned close to the White Tiger's ear and spoke softly.
Her words seemed to hold some special power. The White Tiger nodded as if it understood, then gave two low "aowu" cries, almost as though it were haggling.
"You greedy Little White. Fine, you win."
The guards and servants had long since grown used to seeing Xu Mingshu talk to the White Tiger.
"Big Brother, climb on. I'll come along in case Little White loses its temper."
"A Yuan, Charcoal Head, Yunnu, you go too. Remember, don't make too much trouble."
"Don't worry, Father. I guarantee we'll bring Sister-in-law back on time," Xu Mingyuan said with a laugh.
All five Xu children set out together.
And so.
The suona rang out, followed by gongs and drums.
"Father, Mother, I'm off."
Tears glistened in Bai Jing's eyes, but she wore a happy smile.
Xu Chuan took her soft hand and stroked it gently, then said to Xu Mingwei, "Go on."
They had watched their children enter the world, crying their first cries. Now they were watching them marry and start families of their own.
For parents, perhaps there was no greater happiness.
The bridal procession set off.
When they reached Qingjiang County, plenty of people gathered to watch and follow.
They had all come to see the White Tiger.
"Is the Xu Household holding a wedding today?" someone along the street suddenly asked.
"How do you know?"
"Once that Variant White Tiger appears, who in Qingjiang County wouldn't know it belongs to the Xu Household?"
"Oh? The Xu Household has beast-taming skills like that?"
"That, I couldn't tell you."
Azure Cloud Street.
In front of the Yang Residence.
"Cousin, stay out of it when the time comes. I'm going to make the Xu Household understand that marrying a woman of the Yang Household isn't so easy. If they can't prove themselves, they can go right back where they came from."
The corner of Yang Shichang's mouth twitched, but he did not stop him.
From time immemorial, the bride's family had always made things difficult for the groom's party.
He would have to handle matters as they came.
"They're here! They're here!"
A handsome boy of about ten, dressed in black-and-gold silk, shouted at the top of his lungs.