Shallow Ties of Kinship

At this moment, Su Yao was at a loss for words. Although he had transmigrated, he was certain that he was born from his mother's womb.

Before he was born, he perceived the outside world as a state of chaos.

After birth, he was in a daze and had little awareness of the outside world; his infant body did not allow him to have any awareness.

All I know is that after I regained full consciousness, I was suspended above the Great Qing River until Daozheng arrived.

As he grew older, Daozheng also told him about his origins.

He had always believed it, but today, according to what his mother said, it was because of his first glance and the strange phenomena at birth that, after raising him for a period of time, she felt that evil spirits had stolen her child's soul, and that's why she threw him into the Great Qing River.

Su Yao looked at the old man, clasped his hands in a fist and said in a low voice:

"I heard from you earlier, Madam, that day you went out to gather herbs..."

The old man nodded slightly, seemingly recalling something, and said softly:

"We've been married for a year without conceiving, and there's been a lot of gossip in the clan. Later, we got a prescription, said to be exceptionally effective because the woman herself went to collect the herbs. But..."

He paused for a moment before continuing:

"But on this journey, Qinghe Commandery City, she encountered a ray of sunshine descending from the sky. A month later, she discovered she was pregnant."

Su Yao didn't reply, but silently picked up his teacup, only to find it empty. Seeing this, the old man picked up the teapot and refilled it for him.

"My family name is Su," Su Yao said, setting down his teacup. "It's fate that I've come this far. May I ask how you and your wife are addressed?"

The old man paused for a moment, then said:

"My husband Su Shouzhuo. My wife's maiden name is Gu, and her given name Lanyin."

"Shouzhuo, Lanyin," Su Yao repeated softly, as if trying to memorize the two names. He raised his head, his gaze calm. "Old Master Su, I just heard from Madam that there is another son in the family who is traveling as a merchant?"

Mentioning his son, the old man's expression relaxed slightly, but then dimmed again.

"There was also a good-for-nothing son." He paused, seemingly considering how to begin. "After that incident that year, she was ill for a long time. We couldn't stay in Qinghe anymore; the clansmen gossiped, and the neighbors talked behind our backs. I gritted my teeth, sold the ancestral home, and took her all the way north. It took us two years to finally settle down in Yongzhou."

"And what happened after we arrived in Yongzhou?" Su Yao pressed.

"For the first ten years or so, her health never improved. She didn't speak during the day and had nightmares at night." Su Shouzhuo's voice lowered. "I didn't dare mention children to her, let alone wanting to have another one. I just endured it like that until she was in her thirties. One spring, she suddenly said, 'Why don't we go to the Dragon Mother Temple outside the city to pray?'"

"And then?" Su Yao pressed.

"Then came that boy." Su Shouzhuo gave a bitter smile. "She was almost forty then, and they hired several midwives to help with the pregnancy, as well as a wet nurse. In the end, both mother and child were safe. After the boy was born, her illness gradually improved, as if she had given half her life to the child before keeping the other half for herself."

Su Yao was silent for a moment, then said:

"Heaven blesses the virtuous. To have a child in old age is a blessing."

Su Shouzhuo shook his head but didn't say anything more.

"I just heard from you, Madam, that this young master is currently traveling for business with his son?"

"Yes, that young man is thirty-six years old this year, his name is Jiye. He married a wife a few years ago and they had a son, but unfortunately his wife had a difficult childbirth. Now he's traveling around doing business with his son. They should be returning to the city in the next few days."

Su Yao nodded. He secretly did some calculations, using his birth date and time, and then spoke after a moment of hand gestures hidden in his sleeves:

"Three days from now is an auspicious time for chanting scriptures, offering sacrifices, and performing rituals to guide the departed souls. However, I am young and inexperienced, and my Daoxing is still lacking. I am afraid I can only do my best."

Su Shouzhuo waved his hand:

"Master, you flatter me. To have your help is already a blessing for my entire family." He said, his voice lowering again, "That child has been gone for decades, and no one has ever properly performed a ritual for him. She's always had a knot in her heart, always feeling that the child is still floating on the water..."

Su Yao didn't respond, knowing this meant he was refusing to acknowledge her. So he turned his gaze away from the stage and nodded almost imperceptibly.

For the next three days, Su Yao strolled aimlessly through the alleys during the day, occasionally encountering Madam Gu by the well. She would only nod at him from afar and never approach him.

After nightfall, he meditated in his room and did not go out.

Su Shouzhuo delivered vegetarian meals to them on time every day, sometimes a bowl of congee, sometimes a bowl of noodles. The two met at the door without exchanging many words.

On the third day, Su Yao changed into a plain Daoist robe, set up an incense table and erected a spirit banner in the courtyard. Madam Gu took out a small old swaddling cloth from the room, folded it neatly, and placed it in front of the incense table.

The swaddling clothes had been washed until they were white, and the edges were worn out in many places, but they were clean and without a speck of dust.

Su Yao began chanting scriptures, the sound of the wooden fish echoing in the courtyard. Madam Gu knelt to one side, her head bowed the entire time. Su Shouzhuo stood behind his wife, his back slightly hunched.

After the ritual of crossing the dead was completed, Su Yao put away the incense table, cupped his hands to the two elders, and said:

"The ritual is complete, and your son's spirit has found peace. I have troubled you for several days, and it is time for me to take my leave."

Su Shouzhuo opened his mouth as if to ask him to stay, but was interrupted by footsteps coming from outside the courtyard.

Then came a knock on the door, followed by a loud voice calling out:

"Father, Mother, I'm back!"

The courtyard gate was pushed open, and a burly man of about thirty years old stepped in, carrying a seven or eight-year-old boy on his back.

The burly man had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and his face bore some resemblance to Su Shouzhuo, but he looked much more weathered than his father.

The little boy was asleep on his father's back, his face flushed red from the winter wind.

"Who is this...?" the burly man asked upon seeing the unfamiliar Daoist priest in the courtyard, but he was abruptly stunned when he saw Su Yao's face clearly.

Su Shouzhuo quickly introduced, "This is Daoist Su, here to perform a ritual for your deceased elder brother."

The burly man said "Oh," and bowed to Su Yao, "Greetings, Daoist Master. I am Su Jiye, known in the Daoist community as Su Erlang. This is my son, Su Mingcheng." He patted the boy's bottom on his back, "Mingcheng, wake up, greet the Daoist Master."

Su Mingcheng opened his eyes groggily, mumbled "Greetings, Daoist Master," and buried his face in his father's back.

Su Yao gazed at the father and son, his eyes lingering on Su Mingcheng's face for a moment before shifting away. He nodded slightly to Su Erlang, his tone calm. "Esteemed benefactor, you have traveled a long way; you should rest early. This humble Daoist will take his leave now."

Su Erlang hurriedly said, "Daoist Master, please wait!" He put Su Mingcheng down, took out a small cloth bag from his bosom, and handed it over with both hands:

"This is just a small token of my appreciation, please don't find it offensive, Daoist Master. Consider it an offering. My elder brother passed away early, and I never met him. Today, having someone recite scriptures for him brings me some peace of mind."

Su Yao waved his hand, refusing to take the cloth bag.

He took half a step closer to Su Erlang, raised his hand and gently brushed it off his shoulder, removing a grass seed that had somehow gotten stuck there. Then he withdrew his hand and said:

"You have been traveling for many years and should take care of your health. Your brother, if he is watching from heaven, will naturally know your good intentions."

Su Erlang felt a slight warmth on his shoulder, but when he looked down, there was no mark. He assumed it was just the warmth of the Daoist's hand. He then looked down at Su Mingcheng at his feet and pushed the child forward half a step. "Mingcheng, bow to the Daoist priest again and see him off properly."

Su Mingcheng rubbed his eyes and bowed to Su Yao in a very proper manner. Su Yao looked down at the child, reached out and gently stroked the top of his head, straightening his crooked collar:

"This child is intelligent and quick-witted; he will surely amount to something great in the future. However, he shouldn't be spoiled too much."

Su Mingcheng felt a warm sensation on his head from the touch, like being basked in the winter sun, and he squinted comfortably. The amulet tucked into the hidden pocket in his pocket was emitting a slight warmth, but he was completely unaware of it. He only felt that although the Daoist priest didn't talk much, he made people feel at ease.

Madam Gu, standing to the side, never looked up. She simply leaned against the doorframe, her hands gripping her sleeves, her knuckles white. Su Yao turned around and bowed to her.

"Madam has toiled for her deceased son for decades; now that the ritual is complete, she can finally rest in peace. This humble Daoist takes his leave."

Madam Gu did not respond, but merely turned slightly to the side. Su Yao took out a small sachet from his sleeve and handed it to her with both hands.

"This is a calming incense I made myself. Hang it by your bedside; it may help you sleep peacefully."

Madam Gu hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it. Her fingers trembled slightly when they touched Su Yao's fingertips, then she gripped the sachet tightly and whispered:

"Thank you, Daoist Master."

Su Yao smiled but remained silent, and was about to leave.

Seeing this, the old man stepped forward and saw him out the door.

"Please return, sir." Su Yao stopped, turned around, and bowed. "Now that your son has returned, the family is reunited, which is a blessing."

Su Shouzhuo gazed at the young Daoist priest before him, who introduced himself as having the surname Su, his lips moving for a long time before finally uttering only four words: "Take care, Daoist priest."

Su Yao turned around and walked out along the bluestone path of Huai'an Lane. After taking a few steps, he subtly flipped his right hand in his sleeve, and a small amulet silently fell into Su Shouzhuo's waist.

Then, the sound of the door closing came from behind, followed by Su Erlang Erlang's loud laughter and Su Mingcheng's clear childish voice.

Su Yao then turned around, looked at the two faded old lanterns, and gave a self-deprecating smile.

Aside from his adopted nephew, it's likely that his second brother, Su Jiye, also recognized him clearly, since Su Jiye had stared at his face for quite some time earlier. But since his parents hadn't acknowledged him, there was no need for him to go through with it.

After all, it's been decades since we last met. Everyone has their own life to live, and there's no need to force things.

This is also why Su Yao doesn't acknowledge his parents, and why his parents, even though they know the truth, also refuse to acknowledge him.

Ignoring the pair of childlike eyes peeking from the wall, Su Yao first bowed respectfully to the courtyard, then turned and left.

He thought to himself:

I have already met my parents, but unfortunately, our kinship is not strong enough. It is already a great blessing that I was able to meet them even once.

As soon as his thoughts settled, Su Yao felt much more relaxed. His body, which had been stiff for the past few days, was finally no longer tense.

Once Su Yao was out of the alley and inside the courtyard, Madam Gu finally relaxed, Su Shouzhuo patted her shoulder.

Su Jiye remained silent.

Only Su Mingcheng's childlike words:

"Grandpa, that Daoist priest just now looked a lot like your portrait when you were young."