Chapter 59: Only Those Who Live Long Can Enjoy Blessings

Wen Nong and Wen Jun hurried to help Ah Wang, each of the three carrying their arms full of items. When Madam Luo saw this, she was taken aback, and the onlookers all began to murmur in surprise. Still, Luo pretended to remain calm and directed, “Let’s go inside first.”

Only then did the group carry everything through the door, leaving Wen Xiuzhu and Wen Xiuqing to settle the carriage. Once the others were inside, Madam Luo, without hesitation, slammed the door shut with a bang, leaving the crowd outside stretching their necks in vain, unable to see what was happening within.

Madam Luo led everyone to the sitting room, bewildered by the table heaped with gifts. Wen Xiuyi quickly made introductions, “Ah Wang, this is my mother and my father.”

Ah Wang hurriedly saluted, “Elder Master, Madam.”

Neither Madam Luo nor Old Man Wen had ever witnessed such a scene. Old Man Wen was at a loss, while Madam Luo, by contrast, managed to keep her composure. Not wanting to embarrass her eldest son, she forced herself to maintain an air of calm and asked, “Young man, you’re too polite. Our family isn’t accustomed to such things. May I ask, what is this about, Doctor Jin?”

Ah Wang replied, “My old master instructed me—since he has taken Young Master Wen Jun as his apprentice, we are one family now. Earlier at noon, Mr. Wen and the others had to leave in haste, and the proper gift had not been prepared, so my old master sent me to deliver it at once. These scholar’s four treasures were especially chosen by our young master as a gift for Young Master Wen Zhao.”

As soon as Big Head heard these were from Jin Xiuyi, he rushed over to have a look. Opening the box and seeing the four treasures of the scholar’s study inside, his eyes lit up with delight.

Wen Yao glanced over and thought, Goodness, these look even finer than the most expensive set I’ve ever seen in the study. Aside from the scholar’s tools, there was an old ginseng root, supplements, and fine fabric—none of it was cheap.

The Wen family was dumbfounded by the display.

Having delivered the gifts, Ah Wang prepared to take his leave. “Mr. Wen, I will return and report back now,” he said, bowing.

Wen Xiuyi hesitated. With so many gifts, he was unsure whether to accept them. “These things are too valuable; you’d better take them back. Wen Jun is the junior here—it ought to be us showing respect to Doctor Jin, not the other way around…”

Madam Luo was nearly unable to keep up her composure.

Ah Wang replied, “Madam, I am simply following orders. If I return with the gifts, I won’t be able to account for myself. Please don’t make things difficult for me. I’ll take my leave now.”

To prevent the Wen family from returning the gifts, Ah Wang left with remarkable speed.

When Wen Xiuzhu and Wen Xiuqing returned and saw the table full of gifts, they, too, were stunned. The Wen family stood around the table, exchanging glances. Only Big Head clung to the scholar’s treasures, unwilling to let go, while the others showed various expressions.

Wen Xiuyi sighed, already guessing Doctor Jin’s reasoning—it must be on account of those two cups. From today’s conversation, he realized that what seemed ordinary to them was considered priceless by these people of the past. No wonder Doctor Jin had returned such generous gifts.

“Well, what’s done is done. In the future, Xiao Jun should serve his master well,” Wen Xiuyi said. At worst, they could always find something else rare to give Doctor Jin in return.

Sorting through the gifts, Wen Xiuyi took out the ginseng and supplements and handed them to Madam Luo. “Mother, keep this ginseng safe—it could save a life in a crisis. As for the supplements, they’ll spoil if left unused; you and Father should take them.”

He then sorted through the fabric, picked out two dark-colored bolts, and gave them to Madam Luo. “These colors suit you and Father; keep them.”

Two patterned bolts, more suitable for young girls, he handed to Wen Yao. “Yao Yao, you and your sisters can divide these among yourselves.”

Two more bolts remained. Wen Xiuyi glanced around at the Wen men, young and old.

He hadn’t noticed before, but their family was truly dominated by males.

Just as he was about to speak, Madam Luo, seeing his intention, cut in sharply, “No more dividing things up—put everything away. Eldest, you stay. The rest of you, out.”

“Mother, what is it?” Wen Xiuyi was confused. Was she about to scold him again?

Madam Luo said, “Find an opportunity to send all these things back to Doctor Jin. I can’t feel at ease accepting so many gifts before lessons have even begun.”

Accepting such rich gifts from his master before even starting studies—if word got out, what would people say?

Wen Xiuyi was at a loss as to how to explain these were actually return gifts from Doctor Jin.

“Mother, Doctor Jin already sent them; would it really be proper to send them back?” he tried to reason.

Madam Luo glared. “Why not? The apprenticeship has barely begun, and already we’re accepting such costly gifts from the master. If anyone hears of it, they’ll gossip about us.”

Wen Xiuyi scratched his head in frustration.

In the end, he relented. “Mother, please don’t worry. We gave Doctor Jin gifts too; he won’t be taken advantage of, and no one will have anything to say about Xiao Jun. Trust me.”

Madam Luo was curious. “What could you possibly have given him that would warrant such expensive gifts in return?”

“I… It’s not really suitable to explain. Anyway, please just accept these, Mother. You and Father have suffered half your lives, and now your son wants to finally show his gratitude. Don’t argue with me, all right?” Wen Xiuyi grinned.

Madam Luo fingered the bolts of fabric, her eyes full of hesitation. On the one hand, she feared bringing trouble to Wen Jun; on the other, she felt that it had indeed been many years since the family had added anything new.

Seeing the old lady’s face contort with indecision, Wen Xiuyi pressed on, “Just keep them, Mother. Did you not see the joy on the children’s faces? Would you really want to disappoint them?”

Madam Luo sighed deeply.

“You still shouldn’t be so extravagant. These two bolts are indeed suitable for girls—let Yao Yao and her sisters have them. The other two, keep for Xiao Jun. He’ll need decent clothes if he’s to study medicine with Doctor Jin.”

With the remaining bolts, there’d be enough for herself, her husband, and the younger children each to have a new outfit. As for the middling ones, well, they could make do; if there was extra, another garment could be made for each.

Wen Xiuyi had no objection. He was content enough with old clothes for himself—he just felt sorry for his two younger brothers. Clearly, he would have to work harder and earn more to make it up to them and their wives.

“Mother, we’ll be going home now. Keep the things safe. And remember, don’t let those supplements sit unused, or they’ll just go to waste, understand?” Wen Xiuyi cautioned, afraid the old folks would be too thrifty to use such precious things and let them spoil.

Madam Luo shot him a glare, having indeed felt reluctant to use such costly supplements.

Wen Xiuyi grinned mischievously. “Mother, you and Father must take good care of yourselves and live long, so I can be filial to you. The best days are still ahead.”

Somehow, Madam Luo’s nose stung at these words. She hurriedly turned away with the gifts, pretending to put them aside as she shooed him away. “Enjoy life? Just don’t drive your father and me to an early grave, and I’ll consider myself lucky. Now get going, and tell the others as you leave, so they don’t think I’m mistreating them.”