History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 175 The Mother Tiger is Here
"General Yuwen is currently in Wuchuan Town. He is a valiant general and has crushed those bastards who wanted to flee to the northern deserts one by one!"

"I heard that General Yuwen has been pursuing the enemy alone in Fuming Town and has been missing for several days!"

"The General Who Conquers the North defeated the two tribes of Gaoche in Woye Town. The rebel leaders were all killed, and the rest surrendered."

"Nonsense, General Yuwen is clearly in Huaihuang Town..."

Rumors, both true and false, were flying around the city. Students took to the streets to help the government spread the word that the Gaoche rebels were nothing to fear, and that anyone who raised the prices of grain and cloth at this time was an accomplice of the rebels.

Meanwhile, Buddhist and Taoist temples set up porridge stalls and clothing distribution points inside and outside Pingcheng. A few days later, the people of Pingcheng were no longer panicked. Every household hurriedly sewed winter clothes and quilts, repaired houses and pasted windows, while the young and strong did hard labor everywhere, stockpiling more grain and vegetables before the cold winter.

Early on the morning of the seventh day of the tenth month, Wei Mao, accompanied by more than a dozen strong servants, set off in several oxcarts to Wei Yao's house in Chiyang Lane.

The cartloads of supplies included thick cloth, durable charcoal, wine-cured dates, dried venison, various dried fruits, honey, salt, prepared animal hides for warmth, orchids, and ornamental pomegranate and cherry trees, among other things.

Most of the supplies were winter rewards given by Wei Mao's family to their members, as they did every year. In the past, Zhao Zhi would go to collect them in November, but this year Wei Mao sent them early.

Unlike previous years, four cartloads of earthenware tiles and several rolls of thick straw mats were brought. Servants climbed onto the roof, replaced the damaged tiles, and laid new ones. The thick straw mats were moved to the storeroom for later use.

Wei Mao came as the host, and with the house repairs and window coverings in full swing, Wei Yao's family all stayed in the courtyard talking to Wei Mao.

Wei Mao said, "Yesterday I went to the governor's mansion and heard from the governor that some time ago, bandits from Luoyang broke into the Master's house. This time, in addition to bringing lacquer to repaint all the doors and gates, I also brought mugwort, which can not only be sewn into cloth bags to remove odors, but also be decocted and taken to dispel cold."

"This year's charcoal is good; it doesn't smell bad even after burning for a long time. With the weather getting colder, it will be most useful for Master Fu and my fellow student Yao to practice calligraphy."

“I heard from my fellow disciple that my master’s wife liked floral paper, so I brought a few boxes of floral paper and let her cut out patterns herself.”

Wei Yao quickly explained to her parents, "I didn't tell him."

Wei Mao: "I already said it! How would I know if you didn't say it?"

Wei Yao thought angrily: How should I know how you know!
Wei Mao smiled smugly.

Wei Yin understood the brat's true purpose and changed the subject: "You went to the governor's mansion."

"Yes. Governor Yuan sent me several volumes of strange tales for no reason. The contents were all about adopting sons and having godfathers. I didn't understand them after reading them, so I returned them to him. He then gave me a few new volumes and said that he was busy with official duties. He told me that if I still didn't understand after reading them, I could ask the Master."

Everyone present knew that Governor Yuan had no sons, and that his two nephews were the only sons of Yuan Zhi's two deceased elder brothers, so why bother asking them!
Wei Yin guessed it right away: the brat must have deliberately revealed to Governor Yuan his desire to adopt a son. He figured one of them would soon become a godfather and the other a beggar for adoption! And the brat's last sentence was definitely nonsense! Why would Governor Yuan give such an instruction? He was deliberately saying it to himself to show that his desire to adopt a son was serious.

Wei Yin feigned confusion, saying, "The official's meaning is not explicitly stated, and I cannot understand it either. Here's what you should do: tell your parents about this matter, and they will surely give you a good suggestion." See if a few blows can kill an unfilial son!

Wei Yao hid in the outhouse and only came out with an embarrassed look after hearing Wei Mao leave. Wei Mao didn't reveal their feelings, and since their daughter was particularly shy, Wei Yin and his wife exchanged glances, signaling not to mention that brat to their child.

When Wei Yao's reading voice drifted out of the house, the couple both breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Zhifan said, "Commander, it would have been so much better to take all three children to Luoyang. Why did you have to leave one behind?"

Holding his wife's hand, Wei Yin explained gently, "In the first two years after the capital was moved, the court and the country were unstable. It was right for Officer Wei to leave his youngest son, who was most prone to causing trouble, in Pingcheng."

"Even if we move to Luoyang, we still won't be able to shake off Wei Mao."

"No rush, let's wait and see. If he really manages to change his surname, he will be the best choice for a good husband." Zhao Zhi's hand was gently squeezed by her husband, and every time she wanted to get angry, she was soothed by his gentleness.

Wei Yin continued to analyze for his wife: "After Yao'er arrives in Luoyang, the more renowned she becomes for her extensive learning, the more powerful and influential people will covet her. The most terrifying of all are the imperial family and even the emperor!"

"Only by arranging a marriage for her early on that can secure her future can Yao'er have no worries and focus on her studies without any concerns."

"But how many sons of the powerful and wealthy are truly fond of commoner women? Even if they are, when they reach marriageable age, they will weigh the gains and losses of power and obey the arranged marriage. Young men like Wei Mao, who are not bound by worldly conventions and dare to try to break the rules of society, are truly rare. So let's wait and see in a year."

Meanwhile, Wei Mao returned home in high spirits, but before he even entered the mansion, he had a bad feeling. He saw countless carriages and oxcarts parked on the street outside the mansion, and the servants unloading the boxes were all unfamiliar faces.

The servants Yan San and Yan Qi, who were waiting at the main gate, ran over with joy and reported, "The mistress has returned to the mansion."

Wei Mao's eyes darted around, and he thought to himself, "Oh no!" The books that Governor Yuan had given him were all spread out on his desk. His mother loved to overthink things, and he couldn't let her see them.

late!

Lu Luo returned to the old capital because of her youngest son, Wei Mao's, letter about wanting to be someone else's son. She took advantage of the autumn break to return to Pingcheng.

When she returned, she learned that Amao had gone out, so she went into the room to wait. In Lu Luo's memory, Amao was still that mischievous little monkey, but seeing the books piled up everywhere, she suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity and timidity.

This timidity stemmed from both the guilt of realizing she didn't understand her youngest son and the panic of fearing he would become estranged from her.

Lu Luo had the temperament of a martial artist. After reading through the strange tales about "adoptive fathers and sons" on the desk, she felt angry, heartbroken, and wronged.

Of course, it was her husband, Wei Yi, who was furious!
I feel sorry for Amao.

She suffered so much, traveling two thousand miles through wind and dust, only to have her maternal love was wasted on a dog!

"Mother?" Wei Mao stepped into the room, casually holding the copper basin next to him to his chest.

Lu Luo was furious. She picked up a scroll of supernatural tales and threw it at her son. "Am I a tigress? Who are you trying to fool with this madman act? Tell me, where did you get this lousy book? Did we leave you in Pingcheng so you could learn these vulgar supernatural stories?"

"They were all given to me by Governor Yuan."

Oh dear, just as my husband said, Yuanzhi, that widower, is going crazy with longing for a son!
Lu Luo was even more furious! "Come here and tell me, where did you go today?"

"Out."

Nonsense! "I told you to come here! Do you think I'd eat you or tear you apart?"

Instead of moving forward, Wei Mao cautiously stepped back over the threshold and clutched the copper basin tightly to his chest.

Lu Luo's lips trembled as she pointed at the unfilial son. All the maids guarding the door rushed into the room, some soothing the mistress, some massaging her back, some bringing water, and some wiping away non-existent tears with handkerchiefs.

Menfu: A type of sheltered household. Menfu and Yigu held a higher status within the sheltered household. Those of lower status included food and clothing recipients, pawnbrokers, servants, and tenants.

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(End of this chapter)