Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 173 Tao follows nature
Previously, it was just a few young people shouting at each other, and the elders present, due to their status, held back and did not speak. But now that Cui Riping has spoken, the situation has completely changed, and the building immediately fell silent.

It's no exaggeration to say that at this moment, Wu Chongwen was worried about Wang Xi. He was truly caught in a dilemma!
Although this kind of marriage based on social class was greatly restricted by the imperial court, it only caused some cracks. After all, this deep-seated rift did not develop overnight.

Marriage based on social status is still a common consensus among the people, especially among most prominent families who strive to maintain their social standing.

In this setting, you directly point out that social class is a bad habit, and even threaten that you will eventually be abandoned.

As a prominent and prestigious family, they naturally could not tolerate it.

You're trying to uproot us!

Besides, who does your husband think he is, daring to criticize such a prestigious family here?

This is really unreasonable.

In particular, almost everyone present was from a prominent family, including Wang Xi himself, who belonged to the Wang clan of Taiyuan.

Are you trying to rebel against yourself?

Wang Xi, still with a childlike expression, said, "Uncle Cui is very learned, but he must be reasonable. I believe that you, sir, are not spouting nonsense, but are speaking in accordance with the principles of heaven, and you are right."

Cui Riping looked at the boy and thought that arguing with him would only make him a laughing stock. But what he said was also very infuriating, so he couldn't let him talk nonsense. He said, "Alright, alright, then tell me what kind of principles your master follows. Uncle Cui is all ears."

"Junior, I obey."

Wang Xi immediately bowed in greeting.

"What orders do you obey?" Cui Riping shook his head, even regretting saying that.

If word got out that he was arguing with Wang Xiaoque, people would laugh their heads off.

The others also looked at Wang Xi with amusement, wondering how he would persuade Cui Riping, who was most concerned about social class.

Wang Xi said unhurriedly, "My master said that marrying someone of equal social standing is the way of nature, and it will surely continue, endure, and never change."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. Your concession came too quickly, and the transition was abrupt and illogical.

Cui Riping was stunned, wondering if he had missed something.

Yang Zhan chuckled: "Then what are you still saying?"

"What are you yelling about? If you're not happy, then come and talk to me!" Wang Xi retorted immediately when he saw that it was Yang Zhan.

Yang Zhan was taken aback, then sneered, "Your teacher never taught you such incoherent and nonsensical arguments."

Wang Xi angrily shouted, "If you don't understand, shut up and listen to me properly."

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhan's eyes widened in anger. "You little brat, are you looking for a beating?"

In terms of fighting, they were no less capable than Wang Xi and his group, after all, they had the upper hand on many occasions.

Wang Xi said, "Fight if you want, I'm not afraid of you."

Wu Chongwen quickly pulled Yang Zhan aside and gave him a wink, signaling him to bear with it.

At this point, don't let this kid distract you. He's already in a dilemma. If you go up and fight him, you'll actually be doing him a huge favor.

Yang Zhan also realized what was happening and gritted his teeth, saying, "Fine, fine, I don't understand, please explain."

If you don't understand, just listen carefully.

Wang Xi glanced at him dismissively and continued, "Take love for example. Love comes from the heart and arises naturally. Parents can only let their daughters marry someone, but they can't make their daughters truly fall in love with someone."

Many young women nodded repeatedly, their hearts still innocent and unaware of the impending love, never having considered this question.

The elders, seeing Wang Xi, a boy of only a few years old, talking about love, were both amused and annoyed, and some even covered their ears.

You little brat, what do you know?

Then Wang Xiyan said, "Love comes from shared interests, or appearance, knowledge, or even family background, etc. Simply put, it is very difficult for a girl from a scholarly family to fall in love with a butcher's son, because their knowledge, interests, and even appearances are not compatible. If they are together, they will hardly have anything to say to each other."

Therefore, marrying someone of equal social standing is not a rule, but a human nature that begins naturally and will not change in the future.

Cui Riping nodded and said, "That makes some sense."

Wang Xi hurriedly said, "Uncle Cui, please don't praise me yet. The teacher also said that marriage based on social status and being well-matched are not the same thing."

Cui Riping asked in bewilderment, "How can they not be the same thing?"

"Not only are they not the same thing, but quite the opposite. One is following the principles of Heaven, while the other is going against them."

"how do I say this?"

Cui Riping was completely dumbfounded.

When people talk about marriage based on social status, they often mention the concept of "marrying someone of equal social standing." Hearing this for the first time, some people think these two ideas are completely contradictory.

Isn't this nonsense?

Wu Chongwen just rolled his eyes; he was still that familiar eagle-headed dog.

That's how Wang Xi used to be—utterly unreasonable, saying whatever came to mind, simply because he was stubborn.

Wang Xi asked, "Does Uncle Cui agree with my interpretation of 'marrying someone of equal social standing'?"

Cui Riping pondered the matter carefully, realizing there was a trap in the words, and nodded, saying, "What you just said makes some sense."

Wang Xi immediately said, "As I just said, being well-matched in terms of social status means considering the appearance, education, interests, and even family background of both parties. But what does marriage based on social standing look like?"

"It's for watching!"

Cui Riping had just opened his mouth, but before he could finish speaking, he suddenly realized something was wrong and quickly shut his mouth again. Good bastard, I almost fell for your trick.

A young man suddenly said, "It depends on the surname."

"correct!"

Wang Xi smiled and nodded, saying, "Marriage based on social status depends on surname, and has nothing to do with appearance, education, interests, or even family background. If the butcher is from a prominent family, he could marry a daughter from a scholarly family if marriage were based on social status."

"Bastard!"

Another old man scolded, "You're just making things up! How could someone from a prestigious family be a butcher?" This is getting more and more absurd. Do you even know what a prestigious family means?

Cui Riping also said, "That's right, prominent families naturally possess good looks, knowledge, and family background. Your statement is purely a deception and misleading, and it's not worth arguing with."

"This junior would never dare to argue in front of my elders."

Wang Xi hurriedly explained, "Although this example is a bit extreme, there are quite a few impoverished noble families nowadays who, because of their surnames, manage to get into marriages that are not of equal social standing, which has led to many tragedies."

Cui Riping remained silent this time.

This is also true. These large families have existed for hundreds of years, from the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the present. With so many branches, there must be quite a few who have fallen on hard times, or even become illiterate.

Wu Chongwen suddenly laughed and said, "Aren't you contradicting yourself? What does it mean to be a good match? It just means a family from a prominent family or a wealthy family."

"No! No!"

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "My husband reveres Taoist thought. The key to a good match lies in factors that attract each other, such as education, family background, and appearance, rather than surnames."

Marriage based on social status, however, prioritizes surnames and disregards all other natural factors, which goes against the natural order.

Many people nodded slightly, finding it quite reasonable.

People have always equated marriage based on social status with marriage between equals, but after Wang Xi said it this way, it seems that it is not the same thing at all.

This has prompted many people to think deeply.

Wang Xi continued, "Since it goes against the natural order, it cannot continue. As the saying goes, marriage based on social status can make or break a family."

After saying that, he looked around and said, "Everyone might as well think about why this kind of social class marriage came about?"

What is the reason for its existence?

this.!

Even Cui Riping was somewhat confused at this moment. Intermarriage between aristocratic families has existed since ancient times, so what reason could there be for it?

The others looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a while, someone suddenly answered, "It's because they are well-matched in terms of social status."

The speaker was none other than Zhang Jiuling.

"Mr. Qujiang is absolutely right."

Wang Xi bowed and said loudly, "Marriages based on social status actually begin with matching social classes. It was because the Cui, Lu, Zheng, and Wang families were full of talented people and had prominent family backgrounds that they intermarried, thus forming marriages based on social status."

The descendants of these prominent families foolishly took this result as the reason for their success, while rejecting the sole reason for their success, which can be described as putting the cart before the horse.

On the other hand, are kings and generals born with a special destiny? Even those from humble backgrounds can produce prime ministers, and even prominent families can experience periods of talent decline.

If we follow the way of nature, or rather, the way to success, then these prominent families should maintain a marriage system based on social standing and matching social classes.

Unfortunately, only a few families saw this, while most continued to maintain their old status, resulting in their decline. Consider those once-powerful families that have fallen on hard times; wasn't this their downfall the reason for their decline?

Upon hearing this, those present seemed to awaken from a dream, whispering amongst themselves, including some from prominent families who nodded in agreement.

As you can see, that's really the case!

This is why many people now regard marriage based on social status as a bad custom, because many tragedies have occurred in such cases.

The reason why Li Shimin hated this kind of family so much was because families like the Cui clan of Qinghe and the Cui clan of Boling looked down on the imperial family to which Li Shimin belonged.

They believed that the Li family's social standing was inferior to their own, and strictly forbade their daughters from marrying into the royal family, even though in fact, in many ways, the two families were a good match.

What's even more problematic is that even Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui thought so, so when compiling the "Clan Records", the Cui clan was listed first.

Li Shimin was furious about this.

That's really bullying.

Seeing that he had been fooled by Wang Xi, Wu Chongwen suddenly asked, "Then tell me, are Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai a good match in terms of social status?"

These words jolted everyone back to reality.

Right!

Even considering the criteria of social standing, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were not a good match.

Wang Xi said, "First of all, Liang Shanbo is a good match for Zhu Yingtai in terms of both knowledge and appearance. The only thing that doesn't match is their family background."

On the other hand, Zhu Yingtai was a daughter raised by the Zhu family. The person she chose would naturally be no different from the Zhu family's upbringing. If the Zhu family had confidence in her upbringing, they should trust their daughter's judgment, or at least investigate her first.

Before the ending, Liang Shanbo was already a county magistrate. Who could guarantee he wouldn't become a pillar of the state like Ma Xiangong? If so, it would undoubtedly be a blessing for the Zhu family.

"That is nice."

A young woman said excitedly.

The other young ladies, though not speaking directly, nodded excitedly.

This is the kind of love they yearn for.

They now strongly agree with Wang Xi's views on love: parents can only decide who they marry, but they cannot decide who they fall in love with.

"Thank you for the compliments, ladies."

Wang Xi cupped his hands and continued, "As the saying goes, those who follow the will of Heaven prosper, and those who defy it perish. If we continue to try to maintain our old family status, we will inevitably decline. If we follow the way of Heaven and arrange marriages between people of equal social standing, our family will naturally prosper."

My husband also used a poem to predict the fate of a marriage based on social class: "Wildflowers bloom by the Vermilion Bird Bridge, the setting sun slants over the Black Robe Lane. The swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiuling clapped his hands, about to praise the words, but seeing the angry faces of many, he could only hold back.

Many prominent families, though filled with anger, did not know how to refute it.

The Wang Xie mentioned here does not refer to the Taiyuan Wang clan, to which Wang Xi belonged, nor to the Langya Wang clan, but the Langya Wang clan had already intermarried with people from humble backgrounds.

Just then, a clear voice asked, "Is that woman going to the academy to study? Is this the way of Heaven?"

(End of this chapter)