Chapter 008: Demonstrating Filial Piety

In Ji Cheng's view, whether one is a farmer or a merchant depends entirely on individual ability and preference. For instance, if you are skilled at farming, then naturally farming is the best choice for you, while another person who is good at selling would naturally excel as a merchant. Both are free choices.

Ji Lan reluctantly replied with a "mm" and changed the subject, saying: "What do you think of Ah Cheng as a person?"

Ji Cheng's consideration for Ji Lan lasted for four days, and the Changchun Garden performance continued for five days. By tomorrow, most of the guests will have dispersed

The elderly lady's birthday celebration was held with great fanfare. The Duke of Qi's residence was already favored by the imperial grace, and the guests coming to pay their respects were numerous and unceasing. On the day itself, the scene was even more bustling, with carriages and horses filling the entrance, a cacophony of noise, and even on Tongque Street, there was a throng of vehicles and a display of splendid hats, presenting a magnificent atmosphere of wealth and nobility

Of course, it cannot be ruled out that some people are irrational and cannot stand to see others do well. However, the fact that Ji Lan has been able to firmly hold onto Master Shen San for so many years certainly indicates that she is not the kind of person who acts impulsively.

However, in this case, how can one discuss with Shen Cui, and Ji Cheng consequently fell silent

This is nothing but pure nonsense. Ji Cheng did not take it to heart; in fact, she had once pondered why her ancestors did not steal or rob, lived a prosperous life, yet held such a low social status

However, Ji Cheng devoted herself wholeheartedly and attentively to taking care of Ji Lan, preparing medicine for her, feeding her medicine, arranging flowers for her, and reciting scriptures. Even a biological daughter could not match her level of dedication.

However, later on, when hosting a banquet for relatives and close friends, and inviting the dancers from Changchun Garden to perform at Qingyuan, Ji Cheng unfortunately did not have the opportunity to attend. Due to Ji Lan falling ill from exhaustion, as her nephew, she naturally had to stay behind to take care of her, in order to express her filial piety towards her aunt

The practice of sword dancing among young women is somewhat peculiar; however, in the northern regions of Jin, where the Hu people are nearby, every household values martial prowess. Thus, local girls also engage in swordplay, both to strengthen their bodies and, at times, to ward off lecherous suitors

Ji Lan has repeatedly mentioned the difficulties she faced in the Shen family, with conflicts arising primarily among sisters-in-law and between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. However, according to Ji Cheng's observations, the elderly lady is not the type to be a harsh daughter-in-law. As for the second lady, Mrs. Huang, Ji Cheng has not had much interaction with her and is unaware of her character. Nevertheless, Ji Cheng suspects that Ji Lan may have some insecurities regarding her background, and given that women in the capital are particularly snobbish, she is likely not held in high regard, which leads her to dislike socializing with these individuals.

Linglong did not respond directly, but instead said: "Madam, you will probably have to go to the East Mansion tomorrow to entertain guests, right?"

Ji Cheng obediently said: "I have never liked noise, it gives me a headache. I prefer to stay by my aunt's side for some peace and quiet. Moreover, dizziness can vary in severity; when one is tired, the body is at its weakest, making it easier for evil spirits to invade. My aunt must not take this lightly." Ji Cheng was so considerate that she even thought of a perfect excuse for Ji Lan, who was lying in bed recuperating from her 'fatigue'.

In fact, a few days ago, she also thought that Ji Lan was subtly criticizing her. This was because Ji Lan's words revealed an underlying sentiment that if Ji Lan did not assist her, then Ji Cheng would have no hope of achieving great heights on her own. This was indeed a fact, and Ji Cheng had never considered the possibility of distancing herself from Ji Lan; she was not someone who lacked clarity. She believed that Ji Lan also understood that arranging a marriage for her would be mutually beneficial for both parties.

However, Ji Cheng does not feel that she and Su Jun would become rivals in marriage, as the range of choices for everyone should be quite different. Thinking this way, having one more friend is certainly better than having one more rival. If everyone ends up marrying in the capital in the future, they might still have interactions with each other.

The master has gone to Madam Mei's place again tonight. You say you are younger than that Mei, yet she has taken the lead. If you could have one son and one daughter, I could also tell the master to elevate you to the status of a concubine

You should go and see as well; Guo Dajia from Changchun Garden, who excels in both singing and dancing, rarely performs on stage now. This time, it is only out of respect for the Shen family that he has taken the stage. I am not seriously ill, just a bit tired and feeling dizzy. As Ji Lan spoke, she kept dabbing her forehead with a handkerchief, and there was a hint of a whimper in her voice.

Shen Cui also spent a whole day showing filial piety in front of Ji Lan, but unable to resist the desire to see the performance at Changchun Garden, he was allowed by Ji Lan to go to Qing Garden.

Shen Cui first felt pleased for a moment, then turned to Ji Cheng and said, "Cousin, you need not belittle yourself; what you said does indeed have some merit. Without merchants, our lives would indeed be somewhat inconvenient."

Ji Cheng wanted to speak, yet she did not wish to argue with Shen Cui again, and some of the reasoning did not align with her theories. Ji Cheng harbored a bold idea; she believed that the Emperor was mistaken. He attributed the reluctance of the common people to stay on their land to the greed of merchants, yet he did not consider how to enable the common people to earn sufficient wealth on their own land, thus naturally dissuading them from becoming merchants.

You are a dutiful and considerate child. Ji Lan said, patting her hand, "Rest assured, your aunt will definitely help you find a suitable husband"

I believe that people should not be divided into the rich and the poor. For example, consider the livelihoods of my ancestors; if they did not exist in this world, from where would come the exquisite and precious jewelry you adorn yourself with, the fashionable clothes you wear, and the delicacies from both the north and south that you enjoy? Even if one could produce these at home, it would certainly not be as convenient as having merchants to handle the business. This is truly how Ji Cheng feels.

Aunt would not be so unclear about this. Ji Cheng spoke slowly.

Meanwhile, in the evening, Ji Cheng and Liu Ye'er were whispering in the room, and naturally, there were also discussions on Ji Lan's side

Ji Lan smiled softly and said, "You are indeed an understanding person, it is not in vain that I promoted you"

During these days, Ji Cheng often accompanied Ji Lan to the Duke's residence. This allowed her to meet more people and also to assist in attending to the young ladies among the guests. Even the married aunts and the governesses, Shen Yun and Shen He, returned to the Shen residence to help as their auspicious day approached.

Moreover, although the Taizu and Taizong initially abolished the aristocratic families and emphasized the importance of the commoners by establishing the imperial examination system, the aristocracy did not perish but rather persisted. During the reigns of these three emperors, the rulers were weak and the ministers were strong, with the powerful families dominating the court and the examination system. It was exceedingly difficult for the sons of commoners to rise to prominence, and those who succeeded in the imperial examinations were often from prominent families, who might not even regard Ji Cheng's background with favor.

Ji Cheng longed to blush, yet she felt no shyness in her heart, perhaps due to her limited expectations. Her future marriage was merely a stepping stone or a tool for changing her identity.

Liu Ye'er and Yu Qian'er were both anxious for Ji Cheng. Speaking of which, Ji Cheng's age is not considered young for matchmaking. If she cannot seize every opportunity to present herself in front of the noble ladies in the capital, making them aware of her existence, it is likely that the longer she delays, the more difficult it will become for her to find a match in the future

In this dynasty, the rules regarding women are not strict. The great ancestor has Hu bloodline, and the Hu people are known for their singing and dancing. In moments of revelry and excitement, even the noblewomen in the palace will sing and dance. Therefore, it is not surprising that Ji Cheng performs the sword dance.

Only after the auspicious day had passed, and the banquet for relatives and close friends was held, did things become somewhat easier. Ji Cheng truly realized that organizing and arranging such a lengthy and grand banquet required the housewife to exert her utmost effort to avoid major blunders. The wife of the Duke, Princess Anhe, did not concern herself with these trivial matters; all responsibilities fell upon the Huang family. Shen Yan also assisted in managing various affairs, which ultimately ensured that everything was carried out smoothly without any mishaps

This is precisely the conclusion; it is because of you that the common people are unwilling to live and work in peace, which is why everyone looks down on merchants. Shen Cui triumphantly summarized, feeling that Ji Cheng could no longer refute her.

In the evening, while lying in bed, Ji Cheng gazed at the ceiling in order to truly confront herself. Feeling neglected and belittled, she naturally felt discomfort, but it was not to the extent that Shen Cui described as a warm face pressed against a cold backside. In fact, she looked down somewhat on her own actions; she wanted to break into their circle, yet she could not completely set aside her self-respect.

Ji Cheng let out a laugh, followed by a sigh. After tossing and turning for a long time, she could not fall asleep. She simply got out of bed and went to the west room, which had become vacant today. The floor was covered with the felt mats they had brought from Jin. Ji Cheng practiced for a while on it, but the more she practiced, the more energized she became. She drew her sword, and seeing that no one was in the courtyard, she danced with the sword for a while. Only after her wrists felt sore and tired did she return to bed to rest

Ji Cheng conveyed his analysis to Liu Ye'er and said: "If I am not mistaken, my aunt's illness should improve by tomorrow. When we send the guests off tomorrow, if she, as the third daughter-in-law, does not make an appearance, I fear everyone will speculate that she is not on good terms with the old lady."

At this moment, Ji Cheng thought of Su Jun and felt somewhat envious of this young lady's vivacity and cheerfulness. She comes from a good family, is beautiful, and is certainly not worried about finding a match. However, from what Shen Cui implied, the Su family seems to have fallen on hard times. Yet, even a dilapidated boat still has three pounds of nails; the reputation of a noble family is always more appealing. It is likely that when Su Jun came to the capital this time, the old lady of the Su family also harbored the intention of finding a grandson-in-law for her in the capital.

Ji Cheng sighed, realizing that if this were the case, her chances of relying on Ji Lan were even slimmer. She would inevitably have to make an effort to win the old lady's favor, as even a small amount of what trickled through the old woman's fingers would likely be sufficient for her enjoyment

As for Ji Lan insisting on having herself attend to her illness, it is likely that she harbors a fear of others doubting her, wanting to have herself as a witness so that those people would not suspect her of feigning illness. In reality, this is merely a case of having no silver here.

By evening, with her maturity, Liu Ye could not help but complain: "Miss, isn't the Gu lady being a bit excessive? Why doesn't the Fifth Miss show her filial piety in front of her? Why is she so intent on holding onto you? I see that she has no intention of helping the young lady with her marriage arrangements, and who knows what schemes she is concocting in her mind."

Deeply entrenched beliefs cannot be easily changed by a single person's words, and Ji Cheng merely smiled.

Ji Cheng turned over and began to worry about her uncertain future marriage. Next year marks the year of the imperial examination. If she could find a husband who is a successful candidate, with the financial strength of the Ji family and the connections among the Jin merchants, they could indeed present a husband of distinction. However, such individuals come from afar, making it difficult to know their true character. She feared that sudden wealth might reveal a despicable side, which would truly be a lifelong grievance.

Until today, Ji Cheng has finally come to understand a bit. Ji Lan has been bedridden for so many days, partly as a way to remind herself, to prevent her from becoming complacent after getting along well with the young ladies of the Duke's residence and the Shen family. However, the main reason might be that Ji Lan herself does not want to go out and socialize

Linglong rose to pour a cup of water for Ji Lan, serving her as she drank. "Madam, please do not jest with me. Even if the master favors that Mei lady, the one he respects the most in his heart is still you, Madam. That Mei lady is not even worthy to hold your shoes in front of you; it is merely that you do not hold it against her. As for me, I would much rather stay by your side to serve you. Although I am still young now, there will come a day when I grow old. The master has many coming and going, and I would not be missed among them. By following you, I can serve the Fourth Master, the Sixth Master, and the Fifth Young Lady well, and in the future, I will surely have a position as a nurse, which would be quite respectable." Although I am still young now, there will come a day when I grow old. The master has many coming and going, and I would not be missed among them. By following you, I can serve the Fourth Master, the Sixth Master, and the Fifth Young Lady well, and in the future, I will surely have a position as a nurse, which would be quite respectable.

Tonight is the night of the exquisite lantern, as I lay my bedding on the floor in front of the Ji Lan bed.

"Ah, then since that is the case, why do you think everyone still looks down on merchants?" Shen Cui asked again

Ji Cheng fell silent for a moment before saying: "Ultimately, the food we eat and the clothes we wear all come from the land. True wealth must be sought from its roots. Therefore, the emphasis placed by our ancestors on agriculture over commerce was to prevent people from only seeing how easy it is for merchants to make money, while neglecting the land. Since the court intends to suppress this, the status of merchants will naturally be low.