Chapter 3: The Banquet
Yun Ye was soaking in a wooden tub. The cypress leaves mixed in the water gave off a pine oil smell, which was very uncomfortable. Only tractor belts were lubricated with pine oil to increase friction. Could it be that I had lost my vitality long ago? He couldn’t refuse. As soon as he said no, the old lady’s eyes filled with tears, and the little girls who followed her were also preparing to cry. The rest of the family members were also trembling in fear of upsetting Yun Ye. This was not a normal family atmosphere. In order not to make them feel constrained, Yun Ye simply let them do whatever they wanted. If they wanted to put pine oil in the water, they could. If they wanted to put lubricant in the water, they could.
It’s fine if you throw cypress leaves into the bath water and dried fruit into it, but why do forty-odd family members watch me bathe? The old lady gave me a head wash with plant ash, and the little girl kept adding hot water to the basin. Yun Ye felt that he had to say no, otherwise he would really be cooked. Fortunately, the old lady stopped the girls from committing murder.
“Yi, how have you survived all these years? You don’t have any scars, and you don’t have any calluses on your hands and feet. Thank goodness you haven’t suffered too much.” The old lady started to cry again.
Yun Ye could not understand why an old lady who raised two little girls under the age of eight should be such a strong person, and why she would cry so easily.
“Grandma, I actually didn’t suffer much. I heard that my mother ran out of the house with me in her arms, trying to give me a chance to survive. I don’t know if my mother is dead or alive, but I was saved by my teacher, who is a great man from another world. How could he let me suffer? Although I don’t have a father or mother , but my teacher treated me like his own child, caring for me with great love. Not only did I never suffer, I never even went hungry. You know, even Lord Cheng said that I was spoiled by my teacher, that I wouldn’t eat if I didn’t like it, wouldn’t wear if I didn’t feel comfortable, and wouldn’t use if it wasn’t convenient.
At this time, you can’t mention sad things. Talk about something light to liven up the atmosphere. Anyway, it’s the truth. Teacher is the collective term for education, work, and life in later generations.
“You are a blessed person. Your family has suffered so much, but you are the only one who is living carefree and fat. This is a great blessing. I am going to light some incense for you and thank him for taking such good care of my grandson.” After saying this, he was about to leave.
Yun Ye was in a panic. “Grandma, where are my clothes? You can’t expect me to stay in the water forever.” After saying this, the women in the room all laughed.
The newly-acquainted aunt came forward and took over the old lady’s half-washed hair and continued to rub it, muttering in her mouth: “I have seen everything since you were born, and you are still shy at this time. This big family will rely on you in the future. Your aunt, sister, and husband’s family have not returned after picking you up, and they are counting on you to support us in our old age and send us to the end.”
“Take care of me in my old age? That’s just the most basic thing. My little nephew will make sure you all live happily ever after. If you take anything from me, bring it back. If you eat anything, spit it out. When they kicked my aunt and sisters out, they didn’t even think about the love between husband and wife. Even a few cousins were implicated. This is simply an act of brutality. If they don’t pay the price, do they really think that my family is easy to bully?”
The authority that he had cultivated over the many days in the army unconsciously revealed itself, and the relatives and relatives only then remembered that the man in the barrel was still the honorable Lord of Lantian County.
After a series of procedures, such as bathing, changing clothes, and paying respects to the ancestors, it was already midnight. The Yun family was still brightly lit. Today was the first time the family head had met with his family. The male servants and maids in the house all stood in the front hall with their heads bowed. Yun Ye sat at the entrance of the hall with a big sword in his hand. Zhuang San stopped, and Liu Jinbao changed into a green clothes, standing by his side with a sword at his waist, his cold and murderous aura making the servants in the front hall tremble. There was no way to talk about human rights with them. Being weak would only invite disrespect. Yun Ye had long since abandoned the way of the future. Old Cheng was right. Since he had entered the world, he must follow the crowd.
“Look carefully, I am the head of the family, Yun Yue, the marquis of Lantian. I am in charge of this family. When I am not here, the old lady is in charge. The Yun family now has 44 people, including me. We must distinguish between the superior and the inferior. These 44 people are the masters of this family. Don’t let me hear that someone is being rude. Once discovered, I will not be lenient. I don’t care if you’re from the palace or if you were sent here by the Cheng family. Once you’re here, you’re part of the Yun family. I treat everyone equally. Those who have done good are rewarded, and those who have done wrong are punished. This is the Yun family’s rule. The Yun family is made up of people who have all suffered hardships, so they will not mistreat their servants for no reason. As long as you work hard, the Yun family will not mistreat you. Every three years, the Yun family will give five people their freedom. If you still want to work for the Yun family, this is also a family rule. I generally don’t get involved in family matters. If you have any problems, just ask the old lady to make a decision. You do as you please.”
Very good, very authoritative. Yun Ye was very satisfied. Although his voice was mixed with the sound of a chicken crowing during the change of voice period, it was still perfect. Didn’t you see the servants all smiling? The old lady announced the return of the family head again, and everyone was rewarded 300 coins, which won the joy of the whole audience.
The banquet, the big banquet, the whole family is celebrating, except for Zhuang San and the other five who are patrolling the house. The rest of the people have opened 20 tables, and the cook and the maids are serving chicken, duck, lamb and mutton at a steady rate to celebrate the return of the family head.
Yun Ye held his two daughters in his arms, with Xiao Nan on his back, Xiao Dong and Xiao Bei holding his legs, and Xiao Xi crying with a pout on her face. The two older ones, Yun Niang and Run Niang, were comforting Xiao Xi. Several of Yun Ye’s sisters who had been married off but then had their marriages called off were drinking and crying. The elders, who had long since accepted their fate, were chatting with the old lady, but it was unclear what they were talking about.
Halfway through the banquet, Yun Ye took a cloth bag out of his bosom and gave two to everyone except the old lady. It was indeed worthy of being a Yun family member. When they saw the diamonds, they forgot to cry and chatter. Da Ya and Xiao Ya had already been showing off the gems to the old lady, and Xiao Xi took the opportunity to snuggle in Yun Ye’s bosom. I don’t know how many old Cheng gave, but there were still a lot left after two for each person. I was planning to give them another round to make them happier, but the old lady took them away in one go and scolded them as prodigal sons.
I don’t know how much wine I drank, but the sour wine of the Tang Dynasty was so delicious at the time. I only remember lying on a soft couch playing tigers, sticks, and chickens with my sisters. Then I lost my memory.
Habits are powerful. The habit of getting up at six o’clock every day, which was drilled into me in the barracks, is still in effect. I was thirsty, and just as I was about to get up to drink, a maid immediately handed me a cup of warm water. Yun Ye enjoyed the superiority of feudalism without any hesitation, and after finishing the drink, he buried his head in the blanket again.
I don’t usually get involved in family matters. If there’s anything, I just ask the old lady to make the decision. According to Cheng Chumo, men don’t get involved in trivial matters at home. Only when the family deals with the government does the head of the family need to step in.
The windows were covered with thick mulberry paper, and the light could not come in. The rooster had already crowed three times, and Yun Ye could not fall asleep and did not want to get up. At the moment of difficulty, Xiaoya slipped into the house wearing a thick fur coat and stuffed toy. A pair of ice-cold hands slipped into Yun Ye’s quilt, but Yun Ye dragged them into the blanket and covered them tightly. The brother and sister played until they were chased out of the house by the old lady to wash and clean up, and then they stopped.
The old lady wanted to go to the Daci’en Temple to burn incense and fulfill her vow. She said that she had prayed to the Buddha for ten years before the miracle of the Yun family’s resurrection occurred. This vow must be fulfilled. Is the Buddha’s merit Yun Ye’s merit?