Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2628 Still Vigorous in Old Age 9.0
Xia Chen looked at them with a smile and nodded.

"It may sound harsh, but it's the truth, and you can't deny it, can you?"

"That sounds right at first glance, but it can't be examined too closely. If you look into it closely, it's not very rigorous," Jin Miaomiao chuckled and said. "The achievements we have today are all due to our family background, our origins, and various fortuitous circumstances. If we didn't have these, we wouldn't be who we are, and we wouldn't be where we are now. What do you say, Your Highness?"

“Miao Miao is right, I did not think things through.” Xia Chen raised his teacup to Jin Miao Miao, the two clinked it together, took a sip, and continued, “However, I am not referring to people like us, but to those like the son-in-law of the Haernu family. If they can really leave the mansion and make a name for themselves in the officialdom, that would be good, wouldn’t it? In case of a divorce later, they would have something to rely on.” He looked at the others, “The same applies to the women in the inner quarters.”

“That’s right.” Jin Miaomiao nodded. “It’s just that the world is too harsh on women, and sometimes it’s not very reasonable.”

“That’s true.” Xia Chen chuckled. “It’s just a man’s pride getting the better of him. If a woman is more capable than him, he feels inferior. That’s a serious blow to those self-important men!” He looked at Shen Haolin, Xue Ruitian, Bai Meng, Ying Bao, and Ying Jun. “You guys probably don’t think that way, do you?”

"Of course!" Xue Ruitian looked at Shen Cha and Jin Miaomiao. "People only have things they are good at and things they are not good at. There is nothing that men can do but women cannot do, or that women can do but men should not do. It's just a pity that some adults don't understand anything, even though we children understand these things."

"Because they're the kind of guys who are incompetent women and afraid of women standing up for them." Shen Haolin raised an eyebrow at Xue Ruitian. "Right?"

"Haolin sees things clearly; that's exactly right."

"Everyone, we've gone off on a tangent." Shen Cha tapped the table, looked at Eagle Falcon, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, your brother chose... the first one?"

“My young master guessed right away; my brother chose the first option.” The falcon sighed. “The second option wasn’t really suitable for him.”

"Unsuitable?" Xia Chen stroked his chin. "Is it because you don't understand the Liao Kingdom's officialdom?"

"The Prince is right. The Liao court is controlled by powerful nobles. Even if he's from the Harnu family, those powerful nobles won't give him a second glance. They'll just give him a meaningless, idle post. As for my brother, he took the imperial examinations several times in the Great Xia, but failed each time. It's not that he's not knowledgeable, it's just..."

"You don't understand human relationships, do you?" Seeing Yingjun nod, Xue Ruitian sneered and said, "Although the imperial examination is a relatively fair path for students from poor families, it is not without its human relationships and social dynamics."

“Yes, he was disheartened, which is why the young lady from the Harnu family beat him to it.” Eagle Falcon chuckled. “He told me that when it comes to interpersonal relationships, he’s like a block of wood, completely incapable of it. He’d rather spend his time studying music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, where he has a real talent.”

“Indeed, everyone has their own ambitions, and we can’t generalize.” Xia Chen thought for a moment, “Have none of the sons-in-law of the Haernu family ever held official positions?” “I don’t know about others, but in recent years, none of the Haernu family’s sons-in-law have become officials.” Eagle Falcon looked at Shen Cha, “The current head of the Haernu family that Young Master and Lord Jin met was the same. He also chose the first option back then. His family is a noble family in the Southern Court, and he wasn’t favored at home. If he had become an official, he probably would have been killed by his former family. In addition, he has a very good relationship with his wife, and he is willing to serve his wife for the rest of his life, living in harmony with her and being a devoted husband and wife.”

“Yes.” Shen Cha nodded, thought about the person she had met at the Third Grandfather’s residence, chuckled, and said, “Uncle told us that he also admires him very much. You all know what kind of person Uncle is. He never makes friends with people casually. Those who have a private relationship with him are all capable and worthy of his attention.”

"So, what are the abilities of this current head of the family?" Xue Ruitian looked at Jin Miaomiao. "You've met him, what do you think?"

"I don't know his abilities, but I just think he's a very handsome old man." Jin Miaomiao thought for a moment and said, "Although he's a bit old, he still has a lot of charm. When he was young, he was a very handsome young man." She looked at Yingjun and then at Shen Cha. "As for the rest, I don't know much. When my uncle was talking to Xiao Cha, I was reading classics in my uncle's study."

“He is skilled in painting and calligraphy.” Shen Cha smiled. “My uncle once said that one of his paintings is worth a thousand gold pieces.”

"So expensive?" Jin Miaomiao thought for a moment, "Could those paintings in my uncle's study be his work?"

“Yes!” Shen Cha nodded. “Many people want to come and ask for his paintings, but this old gentleman has a temper. Unless they find something they like, he turns them all away.” She chuckled. “His wife, daughter, son-in-law, and even grandchildren all support him. My uncle said that after his paintings became famous, his former family members, relying on their status, arrogantly came to his door, demanding that he paint a picture as a tribute to the old man. Their attitude was domineering, completely disregarding the old gentleman. Even in front of the Haernu family, they treated him like a servant, ordering him around. At that time, the Haernu family's daughter, who was also the old gentleman's wife, was still alive, and she had them beaten out with sticks. The family was not satisfied and complained directly to the King of Liao. The Haernu family's daughter stormed into the palace and, in front of the King of Liao, pointed at the family's nose and cursed them, exposing all the shameful things they had been trying to hide.”

"and after?"

"Dismissed from office and never to be employed again." Shen Cha chuckled lightly. "But this old gentleman's paintings were appreciated by the Prince of Liao, and his wealth has increased even more ever since."

"A loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise!"

“That’s true.” Shen Cha nodded. “This old gentleman is also skilled in chess. Even now, in the entire Linhuang Prefecture, or even the entire Liao Kingdom, no one can beat him. I know I’m not good at this, but I still mustered up the courage to play a game with him.”

"how?"

"It's close to a complete defeat, if not a total failure."