The lively celebration arrived with great fanfare and departed quickly, but the joy would linger in the Wen residence for a long time.
The servants who had been waiting outside the gate dispersed one by one. Someone called out, “Return to your courtyards. The Eldest Master is distributing celebratory money to everyone.”
Cheers erupted everywhere. The slowly dispersing crowd suddenly scattered in a rush.
Some people wanted to clean up the firecracker debris, while others shouted not to clean, saying it should be left for a day as a celebration of Fifth Young Master return!
The masters of the Wen family also returned to the main hall of the grand residence with cheerful chatter and laughter. Today protagonist was naturally Wen Yan’an, who had returned home in glory.
Although the Wen family was wealthy and powerful, they could only afford to nurture more scholars. The imperial examinations were not just about having a foundation. More importantly, they required personal talent and one philosophical insights into life. Good living conditions did not necessarily mean better insights.
For a wealthy and powerful family to produce a jinshi of the imperial court was not easy. Rarity increased value, and it was worth the Wen family celebration.
However, relatively speaking, for a family to produce seventeen jinshi was already a very high probability. Having wealth and power did provide considerable advantages in certain respects.
Moreover, this jinshi came from the main branch of the Wen family that currently held authority. This made the collateral branches look up to them even more, making the celebration even more worthwhile.
Wen Yan’an, wearing his eighth rank official robe, had a handsome face. He accompanied Wen Xin on either side of Clan Leader Wen Mao, each supporting one of his arms as they ascended the steps.
Clan Leader Wen Mao truly had a radiant face, smiling so broadly his mouth could not close.
Once inside the hall and the seating arrangements were set, Wen Yan’an, who had returned from the examinations, was to perform bowing rites to his elders. However, there were not many here qualified to receive such rites as elders.
Wen Mao naturally sat high above.
The big master Wen Jiantang, with his honest appearance, and the kind faced Madam Wen Rong, who were also Wen Yan’an parents, were qualified to sit on the left side below Wen Mao.
Behind them stood the eldest son Wen Yanxing, the daughter Wen Shu, the second son Wen Yanhai, along with their families.
The second master Wen Jianming, with his stern face, and his wife Madam Wen Guo, who was past her prime but still beautifully elegant, sat on the right side below Wen Mao.
Behind them stood the daughter Wen Hui, the eldest son Wen Yanshang, and the second son Wen Yanping, along with their families.
Those who had wives and children had brought them along. Those who had married out had also returned with their husbands and children. The whole family was lively and bustling, truly a flourishing household.
Wen Yan’an stepped back to his position, facing Wen Mao. A servant quickly placed a kneeling cushion. Wen Yan’an lifted his official robe, knelt down, and kowtowed. “Your grandson Wen Yan’an returns from the capital examinations to pay respects to Grandfather.” He kowtowed three times.
“Good, good, good. Rise, rise.” Wen Mao nodded repeatedly with a smile and raised his hand.
Wen Yan’an stood up. The servant moved the kneeling cushion again. Wen Yan’an knelt once more, facing his parents and kowtowed. “Your son Wen Yan’an returns from the capital examinations to pay respects to Father and Mother!”
“Rise, rise. My son, rise quickly.”
The big master and his wife joyfully offered support. Madam Wen Rong wept with joy, tears glistening in her eyes.
Wen Yan’an stood up, followed the repositioned cushion, and knelt again, kowtowing. “Your nephew Wen Yan’an returns from the capital examinations to pay respects to Uncle and Aunt.”
“That is enough. Rise, rise.”
“Quickly, quickly.” Madam Wen Guo actually stood up, appearing either overwhelmed with honour or unworthy of such respect.
Wen Yan’an stood up again and exchanged greetings with his brothers and sisters of the same generation, bowing with clasped hands.
In front of the elders, especially before Grandfather the clan leader, the attitudes of those of the same generation were mostly reserved. However, a group of young children did not care about such things and swarmed forward in a cluster.
“Fifth Uncle, did you bring us gifts?”
“Uncle, I want a gift.”
Their manner suggested that if they did not receive gifts, they would tear his official robe apart.
Wen Mao pointed and scolded with a smile, “A bunch of naughty children. Your uncle has just returned home. Can you not even let him catch his breath?” When each family prepared to pull their children away, he instead waved his hand, meaning to let them be.
“Yes, yes, yes. Everyone gets one.” Wen Yan’an turned back and called out.
His book servant immediately ran out and soon returned carrying a box.
Wen Yan’an opened it in front of everyone. Inside were small trinkets from the capital. “Take them yourselves. Each person may only take two items.”
There was no favouritism.
The little ones happily reached in, each picked two items, and then ran off. The empty box was also carried away. With the noisy ones gone, the hall became quiet.
At this moment, Wen Xin, who had been standing beside Wen Mao chair wanting to speak but hesitating, finally opened her mouth. “Fifth Brother, could you have forgotten? In your letter, you said you brought a gift for me.”
Wen Mao looked at his granddaughter, then at his grandson, stroked his beard, and smiled, as if he knew something.
Among his grandchildren, only this one grandson remained unmarried and this one granddaughter remained unwed. They were also the two most outstanding in his eyes.
Wen Yan’an smiled. “How could I dare forget Xin’er gift?” He turned back and gestured for his book servant to bring it.
Everyone looked at each other in surprise, wondering what gift could make someone as refined as Wen Xin take the initiative to ask for it.
Wen Hui from the second branch could not help but ask, “Fifth Brother, what gift could make Xin’er so impatient?”
Wen Xin felt somewhat embarrassed.
Wen Yan’an shook his head with a wry smile. “This gift is simple enough. It is just a piece of calligraphy. However, if not for Grandfather support, I am afraid I truly would not have had the means to bring it back for Xin’er.”
Wen Yanhai from the big branch asked, “Whose calligraphy is it that could even involve Grandfather? It could not be that third place scholar, could it?”
Wen Yan’an said, “Third Brother, that is correct. It is indeed the third place scholar.”
“…” Wen Yanhai was momentarily stunned.
Wen Yan’an gestured with his hands. “It cost a full one million two hundred thousand taels of silver to win the bid. This was only because Grandfather provided timely information. Otherwise, we might not have had the chance even at this price. The money was also provided by Grandfather.”
Whoa! Spending one million two hundred thousand taels of silver just to give that girl a piece of calligraphy as a gift. Some people began to mutter in their hearts. The old master was truly too biased.
Some things were not just about money. One million or so taels was not a huge sum for the Wen family. The issue was the bias.
Wen Mao coughed once and spoke at the right moment. “Although it is said to be a gift for Xin’er, it is only for Xin’er to enjoy temporarily. Afterwards, it must be stored in the ‘Wen Shu Pavilion’. It is a family legacy left for the descendants of the Wen family.”
With these words, the matter was settled as fact. Everyone various unusual expressions finally subsided.
However, everyone grew even more curious. What kind of calligraphy could be worth so much silver?
Soon, a metal cylinder less than two feet long was brought by the book servant.
Wen Yan’an personally took it, walked over to Wen Xin, and presented it with his own hands. “Xin’er, I have brought you the authentic work written by A Shiheng himself, completely intact.”
Wen Xin bit her lip with her silver like teeth. Her hands, receiving the item, trembled slightly. “Thank you, Fifth Brother.”
Once she had it, she clutched it tightly in her hands, holding it against her chest. She was so excited that her face flushed slightly.
Wen Yan’an waved his hand. “Do not thank me. I am just a messenger. You should thank Grandfather. Without Grandfather information and silver, this item could not have been obtained.”
Wen Mao stroked his white beard and smiled. “She has admired that third place scholar for a long time. Unfortunately, she could never find his authentic calligraphy to appreciate. Only then did she discover that it was extremely rare in the market. Even with money, one could not buy it. So she kept chattering in my ear. Oh, that old man was so annoyed by her. Yet she stubbornly refused to say it outright. Girl, this time you have finally got your wish, have you not?”
Wen Xin did not know whether to laugh or cry. Holding the item, she turned and walked away, already impatient to see the authentic work.
Wen Shu from the big branch called out, “Xin’er, do not go yet. Open the precious item for everyone to appreciate. Let us all have a look before you take it away!”
Hearing this, Wen Xin thought about it and realised it was true. It was indeed inappropriate for her to enjoy such a valuable item alone in silence. So she returned and opened the metal cylinder in front of everyone, pouring out something wrapped in moisture proof oil paper.
Looking at this packaging, one could tell it had been handled with great care.
Everyone gathered around to help open the oil paper, revealing a roll of white paper inside.
Wen Shu readily unrolled it. “Let me see what is written that is worth so much.”
Her casual manner, not treating it like a treasure, frightened Wen Xin. She quickly held her hand down and said urgently, “Second Sister, be careful. Authentic works are truly hard to find. If it gets damaged, it can never be found again.”
Wen Shu smiled. “Look how anxious you are. It is not that fragile.”
As she spoke, the entire piece of calligraphy had been unfurled. The two women each held one end and first presented it to Wen Mao. Such was their family upbringing. At such times, elders must be attended to first.
Wen Mao observed it and nodded slightly. “Excellent calligraphy, excellent. Truly ‘a once in a century talent amidst the turbulent flow of history’, as Master Yuwen praised. Truly worthy of the third place scholar renowned throughout the world.”
“Eh, this calligraphy seems to be a casual practice piece.” The eldest grandson Wen Yanxing looked puzzled and pointed to a line of characters at the end that was outside the main composition. “Look here.”
Everyone gaze followed. Wen Shu muttered, “Three silly birds outside…” Her voice suddenly stopped.
This extremely discordant line of characters somehow felt like an insult.
Everyone looked at each other in surprise, uncertain and alarmed. What was going on?
Wen Yan’an said, “Perhaps when he was writing, there were three birds chirping outside the window or something. However, Big Brother is correct. This piece of calligraphy is indeed a practice work. A practice piece, paired with this line of characters outside the main composition, arguably gives this work extra charm.”
His mother, Madam Wen Rong, who had been watching from behind the old master chair, said, “This is only a few characters, perhaps fifty or sixty, and it is a practice piece at that. How could they dare to sell it for one million two hundred thousand taels of silver? Is money really that easy to earn? Yan’an, you and he are jinshi from the same examination. How much is your calligraphy worth?”
Madam Wen Guo, standing nearby, could not help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
Madam Wen Rong immediately realised she might have said the wrong thing and felt somewhat embarrassed.
Her son Wen Yan’an quickly explained, “Mother, some accounts are not calculated that way. First is reputation. Second is scarcity. Rumour has it that he abandoned literature for martial arts. Afterwards, just as the rumour suggested, not only could one not see his new works, it seemed he no longer wrote calligraphy at all.
So people searched everywhere for characters he had written before. Apart from some that were already publicly known, others simply could not be found. Even his examination papers from the county and provincial examinations from before had disappeared. No one knew who had embezzled them.
This piece was actually found by someone rummaging through his old house in the countryside. The country folk did not know its value and sold it for a small sum of money. Our authentic piece came from there.”
Madam Wen Rong sighed. “In that case, if that third place scholar earned money by writing calligraphy, he could also amass great wealth. Talented people are truly different.”
Wen Xin immediately spoke softly to refute, “Aunt, it is not like that. This third place scholar is truly extraordinary. He is brimming with talent, noble in character, proud and aloof in the world, with the fragrance of plum blossoms. I have never heard of him earning money by writing anything. Not a single piece. Clearly, he disdains to do so!”