Tang Chen: Starting from the Xuanwu Gate Incident

Chapter 12 The Prestige of the Eldest Son

Shen Liu swung her arms and strode into the house. Looking around, she found that even the tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks were gone. Enraged, she stood at the door and began to curse, revealing her fierce nature.

There's no way around it; people in Guanzhong have always been like this. Otherwise, how could a woman raise three children? Who wouldn't want to be a delicate and beautiful young woman at home?

Unfortunately, Shen Wang, who had left home around the same time as Shen Ce that morning, was now riding Shen Ce's horse back home, swaying back and forth. The copper coins at his waist rattled, and the sound could be heard from a great distance.

The case is solved...

Shen Zhaoshi was an experienced farmer, and her strength was far superior to that of Shen Wang, who only worked sporadically.

Shen Liu Shi grabbed Shen Wang's wrist with one hand and picked up a feather duster with the other, beating Shen Wang until he was dancing wildly. Shen Xiao Man stood happily to the side, clapping her hands joyfully to the rhythm of the feather duster.

"I told you to sell, I told you to sell, why don't you sell your father's memorial tablet too?"

In despair, Shen Wang didn't beg for mercy from Shen Liu Shi, knowing it would be useless. He kept pleading with Shen Ce, saying that his elder brother had returned and he was no longer the apple of his mother's eye.

Shen Ce looked down at the sky and shot him a warning look. Although he was the one who ordered the sale, if Shen Wang dared to betray him, he would definitely let Shen Wang know what it meant to be a top-notch henchman, the heir to his father's authority, the eldest son in the family, at the peak of his martial arts, a brute trained in top-notch corporal punishment. The pressure of being the eldest son was undeniable. He had only made one mistake in two thousand years, and that was Li Er this time.

There was no other way; we had to move to Chang'an. My mother was reluctant to part with this or that, and even the firewood had to be moved, but it wasn't enough to cover the cost of the cart.

In desperation, Shen Ce had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure. This morning, he instructed Shen Wang to sell them all.

The family of four stood in the empty courtyard, their eyes meeting.

After calming down, Madam Shen Liu spoke first, saying helplessly, "Let's move, otherwise we won't even have anything to eat in the house."

The seven-year-old child, very considerate, timidly took Shen Liu's hand: "Mother, I've put away all the bedding and valuables at home, but they're a bit heavy, I can't move them..."

"Oh, so they've all been keeping it from me."

Shen Ce kicked Shen Wang in the backside, completely disregarding his earlier injury: "Where's the donkey cart I told you to rent in town?"

Shen Wang jumped three feet high, pointing outside in a trembling voice: "Oh dear, it's right at the village entrance, it's stopped right at the village entrance."

Living in Chang'an was a lifelong dream for many country folk. Apart from farm tools, they didn't have much possessions. One cart carried people, and two carts carried bedding and clothes. The whole family would head to Chang'an together, while the fields would be left to the tenant farmers to manage.

Xiaoman, perched on Shen Ce's shoulders, could see Chang'an City from afar and quickly pointed, "Brother, look! Such a high wall!"

The city walls at this time were several times more magnificent than those built during the Ming Dynasty. Chang'an was originally a military city, with walls over two zhang high and five or six zhang wide. Anyone who came here would have to praise them.

Shen Ce held his little sister, who was bouncing around on his shoulder, and said cheerfully, "Look, there are three characters on the doorway: Golden Light Gate. Remember, it's the shortest way to get to our house from here into the city."

"Where is our home? Is it big?" The little one was full of curiosity about everything unknown. He had already closed his eyes and started to imagine his future life.

"It's big enough. When Mom beats you in the future, you'll have plenty of places to hide."

Shen Xiaoman: ......

Having never traveled far from home, she was already captivated by all sorts of things. She wanted to buy windmills, eat sesame cakes, and couldn't resist the sight of the little pottery horse.

Shen Ce had never been needed like this before. He bought everything he could, just like a husband who dotes on his wife in later generations.

It wasn't until she saw the red-haired Hu man that she screamed in fright, covered her eyes, and hid in Shen Ce's arms. But her intense curiosity still made her secretly spread her fingers apart.

The carriage traveled east along the road and arrived at Yanshou Ward in about half an hour. Upon reaching the ward gate, the gatekeeper took the documents from Shen Ce's hands and led him to the ward head.

Although Shen Ce was a seventh-rank official, in Chang'an City, the ward head would only follow the rules. They agreed to go to the household registration office in Chang'an County together the next day to complete the formalities.

Finally, he became very enthusiastic and led Shen Ce's family to the gate of the house, explaining the precautions for a long time. He lingered for a while before leaving. Seeing this, Shen Ce took out thirty coins from his pocket and then reluctantly said goodbye.

The ordinary black lacquered wooden door is fitted with two bronze door knockers, but there are no stone lions; instead, there are two low stone blocks on either side.

The courtyard consists of three sections. After entering through the main gate and passing the screen wall, there is a row of side rooms on the left, which served as living quarters for servants, grooms, and others. The bluestone-paved ground extends all the way into the second courtyard.

The main house in the center was extremely grand, over ten feet tall, and the animal heads on both sides of the eaves made it impossible for Shen Ce to identify what species they were.

Pushing open the door, he found the room completely empty; not even a spider had bothered to spin its web. Shen Ce scratched his head, thinking that the whole family couldn't possibly sleep on the floor.

The tour was called off, and Shen Wang was quickly sent to the West Market to buy some utensils and some dishes.

In terms of service, the Tang Dynasty was no less advanced than modern times. When buying furniture, it was delivered to your door; when buying food, there were special food deliverymen who brought it to your home. The food was served in multi-layered wooden food boxes, wrapped in cotton, to ensure that the food would stay hot until it was delivered to your home.

For larger events, you can hire a chef to come to your home to cook, set up the table, and clear it away. Ultimately, it's those without money who suffer.

After everyone entered the inner courtyard, Shen Ce pointed to the rooms and said, "Mother, you stay in the back courtyard, I'll stay in the main hall, my second brother will stay in the east wing, and my little sister is still too young, so let her stay in the side room."

Madam Shen Liu didn't seem particularly interested in the mansion, but rather quite pleased with the backyard garden, repeatedly exclaiming in amazement, "You can grow crops at home in the city?"

After the bedding was tidied up and the food was served, the couple, who had hastily eaten, finally sat down neatly in the main room.

"Mother, although Xiaoman is a girl, she is of school age. There is a school in the neighborhood, so let's send her there sometime." Shen Ce said with a doting look as he looked at his little sister who was gnawing on a pig's trotter.

"Of course we should go. Dalang is now an official, and the family can't all be illiterate." After saying that, Madam Shen Liu glared at Shen Wang.

Shen Ce understood the meaning behind Shen Liu's words. When his father was alive, it was already quite difficult for the whole family to support his education. After his father passed away, he joined the army, and the burden of the family fell on his mother and second younger brother. Although there were tenant farmers to help with farming, they couldn't let their own land go to waste, and before long, their studies were delayed.

"Let's work hard for a while. After a few days, when the palace maids are released from the palace, I will find two literate girls to be maids. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, I will find him a job in the Eastern Palace."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wang's eyes lit up. Shen Ce guessed what he was thinking and kicked him in the butt.

"Don't you dare make a move on the maids in the house. Go study these days, and I'll introduce you to a respectable girl in the future."