The ruckus in the main room was not small, and it startled those outside. Madam Lu rushed in, only to see her husband being chased and beaten by his mother, and quickly threw herself to embrace Old Lady Zhou.
"Mother, what’s the matter that we can’t discuss it calmly? Are you really trying to beat my husband to death?" Madam Lu struggled to pry her mother-in-law’s hand off the bamboo pillow.
Old Lady Zhou was still fuming and cursed, "Beating him to death would solve the problem and save our family from disaster."
Lady Liang, who arrived at the door, felt her heart sink at these words. What on earth had the eldest brother-in-law done to make his mother so furious?
"Mother, my husband is the eldest son, the most filial of all; how could he possibly bring disaster to the Zhou family? Please, take a moment to rest." Madam Lu, with a combination of hugging and pulling, pressed her mother-in-law down onto the kang bed.
Old Lady Zhou was so angry that she panted heavily, her gaze at Zhou Xuennian as if she wanted to devour him.
Zhou Xuennian was in complete disarray, his hair all messed up, his scholarly headwear askew. Where was the dignity of a scholar in him?
He was annoyed too. It was clearly a great opportunity; why was his mother so angry? Did she really want him to remain a mere Child Student for life?
"Mother!" Zhou Xuennian whimpered.
Old Lady Zhou glared at him fiercely, "Don’t even think about it; I will not agree."
Not understanding the situation, Madam Lu asked, "Mother, what’s actually going on?"
Zhou Xuennian then said, "This is none of your business, go cook the meal."
Madam Lu wanted to say more, but Zhou Xuennian had already pushed her out and closed the door, giving her a meaningful look as he did so.
After many years as husband and wife, they still had some unspoken understanding. Madam Lu didn’t insist further and also pulled Lady Liang, who was standing at the door, into the kitchen to prevent her from overhearing anything inappropriate. As for herself, she could ask her husband later that evening.
Lady Liang was secretly furious but didn’t dare to brazenly stand at her mother-in-law’s door to eavesdrop. Yet recalling what her mother-in-law had said, she couldn’t help but feel alert.
Inside the main room, Zhou Xuennian offered Old Lady Zhou a cup of tea, then knelt down before her with a thud.
Old Lady Zhou’s face darkened, and she smashed the cup of tea onto the ground with force, rebuking in a cold voice, "Don’t think I’ll be persuaded by that act of yours; this is a matter of family destruction."
It was about cheating, an offense that could lead to death or ruin. Their Zhou family could not withstand such a thing.
"Mother, look at me, I am already thirty-two, yet still just a Child Student. How many more years can I live?" Zhou Xuennian began to cry.
Old Lady Zhou was greatly irked and pointed at him, "At your age, if you’re still a Child Student, that’s your own doing. Now you blame me?"
"Mother, I dare not blame you. It’s just that I’m unlucky, always something or other preventing me from earning the title of scholar’s mother for you," Zhou Xuennian hurriedly said.
At these words, Old Lady Zhou’s expression softened slightly.
Zhou Xuennian was an expert at reading people, and seizing the moment, he crawled forward and clung to Old Lady Zhou’s legs, "Mother, do you remember how when I was little, I said I would earn you a phoenix halo crown and the title of imperial command lady?"
How could she forget? Her eldest son was clever from a young age and received his father’s careful guidance. He had won the title of Child Student as a youth and vowed to bring her the status of imperial command lady.
But more than ten years had flown by in the blink of an eye, and her son was still just a Child Student. She had asked the temple masters, and they all said it was his fate. She didn’t believe that. Then, every two years at the exams, he failed to pass, and she gradually lost hope.
Zhou Xuennian was proud and always claimed it was just bad luck that kept him from passing, persistent in taking the exams.
But was it truly bad luck, or was it a lack of ability? An idea lurked in Old Lady Zhou’s mind, but she hadn’t discouraged him. And now, her son was thinking of taking an unfair path?
If it meant trading life for recognition and commands, she would willingly give up such honors. Thinking this, Old Lady Zhou said, "My child, it’s all fate; we must accept it!"