Chapter 350 Establishing Clan Rules

Chapter 350: Establishing Clan Rules

Not just in Sanquan Village—anywhere nearby that knew the Song family's background, every household wanted to marry their daughter or son into the family to forge a connection with Song Tingzhou, or marry a member of the Song clan, so that if anything happened at home, they could count on the high-ranking official in the capital.

A Yan was only seven years old, yet people were already asking Chang Jinhua about him directly and indirectly, which infuriated her.

When she brought Yu Geer to visit, the moment she hinted at inquiring about a potential match, the family practically wanted to keep Yu Geer right then and there for a wedding.

"What kind of family is that? With an aunt like her, how could Song Zhi's family be any good?" Chang Jinhua was so angry she spoke without thinking.

Meng Wan said, "Well... we shouldn't be so quick to judge someone based on one relative, though. But we really should find someone to ask about his family background properly."

Yu Geer hung his head. "I'm sorry, Auntie. I've caused trouble for you and Cousin and his wife."

Chang Jinhua reassured him, "Ah, it's nothing. Don't overthink it. We'll find you someone suitable."

"Exactly. At this age, finding an unmarried young official is hard, but degree holders are a dime a dozen." Meng Wan was merely prioritizing finding someone for Yu Geer from within the Song family, as it would be easier to handle for both sides. It wasn't as if he was forcing a mere sixteen-year-old child into a bad situation.

Given Yu Geer's age, by next year's spring examination, when all the provincial graduates gather in the capital, finding a good husband then would work too.

Chang Jinhua only had this one family member left, and Yu Geer was far more likable than his parents had been. It wasn't too much trouble for Meng Wan to make plans for him.

Unexpectedly, Yu Geer spoke up himself, "The countryside is fine, Cousin-in-law. If it doesn't work out... then let me just stay in Guyang County. That way I can still take care of the children at the Charity School."

He didn't like Song Tingyue—otherwise, after those days together in Guyang County, he would have mentioned it to Meng Wan. Saying this now was merely because he feared troubling Chang Jinhua and burdening Meng Wan.

His family had undergone great upheaval, wearing away all the vitality he'd had when he first arrived in the capital. He looked rather pitiful.

Meng Wan didn't try to persuade him, just said, "We'll talk about it later."

They ate lunch at home, and in the afternoon Song Tingzhou headed to the clan school. He'd come back saying he wanted to accompany Meng Wan, but in reality, a mountain of things awaited his attention.

Sanquan Village had changed ever since Song Tingzhou became an official. From time to time, local gentry would send servants driving tall, fancy carriages to the village.

Scholar He's private school in town kept enrolling more students year after year, while more people brought their older family members to Sanquan Village to study.

Before Song Tingzhou left for his post in Lingnan, he had entrusted the clan school to Tongsheng He. He had stayed in Sanquan Village for seven years. Perhaps it was being free from his father's influence and teaching in peace, or perhaps Song Tingzhou's words had moved him—two years ago, Tongsheng He passed the imperial exams alongside Song Tingyue and others, becoming a scholar. From then on, the Song clan school became even more bustling, with students coming from far and wide to study.

With Song Tingzhou away, the clan chief didn't dare make any decisions. The clan school only accepted children from Sanquan Village or those with connections to the Song family, never readily admitting outside students.

After Tongsheng He became a scholar, he seemed to lose all interest in fame and fortune, no longer wanting to pursue the provincial exam. He devoted himself entirely to living in Sanquan Village, studying the classics, and teaching his students knowledge and virtue.

When Song Tingzhou arrived, Master He was just about to start class. Twenty or so well-behaved students sat in the schoolroom. Before Song Tingzhou even reached the door, the students had already spotted him through the open windows.

"Master, someone's here to see you."

"What do you mean, someone? It's Lord Song. I saw him passing by his house this morning."

"...Lord Song?" Tongsheng He quickly turned to look outside and, sure enough, saw Song Tingzhou waiting. He hurried out to greet him.

Song Tingzhou gave a proper student's bow. "Master He, it's been a long time. I hope you've been well?"

Master He seemed astonished that Song Tingzhou, at his current status, would still bother to perform a disciple's bow before him. Flattered, he clasped his hands and replied, "Fine, everything's fine."

The students at the clan school were mostly children and teenagers, largely from Sanquan Village. At noon they all went home for lunch and a rest, returning in the afternoon for classes. Now they sat in the lecture hall, craning their necks and stealing glances at Song Tingzhou as he spoke with Master He outside. His imposing official bearing inspired both awe and ambition—they longed to become someone like him when they grew up.

"...If more children could come to study, that would be a good thing."

Song Tingzhou wanted to follow the model of Meng Wan's Songyun Academy, turning the clan school into an inclusive academy that would give ordinary, poor farming families a chance to change their fortunes.

As Meng Wan had said, not everyone needed to aim for high office. Simply learning common characters, or advancing in math to keep accounts for shops, or studying painting to draw blueprints for homes—or going even broader, hiring carpenters, masons, stonemasons, physicians, and so on, to learn the hundred crafts—all of these could forge a path in the world.

How many scholars were there in all of Yu? How many could the metropolitan exam, held every three years, actually admit? And in the end, how many would actually get official posts?

Not reading at all was absolutely unacceptable, but fixating solely on book-learning was equally a dead end.

Master He was a perfect example of another path. One shouldn't let their life narrow down—there should be countless other roads in life.

All trades and professions should bloom together.

The students appeared to be staring straight ahead, but their ears were all straining to hear the conversation outside.

Some listened to Song Tingzhou's words with thoughtful understanding, while others sneered dismissively.

"What use is studying if not to become an official? Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—if one doesn't enter officialdom and instead becomes a merchant or craftsman, that's lowering yourself."

"Exactly. Lord Song himself became an official—how can he advise others to become laborers and merchants? Isn't that ridiculous?"

Some thought the same but kept quiet. Most, however, respected Song Tingzhou—he was the most accomplished member of the Song Clan. Without Lord Song, they wouldn't even be sitting in a clean schoolroom learning.

"What's all this about lowering yourself? Song Ren, Song Li, you're way too arrogant."

"Lord Song is only thinking of our good. If you keep failing the exams and burdening your families while stubbornly pushing on, wouldn't it be better to go to town and work as a bookkeeper?"

They were all young lads, some only six or seven years old, and before long they were arguing.

Hearing the chaos in the schoolroom, Master He felt both embarrassed and angry. "Please forgive me, Lord Song."

Song Tingzhou smiled slightly. "People are born different. Even though I now hold an important post, I wouldn't dare claim my words are absolutely right—just my humble opinion."

He clasped his hands casually. "I won't delay your lecture, Master. I'll be going now."

Master He escorted Song Tingzhou all the way to the gate of the clan school compound. After he was gone, he frowned, found a suitable switch from the thorny branches by the wall, and went back into the schoolroom.

"How was Master He?" Meng Wan asked when Song Tingzhou got back.

Song Tingzhou looked relaxed. "Far more open-minded than before. Once we discuss things with the clan tomorrow morning, we can start preparing to expand the clan school."

Meng Wan recalled the layout of Songyun College. Since male students far outnumbered women and gē'ers, they would need to expand beyond the original Songyun Academy. "I'll go inside and draw up the plans. No need to hire an outside draftsman."

Song Tingzhou grabbed his arm. "We still need to find masons, craftsmen, and carpenters. No rush right now."

"True, everything must proceed gradually." Meng Wan's gaze became distant.

Undertakings like this were thankless in the early stages—Songyun Academy was, the Charity School was, and now the clan school was too. Various problems might arise later, and despite Meng Wan's best efforts to prevent them or come up with solutions, he couldn't guarantee that ten or twenty years down the line, such public-spirited institutions wouldn't lose their original purpose—just like the Charity School in Guyang County.

But he was willing to give it a try.

With so much money earned and nowhere to spend it, it might as well count as good deeds for future generations.

Meng Wan stood up and stretched, asking Huang Ye as he passed by, "What's for dinner?"

Huang Ye listed a few dishes. Meng Wan was a bit tired of them—his appetite was poor in summer anyway. Stir-fried and hot dishes didn't appeal to him, and there were only a few cold options. Noodles with sauce were about the only thing he could eat much of, but having them every day got old.

Chang Jinhua noticed. "Tomorrow, Mother will make you some rice noodles?"

Meng Wan's eyes lit up. "Done!"

Early the next morning, Meng Wan followed Song Tingzhou to the Song family ancestral hall. The Song family hadn't had an ancestral hall before—they were all farmers, and none of their ancestors for generations had been particularly accomplished, just working the land. It was only in recent years, after Song Tingzhou's rise, that a hall was built.

Today, the ancestral hall was filled with men only. When they saw Song Tingzhou walk in openly with Meng Wan, they exchanged glances but no one dared to be the first to object.

Song Tingzhou held an elevated status, sitting in the chief seat, while Meng Wan naturally took the seat to his right. The clan elder, shaking, settled into the seat to Song Tingzhou's left and cleared his throat. "Ahem... Tingzhou, since we're discussing clan matters today, isn't it a bit off for your husband to sit here?"

Song Tingzhou glanced at the men secretly sizing up Meng Wan and said calmly, "The clan school was funded by my spouse. If anyone thinks that's a problem, they can stand up and go listen from the courtyard."

He didn't raise his voice or make threats, yet his flat tone shut down all the whispering in an instant.

Nobody dared to push back. The gap in status was just too big—even if Meng Wan hadn't paid for the hall, with Song Tingzhou's word, nobody would've dared to question whether a guy like him had any right to be in there.

Without Song Tingzhou, they were just a bunch of regular farmers, and it wasn't their place to get above themselves.

The clan elder acted like he'd never said a word against Meng Wan and spoke kindly, "Tingzhou, you mentioned yesterday you wanted to discuss the clan rules with everyone. So how do you wanna do this?"

Song Tingzhou surveyed the room, some standing, some seated. "We're not all here yet. Every family needs to send at least two people—unless it's a single guy living alone—and the women and young men have to come too. I already talked to Master He at the school, and they've got a half-day off today. The kids at the school and the ones from the dining hall all need to come."

Everyone looked at each other, confused. The school kids showing up made sense, but why the women and young fellas? And those orphans from the dining hall—what good would they do?

Even though they were puzzled, nobody said a word, and they all headed home to round up their folks.

Bored while they waited, Meng Wan pulled out a clean rag and started wiping down the memorial tablet for Song Tingzhou's dad. Country folks didn't fuss over stuff like that—the hall barely got any visitors, only got fixed when it leaked, and the tablets were caked in dust.

"Dad, didn't we visit your grave with A Yan not long ago? Why haven't you shown up in his dreams and told him to toss that beat-up doll?" Meng Wan started making weird wishes out of nowhere, even griping at his father-in-law, who he'd never even met, for slacking off.

Song Tingzhou: "..."

He stood behind Meng Wan, fighting back a weird urge to laugh.

"Wan'er, let me have that." Song Tingzhou took the rag from Meng Wan and started wiping the tablets—his dad's, his grandparents', his great-grandparents', and that was it, since even the clan elder couldn't recall anyone further back.

As clan members trickled in and saw Song Tingzhou doing the work himself, they pitched in too. With everyone helping, the hall was spotless in no time.

The kids from the dining hall finished their chores and lined up behind Meng Wan. Song Tingzhou washed up, took the main seat, and said seriously, "The clan school will be rebuilt and expanded. From now on, all clan children must enroll at age six, regardless of gender."

"What! What's the point of schooling for girls and young fellas?" A man stood up from his seat.

Others buzzed with discussion.

Meng Wan rested his chin on his hand. "Whether it's useful ain't up to you. The Song family's fortune was earned by me. These kids get free tuition for the first two years. If you look down on a guy like me, then go ahead, send your sons and grandsons somewhere else to study—nobody's stopping you."

"I... well... that's not what I meant." The man backed down.

Meng Wan's casual jab shut everyone up, and the room went quiet.

Song Tingzhou nodded toward the few students who'd been called in to take notes. "Did you all record that?"

Most of the kids stood frozen, but one dark-faced youth nodded. "All recorded, Uncle."

Song Tingzhou glanced over—the boy's handwriting was neat and meticulous, clearly attentive.

"Your name is Song Run? Good, stay. The rest of you, return to your parents."

Those boys, unaware of the opportunity they'd lost, tried to speak up but couldn't swallow their pride, slinking back to be scolded by their equally confused parents.

Song Tingzhou continued, "The clan school concerns the very foundation of the Song family and cannot be taken lightly. As you just heard from my spouse, all Song family children will have free tuition for two years. Whether to continue after that is up to you, and the same applies to the dining hall children."

Everyone listened quietly, no one jumping out to object, and thus the rule was set.

Song Tingzhou placed the simple clan rules he had drafted six years ago beside him. "The Song clan rules need to be rewritten. If anyone has objections to what I say next, step forward and voice them, and we'll discuss together."

Though he said that, no one was likely to contradict him.

"A family's rise, spanning generations, must be rooted in propriety, righteousness, benevolence, wisdom, and trust.

"Propriety—is filial piety and ethical order. Support your parents, never abandon them; love your brothers, support each other; respect elders and the wise, never offend them. During Qingming, honor your ancestors with sacrifice, never slackening.

"Righteousness—is discerning right from wrong and acting with measure. The clan must aid each other, relieving the poor and supporting the weak. Clan public assets should primarily assist orphans, widows, and the impoverished. In times of natural disaster, misfortune, illness, or legal trouble, share in hardship and help one another.

"Let benevolence and virtue govern the clan's character. Close relatives within five generations may not marry. Song women and young men must not debase themselves by becoming concubines. Men may take concubines only after turning forty without a son, and regardless of rank, may not keep mistresses. Infanticide is forbidden, harming offspring is forbidden, and widowed mothers may remarry.

"Wisdom—is distinguishing good from evil and understanding reason through learning. Children must begin schooling at age six to learn characters and reason, regardless of gender. Those who pass the student candidate exam receive clan support for three years; achieving the scholar degree adds another three years, and so on."

After stating these principles, Song Tingzhou finally stood and concluded, "Keep promises, honor your word, act without deceit even in secret—these are the rules of the Song clan."