Chapter 99: Peony Pavilion
Early morning, in the backyard of Lin Mansion, came the sound of singing opera.
“Painted galleries with gold powder half scattered in stars, pool halls with green moss in patches.
……
Even in Peony Pavilion, the cuckoo’s voice leaves but a patch of congealed bloodstains.”
“Stop it, all stop. Today is Old Master Lin’s birthday banquet. Why sing something inauspicious?” Lin Mansion eldest house Second Young Master Lin Zhili waved his hand and scolded the opera troupe angrily.
The head of the opera troupe repeatedly apologized and dismissed the performers under him.
“Second Brother, this 《Peony Pavilion》 is sung every day in the prefecture city. Coincidentally today the opera troupe came to the manor, and several younger brothers wanted to listen, so I asked them to sing a segment.”
Lin Zhili looked toward the speaker and saw it was a junior from the third house, named Lin Zhiyin or some other Lin Zhi-something—he couldn’t remember clearly—with younger brothers from several other houses standing behind him.
In any case, once Old Master Lin dies, all the other houses besides the eldest house will sooner or later have to move out. They will only visit during holidays and festivals, so it doesn’t matter if he recognizes them or not.
Thus, Lin Zhili put on the airs of the eldest house and lectured: “You are all still young and should focus on studies. In the future, obtain fame and fortune to enter officialdom and bring glory to the Lin Family lintel. Don’t waste your thoughts on these licentious songs and amorous tunes!”
Lin Zhili’s tone was stern. The younger brothers didn’t dare retort and could only cup their hands and agree.
After sending the younger brothers away, Lin Zhili strode to the main gate and had the servants open it. He himself stood outside to attend to guests.
A servant came forward to report: “Second Young Master, this autumn is cold with a poor harvest. Over a dozen tenant families cannot pay their rent.”
Lin Zhili gave a sideways glance and said coldly: “If they can’t pay rent, beat them. Do I need to teach you this rule?”
The servant said in a low voice: “They are all new tenants from last year who already harbor resentment toward our family. If beating leads to a death, there might be trouble.”
Lin Zhili felt a surge of annoyance. Clearly, when renting the land, they had agreed on one tael fixed rent per mu, yet at payment time, each one shirked in every possible way—truly crafty villains!
“Go to the account room and withdraw some silver. Ask the county yamen to send some yamen runners to collect the rent together. For those who don’t pay, have the runners arrest them directly to jail.”
“Second Young Master, hiring yamen runners will probably cost more than waiving rent for those lowly scum.”
Lin Zhili’s face was frosty: “How could I not know that? The rules cannot be broken. We save money this year, but next year they will still owe rent. We must make these lowly scum remember it once and for all! Go!”
“Yes.”
Soon after, another man dressed as a young master walked out from inside the gate.
Lin Zhili cupped his hands in salute: “Elder Brother.”
The arrival was none other than Lin Mansion eldest house eldest grandson and future successor of Huangyan Lin Clan, Lin Zhishu.
“Mm.” Lin Zhishu merely nodded indifferently.
It was still early. Guests had not yet arrived, elders had not come out, and only a few servants hanging lanterns were at the manor gate—no need for ceremonial response.
Seeing Lin Zhishu also stand at the manor gate, Lin Zhili tactfully stepped back half a pace so as not to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. In his downcast gaze was full of suppressed resentment.
Soon after, accompanied by several servants, Lin Mansion eldest house head of household Lin Jiren walked out from the manor gate.
“Father.”
“Father.”
Lin Zhishu and Lin Zhili both cupped their hands to salute their father.
Clearly just the single word “Father,” yet it was called out one ahead and one behind, not in unison.
Lin Jiren walked to his eldest son’s side and revealed a kind father’s smile: “Yesterday I received a reply from Huang Prefectural Judge. My son’s composition has improved greatly again. At this rate, he will surely place in next year’s provincial exam and bring glory to our Lin Family lintel.”
“Father overpraises me. I will surely strive hard and not fail Father’s teachings.” Lin Zhishu calmly returned the salute, with quite the transcendent air of a scholar unmoved by joy at external gains or sorrow at personal losses.
Second son Lin Zhili listened expressionlessly from the side while sneering inwardly nonstop: “A sour xiucai who has taken exams for over a dozen years without even passing juren, yet shamelessly claims his composition has improved—truly laughable.
Does he really think that xiucai fame and fortune was earned by his own exams? Wasn’t it bought with silver?
If I didn’t manage things for the manor, without the annual clear play, journey gifts, brush fees, and carving costs, that crap article of Lin Zhishu’s—even Huang Prefectural Judge would disdain to dirty his eyes looking at it!”
After speaking, Lin Jiren stood between his two sons to await the guests’ arrival.
It was still early, with no one on the road.
So Lin Jiren squinted and turned sideways to his second son Lin Zhili: “Hasn’t Xie Er’s ship returned yet?”
Lin Zhili bowed and replied: “Replying to Father, sea winds and waves are unpredictable. It may be somewhat delayed.”
Lin Jiren frowned in scolding: “First the ship from Yuegang Port was delayed, now Xie Er’s ship is delayed. If there’s more delay, what will the family live on? If you can’t manage the household, yield the position early!”
Lin Zhili carefully replied: “I trouble Father to worry. It is son’s fault. After the birthday banquet, son will personally go to urge the matter.”
At that moment, a carriage appeared on the road in the distance. The father and sons fell silent, straightened their clothes, and focused intently.
The carriage drove up and stopped. The driving servant got down, laid out the footstool, then entered the carriage to help out an old man with entirely white hair and beard.
The old man’s hair and beard were entirely white. Leaning on a cane, he shakily got down from the carriage.
Lin Jiren hurriedly went forward to support him, a warm smile on his face as he called: “Third Uncle.”
“Third Grandfather.”
“Third Grandfather.”
Shu and Li called out again, one ahead and one behind.
The old man, advanced in years, smiled and nodded to his nephew and grandnephews without saying much, then walked straight up to Lin Zhishu: “Good child, what book are you reading up to?”
“Lately I’ve been reviewing 《Mencius》.” Lin Zhishu answered calmly.
“Mm! Reading 《Mencius》 cultivates vast righteous qi—promising! Our Lin Clan has upheld farming and studying as family tradition uninterrupted for over four hundred years since the Southern Song. In the recent over ten years, literary spirit has not flourished, fortunately relying on…”
Seeing the old man nagging on without end, Lin Jiren hurriedly said: “Third Uncle, let your nephew help you inside first. We’ll sit, drink tea, and talk slowly.”
After the old man entered, other guests gradually appeared on the road—mostly Lin Clan clansmen.
Though all were dressed gorgeously, not one wore the square scarf and blue robe.
The other guests were mostly local rich merchants and gentry. Not a single official guest came.
On the surface, national mourning had passed just over ten days, so banqueting could not be too ostentatious.
But in Jiangnan, customs had changed over the past century. Officials and commoners alike sought pleasure. It was already not easy to observe mourning fully during the twenty-seven days of national mourning, let alone banqueting and revelry afterward.
Lin Zhili knew full well that his Lin Family had produced no one with fame and fortune in over a dozen years. The officials and nobles who used to be honored guests had gradually begun to distance themselves.
In Great Ming, what noble families? All that was illusory nonsense.
Only fame and fortune and silver were real!
Now his useless elder brother had no hope of gaining fame and fortune. Fortunately, he handled sea trade and had earned some silver in recent years.
To demonstrate the manor’s financial strength, Lin Zhili had spent vast sums of silver on this birthday banquet, expending tremendous effort.
He had personally directed every detail of arrangement, personally selected every play and every dish.
Just the illuminating colored lamps numbered two hundred. Mounting silks came to twenty bolts. Firecrackers filled an entire storeroom, enough to resound the whole night. He was determined to leave a deep impression on the guests.
At the same time, he wanted the clan kin and guests to understand that Lin Mansion eldest house did not have only Lin Zhishu as a son.
He, Lin Zhili, could likewise shoulder the entire family!
Soon morning had passed. In the morning, the younger generation paid birthday respects to Lin Mansion’s birthday star.
At noon came the birthday banquet, with all manner of land and sea delicacies served continuously, momentarily dazzling the banquet guests.
The courtyard held various flowers, most of them spring and summer blooms freshly bought from earth cellars and hot pits—good for only two or three days before withering.
A huge incense burner was placed in the yard, letting precious fumigants waft into the air.
The banquet guests, unused to such extravagance, had flushed faces full of excitement as they congratulated the master family, their mouths full of nonstop flattery.
This drew nonstop smiles from Lin Family Old Master Lin, who praised the eldest house birthday banquet’s grandeur.
Fifty years prior, such fresh flowers on brocade and blazing oil on fire would have been unacceptable not only to literati but also scorned by neighbors.
Now times had changed. Seeing such luxurious spectacle, envy was all that remained on people’s faces.
After the birthday banquet, the guests moved to the stage in the west courtyard, where the opera troupe mounted to sing hall opera.
Manor servants frequently served tea and snacks to the tables, attentive in service yet not obtrusive.
A noble family’s foundation could be seen one or two in the training of its servants.
Today, Lin Zhili had selected three plays in total: 《Full Bed of Tablets》, 《Hundred Auspicious Records》, 《Golden Seal Record》.
All were extremely auspicious birthday banquet plays, covering fortune, prosperity, longevity, and joy in full.
But these were all old plays sung too many times, and the guests inevitably grew bored listening.
After the three plays finished, it was just evening.
The sky had darkened. A north wind blew, bringing a bit of chill.
Under Lin Zhili’s direction, underlings lit braziers, surrounded with curtains, and brought cloaks, wool blankets, and such to cover the guests.
For a moment, the guests greatly praised Lin Mansion’s arrangements.
Lin Jiren’s face flushed from the praise as he looked approvingly at his second son.
Eldest son Lin Zhishu, upstaged all day, snorted coldly. Unable to pretend any longer, he snorted coldly again, rose, and headed to the backyard.
Fortunately, it was late enough that few noticed him leave his seat.
Seeing this, Lin Zhili felt even more complacent inwardly. He got the play list from the opera troupe and served Old Master Lin to select plays.
Old Master Lin, advanced in years, watched plays just for the spectacle, so he asked those around him what they wanted.
The younger grandsons around Old Master Lin chattered that they wanted to hear 《Peony Pavilion》.
The surrounding guests nodded one after another.
Peony Pavilion had swept Jiangnan and beyond since debuting in Wanli 26, with enduring popularity.
Young and old, men and women all loved it. Even performed over and over by troupes, it still regularly drew crowds that emptied the streets.
Old Master Lin went along with the good suggestion, selected Peony Pavilion, and casually picked 《Girls’ School》《Strolling in the Garden》《Startled by a Dream》 these three acts, ordering the opera troupe to prepare.
Upon hearing it was these three acts, Lin Jiren—who had been chatting and laughing freely with guests—found his smile gradually stiffen.
He inexplicably looked to a corner of the courtyard, where pots of peonies were placed against the wall, blooming profusely and vibrantly. But away from the earth cellar hot pit, the petal tips were already faintly scorched.
A cold autumn wind blew past. One lush peony flower fell from the branch, smashed on the ground, petals scattering in fragments.
