Chapter 17

High Family Ancestral Hall.

After paying respects to their ancestors, the old patriarch, along with Gao Mingtong, his brothers, and several others, emerged from the hall. Gao Mingtong then brought up the matter of his second brother’s three children being adopted out to the clan elders.

The patriarch and all the elders were astonished. Only when they saw the adoption papers did they believe Gao Mingtong was not jesting.

Gao Mingtong sighed, “My second brother and his wife were deeply affectionate. Sadly, my sister-in-law passed away young, and my brother’s grief was boundless. Now, the youngest son of the Yu family—his wife’s kin—has died prematurely, leaving them without an heir. My brother cannot bear to see his wife’s family line cut off, nor to let her rest uneasily in the afterlife. So, though it pains him, he’s willing to give up his three children for adoption.” As he spoke, his eyes brimmed with tears.

The old patriarch’s gaze turned to Gao Zhao among the crowd, who now played along with Gao Mingtong in this performance of profound family affection. Stepping forward, he replied, “My late mother did mention this to my father. Later, when my aunt became pregnant, the matter was set aside. Now, with my uncle having lost his son, my father is deeply grieved. This is both to continue my uncle’s line and to console him in his loss. My father’s devotion to my late mother and her family runs deep. As a son, having received my parents’ nurture and guidance, it is only right that I share his burdens and follow his wishes.”

The uncle and nephew spoke so earnestly that the patriarch and other elders exchanged glances, unable to object further—though there was a sense of regret. Such a good child as little Zhao, now to be adopted by the Yu family.

After some sighs, the old patriarch said, “Since Mingjin has decided, we have no reason to oppose. Your two families should pick an auspicious day.”

“Yes, I will discuss this with the Yu family when I return.”

After leaving the ancestral hall, the news spread throughout the village. Every household was soon discussing it.

Aunt Wang remarked regretfully to her husband, “I thought after their mourning, those siblings would go to the capital to live as young masters and ladies, enjoying a life of luxury. Now, they’re being adopted by the Yu family. The Yu family has fallen on hard times; how can they compare to the Gao family? No one left in the household, and an uncle who’s been ill for years—how will they manage? Oh, poor things!”

Aunt Gui, hearing her husband bring it up, couldn’t help but laugh smugly. “They’re just like their mother, lacking in fortune, not destined for wealth. No longer a government official’s daughter, and with a sickly uncle above her—what kind of marriage can that little Nuan hope for now? Can it be better than our Mei’s?”

She snorted, “Everyone used to say that little Nuan would marry a young master from an official’s family, but now as part of the Yu family, she’s just a Yu girl. Which official’s son would look twice at her now?”

She felt an inexplicable satisfaction, as if all her previous grievances were finally avenged.

Patting her son Tiger’s head, she urged, “You must study hard with Uncle Fan and become a scholar, so your mother can hold her head high.”

Tiger nodded earnestly, “Uncle Fan always praises how well I’m learning.”

In the old patriarch’s household, the family discussed it as well.

Gao Mingchun lamented that Gao Zhao, such a promising child, had passed the preliminary exams at such a young age. If he were adopted into the Yu family, it would be well if the Gao family could help him, but if not, he feared the boy’s studies would suffer, wasting his talents.

Gao Mingqiu bluntly said, “I think Mingjin just doesn’t want these children and is using adoption as an excuse to send them away.”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Gao Mingxia rebuked him.

Mingqiu protested, “As soon as Yu-shi died, he left the children here and ignored them. That year they nearly starved—have you forgotten? The following year, while they were still in mourning, he remarried. Last year his new wife bore him a son, and now he’s adopting out Yu-shi’s children. Don’t tell me he never intended to send them away. These kids are too sensible and filial—their hard days are just beginning!”

The old patriarch remained silent. Mingjin’s decision to adopt out his most promising son was indeed puzzling, but ultimately, this was their family’s affair—he could not interfere. He warned his youngest son not to speak carelessly in the future.

Not just the villagers, but even on the carriage ride home, Gao Xi sat silently for a long while, unable to process the news that his cousins were being adopted out. The other brothers sighed with resignation—this was a decision of their elders, not theirs to question—but the thought of their cousins moving to the Yu family left them heavy-hearted.

Gao Kuang, seeing Gao Xi so despondent, tried to console him. “Even if little Zhao is adopted by the Yu family, we’re still kin, still living in the same county. We can see each other anytime.”

After a long silence, Gao Xi finally said, “We’ll never be as close as we once were.”

From the day his cousin came to Gao Family Village for mourning, he had grown distant. Now, with the adoption, they would only drift further apart.

“No, you won’t,” Gao Kuang reassured him. “Didn’t you promise to take the county exams together this year? Now that his mourning is over, you can study together with Master Su as before. Won’t you see him every day? How could you not stay close?”

At this, Gao Xi’s spirits suddenly lifted. “That’s right—I almost forgot.” He began to look forward to it again.

—

Once the adoption was proposed, little Nuan and her siblings began considering the matter of changing their surname and names—it was wise to think ahead.

In the Yu family, this generation’s naming character was “Shen.” Since they were being adopted, Yu Lun, as their adoptive father, ought to bestow names. But Yu Lun, not being well-read, feared he might choose poorly. Moreover, he worried about the misfortune that befell his own young son, and did not wish ill luck upon these children, so he left the choice to them, with the sole requirement that the character “Shen” be retained.

Gao Zhao spoke first, “The sages say, ‘A gentleman is prudent in speech and quick in action.’ I’ll take the character for ‘speech’—hence, Shenyan.”

Yu Lun nodded, “Indeed—trouble often comes from the mouth. In the future, in all things, you must be careful with your words.”

Gao Nuan said, “Though I am a girl, I too wish to use the character ‘Shen’ as a reminder to myself.”

Yu Lun had no objection. In the Yu family, it was not uncommon for daughters’ names to include the generational character.

After a moment’s thought, Gao Nuan said, “The small leads to the great, the subtle shows the beginnings. If one does not guard against the subtle, great troubles arise. I will take the character for ‘subtle’—hence, Shenwei.”

Yu Lun agreed—a daughter, more than a son, must be cautious and meticulous.

At last, all eyes turned to Yu Shensi, who would turn six the following month. He had studied for a few years but only scratched the surface of the classics—choosing a name was still difficult for him.

Gao Zhao wanted to help, but Yu Shensi quickly stopped him. “Brother, I want to choose my own name.”

Seeing his determination, Gao Zhao decided to listen and test what the boy had learned. If it wasn’t suitable, he could always help.

The moment Yu Shensi heard the generational character “Shen,” he was thrilled. It was as if fate was handing him the chance to reclaim his former life’s name.

In his previous life, his parents had chosen his name almost by accident. One day, his mother, while pregnant with him, entered the study and saw the wind flipping the pages of a book. Reaching out to stop it, her hand landed on the phrase: “Be well-learned, inquire thoroughly, think carefully, discern clearly, practice earnestly.” Thus, he was named.

He smiled at Gao Zhao, “A few days ago, I read your ‘Doctrine of the Mean,’ Brother. It includes the words ‘Shensi’—I’d like to use that as my name.”

Gao Zhao patted his little shoulder. “You can understand my books—do you know what it means?”

Yu Shensi feigned innocence. “To pursue knowledge, one must think carefully and comprehensively. When faced with difficult questions, neither avoidance nor shallow understanding will do—you must think them through.”

“Well grasped!” Gao Zhao ruffled his hair. “Can you promise to study so thoroughly in the future?”

“I can.”

“Then you shall be called Shensi—Yu Shensi.”

—

Upon returning home, Gao Mingtong sent word to the capital. After the Lantern Festival, he received a reply from Gao Mingjin, along with an adoption contract bearing his signature and seal.

On the twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month, an auspicious date, the Yu clan elders and Yu Lun and his wife came to Gao Family Village. With both sides’ elders as witnesses, they exchanged birth records and signed the adoption papers. When the Gao family next revised their genealogy, the names of Gao Zhao and Gao Yang would be removed. Gao Mingjin did not return; Gao Mingtong acted in his stead. The three siblings bid him farewell, and from that day ceased to be members of the Gao clan.

Returning to Tianwan Township, Gao Zhao and Yu Shensi, under the witness of the Yu elders, paid respects to the Yu ancestors and bowed to Yu Lun and his wife. Their names were formally entered under Yu Lun and his wife, as per the adoption contract.

Once both families had settled matters, they went to the county registrar to update the household records, making the adoption official.

Gao Zhao emerged from the county office, but Gao Nuan and Yu Shensi had not yet arrived. After entering the city, they had separated—he and his young uncle came to handle the registration, while Gao Nuan and Yu Shensi took some recently completed embroidery to sell at the Zhang family’s shop. The siblings would pass the county office on their way out of town, so he waited at the street corner nearby.

It had rained yesterday, but today the skies were clear and the street was bustling. His young uncle, Yu Wen, spotted a cloth shop across the street—tailors can never resist—and went in for a look. Gao Zhao, not wanting to miss his sister and younger brother, stayed at the street corner.

After some time with nothing to do, he idly picked up a stick and began composing a poem on the ground:

After the dark clouds scatter, the sky grows ever brighter;
Pearl-like raindrops leave the scene more vivid still.

He paused after two lines, dissatisfied—the next couplet eluded him, unable to express his sense of breaking free from a cage. Suddenly, someone nearby recited:

Young swallows on the branch spread new wings,
And soon will soar into the sky as great birds.

Startled, Gao Zhao turned to find, standing beside him, a scholar past forty, upright and gazing up as fledglings took flight from the branches.

“Master?” Gao Zhao quickly dropped the stick and bowed respectfully. “Student greets Master.”

Looking up, the fledglings were already distant. For his teacher to complete the poem so aptly, he must have known the whole story, even the circumstances of recent years—only then could he so perfectly capture his student’s mood. His master was always like this—no secret could be kept from him.

Master Su turned to his student, whom he had not seen in three years. When last they parted, the boy was still childlike. Now he was nearly grown, his features sharpening, a new steadiness and dignity in his brow—he looked more and more like...

Gao Zhao noticed his master’s gaze linger on his face, a trace of distraction in his expression, and softly called, “Master.”

Light returned to Master Su’s eyes; he looked away and asked in a deep voice, “Now, how should I address you?”

Gao Zhao replied, “Master may call me Shenyán.”

Master Su pondered the name and nodded approvingly. “Shenyán is excellent. To cultivate oneself, clarity of mind is essential; in the world, prudence in speech comes first. The name Zhao is too grand—unfortunate for you.”

“I will remember your teaching, Master.”

Master Su gave a barely audible sigh and asked, “How is your preparation for the autumn exams?”

Before his master, Gao Zhao did not dare boast and answered honestly, “I have not been lax, often reviewing the classics, but my writing remains troubled, with little improvement.”

Master Su nodded. Last year, Gao Xi had shown him Gao Zhao’s essays—indeed, progress was slow, and passing the county exam would be difficult. If not for these years lost, with his cleverness, the exam would pose no challenge. A fledgling should not have its wings broken—it should fly.

“In a few days, bring me two essays to review.”

Gao Zhao was delighted that his master was still willing to guide him. “Thank you, Master.”