Call Me Daddy

The Emperor agreed, and thus Su Aobai was only promoted to General Weiyuan, but his only daughter was exceptionally granted the title of Princess of Changning County, a rank second only to that of a princess among the imperial family.

For a time, General Weiyuan and Princess Changning became the most sought-after figures in the capital. However, after some inquiries, those who initially had designs on the father and daughter had to abandon their plans.

It was true that General Weiyuan was a widower, but it was also rumored that he had been injured in his early years and was unable to father children, leaving him with only one daughter, whom he cherished dearly.

Given this, even if someone were to marry their daughter into his family, it would be of no benefit. Families who cared about their daughters would be reluctant to let them live a life devoid of the joys of motherhood.

As for Princess Changning, she had been betrothed while still in Lin’an. Her fiancé was General Weiyuan’s personal guard, a young man who had already distinguished himself in battle multiple times. His father was Yang Yong, a third-rank lieutenant general who had also been honored for his achievements. This young couple had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, knowing and trusting each other deeply.

So, with one prized catch out of reach and the other already claimed, the attention of many shifted to Yang Yong.

It was said that Yang Yong had a few sons who weren’t engaged yet. Wouldn’t marrying into Yang Yong’s family also indirectly establish a connection with General Su?

****

“What happened this time?”

“I heard he encountered a thief trying to steal silver and got his hand broken.”

The change of Emperors in the court made little difference to the villagers of Shili. They were more concerned with local gossip, like that of Su Youwen, who had once been highly regarded but always seemed to encounter various misfortunes during the imperial examinations, causing his academic progress to stall at the level of a scholar.

This time, the new Emperor ascended the throne and opened the examination to a wide range of candidates, presenting another opportunity for Su Youwen. But on his way to the prefectural city to take the provincial examination, he was accosted by a violent thief who not only stole his silver but also broke his hand.

With his right hand, the most crucial one, injured, there was no way for him to participate in the provincial exam.

It seemed that ever since he became a scholar, all his good fortune in the examinations had been exhausted. During subsequent provincial exams, he encountered various misfortunes—food poisoning that caused severe diarrhea, being ambushed and beaten up before the exam, leaving him unconscious for 2 or 3 days…

Due to these incidents, he still held only the title of junior scholar.

Su Youwen suspected that he had been plotted against. He doubted all his former classmates with whom he had had disagreements, believing they were envious of his talent. But he never considered that the one he had offended was now the reigning Emperor.

When Tang Shengzong left all those years ago, he issued an order. He wanted Su Youwen not to become an obstacle for Su Youniu. At that time, as the Seventh Prince, Tang Shengzong might not have been able to control the outcome of the provincial exams, but he could certainly prevent Su Youwen from participating in them.

So many years had passed that Tang Shengzong might have already forgotten about the order he once gave, but those loyal subordinates had not. This meant that Su Youwen might never have the chance to participate in the provincial examination in his lifetime.

Still, as a scholar, he managed to make a modest living by teaching at a private school, which was just enough to support his small family. Yet, compared to the ambitious young man he had been 8 years ago, he couldn’t help but feel deeply unsatisfied.

The only thing that consoled Su Youwen was that Second Brother Su and his daughter, who had left the village 8 years ago, had not been heard from since.

He darkly speculated that, on the battlefield where swords speak without words, Second Su might have long since perished. Without protection, who knew what had become of his daughter?

His growing frustration led his thoughts to become increasingly twisted.

Su Youwen was fixated on one idea; if the fortunate person the old fortune-teller had predicted wasn’t me, then it certainly shouldn’t be Su Youniu either. He would rather people think the fortune-teller was wrong, or perhaps that his good fortune was still lying ahead.

***

Su Youliang returned from town with his wife and child, feeling quite awkward upon hearing these discussions.

He harbored a secret; when Second Brother Su left the village years ago, they had had a conversation.

The drastically changed older brother had spoken to him with a look of contentment.

“A person’s fortune in life may indeed be finite. The first half of my life, I muddled through, thinking I was doing what was best for my daughter, but in reality, I was just working her to the bone. Now that we’ve split from the family, my luck seems to have finally turned around. The hardships of my early years are now being repaid with sweetness in the latter half.”

It was just an ordinary-sounding reflection, but it struck a chord with Su Youliang.

How could he not be aware of how special his daughter was? He had always been proud of her, just like his mother, believing that his daughter was destined for great fortune.

But one thing Second Su said made him cautious; a person’s fortune in life might be finite!

Could it be that my daughter’s great fortune was actually borrowed from the luck she would need in the second half of her life? Or perhaps, would this lifetime’s fortune require repayment over the next several generations?

Su Youliang and Xiao Lishi were both shrewd, but their love for their daughter was genuine and pure. If their daughter’s current good fortune required some sort of future sacrifice, they would rather have none of it.

With this in mind, Su Youliang no longer dared to let his daughter squander her luck.

Any silver Su Fubao found on the road was donated entirely to orphanages. The occasional ginseng or lingzhi mushroom she found and sold, they gave 60% of the proceeds to elderly widows and needy beggars.

When Su Youwen repeatedly suffered misfortune before the exams and wanted to borrow his niece’s luck to counter his bad fortune, Su Youliang refused without hesitation.

Even her own parents were reluctant to take advantage of their daughter’s good fortune, so how could they allow it to be used by outsiders?

Who knew if Fourth Su had relied on their daughter’s luck when he passed the exam and became a junior scholar? This time, the provincial exam would require even more luck.

Because of that, Su Youliang had a bit of a falling out with his mother, who favored her youngest son. So, after saving up some silver, Su Youliang took his wife and children and moved to town, where they opened a breakfast shop. Xiao Lishi’s pastry skills were quite good, and the family, no longer interested in shortcuts, lived a prosperous life.

Fu Bao overheard the villagers’ conversation, and it made her feel even worse than her father.

She used to believe that her grandmother and younger uncle truly cared for her, but gradually, she realized that their love was conditional. Only when she brought fortune and benefits was she the beloved Fu Bao.

This realization created a barrier in Fu Bao’s heart, making it impossible for her to be as close to them as she had been in her childhood.

“Oh, Youliang is back, visiting with his wife and children, I see?”

The chatting villagers finally noticed Third Brother Su’s family passing by and quickly stopped discussing the previous topic, offering them awkward smiles.

Speaking of which, the Su family’s circumstances had improved quite a bit.

Eldest Brother Su’s family was hardworking and diligent. They had saved up early to build a house and moved out of the old Su family home. 2 years ago, they arranged a marriage for their eldest son, who was now expecting a child, making them soon-to-be grandparents.

Third Su’s family had opened a breakfast shop in town and had even bought a small courtyard there, making them one of the most successful families in the village.

As for Fourth Su, although he never managed to pass the provincial examination, he still held the title of scholar, making him a respected figure in the village.

The only one who had no news over the years was Second Su.

“Yeah, we’re back. It’s my father’s birthday, after all.”

Su Youliang acted as if he hadn’t heard their previous conversation and greeted them with a smile before leading his wife and daughter toward the old family home.

Today was Su Kuishan’s Sixty-sixth birthday. According to local customs, married daughters were supposed to cut sixty-six pieces of meat to cook for the elderly. Since the Su family had no daughters, this responsibility fell to the daughters-in-law.

The villagers then remembered that today was indeed Su Kuishan’s birthday, but the Su family hadn’t announced any grand celebration, suggesting that it was just a small family gathering for a better meal.

***

Li Shi was in the courtyard washing clothes for the elderly couple when she saw Third Su return. She just snorted coldly through her nose.

8 years had passed, and perhaps because her once-proud youngest son hadn’t achieved success, Li Shi’s appearance had grown increasingly harsh.

Her life in the village had also become difficult over the years. She had once been a fierce woman, capable of stirring up trouble even when she was in the wrong. But ever since she had wet herself in public out of fear, whenever she argued with someone, they would bring up that incident to mock her.

Li Shi had become too ashamed to leave her home, let alone act superior to the other village women as she used to.

Because of that, she had long hoped that her youngest son would pass the imperial exams and achieve a higher rank. Once he succeeded, no one would dare mock her for that incident. But she waited and waited, yet her son never fulfilled her hopes. When she tried to borrow her granddaughter’s good fortune to suppress her son’s bad luck, her disobedient and unfilial third son refused.

Now, the old lady looked unfavorably upon the entire third family branch, including the granddaughter she had once adored deeply.

“You’re back.”

Su Kuishan emerged from the house, his hands clasped behind his back, his posture hunched, and his whole demeanor showing signs of old age.

Due to the unpleasant division of the family years ago, the eldest son, who had once been his greatest pride, now felt like a stranger. The fourth son, whom he had high hopes for, had repeatedly disappointed him. Now, none of his four sons were by his side.

Su Kuishan occasionally wondered if he had made a mistake, which led to this punishment.

“Father, I’ve brought you some meat.”

Xiao Lishi smiled at her father-in-law. Once she had been the most favored daughter-in-law, thanks in part to her aunt-niece relationship with her mother-in-law. However, when it came to Li Shi’s most beloved youngest son, even her biological son, Su Youliang, was of little use, let alone her niece who was even more distant.

If it weren’t for her father-in-law’s birthday, Xiao Lishi would have been unwilling to come back and face her mother-in-law’s displeasure.

Now, she finally understood how difficult life had been for the families of the eldest and second sons, especially for the second brother-in-law and his daughter. Her life had been much harder than theirs.