Around the third quarter of the *Wei* hour, Steward Zhao knocked on the door of the West Side Room once again.
"Fourth Master, the Master asks for you in the front hall."
Lin Zezu gave a verbal acknowledgment from inside, scraped the ink from his brush against the inkstone, and placed it on the brush rack. He took a damp cloth from Fugui to wipe his face and hands before walking slowly toward the door. The moment he opened it, Lin Zezu, his face mournful, did not flash the same smile at Steward Zhao that he had that morning.
"Fourth Master, please follow me."
Steward Zhao swept a glance at the listless Lin Zezu. His own expression remained unchanged—still the same affable, smiling mask. Lin Zezu said nothing, maintaining his persona as he followed silently behind the steward, much like a child who had done something wrong and was trailing a parent.
When they reached the entrance of the front hall, Steward Zhao stopped and gave the customary announcement: "Reporting to the Master, the Fourth Master has arrived."
Trembling and timid, Lin Zezu stepped over the high threshold. He could not understand why the ancients insisted on making thresholds so high; his shaky legs nearly caused him to trip, and it was only with a stagger that he managed to regain his footing. Lin Zezu cursed himself inwardly—this, at least, was no act. It was a genuine mistake!
Lin Zezu bowed to Lin Wangshui, the clan leader and village head who sat in the seat of honor at the head of the room. "Greetings, Grandfather Clan Leader!"
He then bowed to Lin Shimao, the clan elder seated at the head of the left side. "Greetings, Second Uncle Clan Elder!"
Next, he bowed to the clan elder Lin Shisheng. "Greetings, Third Uncle Clan Elder!"
He then bowed to Lin Zeguang, who was seated in the place of prominence. "Greetings, Eldest Brother!"
Finally, he bowed toward the right side. "Greetings, Second Brother, Third Brother!"
After completing his rounds of greetings, Lin Zezu stood with his hands hanging at his sides. It was clear that his eldest brother, Lin Zeguang, had already consulted with the clan leader and the elders; otherwise, they would not have summoned him.
"Fourth Lad, have you considered the matter of severing ties with the family?" Clan leader Lin Wangshui looked at Lin Zezu, who stood alone in the center of the hall, his eyes filled with complex emotions. In his heart, he couldn't help but sigh that the boy was truly a pitiable soul.
"Reporting to Grandfather Clan Leader, I leave the decision entirely to you, Grandfather Clan Leader, Second Uncle Clan Elder, Third Uncle Clan Elder, and Eldest Brother," Lin Zezu replied, his voice trembling.
"Shimao, why don't you share your thoughts?" Lin Wangshui nodded toward Lin Shimao.
"Eldest Brother, it is hard for even a just official to settle family matters, so it is best to follow precedent. The lad is still a descendant of our Lin family, but if he leaves the household now without a status, it will be hard for him to make a living. How about we open a new page in the genealogy for him so he can stand on his own?" Although Second Uncle Lin Shimao’s voice was loud, it lacked conviction; opening a new page in the genealogy was a major undertaking, and this proposal was quite sudden.
Lin Zezu had not yet considered what identity he would use to walk through the world, so he couldn't help but look gratefully at his second uncle, who was busy puffing on a long tobacco pipe.
Clan leader Lin Wangshui was also taken aback, though he quickly returned to his usual composure. "Shisheng, you speak as well. You traveled far in your youth, escorting caravans and visiting many prefectures and counties; you are knowledgeable. Give us a plan."
"Eldest Brother, if you want me to speak, I shall speak." Lin Shisheng’s voice was resonant and full of vigor, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. He was in no rush; he tapped his large copper pipe against the water basin on the tea table, reloaded it with tobacco, lit it with a strike of his fire-steel, took a satisfying puff, and then exhaled a cloud of white smoke.
"In my opinion, what Second Brother just suggested—opening a new page in the genealogy for the sake of the lad severing ties—is not advisable."
"There is no such precedent. Not to mention our Lin family; no other family has ever done such a thing. If word gets out, we will only be laughed at."
...
Hearing this, Lin Zezu felt a chill in his heart. Had he bet wrong? Did his Third Uncle not approve of severing ties?
"Third Brother, you... you... I did this for the sake of the lad's future!" Second Uncle Lin Shimao was getting anxious.
Lin Zeguang also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Severing ties by starting a new page in the genealogy—would that not be a slap in his own face? This Second Uncle was truly a muddled old man.
Lin Zezu felt a tightening in his chest but did not show too much. Surely, Third Uncle Clan Elder had more to say.
"Third Brother, don't be angry. I hadn't finished my piece! No matter what, the lad still has our Lin family blood flowing in his veins. Once he grows up and travels between prefectures and counties, how can he get by without a proper status?" Seeing Lin Shimao’s mounting anger, Lin Shisheng quickly smoothed things over.
"Second Brother, don't interrupt. Let Third Brother finish. Bellowing like that, you’ll just make the younger generation laugh at us," clan leader Lin Wangshui remarked calmly, intercepting the conversation.
"To my mind, this matter is simple. The lad’s biological second uncle, Shiyuan, passed away before he turned twenty. Why not have the lad adopted into his late second uncle’s name? Why talk about 'severing ties'? Wouldn't that just invite mockery if it got out?" Lin Shisheng finished his remark nonchalantly, took another puff, and then calmly exhaled a thick cloud of smoke from his nostrils, blurring his face.
*Ah!*
Lin Zezu nearly stumbled in shock. He was being asked to recognize a dead man as his father. This idea was truly unconventional, yet logically self-contained. He had written to this Third Uncle hoping he would help him speak on the matter of severing ties, but he hadn't expected his uncle to be even more radical than he had anticipated.
He never thought he would face this, but he remembered that when he was reading the history of the Three Kingdoms in his past life, Cao Cao had done exactly this. Cao Cao had his own son, Cao Jun, adopted by his late younger brother, Cao Bin, and even had Cao Jun inherit the title of Duke of Fan. Then there was Sima Zhao, who had his son Sima You adopted by his late elder brother, Sima Shi; later, Sima You was appointed Grand Marshal.
It had to be said that the working people were witnesses to history, and at the same time, they were the ones creating it. In this way, not only would Lin Zezu’s family background be kept clean, but the face of the matriarch and the eldest brother would also be preserved.
Lin Zezu agreed in his heart, but he could not and was not in a position to speak, for there was no room for him to weigh in.