“An official won’t have time to determine if each person in our family is good or bad, rather, if there is even a single bad apple, they will just throw out the whole bunch. If our family is investigated and found to have someone bearing the label of ‘thief’ that’s more than enough to disqualify all members of our family from any important opportunities.”
Su Tang’s words were so firm and convincing that the rest of the Su family all fell silent. They all began to remember that, back then, it had been thanks to Su Yongqiang’s father following and learning from a master which had catapulted their family to prosperity in the first place. Although the family had slowly declined for various reasons afterward, thanks to that experience the entire Su family were firm believers that, ultimately, studying and learning was the correct path for a person who wanted to change their own destiny.
That was why, even though the Su family had fallen to this point, they still kept sending their children out to learn as long as they had even a little bit of ability. It was because they all felt that this was the best way for them to change the current situation of the Su family. Su Yongqiang, as the patriarch of the family, had always encouraged the other family members to keep this mindset, however, unfortunately, many of the current generation of the Su family were the types without much foresight so, even with his reminders, they had slowly been slipping further and further from the family’s ultimate goal.
So when Su Tang spoke the words she did, it really spoke to the hearts of the people in the Su family, and especially to Su Yongqiang. In fact, what she had said was exactly the reason why he had warned Su Yonggui so seriously just now about Madam Zhang. For this matter, his stance was firm, and if Madam Zhang continued on the way she had been then he would absolutely not allow her to continue to stay in the Su family. The Su family’s reputation that had been built up over many years couldn’t be thrown away because of such a woman.
Although expelling a person from the clan was a great punishment, if Su Yonggui really couldn’t control Madam Zhang then, for the sake of the Su family’s future prosperity, Su Yongqiang would have no choice but to expel her.
“Thus, by being harder on their own and always implementing strict discipline, a family will become more prosperous. I, Su Tang, will of course always think for the Su family, so how could I not want the family to prosper?”
“My brother and I have already been adopted by our father, and Xiao Nuo had already begun his studies, so how could I possibly behave muddleheadedly at this point? In the future, I will send Xiao Nuo to take the child exam, and then on to the adult exam. As long as he has the desire and the ability, no matter what I have to do, I will definitely send him down the road to becoming an offical.”
“Because of his master’s teachings, I’ve learned that only when the family is prosperous can the family groom excellent individuals and, at the same time, so long as an excellent individual is groomed, the whole family can prosper.”
“We either proser or fail as one. This is my very simple understanding.”
“If people feel that I am too cold-blooded or that I don’t properly remember old affections, then I can only apologize. However, while I agree that feelings and affections are naturally important, a family cannot rely solely on these things. Our rules and our rationality are the foundation for our family’s stability and ability to develop.”
Although Su Tang had gone on this tirade mostly to embarrass Su Yonggui, none of what she was saying was actually wrong or against her beliefs. In fact, in this era, it was all especially true. Filial piety and family bonds were very important things in this time and place, so it was very difficult for a person to separate themselves from their family. Thus, if their family had a bad reputation, that would inevitably affect the career of any aspiring official.
Of course, it was also thanks to Song Yi’s existence that she could say everything she was saying. Without him as an excuse it would be a bit inexplicable for Su Tang, an eight-year-old girl, to have these sorts of thoughts and insights.
But Su Tang could just conveniently say that she had learned it from her brother’s master, and no one would find it strange. Scholars really had this sort of ability, or at least all of the members of the Su family believed they did.
“Feelings are important, but rules are the foundation!” However, some of these concepts were brand new to the Su family. For instance, after hearing those words from Su Tang, Su Yongqiang couldn’t help but repeat them aloud with a tone as if he had made a great discovery. He nodded and said. “En, that’s right. If the Su family wants to prosper, it must have rules.”
On the side, Su Tang nodded along before looking at Su Yonggui, “Is Brother Gui satisfied with my answer?”
Su Yonggui really had never expected that after being adopted by Su Laochuan Su Tang’s whole person would change, suddenly becoming vicious with a venomous tongue. Just facing her these days made him feel uncomfortable, and he could hardly believe that the quiet girl from before would dare to say such words.
Thank you! What an insight to ancient mentality it was in last couple chapters…