Yu Tang put her hand to her forehead. When her father returned, she pulled him along to share the mooncakes Yu Yuan had sent.
In Lin’an they ate flaky-crusted mooncakes, so mooncakes from Guangzhou were relatively rare and counted as novelties. Families like theirs usually wouldn’t eat them themselves but would use them as gifts. However, Yu Wen doted on his child and felt that since this was a rare treasure, if the child wanted to try it, naturally she should be allowed to try it first.
Hearing this, he immediately instructed A’Tiao to fetch a knife and said, “Call Chen Pozi and the others too. Everyone should try them and see how they differ from the mooncakes we usually eat.”
They actually had a share too!
A’Tiao was overjoyed and immediately went to call Chen Pozi and the others.
When Chen Pozi learned of this, she was so happy her eyes narrowed to slits. She personally brought over a knife. The four mooncakes were cut into sixteen pieces, and everyone tasted them.
“Delicious!” The first to exclaim in praise was Chen Pozi. Being older, she liked soft, glutinous foods. “How did they make these mooncakes? So sweet and soft. Today, thanks to Miss and Mistress, I also have the opportunity to eat such delicious mooncakes.”
Shuang Tao, A’Tiao, and the others nodded repeatedly.
Chen Shi also found them tasty, but she felt that mooncakes filled with sesame and rock sugar that were crispy with every bite were even better. However, she also doted on her child, so since Yu Tang thought Guangzhou mooncakes were delicious, she would try making this kind of mooncake.
“Then shall I specifically make you lotus seed paste and egg yolk mooncakes this year?” she asked Yu Tang.
Oh!
Her mother’s words reminded Yu Tang of something.
Pei Yan had also grown up in Lin’an—perhaps like her mother, he was set on flaky-crusted mooncakes. Rather than making nondescript dough-crusted mooncakes, it would be better to make flaky-crusted mooncakes with different fillings.
Yu Tang smiled and nodded repeatedly, saying to her mother, “Great! We can also make nut mooncakes, jujube paste mooncakes, red bean and rock sugar mooncakes…”
Chen Shi patted her daughter’s head and smiled, “I’ll make them all for you. Whatever you can think of, Mother will make for you.”
Yu Tang’s large almond eyes smiled into crescents.
Chen Shi and Chen Pozi became busy. Cooking red beans, buying salted eggs, steaming jujubes… Every day the house was filled with sweet aromas.
However, before they could begin sending mooncakes to the Pei family, the Pei family’s Mid-Autumn Festival gifts arrived first.
For Yu Tang, a bolt of spring-green fabric covered with gold; for Chen Shi, a string of eighteen purple sandalwood prayer beads; for Yu Wen, a ream of Chengxin paper and a box of Huzhou brushes.
Chief Steward Hu Xing personally delivered them.
Even relatives connected through maternal aunts would only exchange gifts like these.
Yu Wen felt extremely honored holding the gift list.
Chen Shi, however, felt great pressure, thinking that the mooncakes sent to the Pei residence should at least catch Pei Yan’s eye, and if he could eat two pieces, that would be even better.
She discussed with Yu Wen, “Why don’t you go out and buy some mooncakes from the capital and Guangzhou? Although I don’t know how to make the dough crust, we can try wrapping them in flaky pastry. Perhaps we can suit Third Master Pei’s taste.”
Yu Wen also felt for his wife and thought this was too troublesome. He quickly said, “Your health has only just improved somewhat—better not exhaust yourself. I think it would be better to send some antiques or something.”
Chen Shi disagreed, saying, “If we send antiques for Mid-Autumn Festival, shall we send antiques again for Spring Festival? Our family isn’t some wealthy household—we don’t need to keep up such appearances. Sending small things we’ve made ourselves better expresses our sincerity.”
Yu Wen scratched his head.
He didn’t know how many people had received favors from the Pei family. During festivals, they would all try their best to send things their families had made to express their gratitude. No matter how good the things their family sent were, they wouldn’t be rare to the Pei family. But this was his wife’s sincere intention—he couldn’t dampen her spirits. So he said, “Alright then, I’ll have someone go buy some mooncakes outside.”
Chen Shi nodded with satisfaction and discussed with Chen Pozi how to make red bean mooncake filling that was sweet but not cloying. She also said, “Third Master eats rich food every day—he definitely doesn’t like things heavy in oil and sugar. We’ll make them lighter.”
Hearing this, Yu Tang pursed her lips and said, “Mother, Third Master Pei is still in his mourning period. Last time I saw him, he was still wearing plain fine cloth garments.”
Chen Shi was stunned to hear this and sighed, “People who observe proprieties like him are so rare nowadays.”
Although the mourning period ended after twenty-seven months, very few could actually maintain a vegetarian diet and simple food and clothing throughout the entire mourning period. After the first anniversary, most people would relax somewhat in private.
Hearing this, Yu Tang became somewhat distracted, wondering what Pei Yan would look like dressed after his mourning period ended.
Chen Shi and Chen Pozi tried several different methods, and for several days in a row the Yu family’s meals were very simple.
Yu Wen felt somewhat aggrieved eating them and tactfully reminded Chen Shi, “Crabs will be on the market soon—why don’t we order some early crabs to eat?”
In the past, Chen Shi’s health had been poor, so the family rarely ate crabs.
Hearing this, Chen Shi felt guilty and smiled apologetically at Yu Wen, “We should order some crabs in advance. I remember when A’Tang was little, she loved eating crabs the most. We haven’t bought them much these past few years.”
Yu Wen smacked his lips.
He had been enduring with great difficulty too, but his wife was more concerned about Yu Tang. This time for the family’s Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, he absolutely had to arrange a full table of crab dishes to satisfy his craving.
The two were chatting and laughing when Old Master Wu arrived carrying a basket of crabs to visit Yu Wen.
Yu Wen was both surprised and delighted. He personally went to welcome Old Master Wu in for tea and had Chen Shi and Yu Tang greet Old Master Wu.
This meant they were treating each other as close family friends.
Both Yu Tang and Chen Shi went to change into fresh clothes and accompanied Old Master Wu in conversation in the main hall.
The topic somehow shifted from osmanthus flowers to family estates.
Old Master Wu lowered his voice and said to Yu Wen, “Have you heard? The Li family—Li Duan’s family—is selling fifty mu of land.”
Yu Tang immediately pricked up her ears.
Farmland was family wealth passed down through generations. Ordinary families wouldn’t easily sell land unless absolutely necessary. If any family was selling land, it meant they were on the decline.
In her previous life, the Li family had only bought land—when had they ever sold land!
Chen Shi was also greatly startled to hear this and nervously clutched her handkerchief.
Yu Wen didn’t hide his surprise and said, “Brother Wu, who did you hear this from? Didn’t Lord Li just retain his position as a capital official? Why would he sell land?”
Old Master Wu said seriously, “As you know, our family has some spare money. A few days ago, a broker quietly came to me asking if I wanted to buy, and told me not to spread the word. You also know that the Li family has been in disarray these past few years. Even though Li Duan’s family has separated from the Li clan’s main branch, after all you can’t write two ‘Li’ characters with one stroke. If they’re selling land, the Li clan’s main branch would definitely most want to buy it back. Why should I wade into these muddy waters? But that piece of their land is truly excellent—it’s the piece that produces jade-stem rice. I’ve been thinking about it at home for several days, and my heart still can’t let it go. I thought that since you’re not an outsider, and whenever you have good opportunities you think of me, how could I forget you when I have a good opportunity? So I came specially to ask you. If you’re also interested, our two families could split this land. What do you think?”
Hearing this, Yu Tang understood.
Because they had partnered together to invest in Jiang Chao’s shipping venture, Old Master Wu and her father had grown closer. The two men, who already had a good relationship, were now like close friends. The Li family had two hundred mu of superior farmland, all planted with jade-stem rice. Jade-stem rice tasted even better than the tribute rice June Snow. The Li family could live as a middling household just on those two hundred mu. However, this two hundred mu had been in Li family hands for a hundred years, later divided to Li Duan’s family during the family split. Given Li Duan’s family circumstances, there was absolutely no way they could sell these two hundred mu, so no one coveted them.
Now the Li family was actually selling land!
And it was superior farmland that could grow jade-stem rice!
If others knew, they would definitely drive up the land price frantically, trying to get their hands on these fifty mu.
Compared to the land sale, Yu Tang was more curious about why the Li family wanted to sell these fifty mu.
Yu Wen’s heart was immediately moved. He said, “What’s the asking price?”
Old Master Wu sighed and held up four fingers.
Yu Wen was startled and ventured tentatively, “Forty taels per mu?”
Old Master Wu nodded and sighed, “An astronomical price.”
Yu Wen frowned.
In Lin’an City, the price for superior farmland was at most eight taels. Sometimes in special circumstances, it might sell for ten or twelve taels per mu. Fifteen taels per mu was almost unheard of.
Forty taels per mu was only possible for nouveau riche buying hereditary land.
No wonder they approached Old Master Wu.
Ordinary families truly couldn’t afford it.
Of course, he could afford it now too. But spending so much silver to buy fifty mu—most importantly, the Li family’s two hundred mu were all connected. The fifty mu being sold were adjacent to Li family land. If there were disputes over water sources or pest infestations, it would be unclear and hard to explain, difficult to manage.
Yu Wen asked Old Master Wu, “So what do you think?”
Old Master Wu said, “I think forty taels is too expensive. Let’s see if we can negotiate down to thirty taels per mu. I’ll take forty mu, you take ten mu. Neither of us will be stretched too thin, and we can look out for each other.”
The main point was really to look out for each other, wasn’t it?
Yu Tang thought, her heart eager to try.
She felt a vengeful desire to acquire the land, but also felt that acquiring it would inevitably lead to endless entanglements—rather troublesome.
Most importantly, she felt that whether it was her father or Old Master Wu, the main reason they dared to buy this land was because they believed their investment in Jiang Chao would make big money. When the time came, with deep pockets—the Wu family had an official brother-in-law, and Yu Wen himself was a xiucai—even if the Li clan’s main branch wanted to cause them trouble, even if Li Duan’s family regretted it afterward, they would have the financial resources to contend with the Li family.
Yu Wen and Old Master Wu were indeed thinking exactly this. But Yu Wen was cautious. He hesitated, “At this land price, ordinary families definitely can’t afford it. Should we wait a bit longer? First find out clearly why the Li family wants to sell the land?”
He had calculated that the Li family, caring about face, wouldn’t go begging to the Pei family.
Old Master Wu said helplessly, “How could I not know this reasoning? But I’ve asked everyone I could ask, and still haven’t found out why the Li family wants to sell those fifty mu.”
After all, Yu Wen held a degree and had access to certain information, especially news among scholarly families. If he wanted to know, it would be easier for him to find out than Old Master Wu.
This was perhaps another reason why Old Master Wu was encouraging Yu Wen to buy the land.
Yu Wen nodded.
The two men looked at each other and smiled.
Their smiles both contained a sense of “you understand, I understand”—kindred spirits.
But in Yu Tang’s eyes, this was collusion.
But this collusion—she very much liked it.
Yu Tang even took the initiative to stand and instruct Shuang Tao, “The weather is so hot—quickly go bring in bowls of chilled mung bean soup.”
Shuang Tao responded and left.
Old Master Wu smiled and said to Yu Wen, “Your daughter is becoming more and more accomplished. It’s a pity my boys aren’t the right age for your daughter.”
Yu Wen smiled and waved his hand. Just as he was about to say a few modest words, he saw Old Master Wu’s chief steward rush in with a pale face, crying out hoarsely, “Master, Master Yu, this is terrible! Something has happened with Lord Jiang!”