Sit down and talk?

But where were the stools?

Sit on the luohan bed?

That didn’t seem quite appropriate, did it?

While Yu Tang was struggling with this, a young maid had already brought in a black lacquer embroidered stool with a dark red velvet surface.

Her face turned a bit red. To the Old Lady… no, with Pei Yan’s mother looking like this, she really had no way to associate her with the title “Old Lady.” But calling her Mrs. Pei wasn’t right either. Madam Pei—Old Master Pei seemed to only have the scholarly rank of juren, so she couldn’t be called Madam… But First Master Pei had died while serving as Vice Minister of Works, and Vice Minister of Works was a正third rank position. Hadn’t he obtained an imperial title for his mother? At the very least, she should be a fourth-rank Lady of Virtue, shouldn’t she?

Yu Tang didn’t realize her face was full of internal struggle. She simply curtseyed slightly and half-sat on the embroidered stool.

The Old Lady found this quite amusing.

Though this young lady’s seven emotions and six desires didn’t all show on her face, an observant person could still see them clearly.

No wonder Xiaguang found her interesting. Seeing that she herself was always alone and melancholy, he had called this young lady to the household to relieve her boredom.

The Old Lady sat down on the luohan bed. Nanny Chen personally served tea and refreshments.

She lifted her hand holding the tea cup and said: “Try this. It’s autumn tea sent from Xinyang a few days ago. See if you like it.”

Yu Tang took a sip. It was just ordinary tea flavor—she couldn’t tell what kind of tea it was, but the aftertaste was mellow and the tea fragrance was clear. It should be good tea.

The temperature in the room was a bit high, so she took another sip.

Seeing this, the Old Lady smiled and said: “How is it? Do you find it good to drink?”

Of course she should say it was good!

The words were already on Yu Tang’s lips when she suddenly remembered her mother’s instructions before leaving. Looking at the Old Lady’s imposing bearing throughout, she estimated there was much she didn’t know. Showing off before the Old Lady—if she could respond to this statement, she might not be able to handle the next one. Even if she luckily handled the next one, what about the one after that?

She decided to just be honest.

“It’s quite good to drink,” Yu Tang said properly. “The aftertaste is mellow and rich. I don’t know what kind of tea it is. I’m not very knowledgeable about tea.”

The Old Lady was a bit surprised, but seeing her honest appearance, she nodded secretly and smiled: “Sent from Xinyang, it’s naturally Xinyang Maojian. This is tea just picked in autumn, commonly called autumn dew tea.”

Yu Tang really didn’t understand these things.

In the past, when her family entertained guests, it was just Longjing, Biluochun, Lushan Cloud Mist, and the like. She wasn’t familiar with other teas. The Pei family was wealthy and had had children serving as officials for generations, so they must have seen specialties from all regions. Moreover, the Old Lady came from an illustrious noble family, so her knowledge was even more exceptional.

She immediately felt the desire to learn and said respectfully: “Does Xinyang only produce Maojian?”

The Old Lady was momentarily stumped by the question.

She didn’t actually know whether Xinyang only produced this one kind of tea, Maojian. But the tea that could be sent to their household should only be Maojian, right?

Was this young lady deliberately picking at her words? Or did she truly not understand?

The Old Lady glanced at Yu Tang.

Her large almond eyes were bright and clear, shining like stars, blinking with what truly appeared to be a curious expression.

The Old Lady coughed somewhat uncomfortably and said: “That would have to be asked of Hu Xing and the others. Over these years, I’ve only drunk Maojian.”

That was natural.

When sending gifts, of course one would send the best things.

Yu Tang nodded sincerely.

The Old Lady felt the topic shouldn’t keep revolving around matters of her household anymore, or it would be too passive. So she said: “I heard you’re very good at making pastries. What kinds of pastries are you skilled at making?”

Yu Tang’s face reddened as she said: “It’s my mother who’s very good at making pastries. I just muddle about on the side. I don’t dare accept the Old Lady’s praise.”

The Old Lady paused slightly and said: “Wasn’t the peanut brittle sent last time made by you? I thought it was quite good.”

Yu Tang felt somewhat guilty.

The peanut brittle was made by her, but she hadn’t thought of it herself. It was just something she had eaten in her previous life, and after hearing others explain how it was made, she had carefully studied it for a long time before achieving her present-life skill.

“That peanut brittle was made by me,” she said with a slightly reddened face. “But the temperature control and such—my mother was beside me helping to watch while it was made.”

The Old Lady felt a bit disappointed.

She hadn’t truly called her here for a few pieces of peanut brittle. You see, she didn’t even need to ask—as long as she showed the slightest desire to eat peanut brittle, there would be plenty of people fawning and flattering, and someone would present peanut brittle for her to taste. She had specifically met with Yu Tang for two reasons: first, her son had gently encouraged it, and she didn’t want to dash her youngest son’s face and wanted to set his mind at ease; second, after no longer serving as the clan matriarch and living in widowhood in Heming Hall, the days had suddenly become quiet, and she wasn’t quite accustomed to it yet—she wanted to find someone to talk with. But now having met Miss Yu, she discovered that aside from a truly beautiful face, Miss Yu had nothing particularly impressive in either her speech or temperament.

Then she would just have some tea, bestow some gifts, and have her take them home.

The Old Lady pondered this while asking Yu Tang about what she usually did at home, how far she’d gotten in her studies, whether her parents were in good health, and other such everyday matters.

Yu Tang answered with smiles each time.

That smile—brows and eyes relaxed, appearing especially sweet.

The more one looked, the prettier she was.

The several young ladies in the household truly couldn’t compare.

Even among the in-laws, she was first-rate.

It was just that beautiful young ladies were easy to find, while intelligent ones were not so easily encountered.

The Old Lady smiled faintly, thinking that no matter what, this was someone her son had recommended to her. No matter what, she should find some praiseworthy point to compliment, to let Miss Yu gain some face before the servants and maids, so that in the future when she came to the Pei household, people would regard her more highly.

At a glance, she saw the camphor-colored twin lotus silk flowers on Yu Tang’s head.

“This flower is quite distinctive,” the old lady said with a smile. “Did you buy it from Suzhou? Or does Lin’an city now also sell Suzhou-style silk flowers?”

Yu Tang smiled and touched the silk flower by her bun, saying: “I made this myself. However, I did imitate the Suzhou style. The Old Lady has excellent taste.”

“Oh!” The Old Lady’s interest was suddenly piqued. “I didn’t expect you to have such skillful hands.”

She couldn’t even embroider a handkerchief well herself, so she especially liked young ladies with dexterous hands.

Yu Tang said modestly: “It’s not really skillful hands. It’s just something to pass the time when I have nothing to do.” After speaking, she tentatively asked: “If you find it attractive, I’ll make a few more for you when I return home. I wonder what colors you like? What styles? I can also make bees, butterflies, and the like that can perch on flowers. Should I make some of those separately for you? They can also be hung on clothing collars. I think they’re quite interesting.”

“You can even make those?” The Old Lady said delightedly. “Hung on clothing collars? How would they be hung?”

Yu Tang explained in detail: “Like dragonflies—I can make them the same size as real ones, then use glass beads for the eyes, silk gauze for the wings, and add tassels as an ornament to hang on the collar.”

The Old Lady was very interested upon hearing this and said: “Besides these, what else can you make?”

Yu Tang smiled and said: “Basically everything worn on the head. I’ve even made a headband decorated with jeweled flowers for my mother.”

Those in widowhood couldn’t dress too ornately, but as long as one loved beauty, it was impossible not to dress up at all.

The Old Lady said: “Then make me a few plain-colored silk flowers. In a few days it will be the Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth month, and several of the younger generation in the family will come to pay their respects to me.” After speaking, she remembered that today was already the fifth day of the ninth month and it probably wouldn’t be ready in time. She smiled and said: “As long as I have them before the first day of the tenth month. At that time, I’ll go with Qiming and Xiaguang brothers to Zhaoming Temple to hold a Buddhist service for their father.”

Having said this, her eyes dimmed slightly, and she let out an almost inaudible sigh.

Yu Tang’s eyes also grew moist.

Back then, she and Li Jun had no real feelings for each other, yet when keeping her widow’s vigil in the Li family and thinking of Li Jun’s early death, she would sigh for Li Jun’s parents. The Old Lady and Old Master Pei had lived together for over thirty years and had three sons. Now thinking of her deceased husband, who knew how much her heart ached!

She hurriedly said: “When I have nothing to do, I love making silk flowers. I have several at home that are nearly complete. I’ll have someone bring them for you to see first. After the Double Ninth Festival passes, I’ll make some new ones for you.”

To suit the occasion, Yu Tang had previously made several dark green and pink chrysanthemums. Pink wasn’t suitable, but the Old Lady should be able to wear dark green, right?

She pondered this in her mind.

The Old Lady had already said: “If you’re not available, just have the servants at home send them over. If you are available, bring the silk flowers and come sit with me, keep me company and talk.”

Yu Tang respectfully agreed, thinking that Xiaguang was Pei Yan’s courtesy name, so Qiming should be the courtesy name of Second Master Pei Xuan of the Pei family. She wondered if on the first day of the tenth month, they would be able to go to the ceremony and offer incense to Old Master Pei as well.

She stayed at the Pei household accompanying the Old Lady in conversation. When a matron came in to request the Old Lady’s instructions, she hurriedly rose to take her leave.

The Old Lady didn’t keep her either. She told her to come to the household once the silk flowers were made, and pointed to Nanny Ji: “If you have any matters in the future, find her.”

Yu Tang respectfully agreed and followed Nanny Ji out of the courtyard where the Old Lady resided.

Only then did Nanny Ji reveal a delighted expression and said to her: “Miss Yu is truly exceptional. How many years has our Old Lady invited any young lady from outside families into the household? When you return home, remember to tell your mother.”

From now on, whatever Yu Tang did, there would be people to support her.

Yu Tang was mainly accustomed to going through Pei Yan’s connections, so upon hearing this, she didn’t think of other matters. She assumed Nanny Ji was simply happy that she had gained the Old Lady’s favor. She smiled and thanked Nanny Ji, and when she returned home, she told Chen Shi about it.

Chen Shi was so delighted she didn’t know what to do. She kept urging her to bring out all the finished silk flowers and try to select ones in plain colors to send to the Pei household. She also called a tailor to the house and had several plain-colored outfits made for Yu Tang, saying: “Wearing grand clothing the first time visiting someone’s home is respectful, but if you’ll be coming and going regularly, you should follow local customs. When going to see the Old Lady, it’s better not to dress too brightly.”

Yu Tang felt that the Old Lady, like Pei Yan, wasn’t an easy person to get close to. That she had inadvertently gained the Old Lady’s regard because of silk flowers didn’t mean she wouldn’t fall out of favor at any moment. There was no need to specially make clothing for this. But Chen Shi wouldn’t listen, feeling that even if the Old Lady’s novelty wore off in some days, having a few more outfits to change between was always good.

She didn’t argue with her mother. As long as her mother was happy, that was enough!

Yu Tang selected several attractively styled pieces from the box where she kept silk flowers, changed them into a red-lacquered round box, and went to the Pei household.