In her previous life, because of the Li family, Yu Tang had heard about the prominent families in several counties and prefectures around Lin’an. Therefore, when Old Madam Yi and Old Madam Pei discussed Second Miss’s marriage prospects, she pricked up her ears to listen from the side.
“He’s my cousin’s maternal grandson. He lost his mother at a young age and grew up in my cousin’s household. He also began his education following my cousin’s nephew. Later, as he grew older, he went to follow his father at his posts. Even now, those serving at his side are still people from my cousin’s household. That child’s character and moral conduct are trustworthy, and his age is suitable as well. It just depends on whether the two of them have affinity,” Old Madam Yi said.
She was about the same age as Old Madam Pei but didn’t maintain herself as well as Old Madam Pei, who looked like Second Madam’s sister. Her hair was already graying, wrapped in a kerchief, with wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and on her forehead. Yet her eyes held a smile and her gaze was kind.
One could see that Old Madam Pei had a very good relationship with her. Hearing this, she spoke frankly: “Then what’s the current situation in his household? No matter how good that child is, having a stepmother as mother-in-law would be quite troublesome.”
Old Madam Yi laughed softly and said: “This child’s stepmother is none other than a girl from your Qian family. Though from a collateral branch, her upbringing and character are both fine. If I tell you, you might even recognize her.”
The Qian family was a large prominent clan. The Old Madam had formerly been a girl from the main branch—she might not necessarily know all the girls from the collateral branches.
“Which branch’s daughter? What was her given name?” Old Madam Pei asked with interest.
“From the outer eighth branch of your Qian family, her given name was Xiao’e,” Old Madam Yi anticipated she would ask this and smiled. “She says she knows you. This time when that child comes over, she’ll also accompany him to pay respects to you. She also has the intention of establishing relations with the Pei family.”
Old Madam Pei thought and thought but truly couldn’t recall such a girl in her natal family.
She said apologetically: “I’ll send someone back to my natal home to inquire, lest I know nothing when we meet face to face.”
This meant she had agreed.
Old Madam Yi nodded and said: “That child’s father is no fool either. When he found someone to act as matchmaker for the child, he said that aside from his birth mother’s dowry, as the legitimate eldest son of the family, he wouldn’t receive a bit less than what should be his. In seeking our Second Miss, it’s with the thought that after Second Miss enters the household, she can take charge of the household affairs and be someone to care for that child. I reckon he wants that child to return to his hometown to study.”
There were many who failed the imperial examinations multiple times—they couldn’t all live in the capital to prepare for exams. Presumably that family wanted their son, after marrying Second Miss, to remain in his hometown to study and manage affairs while they themselves brought the stepmother to live at their posts.
This arrangement was quite good.
No need to observe propriety before a stepmother-in-law.
As Yu Tang was thinking this, Fifth Miss, who was making silk flowers with her behind the gauze screen, quietly moved closer and whispered to her: “Sister Yu, let’s not tell Fourth Sister.”
Fourth Miss had been wanting to know who was coming for the matchmaking meeting with Second Miss.
Yu Tang smiled with pursed lips and nodded.
She then heard Old Madam Yi say the man was called “Yang Yan,” and she pondered whether this “Yang Yan” was the same “Yang Yan” she had known in her previous life.
The Yang Yan she knew in her previous life was from Tonglu. His family owned a tea mountain that produced a type of tea called “Snow Water Cloud Green.” The tea leaves resembled silver swords with downy fuzz showing emerald green, the tea liquor was tender green, and it was sweet upon entry—it was Madam Lin’s favorite. Every year she would send people to the Yang family to buy tea.
Before she died, the Yang family’s tea had become tribute tea.
And the one who accomplished this feat was Yang Yan.
Yu Tang’s impression was very deep.
Clearly this Yang Yan was someone capable.
If they were speaking of this very Yang Yan, Yu Tang felt it should be quite good.
After Old Madam Pei saw Old Madam Yi off to rest, she asked Nanny Ji, who was personally serving tea and water in the room: “Is Young Master Yang’s family tea growers?”
Nanny Ji exclaimed “Oh my!” and said: “Miss Yu also knows about this family?”
Yu Tang quickly said: “I heard their family’s tea is good.”
Nanny Ji didn’t think much of it and smiled: “That’s their family. The tea their family produces is fragrant and sweet. This time when Old Madam Yi came over, she brought quite a lot of their family’s tea. Later I’ll have the tea room bring some to your quarters for you to try.”
Fifth Miss at the side said: “Second Sister’s marriage isn’t settled yet—is it appropriate for our family to drink their family’s tea?”
Everyone around the Old Madam was very fond of the somewhat childlike and introverted Fifth Miss, as if afraid of frightening her. Every time she asked questions, they would answer in detail with gentle voices. This time was no exception.
Nanny Ji said: “It was brought over by Old Madam Yi, so we just need to remember Old Madam Yi’s kindness. If it were sent by the Yang family, naturally we couldn’t accept it.”
Fifth Miss nodded and whispered to Yu Tang: “That family is surnamed ‘Yang’—the same surname as my eldest aunt’s natal family!”
Yu Tang was startled, not knowing what Fifth Miss meant by this. Fifth Miss had already changed the topic: “Sister Yu, besides tea, do you know anything else about the Yang family?”
“I don’t know,” Yu Tang said awkwardly. “I also only knew about the Yang family because I occasionally drank their tea. For specifics, I’m afraid you’d have to ask Old Madam Yi.”
“My mother certainly knows too,” Fifth Miss said, her eyes rolling about. She said in a small voice: “Sister Yu, let’s go ask my mother.”
Rather than saying she cared about Second Miss’s marriage, it was more that she wanted to know more about the man’s side so she could show off in front of Fourth Miss and make Fourth Sister anxious.
Yu Tang smiled gently, unwilling to accompany her in such mischief. She said: “If this match succeeds and you want to inquire, I’ll certainly accompany you. But there’s not even a hint of this yet. If we keep asking around like this and it doesn’t work out, it would be embarrassing for Second Miss!”
Fifth Miss thought about it and no longer insisted on inquiring about the Yang family.
But though they didn’t inquire, Gu Xi inquired quite clearly and thoroughly.
At dinner, the Old Madam held a welcoming banquet for Old Madam Yi. After everyone had eaten, they moved to the secondary room on the east side to drink tea. The Old Madam and Old Madam Yi were attended by Second Madam, speaking in low voices with Madam Shen, while the several juniors whispered amongst themselves in their own corner.
The Old Madam’s side said something unknown, and Old Madam Yi called Second Miss over. Fourth Miss immediately jumped out and asked Fifth Miss rather triumphantly: “Do you know which family Second Sister is marrying into? It’s the Yang family of Tonglu. Their legitimate eldest son.”
Fifth Miss, having lost the initiative, felt her face lose luster. Her little face flushed bright red, and she looked at Yu Tang with very aggrieved eyes, as if saying “It’s because you wouldn’t let me inquire, and now look—Fourth Sister knows even more than I do.”
Yu Tang pressed her hand to her forehead, just thinking about how to comfort Fifth Miss when the voices of the elders suddenly stopped. The several young ladies, not understanding why, also fell quiet and looked toward the Old Madam’s side.
They saw the Old Madam’s expression was bland. She raised her hand and lightly sipped her tea, saying: “Next September the mourning period will end. Xiaguang’s marriage must also be carefully considered. However, you also know about our family—from Great-Grandfather’s generation on, we haven’t much advocated marriages being entirely arranged by parents. At the very least, they should meet once to see if there’s affinity. Otherwise, adding a resentful couple to the household not only easily causes trouble but also easily disturbs the peace. So for Xiaguang’s marriage, I want to let him choose himself. If he’s satisfied, I have no objections.”
This was about Pei Yan’s marriage!
When the several juniors heard this, they didn’t dare make the slightest sound. Several pairs of eyes all fixed on the elders.
Old Madam Yi was fine, smiling as she said: “That’s all well and good to say, but it also can’t be too outrageous. If he wants to marry whomever he pleases, you should still inquire into it.”
The Old Madam sighed, about to say something when Madam Shen’s voice suddenly became somewhat shrill: “Since ancient times, major marriage matters should be decided by parents. How can the Old Madam let Third Master act recklessly! I’ve heard that the Li family initially valued Third Master greatly and even proactively proposed a marriage alliance between the two families. But Third Master was lukewarm and never sent betrothal gifts. When the Li family saw their daughter couldn’t be delayed any longer, only then did they arrange a new marriage for the girl. Your family’s Third Master is also too arrogant. Even if he didn’t think highly of the Li family’s daughter, Lord Li treated him like a nephew. Even with First Master’s funeral arrangements, Lord Li helped considerably. Otherwise, how could your family’s first branch have an inheritance position quota?”
Both Yu Tang and Gu Xi were astonished.
But the Old Madam’s brows shot up in anger. She slapped the table so hard that several porcelain pieces swayed and clattered with clear collision sounds: “If you can’t speak properly, no one will take you for a mute! I’m your elder in any case—is this how you speak disrespectfully before your elders? Forgive us for our inadequate hospitality, but a guest like you, our household cannot accommodate. Nanny Chen, go down the mountain right now and tell Master Shen to come pick her up first thing tomorrow morning.”
With such a sudden turn of events, everyone was shocked.
Especially Madam Shen, who had been directly driven out by the Old Madam’s words. She stood up with a start, her face so red it seemed about to drip blood. Her lips moved, “You, you, you” for quite a while without managing to say anything.
Old Madam Yi was dumbstruck, gripping the hand of the old woman beside her with a look of being at a loss.
But the Old Madam had no intention of cooling down. She sneered: “What? Did I say something wrong! Let me tell you, this is the Pei household, not the Shen household. The Shen family, priding themselves on being scholars, doesn’t want to lower themselves to your level and accommodates you in everything, yet you really think you’re something special and that whatever you do is right. Today I won’t indulge your temper. I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents and tell you how to conduct yourself as a person.” Then she interrogated her aggressively: “Who told you our Xiaguang didn’t think highly of Miss Li? You, a country woman who’s lived long in the countryside—did you see it with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears? Don’t you usually pride yourself on being a scholar? How can you spread baseless rumors! Our Xiaguang is so good at conducting himself—as soon as he entered officialdom he earned the appreciation of Lord Zhang and Lord Li. Lord Zhang is his teacher, so naturally our Xiaguang should receive his care. But Lord Li is different—having received his kindness, how could our Xiaguang not frequently pay respects to him?
“This truly proves that saying ‘the benevolent see benevolence, the wise see wisdom.’ In the hearts of people like you, our Xiaguang and Lord Li must have ulterior motives. If there’s no mention of personal gain, no hint of romantic entanglement, you people aren’t satisfied in your hearts. Not only do you imagine things in your own minds, you also spread rumors everywhere. Now I understand why it’s always being said outside that the Li family has taken a fancy to our Xiaguang and wants him as their son-in-law—it’s you gossipy women wagging your tongues. Have you eaten your fill with nothing to do? If you have nothing to do, first go manage your own sons, daughters-in-law, and husband.
“It’s been over ten years that your husband hasn’t come home—do you think when people outside talk about you they’re all praising you as a virtuous wife?
“First get your own affairs straight before pointing fingers at others’ business!”
Madam Shen, scolded by the Old Madam, turned green and white in the face by turns. Suddenly she covered her face with her sleeve and ran out.
But the Old Madam was unrelenting. She called out loudly to Nanny Chen: “Take people to watch her. Even if she wants to die, she must die at the Shen household or the Wang household—don’t dirty our family’s ground.”
Madam Shen’s natal family was surnamed Wang.