Old Madam Pei understood Nanny Chen’s meaning. She also felt it was somewhat improper, but Yu Tang’s status… not only was there a generational gap, it was also too low. She didn’t think her son would have such thoughts. Moreover, even if her son did have such thoughts, she didn’t want to interfere anymore.
When their family’s third son became stubborn, he was truly stubborn.
Her husband had already passed away. She didn’t want to become estranged from her sons as well.
Most importantly, with her husband’s death, the person who had pledged to grow old together with her without separation was suddenly gone. She felt the impermanence of worldly affairs, and some matters she had insisted upon and held fast to in her youth—those unrelated to fundamental principles—she no longer insisted upon so firmly.
Old Madam Pei said meaningfully to Nanny Chen: “Xiaguang is the youngest, our child of old age. When I gave birth to him, his two elder brothers were already grown and clearly the type to excel at studying. Our expectations for him weren’t as strict as for his two brothers. As the saying goes, one coddles grandchildren, not children. But Xiaguang grew up on his father’s shoulders from childhood. He was the first child the Old Master personally cared for. Even Atong, the eldest grandson, never enjoyed this kind of affection.
Don’t let Xiaguang’s constant opposition to the Old Master fool you—in reality, he was closest to the Old Master, and the Old Master doted on him most. After the Old Master passed, even I, this widow, slowly recovered because I have granddaughters and grandsons at my knee showing filial piety. But Xiaguang still has this frustration lodged in his chest! Don’t think that just because you’re hiding it from me, I don’t know. Some days ago, that girl in Xiaguang’s courtyard called something-zhi—didn’t he just because she wore some fragrant dew, immediately call for the matchmaker… He didn’t used to have such a volatile temper. But look at these past two years…
He’s unhappy inside but can’t express it. I know this.
If this matter can make him happy, just let him be.”
Nanny Chen thought about it and also felt relieved, smiling: “True. Our Third Master has his own mind. What we can think of, he can certainly think of too. Speaking of this Miss Yu, she really is quite lovable—not to mention her way with words, her temperament is also gentle and understanding.”
Old Madam Pei neither agreed nor disagreed, asking instead about the Buddha Bathing Festival: “Have the accommodations for the eminent monk been arranged? Have Hu Xing keep an eye on things. He’s also an old hand—some protocols shouldn’t need to be mentioned by me.”
Nanny Chen hastily said: “Please rest assured. Besides Hu Xing, Third Master also assigned two stewards to help. Everything has been arranged properly.”
The two sat talking under the dim melon-shaped lamp.
At the Yu family’s lacquerware shop in Lin’an City, however, no one slept through the night.
According to Pei Yan’s requirements, Yu Yuan led Xia Pinggui in busily making boxes. Both men’s eyes were red from exhaustion. Xia Pinggui in particular, because he’d held the carving knife for so long, his hands had begun trembling.
Seeing this wasn’t sustainable, Yu Yuan advised: “Don’t lose the big picture for small gains. If you can’t manage, rest first.”
Xia Pinggui smiled bitterly: “When will the new lacquer arrive?”
Yu Yuan was after all the young master and paid more attention to the shop’s sales volume. Xia Pinggui was a craftsman and cared more about technique. Pei Yan’s words had struck him like thunder, suddenly illuminating things—matters he couldn’t figure out before now all made sense at once. Pei Yan didn’t understand lacquerware but knew how to appreciate it, and his level of appreciation was extremely high. Xia Pinggui thought encountering such an opportunity again, hearing such guidance, would be extremely difficult.
He wanted to seize this chance.
If Xia Pinggui didn’t have this kind of tenacity, he would have long ago drifted along with Yu Bo.
Seeing Xia Pinggui’s appearance, Yu Yuan knew he couldn’t persuade him and stopped trying: “It should arrive first thing tomorrow morning. Based on previous years’ experience, there should be enough time.”
The plum rain season in Jiangnan lasted until after the Dragon Boat Festival.
Xia Pinggui nodded, refocusing his gaze on the carved red lacquer box on the table: “What do you think of the lotus petals I carved this time? Have they achieved the crisp lines and clear corners Third Master Pei demanded?”
Yu Yuan smiled: “Whether they have or not, you should go rest for a bit. When the newly purchased lacquer arrives, I’ll call you again—whether our Yu family shop can make big money as Third Master Pei said depends entirely on you. You can’t collapse at the critical moment.” Then he earnestly continued: “Even if you won’t consider yourself, you must think of these fellow apprentices in the shop!”
Xia Pinggui hesitated for a long while when a young apprentice came running in with rapid footsteps.
“Master, Master!” Without carefully checking who was in the room, he shouted chaotically: “Where’s the young master? The young mistress gave birth to a young master! The great madam wants the young master to return quickly!”
“What?!” Not only Yu Yuan and Xia Pinggui, but everyone in the workshop raised their heads to look at Yu Yuan.
The quick-witted young apprentice had already stood up shouting “Congratulations, young master!”
Others also came to their senses and congratulated Yu Yuan one after another.
Yu Yuan’s eyes narrowed to slits. Unable to continue discussing the carved red lacquer boxes with Xia Pinggui, he took off running outside while shouting: “Pinggui, I’m leaving this to you. I’ll go home first to check, then return shortly. You might as well sleep first.”
Before Xia Pinggui could answer, he had already run out of sight.
Arriving home, Wang Shi held a swaddled bundle in her arms, telling Chen Shi with overflowing joy: “Why else do they say you must find someone with good health? Look at your nephew’s wife—she went into labor last night and gave birth this morning. The child weighs seven catties and eight taels, and she could sit up and eat immediately. Our precious darling opened his eyes to food ready for him. The rice soup I prepared wasn’t even needed.”
Chen Shi peered at the swaddled baby with delight, responding: “Exactly. Like when I gave birth—I couldn’t do that. When our A’Tang was born, she also suffered because of me. As long as nephew’s wife can eat, that’s good. I’ve already arranged with the butcher on the west side of the city—I’ll go fetch two more pig trotters tomorrow morning.”
The conversation’s content made Yu Yuan’s face flush red enough to drip blood, yet he still had to steel himself and step forward to greet the two elders.
With a grandson, Wang Shi found everything agreeable. Nodding at her son, she said: “Go quickly to see your wife. She’s rendered great service to our family. You must treat her well from now on.”
Yu Yuan agreed repeatedly. Looking around and finding only his mother and Chen Shi, plus the wet nurse hired for the child and two of Xiang Shi’s attendants, he couldn’t help asking: “Where’s A’Tang? Has she been notified?”
“Notified, notified.” Chen Shi said repeatedly: “The messenger left just before and after the one who informed you. Calculating the time, she should know by now.”
Yu Yuan smiled and said “That’s good,” carefully took the swaddled bundle from his mother’s hands for a few glances, felt the child was red and wrinkled like a little monkey, returned the child to his mother’s arms, said “I’ll go see the child’s mother,” and hurriedly entered the inner room.
Wang Shi shook her head, smiling at Chen Shi: “Did you see clearly? This is forgetting one’s mother after getting a wife.”
Chen Shi smiled with pursed lips: “Sister-in-law is just the same. Previously when Yu Yuan returned, you were so concerned about him—asking whether he’d eaten or drunk, and even pouring tea for him. But just now, forget tea—you didn’t even give him an extra glance, keeping your eyes on your eldest grandson the whole time. You’re just the bamboo mat sleeper laughing at the ground sleeper—neither is better than the other.”
Being teased didn’t upset Wang Shi. She laughed heartily and continued discussing her eldest grandson with Chen Shi. As for how Yu Yuan arranged things with his own wife, Wang Shi was too lazy to even ask.
Yu Tang only returned in the afternoon.
She brought another cartload of items.
Besides what Old Madam Pei sent, there were also things Pei Yan sent.
At this time, Yu Bo and Yu Wen had also received word. The whole family sat around the child, smiling as they looked at the baby and chatted. No one noticed that among the cart of items, one gift list was from Old Madam Pei and one was from Pei Yan.
The items were taken out and first selected by Wang Shi, sent to nourish Xiang Shi’s body, then the cart driver delivered the things to Yu Tang’s home.
Yu Yuan had already stayed home most of the day and needed to rush back to the shop. He only had time to ask Yu Tang: “You returned so quickly—what about the Buddhist incense matter?”
Yu Tang smiled: “No problem. Third Master Pei sent people to look after it—much more reliable than us.”
Yu Yuan patted Yu Tang’s shoulder, indicating he understood, then hurried out the door.
Yu Tang competed to hold the child for a while, then went to the inner room to talk with Xiang Shi for a bit. When she came out, the elders were discussing the child’s “Third Day Washing” ceremony.
After several busy days like this, the child completed the “Third Day Washing” ceremony, and Yu Yuan’s boxes were also finished. He invited Yu Tang to go to the Pei manor together.
Seeing his scraggly beard—ever since her little nephew was born that day, after returning for one look, he’d stayed at the shop continuously—Yu Tang couldn’t help saying: “Is it necessary to be this rushed?”
“How can I not rush?!” Yu Yuan’s face was full of exhaustion yet his eyes were full of vigor. “Now that I’m a father, I need to make money even more. Otherwise I won’t even be able to support my child’s education. Whether I can ride Third Master Pei’s favorable wind depends entirely on the boxes made this time.”
Yu Tang felt that if it were her, she definitely couldn’t endure it.
She said: “You’re also too neglectful of my sister-in-law.”
Who would have expected Yu Yuan to say proudly: “This is also your sister-in-law’s idea. She and I are of one mind, both hoping to make the kind of boxes Third Master Pei described.”
Yu Tang pressed her forehead, thinking no wonder the older generation always told the younger generation not to meddle in other families’ household affairs—there was clearly good reason for this.
She took the boxes Yu Yuan had brought to examine. Those with patterns were carved with precisely the lotus and plum blossom designs Pei Yan had drawn. Those without patterns were plain-faced. The patterned ones were exactly as Pei Yan said—though carved only with flowers, the outlines were distinct, carrying the unique flourishing beauty of carved red lacquerware. The plain-faced boxes were as reflective as mirrors, revealing an ancient, dignified grandeur.
Yu Tang exclaimed in surprise: “These… these are already finished?”
“I don’t know!” Yu Yuan appeared modest but was actually proud: “We’ll only know after showing them to Third Master Pei.”
“I think they’ll do!” Yu Tang actually felt those plain-faced boxes could be even brighter, and the lotus and plum blossom designs had some small subtle areas that still didn’t look quite comfortable to the eye. But seeing how hard her eldest cousin had worked, she couldn’t bear to discourage him. “Then let’s first go to the Pei manor to show Third Master. After that you can also go home and get a good night’s sleep.”
This time Yu Yuan didn’t object.
The two siblings, carrying the boxes, boarded a sedan chair and headed to the Pei manor.