Seeing Yu Tang looking somewhat uneasy, Pei Yan hurriedly shook his head and said softly, “No, what you said was quite right. It’s me…”

Back when his father had told him this story, it was precisely during a time when he had gotten into trouble without knowing the immensity of heaven and earth.

His father had wanted to use this incident to teach him the principle that “those who follow the Way receive much support, while those who abandon it receive little,” but he had felt that Yuan Meizhi had done right—that those who accomplish great things should not be constrained by petty details, and that the Jiangnan aristocratic families had been purged because they lacked ability. Having benefited from Chen Min, they had failed to decisively take sides when Yuan Meizhi sought revenge against Chen Min. They deserved their misfortune.

He still remembered the pained look in his father’s eyes when looking at him then.

His father had also instructed him in a hoarse voice, “Go and thoroughly investigate that incident from back then, and take it as a warning.”

He had absolutely no desire to investigate it.

But his father was troubled over eldest brother’s marriage at the time, and feeling sorry for his father, he had obediently investigated the old case files. He learned that Yuan Meizhi was later jointly opposed by the Jiangnan aristocratic families and died in the imperial prison, leaving behind a reputation as a traitorous minister. His family, which had finally shown promise of prosperity, was deliberately suppressed and never produced another proper scholar.

People truly are different from one another.

Pei Yan gazed carefully at Yu Tang.

Her rosy complexion, clear eyes, and lustrous black hair, thick and abundant—like a tranquil flower. At first glance, one only saw her vibrancy, not knowing she also carried a subtle fragrance.

Pei Yan gave a self-mocking curve of his lips.

Just as many elders had said about him when he was young, he was naturally cold, believing more in power and methods than in human nature.

Miss Yu was perhaps also naturally this way.

But perhaps she was naturally inclined to believe in human nature?

This could be considered his unexpected gain!

He had originally only wanted to coax Yu Tang into coming to West Creek to play for a few days, never imagining she would be even more calm and rational, clever and quick-witted than he had thought—like a treasure map that, when opened and carefully searched, revealed quite a few treasures unknown to others.

Thinking about it, Pei Yan’s heart grew warm.

He began to look forward to the trip to the Yu family’s mountain forest.

Unfortunately, no matter how much Hu Xing and Qing Yuan dragged things out, the ship’s cabin was only so large, and there were only so many tasks—they would eventually finish them all. Hu Xing had no choice but to steel himself and invite the two to return to their cabins to rest. Worried that Pei Yan might be displeased, he added, “The Yu family’s mountain forest is quite large. I’m afraid we’ll need to stay for several days. When Miss Yu returns home, it would be best to bring several sets of plain clothes to avoid having them torn.”

They would need to go for several more days?

Yu Tang was somewhat surprised.

But Pei Yan silently praised Hu Xing for being capable.

Yu Tang couldn’t help asking, “About how many days will we need to go?”

Hu Xing made something up: “That depends on our luck! If we’re lucky, we can determine what trees to plant that very day, and we can return the next day. If we can’t settle on a decision, we’ll definitely need to walk around the mountain forest to see if your family’s land has uniform soil quality throughout, whether we can divert water for irrigation, whether we need to dig it into terraced fields… In any case, we need to resolve this matter all at once. Otherwise, who knows when Third Master will have time again.”

Such a large undertaking?

Yu Tang felt she was troubling Pei Yan too much and was ready to back out.

Hu Xing, who had been carefully watching Yu Tang’s expression, quickly said, “Don’t think it’s troublesome—if we succeed this time, you won’t need to worry about it for the next ten, twenty years, or even for several generations. It would be a once-and-for-all solution. Wouldn’t that be better than worrying about this matter month after month, year after year?”

Of course Yu Tang knew this, but she was afraid of troubling Pei Yan.

Pei Yan saw this too and said, “I happen to have nothing going on right now. In a little while, once I’m out of mourning, besides family matters, I’ll need to make a trip to Jiangxi, and I’ll also need to go to Huai’an to return some favors. When that time comes, even if you want my help, I won’t have the time.”

Yu Tang bit her lip, thinking she would just have to find ways to repay Pei Yan later.

She smiled and thanked Pei Yan, adding, “When we return, I’ll have my father visit to properly thank you.”

Pei Yan fell silent.

He suddenly realized that if he truly married Yu Tang, wouldn’t Old Master Yu become his father-in-law!

Could he still comfortably let Old Master Yu come thank him?

And there was Old Master Wu.

Should he treat him as an elder along with the Yu family members? Or should they each maintain their own relationships?

Pei Yan suddenly discovered that people he hadn’t thought much of before would all likely become his elders…

The two returned to their respective cabins, both finding it somewhat difficult to sleep.

Pei Yan because of generational relationships, Yu Tang because of money—according to Hu Xing’s explanation, if they truly needed to excavate terraced fields and construct irrigation channels, how much silver would that cost? Could their family come up with that much silver? What if Pei Yan’s side had a solution but their family couldn’t produce the silver?

Neither of them slept well.

The next day when the ship reached the dock, both looked somewhat haggard.

Fortunately, the Yu family had received news the day before, and Yu Wen and Yu Yuan had been waiting at the dock early. After hastily greeting Pei Yan, they stood on tiptoe waiting for Yu Tang to disembark, not noticing at all that Pei Yan seemed any different from usual. Once Yu Tang had disembarked, they crowded forward in a rush, pulling Yu Tang’s hand and asking questions, not sparing even an extra glance for Pei Yan.

Pei Yan stood there with a stiff expression for a while. Seeing that the Yu family had absolutely no intention of exchanging pleasantries with him again, and that people who knew he had returned were gradually gathering to watch, he left in his sedan chair with an iron-blue face.

By the time Yu Tang came to her senses, Pei Yan had long since vanished without a trace.

Yu Tang touched her nose, too lazy to care about Pei Yan’s mood, and happily followed her father and brothers home.

Yu Bo maintained the bearing of a family patriarch, still minding the shop. Wang Shi and Xiang Shi, holding the little grandson, had been waiting at Yu Wen’s house early on. Seeing Yu Tang return, they both joyfully came forward, examining and questioning her, wishing she would recount every detail of these past few days before they could feel at ease.

Yu Tang’s heart felt warm. Though somewhat tired, she still answered the household elders’ questions with smiles and pleasant words, distributed the gifts she had brought back from Hangzhou to everyone, and played with her little nephew for a while. After having lunch, she finally collapsed into bed and fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, Yu Bo had already returned home. The little nephew was being watched by his wet nurse as he slept, and the family sat in the hall lit by the evening glow, speaking in low voices.

Yu Tang entered the room cheerfully, greeting everyone. Yu Bo smiled and nodded, saying to his eldest sister-in-law Wang Shi, “After just a few days, A’Tang looks even better.”

This was truly the case.

Yu Wen laughingly called everyone to sit down, and it was another round of eating and drinking. Yu Bo had to be helped home by Yu Yuan.

Yu Tang only had the opportunity to tell her father about the tidal bore matter the next day at noon after he had sobered up from his drink.

Yu Wen was still in a daze. Upon hearing this, his mind went blank for quite a while. Of course, even if he were clearheaded, as a scholar who could barely manage account books, he wouldn’t know how to judge whether this was good or bad. He only knew that being able to do business alongside the Pei family would surely be profitable without risk of loss.

He immediately became restless and wanted to go discuss it with Old Master Wu.

Yu Tang smiled as she saw her father out.

When Old Master Wu had good fortune, he brought their family along. When their family had good fortune, they should reciprocate and include Old Master Wu. Besides, Old Master Wu was skilled at business—far more reliable than her father. With Old Master Wu keeping watch, even if her father lost money, he would lose a bit less.

Chen Shi came from the kitchen carrying a plate of snow flake crisps, just in time to see Yu Wen leaving. She couldn’t help asking Yu Tang, “Where is your father going? You just returned, and he’s already going out.”

Yu Tang smiled as she took the snacks from her mother’s hands and led her mother inside, saying, “It’s a business matter. Father needs to discuss it with Old Master Wu.”

Chen Shi was still somewhat displeased upon hearing this, muttering, “Is business more important or are you more important? When you weren’t home, he sighed all day long, saying he shouldn’t have let you accompany Miss Xu to Hangzhou, worried you’d been wronged. The moment you return, off he runs.”

Yu Tang obediently listened and sat down with her mother in the hall. She personally brewed her mother a cup of tea before saying, “Mother, these snow flake crisps you made are truly excellent. I’m planning to visit Old Madam Pei tomorrow to pay my respects. At that time, make some more and I’ll bring some for Old Madam Pei to taste.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Shi immediately became nervous, saying, “You really should go pay your respects to Old Madam Pei. When we returned from Zhaoming Temple, Old Madam Pei specifically asked about you. Now that you’re back, both emotionally and according to propriety, you should go greet the old madam.”

Actually, Yu Tang very much wanted to find out what had happened at Zhaoming Temple after she left, but she knew her mother’s temperament—asking her wouldn’t yield much information. Rather than asking her mother, she might as well ask the young ladies of the Pei family.

Chen Pozi went to deliver the visiting card, while Yu Tang stayed home with her mother making some specialty snacks.

After dinner, Yu Wen returned.

He had obviously been drinking again—not only did he smell of alcohol, but his face was flushed. Seeing Yu Tang, he patted her head and said to Chen Shi, “Our A’Tang is a blessed person. Old Master Wu said this is a sure-profit business. Tomorrow I’ll go thank Third Master Pei.”

Chen Shi, worried he might drink too much and offend the Pei household, hurriedly supported him while scolding, “Tomorrow A’Tang is going to the Pei residence to pay respects to the old madam. You can go with A’Tang. A’Tang, you watch your father too—go together and come back together.”

This was clearly meant to prevent Yu Wen from staying too long at the Pei residence.

Yu Tang smiled and agreed. Yu Wen, however, pulled Yu Tang’s hand and began talking about Li Duan: “Their family got into trouble and is said to be selling their residence in Hangzhou city. Old Master Wu asked me to go look at it together. What do you think—should we go see it?”

So he wanted to buy the Li family’s residence?

Yu Tang said, “If you want to go, then go. But I don’t know how many courtyards that residence has. Does Old Master Wu mean to buy it together and divide it into front and back courtyards, or into left and right sections?”

Yu Wen chuckled and said, “Old Master Wu quietly went to look at their residence. He said that area is very close to Hangzhou Academy. We could divide it into left and right sections—just right for two families, each with their own space. If anything comes up normally, we could still look after each other.”

Yu Tang was pleased that her family could accept the Li family’s property, so she smiled and said, “If you think it’s suitable, then buy it.”

Yu Wen’s eyes lit up with delight.

But Yu Tang was thinking that this way, the Li family would still have to return to Lin’an to live, and their faces would surely look quite unpleasant then.

This could also be considered punishment for the Li family.

She told her father about the family’s mountain forest: “…I’ll need to ask my brothers to accompany me on a trip. While Third Master Pei has time, we should thoroughly resolve this matter!”