But what did this have to do with her?
Yu Tang stood dumbfounded and said: “Father, couldn’t you have explained things clearly? Early in the morning, without any explanation, you just summoned me back home and scared me!” As she spoke, she patted her chest.
Yu Wen chuckled, glancing at Pei Yan who stood to the side with a cold expression.
Pei Yan could previously play deaf and dumb in front of Yu Wen, but now he couldn’t do that anymore. He could only bow to Yu Wen, saying “Then I’ll go sit in the courtyard for a while and sample your treasured Biluochun tea,” before leaving the hall.
Yu Wen became more at ease and immediately pointed at Yu Tang, lowering his voice: “Are you foolish? Why did you bring Pei Xiaguang back with you? That shipload of goods that should be divided to our family—I was planning to give it all to you as your dowry.”
Now that Yu Tang had brought Pei Yan back, not only had she exposed the family’s wealth, but he had originally planned to quietly prepare a generous nest egg of private money for Yu Tang, and now that couldn’t be hidden either.
Yu Wen couldn’t help but lecture Yu Tang: “You need to be more careful! The Pei Family definitely won’t want your money, but you’ll surely have expenses you don’t want Pei Xiaguang to know about. You can’t let him know everything about everything!”
Yu Tang felt that what attracted her to Pei Yan, besides his good looks, was that he respected her character enough. If Pei Yan couldn’t even tolerate this, even if they became husband and wife, they would be a couple who merely treated each other with respect—what would be the point of that?
But she didn’t want to argue with her parents over such matters.
No amount of words would reassure them as much as doing well would.
So she smiled and teased her father: “Then how much private money do you have that Mother knows about?”
Yu Wen was stunned, then puffed out his chest rather proudly and said: “Do I need to hide private money? All the money in the house is mine.”
Yu Tang just pursed her lips and smiled at her father.
Yu Wen could only sigh and say: “Since you have such confidence in Pei Xiaguang, then have it your way.”
He had a carefree spirit deep in his bones that believed “scattered wealth will return again,” thinking that if the dowry revealed what kind of person Pei Yan was, it wouldn’t be too late or a loss.
Yu Tang hugged her father’s arm and acted coquettishly: “I know you’re concerned about me. Rest assured, Third Master isn’t that kind of person. Even if you don’t trust my judgment, you should trust the Pei Family’s family traditions!”
Yu Wen indeed became less anxious than before.
Yu Tang then asked about this shipping voyage: “Is Master Jiang safe and well? Did anything happen? How will the goods brought back this time be handled? Will they be sold through those general stores? Will you partner up again for the next voyage? Did you tell Master Jiang about what Third Master mentioned before?”
All sorts of questions, many doubts.
Yu Wen didn’t hide anything from Yu Tang, telling her: “According to the investment proportions from before, the goods on the ship were divided up for each party to handle themselves. Old Master Wu and I discussed it—for our share, we’ll take some valuable jewelry to make your dowry. The rest will be converted to silver and left entirely to Old Master Wu to handle. This way, your dowry can start being prepared. Fortunately, Old Master Wu has been a great help, having his wife come over to assist your mother. I’m keeping you for a few days so you and your mother can finalize the dowry list. What isn’t available in Lin’an, we’ll buy in Hangzhou City. What isn’t in Hangzhou, we’ll buy in Quanzhou—Master Jiang is in Ningbo watching over the ship’s cargo and can’t get away for the time being. Old Master Wu and I have discussed going to Ningbo, and while we’re there, we’ll also convey Pei Xiaguang’s intentions to Jiang Chao to see what he thinks.”
This arrangement was very good.
Yu Tang said: “Then I’ll stay home.”
It wouldn’t be right to leave all the dowry matters entirely to her mother to handle.
Yu Wen had heard from Chen Shi that Old Madam Pei was teaching Yu Tang how to manage a household. He was very grateful and naturally very supportive. Hearing this, he waved his hands repeatedly and said: “Since Old Madam Pei didn’t ask you to come back, don’t come back for now. Finish handling matters on Old Madam Pei’s side first. She’s an experienced person who’s been through things. She surely has clear ideas about what should and shouldn’t be done. Just listen to her. Besides, preparing the dowry isn’t something you should be worrying about in the first place.”
Otherwise, why would there be the saying about parental authority and matchmaker’s words?
Yu Tang nodded slightly.
Yu Wen then invited Pei Yan in for tea and told Pei Yan about his plans.
Pei Yan had guessed that the Yu Family would try everything to prepare a dowry for Yu Tang, but he hadn’t expected Yu Wen to give everything from the partnership to Yu Tang. He immediately felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and respectfully said to Yu Wen: “You treat Miss Yu as the pearl in your palm and the treasure of your heart. I will certainly not disappoint your love for your daughter. From now on, your affairs will be my affairs. Whether it’s Miss Yu’s adopted brothers or adopted nephews, I will help them study and advance their learning, and look after their careers and official prospects.”
Seeing that Pei Yan could appreciate his intentions, Yu Wen was very pleased and had Chen Shi go outside to order a banquet table, wanting to invite Pei Yan for drinks.
Pei Yan couldn’t refuse well, but was stopped by Yu Tang: “Old Master only finishes mourning in September!”
Yu Wen felt very remorseful and changed the order to a vegetarian meal, using tea instead of wine to keep Pei Yan for a midday meal before Pei Yan finally left.
However, as soon as he entered the estate, he was summoned by Old Madam Pei.
“They said it was good news and told me not to worry,” the old lady asked. “What good news was it?”
In the end, she still wasn’t at ease.
Pei Yan didn’t want Yu Tang to become a target. He dismissed the servants attending Old Madam Pei before telling her about Yu Wen’s intentions.
Old Madam Pei was astonished. She looked at Pei Yan meaningfully and said: “You child, you’re blessed too. Although Yu Shi comes from ordinary origins, she hasn’t held you back. In the future, you really must treat Yu Shi well and treat the Yu Family well too.”
Old Madam Pei’s situation back then was somewhat similar to Yu Tang’s.
Her elder brother had died young, and Yu Tang was an only daughter.
Both had married into the Pei Family with no one to rely on, bringing most of their family’s wealth with them. Moreover, when Old Master Qian passed away, he left all his wealth to his grandson.
Old Madam Pei believed that when Yu Wen passed on, if he still had wealth in hand, he would surely leave it to his grandson too.
She instructed Nanny Chen: “Go fetch that list I wrote the other day.”
Nanny Chen went to get the list.
But Old Madam Pei dismissed her as well. She personally ground ink and added a dozen or so shops from the Tianjin area to the list before giving it to Pei Yan, saying: “Originally I prepared this to give Yu Shi face. Now, although her family has prepared things for her too, some things cannot be bought with money. I’ll still give this to you. Find time to give it to Yu Shi.”
Pei Yan had already guessed that for the sake of her own face, Old Madam Pei couldn’t possibly let Yu Tang enter the family empty-handed, but he hadn’t expected Old Madam Pei to give Yu Tang those dozen or so shops in Tianjin.
You must know, this was the dowry of Old Madam Pei’s own mother—that is, Pei Yan’s maternal grandmother. Those dozen shops were on the most prosperous street in Tianjin, with very considerable annual profits.
Pei Yan couldn’t help but kneel before his mother, calling out “Mother” and saying: “You should keep these shops for yourself. If you really feel for Yu Shi, just supplement her with some private money each year. I’ll prepare her share properly myself.”
He and Yu Tang would be husband and wife in the future. Even if given to Yu Tang as dowry, it would just be moving from the left hand to the right hand—not like Old Madam Pei, whose wealth should be divided equally among their three brothers.
Seeing her son’s filial piety, Old Madam Pei smiled with relief, gesturing for Pei Yan to stand quickly, and said: “I have all these matters clear in my heart. As for you, you’ve suffered grievances, and your father and I can only compensate you somewhat with money. Your elder sister-in-law has never valued me, so presumably she won’t value my things either. I won’t court her displeasure. As for your second sister-in-law, I won’t treat her unfairly either. Just take these with peace of mind. However, when Yu Shi marries in, there will certainly be many eyes watching. To avoid trouble, don’t speak of what I’ve given you. If you truly feel for me, just be more filial to me in the future.” At this point, she smiled bitterly and sighed. “I never imagined that in my old age, I would end up living with my youngest son.”
By rights, she should be with her eldest son.
Hearing this, Pei Yan’s heart felt as if pierced by knives, and he had even less favorable impression of the Grand Lady and his nephews Pei Tong and Pei Fei.
He simply discussed with Old Madam Pei: “If elder sister-in-law wants to return to her natal family, let her return. Distance lends enchantment. When Pei Tong and Pei Fei grow up and understand what the Pei Family means to them, they’ll naturally know how to choose. Perhaps by then, elder sister-in-law will regret it too late!”
Old Madam Pei listened with trepidation and quickly said: “Xiaguang, you promised your father you wouldn’t get involved in imperial family affairs. You can’t go back on your word!”
“I won’t go back on my word!” Pei Yan assured his mother. “But I’m also confident I can suppress Pei Tong and Pei Fei. You must trust my abilities.”
“But it’s better to avoid trouble than seek it!” What Old Madam Pei trusted most was still her own husband, believing in Old Master Pei’s deathbed instructions to her.
“I know.” Pei Yan repeatedly assured Old Madam Pei, accompanying his mother in reminiscing about Old Master Pei for a while before finally consoling her. He attended her to the Buddhist hall to copy scriptures before leaving Old Madam Pei’s courtyard.
Yu Tang stayed at home for three days before finalizing her dowry list. During this time, she also consulted with Nanny Chen, who had come on Old Madam Pei’s orders to deliver ice, and referenced the Grand Lady’s dowry before settling on it.
Only after finalizing it did she realize how tedious preparing a dowry was.
Even the broom for sweeping the bed had to be prepared in matching pairs.
Yu Tang fled back to the Pei Family’s summer villa as if escaping.
Yu Wen then went to Ningbo with Old Master Wu. When leaving, Old Master Wu said to Yu Tang: “We’ll go see if there are any Western curiosities. We’ll bring you some Western items for your dowry—no one in Lin’an City will have seen them before.”
That would really make an impression!
Yu Tang was indifferent, but Yu Wen thought it was excellent, muttering with Old Master Wu for quite a while.
By the end of the seventh month, when autumn winds arose and the weather began to cool, Yu Tang and the others started packing their luggage, preparing to come down from the mountain.
At this time, Li Duan accompanied his mother Lin Shi and quietly returned to Lin’an City.
Li Yi had ultimately been sentenced to exile. Li Jun was unwilling to return to Lin’an. Lin Shi still hoped to revive the family business and needed Li Duan to continue with the imperial examinations. So Li Jun accompanied Li Yi to exile in Gansu, while Li Duan returned with Lin Shi to their hometown to handle some family property that hadn’t been sold yet, preparing to move to Hangzhou City for long-term residence.