Setting aside the private thoughts of Cui Jiu’s wife, Cui Shisan left the kitchen and encountered his eldest cousin, Cui Da.
The Cui family’s old patriarch—Cui Aunt’s father—was still alive, and the brothers hadn’t divided the household. The grandchildren were named according to their birth order: Dalang, Erlang, and so on. When Dalang and Erlang were born, the Cui family had just begun to have enough to eat and hadn’t received any education. As the family’s fortunes improved and they needed to sign land contracts or provide fingerprints as guarantees, they realized the character “lang” was too difficult to write. So, they simply called them Cui Da and Cui Er.
Following this pattern down to the younger brothers, by the time Cui Shisan began his education at a private school twenty li from the village, he was simply called Thirteen.
Seeing Cui Da, Cui Shisan was surprised.
Since Cui Da had started managing Dou Zhao’s estates, his entire family had moved there, only returning for major holidays. The year-end accounting had long passed, and the Little New Year was still about ten days away. Cui Shisan couldn’t help but ask, “Big Brother, what brings you back today?”
Cui Da chuckled and said, “Isn’t the Fourth Young Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony approaching? I’ve come back to discuss with Grandfather what gifts we should send from our estate.” He then held up a two-foot-long carp and instructed Cui Shisan, “Take this to the kitchen to steam for Grandfather’s wine. You should join us for a drink too.”
Dou Zhao had twelve estates, all managed by Cui Da. With her coming-of-age ceremony approaching, the estate managers heard that the shop managers were considering gifts. They became restless and approached Cui Da, saying, “We all work for the Fourth Young Miss. It wouldn’t be right if the shop managers give gifts and we don’t.”
Cui Da agreed but lacked experience in such matters. His wife suggested, “Go home and ask the old master. Besides, Cui Shisan is also at home.” This prompted his hasty return and the invitation for Cui Shisan to join them for drinks.
Unaware that he was once again the focus of attention, Cui Shisan only thought about how his feet had started aching again after being dragged through all the antique shops in the capital by Fan Wenshu before returning to Zhending. He muttered, “Why is everyone talking about this wherever I go?”
Cui Da didn’t hear clearly and thought Cui Shisan was reluctant to follow his instructions. He scowled and smacked Cui Shisan’s head, saying, “What’s this? Two years in the capital and you’re too good to listen to your big brother? Get going!”
“No, no!” Cui Shisan grimaced at the strength of the farmer’s hand, quickly taking the carp. “I’m going right away!”
Cui Da watched Cui Shisan’s retreating figure with a good-natured smile, then turned towards the main room where Old Master Cui lived.
Old Master Cui puffed on his copper pipe with a white jade mouthpiece before finally speaking, “What did the estate managers suggest?”
“All sorts of ideas!” Cui Da said helplessly. “Some suggested exchanging twenty taels of silver for jewelry at a silversmith’s, others proposed buying antiques or paintings. Some even said everyone should bring their gifts and just go together…”
Old Master Cui had only recently stopped working in the fields. Usually, when visiting farming households, people would bring a couple of chi of blue or red cloth. He had no good ideas. After some thought, he said, “Why not ask your eldest aunt?”
Cui Da scratched his head, “I already did. Eldest Aunt said it’s not that complicated, a couple of pairs of shoes and socks would be enough.”
Old Master Cui was at a loss.
Just then, Cui Shisan entered.
Old Master Cui quickly invited Cui Shisan to sit on the kang and asked, “Tell us, what do people in the capital usually give for such occasions?”
Cui Shisan smiled, “Are there no common households in the capital?”
“That’s true,” Old Master Cui chuckled.
Cui Shisan turned to Cui Da and said, “I think it’s best to let the estate managers bring their gifts… You can’t overshadow others, can you?”
Cui Da nodded, “That makes sense.” His gaze towards Cui Shisan grew increasingly eager.
Cui Shisan coughed awkwardly before continuing, “Eldest Aunt’s suggestion is also reasonable. Why don’t we make a few pairs of shoes and socks, and add a couple of unique items?”
“What kind of unique items?” Old Master Cui and Cui Da stared intently at Cui Shisan.
Cui Shisan went to his room and returned with a brocade box. “I found this at the Ji family shop. It’s called a kaleidoscope…” He then demonstrated it to them.
Old Master Cui’s eyes widened, and he asked, “How much did this cost?”
“Thirty taels,” Cui Shisan replied.
Fan Wenshu had found a lotus-shaped jade washer in an antique shop in the capital for thirty taels, so Cui Shisan had prepared this gift for Dou Zhao at the same price.
Old Master Cui shuddered, “So expensive!” But he didn’t let go of the item and hastily called for “Cui Si’s wife,” summoning Tuo Niang.
“Keep this safe,” Old Master Cui handed the box to Tuo Niang. “This is our family’s coming-of-age gift for the Fourth Young Miss. You and your sisters-in-law should also make two sets of clothes for her. Get the money from your mother-in-law. When the time comes, you and your eldest sister-in-law should take Cui Jiu’s wife to the city to pay respects to the Fourth Young Miss.”
Cui Jiu’s father-in-law had worked as a gatekeeper at the county yamen for a few years, so his wife was considered worldly in the Cui family. This was why Old Master Cui allowed her to join in congratulating Dou Zhao.
Cui Da and Cui Shisan never imagined Old Master Cui would intercept the gift midway. They were dumbfounded for a while before coming to their senses, but by then, Tuo Niang had already efficiently packed away the item.
“Grandfather…” Cui Shisan was on the verge of tears.
Old Master Cui calmly said, “It’s just thirty taels of silver. You can ask your grandmother for it later. You young lads can make another trip to the prefectural city tomorrow.” He then waved his hand, instructing Tuo Niang, “Serve the meal now! The field workers should be back soon.”
What more could Cui Da and Cui Shisan say? They hurriedly ate a few mouthfuls and rushed to the prefectural city that night. They managed to buy a pair of glass bowls and a palm-sized tortoiseshell incense burner just before the Ji family shop closed for the New Year. Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief.
On the ninth day of the first lunar month, Cui Da and Cui Shisan drove a horse-drawn carriage, bringing Cui Da’s wife, Tuo Niang, and Cui Jiu’s wife to the county town.
On the way, they saw several well-crafted black-lacquered carriages with flat tops.
Cui Jiu’s wife, who had lived in the city for a few years, remarked curiously, “Why are there so many carriages today?”
Such carriages were not something everyone could afford.
Cui Da’s wife and Tuo Niang also squeezed by the carriage window to look outside.
“Oh!” Tuo Niang spotted a familiar face and smiled, “That’s Prefect Lu’s family carriage. Madam Lu must be coming to attend the Fourth Young Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Fourth Sister-in-law even knows people from the prefect’s family!” Cui Jiu’s wife couldn’t hide her admiration and said, “Madam Lu must be coming to help pin the hairpin for the Fourth Young Miss!”
“I just happened to meet Prefect Lu’s coachman when I came to pay respects to the Fourth Young Miss last time,” Tuo Niang quickly explained, adding, “For the Fourth Young Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony, Madam Lu might not necessarily be the one to pin the hairpin!”
“If not Madam Lu, then who?” Cui Jiu’s wife’s eyes widened in surprise.
In her mind, having Madam Lu pin the hairpin was already a great honor.
“There are plenty of ladies in the Dou family,” Tuo Niang felt that Madam Lu didn’t have the status to pin the hairpin for Dou Zhao, so she vaguely said, “Who knows which lady will be chosen to pin the hairpin.”
As they spoke, the carriage arrived at the side gate of the Dou residence. Tuo Niang and Cui Jiu’s wife suddenly heard the usually quiet Cui Da curse, saying, “…That Tian Fugui, he brought a pair of golden pheasants as a gift for the Fourth Young Miss!”
Everyone looked over and saw a fat man carrying two gilded bird cages, one in each hand, each containing a colorful golden pheasant. He strode through the side gate of the Dou residence with a smug expression, drawing everyone’s attention.
“They are golden pheasants!” Cui Da’s wife exclaimed.
People around them buzzed with discussion: “…Who is that? He brought a pair of golden pheasants!”
“I think it’s Tian Fugui, the manager of the eastern estate!”
“Where did he get those? He’s resourceful!”
Cui Da chuckled and said to Cui Shisan, “Well, now that fat Tian has made a name for himself!”
Cui Shisan also laughed, “Who would have thought that fatty was so capable.” He considered whether to bring this man to his shop in the capital, as his business was growing and he needed a capable assistant.
As this thought crossed his mind, the sound of rolling carriage wheels came from behind, and the coachman called out somewhat arrogantly, “Make way! Carriage from the Jining Marquis Manor! Those in front, make way!”
The voice was like a boulder thrown into still water, immediately causing a commotion at the side gate.
“It’s people from the Fourth Young Miss’s marital home!”
“As expected of a marquis’s manor, look at those horses, so magnificent!”
“There are three carriages in total!”
Everyone discussed excitedly while hurrying to make way for the Wei family’s carriages.
The Dou family, having received the news, opened the main gate.
The carriages stopped in front of the main gate.
Servants in green livery carried brocade boxes into the residence one by one.
“I wonder what gifts they’ve brought?” People at the side gate stood on tiptoes, craning their necks to look. “There’s so much!”
“Of course!” someone chimed in, “Just think about who they are! A marquis’s family! Our Fourth Young Miss will be a marchioness in the future!”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
Before the exclamations had died down, someone shouted, “Look, look, more carriages are coming!”
Everyone’s attention was drawn to the new arrivals…
Meanwhile, inside the manor, Dou Zhao excitedly left the main hall and immediately embraced Sixth Aunt Ji, who had just entered through the hanging flower gate.
“Sixth Aunt!” Her joy was evident in every feature. “How come you’re here? Why didn’t you say anything beforehand?”
Madam Ji looked at Dou Zhao, who had grown taller, and affectionately put her arm around Dou Zhao’s shoulders. “If I had told you earlier, would you be this happy?”
Dou Zhao giggled.
The maids, wives, and elderly female servants around them also smiled.
Although Dou Zhao’s fifteenth birthday hadn’t arrived yet, the Dou family was already filled with a joyous atmosphere.
Madam Ji stepped aside slightly and introduced a young woman behind her to Dou Zhao: “This is my niece, her given name is Lingze. She’s three years older than you. I brought her especially to introduce you two.”
Dou Zhao felt as if struck by lightning.
Ji Lingze was the Ji family cousin who had eloped with Dou Dechang.
She blinked, finally getting a clear look at the graceful young woman before her.
Her jet-black hair was held up by a single hairpin inlaid with southern pearls. Her skin was smooth as jade, her features as delicate as mountain peaks, with an ethereal quality reminiscent of rain on an empty mountain, making her unforgettable.
“Cousin Ji!” Dou Zhao curtsied to Ji Lingze, inwardly laughing bitterly.
At this time, Ji Lingze was not yet married but was engaged to the sixth son of the Han family from Huzhou.