On the third day after the minor funeral rites, the Dou family announced the death to relatives and friends. The Dou household soon bustled with activity as mourners arrived in an endless stream.
Dou Shiying, Wang Yingxue, Dou Zhao, and Dou Ming, as the filial son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, received condolences before the spirit tablet. They entrusted all household matters to Gao Sheng.
Everyone, from those serving tea to those accompanying mourners, managing accounts, and even those striking the cloud board and holding incense paper, sought Gao Sheng’s instructions. Though he had never managed such an event before, his experiences accompanying Dou Shiying in the capital had broadened his knowledge. He approached his duties diligently, proving more steady and reliable than others in the West Dou household. However, as he juggled multiple tasks, he found himself somewhat overwhelmed.
Dou Zhao occasionally offered guidance. Within a few days, Gao Sheng grasped the intricacies of his role, handling matters with increasing confidence. Some senior stewards from the East Dou household praised him as “capable of great responsibility.” This praise relieved Gao Sheng, and he began to view Dou Zhao differently.
This was precisely Dou Zhao’s intention. During the three-year mourning period, she would certainly reside in the West Dou household, and she needed a capable assistant.
Two days later, Wang Zhibing and Pang Yulou arrived to pay their respects.
It was an odd pairing – an uncle and a sister-in-law.
Wang Zhibing explained, “Nan’er’s mother is pregnant. Being in her first few months and somewhat older, she can’t travel. Coincidentally, my sister-in-law hasn’t seen Little Sister in a while, and Tan’er has been missing his cousin. So I brought them along to offer incense to the old master.”
Wang Tan, Pang Yulou’s eldest son, was a year younger than Dou Ming.
Perhaps because they had played well together in Liuye Hutong in the capital, Wang Tan held Dou Ming’s hand tightly upon entering, calling her “Sister Ming.” He asked, “When are you coming home? There’s no one to play with me.”
Dou Ming replied, “I need to observe mourning for my grandfather. Once that’s done, I’ll visit you in the capital.”
Wang Tan said, “Then finish mourning quickly. When you do, I’ll have Father take us to eat mutton noodles at Daxiangguo Temple.”
Dou Ming nodded repeatedly.
Pang Yulou nudged her son and pointed at Dou Zhao, saying, “Quickly greet your eldest cousin!”
Wang Tan resembled the Pang family, with fair skin and large, watery eyes, appearing even more beautiful and delicate than a girl.
He sweetly called Dou Zhao “Sister.”
Dou Zhao remembered her previous life when she had stumbled upon him kneeling at Dou Ming’s feet by the rose bushes, pleading, “Dear sister, Elder Brother only has eyes for his cousin Gao Mingzhu. Even if he marries you, he won’t treat you well. I’m different. I’ve liked you since we were little. If you marry me, I’ll treat you well for life. I’ll help you with anything you want…”
Unfortunately, Dou Ming’s gaze was as soft and entangling as spring water, capable of drowning someone, but her look towards Wang Tan was calculating.
She giggled and said, “Then I want you to tell Grandmother that you want to marry Gao Mingzhu. Do you dare?”
Wang Tan did.
The Wang family assumed Gao Mingzhu had been ambiguous between the brothers Wang Nan and Wang Tan, making it impossible for her to become a Wang family daughter-in-law.
The Gao family would rather separate than allow Dou Ming to become their daughter-in-law.
Wang Nan never spoke to Dou Ming again…
When Dou Zhao saw Wang Tan again, her heart filled with pity for him.
She smiled faintly at Wang Tan.
Pang Yulou pushed her son in front of Dou Zhao, saying, “You’re cousins, you should get closer!”
Dou Zhao remained silent.
Dou Ming ran over and took Wang Tan’s hand, saying, “Let’s go play with Sister Yi and Sister Shu.”
Wang Tan happily agreed.
Pang Yulou glared at her son, saying, “You stay here and behave.”
Wang Tan didn’t dare move, looking pitifully at Dou Ming.
Dou Ming began to cry, “I want to play with Brother Tan! I want to play with Brother Tan!”
Dou Shiying frowned.
Wang Yingxue shot an annoyed look at Pang Yulou, then comforted Wang Tan and Dou Ming, “Alright, alright, don’t cry. Sister Yi and Sister Shu are in the flower hall. Go find them and play.”
Wang Tan and Dou Ming left hand in hand for the flower hall.
Pang Yulou sighed inwardly, then smiled at Dou Shiying, saying, “Two of my nephews, Xiu’er and Kun’er, have also come. They’d like to pay their respects to Brother-in-law.”
While Pang Yulou’s three brothers had personally come to pay respects after Dou Tuo’s death, it was unexpected that her nephews had also accompanied them.
Guests were guests.
Dou Shiying didn’t refuse.
Pang Jixiu, son of Pang Jinlou, was fifteen this year. Pang Kunbai, son of Pang Yinlou, was twelve. Both boys were handsome and well-mannered. If not for one’s gaze being too flighty and the other’s too shrewd, they would have been perfect young gentlemen.
Pang Yulou introduced Dou Zhao to them, “This is your eldest cousin.”
The two boys bowed to Dou Zhao.
Dou Zhao had no interest in entertaining the Pang family members. She nodded coolly without returning the bow, appearing somewhat aloof.
Dou Shiying hadn’t expected Pang Yulou’s nephews to be so grown up. Seeing Pang Yulou’s actions, he was displeased and didn’t consider Dou Zhao’s behavior impolite.
He exchanged a few cold pleasantries with Pang Jixiu and Pang Kunbai, then led Dou Zhao to the mourning hall.
Wang Yingxue pulled Pang Yulou into a nearby side room and whispered, “What are you trying to do?”
Pang Yulou put on a helpless expression, “You know my brothers are still doing business in Lingbi County. They’re eager to connect with the Dou family. Hearing that the Fourth Miss is about the same age as Xiu’er and Kun’er, they had thoughts of a marriage proposal. I know Xiu’er and Kun’er aren’t worthy of the Fourth Miss, but no matter what I say, they won’t listen. They even accuse me of obstructing them. I had no choice but to bring my nephews, hoping they might catch Brother-in-law’s eye.” She added, “But thinking about it, if the Fourth Miss married into the Pang family, it would be good for you too — my sister-in-law would become her mother-in-law, and I’d be her grand-aunt. She couldn’t defy her elders, could she?”
“Have you forgotten? The Wang family can’t interfere with Dou Zhao’s marriage!” Wang Yingxue exclaimed.
“Parents’ orders, matchmaker’s words,” Pang Yulou said dismissively. “We’re not directly arranging a marriage for the Fourth Miss, are we?”
Wang Yingxue’s heart skipped a beat. “You mean…?”
“What if the Fourth Miss takes a liking to one of them herself?” Pang Yulou covered her mouth and laughed. “The Zhao family didn’t say the Fourth Miss couldn’t marry into the Pang family!”
What was so special about Dou Zhao was that her second sister-in-law would go to such lengths to marry her into the Pang family…
The thought flashed through Wang Yingxue’s mind, and she remembered Dou Zhao’s dowry.
Her expression immediately became complex.
If Dou Zhao married into the Pang family, that property would belong to the Pangs.
Although the Second Madam had ordered silence on the matter, those involved at the time knew the truth.
When Wang Yingxue looked at Pang Yulou again, she felt more wary.
She was cunning!
As Wang Yingxue pondered this, she overheard Dou Shiying speaking with the Wu family mourners: “…It was so sudden, none of us expected it… I’ve reported my mourning leave to the Hanlin Academy. It’s a good opportunity to study at home…”
Wu Shan, following his uncle, quietly handed Dou Zhao a small pouch, saying, “My condolences.”
Confused about the relevance of the pouch, she looked questioningly at Wu Shan.
Taking advantage of the adults’ inattention, Wu Shan whispered hurriedly, his ears reddening, “It’s a safety charm I got from Dafang Temple.”
Dou Zhao was slightly taken aback but smiled and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
Wu Shan grinned, his ears turning even redder. Afterward, he stood beside his uncle, eyes downcast, not looking at Dou Zhao again.
Dou Zhao vaguely sensed Wu Shan’s feelings for her and fell into deep thought.
After forty-nine days of mourning, Grandfather was buried in the Dou family ancestral tomb in Beilou, and the guests gradually dispersed.
Pang Yulou discussed with Wang Yingxue, “Could Xiu’er and Kun’er study at the Dou family’s clan school?”
Wang Yingxue disliked Pang Yulou’s greed and didn’t want to help, but fearing she might need favors from Madam Pang in the future, she didn’t want to offend her. She passed the matter to Dou Shiying, who found the two boys rather worldly and disliked them. He, in turn, passed the responsibility to Third Uncle: “…Third Uncle has always managed this. I’m not sure about the requirements for studying at the clan school. You’d better ask Third Uncle.”
Both responded reluctantly.
Pang Yulou, having heard worse, didn’t take offense. She visited Dou Shibang with an eight-colored gift box.
The Dou family clan school was quite renowned in Zhending Prefecture, often accepting children of relatives and friends as affiliated students.
Dou Shibang agreed without hesitation.
Thus, Pang Jixiu and Pang Kunbai entered the Dou clan school, quickly becoming acquainted with Dou Zhengchang, Dou Dechang, Dou Qijun, and others. They occasionally managed to join them for meals at the East Mansion but never encountered Dou Zhao.
Pang Kunbai couldn’t help complaining to his father, “It’s completely useless.”
Pang Yinlou slapped his son, saying, “Your old man has been in business for over a decade and only managed to save twenty to thirty thousand taels of silver. Do you think you can get such a large sum effortlessly? There’s no such easy money!” He then admonished him, “You’d better make me proud. Not only is your uncle eyeing the Dou family’s money, but your aunt also has her plans. Don’t let that little Wang Tan get the advantage, or you’ll be left crying without tears.”
“Really?” Pang Kunbai was very surprised. “Wang Tan is four years younger than the Dou family’s Fourth Miss?”
“What’s wrong with being four years younger?” Pang Jinlou interjected. “Pang Jixiu is six years older than the Fourth Miss!”
Pang Kunbai closed his mouth.
Pang Jixiu was more patient than Pang Kunbai. After spending a considerable amount of money to investigate Dou Zhao without success, he not only diligently studied with the Dou family clan school’s teacher, Mr. Du but also made great efforts to befriend others in the clan school.
Dou Qijun and the others were accustomed to being flattered and didn’t take much notice, but through this, Pang Jixiu learned from their attendants that Dou Zhao spent some time at the family’s country estate every summer.
The following summer, he made preparations early. As soon as he heard that Dou Zhao had set out for the country estate, he invited Dou Zhengchang and the others to play in the countryside.
Dou Zhengchang and his friends were reluctant: “It’s scorching hot. What’s fun about the countryside?” Dou Dechang was holding a bowl of iced sour plum soup as he spoke.
Pang Jixiu also felt there wasn’t much fun to be had but said, “We could catch fish in the river!”
“I can fish by the pond just the same,” Dou Zhengchang said lazily.
Wu Shan arrived.
Dou Zhengchang introduced him, wondering aloud, “I thought you’d come for the Dragon Boat Festival, but you didn’t. Now you’ve come on such a hot day. Is there something urgent?”