“Why did you think of visiting your grand-aunt today?” Second Madam asked with a warm smile, holding Dou Zhao’s hand. The senior maids in Second Madam’s room were all busy serving Dou Zhao with fruits, tea, and snacks, each with a welcoming smile.
Dou Zhao nodded to the maids in greeting and informed the Second Madam about her visit to Zhen Ding Prefecture to pay respects to Bie Gangyi: “…I felt it was only right to help to the end. Seeing that the two young ladies of the Bie family were left without support, I promised Bie Gangyi that if he passed away, his daughters could rely on me. Previously, Bie Gangyi was in good health, so I didn’t mention it, as it seemed inauspicious.”
The industries of the Eastern and Western Dou families were still managed together and hadn’t officially split. Second Madam, being the highest-ranking woman in the Dou family, needed to be informed as a matter of courtesy. This would also make things easier for Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan when they moved into the inner quarters. Second Madam was a bit surprised and pondered, “Does your father know?”
Dou Zhao smiled, “I thought it best to inform you first. Once you agree, I’ll tell my father. And as for Sixth Aunt, once they enter the household, I’ll likely need her help to teach them the rules.”
Second Madam was very pleased to hear this. She smiled and said, “This is a good deed, a blessing. Why would I disagree? Just as you said, once Bie Gangyi’s forty-nine days are over, let the two young ladies enter the household. Bring them to me when the time comes.”
Dou Zhao agreed with a smile, chatted a bit more with Second Madam, and then took her leave.
“First, she wants to open her shop, then she places someone from the Cui family in it, and now she’s taking in two ‘adopted servants,'” Dou Shibang asked his mother, “What do you think of this?”
Second Madam gently brushed the tea leaves in her cup with the lid and said calmly, “No matter who is advising her, one shop and a few people won’t satisfy her. There will be more to come. We shouldn’t rush; let’s wait and see.”
Dou Shibang nodded respectfully.
Dou Zhao then went to visit the Ji family.
Wu Shan had been taken home by his family for the New Year. The sun was warmly shining in the courtyard, where Dou Zhengchang was writing Spring Festival couplets with the help of his servant.
This was a tradition passed down from Dou Huancheng’s generation.
When Dou Huancheng retired at sixty, he was seen as a blessed man, having passed the imperial exams in his youth, with a large family and still sharp senses in his old age. Every Spring Festival, many friends and relatives would come to ask for couplets, hoping to share in his good fortune. Dou Huancheng, being a warm-hearted neighbor, would always oblige, providing his paper and ink to write couplets for others. Over time, as more people came to request couplets, Dou Huancheng’s sons and grandsons began helping him. Eventually, it became a tradition for any Dou family member who had achieved a certain level of calligraphy to write couplets for the villagers during the Spring Festival. This became an important milestone in the Dou family’s academic achievements.
Last year, Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang were both qualified to write couplets.
Dou Zhao asked curiously, “Where’s Twelfth Brother?”
Dou Zhengchang, sweating profusely, took a moment to wipe his forehead with a cloth while answering, “Fourth Sister, you came just in time. Please help me find Zhi Ge’er—we have to write four hundred couplets today. How can I finish them alone?”
It was unclear whether the sweat was from anxiety or heat.
Dou Zhao laughed, “I’ll help Eleventh Brother find him after I pay my respects to Sixth Aunt. It’s not like Eleventh Brother needs help right this moment.”
The warm curtain of the main house swayed, and Cai Shu came out with a smile.
She curtsied to Dou Zhao and said with a smile, “Madam thought she heard Fourth Miss’s voice. We all thought she was mistaken, but it turns out Fourth Miss is here.” As she spoke, she turned and lifted the warm curtain to invite her in. “How is Aunt Cui? The narcissus and wintersweet you sent to Madam last time have all bloomed, filling the room with fragrance. Madam is very fond of them!”
Because of Ji’s influence, the maids and servants of the Sixth House all respected Aunt Cui.
“She’s doing well,” Dou Zhao said as she entered the hall with Cai Shu. She was greeted by the sight of the two pots of wintersweet she had sent last time, their yellow flowers as translucent as top-grade yellow jade, exuding a cool and serene beauty.
The inner room’s warm curtain was wide open, and Cai Lan was attending to Ji, who was wearing a peach-red brocade jacket with a vase pattern. Ji came out with a smile. Seeing Dou Zhao only wearing a blue lotus cloak, she held her hand and chided, “Child, you should wear more. Your hands are ice-cold.” She called a maid to bring her hand warmer to Dou Zhao and then led her into the inner room. “I was just about to visit you,” she said, asking, “Are your New Year preparations complete?”
“With Aunt Cui, everything was ready long ago,” Dou Zhao laughed, sitting on the kang with Ji and recounting the recent events.
Ji laughed, “You are indeed blessed. Taking in those sisters will benefit your reputation. You should do more of such things in the future. Even if the people you take in are troublesome at first, once the storm passes, there are ways to send them off. No need to worry.” She added, “As for the shop, it’s fine to lose a few thousand taels at the start. As long as you break even before you marry, we aren’t looking for profit.”
It’s all about reputation.
Dou Zhao felt a bit embarrassed.
Ji chuckled and asked, “Did you inform Second Madam personally?”
“I went to Second Madam first, then came here.”
“That’s good,” Ji smiled. “Older people dislike being overlooked by the younger generation. You should always keep Second Madam informed.”
Dou Zhao understood this well but still nodded with a smile.
When she left Ji’s room, Dou Dechang had returned and was busy writing couplets with Dou Zhengchang.
“Where did Twelfth Brother sneak back from?” Dou Zhao asked, watching the warm sunlight bathe them as she went over to help grind ink and bask in the sun.
“I went to the outhouse,” Dou Dechang said, “nowhere else.”
Really?
Dou Zhao glanced at Dou Zhengchang.
Dou Zhengchang still had traces of anger on his face but said, “He came back early!”
What was this guy up to?
He had been acting mysteriously lately.
However, with Dou Qijun keeping an eye on things, nothing major should happen.
Dou Zhao mused to herself as she returned to the Western Mansion.
After the Lantern Festival, Bie Gangyi’s forty-nine days were over. The Bie sisters tidied up and moved to the Western Dou.
Ganlu and Sujuan were busy helping them settle in.
Dou Zhao noticed that although they weren’t wearing red, they also weren’t in mourning clothes. She said, “Second Madam in the Eastern Mansion has strict rules, but you don’t need to worry too much about the rest.”
When Chen Qushui asked Dou Zhao for help, he inquired about the Dou family, so they had some understanding of the situation.
Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan both responded promptly, changing into light blue cotton jackets before visiting Aunt Cui.
Aunt Cui first held their hands, asking about their well-being, then pointed to Bie Suxin and said to Dou Zhao, “Such a pretty girl, who would think she’s trained in martial arts?” She then pulled Bie Sulan over, “This child is truly beautiful!” Her tone was very sincere.
Dou Zhao smiled.
Grandmother liked children with strong builds.
Bie Sulan was a bit overwhelmed by the praise.
Standing next to her sister, people usually only complimented her sister’s looks, never hers.
Although it was their first interaction, Bie Sulan immediately liked Grandmother.
Bie Suxin also found Grandmother kind and amiable, and she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, all her previous worries dissipating. She handed the keys to the Bie Martial Arts School to Dou Zhao: “…We are already deeply grateful that you provided a place for my father in his final days. Now that his affairs are settled, this house should be returned to you.”
Dou Zhao had redeemed the house in Bie Gangyi’s name and never intended to keep it. Still, Bie Suxin’s willingness to give it up pleased her, and she accepted the keys.
Grandmother whispered to her, “That’s their ancestral home; you should give it back to them. You don’t lack that bit of silver.”
Dou Zhao smiled, “I will return it to them, but not just yet.”
Grandmother wanted to ask more, but Dou Zhao said, “Alright, alright, you should go change your clothes. Tuo Niang and Cui Si are bringing the children to see you later.”
Because of Grandfather, the Cui family always visited Aunt Cui after the New Year. Even though Aunt Cui had moved into the Dou family, the Cui family was used to it and continued the tradition.
Grandmother laughed heartily, and Dou Zhao took the opportunity before the Cui family arrived to take the Bie sisters to meet Second Madam.
Second Madam asked a few questions, satisfied with their polite and composed responses. She advised them to serve Dou Zhao well, rewarded each with a silver hairpin adorned with plum blossoms, and then served tea.
Dou Zhao then took them to Sixth Aunt’s place.
Sixth Aunt’s courtyard was bustling, with people carrying boxes, holding porcelain vases, or bringing small items, all flowing towards the east wing.
Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan were startled.
Dou Zhao laughed, “Fourth Master Wu is back!”
Just as she finished speaking, Wu Shan appeared out of nowhere.
“Fourth Sister, how was your New Year?” he greeted Dou Zhao with a bow.
Dou Zhao returned the gesture with a smile, “It was good! How is the Old Madam of the Wu family?”
Wu Shan’s great-grandmother was still alive.
“Very well, very well,” Wu Shan laughed, calling his servant, “Bring the agarwood chess set I brought from home.” He then said to Dou Zhao, “The chess pieces are carved with Arhats, vividly detailed and very interesting. Fourth Sister will surely like them.”
He often gave small gifts to Dou Zhao, which she kept in a box.
She thanked him with a smile and introduced the Bie sisters to him.
He generously gifted two fine jade pendants to Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan.
Bie Sulan was overjoyed, hiding the pendant in her box, and said to Bie Suxin, “That Wu gentleman is so generous! This pendant must be worth forty or fifty taels of silver.”
Bie Suxin smiled, patting her sister’s head without saying anything, but she couldn’t help noticing how Wu Shan’s gaze never left Dou Zhao. She wondered about the relationship between Wu Shan and Fourth Miss, as he seemed very kind…
Just then, Ganlu entered, “Suxin, there’s someone named Chen Xiaofeng claiming to be your relative, looking for you.”