The next day dawned bright and pleasantly warm. Rising early, Mudan brought along a large group including Yingniang, Rongniang, Mama Liu, Shuaishuai, and others. Including the servants, there were over twenty people in total. They loaded two mule carts with food, utensils, and the large purple-spotted peony that Mudan had dug up, setting off grandly towards Fang Garden.
They had barely traveled half a mile past the Qixia Gate when Mama Feng pointed to two riders not far ahead. “Miss Mudan, look, isn’t that Master Jiang and Manager Wu?”
Mudan looked closely and indeed saw the two men riding slowly, chatting and laughing as they went. At their leisurely pace, Mudan’s large group would likely catch up to them in no time. Since there was no avoiding them anyway, Mudan urged her horse forward and called out, “Master Jiang, Manager Wu, are you also setting out at this time? What a coincidence.”
As Wu opened his mouth to speak, Jiang Changyang cut in with a smile, “Indeed! The morning weather is nice, neither hot nor cold—perfect for an outing. I thought you all had gone ahead already.” He gazed at Mudan with a smile, his black eyes sparkling in the morning sun. His young, tanned skin glowed with a healthy, soft luster, and the corners of his lips turned up in genuine joy. He was quite pleasing to look at.
Mudan couldn’t help but give him a second glance as she replied with a smile, “We have many people and lots of things, so we’re always a bit slow.” Today she wore an emerald green jacket and skirt. This color wasn’t easy to pull off—one could easily end up looking like a cabbageworm with a green face and blue lips. But with Mudan’s fair complexion, it looked beautiful on her. Paired with her lazily styled topknot and a translucent crystal hairpin, she was a sight to behold.
Jiang Changyang thought silently to himself that since he’d known her, she’d never made a mistake in her attire. While his mind was on Mudan’s appearance, his mouth blurted out, “Although we have fewer people and things, Wu is quite slow and dawdling. Otherwise, we’d have arrived long ago.”
Wu’s mouth immediately formed an ‘o’ shape as he shot a somewhat angry look at Jiang Changyang. Who knew which of them had deliberately dawdled, yet now all the blame was being pushed onto him? Jiang Changyang caught his indignant gaze and stared back sternly. Wu promptly shut his mouth and said with a forced smile, “Yes, I’m getting old and forgetful. I often forget things, even my affairs.”
Jiang Changyang pretended not to hear.
Mudan observed this exchange and smiled slightly. She introduced Jiang Changyang to Rongniang and Yingniang, who were curiously eyeing him from the side. “Rongniang, Yingniang, this is Master Jiang—”
Before she could finish, Rongniang and Yingniang exchanged a glance and chorused with a smile, “Hello, Uncle Jiang.” They had heard of this Master Jiang for a long time but had never met him. So this was what he was like. He seemed quite nice at first glance, though they wondered if he would be as understanding and kind as their Li family uncle when they got to know him better.
Rongniang and Yingniang were only a few years younger than Mudan. Jiang Changyang and Wu didn’t know they were Mudan’s nieces and assumed they were her friends. Hearing this form of address, both men’s expressions momentarily froze. Wu’s lips instantly curved into a smile, waiting to see Jiang Changyang’s embarrassment.
No one, male or female, likes to be addressed as if they’re old. Mudan also noticed Jiang Changyang’s expression but deliberately didn’t rush to explain Rongniang and Yingniang’s identities. She looked at Jiang Changyang teasingly, curious to see how he would respond.
After a brief moment of surprise, Jiang Changyang quickly regained his composure. He smiled calmly and said, “Hello to you both.” Then he turned to Mudan and asked, “These are your nieces, right?”
Seeing his quick thinking, Mudan had no choice but to explain, “Yes, they’re my eldest brother’s first and second daughters.”
Jiang Changyang suddenly burst into laughter, leaving Mudan puzzled and Rongniang and Yingniang feeling extremely embarrassed. Mudan couldn’t help but ask, “What are you laughing at? Did we offend you somehow?”
Jiang Changyang waved his hand and said, “No, no. I just find it amusing that thanks to you, I’m being called ‘uncle’ by such grown girls when I’m only twenty years old myself.”
Wu’s face twitched. Twenty years old—sure, you’re not exactly old, but you’re not that young either. Others your age might already have children old enough to ride horses. Why bother explaining?
Mudan, however, had just learned that he was twenty years old. After a moment’s thought, she smiled and said, “I suppose Master Jiang must be close to getting married then? When the time comes, do let me know so I can prepare a generous gift.” She had long known from Lady Bai that Jiang Changyang was unmarried, so this question was deliberate.
Jiang Changyang glanced at her quickly, then lowered his head and mumbled something.
Mudan didn’t catch what he said and looked at him inquiringly. Wu spoke up loudly, “Don’t laugh at us, Miss He. Our young master has very high standards. He’s handsome, capable, and kind-hearted. Who knows which lucky lady will have the good fortune to marry him!” Before he finished speaking, Jiang Changyang’s whip lashed out at him.
Looking at Jiang Changyang from the side, Mudan saw that after silencing Wu, he avoided looking at anyone, focusing intently on the nearly harvested rice fields in the distance. She didn’t realize that his face had turned red to his ears. Anyone could tell he was embarrassed. Mudan lowered her head and smiled slightly.
Mama Lin, who had been observing the situation from the carriage window, exchanged a smile with Mama Feng. She pulled her head back into the shadows, carefully observing Jiang Changyang’s every move, not missing a single word or expression.
In the end, it was the curious Yingniang and Rongniang’s countless questions that rescued Jiang Changyang from his awkward predicament. By the time they neared his estate, he had thoroughly explained the names and habits of various birds they had seen in the fields to Yingniang and Rongniang.
Wu inappropriately reminded him, “Young Master, we’ve reached our estate.”
Jiang Changyang glanced at the sky and said without hesitation, “I’ve heard that transplanting peonies takes a lot of time. I think we should just follow Miss He directly to Fang Garden and pick out the flowers first. That way we won’t delay Miss He.” He then looked inquiringly at Mudan and asked, “What are your plans, Miss He? Would that be convenient?”
There was no real rush, as Fang Garden wasn’t far from here. He could have come over after lunch without any issues. But since he had spoken up, Mudan couldn’t refuse him. She smiled and said, “I had planned to get this done today anyway. The earlier we can complete it, the better.”
Jiang Changyang gave Wu a few quiet instructions. Wu nodded and quickly rode off down a small path toward the Jiang family estate. Mudan asked, “Isn’t Manager Wu coming with us?”
Jiang Changyang smiled, “I’ve sent him to fetch something from the estate. He’ll join us shortly.”
Just as the group arrived at Fang Garden, they saw Wu galloping up, with a dripping bamboo basket hanging from his saddle. Noticing Mudan looking his way, he smiled and said, “I’ve brought some provisions.”
Mudan smiled, secretly guessing that the basket must contain some kind of aquatic product, though she wasn’t sure if it was fish. Yingniang couldn’t resist her curiosity and went over to ask, “Manager Wu, it’s still dripping. What’s inside?”
Wu smiled mysteriously and opened the basket cover a crack to let her peek. Upon seeing the contents, Yingniang couldn’t help but let out a small gasp of surprise. Rongniang also couldn’t resist and quickly jumped off her horse to take a look.
Mudan handed her reins and whip to a nearby servant and asked with a smile, “What is it? What’s got you two so excited?”
Rongniang clasped her hands together, unable to contain her joy, and said softly, “Aunt, it’s crabs!”
Hearing this, Mudan frowned slightly. Crabs were considered quite a delicacy at the time. Even in the He family, known for their love of good food, they didn’t eat them often. When they did, it was usually processed crab preserved in wine or sugar. Live crabs were particularly rare. No wonder Rongniang and Yingniang were so excited.
Jiang Changyang observed Mudan’s expression from the side. Seeing that she didn’t seem as pleased as he had imagined, he carefully said, “A friend sent them to me for the Mid-Autumn Festival. I live alone, so I don’t have much of an appetite no matter what I eat. It would be a waste. Besides, joy shared is joy doubled. I hope you don’t mind.”
Seeing the expectant looks on Yingniang and Rongniang’s faces, Mudan had no choice but to say, “This isn’t ordinary food. You’ve gone to too much trouble.”
Jiang Changyang looked a bit disappointed. He pressed his lips together and said, “No matter how good it is, it’s still just food that will end up in our stomachs. Forcing someone who doesn’t like it to eat it would be a real waste.”
Mudan smiled slightly and called Atao to take the crabs to the kitchen. She thought that since Zhou Baniang could cook frogs, she should be able to handle these crabs as well.
Only then did Jiang Changyang cheer up. Seeing Mudan busy settling Yingniang and Rongniang and transplanting the purple-spotted peony, he didn’t wait for anyone to attend to him. Instead, he took Wu along and wandered around the already taking shape Fang Garden, chatting with the workers and even enthusiastically correcting a few mistakes the workers had inadvertently made.
Zhou Baniang didn’t disappoint Mudan, serving a delicious feast that satisfied everyone. Jiang Changyang noticed that after eating one crab, Mudan washed her hands and didn’t eat more, though her expression clearly showed she still craved it. He couldn’t help but ask, “If you like it, why not eat a bit more?” He had always thought Mudan was a bit too thin and wondered what she might look like if she gained some weight.
Mudan calmly replied, “My health isn’t good, so I’ve never dared to eat too much of such cold foods. Not just this, but even raw fish I can’t eat much of. It’s just to satisfy the taste buds. Rather than eating my fill in one sitting, it’s better to savor it slowly over time.”
How could she expose her weakness like this? It’s that poor health that’s killing people! She’s better now! Not seizing such a good opportunity, was she trying to scare people away? Mama Lin was greatly alarmed upon hearing this and couldn’t help but tug hard on Mudan’s sleeve.
Mudan remained still, gently pulling her sleeve from Mama Lin’s grasp and smoothing it out. Her poor health had never been a secret, with rumors flying everywhere. What was the point of trying to hide it? How much could be concealed? Why deceive herself and others, only to be looked down upon?
Jiang Changyang observed their small interaction and smiled lightly. He wiped his hands with the handkerchief Shu’er offered and said, “Miss He is right. Everything tastes better when you can’t get enough of it. Even the healthiest body needs to be cherished to stay well.”
Hearing this, Yingniang and Rongniang quickly stopped eating and looked expectantly at Mudan. Mudan smiled, “Your situation is different from mine. You can have one more, but not too much.”
Seeing Yingniang and Rongniang’s restrained manner, Jiang Changyang knew it was because of his presence. He stood up with a smile and said, “Miss He if you’re finished eating, shall we go select the peonies? I heard from the young monk Ruman that you have many varieties in your nursery, more than he can count on his fingers and toes. May I have a look?”
Mudan smiled, “Of course. Why don’t we go graft them now? Please wait a moment while I change into more suitable clothes and get the tools.”
Jiang Changyang nodded slightly, watching Mudan leave. He noticed Mama Lin following closely behind her, frowning deeply and speaking seriously in a low voice. Mudan just smiled without saying a word. When Mama Lin became agitated, almost jumping up, Mudan finally patted her back soothingly and said something quietly. Mama Lin looked helpless and gently poked Mudan’s head. Mudan didn’t get angry but smiled brightly at her, and Mama Lin smiled back, her face full of doting affection.
Wu, standing nearby, said, “Miss He has such a good temper. If my nanny dared to poke my head, I’d slap her hand hard and tell her I’d chop it off to feed the wolves.”
Jiang Changyang glanced at Yuhe, who was waiting not far away to lead them to the nursery. His smile instantly vanished as he glared at Wu, saying, “You talk too much!”
Wu complained pitifully, “Young Master, what did I say wrong this time?”
Jiang Changyang glared at him irritably, then quickly smiled again and said in a low voice, “I did have a bad temper when I was young, but that woman wasn’t a good person either. Can you stop bringing it up? I just threw away one of your pouches. Why are you holding such a grudge? How many days are you going to be against me?”
Wu whispered, “I wonder who’s holding a grudge.” This attitude was clearly because he was afraid the little maid might overhear, so he was speaking so humbly.
Jiang Changyang stood in the nursery, looking around and listening to Yuhe’s enthusiastic introduction. He couldn’t help but nod inwardly. The nursery was divided into several large sections. One section grew many inferior peonies bought from various places to be used as rootstock. These peonies weren’t treated differently despite their poor quality and were cared for just as well, thriving. Another section grew herbaceous peonies, also kept for rootstock. There were small bamboo and straw shelters providing shade and protection from rain for newly grafted peonies, as well as various expensive famous peonies growing robustly.
Jiang Changyang confidently said, “This garden will surely become a famous one in the capital in the future.”
Yuhe smiled, her eyes curving, “Thank you for your kind words, Master Jiang. If it truly becomes so, it will be worth all the effort and exhaustion our mistress has put into it.”
Jiang Changyang smiled, “Heaven rewards those who work hard. Her efforts won’t be in vain.”
Yuhe’s eyes darted around, and she deliberately led him to a grass shelter, pointing out several newly grafted peonies: “Look, these are the ones our mistress specially grafted for you. There’s ‘Jade Tower with Emerald Moss,’ ‘Yao Yellow,’ ‘Wei Purple,’ and one ‘Two Beauties.’ Both the rootstock and scions were carefully selected.”
Jiang Changyang silently looked for a long time, then asked, “I remember Miss He planted a batch of seeds some time ago. Have they sprouted yet? Where are they? I haven’t seen them.”
Yuhe quickly led him over, pointing to several ridges covered with straw mats: “They’re right here.”
Jiang Changyang curiously lifted a straw mat to look, but only saw a bare patch of soil with a few tiny green sprouts barely the size of rice grains. He asked, “Are these the peony seedlings?”
Mudan, who had changed into clothes suitable for gardening, arrived and confidently said without even looking, “No, those are weeds.” She crouched down and mercilessly pulled out the few weeds, tossing them aside.
As Mudan approached, a delicate fragrance like a swift arrow entered Jiang Changyang’s nostrils, accurately shooting into his lungs, and then transmitting this scent to his brain. He felt a bit dizzy, only knowing it smelled very good, but unable to distinguish exactly what kind of fragrance it was. He heard his voice dryly saying, “I remember you planted them a long time ago. If they haven’t sprouted after so long, could it be they won’t come up? Were the seeds too old?”
There was silence all around. Wu looked at him exasperatedly, and only then did Jiang Changyang realize he had said something wrong in his confusion. Not knowing how to remedy it, he just looked apologetically at Mudan and said, “I don’t know anything about this. Please don’t be angry.” He only hoped she wasn’t the type to put too much stock in omens, believing his words might prevent the entire patch of peony seeds from sprouting.
Mudan just smiled slightly and said gently, “I won’t be angry. After peony seeds are planted, they can develop young roots in ten days, which then continue to grow downward. We can’t see them from above. To see the sprouts emerge above the soil, we’ll have to wait until spring next year, around late February. By early March, they should all be up.”
Hearing that they grow so slowly, Jiang Changyang decided to ask the end, “Then when will they bloom?”
Mudan said, “They grow very slowly. It will take quite a few years.”
Jiang Changyang let out an “Ah” and couldn’t help but say, “Isn’t that very uneconomical?”
Mudan pointed to the lush inferior peonies and herbaceous peonies in the distance and smiled, “That’s why we mainly rely on grafting onto these. All right, come choose the flowers you want to graft. Does your mother prefer more subtle, elegant colors or bold, contrasting ones?”
Jiang Changyang was still regretting his earlier misspoken words and said glumly, “I don’t know anything about this, unlike you who’s an expert. You can decide for me.”
Seeing his spirits somewhat dampened, not understanding why his enthusiasm had suddenly waned, Mudan enthusiastically recommended several options: “One way is to graft ‘Zhao Pink,’ ‘Bai Jade,’ ‘Luoyang Red,’ and ‘Two Beauties.’ These bloom earlier. Another option is to use ‘Hu Red,’ ‘Lantian Jade,’ ‘Yao Yellow,’ and ‘Luoyang Red.’ These are mid-season bloomers. We could also use ‘Bean Green,’ ‘Purple Cloud Immortal,’ and ‘Prosperous Incense Burner.’ These are late bloomers. Which do you think your mother would prefer? Or, when is her birthday?”
Hearing her speak so gently and in detail, Jiang Changyang inwardly mocked himself and smiled, “Her birthday isn’t in spring. Whichever you think looks best is fine. I trust your judgment.”
A person like Madam Wang, with clear-cut likes and dislikes, would probably prefer more vibrant, strongly contrasting colors, right? Mudan made her decision: “Then let’s graft ‘Hu Red,’ ‘Lantian Jade,’ ‘Yao Yellow,’ and ‘Luoyang Red.'” She smiled at Jiang Changyang, “If your mother doesn’t like it, you can’t blame me.”
Jiang Changyang quickly flashed a row of white teeth, “I won’t, I won’t.”
Mudan carefully selected a ‘Luoyang Red’ peony about a foot tall with a single trunk and multiple branches to use as rootstock. She examined it carefully up and down, took a sharp small knife in hand, and skillfully trimmed the pre-prepared one-year-old ‘Hu Red’ bud shoot into a wedge shape, slightly thicker on one side and thinner on the other, leaving about half an inch of cut surface. Then she took a relatively thick branch of the ‘Luoyang Red’ in hand, nimbly cut off its top, and made a vertical slit about half an inch long at the midpoint of the cross-section as the graft point. She inserted the lower end of the ‘Hu Red’ branch bud, aligning their cambium layers. Then she tightly wrapped it with hemp from top to bottom and neatly sealed the graft point with wax, closing off any gaps between the rootstock and scion.
Only then did Mudan breathe a sigh of relief. She then methodically grafted the branch buds of ‘Lantian Jade,’ ‘Yao Yellow,’ ‘An Red,’ and other varieties with different flower colors and shapes but similar blooming times and growth habits onto that ‘Hu Red’ rootstock.
Throughout this process, Jiang Changyang openly stared at her, from her focused expression and slightly trembling curled eyelashes, to her small, delicate nose with a faint sheen of sweat, to her lips pressed tightly together and slightly distorted from intense concentration, and finally to her nimble, fair hands. Those hands weren’t large, with faintly visible blue-tinged delicate blood vessels under the skin like white jade, looking very delicate and completely incomparable to his large-jointed hands. But when she gripped the knife and cut into those valuable flower buds, there was not a moment’s hesitation, decisive and clean without any wasted motion.
Jiang Changyang couldn’t help but raise his palm to look at it. He believed that when Mudan held the small knife to cut flower buds, it was the same as when he held a knife to do his work. In their respective fields, when operating that knife, he and she were equally perfect.
When Mudan finally grafted the last prepared scion, he let out a soft sigh and curiously looked at the peony that had been given new life, asking quietly, “So, next spring it will bloom with several colors of flowers?”
“Mm-hmm, as long as it’s managed properly, there shouldn’t be any problem. Next spring, nearly half the buds might bloom. To reach its full glory, we’ll have to wait until the year after next.” Mudan took the small knife and carefully removed all the suckers from the base of the rootstock, rubbed off all the axillary buds and adventitious buds on the branches, personally fertilized and watered it, then asked Wu, who was crouching nearby watching, to carry the flower to the grass shelter for shade and rain protection.
Just as Wu was about to reach for the flower pot, Jiang Changyang had already crouched down and picked it up, smiling, “I’ll do it.” He carefully carried the flower pot to the grass shelter, and seeing that it was tilting, he even picked up a small stone to level it.
Wu couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and just lazily watched him work with a smile.