Once the thought arose, it spread like wildfire through weeds.
But this wasn’t the time to discuss such matters.
Yu Tang set the matter aside in her heart and turned to take the paintings, asking Wang Shi, “Should we store them away or have them mounted and hung up?”
Family connections were reciprocal—some fine items would be stored away to give as gifts on special occasions. Especially paintings by Zhang Hui, which not only carried literary fame but were genuinely excellent—they made the most dignified congratulatory gifts for discerning scholarly families.
Perhaps considering this point, Zhang Hui had only inscribed congratulatory words on the painting of grapes, while the other three pieces bore only her personal seal.
Wang Shi, however, couldn’t bear to part with them, saying, “I’ll have a master mount them and hang them in your elder brother’s study. I heard from Madam Wei that Miss Xiang studied in a private school for ten years.”
Hanging these paintings would add considerable prestige to the Yu family.
Yu Tang smiled with pressed lips and gave the orders without further comment.
After the second day of the second month when the dragon raises its head, the Xiang family sent people to inspect the new rooms.
The bride’s furniture had been prepared long ago. This visit to inspect the new rooms was ostensibly to see if anything needed to be added or removed, but in reality carried a hint of supervision—to see whether the Yu family had arranged the newlyweds’ quarters as previously promised to the Xiang family through the matchmaker.
Yu Bo had only this one son, and the couple valued heirs greatly. Not only did they repaint the three rooms of the eastern wing as promised to the Xiang family, they also built a decorative wall between the eastern wing and the main house and western wing, planted wisteria and similar climbing plants, turning the eastern wing into a small courtyard. They also built a two-room addition behind the eastern wing that could serve both as storage for Miss Xiang and as sleeping quarters for the maids.
To satisfy the Xiang family visitors, Wang Shi specifically led them to see the northern side room of the eastern wing that had been converted into a study.
The northern side room, fitted with two panes of transparent glass, was bright with light. The black lacquered pillars stood tall and solemn, and elegant, exquisite paintings hung on the walls.
The woman who came from the Xiang family was reportedly Madam Xiang’s personal attendant whom she had brought from the Shen family—she likely had some discerning eye. The decorative wall and small courtyard didn’t elicit obvious pleasure from her, but when she saw Zhang Hui’s four paintings, she was quite moved. She stood there gazing for a long while before smiling sincerely at Wang Shi, “In-law Madam has worked hard. No wonder the Old Madam mentions in-law Madam with such praise—this wedding is truly being prepared with great propriety.”
The principle was universal.
Since the Xiang family was satisfied with these paintings, they must also be very pleased with Yu Tang’s earlier idea of inviting all the scholars in Lin’an to visit their home.
As Wang Shi breathed a sigh of relief, she couldn’t help but praise Yu Tang, “It was all arranged by our niece. As you know, my second uncle is a scholar, and this niece has studied with her father since childhood—her vision and insight are unlike ordinary young ladies. For her elder brother’s wedding, I’ve relied on her greatly.”
When Madam Wei arranged the match for Miss Xiang, the Xiang family had thoroughly investigated the Yu family.
If not for the Yu family’s simple household and good reputation, no matter how uninvolved Master Xiang was with his daughter, he wouldn’t have agreed to this match.
The Xiang family visitor naturally followed Wang Shi’s words and praised Yu Tang repeatedly.
Wang Shi beamed with joy, feeling that the Xiang family wasn’t as difficult to approach as she had previously imagined. She took out some genuine sincerity and invited the Xiang family visitor to stay for a meal.
Goodwill was mutual.
Seeing Wang Shi’s sincerity, the Xiang family visitor’s anxious heart settled, and she treated Wang Shi with genuine warmth as well. The two families ate a harmonious meal together. When the attendant returned to the Xiang family, she inevitably praised the Yu family before Madam Xiang. Madam Xiang smiled and teased the attendant, “I wonder what benefits the Yu family gave you—you’ve only been there once and they’ve already won you over. If you go a few more times, I think your heart will be completely turned.”
The attendant’s face flushed red.
Madam Xiang didn’t take it to heart, waving her hand, “All right, you needn’t say more. If she can find a good family and live peacefully without causing trouble for her brothers in the future, why would I make a fuss? The Old Madam is overthinking things.”
The attendant dared not respond.
On the Yu family’s side, it was as if they had completed a major task. That evening, gathered together for dinner, Wang Shi cheerfully mentioned the Xiang family’s visit.
Yu Bo felt that this time he was truly humbling himself to bring in a daughter-in-law. If not for Madam Wei’s shrewdness and capability—her trained daughter couldn’t be too bad—and his son’s genuine affection, he wouldn’t have swallowed this indignity. But he also couldn’t bear to hear Wang Shi praise the Xiang family. He pushed the broad beans that Wang Shi liked toward her, saying, “Just say less. Eat quickly—it’s cold, the dishes are getting cold.”
Wang Shi awkwardly dropped the topic.
Yu Wen, who had been mostly silent, said to Yu Tang and Yu Yuan, “You two come with me to the Pei family tomorrow. Steward Pei sent someone this afternoon with a message saying Third Master Pei has matters to discuss with us.”
It must be about the map, right?
Yu Tang thought to herself, nodding repeatedly along with Yu Yuan. The next morning, they followed Yu Wen to the Pei residence.
The Pei family estate was like an immortal’s grotto descended to the mortal realm. Though the harsh winter had just passed, their trees still grew extremely lush. Walking along the same bluestone path they had taken last time, it felt unchanged from their previous visit.
Previously Yu Tang hadn’t understood, but living a second life, she now knew how much manpower and resources it took to maintain unchanging conditions through all four seasons.
She thought again of the Pei family’s shops in Hangzhou.
The Pei family must be even wealthier than they had imagined, right?
Yu Tang pondered this as she followed her father and brothers to the study where Pei Yan had received them last time.
Only a young servant boy was keeping watch in the study—no one else was present.
When the young servant saw people enter, he came forward to bow.
Yu Tang recognized this young servant as the boy she had seen at Zhaoming Temple and the old Yu family estate. She immediately felt the excitement of meeting an old friend in a strange land. As the young servant maintained a serious expression and formally served them tea, she couldn’t help whispering to him, “Do you still remember me? I remember you’re called A’Ming—is that your name?”
The young servant nodded solemnly like a little adult, but during a moment when the steward who had led them in was talking with Yu Wen, he flashed Yu Tang a cheerful smile, pointing at the tea snacks by her hand and whispered, “Fennel beans—they’re so fragrant!”
What a clever little imp!
Yu Tang’s heart melted. Seeing her father still talking with the steward, she whispered, “What is Third Master doing?”
The young servant called A’Ming immediately pressed his lips into a tight line and shook his head vigorously.
If the Pei family steward hadn’t been present, Yu Tang would have laughed aloud.
She naturally wouldn’t make things difficult for A’Ming. She patted his head and asked nothing more.
Soon, Pei Yan strode in.
Bringing the cold air from outside, he made Yu Tang, sitting near the door, involuntarily shiver. She couldn’t help but grumble internally at Pei Yan: On such a cold day, he doesn’t even heat the floor—what strange habits!
Today Pei Yan wore a moon-white fine cotton robe with a bamboo-green cloth sash at his waist. Beyond that, he wore no other accessories—this time truly plain.
Yu Tang felt quite uncomfortable looking at him, always feeling something was missing.
Pei Yan seemed very busy. After sitting down, he raised his hand to dismiss all the servants from the room, then got straight to the point with the Yu family trio, “I had people test the sea route—that map is genuine. I’m planning to set the auction date for the sixteenth of the third month. What do you think?”
Though his words were phrased as consultation, his tone was quite decisive, clearly believing this arrangement was excellent and the Yu family wouldn’t refuse.
The three Yu family members all changed expression simultaneously.
The sixteenth of the third month was Yu Yuan’s wedding day.
Why didn’t Pei Yan schedule it earlier or later, but specifically chose this day?
Moreover, when their family had initially proposed splitting the auction proceeds with the Pei family, Pei Yan hadn’t agreed.
Yu Yuan’s gaze toward Pei Yan couldn’t help but carry some suspicion.
He signaled Yu Tang with his eyes.
Yu Tang saw it but felt Yu Yuan was overthinking this matter.
The disparity in strength between the Yu and Pei families was so vast—Pei Yan had no need to employ such tactics.
Yu Wen was thinking that since Pei Yan had set this date, there must be a reason, but how could these two matters be managed together?
For a moment he had no solution and showed some hesitation.
Instead, Pei Yan was completely puzzled, asking strangely, “What? Do you think this date isn’t good? I asked the Tao family from Guangzhou to help with the trial voyage, but somehow this news leaked out. Now I don’t know how many other families have learned of it. I figured, rather than hiding it, we might as well move the date back a bit and let all the families interested in bidding participate. The auction price might not be as high as we initially thought, but with more people, we might end up with more money in our pockets.”
Clearly Pei Yan had no idea about Yu Yuan’s wedding.
Perhaps he’d been so busy with the map matter during this time that he had no time to pay attention to events in Lin’an.
Yu Tang said tactfully, “On the sixteenth of the third month, my eldest cousin is getting married…”
Pei Yan was stunned. He looked Yu Yuan up and down several times, saying, “How old is your eldest cousin? Why is he getting married so early?”
Most boys and girls in Lin’an married at seventeen or eighteen—her eldest cousin wasn’t late, but not particularly early either.
Yu Tang said, “My eldest cousin is the only male heir in our family!”
Pei Yan understood and decisively said, “Then let’s set it for the tenth of the third month. What do you think? Young Master Yu should be able to collect the silver from each family before his wedding.”
Then eldest cousin’s wedding could be properly conducted.
That’s what he meant, right?
Yu Tang couldn’t help but glance at Pei Yan.
She hadn’t expected this person to have such thoughtful consideration.
“Excellent!” Yu Wen felt it was better to get rid of this map sooner so their family could have peace earlier—the sooner the better, of course. “We’ll follow Third Master’s lead.”
Hearing this, Pei Yan smiled with satisfaction and called Pei Man in, saying, “Set the auction date for the tenth of the third month. Ride swiftly and deliver the invitations to the families we previously decided on.”
Pei Man acknowledged and withdrew.
Pei Yan handed the list of families he was preparing to invite to the auction to Yu Wen, then introduced them one by one and their backgrounds.
The Tao family of Guangzhou, the Wu family of Huzhou, the Yin family of Quanzhou, the Li family of Longyan… Any one of these families could crush the Yu family.
If they hadn’t asked the Pei family to step forward, even if they had the map to sell, they’d need to have the life to spend that money!
The more Yu Wen listened, the more he sweated, and the more he listened, the more grateful he felt in his heart that he had taken Yu Tang’s advice back then.