To make spring dumplings, one needed mugwort juice. But it was only early February—the mugwort had just sprouted, the grass was tender and not yet fragrant.

Chen Shi was deeply troubled and tapped Yu Tang’s forehead: “Of all things you could mention, you had to mention spring dumplings. What’s so delicious about spring dumplings made at this time!”

Yu Tang smiled sheepishly.

Hadn’t she been thinking about Old Master Pei’s mourning period not yet being over? She had subconsciously mentioned spring dumplings. She hadn’t expected there would be so many particular requirements for making spring dumplings. Chen Shi felt the ones made previously were too crude and decided to remake several steamers.

But at this point, it was too late to change.

Yu Tang ingratiatingly hugged her mother’s arm: “Mother, I’ll help you.”

“You just stay out of the way!” As Chen Shi went to examine the premium lotus seeds that Chen Pozi had just obtained from the neighboring Wu family, she said irritably, “I’ve given up on you helping with kitchen matters, but you should at least put some thought into things. Are we supposed to eat amaranth in winter and winter bamboo shoots in summer?”

Yu Tang didn’t dare speak, sitting in a bamboo chair to the side watching her mother and Chen Pozi pick through lotus seeds.

“Old Master Wu’s family really knows how to enjoy life.” Chen Pozi looked at the uniformly sized lotus seeds in her hand and said, “Should we also wrap some with mung bean filling?”

Spring dumplings were usually filled with lotus seed paste or red bean paste.

Green glutinous rice dumplings—when bitten open to reveal red red bean filling or white lotus seed filling—looked delicious just at the sight.

Few families used mung bean filling.

Chen Shi thought for a moment, then said to Yu Tang, “Aren’t you so capable? Go find out what kind of filling Third Master Pei likes to eat. If he likes mung bean filling, we’ll make a bit of each kind.”

Yu Tang agreed and immediately left the kitchen.

Chen Pozi said, “Madam, aren’t you making things difficult for Miss? No matter what filling Third Master Pei likes, we can just make a bit of each…”

This time Chen Shi was determined. She mercilessly interrupted Chen Pozi: “She’s like this because you all have spoiled her. Third Master Pei has shown our family kindness. Never mind making spring dumplings ahead of time—even if he asked me to personally make a eight-treasure duck, I would be more than willing. But does anyone speak like that? Only thinking of quick words for the moment—what if the season isn’t right and we can’t make them?” Speaking of this, she became worried again. “This mugwort isn’t fragrant—we can’t make the taste of the Qingming season. Third Master Pei has eaten every fine thing—what if he dislikes it? We might as well send something else instead.”

Chen Pozi could only comfort her: “Doesn’t Miss love eating the spring dumplings you make? She thinks the spring dumplings you make are absolutely delicious, which is why she subconsciously mentioned them. Madam, please stop blaming Miss. You’ve been scolding her all morning. Fortunately Miss is filial and listened quietly without a word. If it were someone else, they would have run off in anger long ago. Besides, she’s not doing this for herself.”

Chen Shi fell silent.

In her previous life, everyone hadn’t even known what color clothes Third Master Pei liked to wear, what kind of carriage he rode in, or what kind of tea he drank. Finding out what he liked to eat… this was harder than having her pick a fight with Lin Shi!

But she could understand her mother’s feelings.

If the things sent to the Pei family didn’t suit Pei Yan’s tastes—flattering the horse’s leg instead of its flank, causing the opposite effect—that would be even more troublesome.

Sigh!

She didn’t know why she had been possessed to mention sending spring dumplings.

However, he was still in mourning. Mung bean filling and such should also be acceptable, right?

Yu Tang wandered around the courtyard for a while, peeking into the kitchen from outside. Seeing that her mother’s anger seemed to have dissipated, she then grinned and entered the kitchen, saying, “Mother, the more varieties we have, the better our family’s spring dumplings look. See what other fillings there are—we can make a bit of each. Doesn’t sending pastries emphasize having four or eight varieties? We can put together four or eight fillings!”

Chen Shi was too lazy to talk to her and instructed Chen Pozi, “Starting tomorrow, have Miss come help in the kitchen.”

Yu Tang was scared out of her wits. As she ran, she said, “Mother, I haven’t finished writing the ten thousand characters Father assigned me as punishment! Once I finish writing them, I’ll come accept my punishment.”

Chen Shi looked at her daughter’s retreating figure and thought of all the trouble she had caused since childhood. She couldn’t help but smile with pressed lips. She really did as Yu Tang suggested—preparing spring dumplings with four fillings of lotus seed, red bean, mung bean, and sesame, and asked Yu Bo to help deliver them to the Pei residence.

These past two days, Pei Yan had been so busy his feet didn’t touch the ground, either accompanying this person or that person. Fourth Master Song kept finding opportunities to approach him: “No other family knows us as well as our two families do. If we’re talking about cooperation, naturally cooperation between our two families would be best. If you really don’t want to manage affairs, then find one more family. Our two families will manage things, and you can sit back and collect dividends. What do you think?”

All things considered, he still wanted Pei Yan to be the guarantor.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but think of the Yu family.

Especially Miss Yu.

When even he was tempted on their behalf, she could still maintain clarity, knowing how many bowls of rice she could eat and what she could do.

Given the Yu family some time, their family would surely prosper.

Pei Yan brushed off Fourth Master Song: “These past few days, those coming to participate in the auction have gradually moved in. It’s not like you don’t know them—go talk to them one by one! What kind of situation is it for me to help make connections in the middle? Others will think I have ulterior motives!”

Fourth Master Song had long known that his young cousin was capable—whatever he wanted to accomplish, he could accomplish. No matter how much Pei Yan tried to brush him off, he wouldn’t leave: “I know them, yes, but I’ve never done business together with them. My heart isn’t at ease. For the sake of our family connection, you must at least help me think of ideas.”

As the two were engaged in this tug-of-war, the spring dumplings from the Yu family arrived.

Pei Yan took the opportunity to return to his study, and naturally developed some curiosity about the spring dumplings that were delivered. When he opened them and saw there was even mung bean filling, his heart immediately warmed.

He remembered he was still in mourning. Indeed, only the Yu family, only Miss Yu from the Yu family, would remember.

Although this young lady was quite utilitarian in her ambitious climbing, her utilitarianism somehow engendered goodwill—this too was a skill.

He ate a spring dumpling.

The taste was very ordinary.

But he still called Pei Man over to ask: “What has Miss Yu been doing lately?”

Pei Man was somewhat dumbfounded.

He was the Pei family’s chief steward—every day he had countless matters to oversee. Moreover, Miss Yu was a young lady. Even if he paid attention to the Yu family, he should be paying attention to Old Master Yu!

But when the master asked a question he couldn’t answer, that was his fault.

“I’ll immediately have someone go ask!” Pei Man said at once.

Pei Yan didn’t necessarily need to know, so he nodded and ate another spring dumpling, asking Pei Man, “How many boxes of spring dumplings did the Yu family send over?” After thinking for a moment, he added, “Take the others to the Old Madam’s place,” then added another sentence, “Also send some to the first branch and Second Master to taste something fresh.”

Pei Man acknowledged and left.

Pei Yan reclined in his rocking chair reading leisurely.

Hu Xing, Yu Wen, and Yu Yuan, meanwhile, entered the city travel-worn and dusty.

“We’ve troubled you for two days,” Yu Wen sincerely invited Hu Xing. “I’ve already had A’Tiao go ahead to inform the family. They’ve definitely prepared food and wine. Please let me treat you to a few cups.”

These past two days, Hu Xing had gone with Yu Wen and Yu Yuan to look at that mountain forest until his legs ached. For this reason, he didn’t refuse: “All right! Then I’ll impose upon you!”

“What words are these!” The three exchanged pleasantries and returned to Green Bamboo Lane.

Chen Shi had indeed prepared food and wine early. Hu Xing and the Yu uncle and nephew sat around a square table, drinking wine while discussing the Yu family’s mountain forest: “I don’t know who gave your young lady this idea. It’s not that sea buckthorn can’t be planted, but the cost is too high. But if you plant walnuts and such, with so much sandy soil, the fruit produced probably won’t taste very good. You could plant peanuts and such. However, peanuts have never sold for a good price. I can’t really make this decision. In the end, your family must decide what to do.”

Yu Wen chuckled, feeling that whoever tied the bell should untie it. He said to Yu Yuan, “Go tell your sister this and see what she says.”

Yu Yuan found a moment to go see Yu Tang.

Yu Tang was waiting for news and upon hearing this, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

The previous life and this life were ultimately different after all.

She hadn’t been idle during this time either, having people investigate the preserved fruit business.

Although the returns were higher than growing crops, it couldn’t earn big money either.

She said to Yu Yuan, “Tell Father to let me think about this matter further.”

Yu Yuan had also plunged in headfirst. Now he also felt they should slow down.

He went back and told Yu Wen, who then wasn’t in a hurry to make a decision. Instead, he opened his heart and drank with Hu Xing, drinking until Hu Xing was won over. By the end, he addressed Yu Wen as “Old Master Yu” with each breath, very respectfully.

Yu Wen also drank a bit too much and couldn’t even stand steadily.

Yu Yuan had no choice but to escort Hu Xing back.

As it happened, he encountered Pei Man on the way.

Pei Man knew what Hu Xing had gone to do. Thinking of what Pei Yan had asked him earlier, he couldn’t help but ask Yu Yuan, “Did the mountain forest matter go smoothly?”

“Not very smoothly.” Previously Yu Yuan still had a bit of the fearlessness of a newborn calf, but now that he knew more about business matters, he had become more cautious. He smiled and said, “If Chief Steward has any good ideas, feel free to tell me directly.”

“All right!” Pei Man readily agreed.

Yu Tang discussed with Yu Yuan: “How about we plant peanuts? I know of a kind of peanut brittle that’s extremely delicious. I have nothing much to do during this time anyway. I’ll have Chen Pozi help me make some for you all to taste and see if it works!”

In any case, there were no better ideas now.

Yu Yuan agreed.

So Yu Tang enlisted Chen Pozi and Shuang Tao to make peanut brittle at home.

Chen Shi watched from the side and said, “How many pounds of peanuts will this require?”

That was true!

Yu Tang felt somewhat dejected. Her desire to figure out why Pei Yan had made preserved fruits in her previous life became increasingly urgent. But at this time, Pei Yan was busy with the auction matters—she felt embarrassed to visit.

So what should their family’s mountain forest plant?

Thinking that the peanut brittle they made couldn’t be wasted, Yu Tang packed a box to send to the Pei residence. The remainder, after sending some to neighbors and friends, she prepared to save for when Yu Yuan married his wife.

In the blink of an eye, it was March. Even without going out, Yu Tang heard from Chen Pozi, who went out to buy vegetables, that there were more and more unfamiliar faces in Lin’an: “They all look like people from prestigious wealthy families. I heard Old Master Wu even lent out his small residence in the eastern part of the city. I wonder what’s happening in Lin’an?”

Neither Yu Tang nor Chen Shi acted as if they had heard anything.

Li Duan, however, felt extremely uneasy.

Before the lantern collection on the seventeenth of the first month, Lin Jue had returned to Fujian with that painting “Fishing in Seclusion by Pine Stream.”

He had previously thought that the master Lin Jue found had repaired the small damaged section in the middle. Only a few days ago did he learn that to save time, Lin Jue had only had the master roughly add a few strokes to the damaged area.

He didn’t know if those added strokes mattered or not.

The Pei family seemed to have something going on, yet all these local gentry and prominent families of Lin’an knew nothing about it.

He had a vaguely bad feeling.

It seemed some important major event was about to occur, yet their family had been excluded from the Pei family’s circle.