When the Yu family’s visiting card was delivered into Pei Yan’s hands, Pei Yan was practicing calligraphy in the study of the waterside pavilion.
The autumn wind blew past, and willow leaves fell one after another into the lake, where several koi poked their heads out, chasing after the floating willow leaves.
He opened the visiting card and glanced at it casually, asking the servant who delivered it: “Did the Yu family say anything else?”
The servant lowered his eyelids and replied respectfully: “They didn’t say much, only that they wished to visit you tomorrow.”
Pei Yan nodded and picked up his Xiangfei bamboo brush again, saying indifferently: “Go tell the head steward and have him make arrangements.”
The servant acknowledged and left.
A’Ming, who was grinding ink for Pei Yan, hesitated for a long while before saying softly: “Third Master, aren’t you going to audit the accounts tomorrow? Should I inform Mister Chen?”
Mister Chen’s name was Chen Qi. After Pei Yan formally took charge of the Pei household, he had hired this accountant from outside. He now managed the Pei household’s accounts.
Without looking up, Pei Yan said: “No need. A’Man knows what to do.”
A’Ming responded with an “oh” and continued grinding ink with his head lowered.
The Third Master had to write two thousand small regular script characters every day. At first, after a full day his hands couldn’t even be lifted, but now he had gradually grown accustomed to it and actually found it quite easy.
At Qingzhu Lane, after Yu Wen received the reply, he invited Old Master Wu over: “Should we go together tomorrow?”
Old Master Wu was secretly surprised. Just last night he had been drinking with a gentleman surnamed Huang from the city. Old Master Huang wanted to seek an audience with Pei Yan regarding the autumn harvest, but Pei Yan said he needed to audit accounts, and if the matter wasn’t urgent, told Old Master Huang to see Head Steward Pei instead.
Yet Yu Wen had only submitted his visiting card today and could already enter the household tomorrow.
This showed that Yu Wen’s relationship with the Pei family was much closer than he had thought.
He recalled the scene when the Yu family shop opened for business.
Pei Yan had personally attended to offer his congratulations.
Old Master Wu observed Yu Wen calmly and imperceptibly.
Still that refined and cultured scholarly appearance.
Had he previously underestimated Yu Wen? Underestimated the Yu family?
Old Master Wu rubbed his head and said: “Tomorrow I won’t go with you. Without others present, it’ll be easier for you both to talk.”
Yu Wen felt a bit embarrassed about meeting Pei Yan.
The Pei family had helped them so much, yet the silver they received hadn’t even warmed in their hands before six thousand taels were gone. It would be better if Old Master Wu wasn’t present tomorrow, so he wouldn’t have difficulty apologizing to Pei Yan with someone else there.
The next day, Yu Wen hired a sedan chair and went to the Pei household.
When Yu Tang learned of this, she couldn’t help complaining: “Father went to the Pei household without saying a word. The peanut brittle we made yesterday is even better than last time.”
Chen Shi just laughed and said: “Then tomorrow we’ll have A’Tiao make another trip to the Pei household.”
Yu Tang nodded.
Pei Yan assumed Yu Wen had come because of those six thousand taels of silver, and was still pondering how to persuade him not to hope for much compensation from the Ningbo side. Who would have expected Yu Wen to bring up Jiang Chao instead: “He’s quite a decent person, ambitious and honest in keeping his word. He wants me to help introduce him to meet you. I couldn’t make decisions for you, so here I am to ask.” Regarding those six thousand taels of silver, he only said he had let down Pei Yan’s kind intentions, that he wasn’t cut out for business and probably didn’t have the fortune for unexpected gains, adding: “You see, the silver from auctioning the maps was an unexpected windfall, but it disappeared in the blink of an eye.”
His words were quite magnanimous.
Pei Yan looked at him with new respect and said: “What does Jiang Chao want to see me about?”
Yu Wen was also frank in his reply: “He says he wants you to put in a word with the Ningbo prefect’s side, but I think he mostly just wants to get to know you. He also mentioned that your family has produced four jinshi scholars in one generation. We locals have all forgotten about Master Wang.”
The corner of Pei Yan’s mouth twitched.
It wasn’t that outsiders had forgotten Pei Wang, but that the Pei family had deliberately downplayed his existence.
“I understand,” he said. “Since he’s come to you with this request, and we’re all from the same area, it would be improper not to see him. Have him come see me in four or five days. I need to go to Hangzhou city these next few days to audit some accounts.” Then he brought up the matter of seeing Yu Tang last time: “Did she run off to the Li family to watch the excitement?”
Yu Wen felt ashamed.
He and Old Master Wu had wanted to secretly buy the Li family’s fields behind the Pei family’s back, never expecting that Third Master Pei had known all along.
“Watch the excitement?” Yu Wen felt guilty and didn’t know how to answer Pei Yan for a moment. He laughed awkwardly: “How would she watch the excitement? They sold their fields privately to someone. She couldn’t very well run to the Li family’s gate to gawk, could she? And even if she went, the Li family’s gate was tightly shut—there’d be nothing to see!”
Pei Yan looked at Yu Wen strangely.
Did the Li family’s excitement consist of street performances at their front gate?
No wonder the Yu family’s affairs required Miss Yu to handle them. Though Yu Wen was a xiucai, judging by this, his studies had probably made him somewhat pedantic.
It would probably be exhausting to explain anything to him.
Too lazy to continue talking with Yu Wen, Pei Yan raised his tea cup.
Yu Wen knew it wasn’t appropriate to stay longer and rose to take his leave.
That afternoon, Pei Yan went to Hangzhou city.
Jiang Chao could only wait at the Yu household for Pei Yan’s return.
Yu Wen and Old Master Wu played host, taking him around to see the sights. Unfortunately, Lin’an city was only so large, and they didn’t dare go too far. In just two or three days, there were no more novel places to visit.
Jiang Chao had spent years traveling between Suzhou and Zhejiang and could be considered somewhat knowledgeable. Though Lin’an’s scenery was beautiful, it couldn’t be called unparalleled under heaven. With his mind preoccupied with meeting Pei Yan in a few days, he had no interest in continuing to sightsee. He simply said: “After climbing mountains for several days straight, my legs have started trembling. I’m no match for you two elder brothers’ stamina. How embarrassing! How embarrassing!”
Hearing this, Old Master Wu understood his meaning and laughed heartily: “We’re also at the end of our strength, sacrificing ourselves to keep you company. Since Brother Jiang puts it that way, let’s rest for a couple of days and wait for Third Master Pei to return.”
Jiang Chao settled down at Yu Wen’s house, carefully pondering in his mind what to say when he met Pei Yan, and how to move Pei Yan and make him feel that he was a useful talent.
An opportunity like this might only come once in his lifetime.
After calculating this and that in his mind for an entire day, by afternoon he inevitably felt somewhat dizzy and disoriented. Thinking that dinner would soon be served, he headed toward the main hall with his servant A’Zhou.
Passing through the courtyard, he saw a young lady about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a silver-red plain Hangzhou silk jacket and a white embroidered skirt. Her hair was jet black and her skin snow white. She was directing the Yu family’s servant woman and maid in packing boxes, and as they packed, she instructed: “Be careful! Don’t fold any of the edges or corners. That person is extremely particular. If he sees folded corners, he’ll probably assume it’s been sitting around for several days and won’t even taste a bite.”
Jiang Chao’s gaze fell upon those boxes.
At a glance, they were clearly boxes for packing pastries. Clean and white, without a single character or pattern.
For gifts, shouldn’t red boxes be used?
These boxes looked like… the kind used for ritual offerings.
He couldn’t help but take a few more looks.
The young lady turned around.
He saw a beautiful face.
A pair of eyes like shimmering water, bright and clear with distinct black and white. The corners of her mouth held a smile, as cheerful as a bee circling flowers.
“Is this… Miss Yu?” he asked A’Zhou in a low voice.
A’Zhou stood on tiptoe to look and then laughed, saying cheerfully: “Yes, that’s the eldest miss of the Yu family. She’s really good at making pastries. The peanut brittle she makes is especially delicious. A’Tiao gave me one a couple days ago.”
Miss Yu was very pretty.
Jiang Chao thought that standing here like this was inappropriate after all, and was about to turn and leave when Yu Tang’s gaze happened to sweep over.
So this person is Jiang Chao!
Yu Tang secretly observed him twice.
He was quite handsome, though rather different from Jiang Ling. One was thin, small and frail, while the other was tall and confident.
Perhaps this was the difference between men and women?
Yu Tang pondered this and nodded politely at Jiang Chao.
Jiang Chao hastily bowed to Yu Tang and left the courtyard, walking quickly toward the main hall.
Yu Wen wasn’t there.
Jiang Chao asked A’Zhou in a low voice: “Do you know what Miss Yu is doing? Where are those pastries being sent?”
A’Zhou smiled and said: “It’s peanut brittle that Miss Yu made, being sent to the Pei household. I heard that Third Master of the Pei household really likes eating it. When the head steward from the Pei family came to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts last time, he specifically mentioned it. Now that the Yu family has received fresh peanuts, Miss Yu specially made this peanut brittle to send over.”
Jiang Chao let out an “oh.”
The relationship between the Yu family and the Pei family was actually this good!
When he saw Yu Wen again, he was several degrees warmer, and began confirming Pei Yan’s temperament with Yu Wen: “I made some inquiries, but people couldn’t really say. It seems they say that Third Master Pei didn’t used to spend much time in Lin’an, and only took over the Pei household and settled permanently in Lin’an after Old Master Pei passed away. I heard he’s somewhat moody and unpredictable—is that true?”
Upon hearing this, Yu Wen’s brows knitted tightly together, and he said with displeasure: “Who told you Third Master Pei is moody and unpredictable? That’s complete slander! Third Master Pei is chivalrous and warm-hearted, just like Old Master Pei—very willing to help people. It’s just that at his young age, he still has some sharp edges…”
Jiang Chao listened absentmindedly to his praise of Pei Yan, not entirely convinced.
If Pei Yan was truly such a person, why would Miss Yu be so careful even about the boxes for packing pastries?
Either Master Yu was putting powder on Pei Yan’s face, or he simply didn’t understand Pei Yan.
The image of Yu Tang’s large smiling eyes suddenly floated into his mind.
Perhaps Miss Yu knew more?
His heart stirred, and he said: “Brother Yu, I saw Miss Yu preparing pastries to send to the Pei household. Do you know whether Third Master Pei prefers sweet or savory foods? When I go to the Pei household, what should I give that would be neither improper nor leave a deep impression on Third Master Pei?”
Yu Wen coughed lightly twice—he really couldn’t help him with this.
“I’ll go ask the people at home,” he said. “I usually don’t manage these matters!”
Jiang Chao thanked him with a smile and gave A’Zhou a meaningful glance.
After finishing dinner and returning to the guest room, A’Zhou quietly told Jiang Chao: “The list Master Yu just made for you—he got it by asking Miss Yu.”
Just as his intuition had told him.
Should he find an opportunity to speak a few words with Miss Yu?
Jiang Chao paced back and forth in the room for most of the night, and finally asked Yu Wen to show Yu Tang the gift list he had prepared for Pei Yan.
Yu Wen didn’t think much of it and gave the list to Yu Tang.
Two bundles of Xuetao paper, twoå¾½inkstones from the Li family, two boxes of Hu brushes from the Wu family, two sets of floral scented ink sticks from the Hu family, a pair of boxwood paperweights from Liufang Studio… all were rare treasures among the Four Treasures of the Study.
Yu Tang laughed: “Didn’t they say Master Jiang didn’t even have a change of clothes? How can he still be so generous in sending things to the Pei household?”
“This shows that he’d rather go without food and drink than keep reserves ready to turn his fortunes around at any time!” Yu Wen sighed. “That’s why Father wants to help him!” He added: “Every time you send something, I see Third Master Pei seems quite pleased. Just help him look over the gift list properly. A’Tiao just came back and said that when the Pei household steward received the peanut brittle they sent, he took it directly to the inner residence.”