After hearing Wang Si’s words, Yu Tang was completely bewildered, suspecting whether there was something wrong with her memory. How could the events of her previous life be completely different from this life?
Could there be some inside story she didn’t know about?
And that “cousin” of Eldest Aunt from her previous life—was she or wasn’t she the Zeng family’s sister-in-law that Wang Si mentioned? Had she told the truth or lied in her previous life? If she had lied, that would be fine—she had merely deceived her. But if she had told the truth, and if that child was still alive now, she couldn’t just stand by and watch that child come to harm, could she?
Yu Tang felt a severe headache and could only instruct Wang Si, “Go and investigate more carefully for me.” Then she described in detail the appearance of Eldest Aunt’s “cousin” from her previous life for Wang Si to hear.
Wang Si scratched his head in confusion and said, “The Zeng family’s sister-in-law looks exactly as Miss described! But I really did inquire carefully. She hasn’t given birth to a son—she only has five daughters.”
He spoke with such certainty that Yu Tang had no choice but to believe him.
Yu Tang sighed inwardly.
Unable to find the person, whether those words from her previous life were true or false, she was powerless to do anything!
Thinking about all this, Yu Tang’s heart pounded chaotically. She always felt that many things from her previous life had an unclear, indescribable connection to the Pei manor and to Pei Yan, who had been in charge of the Pei household back then.
She suddenly very much wanted to see Pei Yan.
But for no particular reason, with the New Year approaching, this was precisely Pei Yan’s busiest time, and she felt too embarrassed to disturb him.
Just like that, Yu Tang waited until she accompanied her mother to deliver New Year gifts to Lady Pei.
The covered porch in front of Lady Pei’s main courtyard was filled with several families of womenfolk waiting to pay their respects to Lady Pei. Upon seeing Yu Tang and her mother, they were all quite surprised. One should know that at this time of year, there were not many families who could enter the inner residence and wait to see Lady Pei—everyone knew each other. The Yu family had only gradually grown close to the Pei family in the past two years after Pei Yan took charge of the household. As for the Yu family’s womenfolk, last year during the New Year they hadn’t been qualified to meet Lady Pei, yet this year they could enter the hall and pay their respects to Lady Pei. This made them reassess the relationship between the Pei and Yu families. While examining and sizing up the Yu mother and daughter, they all produced warm, enthusiastic smiles, conversing with the Yu mother and daughter in a manner that was neither especially fawning nor cold enough to make them feel neglected, introducing their various backgrounds.
Madam Chen smiled as she dealt with everyone, neither servile nor arrogant. This made Lady Yi, who happened to pass by, regard her with new respect. When she saw Lady Pei, she even praised, “Like mother, like daughter. Miss Yu is indifferent and easygoing in her conduct, and her mother appears to have a similar temperament. This mother and daughter pair are worth befriending.”
Lady Pei laughed heartily and received the Yu mother and daughter ahead of schedule.
Madam Chen first mentioned the gifts Lady Pei had sent home with Yu Tang, expressed her sincere gratitude, then wished Lady Pei an early New Year. As for the gift list, they had already handed it to the Pei household’s steward when they entered the manor.
Lady Pei smiled as she looked Madam Chen up and down. Very ordinary clothing, yet her appearance was delicate and moving, quite beautiful. Yu Tang appeared to have more liveliness in her features than her mother and didn’t quite resemble her—she must take after Scholar Yu more.
She nodded secretly and praised Yu Tang’s behavior during her stay at the house those few days. She also invited Madam Chen to come to the Pei family on the fifth day of the new year for a spring banquet, saying, “They’re all head madams who frequently visit the household. You needn’t be constrained—just bring Miss Yu along. She came up with an excellent idea this time.” She told Madam Chen about the Ku’an Temple matter.
Though Madam Chen had already heard about this from Yu Tang, if this matter earned Lady Pei’s praise, Yu Tang would gain a good reputation, which would be beneficial with no drawbacks, whether for marriage or anything else in the future.
Madam Chen was overjoyed and hastily agreed, as if afraid Lady Pei might change her mind.
Lady Pei was surrounded by too many people with requests, so she actually preferred people like Madam Chen and Yu Tang who said what they meant. Even when happy, they expressed it clearly without affectation, which suited Lady Pei’s temperament very well.
After returning from the Pei household, the New Year atmosphere grew increasingly thick. The entire Yu household was busy coming and going every day, everyone bustling about happily—this year, not only had the entire household been safe and sound, Yu Yuan had married and his wife was pregnant, the shop’s business had gradually opened up, they had bought farmland, and the business invested in Jiangchao had brought no bad news, which was good news… This year had been a year of harvest and prosperity for the Yu family.
During the New Year’s Eve dinner, Yu Bo personally added a bit of wine for everyone in the family while feeling emotional: “Our Yu family’s fortunes have finally turned.”
Eldest Aunt wanted to say something but stopped herself.
It would be even better if Yu Tang’s marriage could also be settled.
However, there was no such thing as perfection in this world. The family was already doing so well—perhaps even better things awaited in the coming year.
She smiled and raised her wine cup as well, saying, “Next year will be even better.”
Everyone responded with smiles.
Madam Chen was also very happy and drank half a cup of wine.
Previously she had worried about her daughter’s marriage, but after going with Yu Tang to meet Lady Pei, her heart had suddenly settled.
Her daughter had capability—even Lady Pei regarded her highly. Even if a suitable match didn’t come immediately, she could take care of herself and live her own life well. Wasn’t this precisely their initial hope as husband and wife?
In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival arrived. Yu Tang went out with her brother and sister-in-law to view the lanterns.
The Pei household sent someone to invite her to visit the Pei manor on the second day of the second month. The person who came to deliver the invitation was Third Steward Hu Xing. He said to Yu Wen, “I heard that during the New Year, the several young misses didn’t rest at all and invited a master to the house to teach them incense-making. At this year’s Lantern Festival evening banquet, the incense burned was made by the young misses. All the elderly ladies, old masters, masters and madams in the household said it smelled wonderful. I estimate that eight or nine times out of ten, Lady Pei is inviting Miss into the manor for this incense-making matter. After all, this matter was proposed by Miss Yu, and in principle and sentiment, your family’s young miss deserves an explanation!”
Yu Wen was extremely proud in his heart but spoke modestly: “This is also due to Lady Pei’s kindness. Please tell Lady Pei when you return that our family’s young miss will definitely visit at the appointed time.”
Hu Xing left happily.
Madam Chen nervously wanted to help Yu Tang make new clothes again.
Yu Tang stopped her mother, saying, “Lady Pei has a magnanimous temperament and isn’t someone who values these things. Moreover, since Lady Pei is a widow, wearing clothes that are too bright wouldn’t be appropriate either.”
Only then did Madam Chen call off her campaign. On the second day of the second month, she sent Yu Tang to the Pei manor.
Lady Pei was waiting for her in the hall. Besides Lady Pei, there were also Lady Yi and an elderly woman with a somewhat unfamiliar face, Second Madam and several young misses from the Pei family—a whole room full of people, very lively.
Yu Tang hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects, only then learning that this elderly woman was the wife of Pei Yong from the fifth branch, which is to say, Fourth Miss’s grandmother.
Lady Pei smiled and asked how she had spent the New Year and why she hadn’t come to visit the Pei family.
Madam Chen had been afraid that Lady Pei would have many guests and that their visit would tire Lady Pei instead. So they had only sent a visiting card on the morning of New Year’s Day according to custom, which counted as paying New Year’s respects to Lady Pei.
Yu Tang answered each question.
The several young misses of the Pei family chattered away. One said, “Sister Yu, you were too polite with us. We were hoping you’d come during the New Year, but you never came.” Another said, “I told them we should send someone to Sister Yu’s house to invite her, but you all said it wasn’t necessary. As a result, we only got to see Sister Yu today.” They made quite a racket.
Lady Yong frowned and said to Lady Pei, “You spoil the children the most. Look what they’ve become!” Her tone was somewhat stern.
The several young misses of the Pei family all immediately fell quiet.
Lady Pei laughed dismissively and said, “If children don’t make noise, should adults make noise instead? Let them be.”
Lady Yong said nothing more.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Then Lady Pei discussed the incense-making matter with Yu Tang: “Second Girl and Third Girl tried many times and finally succeeded before the Lantern Festival. The scent is also good. I’ve sent someone to deliver some to the steward to see how to sell this incense. I called you here this time to discuss this matter with you. In the next couple of days, we’re preparing to make another trip to Ku’an Temple to see if the nuns and lay practitioners at Ku’an Temple can make the incense.”
Yu Tang understood and said with a smile, “Just let me know when you’re leaving, and I’ll accompany you to Ku’an Temple.” As for her mother and eldest aunt wanting to help, she felt this wasn’t quite the right time to mention it. It would be better to wait until the Ku’an Temple matter was settled and everyone was helping before they joined in, to avoid having scheming people misunderstand that the Yu family was trying to claim credit.
Everyone discussed going on the fourth day of the second month, staying overnight there, and returning the next day.
Yu Tang thought this was quite good. When the time came, she could privately stroll around Ku’an Temple and see which people she recognized from her previous life.
Afterward, she was called by the several young misses of the Pei family to observe the incense-making.
Grinding powder, mixing ingredients, solidifying… After watching the entire incense-making process, Yu Tang was full of enthusiasm and prepared to take a few incense sticks home for her mother and eldest aunt to try, to see if they found them fragrant.
Third Miss told her proudly, “We also made loose incense and cone incense. Sister Yu can also take some home to smell.”
Yu Tang agreed with a smile. However, when the several of them turned around, they saw Nanny Chen hurrying past them with a grave expression on her face.
“What’s happened?” Fifth Miss asked in confusion.
Nanny Chen was an old hand serving Lady Pei and had always been steady in her work. They had never seen her look like this before.
Second Miss’s face turned pale, and she hesitated for a long while without speaking.
Third Miss, worthy of being her sister from the same branch, quickly guessed Second Miss’s unease and said hesitantly, “Could it be the Yang family…”
Apart from Second Miss’s marriage, they couldn’t think of anything else that could make Nanny Chen lose her composure like this.
Both Fourth Miss and Yu Tang’s hearts rose to their throats.
Fifth Miss immediately said, “I’ll have someone go ask right away.”
Yu Tang clearly knew she should avoid the situation at this moment, but she was more concerned about Second Miss’s emotional state, so she followed the several Pei young misses in waiting for A’Shan to return with news.
For a moment, the atmosphere became extremely tense.
Fortunately, A’Shan returned quickly.
Her expression was panicked. Before she had even steadied herself, she was already saying breathlessly, “This is terrible, terrible! The Yang family sent someone over, saying they want to act as matchmaker for Miss Gu…”