Yu Tang was truly terrified that history would repeat itself and she would become entangled with the Li family again. Yet she didn’t want to spoil Ma Xiuniang’s mood, so she quietly beckoned A’Tiao: “Go back and tell my mother that Madam Li lied. Before I return home, under no circumstances should she agree to anything with the Li family.”

A’Tiao was somewhat confused, but since Yu Tang had come today to evaluate the Li family’s second young master, and had just struck up a conversation with him, yet now couldn’t wait to get home before sending him with a message, this matter must be very urgent. He hurriedly agreed repeatedly and ran down the mountain in a flash.

Yu Tang’s heart settled slightly, and only then did she have the mood to accompany Ma Xiuniang to Brush-Washing Spring.

Ma Xiuniang, however, began to feel somewhat suspicious in her heart and said, “Did the Li family’s second young master say something improper? I heard them jeering just now!”

In her mind, a man like that absolutely wouldn’t do—no matter how good his family circumstances or how handsome his appearance, she couldn’t agree.

Having lived two lifetimes, Li Jun had never done anything to wrong Yu Tang, so Yu Tang couldn’t wrong him just because he was a member of the Li family.

She said, “That’s not it. I just don’t like the way he looks.”

Ma Xiuniang felt somewhat regretful and said, “Then there’s nothing to be done. It’s like vegetables and radishes—everyone has their own preferences. You can’t force it.”

The more Yu Tang spent time with Ma Xiuniang, the more she felt she was perceptive and considerate—a rare person worth befriending.

She smiled and took Ma Xiuniang’s arm, warmly calling out “Sister,” and brought up a topic she was interested in: “Have you and Young Master Zhang set a wedding date? When the time comes, you’ll still need to make furniture, order wedding cakes, and invite auspicious women—will there be enough time?”

“There will be!” Ma Xiuniang’s attention was indeed diverted. She happily spoke about her own matters. “As for furniture and such, my mother made me two camphor wood chests long ago. For the rest, we’ll prioritize the Zhang family’s needs—whatever there is will be enough…”

As the two chatted, they quickly arrived at Brush-Washing Spring.

Brush-Washing Spring was a small spring source. Below the spring was a small pool, half hidden in the mountain rocks and half exposed, no more than three feet wide and no deeper than knee-level, crystal clear to the bottom. Beside it were two trees as thick as rice bowls—of unknown species—yet their canopies spread like umbrellas, hanging low over the water pool, with unknown grass leaves floating on the water’s surface.

Seven or eight women were gathered around the small pool drawing water.

Zhang Hui stood with his young servant far away beside a large flat bluestone. When he saw them, his eyes lit up.

Ma Xiuniang smiled with pursed lips.

The two didn’t say a single word, yet their eyes and brows were filled with joy, making one feel happy just looking at them.

Seeing that the mountain path to Brush-Washing Spring continued winding upward, as if one could keep climbing, Yu Tang couldn’t help but smile and ask Ma Xiuniang in a low voice, “Why don’t you two go climb the mountain? Xique and I will rest here for a while, drink some water, and then leave.”

Ma Xiuniang’s face flushed red as she said in a low voice, “Why don’t you come climb the mountain with us?”

Yu Tang shook her head repeatedly, saying, “I’m tired from walking. I want to rest here for a while!”

Naturally Ma Xiuniang couldn’t leave her behind. She was about to say something when Yu Tang said, “I just saw the Li family’s second young master. I want to be alone and quiet for a while to think about what to do next.”

Ma Xiuniang thought this made sense and didn’t try to persuade her further. She gave Xique a few instructions, and seeing that the people drawing water had gradually decreased, she gave Zhang Hui a look and headed up the mountain first.

Zhang Hui didn’t know what had happened. He looked at Yu Tang curiously, and only after Ma Xiuniang had walked some distance did he follow.

Yu Tang truly was thinking about what to do next.

The Li family matter must be investigated thoroughly. Otherwise, even if she took in a son-in-law at home, it would be very easy for the Li family to deal with their household.

She had witnessed the Li family’s methods in her previous life.

For some reason, Yu Tang suddenly thought of Third Master Pei.

She suddenly felt that her thinking wasn’t entirely correct.

If they sought the Pei family’s protection, the Li family definitely wouldn’t dare casually deal with their household.

The problem lay in the word “casually.”

Why would the Pei family oppose the Li family for the sake of their household?

How important was what Lin Shi sought to the Li family? Would the Li family be willing to oppose the Pei family because of it?

Thinking of these things, Yu Tang felt somewhat irritated.

Why did their household have to depend on the Pei family or submit to the Li family?

When it came down to it, their household simply wasn’t strong enough.

But their family was small in numbers. Having her eldest cousin study now would be too late!

After all, distant water couldn’t quench an immediate thirst.

Was there a second path to take?

Continue doing business and move out of Lin’an?

Hangzhou Prefecture had even more officials and nobility, and they were outsiders who would find it very difficult to gain protection from prominent families. That being the case, they might as well stay in Lin’an. At least everyone around them were neighbors they knew well. The Yu family had always been kind to others—if their household had trouble, the neighbors would be willing to help.

In her previous life, after her parents died, she had received much help from them.

Alas!

It was difficult on the left, difficult on the right.

If Third Master Pei encountered such a situation, how would he extricate himself?

Yu Tang sat there with her chin propped on her hand, lost in worried thought.

Seeing her sit there quietly for nearly two quarter-hours without saying a word, Xique felt somewhat bored and went to a nearby spot where she could see Yu Tang at a glance, breaking off tree branches to make flower crowns for fun.

Someone else came to draw water.

Yu Tang casually glanced over.

It was a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy with his hair in twin buns, wearing a blue-lotus colored Hangzhou silk robe, holding a small wooden bucket in his arms. His face was round and plump, pink and tender, looking very endearing.

Sensing Yu Tang’s gaze, he looked at her curiously, then showed a surprised expression and didn’t move his eyes away for a long while.

Seeing no one else around and finding the boy quite adorable, Yu Tang smiled and teased him, “Do you know me?”

The boy seemed startled and hurriedly shook his head, not daring to look at her anymore, and turned to draw water.

Yu Tang found it amusing and her mood lightened.

The boy drew water while secretly peeking at her, as if she were a big tiger that could open its mouth and eat him—it was especially entertaining.

Yu Tang said, “What are you doing this for?”

Though the wooden bucket in the boy’s arms was small, it could still hold four or five catties of water. The boy was still young—carrying it for a short time would be fine, but if walking a long distance, he probably couldn’t manage it. Moreover, this boy was dressed as someone from a wealthy family yet was doing a servant’s work. He was probably a book boy kept by some gentleman, and this household was not only very prosperous but also quite kind to their servants. Otherwise, the boy’s expression wouldn’t be so lively and animated.

She felt this boy was eighty or ninety percent likely accompanying his family’s master to the temple for an outing.

The boy thought for a moment and said shyly, “It’s for the abbot to brew tea. My master told me to fetch water.”

With family servants dressed like this, it was quite normal to receive personal reception from Zhaoming Temple’s abbot.

Yu Tang smiled and said, “I’ve only heard that this spring water can brighten eyes and clear lungs when drunk. I didn’t know it could also brew tea. Is tea brewed with it delicious?”

The boy laughed at this and said, “It’s not delicious! But the abbot said that drinking tea clarifies one’s aspirations. Our master finds such pretentious elegance most annoying, but he doesn’t want to argue with him, so he just goes along. Anyway, our master won’t drink it.”

Yu Tang was stunned to hear someone evaluate Zhaoming Temple’s abbot this way… She felt this boy’s master was very interesting and giggled.

The boy watched and laughed along with her, seeming to grow closer to Yu Tang.

He placed the half-filled wooden bucket on a bluestone nearby and said, half complaining and half proud, “It’s true! Our master said that all this talk of ‘the world’s best spring water’ and ‘aged snow water’—those are all things idle literati made up to fool people. No matter what water it is, if you let it settle for a few days, it’s all the same to use. Our master also said that one of his senior brothers bought a boat, anchored it in the middle of the river at midnight, dove down three zhang underwater to fetch a bucket of water to brew tea, and even divided it by spring, summer, autumn, and winter. People all rushed to imitate him—it was all the rage for a time. They’re all lunatics.”

Yu Tang burst out laughing and gave the boy a thumbs up, saying, “Your master is a true gentleman with the spirit and character of the Wei and Jin dynasties.”

The boy showed a proud expression at this, picked up the small wooden bucket, and said, “The abbot and our master are still waiting for my water. I’ll go now.”

Yu Tang waved at him and said, “Take your time, be careful not to fall.”

The boy nodded obediently and asked her, “Why are you here alone? How about this—after I deliver the water, I’ll tell our master, and I’ll come keep you company until your family comes, then I’ll leave?”

“No need!” Yu Tang pointed to Xique in the distance. “I’m just resting here for a while!”

The boy looked relieved, smiled and bid her farewell, and left carrying the small wooden bucket.

Yu Tang continued thinking about the Li family matter.

If she didn’t rely on others, how could she escape the Li family?

What people or matters in the Li family could be exploited?

She slowly recalled what had happened after marrying into the Li family in her previous life.

The Li family had later made their fortune through overseas trade. Unlike people from Lin’an Prefecture, who found connections for maritime trade through Hangzhou, the Li family found their connections through Fujian—through Lin Shi’s maternal family. The Li family’s methods had only become ruthless after they suddenly became wealthy, with money as their courage and official positions as their umbrella. These were all things that hadn’t happened yet and couldn’t be used as leverage.

Of course, there was one more thing that could be exploited—Li Duan’s covetousness toward her.

But that was too disgusting.

She would rather die than exploit that matter.

Thinking of this, her eyes brightened.

What about Li Jun?

What if she exploited Li Jun?

For instance, Li Jun had died unexpectedly in her previous life.

What if she saved Li Jun, and holding this favor, demanded that Li Jun swear not to take her as his wife and not to be enemies with the Yu family?

The more Yu Tang thought about it, the more feasible this seemed.

The biggest problem was dispelling Li Jun’s interest in her.

That would require clearly and definitively rejecting Li Jun first, or arranging a match for herself as quickly as possible. Then have her fiancé save Li Jun.

A friend’s wife—he definitely wouldn’t dare covet her!

Yu Tang felt that days of pent-up frustration had dispersed in one morning, and her mood became wonderful.

However, in the end, she still needed to be self-reliant and independent.

It was just that she had no ideas at the moment and could only think slowly.

Having made up her mind, Yu Tang went to find Xique and made several flower crowns with her.

When Ma Xiuniang and Zhang Hui returned, she gave Ma Xiuniang several flower crowns.

To avoid Li Jun and his group, they didn’t eat vegetarian food at Zhaoming Temple. They bought several boxes of special vegetarian pastries unique to Zhaoming Temple, borrowed a secluded corner at a roadside eatery in Mituo Village, ate the dry provisions they had brought, and only after A’Tiao arrived to take them home did they each head back to their respective residences.