Upon hearing this, Yu Tang sneered inwardly several times.
What did he mean by “no need to worry about it”?
Since he was telling her not to worry about it, then why tell her at all!
On one hand telling her not to worry about it, on the other hand telling her every single detail—what was the meaning of this?
Pei Yan was probably being contrary again, wasn’t he?
If not for Pei Yan’s earlier sarcasm, Yu Tang would have turned a blind eye for the sake of how well the Pei family had treated her and how much Pei Yan had helped her. But ever since Pei Yan’s sarcastic remarks, she felt she had been far too indulgent with him normally, which was why he acted so unrestrained, saying whatever he wanted, doing whatever he pleased!
When I accommodate you, naturally every word and phrase you speak becomes precious.
But if I let go of you, why should I care what you do!
Yu Tang was determined not to concern herself with Pei Yan anymore. Her words naturally became like those addressing an honored guest—respectful and enthusiastic. As for whether she would actually act on it, that was another matter entirely: “Then on behalf of my family, I thank you. No wonder people say Third Master is kindhearted and benevolent—following you means there’s always something to gain!”
Listening to this tone, why did it sound so obsequious!
Yu Tang wasn’t normally like this!
Pei Yan couldn’t help but scrutinize Yu Tang carefully.
Perhaps because they were having breakfast indoors at the moment, she wore a half-new, half-old crimson-colored robe with eight-treasure patterns made of Hangzhou silk, her jet-black lustrous hair neatly gathered in a bun at the back of her head, revealing bright, radiant features like the morning sun at dawn—so beautiful it captivated the eye.
Pei Yan frowned.
In the past, Yu Tang would definitely have pressed him with questions about what had happened. But now, she simply sat there quietly, smiling as she pushed the teacup at hand toward him, saying: “Please have some tea! This is ‘Snow Water Cloud Green’ that Third Madam Yang sent a few days ago. I found it quite acceptable, so I’m using this tea for guests. Speaking of which, the name is quite distinctive. ‘Snow Water’—when I first heard it, I thought it was because the tea was produced in the snowy peaks of the north! But Third Madam Yang told me it’s actually because the tea comes from Snow Water Peak…”
She rambled on chattily, as if making small talk, but upon careful listening, she hadn’t actually said anything of substance.
Pei Yan detested this kind of household gossip the most. Sometimes Yu Tang would also speak of such things in his presence, and he didn’t mind it. But for some reason, today listening to it made him feel irritable. He always felt Yu Tang’s words had hidden meanings, yet he couldn’t grasp the thread—it left him feeling somewhat powerless.
He simply interrupted Yu Tang’s words, saying: “Regarding the Jiang family matter, do you have anything to say?”
Yu Tang deliberately wanted to needle Pei Yan. She followed his example and said seriously: “I see you’ve already arranged everything. Coming from humble market origins as I do, I don’t understand such grand principles. If you’ve arranged things this way, you surely have your own intentions. We just need to listen and follow accordingly. What could I possibly have to say?” After finishing, she even showed a look of sudden realization and hastily added, “The Yu family has received so much kindness from you. When I return, I’ll tell my father and have him personally come to your door to thank you.”
Did I want your father to come thank me?
Pei Yan was terribly angry. He felt the cushion beneath him was hard, the tea was bland, and the room was filled with the lingering smell of food from earlier. Every moment he sat here made him more uncomfortable. He simply stood up and said: “Since you have nothing to say, then this matter is settled. When we return to Lin’an, I’ll naturally discuss it with your father myself.”
Seeing he was about to leave, Yu Tang didn’t try to keep him. She smiled warmly and responded “Yes,” then saw him out the door.
Pei Yan felt even more uncomfortable in his heart.
He felt Yu Tang definitely hadn’t grasped what he meant. If she knew he was essentially giving her family money and, moreover, had thought of ways to bring her family into the commercial circle that only major merchants from Jiangsu and Zhejiang could enter, she wouldn’t be so indifferent.
After all, in the past, when he had merely given her a few half-dead sea buckthorn plants, she had been very grateful and said many pleasant words.
For the sake of this matter, he might as well give her a few more pointers.
With this thought, Pei Yan stopped at the courtyard gate and said: “If Miss Xu plans to go out shopping for gifts to bring back to the capital, remember to also buy some appropriate gifts for Miss Xu to take back home. Reciprocity is the way to maintain relationships.”
Yu Tang truly hadn’t thought of this.
She was slightly taken aback, feeling that she needn’t bristle like a cat whose tail had been stepped on at Pei Yan’s good intentions, nor did she need to swallow her anger and not resist his malice—a normal attitude would suffice.
“I understand!” She smiled and thanked Pei Yan, “Thank you for reminding me.”
Pei Yan sensed Yu Tang’s sincerity and felt this attitude wasn’t bad. Satisfied, he nodded and returned to his own quarters.
Yu Tang, however, pursed her lips at Pei Yan’s retreating back, then took writing materials to Miss Xu’s place.
Miss Xu was cutting paper at her writing desk. Seeing her, she asked: “How come you’re here?”
To prevent Pei Yan from thinking of something and running to her place again.
Yu Tang thought to herself, but couldn’t very well say this to Miss Xu. She smiled and said: “What’s the difference between you coming to my place or me coming to yours?” She then asked, “Has Third Madam already gone out?”
Miss Xu made an affirmative sound and had A’Fu arrange a place for Yu Tang to copy Buddhist scriptures, then said: “She left early this morning, saying she wouldn’t return for lunch or dinner. You can just stay here and eat with me today!”
Yu Tang readily agreed and went over to help Miss Xu cut paper.
While cutting paper, Miss Xu chatted idly with Yu Tang: “The Zhang family must be in complete chaos now. I’m very close with the eldest young lady of the Zhang family’s second branch. Her father and uncle are both in poor health, so the family was counting on her eldest uncle having a long and prosperous official career. Who could have known such a thing would happen? Just thinking about it makes me sigh for their family. I’m in no mood to go out and play.”
Yu Tang felt this was natural human sentiment and said: “Then do you want to write a letter to the capital first to comfort Miss Zhang? With such a thing happening in her family, she must be grieving.”
Miss Xu sighed: “Isn’t that the truth! Most importantly, there’s her marriage arrangement—she’s having her coming-of-age ceremony in September, but out of respect for the eldest branch, no marriage discussions can take place for at least three years.”
Yu Tang then asked about the Zhang family’s affairs.
Miss Xu told her that Old Master Zhang had three sons and one daughter. The daughter was the youngest and already married. Although Zhang Shao was the eldest son, he had struggled with descendants. He had previously fathered several children who didn’t survive, and now only one son remained, just seven years old this year. The second branch’s eldest daughter had thus become the eldest young lady. But the second branch also had weak progeny—Miss Zhang only had one younger brother, nine years old this year. Her third uncle had two sons, one six years old and one three.
She said: “The Grand Dowager must be suffering the most in her heart. The Zhang family now faces a succession crisis. Lord Jiang isn’t favored by Old Master Zhang either, so who knows which family will maintain close relations with the Zhang family in the future. The fear is that the Zhang family will have to form a marriage alliance with such a family.”
In other words, having lost their heir, in order to preserve the connections and resources Old Master Zhang had accumulated so someone could inherit them, Old Master Zhang would select an heir from among his younger male relatives. And for this heir to look after the Zhang family members, the best method would be a marriage alliance between the two families.
Yu Tang said: “Are you worried Miss Zhang might marry someone unsuitable?”
Miss Xu replied wistfully: “I’m afraid the Zhang family will ultimately have no choice but to select the Jiang family. You should know, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jiang family is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Wu family of Huzhou. You’ve seen what kind of character the Wu family daughters have. If I had such a person as my sister-in-law, I’d be driven to death by anger.”
Yu Tang could only console her: “Didn’t you say Old Master Zhang doesn’t really like Lord Jiang? Much less for becoming in-laws through their children. Perhaps Old Master Zhang has his own plans!”
Miss Xu pouted: “Then it would be better to marry into the Shen family. At least they’re a scholarly family for generations, Lord Shen is gentle and tolerant, and the women of the household are all honest and proper. It’s just that the young masters of the Shen family are all rather mediocre at their studies, which is somewhat worrying.”
Yu Tang thought carefully and recalled that one of the Shen family’s young masters seemed to have taken the imperial examination the same year as Li Duan.
It seemed to be the one with the courtesy name “Recluse of Jing’an.”
Thinking of the relationship between the Zhang family and Pei Yan, she felt she should help the Zhang family. But the words were already on the tip of her tongue when she thought again—if the Zhang family formed a marriage alliance with the Shen family, wouldn’t Old Master Zhang’s resources lean toward his granddaughter’s husband?
If the Pei family in her previous life managed to avoid those disasters, what if it was related to the Zhang family’s strong support? If she rashly offered suggestions in this life and it caused losses for the Pei family?
Their discord was one thing, but she couldn’t harm the foundation because of that discord.
Yu Tang pondered for a long while and decided she should first ask Pei Yan before making a decision.
She chatted intermittently with Miss Xu, and after finishing cutting the paper, they began copying Buddhist scriptures.
Miss Xu said: “I’ll also copy one for Miss Zhang and pray for the Buddha to bless her with everything going smoothly.”
Yu Tang smiled: “It seems you and Miss Zhang have a very good relationship!”
Miss Xu said: “We grew up together. When I was little and my mother took me to the temple to worship Buddha, her mother would also take her. While the adults went to hear the scriptures preached, the two of us would play together in the courtyard. It’s a pity the Yin family doesn’t have many people, otherwise I would have hoped we could become sisters-in-law!”
With company, time passed quickly, and the day was over in the blink of an eye.
Yu Tang and Miss Xu had nearly finished copying their Buddhist scriptures. They agreed to copy scriptures again tomorrow, then go to Lingyin Temple the day after.
This news quickly reached Pei Yan’s ears.
Pei Yan discussed with Yin Hao: “Tomorrow we’ll go visit Wang Qibao. The day after, everyone will rest, and I need to go to Lingyin Temple.”
Yin Hao asked in surprise: “At this time, why are you going to Lingyin Temple? Tomorrow we’re visiting Wang Qibao, but Tao Qing hasn’t arrived yet. Will it just be you and me going? What will we say when we get there? What’s the point?”
Pei Yan said: “We’re originally making these efforts for the Tao family. It would naturally be good if Tao Qing came, but if he’s not here, some things are actually more convenient for us to discuss.”
Yin Hao felt Pei Yan was being completely unreasonable. He looked at Pei Yan in confusion.
Pei Yan paid no attention to Yin Hao. Returning to his room, he asked A’Cha: “Did Miss Yu not go out today?”
Hadn’t they agreed not to go out?
A’Cha didn’t understand.
Pei Yan thought to himself that there was indeed a reason why he left this estate unused.
He asked again: “Has Miss Yu sent any letters back to Lin’an?”
He had given the Yu family such a huge opportunity—Yu Tang should be very happy and eager to send word to her father, asking him to come discuss the details with him.
A’Cha thought carefully for a moment, then shook his head: “No! Miss Yu stayed at Miss Xu’s place today and didn’t go out all day. Sister Shuang Tao was also serving nearby and didn’t send us on any errands.”
What was Yu Tang up to?
Did she not believe what he said? Or was she planning to make arrangements after returning to Lin’an?