Pei Yan didn’t feel the least bit guilty and said: “Isn’t it all because of you! Can’t you just not go see those little brats? And A Dan—she comes every day. Can’t you talk to them and tell them to take a few days off? You’re their uncle’s wife.”

Wasn’t it just that she felt too embarrassed?

Before, everyone had played together like sisters. Now she had suddenly become Fifth Miss’s elder. It was already embarrassing enough—how could she have the nerve to put on airs in front of them?

Yu Tang said reproachfully: “Why don’t you say something? You’re their Third Uncle. Even when you keep a stern face, they act as if they don’t see it. Would it be any more useful if I said something?”

Pei Yan was at a loss for words and issued a final ultimatum: “I don’t care. Anyway, you need to chase them all away these next few days. Otherwise, I’ll take you to the villa for a few days.”

Wouldn’t that be laughable?!

Yu Tang was unwilling.

The two pulled and tugged at each other and tumbled onto the bed.

After the clouds gathered and the rain dispersed, Yu Tang hid under the covers and dared not show her face.

Pei Yan, on the other hand, was completely refreshed. He changed into an egg-blue plain Hangzhou silk long robe and even hung on his silver-white purse and gold seven-piece set. He said to Yu Tang: “I’m going to the front reception hall. The estate managers are about to arrive to report the accounts. Several household stewards need to discuss this matter with me!”

Yu Tang lay under the covers and hummed in acknowledgment.

That sound was both sweet and soft, reminding Pei Yan of Yu Tang’s delicate, snow-white skin. He couldn’t help himself. He leaned over the bed and lingered with Yu Tang for quite a while. Only after Yu Tang kicked him did he laugh heartily and leave the room.

Yu Tang really had no face to see Fifth Miss. When Fifth Miss and several others came over, she could only have Qing Yuan say she hadn’t gotten up yet.

Fourth Miss exclaimed in surprise: “Could Third Uncle’s Wife be pregnant with a baby?”

“Could she be?” Fifth Miss listened dumbfounded and asked Fourth Miss, “How do you know? Even my mother doesn’t know yet?”

Second Miss and Third Miss were a bit older and had both been betrothed. The nannies around them had taught them some matters about human affairs. Hearing this, the two couldn’t help but exchange horrified glances. Just as they were hesitating about how to stop Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss from talking nonsense, they heard Fourth Miss say with conviction: “Of course I know. When my cousin was pregnant with a little baby, she was just like this—sleeping during the day, sleeping at night, seeming unable to wake up all day long. My aunt said this was normal. Everyone is like this when pregnant. She also said that when pregnant, one person eats but nourishes two, so you absolutely must eat very well.”

Fifth Miss felt her words made sense and nodded repeatedly.

Third Miss thought that Yu Tang had only married over and hadn’t even completed a full month yet. If she really had a child, wouldn’t that be… If word got out, not only would the Yu family lose face, but even Third Uncle Pei Yan would lose face too!

She gathered up the two younger ones and said to Qing Yuan: “Since Third Uncle’s Wife is resting, we won’t disturb her. We’ll come see her again in a couple of days.”

Qing Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Those serving nearby had long seen Pei Yan’s dissatisfaction. Only Third Madam was still clueless in her heart. They had been wondering whether to remind Third Madam, but they hadn’t expected Third Master to be unable to hold back his anger and explode like this.

Now that the Pei misses were willing to temporarily not come over, they were naturally pleased.

Qing Yuan and the others happily saw off the several Pei misses.

Second Miss couldn’t help but wonder: “Could we really be that unwelcome? She wouldn’t turn her back on us just because she became our elder, would she?”

Third Miss always felt that this cousin of hers was prejudiced against Yu Tang. Hearing this, she smiled and said: “I feel we’ve been going too frequently. Third Uncle’s Wife just married in—she certainly has many matters to handle. Not to mention anything else, she has quite a lot of dowry. Just checking and cataloging all these items into storage would take considerable time.”

Second Miss disagreed, saying: “Whose dowry isn’t substantial? Are all those serving around her just eating for free?”

On this matter, Third Miss never argued with her, but Second Miss’s words made her involuntarily think of Gu Xi. She asked: “Do you know when Sister Gu and Elder Cousin’s wedding date is set for?”

Speaking of this matter, Second Miss pursed her lips with some dissatisfaction and said: “Elder Aunt said she needs to discuss it with her natal family first. Elder Cousin has already lost his father—he can’t lose his uncle too!”

These words made Third Miss unhappy as well. She said: “As if the Yang family uncle could really make it to Lingan.”

“That’s why Elder Aunt wants Elder Cousin to marry in Hangzhou.” Second Miss unhesitatingly poured out everything she knew like beans from a bamboo tube. “Grand-Aunt probably won’t agree, so Elder Aunt bought a courtyard for Elder Cousin in Hangzhou City herself, and even used her own private savings to renovate the residence. After Grand-Aunt found out, she was very unhappy. But Elder Aunt insists on this. Since they don’t need to inherit the clan leadership anymore, the family elders will probably agree to compensate them. But Grand-Aunt will definitely be even more uncomfortable then.” Then she commented: “I think she’s walked into a dead end, insisting on going against Grand-Aunt. She may be comfortable, but how does she not think about Elder Cousin and Second Cousin—how will they interact with the Pei family in the future? Sister Gu is also pitiable. Even before marrying in, one can already imagine her suffering between both sides. Who knows if this match is good or bad. Sigh!”

Third Miss thought more thoroughly than Second Miss. She smiled and said: “Which family isn’t like this—if not this conflict then that conflict. Though suffering between both sides isn’t pleasant, it’s still better than the Li family. Have you heard? Madam Li, Lin Shi, when arranging a match for Young Master Li, actually even went to view merchant families in Hangzhou City. The Li family is truly going to decline.”

According to their thinking, the more it was a time like this, the more they needed to hold on and find ways to form marriage alliances with official families to seek support in official careers—only then could the Li family turn things around.

“The Li family is just too short-sighted. Otherwise the Gu family wouldn’t want to break off the engagement either.” Second Miss said.

The young girls chatted intimately and went to play at Second Miss’s place.

Second Miss’s mother warmly received the household’s younger generation.

The Pei family had already agreed with the Yang family that Second Miss’s wedding date was preliminarily set for the second day of the twelfth month. Because Tonglu and Lingan were still two days’ journey apart, Second Miss Pei would need to depart for her wedding several days early, and they still needed to select people to escort the bride. This matter still required discussion between both families, so the wedding date hadn’t been announced publicly yet.

Second Miss wouldn’t be at home much longer.

Thinking of this made Second Miss’s mother feel unbearable heartache, so she inevitably indulged Second Miss somewhat, letting her act according to her nature.

Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss discussed whether they should go play at Yu Tang’s place tomorrow.

Third Miss said: “Better not. Let Third Uncle’s Wife rest well.”

Fifth Miss agreed.

Fourth Miss said nothing, but specially accompanied Fifth Miss on the way back and whispered to her: “I still think Third Uncle’s Wife’s place is more fun. There are so many good things to eat.”

Fifth Miss nodded directly and said softly to Fourth Miss: “Shall we go again in a couple of days? If we go at intervals, it should be fine, shouldn’t it?”

Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss reached a consensus. Upon returning home, Fifth Miss told Second Madam about Yu Tang’s “pregnancy,” also saying: “Fourth Sister said so.”

Second Madam was shocked and horrified. She lectured Fifth Miss for quite a while until Fifth Miss promised never to speak of this matter again. Then she went to see Old Madam Pei with a worried heart and tactfully informed Old Madam Pei of this matter.

Old Madam Pei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She said: “Before Yu Shi married in, I sent someone to check her pulse for peace and also made some qi and blood supplementing medicinal pills for her to take. If she were pregnant, how could I not know? You!”

She really didn’t know what to say.

This was also the main reason she couldn’t entrust the household management to Second Madam.

Second Madam’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Old Madam Pei took the opportunity to advise her: “In the future when encountering matters, you cannot fail to use your brain, but you also cannot use it randomly. Think about the causes and consequences—whether something is possible or not.”

Second Madam nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

But Old Madam Pei knew her capabilities were limited and it would be difficult for her to change. She simply asked: “How is the packing going? Still no news from A Xuan’s side?”

Second Madam quickly said respectfully: “Some infrequently used clothing, accessories, and furnishings have all been packed into trunks. Second Master only said he met with his teacher, also met with Official Zhang, and Zhou Zhuangyuan.”

Old Madam Pei then comforted her: “Don’t be anxious. Haste makes waste. Zhou Zhuangyuan now serves as Secretary in the Six Ministries. In the future, no matter what, when he emerges he’ll be able to serve as a Vice Minister in one of the departments. He’s also a warm-hearted person with good relationships with all three of their brothers—they should naturally maintain close ties.”

Second Madam didn’t understand court matters very well. She listened entirely to her husband and mother-in-law and stood respectfully in acknowledgment.

Seeing there was nothing more to instruct her about, Old Madam Pei raised her tea cup to dismiss her guest.

After Second Madam left Old Madam Pei’s chambers, she secretly scolded herself a few times. She inevitably felt somewhat apologetic toward Yu Tang, so she found several bolts of good fabric from the bottom of a trunk and sent them over.

At this time when it wasn’t a festival or special occasion, Yu Tang held the items completely bewildered.

Second Madam didn’t explain either. She only said that while organizing things, she had seen these bolts of fabric were good and suitable for Yu Tang, so she brought them over.

Yu Tang could only express her thanks, made a mental note, and thought about returning the favor later.

However, after seeing the several bolts of fabric, Pei Yan had new ideas. He summoned Wang Shi and several tailors to the house, personally drew patterns, and made clothes for Yu Tang.

Yu Tang only sought to sleep well at night. She felt it was good if it could divert Pei Yan’s attention, so she not only actively participated in deciding what kind of clothes to make, but also deliberately selected fabrics, saying she liked this one, didn’t like that one. She coaxed Pei Yan until he wanted to buy up all this year’s tribute fabrics and make them all into clothes for Yu Tang.

Fortunately, Pei Yan was very busy. In the blink of an eye, estate managers from various Pei family estates arrived in Lingan one after another.

Steward Tong came forward to receive these estate managers. After learning that Pei Yan had married, they all sent representatives—women from the estates who came to pay respects to Old Madam Pei—to also pay respects to Yu Tang. Some also went to the Yu family’s shop, met with Yu Yuan, and bought some lacquerware to take back.

At first, Yu Yuan thought their family’s shop had gained widespread fame and was extremely pleased. After returning home, he even boasted about it thoroughly to Xiang Shi. Later, learning it was because of Yu Tang’s connection, he felt dejected for a while. Fortunately, Xiang Shi comforted him: “This is human relationships and worldly wisdom—you can’t stop it. Rather than fretting here, you might as well follow your son-in-law’s method and make the household’s lacquerware well, so that when others buy and take it back, they feel it’s worthwhile. They might even recommend others to buy! In business, you shouldn’t give up any opportunity.”

Later, it really turned out as Xiang Shi said. The Yu family’s lacquerware shop gradually gained quite a bit of business from recommendations by these Pei family estate managers. Many farming households who were marrying off daughters or adding household items came to their shop to buy things. But of course, all this was a story for later.