Also unable to sleep was the mother of the young thief.

Hearing movement in the Yu household, the young man’s mother efficiently tidied herself and went out. Seeing Chen Pozi sweeping the courtyard, she said nothing but found a broom and began cleaning. When Chen Pozi tried to stop her, she clutched the broom and begged pitifully: “Please just let me help your family with some work. Otherwise, how will I have the face to see Madam Yu?”

Chen Pozi couldn’t dissuade her, so she simply handed over the courtyard sweeping to her and went to busy herself in the kitchen.

The young man’s mother was quite happy about it and swept the courtyard meticulously.

Yu Tang stood by the window, listening to the swishing sound of sweeping. After thinking for a moment, she went to knock on A’Tiao’s door.

A’Tiao opened the door yawning. Seeing it was Yu Tang, he jolted awake and hurriedly said: “Miss, is there something you need?”

Yu Tang said: “Bring that thief out.”

A’Tiao went to fetch him.

Perhaps having slept poorly, the young man looked listless, his eyes as red as peach pits.

Yu Tang pointed at the woman sweeping and said: “Look, the good deed you’ve done—yet your mother must help repay it for you. Even before dawn today, she’s been helping our family sweep the courtyard.”

The young man’s eyes immediately moistened.

Yu Tang said: “My eldest cousin has already gone to fetch my father. Whatever you have to say, tell me now. Otherwise, when my father investigates and finds out, you’ll be in deep trouble.”

“I’ve already told you everything I know.” The young man wept and sobbed: “I truly won’t dare do this again.”

Seeing she couldn’t get anything more out of him, Yu Tang instructed A’Tiao to watch him carefully and went to see Chen Shi.

Chen Shi hadn’t slept well either and was rubbing her temples.

Yu Tang called out “Mother” and went over to massage her mother’s temples, comforting her: “Don’t worry. Brother has already gone to find Father. In the future, people definitely won’t be able to steal from us so easily.”

“I hope so!” Chen Shi sighed.

Yu Tang thought for a moment and said: “Yesterday we received so much help from the neighbors. Do you think we should make some pastries to send to each household as thanks?”

“We should, we should.” Hearing this, Chen Shi’s spirits lifted. She praised: “Our A’Tang has become a young lady now—she understands all these social proprieties.”

She looked quite gratified.

Yu Tang smiled with her lips pressed together.

With something to do, Chen Shi stopped dwelling on last night’s events.

After breakfast, she and Chen Pozi made a pot of white sugar cakes. Taking out the household’s tea leaves, she carefully divided them into several portions, then took Yu Tang to thank each family one by one. By the time the gifts were all delivered, it was noon and time for the midday meal.

Yu Wen rushed back, riding Old Master Wu’s mule.

Chen Shi asked curiously: “Where’s A’Yuan?”

Yu Wen spoke evasively: “I had him go handle some matters. Is the meal ready? I still need to return the mule to Old Master Wu’s house later—I should prepare a generous gift. He was a great help with last night’s affair.”

Clearly he was hiding something from Chen Shi.

Seeing his poor spirits, Chen Shi instructed Yu Tang to go to the kitchen to help Chen Pozi set the table while she personally drew water to attend to Yu Wen’s washing.

Yu Wen changed his clothes and washed his face, then asked Chen Shi: “Where are that thief and his mother?”

Chen Shi said: “In the woodshed. They’re probably too embarrassed to see anyone.”

Yu Wen didn’t concern himself with the mother and son. After eating with Chen Shi and Yu Tang, he carried tea, wine, and pastries to personally return the mule to the Wu family. Only then did he sit down properly to talk with Chen Shi and Yu Tang: “After going to Old Master Wu’s house, I went to the village head. In all these years, Bamboo Alley has never produced a thief—this young man cannot stay. But for the neighbors’ sake, I won’t send him to the authorities. I’ll hand him over to his clan for punishment. The village head agreed. He’ll come shortly to take them away.”

Chen Shi breathed a sigh of relief and said: “That’s good—it avoids ruining Bamboo Alley’s reputation.” Then she asked about Lu Xin: “Have you set an auspicious date for the burial? Is there anything you need our help with?”

Bringing up this matter made Yu Wen’s mood sink. He said: “This whole affair is my fault—how can I involve you all further? I’ve arranged with the monks at the temple for the burial tomorrow. When the time comes, I’ll just have A’Yuan help out. You should rest well at home and do whatever you need to do.”

As they were speaking, Yu Yuan returned.

Yu Wen then said to Chen Shi: “I’ll need to return to the temple shortly. Lu Xin has no children, so I’ll keep vigil for him tonight. The weather is getting colder—pack me two thick garments to take to the temple.”

Chen Shi agreed and left.

Yu Wen immediately called Yu Tang over, saying quietly: “Come with me to the study to talk.”

Yu Tang guessed her father wanted to ask about the painting. She nodded and tiptoed after her father to the study.

Yu Yuan was also there.

The three huddled together, speaking in low voices.

Only then did Yu Tang learn that Yu Yuan had made a trip to the gambling house on Yu Wen’s orders. The gambling house manager refused to admit he was acting on someone else’s behalf, insisting that he had heard their family possessed such a painting and, not wanting to spend silver on it, had hired a hoodlum to steal from their house.

With the gambling house manager taking this stance, Yu Yuan had no way to ask him to act as intermediary.

As for Lu Xin’s death, there were no findings.

Yu Wen said: “At the time, I only wanted to transport him back quickly for burial. When he died, whether there were any unusual circumstances before his death, what belongings he left behind—thinking that the dead are like extinguished lamps, I didn’t ask about any of it.”

He said regretfully: “Had I known, I should have asked clearly.”

Yu Tang had thought a great deal during the night and secretly formed a plan. After her father and brother finished speaking, she tentatively said: “Father, I think we absolutely must investigate this matter thoroughly. To say nothing else, at least if we know why they’re so determined to obtain this painting, even though they’re in the shadows and we’re in the light, we’ll have ways to maneuver against them. Otherwise, we can only passively take their blows. We might even end up like Scholar Lu…”

Hearing this, Yu Wen’s face turned ashen.

Yu Tang said: “Father, Brother, I have an idea.”

Both Yu Wen’s and Yu Yuan’s gazes fell upon her.

Only then did she say: “Didn’t Shopkeeper Tong say before that this ‘Fishing in Seclusion Among Pine Streams’ isn’t entirely a fake—that a highly skilled craftsman had peeled off the topmost layer of Xuan paper, leaving the layer beneath, then traced over the original markings? Shopkeeper Tong also said Xuan paper has many layers. Why don’t we also find a highly skilled craftsman to peel off the topmost layer of this painting and let them steal it? That way, we’ll both escape our predicament and be able to carefully study what secret this painting actually holds. Do you think this could work?”

Both Yu Wen’s and Yu Yuan’s eyes lit up. Yu Wen couldn’t hide his delight as he praised: “A’Tang, you’ve been clever since childhood—for a few pieces of candy, you could come up with any kind of trick. Now you’ve finally put your cleverness to proper use. What you say makes sense. Rather than letting them suspect we’re giving them a fake painting or that we’re unwilling to sell the painting to them, we might as well do as you suggest and create a forgery ourselves.”

Yu Yuan said: “Second Uncle, A’Tang, I previously met someone who specializes in forging antiques, calligraphy, and paintings for our family’s lacquerware business. We could go ask him.”

Yu Wen said: “Is he reliable? We don’t want word leaking out and our clever plan backfiring.”

Yu Yuan smiled: “The man’s surname is Qian. He lives in Hangzhou. Because his business isn’t exactly legitimate, he lives in a place called Cross Lane—the most prosperous area of Hangzhou. Shops line both sides of the street, countless people come and go every day, and it connects in all directions—very lively. If something happens, he can run out of the lane and disappear. So rest assured, we’ll take several detours when we go and be extra careful. We definitely won’t be discovered.”

Yu Wen was somewhat surprised and said thoughtfully: “In Hangzhou!”

“Yes!” Yu Yuan wanted to persuade Yu Wen: “Think about it—how could someone in this business hide away in the countryside? Besides, Hangzhou isn’t far from us. By boat it’s at most half a day’s journey. And if anyone asks, it’s easy to explain—the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, so we went to Hangzhou to buy some things.”

Yu Wen thought for a moment and decided: “Then that’s what we’ll do!”

Yu Tang hurriedly said: “Father, should I go with you? I want to go together with you both. I haven’t been to Hangzhou since I was small! Please take me too?”

After hesitating briefly, Yu Wen made up his mind and smiled: “Alright, I’ll take you. However, on the road you’re not allowed to cause trouble, and you must keep your eyes wide open. If you notice anything amiss, tell your brother and me immediately.”

Father was affirming her capabilities!

Yu Tang was overjoyed. She went forward to hug her father, saying: “You’re so good to me.”

Yu Wen, however, pretended to maintain a stern face, saying seriously: “Don’t flatter me yet. This matter must be kept from your mother, understand?”

“Yes!” Yu Tang promised.

Yu Wen smiled and said gently to Yu Yuan: “Don’t let word slip to your eldest uncle and sister-in-law either, lest they worry about us.”

“Yes!” Yu Yuan said respectfully.

Yu Tang scurried off: “Father, I’ll go pack right now.”

Yu Wen and Yu Yuan watched with smiles, shaking their heads.

When Chen Shi learned Yu Wen was taking Yu Tang to Hangzhou, she couldn’t help grumbling: “Although the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, there’s no need to go to Hangzhou to buy things, is there? What doesn’t Lin’an have?”

Of course she was happy that Yu Wen was willing to take Yu Tang to Hangzhou to enjoy herself. But right now, the family had little silver. Yu Wen paid no attention to money, and as for Yu Tang—when she went out, even if she saw nothing else she liked, she’d still buy three pieces of candy to bring back. If they went shopping like this, how would the family manage for the rest of the year?

Yu Tang vaguely guessed her mother’s thoughts. She affectionately took her mother’s arm and said quietly: “Mother, I’m going with Father precisely to watch over him and prevent him from buying things randomly.”

Chen Shi laughed with a “pfft” and stroked her daughter’s head, saying: “If you can manage yourself, that would be good enough. And you’re going to watch over your father for me?”

“Really!” Yu Tang swore: “If I buy things randomly, I’ll be punished by not being allowed out for a month.”

Chen Shi pinched her daughter’s nose, not believing her words, but also unable to bear restricting her daughter and husband. She simply covered her heart and pretended not to know.

At worst, she’d pawn a couple pieces of jewelry in the second half of the year.

Mother and daughter chatted and laughed when the village head arrived with several people.

Yu Wen received them in the main hall.

After half a cup of tea and a few pleasantries, those people took the young man and his mother away.

It was said that the people who came with the village head were all from the young man’s clan. As for how the clan would deal with this mother and son, that would depend on their fate.

After burying Lu Xin, Yu Wen hid the painting and took Yu Yuan and Yu Tang to Hangzhou.

At the Tiaoxi Wharf, they encountered Pei Yan and Zhou Zijin.