“Saved it, saved it!” Yu Wen smiled as he patted his daughter’s head, teasing her, “To reward you for your earlier generosity, this fifty-tael ingot is yours to keep as your personal silver. Buy whatever you want with it!”
Previously, for Yu Yuan’s betrothal, Chen Shi had taken some fabric and other items she’d saved over the years and given them to Wang Shi to use for Yu Yuan’s betrothal gifts.
This was truly an unexpected windfall!
Yu Tang’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, quickly tucking the silver ingot into her clothes before going with Yu Wen to see Chen Shi.
There were some things Yu Wen and Yu Tang deliberately kept from Chen Shi. Chen Shi naturally didn’t know this silver came from the Yu father and daughter extorting the Lu family. She thought Yu Wen had done a good deed and received thanks from the Lu family. Seeing the silver, she was naturally overjoyed, but after learning Yu Wen had given Yu Tang fifty taels, she couldn’t help chiding her husband: “She’s so young—would we really restrict what she uses? How could you give her so much silver all at once?”
Yu Wen had always been generous. Moreover, he didn’t see Yu Tang as a sheltered young lady raised in the inner quarters, ignorant of worldly matters. Hearing this, he quickly said: “She’s not that young anymore. With money in hand, her heart won’t panic. Just don’t worry about it.”
Seeing Yu Tang clutching that fifty taels tightly, Chen Shi figured even if she complained, she probably couldn’t get it back anyway. She simply closed her eyes and pretended she hadn’t seen anything. She dropped the subject of the silver and spoke with Yu Tang about Ma Xiuniang instead: “She just presided over her in-laws’ ancestral rites. According to Madam Ma, her in-laws are very satisfied with her, and she wants to take this opportunity to establish her authority. She’s invited you all to visit her home. When you go, remember to dress up properly—don’t embarrass Xiuniang.”
Yu Tang readily agreed, preparing to visit Ma Xiuniang’s home.
But another major event occurred in Lin’an City.
The Li family main branch wanted to divide the clan from Li Duan’s branch!
The Li family main branch even wanted to invite Pei Yan to serve as mediator, working together with Tang Zhifu to oversee the clan division.
Everyone who heard this news was so shocked their jaws nearly dropped.
Clan divisions hadn’t happened in Lin’an City for many years.
In Yu Wen’s words: “The last time was when I was a child, back in your great-grandfather’s time.”
Chen Shi quickly asked: “What impact will it have?”
Yu Wen thought for a moment and said: “Actually, not much. It just means the two families won’t worship together anymore. But what I can’t understand is the Li family main branch. Li Duan’s branch is clearly thriving—why would they be willing to divide from them?”
What Yu Tang cared about was another matter. She said: “Father, has Third Master Pei agreed to serve as mediator for the Li family?”
Yu Wen didn’t know either, and mused: “He should agree, right? The Li family is at least a prominent household in Lin’an City.”
Yu Tang sipped her tea thoughtfully.
In her previous life, Pei Yan had been far more mysterious than now, rarely appearing publicly to handle such matters. Now, less than a year after taking over as head of the Pei family, he’d already publicly mediated two disputes. Was it because in this life he was indeed more engaged with worldly affairs? Or was it because in this life she’d had more contact with Pei Yan and knew more about his activities?
When Old Master Wu came to gossip with Yu Wen about this matter, Yu Wen couldn’t help asking: “Will Third Master Pei go to serve as mediator?”
“They say Third Master isn’t in Lin’an City.” Old Master Wu said quietly, “The Li family main branch and Li Duan went to ask several times but were told he wasn’t home. At first we thought Third Master Pei didn’t want to get involved in this matter, but a few days ago we learned that Third Master Pei went to Hangzhou and hasn’t returned yet! According to Instructor Shen from the county school, it seems a Censor came to Hangzhou. That Censor was Third Master Pei’s classmate from the same examination year, and the Zhejiang Provincial Administration Commissioner invited Third Master Pei over to keep him company.”
Yu Wen shook his head, saying: “But Third Master Pei is still in his mourning period!”
“But you can’t only care for those who’ve passed and neglect those still living.” Old Master Wu disagreed, saying, “After the mourning ends, the Pei family’s eldest master will already be gone, and the two young masters of the first branch are still young without official degrees. If Third Master Pei returns home to inherit the family business, then Second Master Pei’s return to office becomes very important. Even if Third Master Pei isn’t thinking of himself, he must consider the Pei family’s interests!”
Yu Tang tried hard to remember—it seemed Second Master Pei’s official position after returning to service was quite high. She couldn’t recall the specifics, but when the Li family mentioned him, they seemed rather wary.
Yu Wen asked: “So will the Li family wait for Third Master Pei to return before dividing the clan?”
Old Master Wu looked around and, seeing only Yu Tang in the room arranging tea and snacks, didn’t take it to heart. He lowered his voice: “You don’t know yet? The Li family main branch and Li Duan had a huge argument. The specific details haven’t gotten out, but it’s probably connected to your family’s affairs.”
Yu Wen was puzzled: “Connected to our family’s affairs?”
“Yes!” Old Master Wu nodded, saying, “Think about it—before Li Duan’s branch became prominent, the Li family main branch helped them considerably. After Li Duan’s branch prospered, apart from tax exemption, what benefits did the main branch get? But when Li Duan’s branch got into trouble, it dragged the main branch down too. Now the Li family main branch still has a scholar candidate, right? With this scholar, they can keep the tax exemption. Thinking it through this way—Li Duan’s branch acts so ruthlessly, rather than eventually being dragged down by them, better to take this opportunity to divide the clan, cut ties completely with Li Duan’s branch, and everyone goes their own way.”
This was something neither Yu Wen nor Yu Tang had anticipated.
Their family had one argument with the Li Duan household, and it actually produced such a result.
Yu Wen still felt the Li family main branch was taking too great a risk, saying: “But Scholar Li is already in his fortieth year. What if…”
What if he passed away? The Li family would have to pay taxes again. That was no small sum. It would implicate the entire Li family. If handled badly, it could provoke resentment among the Li family clan members and lead to changing the main branch.
Old Master Wu said slyly: “Can’t you see it yet? Someone must be backing the Li family main branch! Otherwise how would they dare be so bold!”
Yu Wen still didn’t understand.
Old Master Wu shook his head, laughing: “You truly have an honest person’s fortune, seeing nothing amiss. Never mind if you can’t figure it out. I came today for another matter—I want to ask your opinion on something.”
Yu Wen wasn’t one to dwell on things. Unable to figure it out, he set the matter aside and asked about Old Master Wu’s purpose.
Old Master Wu said: “There’s a business opportunity I want to know if you’re interested in—I have a nephew who does business in Ningbo. They have a fleet about to set sail, and he wants to get a batch of porcelain to invest. I just spent money renovating my family’s oil mill, so I don’t have much silver on hand. Would you like to join me in taking a share?”
Yu Wen had never considered doing business with a neighbor, let alone maritime trade he knew nothing about.
Old Master Wu understood, saying: “You don’t need to answer me right now. Discuss it with your family first. If you think it’s risky but have extra silver, you could also lend it to me. I’ll pay you five percent interest.”
Yu Wen truly couldn’t decide on the spot. After exchanging pleasantries with Old Master Wu, Wu took his leave.
Yu Tang pondered this matter.
In her previous life, for her parents’ funeral, she’d ended up selling this house and left for marriage from her uncle’s home. Though she’d stopped being neighbors with Old Master Wu, she’d still heard some news about the Wu family—the Wu family hadn’t declined, and Old Master Wu had never participated in maritime trade.
What was different about this life to cause such a major change?
Could it be those two hundred taels of silver obtained from the Lu family?
Without her previous life’s experience, Yu Tang found it hard to judge whether this venture was feasible or not.
This left her somewhat dejected.
When Yu Wen asked her opinion, she said: “Could we first have someone investigate what kind of fleet it is?”
If she had an impression, she might know this fleet’s fortune or misfortune.
Any fleet that returned safely could make big money.
In her previous life, sea voyages weren’t easy. She might not necessarily know which ships returned safely, but if something happened, some rumors would always spread.
Yu Wen had his own views. He said: “I don’t like this kind of business. In my thinking, I don’t covet others’ things, and others shouldn’t covet mine. If Old Master Wu is truly determined to do this business, our family will just lend him silver. If he can’t repay it, we’ll just consider that we never got those two hundred taels from the Lu family!”
Yu Tang smiled with pressed lips.
Her father was just this kind of person.
“Why not call Elder Brother over to discuss it.” Yu Tang trusted Yu Yuan’s judgment more. “Elder Brother has been helping Uncle manage the shop recently—he’s heard and seen more than us.”
Yu Wen found this reasonable and called Yu Yuan over to talk.
Yu Yuan opposed the matter.
He said: “Ever since I went to Hangzhou last time, I’ve been following Hangzhou City’s business news. I’ve heard people say maritime trade runs very deep. If we’re really going to invest, we need to investigate everything thoroughly first. Different trades are like different mountains—we can’t just be envious seeing others make money.”
Yu Tang agreed with Yu Yuan’s opinion.
But out of friendship, Yu Wen still lent Old Master Wu one hundred taels.
After Yu Tang learned of this, she couldn’t help looking skyward.
She felt their family would never become wealthy.
Soon, the Li family main branch’s clan division from Li Duan’s household had results.
The Li family main branch seemed somewhat impatient. Without waiting for a letter from Li Yi’s side saying whether they agreed or not, they forcibly divided from Li Duan’s household.
Everyone felt the Li family main branch was being a bit hasty, but they issued a statement saying Li Duan’s branch had violated ancestral precepts and was unwilling to submit to the main branch’s authority. Rather than everyone remaining unhappy this way, better to separate and each live their own lives.
Because the Li family had kidnapped Yu Tang after failing to secure a marriage proposal, and their servants had acted on their own authority to direct vagrants to commit murder, the matter was brought up again for discussion by Lin’an City residents.
All sorts of things were said.
But generally speaking, people still felt Lin Shi acted too ruthlessly and the Li family had poor family discipline.
Li Duan was so anxious he developed cold sores at the corners of his mouth.
Lin Shi raged at home: “Who are these gossips? A’Duan, we can’t let this matter rest! Originally we accommodated the main branch, but who knew that when we yielded, they wouldn’t appreciate it. Dividing the clan is actually good—you brothers study hard, and in just a few years, you might become another Pei family.”
How could it be that simple?
Li Duan didn’t want to complain before his mother. Just as he was about to smile and agree, he heard a man’s teasing voice say: “What has Auntie so angry? It’s fortunate Cousin is filial, indulging you in everything. If it were me, I’d have started arguing with my mother long ago.”