These past few years, Yang’s father had been serving as an official in the capital with good fortune in his career. The Yang family’s tea had also become a tribute product, which boosted sales of the Yang family’s other teas. Their financial situation had improved considerably, and they had bought a small residence in the capital. As Yang Yan achieved success in the imperial examinations, Yang’s father increasingly relied on his eldest son. Yang Yan found it difficult to distance himself from his father, so everyone was polite with each other, and their relationship was not as tense as before.

Second Miss Pei was a married daughter. Having come to the capital, she had in-laws, so naturally she had to stay with her husband’s family.

Old Madam Pei nodded with a smile, looking at Qian’er with a face full of affection: “Your Second Sister didn’t dote on you for nothing. We all forgot, but you still remember your Second Sister.”

Qian’er smiled bashfully and whispered to Yu Tang, “Second Sister said she would give me a tabby cat.”

Old Madam Pei and Yu Tang couldn’t suppress their laughter, both saying, “So that’s it!”

Even Jiang’er, who was practicing calligraphy, laughed along.

Yu Tang said seriously to Qian’er, “Our family can’t keep any more cats. Your father and your older brother can’t tolerate the smell of cats, but because you like them, they’ve already made many concessions and indulged you by letting you keep one cat. You can’t only think about what you like—you must also consider your father and older brother’s health!”

Qian’er nodded obediently and said, “I’ll just look at it, not bring it home to keep.”

Yu Tang praised him as “good boy.”

Old Madam Pei laughed and said, “This child—after he marries, quickly separate him out so he can keep whatever he wants.” As she spoke, she remembered one of her residences in Hangzhou and instructed Nanny Ji with a smile: “Remember to find that property deed when you return and register it under Fifth Young Master’s name. He’s different from his older brother. His older brother will definitely live in the old residence in the future. He’ll have to live on his own later, so he needs his own residence.”

Yu Tang quickly tried to stop her.

Grandparents dote on their grandchildren. Moreover, Jiang’er and Qian’er had not only grown up under Old Madam Pei’s watchful eye but had been personally raised by her, so she loved them even more. Of her dowry possessions, giving a bit here and a bit there, she had already given more than half to the two children.

“The two children are still young and don’t need it yet. We can discuss it when they do need it.”

Yu Tang had also changed somewhat from before.

Previously, she would have firmly refused. These past few years, Yu Wen had made money in Ningbo and enjoyed buying things for her. With more resources at hand, she had also begun helping others, especially those unfortunate women at Ku’an Temple. She hoped that what she gave away would be things others actually needed.

Old Madam Pei paid this no mind and said, “Our two little grandsons are so well-behaved! How could they not need it?”

What did being well-behaved have to do with needing it?

But after spending these years with Old Madam day and night, Yu Tang had long since learned not to argue seriously with the elderly.

She smiled faintly.

However, Qian’er exclaimed, “Thank you, Grandmother! When I grow up, I’ll keep cats in that residence.”

He really had become a cat devotee!

Yu Tang was speechless and contemplated finding a way to take Qian’er and Jiang’er to the countryside more often, letting them see more impoverished people so they wouldn’t only know how to lavishly spend on their own preferences but would also learn to sympathize with the weak.

She sent someone to the Yang residence to inquire about Second Miss Pei’s itinerary.

Second Miss Pei would arrive in the capital only after the Laba Festival.

Having received this information, Yu Tang went to inform Old Madam Pei.

Hearing this, Old Madam Pei nodded repeatedly and said, “Now that’s more like being a wife. Previously, her mother spoiled her too much. How can you indulge a daughter by letting her run home to her natal family whenever things don’t go her way? If you want to continue the marriage, you must make the life work no matter what. If you don’t want to continue, then clarify it early—part ways amicably. To neither be willing to divorce nor willing to return home—if this were my granddaughter, I would have called her back long ago for a severe scolding. However, the Yang family son-in-law truly has a good temperament. No matter the reason, where our family can help, we should still offer some support.”

Second Madam was also present when she said this.

Second Madam quickly smiled in agreement and discussed with Old Madam Pei which families to visit.

Since they had come to the capital, they needed to visit old friends, and they also had to call on those with whom Pei Xuan had official dealings. Adding it all up, the gift list alone was a thick stack.

Old Madam Pei wanted to finish the social obligations early so everyone could have a peaceful and comfortable New Year. She arranged visits family by family, taking the female relatives of the household to make social calls everywhere, becoming quite busy.

Jiang’er was like a little adult, and Qian’er looked adorably obedient. All the madams were very fond of them when they saw them. Especially Xu Xuan, who had just given birth to a daughter. Although Pei You was unreliable, Pei Xuan honest, and Pei Yan aloof, they all treated their wives impeccably well. Not to mention concubines—they didn’t even have a single chamber maid. The reason Old Madam Li agreed to betroth her legitimate granddaughter to Pei Bo this time was precisely because she valued the Pei family’s household standards.

Xu Xuan was no exception.

Jiang’er was a bit older, so she set her sights on Qian’er.

When Yu Tang visited their home, she kept teasing Qian’er: “Isn’t little sister pretty? Do you want to take little sister home?”

Looking at the fair and tender little baby, Qian’er nodded but refused to take her home: “My father wouldn’t like it. Father said our family only raises children Mother gives birth to. She wasn’t born by Mother.”

The madams were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Yu Tang was so embarrassed she wished she could crawl into a hole in the ground.

But Old Madam Pei thought nothing of it and even explained to everyone: “His mother is wonderful in every way, just that having children is a bit difficult for her. That year when she gave birth to Jiang’er, didn’t they say she injured her body? In the future, childbearing might be somewhat difficult for her. The atmosphere in your capital isn’t good either—some people tried to send women to Xiaguang’s side. Xiaguang said this in front of the family. Who knew this statement would keep being repeated and even reach this child’s ears.”

Someone flattered Old Madam: “This also shows your excellent method of raising sons. We’re all terribly envious.”

“Raising sons without teaching them is the father’s fault; raising daughters without teaching them is the mother’s mistake.” Old Madam Pei didn’t want her son to be described as someone raised solely by women’s hands. She smiled and said, “I only raised sons, so this fault has nothing to do with me. If you want to praise me, you should praise our Adan—she’s the only granddaughter in our family.”

This time, Pei Dan’s mother-in-law, Madam Qin, took the lead in praising her eldest daughter-in-law, and naturally didn’t neglect her second daughter-in-law either. She was very skillful in handling people.

Gu Xi watched helplessly with a bitter smile.

Being capable still couldn’t compare to being lucky.

Both Pei Dan and Yu Tang had exceptionally good luck.

Brother Yuan, sitting in Gu Xi’s arms, saw Jiang’er and Qian’er and could no longer contain himself. He quietly whimpered that he wanted to go play with Jiang’er and Qian’er.

Gu Xi hesitated for a moment.

The Pei family members were the primary guests, so Jiang’er and Qian’er were naturally the focus of everyone’s attention. Having her child run over to play with Jiang’er and Qian’er at this moment would be somewhat improper.

But during this hesitation, Sen’er ran over pulling Xu Xuan’s second son along. He very enthusiastically and proactively took Qian’er’s hand, articulated clearly calling Qian’er “cousin brother,” and said, “Let’s play together.”

Xu Xuan’s eldest son couldn’t bear to watch and called to his brother: “You come back here.” Then he couldn’t help scolding Sen’er, “That’s your fifth uncle, not your cousin brother.”

Only then did everyone react, and another round of hearty laughter ensued.

Sen’er was bewildered by the adults’ laughter. At the Pei family, Qian’er was young but of high generation—there were even people who had to call him “grand-uncle.” Though he blushed a bit at everyone’s reaction, before coming his father had told him about everyone’s relationships. People like Sen’er were family, and if they were bullied, he had to help. He still boldly took Sen’er’s hand and said, “I’ll play with you. But you can’t cry. Others will say I bullied you.”

His childish words were equally amusing.

Sen’er snapped out of it and tightly grasped Qian’er’s hand, nodding repeatedly.

Second Madam laughed until tears came out. She pulled the three children to her side, gave them fruit to eat, and individually instructed them: “You’re the uncle, you can’t fight with your nephew,” “You’re the nephew, you must listen to your uncle,” “You’re the host, you must take care of Sen’er and Qian’er.”

The three children nodded continuously.

Seeing that Qian’er was small and soft, Xu Xuan’s eldest son feared his reckless younger brother would get him into trouble and hurried to follow.

Seeing that the second son of the Xu family seemed a bit slow-witted—four or five years old yet still playing with the three-year-old Sen’er—Jiang’er worried he would implicate his younger brother and also followed.

The gazes of the two families’ eldest sons collided.

Both paused slightly in their steps. Simultaneously seeing the concern in each other’s eyes, they couldn’t help but share a knowing smile. One whispered, “I’m called Yin He. You can call me Ahe.” The other whispered, “I’m called Pei Jiang. You can call me Jiang’er.”

And so they became acquainted.

Of course, they didn’t know that from this moment on, they would be lifelong friends, rivals, and allies, becoming among the most prominent figures of the current dynasty and leading their two families to stand at the very pinnacle of this era.

At this moment, they were merely two elder brothers concerned for their younger siblings, carefully watching over their respective brothers from the side.

Gu Xi thought for a moment and set Brother Yuan on the ground.

Just as Brother Yuan was about to run toward Jiang’er and Qian’er, he was knocked aside from behind by children running in from outside. Over a dozen children aged eight to three ran past him, pouncing toward Yin He.

“Brother Ahe! Uncle Ahe!” The group of children called out in a cacophony of voices, like little bears charging into a vegetable garden, with a momentum of reckless abandon that no one could stop. It made the adults’ temples throb. “Who’s this? He looks so pretty! Is he a girl or a boy?”

They shouted at Jiang’er and Qian’er. Some even reached out their hands, wanting to poke Jiang’er. Their fingers were about to reach Jiang’er’s face, but under Jiang’er’s icy gaze, they abruptly changed direction and went to poke Qian’er instead.

But that hand was still four or five inches away from Qian’er when his eyes turned red. He hid behind his older brother, crying out “it hurts.”

The unruly child was stunned.

Jiang’er had already coldly grabbed that child’s arm and said, “Whose child are you? Where are your family’s adults?” He looked as if he was going to complain to the adults.

Gu Xi recognized these as children from the Xu family.

All untouchable.

Gu Xi quickly picked up Brother Yuan and urgently checked whether her son had been injured anywhere from the collision, anxiously asking, “Did you get hurt anywhere?”

Brother Yuan shook his head. He wanted even more to play with Jiang’er and the others.

Gu Xi refused to allow it.

The Xu family had always been domineering. If Brother Yuan got bumped or bruised somewhere, it would be difficult to seek redress from the Xu family.

Brother Yuan began crying and making a fuss.