Pei Hong, however, was like he’d gotten a new toy, full of enthusiasm. First he followed Pei Yan to inspect the shops in the capital, then accompanied him to visit several merchant associations. People in business were usually amiable and avoided offending others, welcoming guests in and seeing them out with ceremony. Pei Hong found it quite interesting.
Pei Yan simply had him follow Second Manager Tong to Baoding Prefecture to audit accounts, and even required of Pei Hong: “You audit the accounts yourself. Second Manager Tong will only assist from the side.”
First Manager Tong now only managed the accounts of the Lin’an shop. Second Manager Tong had taken over his brother’s duties, while Young Manager Tong had taken over Second Manager Tong’s duties. The Buddha incense from Ku’an Temple had long been straightened out. Previously it had been entrusted to the Pei family’s Second Young Miss, but now it was handled by Ku’an Temple’s abbot. Also, because Young Manager Tong had personally trained them these past few years, Ku’an Temple’s abbot could now calculate accounts without even using an abacus. The temple’s incense business was getting better and better. Later, learning that Yu Tang could make silk flowers, whether genuinely seeing promise in this business or flattering Yu Tang, they sent several lay Buddhists to learn the craft of making silk flowers from Yu Tang. Two years ago they began trying to sell offering flowers, and reportedly the business was catching up from behind, no worse than the Buddha incense business.
As for the Tong family, they had always been the Pei family’s trusted confidants. For Pei Hong, a perfectly good Minister’s son, to not do that but instead assist with auditing accounts—even though Pei Yan hadn’t said anything to him, based on his understanding of the Pei family, he vaguely felt that Pei Yan was eighty or ninety percent likely training Pei Hong to become the heir apparent.
With Pei Tong’s branch of the main house having left the clan, Pei Xuan was now the eldest branch. If they let Pei Hong become the heir apparent, this could also be considered restoring order from chaos.
Regardless of what others thought, Second Manager Tong deeply admired Pei Yan’s magnanimity and was very grateful that Pei Yan had given him this opportunity to accompany Pei Hong and have the chance to guide him.
He conscientiously accompanied Pei Hong to Baoding.
Turning around, Pei Xuan finally managed to free up a day. He called Pei Tong, Wei Xiaochuan, Shen Fang, and several others to the study, preparing to have a good chat with them about matters of the realm and the various officials’ understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics and their preferences in writing. However, Pei Tong didn’t see Pei Hong.
Pei Hong was still just a small xiucai. Although what Pei Xuan was discussing might not be immediately useful to him, it was still an opportunity to network with these juren graduates. Pei Tong couldn’t help but feel anxious for him and asked the servant pouring tea and water: “Why don’t I see Third Young Master?”
In the main branch, Pei Hong ranked third.
The servant smiled and said: “Third Young Master has gone out.”
Nothing more could be asked beyond that.
Pei Tong frowned, feeling that Pei Hong didn’t treasure opportunities enough.
Shen Fang, however, thought Pei Tong was talking nonsense.
Setting aside that Pei Xuan was Pei Hong’s father, just considering Pei Xuan’s current official position, if Pei Hong took the civil service route, he would have to be posted externally. Moreover, even if posted externally, he would probably have to carry the label of being a Grand Secretary’s son—doing well would be expected, doing poorly would be incompetence. If it were him, he would learn from Zhou Zijin—devote himself to landscapes, indulge freely in the wilderness, write books and establish theories—how wonderful that would be.
Shen Fang clicked his tongue inwardly.
Fu Xiaowan was considering whether to advise Pei Tong a few words when Wei Xiaochuan and Zhang Hui walked in together.
Shen Fang couldn’t help but laugh: “What were you two doing? Gone since early morning!”
Wei Xiaochuan’s face immediately turned bright red, and after stammering for a long time, no one could make out what he was saying.
Zhang Hui beside him found it amusing and said: “I accompanied him to get clothes made—when we came, Madam Wei specifically entrusted me to have a few new garments made for him once we reached the capital, to wear when going to the examination hall. Third Madam invited a tailor over. Who knew the tailor would come so early.”
Pei Tong felt Zhang Hui was making excuses, but Zhang Hui had already changed the subject, asking Shen Fang: “Has Lord Pei not arrived yet? We were worried about being late earlier and rushed so much we’re covered in sweat.”
“It’s fine!” Shen Fang also felt Zhang Hui’s words were insincere, but since they didn’t want to say, it wasn’t good for him to ask too much.
Mainly because he and Wei Xiaochuan weren’t familiar.
Wei Xiaochuan had passed the xiucai examination at a young age, then came to study at Qiantang Academy, becoming his classmate. But Wei Xiaochuan studied extremely diligently, eyes never straying, so much so that even after two years as classmates, Wei Xiaochuan didn’t recognize him.
Just when Shen Fang decided to properly befriend Wei Xiaochuan, Wei Xiaochuan passed the juren examination and returned to his hometown Lin’an to study.
Shen Fang thought he was from a farming family and assumed his family elders were short-sighted. He greatly lamented this and even visited his home, wanting to persuade him to return to study at Qiantang Academy. Who knew that upon arriving in Lin’an, he learned that it was Pei Yan who had been guiding his studies all along. Returning to Lin’an to study was also because Yu Tang was pregnant and Pei Yan was unwilling to go out, so he had called Wei Xiaochuan back.
He knew of Pei Yan’s capabilities.
Shen Fang sheepishly returned to Hangzhou.
When he saw Wei Xiaochuan again, it was on the Pei family’s boat.
He thought Wei Xiaochuan surely wouldn’t remember him, but unexpectedly Wei Xiaochuan not only remembered him but also remembered that when at the academy he particularly loved eating braised pork—a big bowl every day without fail. Wei Xiaochuan had even curiously asked why he didn’t get fat from eating it.
For this, Fu Xiaowan had thoroughly laughed at him.
Several people began chatting.
Wei Xiaochuan’s complexion gradually returned to normal.
He and Zhang Hui had arrived late because on the road they had encountered Madam Yin and Miss Zhang, who were visiting the house.
Yu Tang intended to arrange a marriage for him that could help his future career, and had asked him on the boat if he had any requirements. He had been very embarrassed and couldn’t get out a single word for the longest time. But that Madam Yin, for some unknown reason, had suddenly pulled him aside to talk, and even looked him up and down for quite a while.
He suspected that perhaps Sister Yu had said something to Madam Yin, and that Madam Yin was trying to matchmake for him.
Wei Xiaochuan felt like sitting on pins and needles. Finding an opportunity, he pulled Zhang Hui along and ran.
Zhang Hui’s friendship with Yu Tang was different—he had long known that Madam Wei had entrusted Wei Xiaochuan’s marriage matters to Yu Tang. Seeing Madam Yin’s manner, he also suspected she wanted to matchmake for Wei Xiaochuan, which was why he helped deflect.
By the time Wei Xiaochuan’s emotions had calmed down, Pei Xuan also arrived.
Behind him followed several unfamiliar scholars—the older ones about the same age as Zhang Hui, the younger ones about the same age as Wei Xiaochuan.
Pei Xuan pointed to Zhang Hui and the others: “These are my fellow townsmen.” Then he pointed to the several people who had followed: “Friends, colleagues’ brothers and nephews—hearing that I arranged to chat casually with you all, they also wanted to come listen.”
Everyone hurriedly rose to exchange courtesies.
Pei Xuan had the servants close the door and began telling them about the Emperor’s views on governmental affairs these past few years.
Everyone listened with rapt attention. The study was silent.
On Old Madam Pei’s side, she was pulling Nanny Chen aside to count her personal savings. The more she counted, the tighter her brows furrowed.
Nanny Chen knew her thoughts best and hurriedly consoled the old lady: “Don’t you always say children and grandchildren have their own blessings? You shouldn’t worry too much about Fourth Young Master and Fifth Young Master’s futures. Second Master is kindhearted and won’t neglect the two young masters.”
“How can that compare to having a capable father of their own?” Old Madam Pei retorted in displeasure, complaining: “It’s all the Old Master’s fault. If he hadn’t been so indulgent, would the eldest have done such things? Would Third Son have been buried in the countryside?”
Nanny Chen didn’t dare respond.
If during the last visit to the capital Old Madam Pei had still dearly loved the two grandsons Pei Tong and Pei Fei, after learning what Pei Tong had done, toward these two grandsons she only retained that bit of surface courtesy.
Old Madam Pei pondered whether to go visit the Qian family’s old residence in the capital.
The Qian family also had quite a few members serving as officials in the capital.
However, being separated by branch lines and being at such an advanced age, she simply hadn’t visited frequently.
But as the old saying goes, distant relatives aren’t as good as close neighbors—if people interacted more, they would grow closer.
Old Madam Pei carefully pondered these matters in her heart when the matron on duty at the ceremonial gate came to report that Fourth Madam Song had sent someone with a calling card, wanting to come pay her respects.
The Song family had become increasingly improper these past few years.
Their children’s marriages all looked only at family status and not character. Their business in Suzhou had also been taken over almost entirely by the Jiang family. When coming to the capital this time, even though Old Madam Pei knew Fourth Madam Song was also in the capital, she hadn’t sent anyone to invite her over for a meal.
Old Madam Pei asked Nanny Chen: “Has anything major happened with the Song family recently?”
When Nanny Chen was young, she had also accompanied Old Madam Pei to see the world. Since they had come to the capital, she would certainly have made early inquiries about what should be known.
She said: “The Song family hasn’t had any major incidents these days. However, the Peng family has had trouble. The Peng family’s Seventh Master—I heard he’s about to be demoted. She’s always been close with the Peng family.”
If it were simply a visit to an elder, that would be fine—help where possible, assist where feasible. But if she was coming because of another family’s affairs, she also needed to understand what it was about in advance to avoid being caught off guard when it suddenly came up, not knowing what to do.
Old Madam Pei held the card in her hands, looking at it for a while, then turning it over to look at the reverse for a while, before finally saying: “After all, she’s a relative. If she wants to come, let her come! I’m just a widowed old lady. My sons and daughters-in-law are all proper and upstanding—how could it ever be my turn to speak up or make decisions?”
This meant she wouldn’t help with anything.
Nanny Chen understood, but still couldn’t help reminding Old Madam Pei: “Speaking of which, it’s no wonder Third Master doesn’t like the Peng family. Although what happened back then was due to that Peng Shiyi’s narrow mind and acting on his own authority, if not for relying on the Peng family, would he have dared to be so bold? They just handled it privately by opening the ancestral hall, yet brought it before Third Master to claim credit, as if afraid others wouldn’t know, making a big fuss so everyone would say their family was fair and impartial, with upright family traditions.”
Old Madam Pei waved her hand, signaling her to stop talking.
Fearing damage to Yu Tang’s reputation, the matter of Peng Shiyi attempting to assassinate Yu Tang—whether the Pei family or the Peng family—both suppressed it and didn’t let outsiders know. But the Peng family also used this point, making people feel the Peng family had given the Pei family plenty of face, so that even if Pei Yan’s heart was full of anger, he could only temporarily swallow it down.
But as Nanny Chen said, Pei Yan was not someone who could swallow his anger silently.
This Peng family matter was probably inseparable from Pei Yan.
Otherwise Pei Yan wouldn’t have needed to make this trip to the capital.
Fourth Madam Song coming to see her certainly had the affection of kinship in it, but more likely, she probably wanted to speak on behalf of the Peng family.
But whose temperament did her Xiaguang resemble?
Of course he resembled her!
Not to mention Xiaguang wouldn’t swallow this anger—she wouldn’t either.
However, since Fourth Madam Song was willing to come, then let her come.
Regarding the events of that year, she had never had the opportunity to vent this resentment. If Fourth Madam Song dared to act as this intermediary, then she shouldn’t blame her for being impolite.