A few days passed, and it was soon the Dragon Boat Festival.
The custom in the capital was to eat zongzi (rice dumplings) and visit relatives on the Dragon Boat Festival, while dragon boat races were held on the fifteenth day of the fifth month.
Third Sister’s husband came up the mountain the day before the Dragon Boat Festival, bringing zongzi, various pastries, and fruits to see the children.
Fu Tingyun was polite with him: “You could just come, why bring things?”
Third Sister’s husband pointed to some golden-yellow sweet melons among the items and said with a smile: “These are bestowed by the Emperor. Minister Hao knew I was coming here and had someone specially deliver a few.”
Fu Tingyun saw that all the children were staring with wide eyes, so she accepted the gifts with a smile. Later, after dinner, when everyone gathered in the hall to drink tea, she instructed Yu Wei to cut them open for everyone to taste.
Third Sister’s husband then mentioned going to watch the dragon boat races: “Let Xiao Gongzi and Xu Gongzi come with us to see the excitement!”
Chun Bing, sitting to the side, heard this and his eyes brightened.
Fu Tingyun, however, politely declined: “It will be extremely crowded then. Four or five children would be too much for you to handle alone, Brother-in-law. The dragon boat races at the Western Garden happen every year. It won’t be too late for them to go and broaden their horizons when they’re a bit older.”
Concerning the children’s safety, Third Sister’s husband didn’t dare insist. With a smile, he said, “Then I’ll take the children to play some other time,” and asked about Zhao Ling: “…I heard his memorial of gratitude has already reached the capital. Everyone envies him for advancing a rank every year; at such a young age, he’s already a frontier official.”
“There are gains and losses,” Fu Tingyun smiled as she conversed with him. “He can’t attend to family matters.”
“That’s true.”
After chatting idly for a while, the adults dispersed.
Fu Tingyun saw that Xiao Gongzi and Xu Gongzi were both hanging their heads and comforted the two children with a smile: “When your father returns, he’ll take you to play at the Western Garden.”
Only then did the two children perk up again.
But early the next morning, watching the Shen family’s carriage drive out the gate, they both involuntarily cast envious glances.
Daoist An had learned of Third Sister’s husband’s intentions yesterday. Seeing the two brothers standing side by side in the middle of the courtyard, gazing longingly in the direction where the Shen family carriage had disappeared, his heart softened. He stepped forward, put his arms around the two children, and smiled: “What’s this? Do you two also want to go?”
Both children nodded repeatedly, and Xu Gongzi added: “Mother fears we might get lost, so she said to wait until Father returns to take us.” His tone was quite dejected.
Daoist An, though over seventy, lived alone. Since coming to the Zhao family, the two lively and innocent children had added much joy to his life. The children’s dejection immediately stirred his gallant spirit.
He laughed heartily and said, “You just want to go to the Western Garden to watch the dragon boat races? Master will take you.”
Xiao Gongzi and Xu Gongzi couldn’t help but show expressions of delight.
Without looking at the two brothers, Daoist An went straight to Fu Tingyun: “…You don’t need to worry, I’ll have Yang Tong assign people to attend to us. I guarantee to bring the two brothers back safe and sound.”
Fu Tingyun still hesitated.
Then she saw two little heads peeping from the doorway.
Their bright black eyes stared at her unblinkingly, making her heart ache.
“Then I’ll trouble Daoist An,” Fu Tingyun said. “I’ll have Zheng San escort you there.”
After all, she was still somewhat worried.
Daoist An understood her maternal concerns and took no offense, nodding with a smile.
Xiao Gongzi and Xu Gongzi cheered.
Fu Tingyun personally helped the two children change their clothes, repeatedly instructing them to listen to Daoist An, before finally seeing Xiao Gongzi and Xu Gongzi get onto the carriage with Third Sister.
Returning to the room, Fu Tingyun wanted to say a few comforting words to Youyou who had stayed at home, but before she could speak, Youyou said of her own accord: “Mother, with so many people, Master An can’t look after everyone. I’m the older sister, so I’ll stay home to keep Mother company.”
“Our Youyou is so good,” Third Sister, who had stayed behind to keep Fu Tingyun company, hugged Youyou and kissed her twice, saying, “Why don’t you join Mother and Aunt in needlework today, Youyou? I’ll teach you how to embroider a little bird, how about that? A little bird pecking at worms!”
Youyou was very interested.
Third Sister had her maid bring some tracing paper and showed Youyou how to trace patterns.
Youyou practiced writing every day and knew how to hold a brush, so she quickly learned how to trace patterns.
Third Sister kept praising Youyou for being clever.
Fu Tingyun stopped her: “Don’t spoil the child. Weren’t we all able to trace patterns at her age?”
“But not as well as Youyou,” Third Sister said with a smile, bringing out several more patterns for Youyou to trace, and instructed Youyou, “Have A-Luo keep these, and when you need them, take them out and follow them for drawing.” She acted as if she was teaching Youyou needlework.
A-Luo smiled and agreed.
Youyou followed Third Sister in tracing a few more patterns.
Yu Wei, seeing they had been busy for almost an hour, brought some refreshments.
Just as Fu Tingyun and the others had taken their seats, Bao Shu came running in: “Madam, De Chuan at the gate saw two children in tattered clothes lingering around our courtyard. Fearing they might be scouts for thieves, he had them caught. Surprisingly, these children claimed to know you and could clearly state what our master does, how many people are in our family, and even when you were granted the title of Third-Rank Lady of Virtue. De Chuan says our family may have caught the attention of someone with ulterior motives and asked me to seek your instructions on whether to settle this privately or send them to the magistrate’s office.”
Everyone was taken aback.
Fu Tingyun, thinking of Zhao Ling far away in Guizhou, pondered and said: “First, find out what this is all about. If you really can’t get anything out of them, then invite the Second Master over.”
Just as Bao Shu was about to comply, Yue Chuan ran in: “Madam, those two boys are the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master and his attendant.”
Fu Tingyun and Third Sister looked at each other in astonishment.
“Just the two of them?” Fu Tingyun asked. “They have no one else attending them?”
Yue Chuan shook his head: “According to the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master’s attendant, they hired a carriage to come here.”
“Third Sister,” Fu Tingyun stood up after hearing this, “I’ll go take a look and come back.”
“I’ll come with you!” Third Sister, afraid Fu Tingyun might not handle the matter well, put down her needlework and got off the kang bed. “I also want to know what this is all about.”
Fu Tingyun nodded, had Bao Shu lead the way, and went to the front courtyard.
Youyou’s eyes had glinted slightly when Third Sister got off the kang. Seeing Fu Tingyun and Third Sister leave, she thought for a moment and followed them.
The Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master wore a coarse, patched lilac-colored jacket and stood there looking somewhat dejected. If Yue Chuan hadn’t pointed out his identity beforehand, she wouldn’t have recognized him at first glance.
Seeing Fu Tingyun and Third Sister, he immediately stood straight and said loudly: “Madam Zhao, I’m not here to spy on your family; I’ve come to apologize to your eldest daughter. It was all my fault; I shouldn’t have deceived her. But I didn’t mean to. At that time, I just called out once, and who knew your eldest daughter would start crying? I was too embarrassed to say I wasn’t hurt…” As he spoke, he saw Youyou and hurriedly said in a loud voice: “Miss Zhao, please don’t be angry anymore. I’ve come specifically to apologize to you…”
Youyou, however, pressed her lips together and ignored him.
The Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master’s expression showed increasing anxiety. He called out to Youyou: “It’s true, I came to apologize to you…”
Third Sister frowned deeply: “Is this how one apologizes…”
Fu Tingyun made a gesture for her to stop speaking, then smiled at the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master: “We understand your good intentions. My daughter is not a petty person. What’s past is past, and she won’t hold a grudge against you.” Then she asked him with a smile, “When did you leave home? Do your family members know you’re here? Have you had breakfast? Are you hungry…”
Hearing Fu Tingyun speak like this, the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master’s brow flashed with a hint of embarrassment, but he quickly recovered. Scratching his head, he said: “I left just at dawn. My family knows I’m here, but I wrote a note for my attendant at home to give to my mother after I left. They should know by now. I’ve already had breakfast, I’m not hungry…”
Fu Tingyun smiled upon hearing this: “If you had breakfast at dawn, and it’s nearly noon now, how could you not be hungry?” She beckoned the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master and his attendant to follow her inside, “Stay and have lunch with us before leaving.”
The Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master hesitated a bit, but seeing Youyou turn and enter the inner courtyard, he quickly smiled and said: “Then many thanks to Madam Zhao.” He then respectfully bowed to Fu Tingyun, revealing some of the elegance of a young master from a noble family.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but nod in approval as she watched.
Although this young Master Li was spoiled by his grandmother, when he behaved well, his etiquette was impeccable, showing that the Li family was quite particular about manners in daily life.
Third Sister quietly called out, “Quanhui.”
Fu Tingyun gestured for her not to say more, smilingly led Young Master Li into the hall, and gave Yu Wei a meaningful look.
Yu Wei discreetly left the hall.
Fu Tingyun invited the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master to sit down and smiled, pointing at his clothes: “Where did you get these?”
The Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master grinned and said: “I saw a farmhouse on the way and bought them for five taels of silver.”
Fu Tingyun barely managed to control the twitching at the corner of her mouth, then asked about Madam Li and mentioned Old Woman Huang. When noon came, she invited the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master to stay for lunch.
The Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master was polite for a while but eventually stayed for the meal.
Seeing that Youyou was not at the table, he couldn’t help but ask: “Where is the Young Miss?”
Fu Tingyun smiled and said: “She’s a girl; she eats in her room.”
The Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master let out an “Oh,” and his shoulders drooped.
Third Sister’s heart skipped a beat, but Fu Tingyun acted as if she hadn’t noticed, smiling and urging him to eat more.
Perhaps he was hungry; the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master ate two bowls of rice before putting down his chopsticks. Despite this, his movements remained composed.
Fu Tingyun then invited the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master to the side room for tea.
There was a commotion outside.
Third Sister’s brow furrowed tightly, and just as she was about to ask something, she saw Yu Wei lift the curtain and Madam Li rush in hurriedly.
“Thirteen, why did you run here?” Madam Li took a few steps forward and hugged the surprised-looking Li Thirteen to her bosom. “You’ve worried everyone to death. Your Tenth Brother is still looking for you in the Western Garden with several servants!”
The Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master struggled and broke free from Madam Li.
Only then did Madam Li realize her rudeness and hurriedly stepped forward to curtsy and greet Fu Tingyun and Third Sister.
The Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master took the opportunity to run out.
There was a commotion outside.
Third Sister looked out.
She saw several strong men who looked like servants lift the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master and head outward, while Madam Li’s apologetic voice came to her ears: “I’ve troubled Madam Zhao. Our master has sent a letter saying that when he returns to the capital, he will personally come to apologize to Madam Zhao.”
“Madam Li, please don’t be so formal,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “I was just worried that the child might have gone elsewhere, causing you another round of searching, so I had Yu Wei bring you a message. Now that you’ve found him, all is well.” She then invited Madam Li for tea.
“The people at home don’t yet know I’ve found Thirteen,” Madam Li declined Fu Tingyun’s kindness. “I’ll come to visit Madam Zhao another day.”
Fu Tingyun didn’t insist and saw Madam Li out through the decorated gate.