Nanny Chang was getting married, and the Duchess of Pengcheng had been invited to help. She was filled with joy and paid no attention to Yuan Shi’s expression. Turning around to see Yuan Shi, she greeted her loudly with a laugh: “Oh my! Madam Yuan is here! Didn’t they say you were ill? Are you better now? These days I’ve been busy helping the Chang family prepare for Nanny Chang’s wedding and haven’t had time to visit you. I was thinking of going after getting through these few days, never expecting to run into you here. Your complexion looks good—you must be much better, yes?”
Previously, Cheng Shao had always lived with Yuan Shi and the others at Xinglin Alley. Later, when Cheng Shao gained a grandson, he moved here. At the time, it was Yuan Shi who came to help organize the residence.
The courtyard now being used as the bridal chamber wasn’t the main hall of Shuangyu Alley, but rather a side courtyard to the east of the main hall.
Three moderately-sized main rooms, three side rooms on the east, two retiring rooms at the back. Behind the eastern side rooms was a row of old locust trees. In the western corner stood an artificial mountain made of two Lake Tai stones, with a banana plant and two clumps of green bamboo. In the center of the courtyard, beside the stone table and chairs under the grape arbor, was a large fish tank. Several orchids had been painted, the floor pillars and window lattices had been freshly lacquered and pasted with snow-white, high-quality paper. The entire courtyard looked vibrant and fresh, refreshingly clean and pleasing.
Looking at it, Yuan Shi inexplicably felt displeased, feeling that most men in this world were still fickle. Back then, the former second aunt and Cheng Shao had been like a harmonious zither and flute, yet after just a few years, Cheng Shao was taking a new wife. He had renovated the residence and was happily becoming a groom again.
She couldn’t help but sigh wistfully in her heart and asked the Duchess of Pengcheng, “What brings you here, Your Grace?”
By rights, the Duchess of Pengcheng was a widowed old lady—she shouldn’t be in the bridal chamber at all. Wouldn’t this bring bad luck to Cheng Shao’s marriage?
The Duchess of Pengcheng chuckled and said, “I just came to have a look. Didn’t go inside, didn’t go inside.”
Though Nanny Chang hadn’t formally acknowledged her as a godmother, Nanny Chang’s younger brother had acknowledged her as his godmother, so she could also be considered Nanny Chang’s relative. The Chang family’s auspicious woman was her niece from her natal family. When they came to view the bridal chamber, she took the opportunity to follow along.
Yuan Shi sneered inwardly but didn’t point out the Duchess of Pengcheng’s breach of propriety. She only said, “I wonder what kind of dowry the new aunt has prepared?”
The Duchess of Pengcheng hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.
Nanny Chang served at the palace with monthly stipends and social obligations—how could she possibly have silver on hand? When Great Uncle Chang came, he brought eight hundred taels of silver, which had already emptied the family coffers. She had privately given five thousand taels of silver for Nanny Chang’s dowry, but who knew Nanny Chang would return it, including Great Uncle Chang’s eight hundred taels. She even gave Great Uncle Chang an additional two hundred taels, the implication being that Madam Guo the Elder had given five thousand taels from her personal savings to arrange the dowry and save face for her.
Regardless of how one looked at it, since it was Madam Guo the Elder’s personal savings, all the sons had a share, all the daughters-in-law had a share. Better not to bring up this awkward matter.
Thinking this, the Duchess of Pengcheng suddenly lost interest in making small talk with Yuan Shi. She said, “Have you gone to see your mother-in-law yet? I’ve seen the bridal chamber too, and I’ll have something to say to Nanny Chang when I return. I won’t delay them arranging the decorations here. I’ll go sit with your mother-in-law and chat with her.”
Yuan Shi hadn’t expected Madam Guo the Elder to be here at this time at all.
She’d been so infuriated by Zhou Shaojin and Min Shi that she’d become confused.
She grumbled inwardly and quickly said, “I was originally planning to pay my respects to my mother-in-law. Seeing you here, I came to greet you first—I’ll go to my mother-in-law’s with you.”
The Duchess of Pengcheng was pleased that she was no longer fixating on her presence in the eastern courtyard and didn’t mind at all. The two women went to the small courtyard at the back with smiles.
The weather was gradually warming. Yun Ge’er had only two or three days until his first birthday, yet suddenly he could let go and walk two steps on his own.
The whole family revolved around him, coaxing him to walk.
He also loved to move, constantly active here and there with his hands and feet. When tired of walking he would crawl, when tired of crawling he would hold onto things and walk. Who knew how many changes of clothes he went through in a day?
Sometimes Fan Liu Shi would inevitably tell the maids in Yun Ge’er’s room, “Don’t let the young master run wild—let him play on the floor mat.”
Hearing this, Madam Guo the Elder smiled and said, “After all, you raised a young lady. Girls and boys can’t be raised the same way. Girls are precious—wherever they go they must be cherished like pearls and jade. But boys are born to uphold the family gate. If you control and restrict them when they’re small and don’t let them move freely, how will they dare to venture out when they’re older? Let him crawl all he wants. It’s just washing a few more times, making a few more outfits. These small clothes, if we make extras, can’t they be saved for his younger brother to wear?” After speaking, she instructed those serving by Yun Ge’er’s side, “If he wants to pick flowers, let him pick them. If he wants to play with Snowball, let him play. Just watch closely from the side so he doesn’t fall or get bitten. Boys can’t be controlled hand and foot.”
Once she had spoken, who would dare say anything more?
It just made things hard for the maids in Yun Ge’er’s room, who had to wash countless clothes every day.
Zhou Shaojin sympathized with their difficulty. Besides privately supplementing each of them five hundred wen per month from her own funds, she also assigned two rough-work pozi from her own service to Yun Ge’er, specifically to starch and wash his clothes.
Regarding this matter, Madam Guo the Elder had specially praised Zhou Shaojin in front of Cheng Chi: “…You’re establishing your own household anew. Future generations will follow your rules, so these rules especially cannot be disordered. That Shaojin can have Yun Ge’er’s expenses come from her own accounts—just this point alone shows she has the bearing of a household mistress. I think in another two years, Shaojin will be able to shoulder this household.”
Hearing this, Cheng Chi smiled and said, “Mother, that she has today is also because you taught her well. As for managing the household affairs, mother should still bear more of the burden these next few years. We’re still planning to give Yun Ge’er several younger brothers and sisters!”
Madam Guo the Elder loved hearing this most. Her face bloomed with smiles as she repeatedly said, “Good, good! As long as you can flourish with many branches and leaves, I’ll help you manage this household well no matter what.”
Zhou Shaojin blushed crimson with shame and couldn’t say a word for a long while.
Madam Guo the Elder thought that this way, Yun Ge’er would probably spend most of his time with her. Thinking of how Yun Ge’er was the eldest son, she became even more attentive to him. When Cheng Shao married, she brought Yun Ge’er to live at Shuangyu Alley, also wanting to see if Yun Ge’er was afraid of strangers. She had a floor mat spread in the hall for him to roll around on.
When Yun Ge’er tired of playing, he would lie on his back on the floor mat, grabbing his little feet to play with, babbling who knows what.
Madam Guo the Elder watched with chuckles.
Yuan Shi and the Duchess of Pengcheng lifted the curtain and entered.
The Duchess of Pengcheng immediately exclaimed “Oh my!” and said warmly, “Isn’t this our Yun Ge’er? Why are you lying on the floor all alone? Did grandmother offend you? Quick, get up, get up!” As she spoke, she moved to pull Yun Ge’er up.
Yun Ge’er’s wet nurse didn’t dare stop the Duchess of Pengcheng and looked toward Madam Guo the Elder.
Madam Guo the Elder waved her hand dismissively, “Don’t worry about him—he likes playing this way.” Then she said, “When did you arrive? Why didn’t you have a maid announce you so I could come greet you?”
The Duchess of Pengcheng didn’t dare mention that she had glanced at the bridal chamber from the courtyard and said with a smile, “I happened to run into your eldest daughter-in-law and came together.” As she spoke, she had already picked up Yun Ge’er, but who knew he would be unexpectedly heavy. She nearly couldn’t lift him. Exerting more effort, she finally held the Yun Ge’er who didn’t look very fat but was quite solid in her arms, saying with a smile, “How are the preparations for our Yun Ge’er’s first birthday celebration coming along?”
Madam Guo the Elder smiled, “Everything’s ready—just waiting for the guests to arrive. Speaking of which, it’s also our Yun Ge’er’s good fortune. Several old masters from the Tongxiang Yuan family, Lujiang Li family, and other families heard that Second Uncle was remarrying. Thinking they had nothing else to do and being advanced in years, after receiving the invitations they all said they would come for the celebratory banquet. Yun Ge’er’s first birthday celebration is just a few days after Second Uncle’s, and several old masters said they would come watch Yun Ge’er’s object selection ceremony!”
“Our family’s Yun Ge’er truly is blessed!” The Duchess of Pengcheng knew these old masters were renowned scholars famous throughout the land, rarely gathered together. She advised Madam Guo the Elder, “You must have these old masters leave some calligraphy for our Yun Ge’er—it can become a treasured heirloom.”
The Cheng family never lacked such things.
Madam Guo the Elder just smiled.
But Yun Ge’er kept slipping down in the Duchess of Pengcheng’s arms.
The Duchess of Pengcheng had no choice but to hand Yun Ge’er to his wet nurse: “This child is truly heavy. How do you manage to hold him?”
Yun Ge’er’s wet nurse quickly said, “I have great strength!”
Hearing this, Madam Guo the Elder laughed again. She invited the Duchess of Pengcheng to take the seat of honor and asked about Nanny Chang’s situation.
Yuan Shi listened from the side, but her gaze seemed glued to Yun Ge’er’s face. With difficulty, she pulled it away, only to involuntarily look back again after a moment.
She had never really looked properly at this Yun Ge’er before.
Only now did she discover the child was handsome.
His black hair took after Zhou Shaojin, his handsome features took after Cheng Chi. Pink and plump, not chubby like ordinary children, yet his limbs were sturdy. When he moved, he was nimble and quick, making one’s heart soften just looking at him.
How wonderful it would be if this were her own grandson!
The thought flashed through her mind, and Yuan Shi’s brows knitted tightly together.
If Min Shi could give her a grandson, that would be a child with the blood of both the Cheng and Min families flowing through him, certainly a scholarly seed, even more outstanding than Yun Ge’er.
What a pity this Min Shi was incompetent, putting on airs and unwilling to bow her head. Otherwise, why would she still not be holding a grandson today?
Then she thought of Cheng Xu’s external posting.
Her heart felt even more uncomfortable.
If Min Shi showed no signs within five years, then don’t blame her for being impolite—she would have Min Shi arrange someone for Cheng Xu’s household to continue the Cheng family line.
Yuan Shi pondered this, finally feeling somewhat better in her heart. She took the initiative to discuss Yun Ge’er’s object selection ceremony with Madam Guo the Elder and the Duchess of Pengcheng: “…Borrow the child’s eldest uncle’s official seal? Wonderful! When I return, I’ll tell his eldest uncle—he’ll definitely be delighted.”
“It doesn’t have to be his eldest uncle’s official seal specifically—using a fish tally as a substitute would also work,” Madam Guo the Elder said. “It’s just for fun.”
“You can’t say it that way.” The Duchess of Pengcheng disagreed. “His eldest uncle’s seal is of the first rank—what an auspicious omen! Don’t listen to your mother-in-law, listen to me—you can’t go wrong. Tomorrow you can take it directly to Chaoyangmen.”