Yu Wen’s study was set up in the west wing of the courtyard—one large room with all four walls stacked with books. A large writing desk stood in the center of the study, with several blue and white porcelain vats placed beside it, holding painting scrolls of varying heights. On the desk sat a small famille-rose fish bowl containing two goldfish, one red and one black.
Of course, Yu Tang hadn’t pushed her father in here to demand that piece of Qingtian jade seed material—she wanted to discuss her mother’s condition with Yu Wen.
Before her father returned, she had thought carefully. The destruction of her family in her previous life seemed to have been caused by the fire on Changxing Street, but in reality, it was caused by her mother’s illness never improving.
To change the fate of her previous life, she had to start with her mother’s condition.
Only if her mother’s illness improved would her father not seek medical help indiscriminately in desperation, not believe every rumor he heard, and not take her mother away from home to seek treatment. As for material possessions—if they were gone, they were gone. Having people alive was what mattered most.
“Father, didn’t you say you went to Suzhou City to see that Imperial Physician Yang?” Yu Tang said, fiddling with the asparagus fern on the study’s curio shelf. “What did Imperial Physician Yang say? Can he cure Mother’s illness?”
Yu Wen still treated Yu Tang as a child and said: “That’s an adult matter—don’t worry about it. You just need to keep your mother company properly. As for your mother’s illness, I’ll handle it!”
Yu Tang casually plucked a branch of asparagus fern and teased the fish in the bowl, saying: “Father, stop always treating me like a child. I already knew about the fire on Changxing Street. I even went to watch the commotion at the time. But didn’t I still help First Aunt keep it from Mother? To this day, Mother hasn’t heard even a whisper of it. Even First Aunt praised me for being sensible.”
Yu Wen was very surprised. Watching his daughter stir up the two goldfish to swim chaotically in the bowl, he couldn’t help laughing: “Look at you, teasing cats and playing with dogs—where’s even a bit of a grown girl’s appearance? How can I treat you as a grown girl?”
The seven years in the Li family had been too bitter. If she hadn’t found some fun to amuse herself amid the suffering, she probably wouldn’t have survived.
Yu Tang said reproachfully: “What does that have to do with growing up? You’re this old, and you still crave the water chestnut cakes from Shanwaishan.”
Yu Wen coughed twice in embarrassment and changed the subject: “How has your mother’s health really been these past days? She always keeps things from me, and I have no peace of mind!”
Yu Tang had been waiting for her father to say this. She said: “If you don’t speak honestly with me, I don’t want to speak honestly with you either.”
“Oh my! Our girl even knows how to negotiate with me now.” Yu Wen teased his daughter, but when he looked up and saw her serious gaze, unfamiliar emotions couldn’t help but surge in his heart. It was as if in just the blink of an eye, his daughter had already become a grown girl—not only sensible, but also knowing how to care for, be considerate of, and feel tender toward her parents.
This made him both emotional and proud.
Everyone said he spoiled his daughter too much, but his daughter hadn’t been spoiled rotten by him at all.
She was becoming more and more filial.
Yu Wen decided to respect his daughter’s wishes.
He would also give his daughter that piece of Qingtian jade seed material she liked to play with.
While rummaging through boxes looking for that piece of Qingtian jade seed material, he said: “I didn’t manage to see Imperial Physician Yang. His disciple said that Imperial Physician Yang retired from the Imperial Medical Bureau because he injured the meridians in both hands and could no longer practice medicine. How could I insist on seeing Imperial Physician Yang?”
Yu Tang was slightly startled.
In her previous life, after Imperial Physician Yang returned to his hometown, he never practiced medicine again. She had thought Imperial Physician Yang was old and frail—she hadn’t expected it was for this reason.
She said: “Father, can Mother’s illness only be helped by Imperial Physician Yang?”
If her father wanted to take her mother to Mount Putuo, she would stop him no matter what.
Yu Wen finally found that piece of Qingtian jade seed material and decided to find another suitable box to hold the seed material.
He started rummaging through boxes and cabinets again: “Imperial Physician Yang was introduced by your Uncle Lu. He said Imperial Physician Yang used to specialize in gynecology in the palace. When the Empress Dowager was pregnant with His Majesty, it was Imperial Physician Yang who protected the pregnancy. The root of your mother’s illness was left after giving birth to you, so of course it would be best to seek out Imperial Physician Yang.”
Uncle Lu’s name was Lu Xin, and he was Yu Wen’s classmate from the same year. The two had a very close private friendship. He was the one who sold “Fishing in Seclusion by Pine Stream” to her father. He had also once egged her father on to print some poetry collection, coaxing her father into spending a large sum of money. In the end, more than half of the poetry collection contained his poems. Few people remembered her father, the financier, but Lu Xin’s poems gradually began to circulate throughout the Jiangnan region because of this.
Yu Tang therefore disliked this person and said: “You shouldn’t listen to everything he says either. Since he knew about Imperial Physician Yang retiring and returning to his hometown, why didn’t he inquire about why Imperial Physician Yang was retiring? He made you make a wasted trip and made Mother worry and be frightened.”
Yu Wen finally found a suitable small carved red lacquer box and sat down in the round-backed chair behind the writing desk, saying: “Don’t say that. Your Uncle Lu also had good intentions. He not only personally accompanied me on the trip to Suzhou City, but also helped me find out that another imperial physician, Wang Bai, is living in seclusion on Mount Putuo. However, Wang Bai specializes in pediatrics, so I don’t know if he can cure your mother.”
So Lu Xin was also involved in the Mount Putuo matter.
Yu Tang was extremely angry and said: “Father, when Uncle Lu accompanied you to Suzhou City, did you pay for it or did he pay for it himself?”
Yu Wen smiled: “You child, how can you be so calculating?”
She knew it—Lu Xin was scheming against her father again.
Yu Tang said angrily: “I just think that since Uncle Lu is so knowledgeable about these imperial physicians, why didn’t he suggest you take Mother to the capital to seek medical treatment? After all, imperial physicians are everywhere in the capital. If not this one, there’s that one—you’d always be able to find one who can treat Mother’s illness.”
Yu Wen laughed: “What do you think imperial physicians are? Everywhere! Your Uncle Lu cares about me, which is why he particularly pays attention to news about imperial physicians. You can’t talk about your Uncle Lu like this anymore—it’s not polite.”
Yu Tang then encouraged her father to take her mother to the capital to see a doctor.
As long as they avoided those dangerous places, they could preserve her parents’ lives, and their family could remain whole and happy.
Yu Wen was somewhat moved by Yu Tang’s words. But going to the capital was a major matter. If he made up his mind, there would be many things to prepare.
He tried fitting the Qingtian jade seed material into the box, saying absent-mindedly: “This is the Qingtian jade seed material you wanted. Keep it safe and don’t lose it. I snatched this from your Uncle Lu’s hands.”
Yu Tang now didn’t even want to hear this name mentioned and said: “Then I’d better not take what someone else loves. You should just give me that lotus leaf and dripping water inkstone instead!”
“If I give it to you, just take it!” Yu Wen stretched out his hand and wouldn’t take it back, teasing Yu Tang: “I was still planning to keep the lotus leaf and dripping water inkstone to bargain with you next time you’re naughty! If I give it to you now, wouldn’t I be at a loss?”
Yu Tang thought that this Qingtian jade seed material was indeed a good thing, and she didn’t need to resent other things just because of Lu Xin.
If she felt uncomfortable about it, she could use it as a gift later.
Yu Tang accepted the box, thanked her father, and after the two discussed for a few moments what kind of seal would be good to carve from this Qingtian jade seed material, she reminded her father: “Father, if we go to the capital to see a doctor, we’ll definitely need a lot of money. You’ve already had that painting ‘Fishing in Seclusion by Pine Stream’ in hand to appreciate for several days now.”
Yu Wen smiled sheepishly.
If Yu Tang hadn’t mentioned this matter, he really would have forgotten.
Yu Wen had no concept of money and no particular requirements for it. He said nonchalantly: “Your Uncle Lu and I are close friends—if I’m a few days late with the money, he won’t say anything. And no matter how short of money the family is, we’re not short of money for your mother’s medicine. You don’t need to worry.”
Yu Tang knew her father would answer this way.
She said: “Father has never managed the family accounts, has he? Why don’t you go ask Chen Pozi?”
Because of her health, Chen Shi never managed household affairs. Chen Pozi also didn’t betray Chen Shi’s trust—household matters were orderly in her hands and had never gone wrong.
Yu Wen hesitated: “It can’t be… that we can’t even afford your mother’s medicine, can it?”
Yu Tang was frustrated with him and said: “Even a mountain will be eaten away if one just sits and consumes. The family’s shops have been burned down and there will be no income for a long time, but Mother’s medicine can’t be stopped for even a day, and Uncle wants to rebuild the shops. Tell me, where will all this money come from?”
Yu Wen knew Yu Tang wouldn’t exaggerate to stop him from spending.
When his own hobby conflicted with his wife’s condition, Yu Wen unhesitatingly gave way to his wife’s condition.
“Understood.” He responded somewhat embarrassedly.
Yu Tang knew her father wouldn’t buy that painting anymore.
She breathed a sigh of relief and brought up the shop matter again: “First Aunt comes from a merchant family. When Grandfather was alive, he saw how capable First Aunt was, which is why he sought her hand in marriage for Uncle. And when Grandfather passed away, he also said that from then on, shop matters couldn’t avoid First Aunt—the implication was that you and Uncle should listen more to First Aunt’s opinions. Regarding shop matters, shouldn’t you go discuss with First Aunt? I’ve seen that Uncle and Eldest Cousin have been so busy these past few days that they’ve both lost weight. Usually Uncle helps our family—at this critical time, you should also help Uncle.”
Her grandfather had indeed made such instructions before his death.
Yu Wen nodded.
Yu Tang smiled radiantly.
Finally, there was a little bit of small progress in family matters.
Yu Wen patted Yu Tang’s head and said: “Then you hold down the fort with your mother, and I’ll find an opportunity to see your First Aunt.”
Yu Tang happily agreed, took the small carved red lacquer box, and left the study with Yu Wen.
Chen Shi then had Yu Tang go invite Uncle’s family to come eat at their house: “Your uncle worked hard during the days your father wasn’t home. Invite your uncle to come drink a cup of wine with your father and relieve his fatigue.”
Although the Yu family brothers had divided the household, their homes were adjacent to each other, and they remained very close.
Yu Tang led Shuang Tao through the back door to Uncle’s house.
Wang Shi was in the middle of taking inventory of her dowry.
Yu Tang ran directly into Wang Shi’s inner room and whispered to First Aunt as if claiming credit: “I’ve already spoken with my father. Father says that for shop matters, he’ll consult with you first.”
She hoped First Aunt would also take the initiative, lest her father casually consult with whoever he happened to run into first.
First Aunt was delighted and went to pinch Yu Tang’s face: “Good girl, you’re becoming more and more clever. You’re starting to look like a little caring cotton-padded jacket.”
Yu Tang turned her head to avoid First Aunt’s “claws” and ran off with Shuang Tao: “Come quickly—Mother and Father are waiting at home!”
Wang Shi looked at her retreating figure and shook her head with a smile.