Gu Xi’s milk brother looked at the customers still queuing outside waiting to eat noodles, then at Yu Yuan who was smiling at him very warmly. After slight hesitation, he broke into a smile and waved at Yu Yuan: “I was just wondering where you’d gone—didn’t expect you’d already sat down.” Finishing, he turned back to Gu Xi’s wet nurse and said: “Mother, let’s go in and sit!”
Gu Xi’s wet nurse was somewhat hesitant.
Gu Xi’s milk brother said quietly: “I still have to go back to the shop to do accounts later!”
Upon hearing this, Gu Xi’s wet nurse immediately walked toward the table where Yu Yuan and Yu Tang sat.
“Thank you, young sir!” Upon reaching the table, she said politely yet amiably. “Next time, let Gu San’er treat you to tea.”
Gu Xi’s wet nurse had married a hereditary servant of the Gu family who had been granted their surname early on. However, Gu Xi’s wet nurse had an ill-fated life—she had given birth to three sons, but only Gu San survived. When Gu San was two months old, her husband died suddenly of illness. Later, when Gu Xi married into the Li family, Gu San also followed his mother to Lin’an, helping Gu Xi manage the estates. He married one of Gu Xi’s dowry maids and was Gu Xi’s right-hand man.
So Yu Tang also recognized Gu San.
However, Gu San at this time was still just a youth. Though he didn’t yet have the impassive demeanor he would have in a few years, he already showed signs of being shrewd and capable.
He greeted Yu Yuan and settled his mother in the seat across from Yu Tang. He himself didn’t sit down, but asked Yu Yuan: “Brother Yu, have you ordered your noodles?”
Yu Yuan nodded and smiled: “We ordered two servings of their signature bamboo shoot noodles.”
Gu San nodded and said: “Good, then we’ll also order two servings of bamboo shoot noodles.” Finishing, he ran to the boss to order noodles and urge them to prepare them—very sharp-witted indeed.
Truly worthy of being Gu Xi’s future confidant.
Watching, Yu Tang formed an idea in her heart.
Gu Xi’s wet nurse who had sat down—that is, Gu San’s mother—had already begun talking with Yu Yuan: “Which shop do you work at? How come I’ve never seen you before? How did you come to know our A’San?”
It sounded like an ordinary mother concerned about her child’s friends, but her eyes revealed some wariness.
Yu Tang lowered her head and took a sip of the large-leaf tea the shop provided.
The Gu family was very prominent in Hangzhou. Who knew how many people wanted to establish connections with them? As Gu Xi’s milk brother, Gu San must often encounter calculating people trying to befriend him.
Yu Yuan had no intention of becoming friends with Gu San, so he spoke particularly openly. He said: “Just met yesterday. I’m from Lin’an, came here to see a friend. It happened that my friend has a good relationship with Brother Gu, so we all went to have a meal together. Seeing you queuing there, I took the liberty of calling you over.”
At first hearing, this was a typical tactic for befriending Gu San.
Gu Xi’s wet nurse’s eyes became more guarded. She said: “Young Master Yu is from Lin’an? Are you in Hangzhou to have fun or for some matter? New Year is approaching—how could your family elders let you go out at this time?” Finishing, she also glanced at Yu Tang.
Yu Yuan smiled: “There are just us two siblings in our family. Elders help manage household matters, so we juniors are free instead. We came to browse Hangzhou and see if there’s anything good to buy.”
Gu Xi’s wet nurse frowned slightly. She was about to say something when Gu San had already walked over carrying a tray with two large bowls.
Yu Yuan hastily stepped forward to help receive the tray.
Gu San said: “These are your two bowls. Ours still needs to wait a bit. You eat first—it’ll be our turn soon.”
Yu Yuan gave one bowl of noodles to Gu Xi’s wet nurse and one to Yu Tang, saying: “We don’t have anything urgent anyway. Let your mother and my sister eat first. I’ll wait with you—we can still chat.”
Gu San glanced at his mother.
Gu Xi’s wet nurse nodded slightly.
Gu San then sat down with a smile, pulled out chopsticks for Yu Tang and his mother, then lifted his teacup and took a big gulp before smiling: “That works! Didn’t expect such coincidence—actually running into Brother Yu here. What are you going to do? Have you decided when to return? Find time and I’ll treat you to drinks.”
Yu Yuan smiled indifferently: “My sister and I are returning tomorrow. After we go back, our family shop will also get busy. I probably won’t have much opportunity to come to Hangzhou in the near future. If Brother Gu has a chance to go to Lin’an, you might as well visit the Yu Family Lacquerware Shop on Changxing Street to find me. I’ll be the host and take you touring Lin’an.”
Gu San quickly glanced at his mother and smiled perfunctorily: “Then I must find time to make a trip to Lin’an.”
Yu Tang sneered inwardly.
This mother and son probably thought they wanted to use them to connect with either the Gu family or the Li family!
Yu Tang felt uncomfortable and decided to strike early.
She tugged on Yu Yuan’s sleeve and used a very low voice that could still be heard by the mother and son: “Surnamed Gu—wouldn’t they have some relationship with the Hangzhou Gu family?”
Yu Yuan didn’t understand for a moment what Yu Tang was up to, and his expression froze slightly.
The mother and son exchanged a glance. Gu Xi’s wet nurse was even more straightforward: “Does Miss Yu know our Gu family?”
Yu Tang’s expression darkened as she said: “You really are people of the Hangzhou Gu family?”
She was at her tender age, her features not yet fully matured, but with large eyes and a high-bridged nose, she was very beautiful. When she lowered her head and didn’t speak, she gave people a feeling of gentle gracefulness. But once she spoke, especially when she put on such a stern face, her features suddenly became sharp, possessing a kind of aggressively striking beauty.
Gu Xi’s wet nurse was someone who had seen many beauties, yet she was actually intimidated by Yu Tang’s stern expression and couldn’t immediately respond. It was Gu San, who had been guarding against the Yu siblings all along, who immediately said when his mother didn’t speak: “We can’t really be considered Hangzhou Gu family people. It’s just that my late father was a hereditary servant of the Gu family. Through the Gu family’s grace, since my great-grandfather’s time we’ve followed their surname of Gu. Only thus can my mother and I serve in the Gu household.”
If the Yu siblings had come prepared, they would certainly know who he was and he needn’t say more. If they didn’t know, given their relationship, he only needed to explain this much.
Who knew that as soon as his words fell, Yu Tang shot up with a “whoosh,” saying to Yu Yuan: “Brother, let’s go! I don’t want to sit with these kinds of people.”
The shop wasn’t large. When Yu Tang stood like this, everyone’s gazes all turned over. Her words even more so reached everyone’s ears. Not to mention those sitting in the shop—even those queuing close to the shop heard it. Everyone pricked up their ears. For a moment, inside and outside the shop was as silent as wooden chickens—only the sound of hot soup “gurgling” and bubbling could be heard.
Since becoming the head maid to Gu Xi’s mother, Gu Xi’s wet nurse had never encountered such an awkward situation. She hastily stood up and said quietly to Yu Tang: “Young lady, no matter what the matter is, doing this will only make everyone lose face together. You should still sit down. Whatever it is, we can talk it out properly. There’s nothing that can’t be resolved. If I can’t resolve it, we’ll go find our family’s Master Gu. Things others can’t resolve, he has ways to resolve.” This last sentence already faintly revealed some threatening intent.
Yu Tang was afraid the matter wouldn’t be big enough. Moreover, when she came, she had already prepared to set her dignity aside.
She sat down with a cold laugh and spoke bluntly: “You needn’t pressure me with your Gu family’s master. Since I dare do it, I dare take responsibility. Even if you call your family’s master here, I have nothing I wouldn’t dare say.”
Gu Xi’s wet nurse was angry, anxious, and vexed all at once.
Though they had sat down, everyone could tell at a glance there was drama to watch between them. The people in the shop appeared to be eating their noodles nonchalantly, but in reality, everyone was secretly watching them, wishing they could hear some gossip to chatter about with others. Everyone’s attention was still on the few of them.
Gu Xi’s wet nurse’s voice involuntarily lowered several more degrees. Forcing a smile on her face, she said: “Miss Yu should eat your noodles first. After we finish eating, we’ll find a place to talk.”
If this were in the Gu residence, forget eating noodles—she would have long since pulled this little girl aside to talk. Without clarifying matters, she shouldn’t expect to eat anything.
Gu Xi’s wet nurse forcefully suppressed her anger. Yu Tang had no intention of indulging her. She smiled sarcastically and said in a normal voice: “You needn’t put on airs with me here either. I’m not someone from the Gu family. Speaking of which, our family and the Gu family have a grudge—your Gu family’s son-in-law Li Duan—no, I should say your Gu family’s second branch’s in-law Madam Li—is truly shameless. Look at what kind of things she’s done! Your family’s son-in-law even wore mourning sackcloth to apologize to people. Those watching the excitement in Lin’an blocked the entire street. Everyone knows, everyone’s heard. Don’t put on that face as if afraid we siblings want to curry favor with you. I don’t buy into that. However, there’s one thing you said correctly—no matter what the matter is, there’s a way to resolve it. If you feel you’ve been wronged by me, by all means call your family’s master over and have your family’s master give me an explanation. Let’s see whether you’re judging people with dog’s eyes, or we’re being unreasonable.”
Her sharp tongue made Gu Xi’s wet nurse’s face turn dark as the bottom of a pot, yet mindful of the Gu family’s reputation in Hangzhou, she didn’t dare speak loudly with Yu Tang.
Yu Yuan had earlier worried that Yu Tang was acting too rashly. Now seeing Gu Xi’s wet nurse endure without erupting, he finally believed Yu Tang’s words that “great households care more about face—they don’t dare flare up in front of you, only dare use underhanded methods behind the scenes.” He breathed a sigh of relief while his heart suspended halfway in the air again.
The Gu family wouldn’t secretly abduct their siblings, would they?
When he saw Shopkeeper Tong’er later, should he tell him about this matter?
Or should they hire a boat overnight to return to Lin’an? After all, they’d already finished what they came to do. There wasn’t much point staying in Hangzhou.
While Yu Yuan was still thinking wildly, Gu San had already recovered. His eyes gleaming coldly, he said quietly: “Are you two here to cause trouble?”
Yu Tang didn’t have her previous life’s good temper, nor was she prepared to bend her back and let others run wild over her head. Hearing him say this, she immediately shot back: “What do you think you are? If I wanted to cause trouble, I wouldn’t waste it on you! I think you’ve stayed in Hangzhou too long and become a frog in a well, thinking that besides your Gu family there are no other families. You think that because we spoke a few more words with you, others must want to gain some benefit from you. Why don’t you go ask around—our Yu family is also a respectable scholarly family in Lin’an. What schemes could we possibly need from you servants and bondservants?!” Finishing, she loudly called out “Shopkeeper!” and said, “We don’t know these two people. Please trouble you to give us a different table!”
Gu Xi’s wet nurse was so angry her face turned ashen. The shop owner, looking honest and sincere, smiled apologetically—changing tables wasn’t right, but not changing also wasn’t right.