The general outline of Lian Jie’er’s dowry had largely been settled. But Lin Shi had kept in mind all along what her elder brother had pointed out to her on the day she visited the Lin family —
At the right moment, let word slip that she had added items to her stepdaughter’s dowry. The Anyuan Earl’s residence, upon hearing it, might well send a pleasant surprise.
Lin Shi decided to try.
……
The opportunity came quickly. Lin Shi learned through inquiries that the Anyuan Earl’s residence was in the midst of arranging a match for their eldest legitimate grandson — hoping to have him marry the youngest daughter of Marquis Jingying. Negotiations for the engagement were at a critical stage.
By a most convenient coincidence, the Yongshun Earl’s residence sent an invitation card for Lin Shi to come and have tea.
Lin Shi went, and found that the eldest daughter-in-law of Marquis Jingying’s household, Zhao Shi, had also come. At that moment, Lin Shi realized she had to seize the opportunity of that very day — a chance that would not come again.
And so she quietly arranged her words in her mind, calculating when and how to let them fall.
Everyone present knew of the match between Pei Ruolian and the second son of the Xu family, so naturally, one of the ladies would raise it during the conversation: “Your Lian Jie’er is nearly ready to be wed — what have you planned to add to her dowry? Tell us, so we can all hear.”
That was precisely the opening Lin Shi had been waiting for. She replied: “Lian Jie’er’s birth mother was the eldest legitimate daughter of the Ning family, and she has her grandparents above who cherish her and her great-uncle the Anyuan Earl who looks after her. How could this step-mother presume to take a hand in her dowry? I am doing no more than expressing a token of goodwill.”
The implication seemed to be that she had no plans to add anything significant — making her sound rather coldhearted.
Then another said: “Surely you’ll add a few things at least, or people will talk behind your back.”
“That goes without saying.” Lin Shi took a small sip of tea and said with an air of easy indifference: “Only a cloth shop and a medicinal herb shop in the southern part of the city, along with two thousand taels of official silver — just a small gesture on the part of this stepmother, a modest addition.”
She then added: “The larger portion must still come from Lian Jie’er’s grandparents — and from her great-uncle.”
“With all that, Lian Jie’er’s dowry will not be meager at all,” someone remarked.
The assembled madams kept their expressions composed, but inwardly they were all a little astonished — for a stepmother, this was more than generous enough.
Lin Shi took the moment of sipping her tea to steal a glance at Zhao Shi of the Marquis Jingying’s household and saw that she had been listening with particular attentiveness. Lin Shi was quietly satisfied, and then turned the conversation to other topics.
At the last coming-of-age ceremony, the Ning family’s substitution of gold thread with yellow thread had already made the Anyuan Earl’s residence the subject of mockery. If they now dared to be perfunctory a second time, they could not blame others for saying that Lian Jie’er’s stepmother had done more for her than her own maternal uncle — for though this Earl Ning was not of her blood, he had been raised by Lian Jie’er’s maternal grandmother with her own hands.
Beyond that, Marquis Jingying, upon hearing of it, would likely want to reconsider before committing to sending his youngest daughter into the Anyuan Earl’s household.
……
And as Lin Shiyun had predicted, among noble households, face matters more than money. Within a few days, someone from the Anyuan Earl’s residence came calling.
With no small show, as if afraid the world would not know.
Earl Ning came personally, bearing property deeds and silver, saying he had come to add to his niece’s dowry, and adding that the matter of the garments — the gold thread that had gone missing — was the fault of a greedy servant under Lady Huang’s charge, who had stolen it privately, causing that unfortunate misunderstanding.
The Old Master and Old Madam accepted the gesture gracefully. Pei Pu replied: “We are all family — of course we understand your kind intentions.”
The two families parted with smiles all around. But what each side truly thought in their hearts — that was another matter entirely.
……
……
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, autumn arrived in the following year, the fragrance of osmanthus filling the air.
The autumn examinations concluded, and the results were announced. The Xu family sent someone with word that Xu Zhan had not performed as well as hoped — he had not placed on the main list, only on the supplemental list, in ninth position.
The supplemental list did not count as having passed the provincial examination. It could be considered little more than a consolation, with the attached benefit of a place at the Imperial Academy.
The Pei family felt sorry to hear it. Had Xu Zhan passed the examination and then wed, it would have been two joyful occasions at once.
But Xu Zhan was not discouraged. He told his father: “This was my first time sitting the autumn examinations — I imagine my practice and effort were not yet sufficient, and my essay-writing lacks strength. That is why I fell to the supplemental list. In that case, I shall continue studying hard and try again in three years.” Such strength of character was rare and admirable.
Pei Shaohuai thought very highly of this future brother-in-law — for he remembered from the original story that Xu Zhan, in his second attempt at the autumn examinations, took first place in the provincial list, and then, in the palace examination, was personally designated by the Emperor as fifth place in the second tier. He placed at the top of the court examination that followed, successfully secured a post in the capital, and entered the Hanlin Academy as a probationary academician.
After several more months of preparations, the auspicious date arrived, and the two families were to hold the wedding ceremony.
At this time, Pei Shaohuai was three and a half years old, considerably taller than before. He wore a small version of a straight-cut robe in blue-azure, belted at the waist with a silver-edged cloud-patterned brocade sash, his dark hair neatly bound by Lin Shi into a small jade-blue cap. When he sat still, he looked like a little young gentleman, still carrying just a faint trace of babyish charm.
When he started moving about, his eyes curved with a smile, and he became lively and playful.
The adults were all busy rushing about in preparation, striving to make everything as thorough as possible. Pei Shaohuai had grown a little weary of reading alone and went off to find his younger brother, Pei Shaojin, to play.
Pei Shaojin had been a well-behaved child from very early on. During these few days, with their grandfather and father too busy to give him lessons, he had taken out his large character copybook on his own and was practicing character recognition by himself — placing the ones he recognized in one pile, and the ones he did not in another.
“Jin’er, Jin’er — I’ve come to discuss something with you.” Huai Ge’er called from the doorway.
“What is it, Elder Brother?” Jin Ge’er turned around.
Huai Ge’er explained his purpose: “Tomorrow is Elder Sister’s wedding ceremony. Grandmother has asked us two brothers to block the bridegroom’s entry. Shall we think up our strategy together?”
Jin Ge’er knew from their time studying together that his elder brother was full of clever ideas, and so he said: “I’ll follow whatever Elder Brother decides.”
Huai Ge’er leaned close to his younger brother’s ear and whispered his plan: “Here is what we will do…”
Jin Ge’er listened, then nodded obediently: “I’ll do as Elder Brother says.”
And so the two small boys reached their agreement.
……
The next day — the day of great joy — the Jingchuan Earl’s residence was hung with red silk and festooned with the character for double happiness, everything brimming with celebration. The bride was being dressed and adorned, guests were being received, and a great many small details were being seen to — none of which need be described at length.
As the auspicious hour drew near, the sound of the wedding procession’s music could be heard approaching in the distance. Before long, Pei Shaohuai caught sight of the procession itself.
There was Xu Zhan, seated astride a fine horse, dressed in his wedding finery, full of spirit and handsome bearing.
When he arrived before the Earl’s residence, Xu Zhan dismounted and prepared to enter and escort the bride — which was exactly the moment for the brothers to block his way.
The dynasty of Great Qing was renowned for its flourishing literary culture, and the people held scholarship in the highest regard throughout the land. Since the bridegroom was also a man of letters, the door-blocking game was accordingly connected to “the literary arts” — nothing more than composing verses, matching couplets, and offering congratulatory phrases, a way of testing Xu Zhan’s learning.
The younger male members on the Pei family’s side brought out questions they had prepared well in advance. Xu Zhan, a man of genuine learning, remained calm and composed, responding with easy wit and pleasant smiles, and dismantled every challenge one by one. In no more than a quarter of an hour, he had successfully made his way up the steps to the front gate.
At that unexpected moment, two small boys dressed in festive attire darted out from the sides. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they spread their arms wide and blocked Xu Zhan’s path — it was the brothers, Huai Ge’er and Jin Ge’er.
Huai Ge’er tilted his small head back and spoke first: “Brother-in-law, if you wish to enter today and take Elder Sister as your bride, I’m afraid you must first pass through the gate we two brothers are guarding.”
Jin Ge’er followed his elder brother’s example and struck the same pose: “We’ve heard Brother-in-law is both a xiucai and now a student at the Imperial Academy. We intend to test your learning.”
The childish voices rang out, and with Huai Ge’er and Jin Ge’er looking so utterly endearing in their youthful innocence, the assembled guests burst into laughter — two youngsters still wet behind the ears daring to test their brother-in-law’s scholarship.
Everyone also looked on in great curiosity to see what kind of challenge these two little grandsons of the Jingchuan Earl would come up with.
Xu Zhan found it thoroughly amusing. He bowed first to his two little brothers-in-law with a grin: “I humbly await the question from my two younger brothers.”
Then Huai Ge’er offered the first line: “Upon the pond, twin-stemmed lotuses bloom side by side.”
And Jin Ge’er supplied the second: “Year after year, they blossom and laugh.”
Then the brothers spoke in unison: “Name the congratulatory phrase.”
So it was a kind of riddle — and the guests fell to thinking along with everyone else. The two lines were auspicious in their wording, and the bride’s name was woven cleverly into them. It was quite delightful.
The guests assumed the children’s father or grandfather had composed it for them.
“The first line — twin-stemmed lotuses united on the pond — clearly the answer is ‘united in heart,’ without question.” Xu Zhan clasped his hands behind his back and considered. His brow furrowed slightly. The answer to the second line did not come to him at once: “As for the second line…”
He found he truly could not think of the reference on the spot.
Fortunately, his elder brother Xu Wang, who had come along as part of the procession, leaned close and murmured a hint: “Year after year, for all the years that are to come — that would be ‘eternity.'”
Xu Zhan’s face lit up: “Exactly! The answer is ‘united in heart and everlasting joy.'”
Yet the two small boys did not step aside to let him through.
“Have I answered incorrectly, young brothers?” Xu Zhan asked.
Huai Ge’er replied: “The answer is indeed ‘united in heart and everlasting joy’ — Brother-in-law has excellent scholarship.”
“Then why…?”
Huai Ge’er smiled, and together with Jin Ge’er, they both extended their small hands: “Brother-in-law has received our congratulatory phrase — should you not be quick about producing some lucky coins for us?”
These words sent the guests below into peals of laughter. Everyone thought: Pei Bingyuan, with a temperament as reserved and restrained as his, had somehow managed to produce a pair of clever and lively little characters. He truly was a fortunate man.
“How remiss of your brother-in-law — how very remiss.” Xu Zhan laughed and took two gold ingots from his elder brother Xu Wang’s hands, which he distributed to his two young brothers-in-law.
The two brothers received their reward with satisfaction, moved to opposite sides of the gate, bowed, and said: “Brother-in-law, please proceed — we wish Brother-in-law and Elder Sister everlasting joy in heart and in union.”
……
All the various rites had been duly completed. The time had come for Pei Ruolian to step out and board the bridal palanquin.
Following his grandmother’s arrangement, Huai Ge’er made his way to his elder sister’s chambers and said: “Elder Sister, I’m here.”
Pei Ruolian had no younger full brother of her own, so it fell to Huai Ge’er to escort her out. She extended her hand and said: “Thank you for coming to see me out, little brother.”
Huai Ge’er took his elder sister’s hand: “Elder Sister, let us go.”
The two of them, one large and one small — Huai Ge’er being so short that it looked more as though Pei Ruolian was leading him out, rather than the other way around. Even so, Huai Ge’er walked as earnestly as he could in front of her, his small hand clasped tightly around his elder sister’s — so tightly it was almost damp with the effort — for he was determined to fulfill his duty properly.
Lian Jie’er took smaller steps than usual, so that her little brother could keep up.
They reached the bridal palanquin, and then arrived at the Xu family’s home.
The moment of parting between sister and brother was at hand. Huai Ge’er still held his elder sister’s hand tightly, and looked up at her with a serious expression: “Once you step through this gate, Elder Sister must not forget — at home, Jin’er and I will be your support. I acknowledge you as my sister, and I hope Elder Sister will acknowledge me as her brother in return.”
Pei Ruolian said nothing. A single teardrop traced its way down her face and fell. She looked at Pei Shaohuai and gave a quiet nod, then turned, and under Xu Zhan’s guiding hand, passed through the gates of the Xu family’s home.
……
Back on this side of the city, scarcely had the escort party returned when the rear courtyard of the Earl’s residence fell into a commotion.
For Lan Jie’er, watching her elder sister go off to be married, was overcome with sorrow. The tears she had held back in front of her sister could be contained no longer and streamed freely down her face.
Lan Jie’er locked herself in her room, refusing to open the door no matter who came to console her. She buried her head and wept, crying through her grief: “Elder Sister has married and gone away — from now on, I don’t know who I shall ever have to talk to…”