In truth, Nanny Shen’s intentions were not unkind. She assumed Lin Shi was too young to have grasped the Old Madam’s underlying meaning, and fearing that Lin Shi would exhaust herself — spending time and money — only to receive no credit in return, she hastened to speak up and caution her.

Nanny Shen continued: “The Old Madam has made it plain that she wants Madam to pay out of her own pocket to host this grand ceremony. If it goes well, people may not even think to credit Madam for her efforts. But if anything goes poorly, it’ll be people gossiping behind your back… And besides — where there is one thing, there will be a second, and then a third. After this comes the dowry, then the wedding and the sending-off. That’s a tremendous gap to fill. Can Madam really keep up with it all?”

Listening quietly from the side, Pei Shaohuai thought to himself —

Though this Nanny Shen was something of a chatterbox who could be a little tiresome at times, her reasoning here was not without merit. If Lin Shi took on the coming-of-age ceremony, the sending-off at the wedding would very likely follow as another obligation she’d have to shoulder.

As for Pei Ruolian’s birth mother, Ning Shi, she had brought a considerable dowry when she married into the Earl’s residence from the Anyuan Earl’s household — but over the two or three years she spent ill, most of the valuables had been spent. The few shops she had owned in the city were not in prime locations. When one added it all up honestly, only the paddy fields outside the city’s river district were worth any real amount.

With so little to her name, even if the Old Madam were to let Lian Jie’er take everything Ning Shi had left behind, the dowry still would not be very impressive.

Pei Shaohuai could not quite determine what attitude his mother had settled on, because this situation did not exist in the original story at all. In the original novel, because the Old Madam had taken Huai Ge’er away from Lin Shi’s side, the two were by this point locked in fierce conflict — at each other’s throats, utterly incompatible. The Old Madam would never have entrusted Lin Shi with something of this importance, and Lin Shi would never have given the Old Madam the face.

As for Lian Jie’er’s wedding, the novel offered little detail — only a few scattered lines mentioning that Lian Jie’er had married quietly and without complaint, saying only that she had never accepted favors from anyone and therefore owed no one anything in return. Because Concubine Shen had previously served Ning Shi, Lian Jie’er felt a debt of gratitude toward her, and would often ask her husband to help and support her younger stepbrother when the opportunity arose — providing no small amount of assistance along Pei Shaojin’s path of scholarly study.

But now things were different. Because Pei Shaohuai had changed — his inner self transformed — the situation had shifted. The Old Madam and Lin Shi had never come to blows, and the Earl’s residence had maintained its harmony. At this point, though the two women each harbored their own private calculations, on the surface they treated each other with mutual respect.

Pei Shaohuai felt that if things continued to develop this way, it would be quite good.

Not because he sought anything from his elder sister in return, but simply because, if Lin Shi had the means and it was within her power, helping this stepdaughter along seemed like a fine thing to do.

Whether one called it timely aid in adversity or simply adding flowers to an already bright occasion — in any case, it was a good deed, and who would dislike that?

For a family, if everyone fared reasonably well, helping one another — you give me a hand, I pull you along — supporting each other through mutual effort, things would only grow better and better. The reverse was also true: if everyone was struggling, consumed by jealousy and suspicion, dragging each other down, even the most substantial foundation would eventually be exhausted.

With this thought in mind, Pei Shaohuai concluded quietly that he could not allow this long-winded Nanny Shen to interfere with his mother’s decision.

……

Nanny Shen still had a belly full of words to say, and began: “Our Ying Jie’er is your own flesh and blood…”

Before she could continue, Pei Shaohuai interrupted her. He pointed his small finger at the pastries on the table and made a fuss: “Nanny, nanny, pastries.”

There were no other servants in the room, so Nanny Shen had no choice but to wash her hands and bring the pastries over to Huai Ge’er, breaking off a small piece for him. “Young Master Huai, eat slowly.”

Nanny Shen prepared to press on: “Ying Jie’er is Young Master Huai’s own full sister…”

She had barely gotten the words out when she saw Huai Ge’er pointing at the table again, saying: “Nanny, nanny, water.”

Nanny Shen walked over and tested the side of the teapot with her hand — it was cold. She muttered under her breath: “These maids are getting lazier by the day. I’ll deal with them properly another time.” There was nothing for it but to fetch a pot of warm water herself, pour out a small half-bowl, and spoon-feed it to Huai Ge’er.

With all this back and forth, she had quite lost track of what she had been trying to say, and muttered: “Getting on in years — my mind grows duller by the day. I had the words right on the tip of my tongue, and still I managed to forget them.”

“I understand Nanny Shen’s good intentions — you have always stood by me.” Lin Shi said. “As for accepting the task the Old Madam has assigned me this time — out of ten parts, only two are because I feel for Lian Jie’er, who lost her birth mother so young, poor girl. She may appear proper and composed in front of others, rarely saying much, but she is sharp and perceptive, keeping her feelings tucked away inside. Since I married into the Earl’s residence and became her stepmother, we are fated to share a bond — I might as well see it through properly.”

To have one’s coming-of-age ceremony without one’s own mother there to help arrange everything — that was truly pitiable.

Lin Shi continued: “As for the remaining eight parts, those are my own private reasons. First, I want a good reputation — I don’t want people saying I treated her poorly. Second, I’ve heard Yuan’er say that the Xu family is a household of scholars — the father-in-law, the elder brother-in-law, the husband — all scholars. Among noble households, that may not sound like much, but it is precisely the kind of connection my Lin family could never cultivate on its own. And Ying Jie’er and Huai Ge’er are still so young — in another ten years or so, who knows what circumstances will look like then? When Huai Ge’er is older and pursuing his studies, I do not ask her to repay me for anything — I only need her to keep us in her thoughts and be willing to lend a hand when the moment calls for it.”

In this world, between the scholarly class and merchants, there was always a divide. Lin Shi had come to realize that she had, by some stroke of fortune, become a kind of link between the two — and she was not about to let such an opportunity slip through her fingers.

Pei Shaohuai felt a swell of admiration. Having broken free from the vicious cycle of household strife, his mother’s thinking had grown increasingly clear-headed. Applying the logic of commerce to the workings of human relationships — at times that, too, could prove effective. Invest early, when the price is low, and you may yet see the day when you can sell at a premium.

Nanny Shen did not know how much of it she had truly understood, but she grasped one thing clearly enough — the Madam had already made up her mind, and there was no further need for her to try to persuade her otherwise. She replied: “Since Madam has made her decision, this old servant spoke out of turn.”

Nanny Shen’s earlier remarks had, at first, made Lin Shi a little cross — but then she looked at Nanny Shen, so conscientious and caring in attending to Huai Ge’er, and found she could not bring herself to be angry. She swallowed the rebuke she had been about to deliver and said only: “Nanny Shen is an old retainer whom my elder brother personally sent here, and I will come to consult with you whenever there is something I do not understand. As my own energy is not unlimited, this Zhaolu Courtyard — all the maids and women servants — still depends on Nanny Shen to keep order.”

Pei Shaohuai silently admired the artfulness of it — his mother had taken a roundabout path to deliver both a light reprimand and a sweetening gesture. The unspoken message was clear: if I have not come to you for counsel, keep these sorts of comments to yourself in the future. Even so, I still trust you fully — otherwise I would not have you managing the entire courtyard’s staff.

Nanny Shen’s brows lifted slightly with satisfaction. She answered obediently and withdrew.

……

Lin Shi, for her part, was already making plans: she would need to go out the next day — first to exchange some notes at the money house for silver, and second, with so many matters ahead to manage, she had no gauge of what was involved. There was no one in the Earl’s residence she could truly consult about how much silver would be needed. After much deliberation, she decided that going back to ask her elder brother would be the most fitting thing to do.

……

……

Early the following morning, Lin Shi paid her respects to the Old Madam and mentioned her intention to take Huai Ge’er and Ying Jie’er back to the Lin family residence for a visit.

Though both households were within the capital and not far apart, the Old Madam was reluctant to let Lin Shi take Huai Ge’er back with her. She was silent for some time and did not reply.

It was likely that she recalled how the Lin family had shown the Earl’s residence great face at Huai Ge’er’s first-birthday ceremony, and that Huai Ge’er was now old enough that visiting his mother’s family was a perfectly natural thing to do — and so at last the Old Madam spoke: “Go the day after tomorrow. This time of year, the days are growing warmer — set out early in the morning and return after midday. Be careful that Huai Ge’er does not get overheated or stuffy inside the carriage.”

She also added: “That also gives me a little time to prepare a small gift for your mother’s household.”

“Yes, your daughter-in-law understands.” Lin Shi replied.

……

Another day passed, and Lin Shi set out early, taking Huai Ge’er and Ying Jie’er in the carriage, traveling west from the eastern part of the capital — a journey of roughly half an hour before they arrived.

Upon reaching the Lin family residence, Lin Shi had not seen her mother and family for a long time. The women wept and held each other, sharing their longing and the feelings that had accumulated — that much need not be described in detail.

After they had all settled down, Pei Shaohuai quietly counted in his mind and realized that Lin Shi’s elder brother, Lin Shiyun, had a rather substantial number of children — in addition to Jiang Shi, he had also taken two concubines, producing six boys and five girls in all.

Three or four half-grown boys crowded curiously around Pei Shaohuai, competing to pull out all manner of curious little toys and offering them as gifts to take home, saying they were for their younger cousin — spinning tops, slingshots, wire puzzles, small porcelain figures — piled up into a small mountain for Pei Shaohuai to choose from. Each of his cousins worried that his trinkets would not be interesting enough and that this little cousin of theirs would not take a liking to them.

The girls, meanwhile, were all hugging Ying Jie’er and exclaiming over how pretty she was.

The third eldest female cousin produced an abacus and asked Ying Jie’er: “Younger Sister Ying, can you use an abacus?”

Ying Jie’er looked on with wide, curious eyes and shook her head — she had no idea what this dark, beaded contraption was.

“Let me show you.” The third cousin said. “Eldest Sister, help me by calling out some numbers… Today, in front of Younger Sister Ying, I will not make a single mistake.”

And so the beads clicked and clattered, her fingers moving with remarkable nimbleness.

The children played happily among themselves, while Lin Shi and her sister-in-law Jiang Shi sat in the main hall chatting leisurely.

Jiang Shi pointed toward the boys and said: “The two older ones have already started following your elder brother, learning to manage the family’s business… The four younger ones were sent to school. Your elder brother hopes that if even one or two among them turn out to have a head for scholarship, he’ll count his blessings.”

She then gestured toward the girls and said: “Your elder brother says these nieces of yours probably won’t have luck like yours. So these past few years he found an old scholar to teach them how to read, keep accounts, and do sums — to give them some practical skills. That way, when they marry and take their dowries with them, they’ll be able to manage their own affairs.”

Lin Shi understood at once, and asked: “How are the boys getting along at school?”

“The tutor says the youngest one, surprisingly, is the most attentive and is learning quite well.” Jiang Shi replied. “As for the others — we’ll just have to wait and see whether they mature and open their minds as they grow older.” She could not hide her helplessness.

Lin Shi shifted the conversation and asked: “Eldest nephew must be seventeen this year — has Sister-in-law set her sights on any young lady for him?”

“Don’t even mention it — your elder brother says to wait a while longer.” Jiang Shi grumbled, and went on: “Your elder brother says Yao’er is too fond of play, so he needs to find a girl with a strong temperament to keep him in line… Now I ask you — where is there a father who goes looking for a formidable wife for his own son?”

Lin Shi looked somewhat awkward. She knew full well that her elder brother had a way of laying down the law at home — once he had decided something, nothing would move him.

Though, if one thought about it, her elder brother’s reasoning did carry some sense.

……

After the whole family had shared the midday meal together, Lin Shi at last brought up the affairs of the Earl’s residence with her elder brother — first introducing what kind of family Lian Jie’er had been promised to, then explaining that the Old Madam had asked her to manage the coming-of-age ceremony, and asking her elder brother to help her think it through.

“Host it — you should host it properly. And as for the dowry, you ought to add something to it as well.” Lin Shiyun delivered his verdict without hesitation, then added: “And if your finances are tight, your elder brother will make up the difference for you.”

Lin Shi knew her elder brother was a man of business — he never made a losing deal — and so she listened quietly as he laid out his reasoning for her.

Little Pei Shaohuai also sat there with his eyes wide open, listening intently. Having lived only as a university student in his previous life, there was much about this world’s intricate workings that he too needed to learn and absorb.

Lin Shiyun spoke slowly and deliberately —

“Although Master Xu holds only the position of Deputy Directorate, he is the Deputy Directorate of the Imperial Academy. The Imperial Academy’s graduates are spread across every ministry and bureau of the court — it is as though a single thread connects a thousand threads. At a critical moment, one might be able to pull from this end of the line all the way to the other. To put it simply: Huai Ge’er will need to pursue scholarship and study in the years ahead, and this prospective in-law family alone could resolve no small number of difficulties for the Earl’s residence.”

“You send Lian Jie’er off in grand and splendid fashion, giving the Xu family every face and honor — they will hold onto some measure of gratitude toward you. Huai Ge’er, as the Earl’s residence’s eldest legitimate grandson, may not lack for study opportunities to begin with… But among the Lin family’s boys, if any one of them progresses well — earns his xiucai degree and wishes to continue studying — he will inevitably have to look to you, his aunt by marriage, to help introduce him to a good school.”

“Then there is the Anyuan Earl’s residence — now that their niece is to be married, they are playing dumb, pretending to be strangers, taking no interest and asking no questions, wanting to collect all the benefits while doing nothing. If you as the stepmother raise Lian Jie’er’s dowry and then let the news quietly get out — the Anyuan Earl’s residence may well send you a pleasant surprise. After all, in the capital, among noble households, face matters more than money. Moreover, they would not even be her true uncle by blood — and yet this Earl Ning was raised by hand by Lian Jie’er’s maternal grandmother.”

“Beyond all this, what you are doing is also laying the groundwork for Ying Jie’er and Huai Ge’er. When the Earl’s residence’s eldest legitimate granddaughter marries well and the family’s reputation is enhanced, when Ying Jie’er is a little older, her elder sister can bring her out into society — and when the time comes to find her a match, your options will be broader.”

……

Lin Shiyun went through it point by point, pausing several times to refill the tea, and Lin Shi listened with close attention throughout.

Afterward, when it came to the specific details of how to proceed, Lin Shiyun also offered his own views — what kind of craftsmen to commission for the hairpins, which people to send invitations to, what sort of dowry items would look most impressive — he covered everything without omission.

Little Pei Shaohuai’s small head was spinning from all he had taken in. By the time they were ready to leave, he was so drowsy he could barely hold on, and had buried himself in his mother’s arms and fallen asleep. He did not know at what point they returned to the Earl’s residence.

He only remembered that this maternal uncle of his was a somewhat self-interested man, and yet a man of considerable ability.

……

……

In the days that followed, Lin Shi grew busy and could not always be at Huai Ge’er’s side.

Pei Shaohuai was nearly a year and a half old by this point, and both his walking and his talking were a good deal more fluent than those of an ordinary child his age.

During this period, Pei Shaohuai had taken to visiting his father’s study whenever he could — not because he was particularly fond of this reserved and restrained father of his, but because he was eager to send everyone a signal: it was time to teach him to read and write.

One day, Pei Shaohuai came again to his father’s study. The moment he walked in, he said: “Books, books, books.”

His father had already had many books carried off by him and was rather reluctant to part with more, fearing also that his son was treating the books as toys and would tear or damage them. And so he pulled out a blank notebook and handed it to Pei Shaohuai.

To his surprise, Pei Shaohuai opened it, looked inside, and said: “It’s empty. I don’t want this.” He tossed the notebook back onto his father’s desk and said: “Get me another one.”

His father was in the midst of writing an essay, and being disturbed, he furrowed his brow. With a sigh of resignation, he set down his brush and fetched a copy of the Classic of Poetry — one with text printed on every page.

Pei Shaohuai was finally satisfied and settled down.

His father was about to call a servant to carry the little child away so he could write his essay in peace, when he noticed Huai Ge’er’s small finger pointing at the character on the book’s cover — the character for “poetry.” The boy tilted his head back and looked up at him with eager, beseeching eyes, asking: “Father, what is this?”

Pei Bingyuan froze for a moment, then felt a jolt of surprise, which quickly turned into delight. He picked up the little child, and with a warmth rare to see on his face, asked: “Does our Huai’er want to learn characters?”