Having been subjected to Hua Zhi’s blunt and near-compulsory manner of speaking one time too many, the two Madams had grown somewhat accustomed to it. With little face left to lose in any case, the Second Madam — who privately felt she still had somewhat more dignity remaining than the First — spoke up first.
“Zhi’er, I am not afraid of your laughter. The reason I have fought so hard is for the sake of my children. Ziwen is exceptional — our branch will never again produce someone to match him. It cannot be that everything falls to the first branch’s hands. The first branch already holds so many advantages, yet First Sister-in-law still keeps her eyes fixed on those properties. How am I supposed to make peace with that in my heart?”
Watching the First Madam’s expression darken, the Second Madam felt a surge of satisfaction and pressed on without restraint. “And furthermore — the first branch holds an official post, but holding an official post is no justification for looking down on one’s own brother. Since I married into this household, how much money has the family put out to cover my First Brother-in-law’s connections and dealings above and below? Do not say it is the common family funds — even if it is, our second branch has a share in those funds too. My husband has managed the family’s enterprises for years. You cannot take and use what we produce and still feel not the slightest gratitude, still believe yourselves above us in every way, still want to press us down on every front. Brothers are not supposed to behave this way. Yes, I am petty — but I was made petty. First Sister-in-law, do not think I am making baseless accusations. Ask yourself honestly how you have treated our second branch all these years.”
The First Madam pushed back sharply. “Go and ask around at any household and see if you can find a First Madam more lenient than I am. If I did not keep a firm hand, would you not have carted half the household back to your own family? Do not think I have not known all these years how much you have been supplementing your family home — I simply considered your difficult situation and never once said a word about it.”
The Second Madam was genuinely taken aback. She had truly believed the first branch knew nothing. Had they known, given the First Madam’s temperament, she would have made it a scene long ago.
“And is that not something to be grateful for?” Hua Zhi’s gaze moved between them. “You have supported one another. You have made allowances for one another. If moments like those could be more frequent, how would it ever have come to this? And tell me — did those moments not feel better than this?”
Both women fell silent. Honestly speaking, neither had ever thought of it that way. But now that each knew the other had once shown forbearance, had quietly made allowances in her own way, the thorns in their hearts softened without their quite realizing it. If things could be spoken calmly, who would willingly spend every day at war, turning the household into a place without a moment of peace?
Hua Zhi, seeing she had achieved what she came for, rose to her feet. “That is the sum of what I had to say — and the sum of what matters. I am taking my grandmother back to the Hua Family for a few days. The two of you should think carefully on all of this.”
At the door, Ying Chun helped her fasten her cape. She drew it around herself, then turned back once more. “My cousin has worked herself into a blind corner right now. Keeping her confined will only cause her thoughts to spiral further. It would be better to place her in grandmother’s company for a while. The new year is just around the corner — family and old friends will be calling on one another in great numbers. Let her go along and move about a little, to clear her head.”
The First Madam’s heart stirred. She rose. “What Zhi’er has said — I will think it over carefully.”
Hua Zhi gave a small nod, turned, and walked out of the room. Stepping over the threshold, she found her cousin sitting in the outer room. She was mildly surprised, but thought nothing of it. She had never intended for any of what was said in the Zhu Family home to be kept from the Zhu Family — with so many maids inside and out, those who needed to know would come to know.
Zhu Ziwen made a gesture of invitation, and the two of them left the room one after the other.
The cold wind struck her full in the face. Hua Zhi instinctively pulled her cape tighter, feeling the warmth on her body vanish in an instant.
“Your way with words is as impressive as ever, Cousin.” Zhu Ziwen smiled, teasing her lightly. Seeing her shivering from the cold, he unfastened his own cape and passed it to Ying Chun.
Hua Zhi did not decline the gesture, signaling Ying Chun to take it. It was heavy, admittedly — but warm, which was all that mattered.
“It is not that I did not see what was happening in the household. Only that as the eldest son of the first branch, I could neither say that my mother was wrong, nor turn my back on her and act as a mediator on behalf of the second branch.” Zhu Ziwen let out a sigh. “Each of us has our difficulties, and each of us is powerless against them. At least there is someone like you, Cousin, to break through the impasse — other families are not so fortunate.”
“Whether it truly resolves anything, I cannot say — but it should ease matters somewhat. The words whispered in one’s ear at night should quiet down for a while. Perhaps, Cousin, you might invite our First Uncle and Second Uncle for a drink and lay out what needs to be said between them as well. Not that they need to embrace as old friends — but at the very least, they need not go on treating each other as enemies.”
Zhu Ziwen laughed. “You really do have a gift for straight punches, Cousin.”
“As long as they land.”
And land they did — Zhu Ziwen looked at his cousin, who stood a full head shorter than himself, her complexion pale to near-translucence, her slight frame swathed in two capes and still looking as though a gust of wind could topple her. He could not fathom where so much force of will could live in a body that seemed so fragile.
Swallowing back the other things he had less urgency to say, Zhu Ziwen lifted the heavy curtain of the neighboring room himself. “Go inside — it is cold out here.”
Just that? Hua Zhi glanced at him briefly in mild puzzlement, but she was not about to make things harder on her own body — she stepped inside at a quick pace.
Seeing the two cousins enter together, the Old Madam sat up against the headboard, pretending to know nothing, and said with a smile, “Go on and take your mother home. My ears are nearly growing calluses from all her chattering.”
Zhu Shi was indignant at being complained about. “Once I leave, it will be a long while before I can come back. Can you truly bear to chase me away?”
“I will come and visit you.” The Old Madam was entirely unaffected by the threat. “All right — go now. It is year-end, and even if you take no part in managing things, you ought to be at home where you belong. Do not make more work for Zhi’er.”
Zhu Shi knew the sense in this well enough — but knowing her mother was unwell and still having to leave did not sit comfortably with her. If her husband had been home, he would have agreed to let her stay at her family home as long as she wished.
“Zhi Nanny, please pack a few of grandmother’s personal belongings. I am bringing grandmother back to stay with us for a few days.”
Zhi Niang started and looked toward the Old Madam. She had heard nothing of any plan for the Old Madam to go to the Hua Family.
The Old Madam was equally startled, then broke into a smile. “It is already this time of year — there is an enormous amount to manage, inside and out. I cannot possibly go anywhere now. I know you are devoted, and I am grateful — but your grandmother will have to decline.”
“Grandmother — the First Madam is forty years old.”
The Old Madam looked at her granddaughter, who had taken charge of her household at sixteen. Yes — Zhi’er had shouldered the weight of an entire family at sixteen. Her eldest daughter-in-law might not be able to match her, but age was age, and the Old Madam would always walk ahead of her. It was time to let go.
She gave a nod. “Go and pack,” she said, turning to Zhi Niang.
“Yes.”
Zhu Ziwen made no objection either. What his mother had most resented for years was the Old Madam’s continued reluctance to hand over the household management to her. If the chance could be seized now, while she had been moved by what his cousin had said, the effect might prove even better.
Or — had this, too, been part of his cousin’s plan all along?
He glanced at his cousin, who had gone forward to help his grandmother down from the bed, then withdrew to the outer room, silently confirming the guess. It was not difficult to see, after all. His cousin had a gift for straight punches — but straight punches were not the only thing she was gifted at.
Hua Zhi fastened the buttons of her grandmother’s outer garment. As her hand drew back, it was caught and held. She looked up and met her grandmother’s gaze, and smiled. “Do not think too much. Everything will be all right.”
The Old Madam patted her hand. Yes — it would be all right. Everything would be all right.
Both daughters-in-law came to see them off. The Old Madam glanced at the two of them. “Eldest daughter-in-law — I am leaving the household affairs in your hands. See that nothing goes wrong.”
The First Madam’s head snapped up. This was…
“Second daughter-in-law — lend her a hand.”
The two sisters-in-law exchanged a look, then answered in unison: “Yes.”