Chapter 11 – Death
After ten days or so, Yu Bo and Yu Yuan came back from Jiangxi.
Yu Wen was painting in the study and was surprised to hear the news. “Why did they come back so soon? Did things not go well?”
Usually, it took more than two months to travel by boat from here to Nanchang Province in Jiangxi.
But Yu Tang thought the opposite.
If things didn’t go well, it would have taken longer. If things went well, they would come back earlier instead.
“Eldest uncle’s house is just next door,” Yu Tang smiling slightly, “Why not I go over and ask?”
Chen Shi was accompanying Yu Tang in doing embroidery. She laughed and teased her daughter, “I don’t think you really want to go over and ask on behalf of your father, you just want to go and play right?”
In her previous life, Yu Tang missed her loved ones dearly and spent many nights crying in her sleep. Given this chance to go back in time and enjoy happiness with her family, she was already tremendously grateful. How could she revert back to being the naughty, disobedient child she used to be, that always worried her mother and distressed her father?
In the past ten days or so, YuTang earnestly did embroidery work at home, and also drawn several flower designs that became popular in the future. This made Chen shi feel that her daughter had been taught a lesson and had changed for the better and was very relieved.
“It’s still Mother who knows me best.” She stuck close to her mother and rubbed her head on Chen shi’s shoulder, saying, “Mother, let me go out for a little fresh air! I haven’t gone out for several days.”
Chen shi loves her daughter the most , and after taking Yang Duxing’s prescribed medicine for the past few days, her chest felt more relaxed and her spirits were much better. So she thought that even if her daughter really got into trouble again, at least she as a mother, now had the energy to help her husband clean up the mess as well, so she smiled dotingly, “Okay! You can go with your father to your eldest uncle’s house to have a look.”
Yu Tang cheered up.
Both Yu Bo and Yu Yuan came over together instead.
All of them sat down under the canopy of trees in the courtyard, and Shuang Tao served tea.
Yu Bo talked about their trip to Jiangxi. “Good fortune! We had just entered into Jiangxi when we met a merchant from Guangzhou, who sold lacquerware and was going to Ningbo to explore new opportunities. It so happened that Old man Huang, who ordered from us, didn’t care what kind of lacquerware goods we gave, as long as we could deliver the goods in time before the vessel departure date. So we finally closed the deal. However, as we still breached our initial contract with old man Huang, I promised to compensate old man Huang fifty taels of silver……”
“We should.” Yu Wen agreed. “I will listen to older brother’s words.”
Yu Family’s lacquerware stores were managed together, and the business was done together. The profits were also calculated together, and only at the end of the year when the accounts are settled, then the dividends were split to the two families.
Yu Tang’s family were delighted that they didn’t have to lose so much silver.
Yu Wen kept Yu Bo and Yu Yuan for dinner.
Yu Bo refused, saying, “I have to rush to the Pei family residence. I heard that the Pei family is going to rebuild Changxing Street, so I have to check it out.”
Yu Wen was taken aback and said, “Is this news reliable? I stayed in Lin’an and didn’t even hear a word, how did you know about it when you only just returned?”
Yu Bo laughed and said, “You only read literary works, even if others told you about these business matters, you wouldn’t pay attention anyway. How can you compare to me, who has been running our family’s lacquerware store along with father since I was a child?”
Yu Wen then said, “Why did the Pei family suddenly think of rebuilding Changxing Street?”
Yu Bo said, “It seems to be the intention of the governor. He specially invited the second master of the Pei family to go over and discuss. News of this matter spread.”
Yu Tang listened quietly at the side and felt that it was the same as previously. The Pei family agreed to rebuild Changxing Street. Those families who couldn’t afford to rebuild their stores could also sell their plot of land to the Pei family.
In her previous life, she didn’t think hard about the Changxing fire, and just thought that the Pei family was doing a good deed. Subsequently, she assumed that the Pei family orchestrated this fire to obtain more land and scolded them in her heart. However, in this life, she knew the twists and turns of the fire (TL: ie. it was probably set up by the Li family to obtain more wealth to complete with Pei Family – see the earlier chapters), and already received a big favor from the Pei family ……
Yu Tang sighed in her heart.
Let’s not think about it. Yutang thought as she went back to the room to continue sewing.
The Yu brothers were in the study talking about this matter.
Yu Wen proposed that their two families sell a portion of their land to the Pei family, in exchange for the Pei family’s help in rebuilding the store. In this way, although the Yu family’s assets were reduced by half, at least the other half was saved.
Yu Bo was worried that the Pei family would not agree, saying, “Changxing Street is mostly filled with Pei family’s stores, they can set any condition they want and in the end we will have to sell all the land we have to their family.”
Yu Wen, however, jumped to his feet and eagerly said. “Brother, let me handle this!”
Ever since he discovered the painting sold to him by Lu Xin was a forgery and he failed to spot it, he was impressed by Supervisor Tong’s art appraisal ability, and often brought wine and food and invited Supervisor Tong to dinner several times. From time to time, he would also ask for advice on identifying antiques, boasting that he and supervisor Tong were already half friends.
Yu Wen thought that he could try speaking to Supervisor Tong about this.
People in Lin’an knew that Supervisor Tong’s family was in charge of running the pawnshop for the Pei family for many generations – at least seven or eight generations of people who have served the Pei family, so it is likely they would have some say in the matter.
Yu Bo is not as optimistic as Yu Wen.
If supervisor Tong was so easily swayed and agreed to other people’s requests towards the Pei family, how could there be the success of today?
But Yu Wen was clearly very excited, and he didn’t want to dampen the mood, so he encouraged his brother with a few words, and led Yu Yuan away to go manage their stores.
Yu Wen had his lunch, changed his clothes and left the house.
When he came back in the evening, he told his wife and daughter joyfully: “Supervisor Tong is a really good person! He promised to ask the Pei family for us.”
Chen shi was overjoyed.
Yu Tang was a little dazed.
Yu Wen took out the “Pine Creek Fishing Hidden” painting and examined it under the lamp, looking at it while wistfully saying to Yu Tang. “See, you can’t be too exacting about losses and gains. Even though I bought a fake, but it also helped me make a friend.”
Yu Tang pursed her lips.
If not for her trying to think of an idea to verify the painting’s authenticity, how could their family have known supervisor Tong? However, as her father said, Supervisor Tong was a genuinely nice person.
Yu Tang remembered what happened in her previous life.
According to Supervisor Tong, the painting was exactly the same as the original painting, except that the first layer was missing. It also meant that those seals were not a problem. Then where did the painting that fell into her hands in her previous life come from? Was it real or fake?
Yu Tang wanted to seek an opportunity to ask Supervisor Tong for advice, but before she could find the chance, Yu Wen cheerfully told Chen shi and Yu Tang, “Our family’s store is saved!”
“What is this all about?” Chen shi put down the needle and thread in her hand and poured Yu Wen a cup of tea.
Yu Wen gulped down the tea in three mouthfuls and exclaimed joyfully. “Supervisor Tong wrote me a letter, saying that the Pei family’s head steward originally refused, thinking that the portions of land we wanted to sell were not sufficient repayment in exchange for rebuilding the two stores. Supervisor Tong took pity on us as we were cheated out of silver the other day, and wanted to help us. But the head steward adamantly refused, saying that this will only lay a precedent. If those families whose stores were burned also followed our example, that would be bad. Who knew that while the two were talking, the third master of the Pei family happen to pass by and heard it, and agreed to the matter on the spot. He also spread the word, that for the people whose stores were destroyed in the fire, the Pei family can help first to re-build the store. Pei family will help to pay for the rebuilding costs upfront and they can slowly repay in five years or ten years installments, with no interest.”
“Ah!” Yu Tang was stunned.
In this way, all the people whose stores were destroyed could get through this difficult time without any problems.
“The Pei family is really benevolent and understanding of the people!” Chen clasped her hands together and bowed in the direction where the Pei family lived.
This was completely different from her previous life.
Could it be because she was reborn?
Then when the Li family came to propose marriage, there would be no issue at all? And her family can easily reject the marriage?
Would she never have to deal with the Li family again?
Their family was originally planning to recruit a son-in-law anyway.
Yu Tang felt happy when she thought about it.
Chen shi said joyfully, “Then our family won’t have to sell a portion of the land?”
“I’m afraid we have to” Yu Wen rubbed his head sheepishly and said, “Our family had already proposed to the Pei family to sell a portion of the land in return for their help in rebuilding the stores.”
Chen shi looked gloomy and sighed in disappointment.
Yu Wen comforted Chen shi: “This is already very good. Think about it this way, if our family hadn’t asked Supervisor Tong to intercede, how would this matter have travelled to the third master Pei’s ears? If the third master of the Pei family did not agree, how would the Pei family freely lend silver to those families whose stores were destroyed by the fire?
Chen shi laughed and pouted, “You’re the only one with a generous heart.”
Yu Wen laughed happily.
Yu Bo, who had received the news, also thought that they did not have to sell a portion of their land. Only when he came to discuss it with Yu Wen did he learn the reason for it. Upon hearing it, he didn’t know if he should cry or laugh, but he and Yu Wen had the same thought, and also had a magnanimous heart, and said carefreely, “Let’s just think that our family wasn’t fated to have this.”
The two Yu brothers had made up their minds, so the others didn’t say anything.
After a few days, as the Pei family and those families negotiated the rebuilding of the stores, the Pei family’s grand elder suddenly passed away.
“This can’t be!” Yu Wen, who got the news in the middle of the night, stood in the courtyard draped in his outer coat, as the insects chirped in the background and held Chen shi’s hand with a face full of shock, “I asked about the grand elder when I visited the Pei family yesterday, but they all said the grand elder was fine. how could he just pass away like that?”
Chen shi’s heart was also full of sadness and said: “Could it be some fast-acting illness? The Pei family’s grand elder was also quite advanced in years too.”
“But this is too sudden.” Yu Wen still couldn’t believe it and instructed Ah Cam, “Go and check again, could there be a mistake?”
Ah Cam wiped his tears and said chokingly, “I’ve already asked, the Pei family has already reported the funeral arrangements to all the families. Zhao Ming Temple and Qing Xu Guan both got the news, and the abbot of the two families rushed over. The news will not be wrong!”
Yu Tang was sitting by the door, and felt that the night air was especially heavy and cold, chilling her heart and lungs.
She already kept a close eye on the Pei family’s grand elder’s health. Everyone said that the Pei family’s grand elder was well – why would the Pei family’s grand elder still die?
Yu Tang regretted it very much.
She shouldn’t have just listened to what others said, she should have gone to see for herself.
The Pei family helped their family so much, but she didn’t take the initiative to help the Pei family.
Yu Tang walked over and held her mother’s arm, saying, “Mother, are you going to offer incense to the Pei family’s grand elder when the time comes? Can you take me with you too?”
Chapter 11 – Death
After ten days or so, Yu Bo and Yu Yuan came back from Jiangxi.
Yu Wen was painting in the study and was surprised to hear the news. “Why did they come back so soon? Did things not go well?”
Usually, it took more than two months to travel by boat from here to Nanchang Province in Jiangxi.
But Yu Tang thought the opposite.
If things didn’t go well, it would have taken longer. If things went well, they would come back earlier instead.
“Eldest uncle’s house is just next door,” Yu Tang smiling slightly, “Why not I go over and ask?”
Chen Shi was accompanying Yu Tang in doing embroidery. She laughed and teased her daughter, “I don’t think you really want to go over and ask on behalf of your father, you just want to go and play right?”
In her previous life, Yu Tang missed her loved ones dearly and spent many nights crying in her sleep. Given this chance to go back in time and enjoy happiness with her family, she was already tremendously grateful. How could she revert back to being the naughty, disobedient child she used to be, that always worried her mother and distressed her father?
In the past ten days or so, YuTang earnestly did embroidery work at home, and also drawn several flower designs that became popular in the future. This made Chen shi feel that her daughter had been taught a lesson and had changed for the better and was very relieved.
“It’s still Mother who knows me best.” She stuck close to her mother and rubbed her head on Chen shi’s shoulder, saying, “Mother, let me go out for a little fresh air! I haven’t gone out for several days.”
Chen shi loves her daughter the most , and after taking Yang Duxing’s prescribed medicine for the past few days, her chest felt more relaxed and her spirits were much better. So she thought that even if her daughter really got into trouble again, at least she as a mother, now had the energy to help her husband clean up the mess as well, so she smiled dotingly, “Okay! You can go with your father to your eldest uncle’s house to have a look.”
Yu Tang cheered up.
Both Yu Bo and Yu Yuan came over together instead.
All of them sat down under the canopy of trees in the courtyard, and Shuang Tao served tea.
Yu Bo talked about their trip to Jiangxi. “Good fortune! We had just entered into Jiangxi when we met a merchant from Guangzhou, who sold lacquerware and was going to Ningbo to explore new opportunities. It so happened that Old man Huang, who ordered from us, didn’t care what kind of lacquerware goods we gave, as long as we could deliver the goods in time before the vessel departure date. So we finally closed the deal. However, as we still breached our initial contract with old man Huang, I promised to compensate old man Huang fifty taels of silver……”
“We should.” Yu Wen agreed. “I will listen to older brother’s words.”
Yu Family’s lacquerware stores were managed together, and the business was done together. The profits were also calculated together, and only at the end of the year when the accounts are settled, then the dividends were split to the two families.
Yu Tang’s family were delighted that they didn’t have to lose so much silver.
Yu Wen kept Yu Bo and Yu Yuan for dinner.
Yu Bo refused, saying, “I have to rush to the Pei family residence. I heard that the Pei family is going to rebuild Changxing Street, so I have to check it out.”
Yu Wen was taken aback and said, “Is this news reliable? I stayed in Lin’an and didn’t even hear a word, how did you know about it when you only just returned?”
Yu Bo laughed and said, “You only read literary works, even if others told you about these business matters, you wouldn’t pay attention anyway. How can you compare to me, who has been running our family’s lacquerware store along with father since I was a child?”
Yu Wen then said, “Why did the Pei family suddenly think of rebuilding Changxing Street?”
Yu Bo said, “It seems to be the intention of the governor. He specially invited the second master of the Pei family to go over and discuss. News of this matter spread.”
Yu Tang listened quietly at the side and felt that it was the same as previously. The Pei family agreed to rebuild Changxing Street. Those families who couldn’t afford to rebuild their stores could also sell their plot of land to the Pei family.
In her previous life, she didn’t think hard about the Changxing fire, and just thought that the Pei family was doing a good deed. Subsequently, she assumed that the Pei family orchestrated this fire to obtain more land and scolded them in her heart. However, in this life, she knew the twists and turns of the fire (TL: ie. it was probably set up by the Li family to obtain more wealth to complete with Pei Family – see the earlier chapters), and already received a big favor from the Pei family ……
Yu Tang sighed in her heart.
Let’s not think about it. Yutang thought as she went back to the room to continue sewing.
The Yu brothers were in the study talking about this matter.
Yu Wen proposed that their two families sell a portion of their land to the Pei family, in exchange for the Pei family’s help in rebuilding the store. In this way, although the Yu family’s assets were reduced by half, at least the other half was saved.
Yu Bo was worried that the Pei family would not agree, saying, “Changxing Street is mostly filled with Pei family’s stores, they can set any condition they want and in the end we will have to sell all the land we have to their family.”
Yu Wen, however, jumped to his feet and eagerly said. “Brother, let me handle this!”
Ever since he discovered the painting sold to him by Lu Xin was a forgery and he failed to spot it, he was impressed by Supervisor Tong’s art appraisal ability, and often brought wine and food and invited Supervisor Tong to dinner several times. From time to time, he would also ask for advice on identifying antiques, boasting that he and supervisor Tong were already half friends.
Yu Wen thought that he could try speaking to Supervisor Tong about this.
People in Lin’an knew that Supervisor Tong’s family was in charge of running the pawnshop for the Pei family for many generations – at least seven or eight generations of people who have served the Pei family, so it is likely they would have some say in the matter.
Yu Bo is not as optimistic as Yu Wen.
If supervisor Tong was so easily swayed and agreed to other people’s requests towards the Pei family, how could there be the success of today?
But Yu Wen was clearly very excited, and he didn’t want to dampen the mood, so he encouraged his brother with a few words, and led Yu Yuan away to go manage their stores.
Yu Wen had his lunch, changed his clothes and left the house.
When he came back in the evening, he told his wife and daughter joyfully: “Supervisor Tong is a really good person! He promised to ask the Pei family for us.”
Chen shi was overjoyed.
Yu Tang was a little dazed.
Yu Wen took out the “Pine Creek Fishing Hidden” painting and examined it under the lamp, looking at it while wistfully saying to Yu Tang. “See, you can’t be too exacting about losses and gains. Even though I bought a fake, but it also helped me make a friend.”
Yu Tang pursed her lips.
If not for her trying to think of an idea to verify the painting’s authenticity, how could their family have known supervisor Tong? However, as her father said, Supervisor Tong was a genuinely nice person.
Yu Tang remembered what happened in her previous life.
According to Supervisor Tong, the painting was exactly the same as the original painting, except that the first layer was missing. It also meant that those seals were not a problem. Then where did the painting that fell into her hands in her previous life come from? Was it real or fake?
Yu Tang wanted to seek an opportunity to ask Supervisor Tong for advice, but before she could find the chance, Yu Wen cheerfully told Chen shi and Yu Tang, “Our family’s store is saved!”
“What is this all about?” Chen shi put down the needle and thread in her hand and poured Yu Wen a cup of tea.
Yu Wen gulped down the tea in three mouthfuls and exclaimed joyfully. “Supervisor Tong wrote me a letter, saying that the Pei family’s head steward originally refused, thinking that the portions of land we wanted to sell were not sufficient repayment in exchange for rebuilding the two stores. Supervisor Tong took pity on us as we were cheated out of silver the other day, and wanted to help us. But the head steward adamantly refused, saying that this will only lay a precedent. If those families whose stores were burned also followed our example, that would be bad. Who knew that while the two were talking, the third master of the Pei family happen to pass by and heard it, and agreed to the matter on the spot. He also spread the word, that for the people whose stores were destroyed in the fire, the Pei family can help first to re-build the store. Pei family will help to pay for the rebuilding costs upfront and they can slowly repay in five years or ten years installments, with no interest.”
“Ah!” Yu Tang was stunned.
In this way, all the people whose stores were destroyed could get through this difficult time without any problems.
“The Pei family is really benevolent and understanding of the people!” Chen clasped her hands together and bowed in the direction where the Pei family lived.
This was completely different from her previous life.
Could it be because she was reborn?
Then when the Li family came to propose marriage, there would be no issue at all? And her family can easily reject the marriage?
Would she never have to deal with the Li family again?
Their family was originally planning to recruit a son-in-law anyway.
Yu Tang felt happy when she thought about it.
Chen shi said joyfully, “Then our family won’t have to sell a portion of the land?”
“I’m afraid we have to” Yu Wen rubbed his head sheepishly and said, “Our family had already proposed to the Pei family to sell a portion of the land in return for their help in rebuilding the stores.”
Chen shi looked gloomy and sighed in disappointment.
Yu Wen comforted Chen shi: “This is already very good. Think about it this way, if our family hadn’t asked Supervisor Tong to intercede, how would this matter have travelled to the third master Pei’s ears? If the third master of the Pei family did not agree, how would the Pei family freely lend silver to those families whose stores were destroyed by the fire?
Chen shi laughed and pouted, “You’re the only one with a generous heart.”
Yu Wen laughed happily.
Yu Bo, who had received the news, also thought that they did not have to sell a portion of their land. Only when he came to discuss it with Yu Wen did he learn the reason for it. Upon hearing it, he didn’t know if he should cry or laugh, but he and Yu Wen had the same thought, and also had a magnanimous heart, and said carefreely, “Let’s just think that our family wasn’t fated to have this.”
The two Yu brothers had made up their minds, so the others didn’t say anything.
After a few days, as the Pei family and those families negotiated the rebuilding of the stores, the Pei family’s grand elder suddenly passed away.
“This can’t be!” Yu Wen, who got the news in the middle of the night, stood in the courtyard draped in his outer coat, as the insects chirped in the background and held Chen shi’s hand with a face full of shock, “I asked about the grand elder when I visited the Pei family yesterday, but they all said the grand elder was fine. how could he just pass away like that?”
Chen shi’s heart was also full of sadness and said: “Could it be some fast-acting illness? The Pei family’s grand elder was also quite advanced in years too.”
“But this is too sudden.” Yu Wen still couldn’t believe it and instructed Ah Cam, “Go and check again, could there be a mistake?”
Ah Cam wiped his tears and said chokingly, “I’ve already asked, the Pei family has already reported the funeral arrangements to all the families. Zhao Ming Temple and Qing Xu Guan both got the news, and the abbot of the two families rushed over. The news will not be wrong!”
Yu Tang was sitting by the door, and felt that the night air was especially heavy and cold, chilling her heart and lungs.
She already kept a close eye on the Pei family’s grand elder’s health. Everyone said that the Pei family’s grand elder was well – why would the Pei family’s grand elder still die?
Yu Tang regretted it very much.
She shouldn’t have just listened to what others said, she should have gone to see for herself.
The Pei family helped their family so much, but she didn’t take the initiative to help the Pei family.
Yu Tang walked over and held her mother’s arm, saying, “Mother, are you going to offer incense to the Pei family’s grand elder when the time comes? Can you take me with you too?”
