Chapter 17 – Madam Lin
At this moment, Mrs. Li(TL: ie. Madam Lin) once again broke the impression Yu Tang had of her.
Although she still looked haughty, but her words were gentle and she smiled kindly at Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang. “These two must be your jewels in the crown. They are both beautiful in their own unique ways. When Madam Tang mentioned this to me earlier, I thought Madam Tang was exaggerating, but I didn’t realize that I was the one who was ignorant.”
Both Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma were not good at socializing and have not met Mrs. Li before, so they remained formal, and modestly denied her words, saying things like “where, where” and “you’re too kind, madam.”
Mrs. Li, however, as though she was very familiar with Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma, continued to compliment Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang, and even took out two jade pendants from her sleeves to give Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang as meeting gifts, saying that as she had not expected to meet them here, so this was just a small token of her sincerity and asked them not to dislike it due to its low value.
Naturally you wouldn’t treat someone badly if they were treated you well. Furthermore, the Li family’s business was prospering and Mrs. Li’s maternal family were wealthy merchants in Fujian, so even if Mrs. Li was generous in giving meeting gifts, it was also justifiable. The two of them immediately felt that Mrs. Li was a pretty good person, so they motioned for their daughters to accept the gifts and made arrangements to visit her to show their appreciation when the opportunity arises.
Mrs. Li laughed and said, “You can also bring these two young ladies with you when you do visit. I only have two sons that always cause trouble. I’ve always longed to have a daughter, but unfortunately I wasn’t blessed with one.” After saying that, she let out a long sigh of regret.
As Madam Chen’s body was always weak, so she rarely went outside and didn’t know much about the Li Family. Mrs Ma was slight better than Madam Chen. Within Lin’an city, there were only these few families of ministers, scholars, and learned men, and thus she would meet and get to know them at big events, such as weddings, engagements, and funerals. Seeing Mrs. Li complimenting them, she also returned the compliment by saying, “We also admire you for having a good son who passed the provincial examination at such a young age! If my useless son was even half as ambitious as your son, it would really be a miracle.”
Whether in her previous life or in this life, Li Duan was always the pride and joy of Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li couldn’t hold back her pride as she rattled on, praising her son, Li Duan. “Mrs. Ma is over exaggerating! That child, it’s only his studies that didn’t cause me any worry …… ever since he was little he was sickly, so I was afraid that he wouldn’t live long…… when he reached marriageable age, it was yet another headache …… fortunately the Gu family saw that he was a studious person and agreed to the marriage …… now I only hope for him to be married soon, so that next year he can register for the imperial examination held in the capital in spring……”
For Mrs. Li, if her son Li Duan’s up and rising career was her number one pride and joy, then in second place would be the successful marriage arrangement between Li Duan and the Di daughter of the second branch of the Gu Family in HangZhou.
There were four major surnames of noble families in Jiangnan.
Gu, Shen, Lu and Qian.
Li Duan’s wife, Gu Xi, was the young lady from that Gu family in Hangzhou.
Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma showed some interest and listened, occasionally adding their comments.
Yutang watched coldly at the side.
From her words, it was as though Li Duan was the only outstanding person in the entire world and need to be revered.
She thought of what Li Duan did to her in her previous life, and how she could only subtly request Madam Lin for help, but yet only getting chastised by Madam Lin for being shameless and seducing Li Duan ……
Yu Tang couldn’t help but want Madam Lin to taste the same kind of hurt and pain – even to the point of despair.
She deliberately used a voice that seems like a lowered whisper, but in fact, could be heard people next to her, and said to Ma Xiuniang privately, acting confused. “How old is the Li family’s eldest son? I just heard from the attendants in this residence, that third master Pei won the capital’s imperial entrance exam at the age of twenty-one.”
Madam Lin’s words stopped abruptly as if she had been punched in the face.
Madam Chen’s face turned red with embarrassment as she scolded Yu Tang, “What are you saying? How can you discuss Third Master Pei’s affairs?” Then she apologized to Madam Lin, “Children can be a little naughty sometimes, please don’t take it to heart.”
But Madam Lin’s smile already had a crack.
Madam Tang saw that the atmosphere was not good, so she hurriedly laughed and tried to lighten the mood. “Yes! It’s just a thoughtless remark made by a child. It’s nothing. “
After listening to her, Madam Lin deliberately suppressed her anger and even forced a smile towards Madam Chen.
Yu Tang was secretly surprised.
Since when did Madam Lin become so good-tempered?
When she first married into the Li family, Madam Lin said whatever she wanted about her. Even when her daughter-in-law, Gu Xi, whom Madam Lin was most satisfied with, didn’t do as what Madam Lin wanted, she also scolded her without mercy.
However, from this, it was evident that Madam Lin could control her temper.
Just that towards her daughter-in-laws, she just didn’t feel like holding back, that’s all.
Yu Tang derided her in her heart.
She heard Madam Lin continuing on,”I’m just a talkative person, so when I start speaking, I can’t hold back.”
“Everyone is the same.” Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma went along with her words.
Who knew that Madam Lin didn’t have the intention to stop but continued on, saying. “Every family have their own unique problems. Like for me, although I love my eldest son, but the one I dote on the most is my youngest son. He is four years younger than his brother. Being the second son, he does not need to inherit the family business, so my mother-in-law spoiled him rotten, causing him to be inexperienced in the ways of the world. Now he is already eighteen years old and still acting immature. He dislikes the maids at home, saying they are naggy and long-winded and doesn’t allow them to serve him closely. Everyday, he either rides his horses together with his male attendants or he follows the family steward to check accounts at the stores. I’m worried to death over his marriage!”
After saying that, she deliberately looked at Yu Tang.
All of them froze.
Especially Yu Tang.
What’s with her and the Li family? What is this accursed fate?
In her previous life, it was said that Li Jun fell in love with her at first sight, so in this life she actively avoided Li Jun, but yet was singled out by Madam Lin.
Thanks for the invitation, but she had no interest in this ‘precious’ daughter-in-law position in the Li family.
As she thought of this, she suddenly thought of Gu Xi.
If Gu Xi knew what would happen after she married into the Li family, I’m afraid she wouldn’t have married Li Duan either!
Perhaps she should cause a little friction, and spoil the marriage agreement between Gu Xi and Li Duan? Yutang contemplated.
Madam Lin would be so furious that she would jump thirty feet(ten metres) high!
Just thinking about it made Yu Tang feel so happy she couldn’t contain her joy.
Madam Chen finally reacted.
This Mrs. Li spoke so much, clearly because she has taken an interest in their family’s Yu Tang!
Just now, she clearly rejected Madam Tang; why was Mrs Li still harping on this matter!
Madam Chen knew well.
If it was just a matter of looks, their Ah tang’s appearance could even secure marriage to the Pei family. But marriage was more than just looks, it was about finding a good match.
She glanced at Madam Tang.
Madam Tang did not dare to meet her eyes, as if she was feeling guilty.
Madam Chen understood.
It turns out that Madam Tang was asked by Mrs. Li to meet them as they were coming out of the hall.
So Mrs. Li came to awkwardly chat with them despite their two families’ unfamiliarity, and this was just to speak with her on this relentlessly?!
This kind of thing can’t be glossed over as it can easily cause gossip.
Their Ah tang is also at a marriageable age, so she cannot let this affect her future marriage prospects.
Madam Chen smiled and said to Madam Lin, “You and I both are agonizing over the same kind of issue. Our family only has this one daughter, and she is extremely precious and dear to her father, so he is determined to arrange for a son-in-law to marry into our family. But it’s not that easy to get a son-in-law, my hair is falling out from worry.”
Madam Lin was stunned.
Yu Tang snickered.
Madam Lin didn’t expect to be rejected, did she?
Madam Lin’s smile could not be maintained any longer. She hastily said a few words to Madam Chen and said goodbye to Madam Tang.
Yu Tang wanted to hug her mother tightly and kiss her twice.
She looked at Madam Lin’s back and felt like a thorn in her heart was removed, so she decided to give Madam Lin a “gift”.
“Mother,” she said with a smile, “the Li family in the south of the city, is it that Li family that sells fruit?”
Li Yi’s ancestors started out as fruit sellers.
Of course, that was already decades ago, not many people knew about it in Lin’an today.
When she was still in the Li family, she happen to hear it from one of the Li family’s servants.
Madam Lin’s maternal family was in the silk and tea business, and was a large merchant family that operated for several generations. She was very embarrassed about people saying that the ancestors of the Li family were fruit sellers.
Neither Madam Chen nor Mrs. Ma had ever heard of it.
They didn’t know how to answer well for a while.
Instead, Yu Tang saw Madam Lin stumble very visibly and almost fell.
Yu Tang laughed happily in her heart. She decided to give Lin some more “gifts”, saying “Mother, haven’t you heard of it? The woman who has a tea stall on the East Street, Old Auntie Wang, and Ah Liu who sells pears at Little Plum Creek, they all knew about it.”
“Is that so?” Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma thought that Yutang was just chatting idly and so they responded casually.
However, Yutang felt that Madam Lin was so embarassed that she almost couldn’t stand properly.
She smiled cheekily and wanted to continue to ridicule Madam Lin a few more times, when suddenly at the corner of her eyes she noticed a person standing in the corridor next to her.
Yu Tang lifted her eyes to look over, but as soon as she saw, her face paled and she took two steps back.
This time it was her turn to almost fall down.
Ma Xiuniang quickly held her and said concernedly. “What’s wrong? Did you twist your ankle?”
“No, no.” Yu Tang said with an ashamed face, “I’m fine!”
She tried to stand on her tiptoes and craned her neck to look behind Ma Xiuniang.
Ma Xiuniang followed her and looked over.
The corridor was painted black, with grey roof tiles and along the sides were lush green bamboo trees. There wasn’t a single person in sight, only the bamboo trees swaying as a cool breeze swept by.
“What are you looking at?” They asked Yutang in confusion.
“I’m not looking at anything! There’s nothing to see!” Yutang said as she calmed down, pulling her mother’s sleeve, “When we as the guests are gone, then the hosts can rest. So let’s go back quickly!”
After this long day, everyone is also tired.
“Okay!” Mrs. Ma warmly invited Madam Chen and Yutang, saying “If you have some time, you can come over to our house, her father has gone to Hangzhou province and will not be back for seven or eight days. If the both of you came, at least I won’t be so idle at home. “
Madam Chen agreed and spoke a bit longer with Mrs. Ma and her daughter. After that, she went to inform Yu Wen that they were leaving before heading home.
Yu Tang, however, was distracted.
What’s with her abysmal luck this time? How could she meet the Pei Family’s third master everywhere she went?
And also when she was at her most embarrassing moments too – she was at the Pei family just now, and laughed.
The funeral was such a solemn occasion, and she actually laughed, and laughed quite happily at that, and was caught by the third master of the Pei family.
He must have thought that she had no respect for the deceased!
Moreover, his expression just now was so cold.
It was as if the gloom could seep out of him as black ink.
Was he angry because he heard her laughing? Or did he happen to be in a bad mood?
However, he was alone – why would he have gone over and happened to run into them?
Did he only see herself laughing or did he even hear her ridiculing Madam Lin?
Yu Tang sighed.
She most definitely left a very bad impression on him.
Yu Tang thought of the Pei family’s flowers that were removed.
A sea of pure green with no other colors.
Would she be like the flowers on those trees, to be disposed of by him……
However, then again, he is also a little narrow-minded.
This was such a small thing and yet his face already turned so sour.
Or was it his duties at the imperial court?
But now that his father passed away, he should have to stay at home for mourning, right?
Perhaps they would might meet again in the future ……
How can she be so unlucky.
Yu Tang was depressed for several days.
Chapter 17 – Madam Lin
At this moment, Mrs. Li(TL: ie. Madam Lin) once again broke the impression Yu Tang had of her.
Although she still looked haughty, but her words were gentle and she smiled kindly at Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang. “These two must be your jewels in the crown. They are both beautiful in their own unique ways. When Madam Tang mentioned this to me earlier, I thought Madam Tang was exaggerating, but I didn’t realize that I was the one who was ignorant.”
Both Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma were not good at socializing and have not met Mrs. Li before, so they remained formal, and modestly denied her words, saying things like “where, where” and “you’re too kind, madam.”
Mrs. Li, however, as though she was very familiar with Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma, continued to compliment Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang, and even took out two jade pendants from her sleeves to give Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang as meeting gifts, saying that as she had not expected to meet them here, so this was just a small token of her sincerity and asked them not to dislike it due to its low value.
Naturally you wouldn’t treat someone badly if they were treated you well. Furthermore, the Li family’s business was prospering and Mrs. Li’s maternal family were wealthy merchants in Fujian, so even if Mrs. Li was generous in giving meeting gifts, it was also justifiable. The two of them immediately felt that Mrs. Li was a pretty good person, so they motioned for their daughters to accept the gifts and made arrangements to visit her to show their appreciation when the opportunity arises.
Mrs. Li laughed and said, “You can also bring these two young ladies with you when you do visit. I only have two sons that always cause trouble. I’ve always longed to have a daughter, but unfortunately I wasn’t blessed with one.” After saying that, she let out a long sigh of regret.
As Madam Chen’s body was always weak, so she rarely went outside and didn’t know much about the Li Family. Mrs Ma was slight better than Madam Chen. Within Lin’an city, there were only these few families of ministers, scholars, and learned men, and thus she would meet and get to know them at big events, such as weddings, engagements, and funerals. Seeing Mrs. Li complimenting them, she also returned the compliment by saying, “We also admire you for having a good son who passed the provincial examination at such a young age! If my useless son was even half as ambitious as your son, it would really be a miracle.”
Whether in her previous life or in this life, Li Duan was always the pride and joy of Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li couldn’t hold back her pride as she rattled on, praising her son, Li Duan. “Mrs. Ma is over exaggerating! That child, it’s only his studies that didn’t cause me any worry …… ever since he was little he was sickly, so I was afraid that he wouldn’t live long…… when he reached marriageable age, it was yet another headache …… fortunately the Gu family saw that he was a studious person and agreed to the marriage …… now I only hope for him to be married soon, so that next year he can register for the imperial examination held in the capital in spring……”
For Mrs. Li, if her son Li Duan’s up and rising career was her number one pride and joy, then in second place would be the successful marriage arrangement between Li Duan and the Di daughter of the second branch of the Gu Family in HangZhou.
There were four major surnames of noble families in Jiangnan.
Gu, Shen, Lu and Qian.
Li Duan’s wife, Gu Xi, was the young lady from that Gu family in Hangzhou.
Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma showed some interest and listened, occasionally adding their comments.
Yutang watched coldly at the side.
From her words, it was as though Li Duan was the only outstanding person in the entire world and need to be revered.
She thought of what Li Duan did to her in her previous life, and how she could only subtly request Madam Lin for help, but yet only getting chastised by Madam Lin for being shameless and seducing Li Duan ……
Yu Tang couldn’t help but want Madam Lin to taste the same kind of hurt and pain – even to the point of despair.
She deliberately used a voice that seems like a lowered whisper, but in fact, could be heard people next to her, and said to Ma Xiuniang privately, acting confused. “How old is the Li family’s eldest son? I just heard from the attendants in this residence, that third master Pei won the capital’s imperial entrance exam at the age of twenty-one.”
Madam Lin’s words stopped abruptly as if she had been punched in the face.
Madam Chen’s face turned red with embarrassment as she scolded Yu Tang, “What are you saying? How can you discuss Third Master Pei’s affairs?” Then she apologized to Madam Lin, “Children can be a little naughty sometimes, please don’t take it to heart.”
But Madam Lin’s smile already had a crack.
Madam Tang saw that the atmosphere was not good, so she hurriedly laughed and tried to lighten the mood. “Yes! It’s just a thoughtless remark made by a child. It’s nothing. “
After listening to her, Madam Lin deliberately suppressed her anger and even forced a smile towards Madam Chen.
Yu Tang was secretly surprised.
Since when did Madam Lin become so good-tempered?
When she first married into the Li family, Madam Lin said whatever she wanted about her. Even when her daughter-in-law, Gu Xi, whom Madam Lin was most satisfied with, didn’t do as what Madam Lin wanted, she also scolded her without mercy.
However, from this, it was evident that Madam Lin could control her temper.
Just that towards her daughter-in-laws, she just didn’t feel like holding back, that’s all.
Yu Tang derided her in her heart.
She heard Madam Lin continuing on,”I’m just a talkative person, so when I start speaking, I can’t hold back.”
“Everyone is the same.” Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma went along with her words.
Who knew that Madam Lin didn’t have the intention to stop but continued on, saying. “Every family have their own unique problems. Like for me, although I love my eldest son, but the one I dote on the most is my youngest son. He is four years younger than his brother. Being the second son, he does not need to inherit the family business, so my mother-in-law spoiled him rotten, causing him to be inexperienced in the ways of the world. Now he is already eighteen years old and still acting immature. He dislikes the maids at home, saying they are naggy and long-winded and doesn’t allow them to serve him closely. Everyday, he either rides his horses together with his male attendants or he follows the family steward to check accounts at the stores. I’m worried to death over his marriage!”
After saying that, she deliberately looked at Yu Tang.
All of them froze.
Especially Yu Tang.
What’s with her and the Li family? What is this accursed fate?
In her previous life, it was said that Li Jun fell in love with her at first sight, so in this life she actively avoided Li Jun, but yet was singled out by Madam Lin.
Thanks for the invitation, but she had no interest in this ‘precious’ daughter-in-law position in the Li family.
As she thought of this, she suddenly thought of Gu Xi.
If Gu Xi knew what would happen after she married into the Li family, I’m afraid she wouldn’t have married Li Duan either!
Perhaps she should cause a little friction, and spoil the marriage agreement between Gu Xi and Li Duan? Yutang contemplated.
Madam Lin would be so furious that she would jump thirty feet(ten metres) high!
Just thinking about it made Yu Tang feel so happy she couldn’t contain her joy.
Madam Chen finally reacted.
This Mrs. Li spoke so much, clearly because she has taken an interest in their family’s Yu Tang!
Just now, she clearly rejected Madam Tang; why was Mrs Li still harping on this matter!
Madam Chen knew well.
If it was just a matter of looks, their Ah tang’s appearance could even secure marriage to the Pei family. But marriage was more than just looks, it was about finding a good match.
She glanced at Madam Tang.
Madam Tang did not dare to meet her eyes, as if she was feeling guilty.
Madam Chen understood.
It turns out that Madam Tang was asked by Mrs. Li to meet them as they were coming out of the hall.
So Mrs. Li came to awkwardly chat with them despite their two families’ unfamiliarity, and this was just to speak with her on this relentlessly?!
This kind of thing can’t be glossed over as it can easily cause gossip.
Their Ah tang is also at a marriageable age, so she cannot let this affect her future marriage prospects.
Madam Chen smiled and said to Madam Lin, “You and I both are agonizing over the same kind of issue. Our family only has this one daughter, and she is extremely precious and dear to her father, so he is determined to arrange for a son-in-law to marry into our family. But it’s not that easy to get a son-in-law, my hair is falling out from worry.”
Madam Lin was stunned.
Yu Tang snickered.
Madam Lin didn’t expect to be rejected, did she?
Madam Lin’s smile could not be maintained any longer. She hastily said a few words to Madam Chen and said goodbye to Madam Tang.
Yu Tang wanted to hug her mother tightly and kiss her twice.
She looked at Madam Lin’s back and felt like a thorn in her heart was removed, so she decided to give Madam Lin a “gift”.
“Mother,” she said with a smile, “the Li family in the south of the city, is it that Li family that sells fruit?”
Li Yi’s ancestors started out as fruit sellers.
Of course, that was already decades ago, not many people knew about it in Lin’an today.
When she was still in the Li family, she happen to hear it from one of the Li family’s servants.
Madam Lin’s maternal family was in the silk and tea business, and was a large merchant family that operated for several generations. She was very embarrassed about people saying that the ancestors of the Li family were fruit sellers.
Neither Madam Chen nor Mrs. Ma had ever heard of it.
They didn’t know how to answer well for a while.
Instead, Yu Tang saw Madam Lin stumble very visibly and almost fell.
Yu Tang laughed happily in her heart. She decided to give Lin some more “gifts”, saying “Mother, haven’t you heard of it? The woman who has a tea stall on the East Street, Old Auntie Wang, and Ah Liu who sells pears at Little Plum Creek, they all knew about it.”
“Is that so?” Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma thought that Yutang was just chatting idly and so they responded casually.
However, Yutang felt that Madam Lin was so embarassed that she almost couldn’t stand properly.
She smiled cheekily and wanted to continue to ridicule Madam Lin a few more times, when suddenly at the corner of her eyes she noticed a person standing in the corridor next to her.
Yu Tang lifted her eyes to look over, but as soon as she saw, her face paled and she took two steps back.
This time it was her turn to almost fall down.
Ma Xiuniang quickly held her and said concernedly. “What’s wrong? Did you twist your ankle?”
“No, no.” Yu Tang said with an ashamed face, “I’m fine!”
She tried to stand on her tiptoes and craned her neck to look behind Ma Xiuniang.
Ma Xiuniang followed her and looked over.
The corridor was painted black, with grey roof tiles and along the sides were lush green bamboo trees. There wasn’t a single person in sight, only the bamboo trees swaying as a cool breeze swept by.
“What are you looking at?” They asked Yutang in confusion.
“I’m not looking at anything! There’s nothing to see!” Yutang said as she calmed down, pulling her mother’s sleeve, “When we as the guests are gone, then the hosts can rest. So let’s go back quickly!”
After this long day, everyone is also tired.
“Okay!” Mrs. Ma warmly invited Madam Chen and Yutang, saying “If you have some time, you can come over to our house, her father has gone to Hangzhou province and will not be back for seven or eight days. If the both of you came, at least I won’t be so idle at home. “
Madam Chen agreed and spoke a bit longer with Mrs. Ma and her daughter. After that, she went to inform Yu Wen that they were leaving before heading home.
Yu Tang, however, was distracted.
What’s with her abysmal luck this time? How could she meet the Pei Family’s third master everywhere she went?
And also when she was at her most embarrassing moments too – she was at the Pei family just now, and laughed.
The funeral was such a solemn occasion, and she actually laughed, and laughed quite happily at that, and was caught by the third master of the Pei family.
He must have thought that she had no respect for the deceased!
Moreover, his expression just now was so cold.
It was as if the gloom could seep out of him as black ink.
Was he angry because he heard her laughing? Or did he happen to be in a bad mood?
However, he was alone – why would he have gone over and happened to run into them?
Did he only see herself laughing or did he even hear her ridiculing Madam Lin?
Yu Tang sighed.
She most definitely left a very bad impression on him.
Yu Tang thought of the Pei family’s flowers that were removed.
A sea of pure green with no other colors.
Would she be like the flowers on those trees, to be disposed of by him……
However, then again, he is also a little narrow-minded.
This was such a small thing and yet his face already turned so sour.
Or was it his duties at the imperial court?
But now that his father passed away, he should have to stay at home for mourning, right?
Perhaps they would might meet again in the future ……
How can she be so unlucky.
Yu Tang was depressed for several days.
