Chapter 4: Father
Yu Wen’s study was located in the west wing of the courtyard. It was a large room, stacked with books alongside all four walls with a large desk in the middle of the study. Next to the desk, there were many large blue and white porcelain jars filled with scrolls of varying lengths and thickness. On the desk, there was a small pastel-colored bowl with two goldfishes, one red and one black.
Actually, the reason why Yu Tang pulled her father inside the study, was not to ask for the jade. Instead, her main reason was to discuss her mother’s illness with Yu Wen.
Before her father returned, she thought carefully about it. In her previous life, her family’s downfall seemed to have started from when Changxing Street caught fire, but in fact, it was caused by her mother’s illness that was not cured.
So to change the fate of her past life, she had to start with her mother’s condition.
Only when her mother’s illness is cured, then her father will not rush to find treatment, and listen to the unreliable advice of other people and frantically take her mother out to see those physicians. As for their wealth and possessions, what is gone is gone. Preserving lives is the most important thing.
“Father, didn’t you say you went to Suzhou to see that imperial physician Yang?” Yu Tang fiddled with the leaves of fern plant on the nearby bookshelf in the study and said, “What did imperial physician Yang say? Can he cure mother’s illness?”
Yu Wen, who still treated Yu Tang like a child, replied, “That’s the concern of us adults, you don’t have to worry. You only need to stay with your mother and keep her company. I’ll take care of your mom’s illness!”
Yu Tang casually broke off a branch of fern and played with the goldfishes in the bowl, and then said, “Father, don’t always treat me like a child. I already knew about the flooding in Changxing Street. At that time, I even went to see the crowd. But I still helped eldest aunt hide it from mother. Mother has not even heard a whisper of it even up till today. Even eldest aunt praised me.”
Yu Wen was very surprised, and looked at his daughter while she made the two goldfishes swim around frantically in the bowl. He couldn’t help but say, “Look at you now, teasing those poor goldfishes, is this the behavior of a proper young lady? How can I see you as one?”
The seven years in the Li family were too hard, and if Yutang didn’t find something interesting in the midst of her misery, it’s likely that she wouldn’t have endured.
Yu Tang pouted, “What does this have to do with being a grown up? You are already an adult, but you still crave the water chestnut cake from the mountain-side.”
Yu Wen coughed twice in embarrassment and changed the subject: “How is your mother’s health these days? She always hides it from me, so I don’t know the exact severity of her condition.”
Yu Tang had been waiting to hear these words from her father.
She said, “If you don’t tell me what’s in your heart, I won’t tell you what’s in my heart either.”
“Ouch! My dear daughter even knows to negotiate with me now.” Yu Wen chuckled at his daughter, but when he raised his eyes and saw her serious gaze, his heart couldn’t help but feel a sense of unfamiliarity, as if in a blinking of an eye, his daughter had already grown up. She was not only sensible, but also knew how to show concern, thoughtfulness and love to her parents.
This made him both emotional and proud.
Others all say he pampered his daughter too much, but his daughter didn’t grow up spoiled at all.
Instead, she is becoming more and more filial.
Yu Wen decided to respect his daughter’s earnest request.
He decided to give his daughter the Qingtian jade to play with.
As he rummaged through the box looking for the Qingtian jade, he said, “I didn’t get to see Imperial physician Yang. His apprentice said that he was unable to practice medicine because of an injury in the tendons of both his hands, so he was dismissed from the imperial court. After knowing that, how can I be so thick-skinned to insist on seeing imperial physician Yang?”
Yu Tang faintly froze.
In her previous life, imperial physician Yang did not practice medicine after he returned home. She thought that imperial physician Yang was just retiring as he was getting old, but she didn’t expect it to be for this reason.
She said, “Father, for mother’s illness, is it only possible to turn to imperial physician Yang?”
If her father wanted to take her mother to Putuo Mountain, by all means possible, she had to stop it.
Yu Wen finally found the Qingtian jade and was searching again for a suitable box to store it.
He started rummaging through the box again: “imperial physician Yang was introduced by your uncle Lu. Imperial physician Yang used to be famous for his gynecology skills in the palace. When the empress dowager was pregnant with the emperor, it was imperial physician Yang who was in charge of protecting the fetus and to ensure the smooth delivery of the baby. Your mother’s illness only started after she had given birth to you, so of course it’s best to find imperial physician Yang.”
Uncle Lu’s name is Lu Xin, and was born in the same year as her father. The two of them have a very close personal relationship. He was the one who sold her father the “Pine Creek Fishing Hidden Painting”. He also once wanted to publish a book containing mostly poems written by himself(Luxin), and persuaded her father to fork out a large amount of silver for its production. However, as most of the poems in the book were Lu Xin’s poems, people would remember him, instead of her father, the financier, who was not remembered by anyone. Lu Xin’s poems grew in popularity and his fame gradually spread around Jiangnan.
Yu Tang thus disliked this person, said: “You don’t have to listen to everything he says. Since he knew about imperial physician Yang’s return to his hometown, why didn’t he also inquire about why he had to return to his hometown? You made a trip for nothing, and made mother worried for you.”
Yu Wen finally found a suitable red lacquer box, sat down on the round chair behind the desk and said: “You can’t say it like that. Your uncle Lu only wanted to help; not only did he personally accompany me to Suzhou, but he also helped to inquire about another imperial doctor Wang Bo living in Putuo Mountain, but Wang Bo specializes in pediatrics, so I do not know if he can treat your mother.”
It turns out that the matter of Putuo Mountain also has Lu Xin involved.
Yu Tang was furious and said, “Father, when Uncle Lu accompanied you to Suzhou, did you pay for the expenses or did he pay for it himself?”
Yu Wen laughed, “You child, how can you be so calculating?”
She knew it. Lu Xin tricked her father again.
Yu Tang said angrily, “I was thinking, since Uncle Lu knows so much about these imperial doctors, why didn’t he suggest that you take Mum to the capital to seek treatment? After all, the imperial doctors in the capital are a dime a dozen, there will definitely be someone that can treat mother’s illness.”
Yu Wen frowned and said sternly, “What do you think the imperial doctors are? So common that they are found everywhere? Your uncle Lu is concerned about me, that’s why he pays special attention to the news of imperial physicians. You can’t talk about your uncle Lu like that anymore, it’s not polite.”
Yu Tang stopped talking about Lu Xin, but still encouraged her father to take her mother to the capital instead for medical treatment.
As long as her parents avoided those dangerous places, her parents’ lives would be saved, and their family could be whole and happy.
Yu Wen was somewhat persuaded by Yu Tang’s words. But going to the capital was a big deal, and if he made up his mind, there were many things to prepare for the journey.
He put the Qingtian jade in the box and said absentmindedly, “This is the Qingtian jade you wanted, keep it well, and don’t lose it. I bought it from your uncle Lu.”
After this conversation, all the more so, Yu Tang did not want to hear the name now and said, “Then I’d better not take what’s precious to you. You can give me that lotus leaf water inkstone instead.”
“Just take it!” Yu Wen stretched out his hand placed it in her hand, and teasing Yu Tang, “I’m going to keep the lotus leaf water inkstone for the next time when you’re naughty try to bargain with me! If I gave it to you now, wouldn’t it be a loss?”
Yu Tang thought about it. This Qingtian jade was indeed a good material. She shouldn’t have to refuse a gift because of her anger towards Lu Xin.
If she feels irritated by it, she can always use it as a gift when the time comes.
Yu Tang took the box, thanked her father, and after discussing how to carve a seal out of the jade, she reminded him, “Father, if we go to the capital for medical treatment, we will need a lot of silver. You’ve been holding the Pine Creek Fishing Hidden painting in your possession for several days.”
Yu Wen smiled sheepishly.
If Yu Tang didn’t mention about this, he would have forgotten about it.
Yu Wen had no concept of money, nor did he have any greed. He nonchalantly replied “Your uncle Lu and I are good friends, if payment is a few days late, he will not say anything. Even if the family is lacking in silver, there will still be enough silver to pay for your mother’s medicine. You don’t have to worry.”
Yu Tang knew her father would answer this way.
She said, “Father never bothers about our family’s accounts, right? Do you want to go ask old Aunty Chen?”
Because of her poor health,
Madam Chen did not handle the family’s chores. It was old Aunty chen who was in charge, and she managed everything smoothly, and without error.
Yu Wen hesitantly said, “It can’t be that…. we can’t even afford your mother’s medicine, right?”
In order to make her father full understand the severity of the situation, she explained. “If there’s no silver coming in, our savings will eventually be gone. The family’s store was just burnt, so there will be no income for a long time. However, Mother need to drink her medicine everyday – not even one day can be skipped. Furthermore, eldest uncle also wants to rebuild the stores. You say, where is all this silver coming from?”
Yu Wen knew that Yu Tang would not exaggerate the facts to stop him from spending.
When his own hobbies conflicted with his wife’s treatment, Yu Wen did not hesitate to put his wife’s medical bills as priority.
“Got it.” He responded with some embarrassment.
Yu Tang knew that her father would not buy that painting.
She let out a sigh of relief and brought up the matter of the shop again: “Eldest aunt comes from a merchant family, and when grandfather was alive, he saw that eldest aunt was capable, so he arranged for eldest uncle to marry her. Before he passed away, grandfather also mentioned that in future, we must also consult eldest aunt on the stores before making any decision. So regarding the stores, shouldn’t you find a time to discuss with eldest aunt? I notice that eldest uncle and eldest cousin are so busy these days, until they seem to have lost some weight. Usually, it’s always Eldest Uncle who helps our family, so you should also help Eldest Uncle at this critical time.”
Before her grandfather passed away, there was indeed such an instruction.
Yu Wen nodded his head.
Yu Tang smiled happily.
There was finally a little bit of progress in improving the situation of their family’s business.
Yu Wen stroked Yu Tang’s head and said, “Then you have to make sure to take care of your mother and prevent her from finding out. I’ll take the opportunity to meet your eldest aunt.”
Yu Tang happily agreed and took the small red lacquered box from Yu Wen and both of them left the study.
Madam Chen asked Yu Tang to invite her eldest uncle and his family to eat at their home. “While your father was gone, eldest uncle had a hard time, so let’s invite your eldest uncle over to have a drink with your father to relieve his fatigue.”
Although the brothers of the Yu family lived separately, they were just next-door neighbors, and were very close with each other.
Yu Tang together with Shuang Tao, went through the back door to her eldest uncle’s estate.
Madam Wang was busy taking inventory of her dowry.
Yu Tang ran straight into Madam Wang’s inner room and proudly declared to her eldest aunt like she had just performed a meritorious service. “I’ve already spoken to my father, and my father said that he would consult you first regarding the store.”
She hoped that her aunt would also take the initiative, to prevent her father from being swayed by the opinions of whomever he saw and discussed with.
Eldest aunt was pleased and pinched Yutang’s cheek: “Good daughter, you are learning to be resourceful. You’re becoming more and more sensible and reliable.
Yu Tang tilted her head away, avoiding her eldest aunt “demon claw” and ran away with Shuang Tao. “Eldest aunt, Come quickly! My parents are waiting at home for you!”
Madam Wang looked at her departing back and shook her head with a smile.
Chapter 4: Father
Yu Wen’s study was located in the west wing of the courtyard. It was a large room, stacked with books alongside all four walls with a large desk in the middle of the study. Next to the desk, there were many large blue and white porcelain jars filled with scrolls of varying lengths and thickness. On the desk, there was a small pastel-colored bowl with two goldfishes, one red and one black.
Actually, the reason why Yu Tang pulled her father inside the study, was not to ask for the jade. Instead, her main reason was to discuss her mother’s illness with Yu Wen.
Before her father returned, she thought carefully about it. In her previous life, her family’s downfall seemed to have started from when Changxing Street caught fire, but in fact, it was caused by her mother’s illness that was not cured.
So to change the fate of her past life, she had to start with her mother’s condition.
Only when her mother’s illness is cured, then her father will not rush to find treatment, and listen to the unreliable advice of other people and frantically take her mother out to see those physicians. As for their wealth and possessions, what is gone is gone. Preserving lives is the most important thing.
“Father, didn’t you say you went to Suzhou to see that imperial physician Yang?” Yu Tang fiddled with the leaves of fern plant on the nearby bookshelf in the study and said, “What did imperial physician Yang say? Can he cure mother’s illness?”
Yu Wen, who still treated Yu Tang like a child, replied, “That’s the concern of us adults, you don’t have to worry. You only need to stay with your mother and keep her company. I’ll take care of your mom’s illness!”
Yu Tang casually broke off a branch of fern and played with the goldfishes in the bowl, and then said, “Father, don’t always treat me like a child. I already knew about the flooding in Changxing Street. At that time, I even went to see the crowd. But I still helped eldest aunt hide it from mother. Mother has not even heard a whisper of it even up till today. Even eldest aunt praised me.”
Yu Wen was very surprised, and looked at his daughter while she made the two goldfishes swim around frantically in the bowl. He couldn’t help but say, “Look at you now, teasing those poor goldfishes, is this the behavior of a proper young lady? How can I see you as one?”
The seven years in the Li family were too hard, and if Yutang didn’t find something interesting in the midst of her misery, it’s likely that she wouldn’t have endured.
Yu Tang pouted, “What does this have to do with being a grown up? You are already an adult, but you still crave the water chestnut cake from the mountain-side.”
Yu Wen coughed twice in embarrassment and changed the subject: “How is your mother’s health these days? She always hides it from me, so I don’t know the exact severity of her condition.”
Yu Tang had been waiting to hear these words from her father.
She said, “If you don’t tell me what’s in your heart, I won’t tell you what’s in my heart either.”
“Ouch! My dear daughter even knows to negotiate with me now.” Yu Wen chuckled at his daughter, but when he raised his eyes and saw her serious gaze, his heart couldn’t help but feel a sense of unfamiliarity, as if in a blinking of an eye, his daughter had already grown up. She was not only sensible, but also knew how to show concern, thoughtfulness and love to her parents.
This made him both emotional and proud.
Others all say he pampered his daughter too much, but his daughter didn’t grow up spoiled at all.
Instead, she is becoming more and more filial.
Yu Wen decided to respect his daughter’s earnest request.
He decided to give his daughter the Qingtian jade to play with.
As he rummaged through the box looking for the Qingtian jade, he said, “I didn’t get to see Imperial physician Yang. His apprentice said that he was unable to practice medicine because of an injury in the tendons of both his hands, so he was dismissed from the imperial court. After knowing that, how can I be so thick-skinned to insist on seeing imperial physician Yang?”
Yu Tang faintly froze.
In her previous life, imperial physician Yang did not practice medicine after he returned home. She thought that imperial physician Yang was just retiring as he was getting old, but she didn’t expect it to be for this reason.
She said, “Father, for mother’s illness, is it only possible to turn to imperial physician Yang?”
If her father wanted to take her mother to Putuo Mountain, by all means possible, she had to stop it.
Yu Wen finally found the Qingtian jade and was searching again for a suitable box to store it.
He started rummaging through the box again: “imperial physician Yang was introduced by your uncle Lu. Imperial physician Yang used to be famous for his gynecology skills in the palace. When the empress dowager was pregnant with the emperor, it was imperial physician Yang who was in charge of protecting the fetus and to ensure the smooth delivery of the baby. Your mother’s illness only started after she had given birth to you, so of course it’s best to find imperial physician Yang.”
Uncle Lu’s name is Lu Xin, and was born in the same year as her father. The two of them have a very close personal relationship. He was the one who sold her father the “Pine Creek Fishing Hidden Painting”. He also once wanted to publish a book containing mostly poems written by himself(Luxin), and persuaded her father to fork out a large amount of silver for its production. However, as most of the poems in the book were Lu Xin’s poems, people would remember him, instead of her father, the financier, who was not remembered by anyone. Lu Xin’s poems grew in popularity and his fame gradually spread around Jiangnan.
Yu Tang thus disliked this person, said: “You don’t have to listen to everything he says. Since he knew about imperial physician Yang’s return to his hometown, why didn’t he also inquire about why he had to return to his hometown? You made a trip for nothing, and made mother worried for you.”
Yu Wen finally found a suitable red lacquer box, sat down on the round chair behind the desk and said: “You can’t say it like that. Your uncle Lu only wanted to help; not only did he personally accompany me to Suzhou, but he also helped to inquire about another imperial doctor Wang Bo living in Putuo Mountain, but Wang Bo specializes in pediatrics, so I do not know if he can treat your mother.”
It turns out that the matter of Putuo Mountain also has Lu Xin involved.
Yu Tang was furious and said, “Father, when Uncle Lu accompanied you to Suzhou, did you pay for the expenses or did he pay for it himself?”
Yu Wen laughed, “You child, how can you be so calculating?”
She knew it. Lu Xin tricked her father again.
Yu Tang said angrily, “I was thinking, since Uncle Lu knows so much about these imperial doctors, why didn’t he suggest that you take Mum to the capital to seek treatment? After all, the imperial doctors in the capital are a dime a dozen, there will definitely be someone that can treat mother’s illness.”
Yu Wen frowned and said sternly, “What do you think the imperial doctors are? So common that they are found everywhere? Your uncle Lu is concerned about me, that’s why he pays special attention to the news of imperial physicians. You can’t talk about your uncle Lu like that anymore, it’s not polite.”
Yu Tang stopped talking about Lu Xin, but still encouraged her father to take her mother to the capital instead for medical treatment.
As long as her parents avoided those dangerous places, her parents’ lives would be saved, and their family could be whole and happy.
Yu Wen was somewhat persuaded by Yu Tang’s words. But going to the capital was a big deal, and if he made up his mind, there were many things to prepare for the journey.
He put the Qingtian jade in the box and said absentmindedly, “This is the Qingtian jade you wanted, keep it well, and don’t lose it. I bought it from your uncle Lu.”
After this conversation, all the more so, Yu Tang did not want to hear the name now and said, “Then I’d better not take what’s precious to you. You can give me that lotus leaf water inkstone instead.”
“Just take it!” Yu Wen stretched out his hand placed it in her hand, and teasing Yu Tang, “I’m going to keep the lotus leaf water inkstone for the next time when you’re naughty try to bargain with me! If I gave it to you now, wouldn’t it be a loss?”
Yu Tang thought about it. This Qingtian jade was indeed a good material. She shouldn’t have to refuse a gift because of her anger towards Lu Xin.
If she feels irritated by it, she can always use it as a gift when the time comes.
Yu Tang took the box, thanked her father, and after discussing how to carve a seal out of the jade, she reminded him, “Father, if we go to the capital for medical treatment, we will need a lot of silver. You’ve been holding the Pine Creek Fishing Hidden painting in your possession for several days.”
Yu Wen smiled sheepishly.
If Yu Tang didn’t mention about this, he would have forgotten about it.
Yu Wen had no concept of money, nor did he have any greed. He nonchalantly replied “Your uncle Lu and I are good friends, if payment is a few days late, he will not say anything. Even if the family is lacking in silver, there will still be enough silver to pay for your mother’s medicine. You don’t have to worry.”
Yu Tang knew her father would answer this way.
She said, “Father never bothers about our family’s accounts, right? Do you want to go ask old Aunty Chen?”
Because of her poor health,
Madam Chen did not handle the family’s chores. It was old Aunty chen who was in charge, and she managed everything smoothly, and without error.
Yu Wen hesitantly said, “It can’t be that…. we can’t even afford your mother’s medicine, right?”
In order to make her father full understand the severity of the situation, she explained. “If there’s no silver coming in, our savings will eventually be gone. The family’s store was just burnt, so there will be no income for a long time. However, Mother need to drink her medicine everyday – not even one day can be skipped. Furthermore, eldest uncle also wants to rebuild the stores. You say, where is all this silver coming from?”
Yu Wen knew that Yu Tang would not exaggerate the facts to stop him from spending.
When his own hobbies conflicted with his wife’s treatment, Yu Wen did not hesitate to put his wife’s medical bills as priority.
“Got it.” He responded with some embarrassment.
Yu Tang knew that her father would not buy that painting.
She let out a sigh of relief and brought up the matter of the shop again: “Eldest aunt comes from a merchant family, and when grandfather was alive, he saw that eldest aunt was capable, so he arranged for eldest uncle to marry her. Before he passed away, grandfather also mentioned that in future, we must also consult eldest aunt on the stores before making any decision. So regarding the stores, shouldn’t you find a time to discuss with eldest aunt? I notice that eldest uncle and eldest cousin are so busy these days, until they seem to have lost some weight. Usually, it’s always Eldest Uncle who helps our family, so you should also help Eldest Uncle at this critical time.”
Before her grandfather passed away, there was indeed such an instruction.
Yu Wen nodded his head.
Yu Tang smiled happily.
There was finally a little bit of progress in improving the situation of their family’s business.
Yu Wen stroked Yu Tang’s head and said, “Then you have to make sure to take care of your mother and prevent her from finding out. I’ll take the opportunity to meet your eldest aunt.”
Yu Tang happily agreed and took the small red lacquered box from Yu Wen and both of them left the study.
Madam Chen asked Yu Tang to invite her eldest uncle and his family to eat at their home. “While your father was gone, eldest uncle had a hard time, so let’s invite your eldest uncle over to have a drink with your father to relieve his fatigue.”
Although the brothers of the Yu family lived separately, they were just next-door neighbors, and were very close with each other.
Yu Tang together with Shuang Tao, went through the back door to her eldest uncle’s estate.
Madam Wang was busy taking inventory of her dowry.
Yu Tang ran straight into Madam Wang’s inner room and proudly declared to her eldest aunt like she had just performed a meritorious service. “I’ve already spoken to my father, and my father said that he would consult you first regarding the store.”
She hoped that her aunt would also take the initiative, to prevent her father from being swayed by the opinions of whomever he saw and discussed with.
Eldest aunt was pleased and pinched Yutang’s cheek: “Good daughter, you are learning to be resourceful. You’re becoming more and more sensible and reliable.
Yu Tang tilted her head away, avoiding her eldest aunt “demon claw” and ran away with Shuang Tao. “Eldest aunt, Come quickly! My parents are waiting at home for you!”
Madam Wang looked at her departing back and shook her head with a smile.
