Chapter 5: Lu Xin
The Yu family people were generally good-looking.
High nose bridge, big eyes, dark hair and snow-white skin. If there’s anything negative, it would be that they are not tall in stature, which was common among southerners.
Yu Bo(Eldest Uncle) had been a merchant for some years now, so whenever he meets anyone whether in business or for personal matters, he was accustomed to have a gentle smile. Thus, although he was already a middle aged man, he still looked clean and refined, like a scholar rather than a merchant.
What more about Yu Tang’s older cousin Yu Yuan. In addition to having sharp and elegant eyebrows, he speaks mildly and acts kindly, with a neighborly teenager-like gentleness, that lets people feel as if they are close friends.
But Yu Tang knows that her older cousin is also very capable and decisive. In her previous life, if it wasn’t for his support, the 5,000 taels of silver from the Li family would not have been enough for her eldest uncle to purchase the ancestral property that the family had sold away.
Yu Tang felt very grateful to this eldest cousin.
While her father and her eldest uncle were talking, she used tea instead of the customary wine to give a toast of respect to Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan was taken aback.
This cousin of his was spoiled by his second uncle and aunt, and although she had reached maturity, she was still a child at heart, and knew nothing but to enjoy eating and drinking, and did not care about family matters, much less care about things happening outside.
Yu Yuan came closer and asked Yu Tang in a low voice, “Is there something you want me to do for you?”
Or perhaps she did something wrong and need his help to placate second uncle and aunt.
Yu Tang choked for a moment.
Could it be that in her previous life, she was such a person in her older cousin’s heart?
She couldn’t help but re-examine herself.
Yu Yuan saw her expression and thought he guessed correctly. So he said softly, to reassure her. “Don’t be anxious, tell me slowly what’s the problem. If it’s urgent, I’ll help you do it now. However, if you are not in a hurry, just wait for two days. These two days I have to follow father to help with the shop matters, after I’m done I will help you.”
Yu Tang didn’t know if she should laugh or cry.
Thinking about it further, she really gave a lot of headaches to her older cousin in her previous life.
She hurriedly smiled towards Yu Yuan, and respectfully offered another cup of tea to Yu Yuan, saying, “I saw that brother has worked hard these few days, that’s why I am toasting you.”
“Is that so?” Yu Yuan was a little skeptical.
Yu Tang was about to say something when her eldest uncle, who was sitting in the upper seat, suddenly raised his voice and said, “I don’t agree with this matter! If our father and mother knew about this, they wouldn’t agree as well!”
The room became silent after his words.
Yu Yuan and Yu Tang hurriedly sat up.
Madam Chen pulled on Yu Wen’s sleeve and whispered, “Husband, I don’t agree either.”
Yu Wen looked at his wife and sighed softly, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by eldest aunt: “Second uncle, we all know you are worried. But this is not something that can be solved by being anxious. You also said that imperial physician Wang specializes in pediatrics, and he may not be able to prescribe the right medicine for sister-in-law’s illness. We are not familiar with the capital, and we don’t even know where the imperial infirmary is. If you rashly take sister-in-law there, not to say whether you will find a suitable physician or not, but with my sister-in-law’s health, I’m afraid she even can’t endure the long journey there!”
Because Yu Tang’s grandfather had always respect his eldest daughter-in-law’s words when he was alive, her words had always carried weight in the family.
Yu Wen looked at Madam Wang uncertainly, “Then, what should we do? I can’t stand by and watch my child’s mother suffer like this!” As he said that, his eyes were red.
Madam Chen quickly reassured him. “My husband, my condition seems worse because of this summer’s heat. After this period, it will be better. I know you are worried about me. But what eldest uncle and sister-in-law is true. Even if I want to go to the capital to see a physician, we also need the information on where to find the right one. Let’s wait until my health is better before discussing this again.”
Yu Wen felt dispirited.
Madam Wang gave a look to her husband, but Yu Bo, still dissatisfied with his younger brother, ignored and continued on, saying, “I say, you also, being a father ……”
This is usually how lecturing started for Yu Wen, and the family is familiar with his words. Yu Yuan was afraid that his father and second uncle would continue arguing and feelings worsen, so he interrupted Yu Bo: “Ah father, there is something you have to discuss with second uncle.”
Yu Bo stopped the conversation, and Yu Wen’s eyes fell on Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan said, “I heard someone say, the funeral procession for Pei family’s old eldest master is tomorrow. Do we also have to join in the procession? No matter what, ever since we started our business on Changxing Street, the Pei family also took care of our family.”
As most of the shops on Changxing Street belonged to the Pei family, the magistrates not only didn’t dare to misbehave in Changxing Street, but often visited Changxing Street. Others like them, who owned shops on Changxing Street, also benefited from this. And never did they experience “eat, take, obstruct, want” 1
“There should be a road procession.” Yu Bo nodded in agreement, and said to Yu Wen, “It’s better to write a eulogy piece as well. Being a scholar, this should be easy for you to do.”
Yu Wen answered and said, “I will write it tonight and send it over to the Pei estate tomorrow.”
Yu Bo thought for a while and said, “Let Ah Yuan send it over. Changxing Street was burned, the Pei family will certainly not let it be. Let Ah Yuan go over to the Pei family and get acquainted with the Pei family’s stewards and shopkeepers. If anything happens in the future, we can discuss with them as well.”
As Yu Wen nodded, Shuang Tao ran in and said, “Mr. Lu is here!”
The only person who was called Mr. Lu in the Yu family and that would come during mealtime was Lu Xin.
Yu Tang frowned.
Yu Wen personally went to welcome him in.
“Eldest brother! Eldest sister-in-law! Younger Sister-in-law.” Lu Xin greeted all the people here and smiled, “Ah Yuan and Ah Tong are here too! It seems that it’s lively today!”
Everyone got up and greeted Lu Xin.
Madam Chen enthusiastically ordered Shuang Tao to bring Lu Xin a bowl and a pair of chopsticks and said, “I didn’t know uncle was coming, so I didn’t prepare any good wine or fancy dishes, so please make do with these dishes first. i will instruct the kitchen to make a few more dishes, and you can enjoy your meal with us accompanied by some good wine.”
Lu Xin wiped his mouth that still had a bit of oil and smiled, “Sister-in-law ,there’s no need to be so courteous, I’ve already had my meal.”
Yu Tang raised her eyebrows.
Lu Xin, like her father, was a scholar. However, her father stopped studying because he was unwilling, however as Lu Xin was poor, he had no money to continue his studies. Her father therefore felt that Lu Xin was just a fish stranded in the shallows, temporarily suffering distress, but in time, he would definitely achieve a great measure of success. Therefore, not only did he often bring Lu Xin to his home to eat and drink, he also often helped Lu Xin out of troubles.
In her previous life, Yu Tang was okay with this.
Even if Lu Xin and her father are drinking buddies that only enjoyed having fun, that is also a friend who made father happy.
However, ever since she knew that information about physician Wang was from Lu Xin, she was not too fond of him.
She noticed that Lu Xin’s parrot-green silk tunic was stained with a few oil marks, and said somewhat pointedly, pretending to be naïve. “Where did Uncle Lu eat? Our family made braised trotters today. Aunty Chen said that you loved to eat this the most. Last time you came, you ate up the whole plate of braised trotters.”
Lu Xin’s face reddened and he said sharply, “I ate at the Pei family’s residence. The Pei family’s eldest master died of a violent illness, didn’t he? The second and third masters have returned, and the family is full of guests and famous scholars and prominent officials. The Pei family was afraid that the stewards at home may not be sufficient to take care of the guests, so they specially invited some of my friends and I to entertain the guests.”
Yu Tang curled her lips in disdain.
Entertaining the guests? You’re only going to the Pei family to mingle and drink!
But Yu Wen did not suspect anything. He let Shuang Tao make a new pot of tea for Lu Xin, invited Lu Xin to the table: “You can have more to eat here.”
Lu Xin has always treated the Yu family’s home as his own, so he immediately sat down without any awkwardness.
Yu Wen said, “I understand why the third master came back, but why did the second master also make the trip back?”
The three masters of the Pei family, the eldest and the second master, were in the same year and took the court entrance exam together. To avoid gossip, only one of the brothers could stay in the capital. As such, the second master took the initiative to leave the capital and became a county magistrate in Hanyang County under Wuchang Prefecture, and is now the governor of Wuchang Prefecture. The third master passed last year’s Court entrance exam and is now in the Court of Justice to observe and learn.
With the eldest master’s passing(TL: refresher: he died in the capital), so it was logical for the third master in the capital, to travel back together. However, the second master had to rush back from Wuchang Prefecture, moreover, it was not easy to take an absence from his governor duties.
“Exactly!” Lu Xin sighed. “The second master is really filial and reliable. I suspect that joining the funeral rites for the eldest master is only one of the reasons. I heard that the grand elder is sick, so perhaps he wanted to come over and have a look.” Saying this, his expression changed, and exaggeratedly lowered his voice and whispered to Yu Wen, “I heard that once the second master saw the grand elder ill , he immediately took his name token and sent people to Suzhou……”
Yu Wen’s eyes lit up and said, “You’re saying?”
Lu Xin laughed sneakily and said, “I helped you inquire about it already. Yang Douxing (tl: the Imperial physician Yang that they couldn’t find when Yu Wen went to Suzhou) will arrive in Lin’an tomorrow night. You should seize the opportunity.”
“Great!” Yu Wen exclaimed joyfully, but later looked gloomy and said, “Last time we went to see Imperial physician Yang, didn’t his disciple say that he had injured the tendons in both hands and was unable to practice medicine?”
Lu Xin said skeptically, “That depends on whether he will come to Lin’an tomorrow!”
The implication was that if he came, the injury to the tendons in both hands was only an excuse.
Yu Wen said, “Since it is an excuse, even if he comes to Lin’an, he may not agree to see the child’s mother and treat her.”
“Why are you so stupid!” Lu Xin said sharply, “Of course in Suzhou, we have no means to do so, but this is in Lin’an. We can request the Pei family, and they can say a few words to help us.”
Yu Wen nodded his head repeatedly and saw a little hope.
Yu Tang just thought that it was just pretty words.
In her previous life, she did not know whether Yang Douxing came to Lin’an, nor did she know whether Lu Xin had tipped her father regarding it. As it turned out, the Pei family’s grand elder died of illness not long after the Pei family’s old eldest master died. The second and third masters returned to their hometowns to govern their respective provinces, and her father took her mother to Putuo Mountain to see a physician shortly afterwards.
It was clear that whatever had happened, Yang Douxing had little effect on her mother’s condition.
Yu Bo was worried about bungling the situation and said, “I know the Pei family’s grand steward, why don’t we let Ah Yuan inquire about it first!”
“Don’t!” Lu Xin opposed, “On normal days, it’s okay to visit and make your request. However now,” he stopped suddenly and looked around, and whispered, “I heard that the grand elder wants to keep the third master at home to run the family business, the eldest master’s household does not agree and everyone is making a fuss! “
“Ah!” The group unanimously sucked in a cold breath.
The Pei family’s old ancestors were afraid that their children and grandchildren would splurge and spend silver unwisely, eventually losing their estate, land and possessions, causing their future generations miss out on education due to lack of funds and cannot make a name for themselves. So they set a rule that whoever is the patriarch head of the family, that person will hold four-fifths of the family’s ancestral inheritance.
That is not a small amount.
Of course, the inheritance is not solely for the patriarch to enjoy. As the patriarch of the Pei family, it is his responsibility and obligation to use the inheritance to support the clansmen who were poor, but willing to study, maintain the prosperity of the clan’s literary culture, and to ensure that the Pei family’s business can be passed on from generation to generation.
This reminded Yu Tang of one thing.
In her previous life, the patriarch of the Pei family was the third master.
This a literal translation of the expression “吃拿卡要” (chi na ka yao). It refers to the ways demanding clients/customers try to abuse their power and force benefits for themselves. Businesses have no choice but to comply if they want their business. “Eat” or 吃, means to enjoy free meals and dinner parties, etc. “Take” 拿, to take as many freebies/samples as possible and even non-freebies without the permission of the businesses. “Want” 要, to list their demands, wanting better, cheaper deals, more gifts etc. “obstruct” 卡, meaning to make things difficult for the business unless they get what they want under the previous 3 (吃,拿,要).
Chapter 5: Lu Xin
The Yu family people were generally good-looking.
High nose bridge, big eyes, dark hair and snow-white skin. If there’s anything negative, it would be that they are not tall in stature, which was common among southerners.
Yu Bo(Eldest Uncle) had been a merchant for some years now, so whenever he meets anyone whether in business or for personal matters, he was accustomed to have a gentle smile. Thus, although he was already a middle aged man, he still looked clean and refined, like a scholar rather than a merchant.
What more about Yu Tang’s older cousin Yu Yuan. In addition to having sharp and elegant eyebrows, he speaks mildly and acts kindly, with a neighborly teenager-like gentleness, that lets people feel as if they are close friends.
But Yu Tang knows that her older cousin is also very capable and decisive. In her previous life, if it wasn’t for his support, the 5,000 taels of silver from the Li family would not have been enough for her eldest uncle to purchase the ancestral property that the family had sold away.
Yu Tang felt very grateful to this eldest cousin.
While her father and her eldest uncle were talking, she used tea instead of the customary wine to give a toast of respect to Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan was taken aback.
This cousin of his was spoiled by his second uncle and aunt, and although she had reached maturity, she was still a child at heart, and knew nothing but to enjoy eating and drinking, and did not care about family matters, much less care about things happening outside.
Yu Yuan came closer and asked Yu Tang in a low voice, “Is there something you want me to do for you?”
Or perhaps she did something wrong and need his help to placate second uncle and aunt.
Yu Tang choked for a moment.
Could it be that in her previous life, she was such a person in her older cousin’s heart?
She couldn’t help but re-examine herself.
Yu Yuan saw her expression and thought he guessed correctly. So he said softly, to reassure her. “Don’t be anxious, tell me slowly what’s the problem. If it’s urgent, I’ll help you do it now. However, if you are not in a hurry, just wait for two days. These two days I have to follow father to help with the shop matters, after I’m done I will help you.”
Yu Tang didn’t know if she should laugh or cry.
Thinking about it further, she really gave a lot of headaches to her older cousin in her previous life.
She hurriedly smiled towards Yu Yuan, and respectfully offered another cup of tea to Yu Yuan, saying, “I saw that brother has worked hard these few days, that’s why I am toasting you.”
“Is that so?” Yu Yuan was a little skeptical.
Yu Tang was about to say something when her eldest uncle, who was sitting in the upper seat, suddenly raised his voice and said, “I don’t agree with this matter! If our father and mother knew about this, they wouldn’t agree as well!”
The room became silent after his words.
Yu Yuan and Yu Tang hurriedly sat up.
Madam Chen pulled on Yu Wen’s sleeve and whispered, “Husband, I don’t agree either.”
Yu Wen looked at his wife and sighed softly, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by eldest aunt: “Second uncle, we all know you are worried. But this is not something that can be solved by being anxious. You also said that imperial physician Wang specializes in pediatrics, and he may not be able to prescribe the right medicine for sister-in-law’s illness. We are not familiar with the capital, and we don’t even know where the imperial infirmary is. If you rashly take sister-in-law there, not to say whether you will find a suitable physician or not, but with my sister-in-law’s health, I’m afraid she even can’t endure the long journey there!”
Because Yu Tang’s grandfather had always respect his eldest daughter-in-law’s words when he was alive, her words had always carried weight in the family.
Yu Wen looked at Madam Wang uncertainly, “Then, what should we do? I can’t stand by and watch my child’s mother suffer like this!” As he said that, his eyes were red.
Madam Chen quickly reassured him. “My husband, my condition seems worse because of this summer’s heat. After this period, it will be better. I know you are worried about me. But what eldest uncle and sister-in-law is true. Even if I want to go to the capital to see a physician, we also need the information on where to find the right one. Let’s wait until my health is better before discussing this again.”
Yu Wen felt dispirited.
Madam Wang gave a look to her husband, but Yu Bo, still dissatisfied with his younger brother, ignored and continued on, saying, “I say, you also, being a father ……”
This is usually how lecturing started for Yu Wen, and the family is familiar with his words. Yu Yuan was afraid that his father and second uncle would continue arguing and feelings worsen, so he interrupted Yu Bo: “Ah father, there is something you have to discuss with second uncle.”
Yu Bo stopped the conversation, and Yu Wen’s eyes fell on Yu Yuan.
Yu Yuan said, “I heard someone say, the funeral procession for Pei family’s old eldest master is tomorrow. Do we also have to join in the procession? No matter what, ever since we started our business on Changxing Street, the Pei family also took care of our family.”
As most of the shops on Changxing Street belonged to the Pei family, the magistrates not only didn’t dare to misbehave in Changxing Street, but often visited Changxing Street. Others like them, who owned shops on Changxing Street, also benefited from this. And never did they experience “eat, take, obstruct, want” 1
“There should be a road procession.” Yu Bo nodded in agreement, and said to Yu Wen, “It’s better to write a eulogy piece as well. Being a scholar, this should be easy for you to do.”
Yu Wen answered and said, “I will write it tonight and send it over to the Pei estate tomorrow.”
Yu Bo thought for a while and said, “Let Ah Yuan send it over. Changxing Street was burned, the Pei family will certainly not let it be. Let Ah Yuan go over to the Pei family and get acquainted with the Pei family’s stewards and shopkeepers. If anything happens in the future, we can discuss with them as well.”
As Yu Wen nodded, Shuang Tao ran in and said, “Mr. Lu is here!”
The only person who was called Mr. Lu in the Yu family and that would come during mealtime was Lu Xin.
Yu Tang frowned.
Yu Wen personally went to welcome him in.
“Eldest brother! Eldest sister-in-law! Younger Sister-in-law.” Lu Xin greeted all the people here and smiled, “Ah Yuan and Ah Tong are here too! It seems that it’s lively today!”
Everyone got up and greeted Lu Xin.
Madam Chen enthusiastically ordered Shuang Tao to bring Lu Xin a bowl and a pair of chopsticks and said, “I didn’t know uncle was coming, so I didn’t prepare any good wine or fancy dishes, so please make do with these dishes first. i will instruct the kitchen to make a few more dishes, and you can enjoy your meal with us accompanied by some good wine.”
Lu Xin wiped his mouth that still had a bit of oil and smiled, “Sister-in-law ,there’s no need to be so courteous, I’ve already had my meal.”
Yu Tang raised her eyebrows.
Lu Xin, like her father, was a scholar. However, her father stopped studying because he was unwilling, however as Lu Xin was poor, he had no money to continue his studies. Her father therefore felt that Lu Xin was just a fish stranded in the shallows, temporarily suffering distress, but in time, he would definitely achieve a great measure of success. Therefore, not only did he often bring Lu Xin to his home to eat and drink, he also often helped Lu Xin out of troubles.
In her previous life, Yu Tang was okay with this.
Even if Lu Xin and her father are drinking buddies that only enjoyed having fun, that is also a friend who made father happy.
However, ever since she knew that information about physician Wang was from Lu Xin, she was not too fond of him.
She noticed that Lu Xin’s parrot-green silk tunic was stained with a few oil marks, and said somewhat pointedly, pretending to be naïve. “Where did Uncle Lu eat? Our family made braised trotters today. Aunty Chen said that you loved to eat this the most. Last time you came, you ate up the whole plate of braised trotters.”
Lu Xin’s face reddened and he said sharply, “I ate at the Pei family’s residence. The Pei family’s eldest master died of a violent illness, didn’t he? The second and third masters have returned, and the family is full of guests and famous scholars and prominent officials. The Pei family was afraid that the stewards at home may not be sufficient to take care of the guests, so they specially invited some of my friends and I to entertain the guests.”
Yu Tang curled her lips in disdain.
Entertaining the guests? You’re only going to the Pei family to mingle and drink!
But Yu Wen did not suspect anything. He let Shuang Tao make a new pot of tea for Lu Xin, invited Lu Xin to the table: “You can have more to eat here.”
Lu Xin has always treated the Yu family’s home as his own, so he immediately sat down without any awkwardness.
Yu Wen said, “I understand why the third master came back, but why did the second master also make the trip back?”
The three masters of the Pei family, the eldest and the second master, were in the same year and took the court entrance exam together. To avoid gossip, only one of the brothers could stay in the capital. As such, the second master took the initiative to leave the capital and became a county magistrate in Hanyang County under Wuchang Prefecture, and is now the governor of Wuchang Prefecture. The third master passed last year’s Court entrance exam and is now in the Court of Justice to observe and learn.
With the eldest master’s passing(TL: refresher: he died in the capital), so it was logical for the third master in the capital, to travel back together. However, the second master had to rush back from Wuchang Prefecture, moreover, it was not easy to take an absence from his governor duties.
“Exactly!” Lu Xin sighed. “The second master is really filial and reliable. I suspect that joining the funeral rites for the eldest master is only one of the reasons. I heard that the grand elder is sick, so perhaps he wanted to come over and have a look.” Saying this, his expression changed, and exaggeratedly lowered his voice and whispered to Yu Wen, “I heard that once the second master saw the grand elder ill , he immediately took his name token and sent people to Suzhou……”
Yu Wen’s eyes lit up and said, “You’re saying?”
Lu Xin laughed sneakily and said, “I helped you inquire about it already. Yang Douxing (tl: the Imperial physician Yang that they couldn’t find when Yu Wen went to Suzhou) will arrive in Lin’an tomorrow night. You should seize the opportunity.”
“Great!” Yu Wen exclaimed joyfully, but later looked gloomy and said, “Last time we went to see Imperial physician Yang, didn’t his disciple say that he had injured the tendons in both hands and was unable to practice medicine?”
Lu Xin said skeptically, “That depends on whether he will come to Lin’an tomorrow!”
The implication was that if he came, the injury to the tendons in both hands was only an excuse.
Yu Wen said, “Since it is an excuse, even if he comes to Lin’an, he may not agree to see the child’s mother and treat her.”
“Why are you so stupid!” Lu Xin said sharply, “Of course in Suzhou, we have no means to do so, but this is in Lin’an. We can request the Pei family, and they can say a few words to help us.”
Yu Wen nodded his head repeatedly and saw a little hope.
Yu Tang just thought that it was just pretty words.
In her previous life, she did not know whether Yang Douxing came to Lin’an, nor did she know whether Lu Xin had tipped her father regarding it. As it turned out, the Pei family’s grand elder died of illness not long after the Pei family’s old eldest master died. The second and third masters returned to their hometowns to govern their respective provinces, and her father took her mother to Putuo Mountain to see a physician shortly afterwards.
It was clear that whatever had happened, Yang Douxing had little effect on her mother’s condition.
Yu Bo was worried about bungling the situation and said, “I know the Pei family’s grand steward, why don’t we let Ah Yuan inquire about it first!”
“Don’t!” Lu Xin opposed, “On normal days, it’s okay to visit and make your request. However now,” he stopped suddenly and looked around, and whispered, “I heard that the grand elder wants to keep the third master at home to run the family business, the eldest master’s household does not agree and everyone is making a fuss! “
“Ah!” The group unanimously sucked in a cold breath.
The Pei family’s old ancestors were afraid that their children and grandchildren would splurge and spend silver unwisely, eventually losing their estate, land and possessions, causing their future generations miss out on education due to lack of funds and cannot make a name for themselves. So they set a rule that whoever is the patriarch head of the family, that person will hold four-fifths of the family’s ancestral inheritance.
That is not a small amount.
Of course, the inheritance is not solely for the patriarch to enjoy. As the patriarch of the Pei family, it is his responsibility and obligation to use the inheritance to support the clansmen who were poor, but willing to study, maintain the prosperity of the clan’s literary culture, and to ensure that the Pei family’s business can be passed on from generation to generation.
This reminded Yu Tang of one thing.
In her previous life, the patriarch of the Pei family was the third master.
This a literal translation of the expression “吃拿卡要” (chi na ka yao). It refers to the ways demanding clients/customers try to abuse their power and force benefits for themselves. Businesses have no choice but to comply if they want their business. “Eat” or 吃, means to enjoy free meals and dinner parties, etc. “Take” 拿, to take as many freebies/samples as possible and even non-freebies without the permission of the businesses. “Want” 要, to list their demands, wanting better, cheaper deals, more gifts etc. “obstruct” 卡, meaning to make things difficult for the business unless they get what they want under the previous 3 (吃,拿,要).
