Chapter 72 – Returning Home
Naturally, Yu Tang was unaware of the happenings in the main hall.
She sat in the Pei family’s drawing room, staring dazedly at the gold-painted glazed fan doors.
Yu Yuan gently tugged on the corner of Yu Tang’s sleeve.
When Yu Tang came back to her senses, she heard Master Wu speaking with the servant about Pei Yan, “So… Master Pei doesn’t have any particular hobbies or preferences?”
The servant boy felt that this statement wasn’t quite right, but he couldn’t think anything of to refute it, so he answered hesitantly, “Not exactly… It’s just that I’m only an errand boy serving in the outer courtyard, so even if the Third Master has any particular preferences, I wouldn’t know about it!”
Master Wu felt that he had embarrassed the boy by asking this, so he hurriedly added, “Oh, we are just making small talk. In my opinion, you are someone who served the grand elder, and so with the third master’s strong filial piety, he will naturally hold you in high regard. Just wait patiently, when Third Master is out of mourning, something good will definitely be arranged for you.”
The boy was probably thinking the same thing, and thus was overjoyed to hear this. He said happily, “Hope your words prove true.”
It’s just a servant boy; why bother to flatter him to this extent?
Yu Tang asked Yu Yuan in a low voice, “What’s going on?”
Yu Yuan said wryly, “Master Wu is really capable, with just a few words, he has already exchanged names with this boy, and invited him and his friends to come over to pick pecans in the Wu family’s mountains when he has the time.”
Yu Tang was impressed with his social skills and discernment.
Yu Yuan asked her quietly, “What were you thinking about just now? I called you twice and you didn’t even hear me.”
“Nothing!” Yu Tang looked at the two serving maids still standing in the drawing room, and felt that this was not an ideal location for a conversation, and thus added , “Let’s wait till we’re back to speak further.” She turned her attention towards Mr Wei and his son.
Master Wei and Wei Xiaoyuan were quietly sitting, drinking their tea, as they listened to Master Wu’s conversation with the young servant boy. They appeared calm and no longer as sad as they were before.
Yu Tang’s heart eased a little.
Pei Man accompanied Yu Wen as they walked in.
“Father!” Yu Tang rejoiced and went up to greet him in a hurry.
“Master Yu!”
“Uncle Yu!”
“Uncle!”
When Elder Wu and the others saw this, they all stood up as well.
Yu Wen busily bowed towards the crowd and said, “Third master Pei just had a few questions about the rift between our two families and the Li family, and I shared with him the truth. As it is getting late, I will take my leave.”
This was a way to give everyone an explanation.
Master Wu and the others greeted Pei Man again.
Pei Man returned the greetings, and as always, his attitude was neither overly warm nor cold. It was impossible to tell Pei Yan’s intentions from his expression.
After everyone had exchanged pleasantries, Pei Man personally escorted them out.
Yu Tang’s curiosity, however, was piqued.
After passing through the hall, they arrived at the Pei family’s side door.
When they left the side door, they were out of the Pei family.
She followed behind her father and cousin, but could not help turning back the moment her feet stepped out of the hall.
Between the greenery, she could only see the cloudy water ridges of the Pei family hall with its high eaves, but she could not see the five-room hall with its red pillars, nor the two thick balsam camphor trees in front of the hall.
The courtyard is really deep.
Who knows what else is hidden in this lush landscape?
Yu Tang turned her head back and followed her father and cousin out of the Pei’s estate.
Madam Chen and Madam Wang were waiting for them at the door.
Yu Tang already knew what Pei Yan and her father had discussed on the way home, and so as soon as she got out of the carriage, she went straight to her mother and eldest aunt.
“Mother, eldest aunt,” she said affectionately to Madam Wang as she stepped forward and took her mother’s arm, “Everything went well. The Third Master of the Pei family has upheld justice by throwing the two fugitives and the Li family’s chief steward into prison. He will also expel the Li family’s chief steward’s family from the Li residence. From now on, no one will dare to help the evil-doers again.”
This was the best result which they had discussed before.
“Amitabha Buddha!” Chen and Wang couldn’t help but fold their hands, and chant “It’s the Bodhisattva’s blessings!”
Yu Tang pursed her lips and smiled.
Yu Wen and Yu Yuan walked in and greeted Madam Chen and Madam Wang.
“Quickly go inside!” Madam Chen said, “I’ve prepared pomelo leaves.1“
Yu Wen facepalmed and said exasperatedly, “It’s not like anything bad has happened, what’s the point of preparing pomelo leaves?”
“Didn’t our family deepen our enmity with the Li Family?” Madam Chen said, “We have to get rid of the bad luck!”
Yu Wen thought about it and chuckled, “That’s a good point. Isn’t the Li family a calamity? We have to get rid of it!”
Madam Wang looked at them and laughed. She and Madam Chen took a pomelo branch and gave them all a dusting to remove the bad luck.
Madam Chen put away the branch and looked behind them, saying, “Why haven’t I seen Master Wu? I have prepared some for Master Wu too.”
Yu Wen said, “He had something to do and didn’t come back with us. You can send someone to deliver the Pomelo branches to his house.” Thinking of how helpful Master Wu had been today, he instructed, “Bring a few boxes of sweets along as well.”
Madam Chen replied in affirmation and arranged for someone to deliver the pomelo branches and sweets, while Yu Wen, Yu Tang and Yu Yuan each went back to their houses to freshen up and meet back again for lunch.
It was only then that Madam Wang and Madam Chen found out exactly what had happened at the Pei household. They scolded the Li family and praised third master Pei, and Madam Chen lamented, “It’s a pity that our family can’t help them! It’s better too if we never have the chance to repay them in this lifetime.”
No chance to repay their family, this meant that the Pei family would be prosperous, which was indirectly blessing the Pei family!
The two families sat together happily and had their lunch. Yu Wen said, “Everyone is tired today, so let’s rest separately first, if there is anything, we can talk about it tomorrow.”
Yu Tong and Yu Yuan said yes in unison, and Yu Yuan and his mother went back to their home, while Yu Tang went back to her room and laid down on the bed but could not sleep.
Somehow or rather, she managed to fall asleep but was soon awakened by the sound of voices outside.
She called out to Shuang Tao and asked, “Who’s talking outside?”
Shuang Tao said cheerfully, “It’s Mrs Ma. Lady Ma is about to be married, and Mrs. Ma personally came to invite Madam and Eldest Miss over for the wedding reception, and she also wants to invite Eldest Miss to be her accompaniment.”
This was what had been previously agreed with Ma Xiuniang.
It was only because she was so busy with Wei Xiaoshan’s incident these days that she had completely forgotten about it.
Yu Tang slapped her forehead, got up and got Shuang Tao to dress her, saying, “Is Mrs. Ma the only one coming over? I have to go and greet her.”
As Shuang Tao helped her, she replied “Mrs. Ma came with a matchmaker and said she wanted to invite Mrs. Wu to be ‘Blessed One’2. However, Mrs. Wu went back to her maternal family and will only return in 2 days. Mrs. Ma planned to come back in 2 days to invite Mrs. Wu.”
Mrs. Wu was a famous ‘blessed’ person in Lin’an, and many people had asked her to be the ‘Blessed one’ for their children’s marriages.
When she went to the hall, Mrs Ma and Madam Chen were laughing and chatting obviously in high spirits.
When Mrs Ma saw her, she waved at her and gave her a red envelope, saying that it was for her to buy snacks.
This meant that she was invited to be a guest.
She, of course, readily agreed.
Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma talked about Ma Xiuniang’s dowry, but Mrs. Ma still had a lot of work to do, so she couldn’t sit for long. She then told Madam Chen to “come on the day” and left with the matchmaker.
1. Pomelo leaves were thought of as a way to ask for blessings, remove evil spirits, and avoid filth. People will wash their hands, face or bathe with pomelo leaves to remove bad luck.
2. 全福人 Quan Fu Ren – ‘Blessed one’ These are people who have parents and children, loving husbands or wives, brothers and sisters all living in harmony. Usually they are the female relatives of the bride’s family. On the day before the wedding, the ‘Blessed one’ will go to the bridal room arrange the bed, recite auspicious words or jingle bells while sweeping, in order to bring good luck to the newlyweds.
Chapter 72 – Returning Home
Naturally, Yu Tang was unaware of the happenings in the main hall.
She sat in the Pei family’s drawing room, staring dazedly at the gold-painted glazed fan doors.
Yu Yuan gently tugged on the corner of Yu Tang’s sleeve.
When Yu Tang came back to her senses, she heard Master Wu speaking with the servant about Pei Yan, “So… Master Pei doesn’t have any particular hobbies or preferences?”
The servant boy felt that this statement wasn’t quite right, but he couldn’t think anything of to refute it, so he answered hesitantly, “Not exactly… It’s just that I’m only an errand boy serving in the outer courtyard, so even if the Third Master has any particular preferences, I wouldn’t know about it!”
Master Wu felt that he had embarrassed the boy by asking this, so he hurriedly added, “Oh, we are just making small talk. In my opinion, you are someone who served the grand elder, and so with the third master’s strong filial piety, he will naturally hold you in high regard. Just wait patiently, when Third Master is out of mourning, something good will definitely be arranged for you.”
The boy was probably thinking the same thing, and thus was overjoyed to hear this. He said happily, “Hope your words prove true.”
It’s just a servant boy; why bother to flatter him to this extent?
Yu Tang asked Yu Yuan in a low voice, “What’s going on?”
Yu Yuan said wryly, “Master Wu is really capable, with just a few words, he has already exchanged names with this boy, and invited him and his friends to come over to pick pecans in the Wu family’s mountains when he has the time.”
Yu Tang was impressed with his social skills and discernment.
Yu Yuan asked her quietly, “What were you thinking about just now? I called you twice and you didn’t even hear me.”
“Nothing!” Yu Tang looked at the two serving maids still standing in the drawing room, and felt that this was not an ideal location for a conversation, and thus added , “Let’s wait till we’re back to speak further.” She turned her attention towards Mr Wei and his son.
Master Wei and Wei Xiaoyuan were quietly sitting, drinking their tea, as they listened to Master Wu’s conversation with the young servant boy. They appeared calm and no longer as sad as they were before.
Yu Tang’s heart eased a little.
Pei Man accompanied Yu Wen as they walked in.
“Father!” Yu Tang rejoiced and went up to greet him in a hurry.
“Master Yu!”
“Uncle Yu!”
“Uncle!”
When Elder Wu and the others saw this, they all stood up as well.
Yu Wen busily bowed towards the crowd and said, “Third master Pei just had a few questions about the rift between our two families and the Li family, and I shared with him the truth. As it is getting late, I will take my leave.”
This was a way to give everyone an explanation.
Master Wu and the others greeted Pei Man again.
Pei Man returned the greetings, and as always, his attitude was neither overly warm nor cold. It was impossible to tell Pei Yan’s intentions from his expression.
After everyone had exchanged pleasantries, Pei Man personally escorted them out.
Yu Tang’s curiosity, however, was piqued.
After passing through the hall, they arrived at the Pei family’s side door.
When they left the side door, they were out of the Pei family.
She followed behind her father and cousin, but could not help turning back the moment her feet stepped out of the hall.
Between the greenery, she could only see the cloudy water ridges of the Pei family hall with its high eaves, but she could not see the five-room hall with its red pillars, nor the two thick balsam camphor trees in front of the hall.
The courtyard is really deep.
Who knows what else is hidden in this lush landscape?
Yu Tang turned her head back and followed her father and cousin out of the Pei’s estate.
Madam Chen and Madam Wang were waiting for them at the door.
Yu Tang already knew what Pei Yan and her father had discussed on the way home, and so as soon as she got out of the carriage, she went straight to her mother and eldest aunt.
“Mother, eldest aunt,” she said affectionately to Madam Wang as she stepped forward and took her mother’s arm, “Everything went well. The Third Master of the Pei family has upheld justice by throwing the two fugitives and the Li family’s chief steward into prison. He will also expel the Li family’s chief steward’s family from the Li residence. From now on, no one will dare to help the evil-doers again.”
This was the best result which they had discussed before.
“Amitabha Buddha!” Chen and Wang couldn’t help but fold their hands, and chant “It’s the Bodhisattva’s blessings!”
Yu Tang pursed her lips and smiled.
Yu Wen and Yu Yuan walked in and greeted Madam Chen and Madam Wang.
“Quickly go inside!” Madam Chen said, “I’ve prepared pomelo leaves.1“
Yu Wen facepalmed and said exasperatedly, “It’s not like anything bad has happened, what’s the point of preparing pomelo leaves?”
“Didn’t our family deepen our enmity with the Li Family?” Madam Chen said, “We have to get rid of the bad luck!”
Yu Wen thought about it and chuckled, “That’s a good point. Isn’t the Li family a calamity? We have to get rid of it!”
Madam Wang looked at them and laughed. She and Madam Chen took a pomelo branch and gave them all a dusting to remove the bad luck.
Madam Chen put away the branch and looked behind them, saying, “Why haven’t I seen Master Wu? I have prepared some for Master Wu too.”
Yu Wen said, “He had something to do and didn’t come back with us. You can send someone to deliver the Pomelo branches to his house.” Thinking of how helpful Master Wu had been today, he instructed, “Bring a few boxes of sweets along as well.”
Madam Chen replied in affirmation and arranged for someone to deliver the pomelo branches and sweets, while Yu Wen, Yu Tang and Yu Yuan each went back to their houses to freshen up and meet back again for lunch.
It was only then that Madam Wang and Madam Chen found out exactly what had happened at the Pei household. They scolded the Li family and praised third master Pei, and Madam Chen lamented, “It’s a pity that our family can’t help them! It’s better too if we never have the chance to repay them in this lifetime.”
No chance to repay their family, this meant that the Pei family would be prosperous, which was indirectly blessing the Pei family!
The two families sat together happily and had their lunch. Yu Wen said, “Everyone is tired today, so let’s rest separately first, if there is anything, we can talk about it tomorrow.”
Yu Tong and Yu Yuan said yes in unison, and Yu Yuan and his mother went back to their home, while Yu Tang went back to her room and laid down on the bed but could not sleep.
Somehow or rather, she managed to fall asleep but was soon awakened by the sound of voices outside.
She called out to Shuang Tao and asked, “Who’s talking outside?”
Shuang Tao said cheerfully, “It’s Mrs Ma. Lady Ma is about to be married, and Mrs. Ma personally came to invite Madam and Eldest Miss over for the wedding reception, and she also wants to invite Eldest Miss to be her accompaniment.”
This was what had been previously agreed with Ma Xiuniang.
It was only because she was so busy with Wei Xiaoshan’s incident these days that she had completely forgotten about it.
Yu Tang slapped her forehead, got up and got Shuang Tao to dress her, saying, “Is Mrs. Ma the only one coming over? I have to go and greet her.”
As Shuang Tao helped her, she replied “Mrs. Ma came with a matchmaker and said she wanted to invite Mrs. Wu to be ‘Blessed One’2. However, Mrs. Wu went back to her maternal family and will only return in 2 days. Mrs. Ma planned to come back in 2 days to invite Mrs. Wu.”
Mrs. Wu was a famous ‘blessed’ person in Lin’an, and many people had asked her to be the ‘Blessed one’ for their children’s marriages.
When she went to the hall, Mrs Ma and Madam Chen were laughing and chatting obviously in high spirits.
When Mrs Ma saw her, she waved at her and gave her a red envelope, saying that it was for her to buy snacks.
This meant that she was invited to be a guest.
She, of course, readily agreed.
Madam Chen and Mrs. Ma talked about Ma Xiuniang’s dowry, but Mrs. Ma still had a lot of work to do, so she couldn’t sit for long. She then told Madam Chen to “come on the day” and left with the matchmaker.
1. Pomelo leaves were thought of as a way to ask for blessings, remove evil spirits, and avoid filth. People will wash their hands, face or bathe with pomelo leaves to remove bad luck.
2. 全福人 Quan Fu Ren – ‘Blessed one’ These are people who have parents and children, loving husbands or wives, brothers and sisters all living in harmony. Usually they are the female relatives of the bride’s family. On the day before the wedding, the ‘Blessed one’ will go to the bridal room arrange the bed, recite auspicious words or jingle bells while sweeping, in order to bring good luck to the newlyweds.
