Chapter 152 – Reunion
Pei Yan didn’t think much about it and readily agreed.
Yu Tang sighed in relief and got up to leave, preparing to send her greetings to Grand Madam before returning home.
Pei Yan was busy with work and instructed Ah Ming to take Yu Tang to the inner courtyards.
Grand Madam was having tea with her second daughter-in-law. When she heard that Yu Tang came, and it was Ah Ming who had brought her over, she turned to Second Madam Pei and smiled, saying ”It’s good for you to meet this child too. This girl is lively but not overly boisterous, so she can be a good companion for Ah Dan.”
Second Madam always respected her mother-in-law, so she immediately smiled and replied, “Yes”, and said warmly, “I’ve also heard from Ah Dan. The last time she came and had her clothes made, she encountered Lady Yu, who picked out a pale-green coloured material to use in making a jacket. She sounded like a prudent young lady.”
Grand Madam doted on the juniors of the family, sneakily giving them stewed egg soup to eat. However, Grand Madam’s generosity was one thing. Being juniors, they couldn’t get carried away and blatantly disregard the rules by eating meat, drinking meat soup and wearing brightly coloured clothing.
In the family, Pei Dan was the youngest. She grew up sheltered in the inner courtyards and thus was simple and innocent. Every time she went out with her sisters, Second Madam was afraid that she might do something inappropriate, and thus, she had to repeatedly tell the maids and maidservants who served Pei Dan to keep an eye on her.
If all the people around Pei Dan were like Lady Yu, then Pei Dan’s chances of getting into trouble would be much lesser.
As the two of them were talking, Yu Tang was led in by Chen Daniang.
There was an unfamiliar face.
Yu Tang couldn’t help curiously sizing up Second Madam Pei.
She looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a face like a peach and slender eyebrows. She wore a white-silver Ruyi cloud-patterned silk pastel robe. She sat in a demure and elegant manner and smiled before speaking. She looked gentle and reserved, and gave off a feeling like a sister in the neighbourhood, which made one feel comfortable around her.
“This is Second Madam, Fifth Miss’s mother.” Grand Madam introduced Second Madam Pei to Yu Tang.
Yu Tang hurriedly went forward and curtsied.
Second Madam reached out and lightly supported Yu Tang up, “I didn’t know Lady Yu would be coming over today and thus did not bring any welcome gifts …… ” After saying this, she thought for a moment and pulled off an Enamel White Shell Zijing flower hairpin that she was wearing in her hair and handed it to Yu Tang, “This is my welcome gift to you. Please don’t disdain it, Lady Yu.”
The workmanship of that Zi Jing flower was exquisite, even the stamens were encrusted with white crystals the size of sesame seeds. With just a glance, it was clear that it was not an ordinary hairpin.
Yu Tang was secretly torn.
The Pei family’s several madams and misses were all really nice, it was only that they were too generous with their favours.
It was unknown when she would be able to escape her poverty and repay them.
“Many thanks, Second Madam!” Yu Tang smiled and accepted it. She sat down on the embroidered stool that the Grand Madam pointed to. She continued, saying, “I heard that the Li family transported a few cart loads of silver back. The word of this matter spreading would only be bad for the reputation of Lin’an City, so I went to see the Third Master about this.”
Li Yi was also an official with roots in Lin’an, so if his reputation was bad, it would also adversely affect the reputation of the people of Lin’an. However, this shouldn’t be something for Yu Tang to worry about, let alone see Pei Yan about this.
Grand Madam was inwardly displeased. However, she didn’t pass negative judgement on Yu Tang, as her relationship with Yu Tang wasn’t that close. Perhaps this was just a mistake done by a little girl.
“What did Third Master have to say?” She asked.
Yu Tang would love to share her suspicions with Grand Madam, but Grand Madam was clearly not an ordinary woman, so if she said it directly, Grand Madam would definitely think that she was being meddlesome or that she was finding excuses to visit Third Master. Thus, it would be better for her to just reply only what was asked. As time passes, Grand Madam would be able to form her own judgement of the kind of person she was.
“Third Master says he knew about it.” Yu Tang smiled, “I was just thinking that I haven’t visited you for several days, so I came over to give you my regards.”
Grand Madam smiled and inwardly thought, “Indeed, she is still a young girl, no matter how poised she is, there’s still things that she has not considered thoroughly.” She looked at Yu Tang’s face which was as pretty as a flower but lacked substance. Suddenly she felt it was a bit regrettable and couldn’t help but advise Yu Tang on how to carry herself, “Should you encounter something like this again in the future, let your father find Third Master, and let him talk to Third Master about it.”
Yu Tang felt that this was her chance, and quickly added, ”I did think of asking my father to speak to Third Master. It’s just that my father is really busy now. Didn’t the Li family sell part of their paddy fields that can grow Bi shi rice a few days ago? My father and Master Wu, who lives next door to us, recently purchase the land, and the property deed has just arrived. Over the past few days, both my father and Master Wu have not been at home at all, busily working on this matter everyday! It’s not good to disturb my father, so that’s why I came in person to see Third Master.” After finishing, she immediately and meekly admitted her mistakes, “Hearing Grand Madam’s words, I, too, feel that I have acted recklessly, and shall not do so again in future.”
After saying that she also made a gesture of pledging an oath.
Second Madam stifled a smile.
Grand Madam, however, was startled and asked, “What did you just say? The Li family sold fifty acres of paddy fields? Do you know how much money an acre of land costs to buy?”
Yu Tang smiled as she replied, “It was said to be forty taels of silver for an acre of land. Two days ago, my father and Master Wu went to sign the deed, and fearing that the Li family would make things difficult, they asked Third Master to step in and help with the field irrigation channels. My father and Master Wu were both very grateful to Third Master, and said that in a few days they would go to the temple to burn some incense for Third Master, and ask the Bodhisattva to bless Third Master with good fortune, health, and a long life!”
At this, both Grand Madam and second Madam burst out laughing. Grand Madam even laughed so hard that tears came out of her eyes. As she took the handkerchief from the serving girl and wiped the corners of her eyes, she chortled, “He’s still so young, what’s the point of offering incense for him? Lest it affect his future good fortune!”
Yu Tang was slightly ashamed of herself.
Regarding Pei Yan, at first glance, one would be awe-struck by his looks. With subsequent interactions, one would then be overwhelmed by his aura. Whether the former or the latter, it was easy for others to forget his age.
“Well, I’ll let my father know as soon as I return.” She continued, “I’ll tell him to change it to something else to repay Third Master’s kindness.”
“There’s no need for that!” Grand Madam’s face still had traces of laughter, “He lacks nothing. Moreover, he’s the head of the family, so he has the responsibility to care for his fellow townspeople as well. Really, there’s nothing to thank him for.”
Perhaps this was the most unforgettable trait of her late husband in Grand Madam’s memory.
Yu Tang patiently listened, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw a young serving girl anxiously pacing around outside. She didn’t draw attention to it as she didn’t want to interrupt Grand Madam’s fond reminiscences and furthermore, she was only a guest, so she didn’t need to fuss about it.
Yu Tang sat there, prim and proper, like Mount Tai.
That young serving maid, however, with her head darting around anxiously, was finally noticed by Second Madam.
Second Madam looked towards her accompanying maid and the maid discreetly walked out. Not long after, she quietly returned and whispered a few words in her ear. Second Madam then looked towards Grand Madam, waiting for Grand Madam to finish her thoughts. Only after picking up the tea cup and having a few mouthfuls of tea, she then said with a smile, “Mother, Mrs Shen came over to pay you a visit.”
“Mrs Shen?” Grand Madam asked in puzzlement, “Which Mrs. Shen?”
Second Madam smiled and replied, “It’s the wife of Mr Shen Shanyan’s family, who works as an educator at our local school here.”
Grand Madam frowned upon hearing this. She said, “What is she doing here? There was no notification letter sent in advance either.”
Her face showed unwillingness to meet her.
Yu Tang couldn’t help but prick up her ears to listen.
Mr Shen lived alone in Lin’an for all these time…. I wonder what kind of a person his wife was? And just what was the relationship Mrs Shen had with Grand Madam?
On the contrary, Second Madam, smiled good-naturedly and added, ”Didn’t maternal aunt say she had something to deliver to you previously? She asked Mrs Shen to deliver it on her behalf. I think Mrs Shen is probably here for that. She must have assumed that you are aware of this, and thus did not send word prior.” She continued, “Speaking of Mrs Shen, she’s not a stranger either, so she may be a little informal in her communications.”
Grand Madam hummed non-committally with a trace of disdain, saying “Let her in!”
Second Madam got up to welcome her.
Yu Tang hurriedly got up to leave.
However, Grand Madam kept her, saying “She’ll leave soon after saying a few words. I still have things to discuss with you.”
Yu Tang couldn’t leave, so she only got up to refill Grand Madam’s tea cup.
It was then that Second Madam walked in with two others.
Yu Tang looked up and nearly threw the teapot in her hand.
Those high arching eye brows and gleaming bright eyes, who else was it but Gu Xi?
Her heart thumped loudly.
Previously, she had never heard of any relationship between Gu Xi and the Pei family, nor had she seen Gu Xi visit Grand Madam at the Pei Residence, so why had things changed when she was reborn?
Leaving aside the changes in Jiang Ling, just why did the two siblings, Gu Chang and Gu Xi, join in with the changes as well?
Fortunately, the people’s attention were on Gu Xi and Mrs Shen, who came in together, so no one noticed anything wrong with Yu Tang. It was just Gu Xi, who glanced quickly at Yu Tang, with a trace of incredulity flashing across her face, before she quickly lowered her eyes, and followed Mrs Shen in, and bend her knees to pay her greetings to Grand Madam.
Grand Madam smiled lightly, without showing any trace of her earlier complaints. She waited for them to get up and find their seats before asking Gu Xi while the maids were serving tea, “Are you the eldest daughter of the Gu family’s second branch, that is, Gu Chaoyang’s younger sister?” It was clear that she had heard of Gu Xi before.
Gu Xi hurriedly got up to reply, but was stopped by Grand Madam, “Sit down and chat. I’m related to your mother’s maternal family by marriage, so you don’t need to be formal here with me.”
Gu Xi smiled and gracefully took her seat.
But based on Yu Tang’s understanding of her, she could feel that Gu Xi was inwardly relieved.
She was only coming to pay her respects to an elder, so what did she have to be nervous about?
Yu Tang quietly observed Gu Xi.
Grand Madam asked Gu Xi several questions, and Gu Xi answered them all appropriately, but she was also very cautious with her answers, which made Yu Tang feel ever certain that Gu Xi came here with a specific goal in mind.
After Grand Madam finished her questions, she introduced Yu Tang to Mrs Shen and Gu Xi, and showed a certain degree of protectiveness, only saying that Yu Tang was one of her juniors, but didn’t specify which family Yu Tang came from.
Gu Xi and Mrs Shen both greeted Yu Tang.
Mrs Shen looked to be in her forties and was very thin. She wore an ordinary bright blue coloured flowery loose sleeved robe, with two gold hairpins in her hair and a pair of gold bracelets and was very plainly dressed for her status. Either because of her serious expression, or because she was influenced by Grand Madam’s attitude just now, although Mrs Shen was polite with Yu Tang, Yu Tang still felt that her face was a little harsh, and that she was not a pleasant person to get along with.
Gu Xi, on the other hand, surprised her.
In her previous life, Gu Xi was renowned for her poise and strict adherence to decorum, but in this life, and in their first meeting, Gu Xi playfully grinned and asked, “How old are you this year? Should I address you as my younger sister or older sister?”
This warm enthusiasm was not at all like her previous self.
Chapter 152 – Reunion
Pei Yan didn’t think much about it and readily agreed.
Yu Tang sighed in relief and got up to leave, preparing to send her greetings to Grand Madam before returning home.
Pei Yan was busy with work and instructed Ah Ming to take Yu Tang to the inner courtyards.
Grand Madam was having tea with her second daughter-in-law. When she heard that Yu Tang came, and it was Ah Ming who had brought her over, she turned to Second Madam Pei and smiled, saying ”It’s good for you to meet this child too. This girl is lively but not overly boisterous, so she can be a good companion for Ah Dan.”
Second Madam always respected her mother-in-law, so she immediately smiled and replied, “Yes”, and said warmly, “I’ve also heard from Ah Dan. The last time she came and had her clothes made, she encountered Lady Yu, who picked out a pale-green coloured material to use in making a jacket. She sounded like a prudent young lady.”
Grand Madam doted on the juniors of the family, sneakily giving them stewed egg soup to eat. However, Grand Madam’s generosity was one thing. Being juniors, they couldn’t get carried away and blatantly disregard the rules by eating meat, drinking meat soup and wearing brightly coloured clothing.
In the family, Pei Dan was the youngest. She grew up sheltered in the inner courtyards and thus was simple and innocent. Every time she went out with her sisters, Second Madam was afraid that she might do something inappropriate, and thus, she had to repeatedly tell the maids and maidservants who served Pei Dan to keep an eye on her.
If all the people around Pei Dan were like Lady Yu, then Pei Dan’s chances of getting into trouble would be much lesser.
As the two of them were talking, Yu Tang was led in by Chen Daniang.
There was an unfamiliar face.
Yu Tang couldn’t help curiously sizing up Second Madam Pei.
She looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a face like a peach and slender eyebrows. She wore a white-silver Ruyi cloud-patterned silk pastel robe. She sat in a demure and elegant manner and smiled before speaking. She looked gentle and reserved, and gave off a feeling like a sister in the neighbourhood, which made one feel comfortable around her.
“This is Second Madam, Fifth Miss’s mother.” Grand Madam introduced Second Madam Pei to Yu Tang.
Yu Tang hurriedly went forward and curtsied.
Second Madam reached out and lightly supported Yu Tang up, “I didn’t know Lady Yu would be coming over today and thus did not bring any welcome gifts …… ” After saying this, she thought for a moment and pulled off an Enamel White Shell Zijing flower hairpin that she was wearing in her hair and handed it to Yu Tang, “This is my welcome gift to you. Please don’t disdain it, Lady Yu.”
The workmanship of that Zi Jing flower was exquisite, even the stamens were encrusted with white crystals the size of sesame seeds. With just a glance, it was clear that it was not an ordinary hairpin.
Yu Tang was secretly torn.
The Pei family’s several madams and misses were all really nice, it was only that they were too generous with their favours.
It was unknown when she would be able to escape her poverty and repay them.
“Many thanks, Second Madam!” Yu Tang smiled and accepted it. She sat down on the embroidered stool that the Grand Madam pointed to. She continued, saying, “I heard that the Li family transported a few cart loads of silver back. The word of this matter spreading would only be bad for the reputation of Lin’an City, so I went to see the Third Master about this.”
Li Yi was also an official with roots in Lin’an, so if his reputation was bad, it would also adversely affect the reputation of the people of Lin’an. However, this shouldn’t be something for Yu Tang to worry about, let alone see Pei Yan about this.
Grand Madam was inwardly displeased. However, she didn’t pass negative judgement on Yu Tang, as her relationship with Yu Tang wasn’t that close. Perhaps this was just a mistake done by a little girl.
“What did Third Master have to say?” She asked.
Yu Tang would love to share her suspicions with Grand Madam, but Grand Madam was clearly not an ordinary woman, so if she said it directly, Grand Madam would definitely think that she was being meddlesome or that she was finding excuses to visit Third Master. Thus, it would be better for her to just reply only what was asked. As time passes, Grand Madam would be able to form her own judgement of the kind of person she was.
“Third Master says he knew about it.” Yu Tang smiled, “I was just thinking that I haven’t visited you for several days, so I came over to give you my regards.”
Grand Madam smiled and inwardly thought, “Indeed, she is still a young girl, no matter how poised she is, there’s still things that she has not considered thoroughly.” She looked at Yu Tang’s face which was as pretty as a flower but lacked substance. Suddenly she felt it was a bit regrettable and couldn’t help but advise Yu Tang on how to carry herself, “Should you encounter something like this again in the future, let your father find Third Master, and let him talk to Third Master about it.”
Yu Tang felt that this was her chance, and quickly added, ”I did think of asking my father to speak to Third Master. It’s just that my father is really busy now. Didn’t the Li family sell part of their paddy fields that can grow Bi shi rice a few days ago? My father and Master Wu, who lives next door to us, recently purchase the land, and the property deed has just arrived. Over the past few days, both my father and Master Wu have not been at home at all, busily working on this matter everyday! It’s not good to disturb my father, so that’s why I came in person to see Third Master.” After finishing, she immediately and meekly admitted her mistakes, “Hearing Grand Madam’s words, I, too, feel that I have acted recklessly, and shall not do so again in future.”
After saying that she also made a gesture of pledging an oath.
Second Madam stifled a smile.
Grand Madam, however, was startled and asked, “What did you just say? The Li family sold fifty acres of paddy fields? Do you know how much money an acre of land costs to buy?”
Yu Tang smiled as she replied, “It was said to be forty taels of silver for an acre of land. Two days ago, my father and Master Wu went to sign the deed, and fearing that the Li family would make things difficult, they asked Third Master to step in and help with the field irrigation channels. My father and Master Wu were both very grateful to Third Master, and said that in a few days they would go to the temple to burn some incense for Third Master, and ask the Bodhisattva to bless Third Master with good fortune, health, and a long life!”
At this, both Grand Madam and second Madam burst out laughing. Grand Madam even laughed so hard that tears came out of her eyes. As she took the handkerchief from the serving girl and wiped the corners of her eyes, she chortled, “He’s still so young, what’s the point of offering incense for him? Lest it affect his future good fortune!”
Yu Tang was slightly ashamed of herself.
Regarding Pei Yan, at first glance, one would be awe-struck by his looks. With subsequent interactions, one would then be overwhelmed by his aura. Whether the former or the latter, it was easy for others to forget his age.
“Well, I’ll let my father know as soon as I return.” She continued, “I’ll tell him to change it to something else to repay Third Master’s kindness.”
“There’s no need for that!” Grand Madam’s face still had traces of laughter, “He lacks nothing. Moreover, he’s the head of the family, so he has the responsibility to care for his fellow townspeople as well. Really, there’s nothing to thank him for.”
Perhaps this was the most unforgettable trait of her late husband in Grand Madam’s memory.
Yu Tang patiently listened, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw a young serving girl anxiously pacing around outside. She didn’t draw attention to it as she didn’t want to interrupt Grand Madam’s fond reminiscences and furthermore, she was only a guest, so she didn’t need to fuss about it.
Yu Tang sat there, prim and proper, like Mount Tai.
That young serving maid, however, with her head darting around anxiously, was finally noticed by Second Madam.
Second Madam looked towards her accompanying maid and the maid discreetly walked out. Not long after, she quietly returned and whispered a few words in her ear. Second Madam then looked towards Grand Madam, waiting for Grand Madam to finish her thoughts. Only after picking up the tea cup and having a few mouthfuls of tea, she then said with a smile, “Mother, Mrs Shen came over to pay you a visit.”
“Mrs Shen?” Grand Madam asked in puzzlement, “Which Mrs. Shen?”
Second Madam smiled and replied, “It’s the wife of Mr Shen Shanyan’s family, who works as an educator at our local school here.”
Grand Madam frowned upon hearing this. She said, “What is she doing here? There was no notification letter sent in advance either.”
Her face showed unwillingness to meet her.
Yu Tang couldn’t help but prick up her ears to listen.
Mr Shen lived alone in Lin’an for all these time…. I wonder what kind of a person his wife was? And just what was the relationship Mrs Shen had with Grand Madam?
On the contrary, Second Madam, smiled good-naturedly and added, ”Didn’t maternal aunt say she had something to deliver to you previously? She asked Mrs Shen to deliver it on her behalf. I think Mrs Shen is probably here for that. She must have assumed that you are aware of this, and thus did not send word prior.” She continued, “Speaking of Mrs Shen, she’s not a stranger either, so she may be a little informal in her communications.”
Grand Madam hummed non-committally with a trace of disdain, saying “Let her in!”
Second Madam got up to welcome her.
Yu Tang hurriedly got up to leave.
However, Grand Madam kept her, saying “She’ll leave soon after saying a few words. I still have things to discuss with you.”
Yu Tang couldn’t leave, so she only got up to refill Grand Madam’s tea cup.
It was then that Second Madam walked in with two others.
Yu Tang looked up and nearly threw the teapot in her hand.
Those high arching eye brows and gleaming bright eyes, who else was it but Gu Xi?
Her heart thumped loudly.
Previously, she had never heard of any relationship between Gu Xi and the Pei family, nor had she seen Gu Xi visit Grand Madam at the Pei Residence, so why had things changed when she was reborn?
Leaving aside the changes in Jiang Ling, just why did the two siblings, Gu Chang and Gu Xi, join in with the changes as well?
Fortunately, the people’s attention were on Gu Xi and Mrs Shen, who came in together, so no one noticed anything wrong with Yu Tang. It was just Gu Xi, who glanced quickly at Yu Tang, with a trace of incredulity flashing across her face, before she quickly lowered her eyes, and followed Mrs Shen in, and bend her knees to pay her greetings to Grand Madam.
Grand Madam smiled lightly, without showing any trace of her earlier complaints. She waited for them to get up and find their seats before asking Gu Xi while the maids were serving tea, “Are you the eldest daughter of the Gu family’s second branch, that is, Gu Chaoyang’s younger sister?” It was clear that she had heard of Gu Xi before.
Gu Xi hurriedly got up to reply, but was stopped by Grand Madam, “Sit down and chat. I’m related to your mother’s maternal family by marriage, so you don’t need to be formal here with me.”
Gu Xi smiled and gracefully took her seat.
But based on Yu Tang’s understanding of her, she could feel that Gu Xi was inwardly relieved.
She was only coming to pay her respects to an elder, so what did she have to be nervous about?
Yu Tang quietly observed Gu Xi.
Grand Madam asked Gu Xi several questions, and Gu Xi answered them all appropriately, but she was also very cautious with her answers, which made Yu Tang feel ever certain that Gu Xi came here with a specific goal in mind.
After Grand Madam finished her questions, she introduced Yu Tang to Mrs Shen and Gu Xi, and showed a certain degree of protectiveness, only saying that Yu Tang was one of her juniors, but didn’t specify which family Yu Tang came from.
Gu Xi and Mrs Shen both greeted Yu Tang.
Mrs Shen looked to be in her forties and was very thin. She wore an ordinary bright blue coloured flowery loose sleeved robe, with two gold hairpins in her hair and a pair of gold bracelets and was very plainly dressed for her status. Either because of her serious expression, or because she was influenced by Grand Madam’s attitude just now, although Mrs Shen was polite with Yu Tang, Yu Tang still felt that her face was a little harsh, and that she was not a pleasant person to get along with.
Gu Xi, on the other hand, surprised her.
In her previous life, Gu Xi was renowned for her poise and strict adherence to decorum, but in this life, and in their first meeting, Gu Xi playfully grinned and asked, “How old are you this year? Should I address you as my younger sister or older sister?”
This warm enthusiasm was not at all like her previous self.
