Chapter 157 – Second Meeting
Grand Madam laughed.
Indeed, the average household would most likely have such concerns.
The Yu family members were all thoughtful and honest people.
“It’s my oversight.” Grand Madam replied, “It’s colder in the mountains, so after a few days, I’ll be heading back home as well.”
As expected, Grand Madam did not come to the mountains for no reason.
However, it was not her business, so it was not good for her to inquire about it.
Grand Madam then spoke to Yu Tang about the Li family selling their land, “Why did you think that the Li family did it intentionally?”
Yu Tang could not say that she knew about the Li family’s background because of her past life experience, so she could only reply saying, “I know that Mrs. Li’s maternal family is a great merchant family in Fujian, and I haven’t heard any news that the Lin family is in decline.”
Her words implied that with the relationship between the Li and Lin family, if the Li family was really in need of money, the Lin family wouldn’t be sitting back and doing nothing!
Grand Madam nodded. She was about to speak when a young serving maid came in, saying that Second Madam had brought Fifth Young Miss over.
“Quickly, invite them in.” As Grand Madam listened, her eyes twinkled in amusement, evidently she was very fond of Second Madam and Fifth Young Miss.
I wonder how the relationship was between First Madam and Grand Madam?
Yu Tang still hasn’t seen First Madam here at Grand Madam’s residence.
When Second Madam and Fifth Young Miss saw that Yu Tang was here, Second Madam’s reaction was more controlled. She smiled reservedly and nodded towards Yu Tang, in contrast, Fifth Young Miss ran over, loudly calling out “Sister Yu”, and asking her joyfully: “Are you coming to my house to celebrate the New Year’s as well? Hu Po and the others will be showing me how to make lanterns.”
As well?
Who else was there?
Yu Tong was startled.
The Pei family didn’t intend to hide it from her, as Second Madam smiled and answered, “Lady Gu’s family has some issues, and so she will be spending the New Year’s at our house this year.”
What issues can there be in her family?
Yu Tang scoffed internally.
Gu Xi had an extremely poor relationship with her father and half-siblings due to her stepmother, and it could even be described as not even caring if they lived or died. Moreover, in her previous life, she didn’t hear of anything happening to her family ……
Could it be that the Gu and Pei families really had marriage plans, so Gu Xi found an excuse and Grand Madam went along with it and kept Gu Xi with her?
She was curious to know what had happened with the Gu family.
If it were in her previous life, she would probably have inquired in private. But after her re-birth, she knew where she stood, and rather than playing mind games with people like Grand Madam, it was better to ask them directly, and if they were willing to tell her, she would listen, and if they weren’t willing, she would curb her curiosity. Therefore, she asked straightforwardly, “What happened to Lady Gu’s family? Why can’t she return for New Year’s?”
Grand Madam and Second Madam were very surprised, and they exchanged glances.
Generally speaking, it was rude to pry into other people’s personal affairs. Lady Yu was considered to be educated, so she should have kept silent and pretended not to know, but unexpectedly, she asked in such a straightforward manner.
This Lady Yu, was she smart or foolish?
Grand Madam suppressed her internal confusions and directly rebuffed Yu Tang, “It’s improper for us to speak about the Gu family’s affairs. We only received a letter from Lady Gu’s elder brother, imploring us to have her stay here for the New Year’s. You will also be meeting Lady Gu later. Since both of you are of similar ages, you should get along well.”
Yu Tang smiled and respectfully obliged, but internally she wondered if her coming had anything to do with Gu Xi staying for the New Year’s.
She chatted with Grand Madam and Second Madam for a while, before she was sent away to rest by Grand Madam. “You just arrived and having sat in the carriage for half the day, you must be tired. Have a good rest inside the house this afternoon, and come over in the evening to have a meal together.”
Yu Tang smilingly agreed.
However, Fifth Young Miss took hold of Yu Tang’s hand and pleaded with Grand Madam, “I’ll go help Sister Yu unpack her things.”
Second Madam softly chided her, “Don’t be naughty, let Lady Yu go and have a rest.”
Yu Tang liked Fifth Young Miss very much, and since she was now in new, unfamiliar surroundings, she would feel more secure with someone she knew beside her. She smiled and replied, “Let her stay with me. With her, I can have someone to chat with.”
Fifth Young Miss quickly grabbed onto Yu Tang’s arm and said “Mother, see? Sister Yu also wants me to accompany her!”
Second Madam wanted to reject, but Grand Madam spoke up, saying “Very well. You can accompany Sister Yu. However, you are not to be naughty. If you misbehave, we won’t agree to such requests of yours anymore.”
Fifth Young Miss was overjoyed and repeatedly nodded her head.
Yu Tang happily held Fifth Young Miss’s hand and said her farewells to Grand Madam and Second Madam.
Second Madam couldn’t help but voice her complaints, saying to Grand Madam. “Mother, you can’t spoil her like this anymore. Just look at the Third Branch’s Third Young Miss, she’s obedient and well-mannered even at such a young age, and already behaving like a proper lady of the house……”
Grand Madam retorted, “Hmph, take a look at Fourth Young Miss!”
Second Madam kept silent after that.
Grand Madam continued, “Have you ever seen Fifth young miss so lively and cheerful? It’s already difficult for her to observe the mourning period, and now that she has finally met someone she could chat with, as a mother, don’t you want her stay cheerful and spirited? Young girls only have a few more years they can spend at home before getting married, so they should live every moment with joyfulness. When she is married, there’s no telling what would happen. I don’t care about the other juniors, but this pearl of our family, I can’t let her suffer.”
Second Madam said at once, “How can that be! With you watching over her, even if we are neglectful, it is impossible that she will suffer!”
Grand Madam lightly “hummed” in reply and did not speak.
In the east wing where Yu Tang lived, she sat with fifth young miss in the inner room’s luohan couch, drinking tea and watching Shuang Tao as she instructed a few of the Pei Family’s maids to clean up the inner room.
These people were originally very attentive when they were assigned to Yu Tang, but now that they were in the presence of Fifth Young Miss, they were even more skilful and meticulous in their work.
Fifth young Miss was very interested in the half-made silk flowers in the embroidery basket Yu Tang brought.
She asked Yu Tang, “Can I learn too?”
Yu Tang smiled, “As long as you are willing.”
Fifth Young Miss was elated and whispered to her, “My grandmother is having her birthday soon and I want to give her something different. Sister Yu, teach me to make a silk flower for my grandmother …… I’ll go and ask Chen Daniang for a bit of jujube-red Zhang velvet. I don’t know if it will be enough. After Sister Yu rests, I’ll ask the maids to bring it over for you to take a look at it …… Later on, my three elder sisters will also be coming over… Mrs Shen and Lady Gu are also here with us …… They live in the courtyard next to yours, which is a little bigger. Chen Daniang mentioned that Mrs. Shen is still Mr. Shen’s wife, so they had to arrange better accommodations reflective of his status, …… my family’s three elder sisters are staying on this side …… together with us.” Yu Tang smiled and listened, and did not inquire further about the Gu family.
As far as she was concerned, since Grand Madam was reluctant to share information, she shouldn’t pry into it again in any other occasion. Although she was dying of curiosity.
But it still surprised her that several other young ladies from the Pei family would also be coming and staying over.
She asked, “Why did Second Young Miss and the others come over as well?”
Fifth young miss was preoccupied with the silk flowers in the embroidery basket, carefully rummaging through the various tools and materials in there and absentmindedly replied, ”Third elder sister is getting engaged soon, and according to third uncle’s mother, she has to examine the person first. The other party was thinking to take the opportunity while visiting grand madam to also introduce him to third elder sister. Since it’s almost new year’s, it will be crowded with visitors at the main Pei Residence, so third uncle’s grandmother came to discuss it with grandmother and she agreed for them to come here instead.”
That makes sense.
But why was she also invited here?
It wasn’t like she was a part of the Pei family!
Yu Tang was baffled.
Before she could think further on it, Gu Xi arrived unexpectedly.
She was accompanied by her previous life’s companion maid, Hexiang, who held a box in her hand.
“I had no idea that I’d run into Lady Yu here again.” Gu Xi smiled slightly, with her chin tilted up. Her tone was gentle but her expression was haughty, and it was identical to their first meeting in her previous life, which caused Yu Tang to step into a momentary trance, and she almost couldn’t differentiate between her former and present lives.
Could it be, she mused, that Gu Xi learned of her identity and that was precisely why she had assumed such a countenance towards her?
Gu Xi was clearly far more sincere and affectionate towards Fifth Young Miss. She said to her, “The Buddhist incense I made few days ago is ready, and I was about to take a box for you to try, but who knew that when I went over to your room, I learned that you came here to Lady Yu’s. Mrs. Shen caught a cold so I have to attend to her illness and I couldn’t wait long in your room, therefore, I came over instead.”
As she was speaking, He Xiang took out a black lacquered dowel box, and Fifth Young Miss’s personal maid, Ah Shan, quickly accepted it.
“Thank you, Lady Gu.” Fifth young miss said, smiling shyly, like a small child, not saying much, and her earlier playful and bubbly nature was nowhere to be seen.
Yu Tang’s heart stirred slightly as she pondered.
Gu Xi, on the contrary, seemed used to this kind of Fifth Young Miss, she smiled apologetically at Yu Tang, “My apologies, I didn’t know that Lady Yu would be coming over. I only brought a box of Hundred Flower Incense over, it is most suitable when you’re reading or writing.”
In her former life, Gu Xi also liked making various incenses and they were very famous in Lin’an. Many ladies in Lin’an were honoured to have received Gu Xi’s incense. Yu Tan received this Hundred Flowers Incense in her previous life too. It was indeed fragrant and soothing to the nose, and smelled especially nice. However, she only received one box, and before she could use it, Madam Lin took the incenses away from her stating that as she was a widow, she shouldn’t be indulging in such extravagances.
Later on, she gradually became accustomed to fresh air and didn’t like lighting incenses anymore.
However, she still received it with a smile – it would be good as a gift for someone who liked incenses in the future.
Gu Xi surreptitiously examined Yu Tang’s living space.
The furniture, curtains and so on were the Pei’s, but things like hanging screens, flower vases, tea cups should be what the respective guests customarily used at home.
The hanging screen was a four-panel black lacquered gold painting with plums, orchids, chrysanthemums and bamboos, whether the production or the material, the pattern was very ordinary, and the flower vase was the type commonly seen, and there was no need to even mention about the tea cups, which were a set of white porcelain without any pattern and colour. When she first arrived, on the round table in her room also had such a set of tea cups. She was told that they were there for display purposes, and that they would naturally store them away when the guests changed them to their own tea cups.
Yu Tang’s room seemed to be all set up, but this tea set was still on the table, it was either she didn’t know of the Pei family’s customs or that she didn’t bring her own usual belongings with her up to the mountain.
A well-off noble lady, staying at someone else’s house without bringing her daily necessities, was she still considered a well-off noble lady?
Chapter 157 – Second Meeting
Grand Madam laughed.
Indeed, the average household would most likely have such concerns.
The Yu family members were all thoughtful and honest people.
“It’s my oversight.” Grand Madam replied, “It’s colder in the mountains, so after a few days, I’ll be heading back home as well.”
As expected, Grand Madam did not come to the mountains for no reason.
However, it was not her business, so it was not good for her to inquire about it.
Grand Madam then spoke to Yu Tang about the Li family selling their land, “Why did you think that the Li family did it intentionally?”
Yu Tang could not say that she knew about the Li family’s background because of her past life experience, so she could only reply saying, “I know that Mrs. Li’s maternal family is a great merchant family in Fujian, and I haven’t heard any news that the Lin family is in decline.”
Her words implied that with the relationship between the Li and Lin family, if the Li family was really in need of money, the Lin family wouldn’t be sitting back and doing nothing!
Grand Madam nodded. She was about to speak when a young serving maid came in, saying that Second Madam had brought Fifth Young Miss over.
“Quickly, invite them in.” As Grand Madam listened, her eyes twinkled in amusement, evidently she was very fond of Second Madam and Fifth Young Miss.
I wonder how the relationship was between First Madam and Grand Madam?
Yu Tang still hasn’t seen First Madam here at Grand Madam’s residence.
When Second Madam and Fifth Young Miss saw that Yu Tang was here, Second Madam’s reaction was more controlled. She smiled reservedly and nodded towards Yu Tang, in contrast, Fifth Young Miss ran over, loudly calling out “Sister Yu”, and asking her joyfully: “Are you coming to my house to celebrate the New Year’s as well? Hu Po and the others will be showing me how to make lanterns.”
As well?
Who else was there?
Yu Tong was startled.
The Pei family didn’t intend to hide it from her, as Second Madam smiled and answered, “Lady Gu’s family has some issues, and so she will be spending the New Year’s at our house this year.”
What issues can there be in her family?
Yu Tang scoffed internally.
Gu Xi had an extremely poor relationship with her father and half-siblings due to her stepmother, and it could even be described as not even caring if they lived or died. Moreover, in her previous life, she didn’t hear of anything happening to her family ……
Could it be that the Gu and Pei families really had marriage plans, so Gu Xi found an excuse and Grand Madam went along with it and kept Gu Xi with her?
She was curious to know what had happened with the Gu family.
If it were in her previous life, she would probably have inquired in private. But after her re-birth, she knew where she stood, and rather than playing mind games with people like Grand Madam, it was better to ask them directly, and if they were willing to tell her, she would listen, and if they weren’t willing, she would curb her curiosity. Therefore, she asked straightforwardly, “What happened to Lady Gu’s family? Why can’t she return for New Year’s?”
Grand Madam and Second Madam were very surprised, and they exchanged glances.
Generally speaking, it was rude to pry into other people’s personal affairs. Lady Yu was considered to be educated, so she should have kept silent and pretended not to know, but unexpectedly, she asked in such a straightforward manner.
This Lady Yu, was she smart or foolish?
Grand Madam suppressed her internal confusions and directly rebuffed Yu Tang, “It’s improper for us to speak about the Gu family’s affairs. We only received a letter from Lady Gu’s elder brother, imploring us to have her stay here for the New Year’s. You will also be meeting Lady Gu later. Since both of you are of similar ages, you should get along well.”
Yu Tang smiled and respectfully obliged, but internally she wondered if her coming had anything to do with Gu Xi staying for the New Year’s.
She chatted with Grand Madam and Second Madam for a while, before she was sent away to rest by Grand Madam. “You just arrived and having sat in the carriage for half the day, you must be tired. Have a good rest inside the house this afternoon, and come over in the evening to have a meal together.”
Yu Tang smilingly agreed.
However, Fifth Young Miss took hold of Yu Tang’s hand and pleaded with Grand Madam, “I’ll go help Sister Yu unpack her things.”
Second Madam softly chided her, “Don’t be naughty, let Lady Yu go and have a rest.”
Yu Tang liked Fifth Young Miss very much, and since she was now in new, unfamiliar surroundings, she would feel more secure with someone she knew beside her. She smiled and replied, “Let her stay with me. With her, I can have someone to chat with.”
Fifth Young Miss quickly grabbed onto Yu Tang’s arm and said “Mother, see? Sister Yu also wants me to accompany her!”
Second Madam wanted to reject, but Grand Madam spoke up, saying “Very well. You can accompany Sister Yu. However, you are not to be naughty. If you misbehave, we won’t agree to such requests of yours anymore.”
Fifth Young Miss was overjoyed and repeatedly nodded her head.
Yu Tang happily held Fifth Young Miss’s hand and said her farewells to Grand Madam and Second Madam.
Second Madam couldn’t help but voice her complaints, saying to Grand Madam. “Mother, you can’t spoil her like this anymore. Just look at the Third Branch’s Third Young Miss, she’s obedient and well-mannered even at such a young age, and already behaving like a proper lady of the house……”
Grand Madam retorted, “Hmph, take a look at Fourth Young Miss!”
Second Madam kept silent after that.
Grand Madam continued, “Have you ever seen Fifth young miss so lively and cheerful? It’s already difficult for her to observe the mourning period, and now that she has finally met someone she could chat with, as a mother, don’t you want her stay cheerful and spirited? Young girls only have a few more years they can spend at home before getting married, so they should live every moment with joyfulness. When she is married, there’s no telling what would happen. I don’t care about the other juniors, but this pearl of our family, I can’t let her suffer.”
Second Madam said at once, “How can that be! With you watching over her, even if we are neglectful, it is impossible that she will suffer!”
Grand Madam lightly “hummed” in reply and did not speak.
In the east wing where Yu Tang lived, she sat with fifth young miss in the inner room’s luohan couch, drinking tea and watching Shuang Tao as she instructed a few of the Pei Family’s maids to clean up the inner room.
These people were originally very attentive when they were assigned to Yu Tang, but now that they were in the presence of Fifth Young Miss, they were even more skilful and meticulous in their work.
Fifth young Miss was very interested in the half-made silk flowers in the embroidery basket Yu Tang brought.
She asked Yu Tang, “Can I learn too?”
Yu Tang smiled, “As long as you are willing.”
Fifth Young Miss was elated and whispered to her, “My grandmother is having her birthday soon and I want to give her something different. Sister Yu, teach me to make a silk flower for my grandmother …… I’ll go and ask Chen Daniang for a bit of jujube-red Zhang velvet. I don’t know if it will be enough. After Sister Yu rests, I’ll ask the maids to bring it over for you to take a look at it …… Later on, my three elder sisters will also be coming over… Mrs Shen and Lady Gu are also here with us …… They live in the courtyard next to yours, which is a little bigger. Chen Daniang mentioned that Mrs. Shen is still Mr. Shen’s wife, so they had to arrange better accommodations reflective of his status, …… my family’s three elder sisters are staying on this side …… together with us.” Yu Tang smiled and listened, and did not inquire further about the Gu family.
As far as she was concerned, since Grand Madam was reluctant to share information, she shouldn’t pry into it again in any other occasion. Although she was dying of curiosity.
But it still surprised her that several other young ladies from the Pei family would also be coming and staying over.
She asked, “Why did Second Young Miss and the others come over as well?”
Fifth young miss was preoccupied with the silk flowers in the embroidery basket, carefully rummaging through the various tools and materials in there and absentmindedly replied, ”Third elder sister is getting engaged soon, and according to third uncle’s mother, she has to examine the person first. The other party was thinking to take the opportunity while visiting grand madam to also introduce him to third elder sister. Since it’s almost new year’s, it will be crowded with visitors at the main Pei Residence, so third uncle’s grandmother came to discuss it with grandmother and she agreed for them to come here instead.”
That makes sense.
But why was she also invited here?
It wasn’t like she was a part of the Pei family!
Yu Tang was baffled.
Before she could think further on it, Gu Xi arrived unexpectedly.
She was accompanied by her previous life’s companion maid, Hexiang, who held a box in her hand.
“I had no idea that I’d run into Lady Yu here again.” Gu Xi smiled slightly, with her chin tilted up. Her tone was gentle but her expression was haughty, and it was identical to their first meeting in her previous life, which caused Yu Tang to step into a momentary trance, and she almost couldn’t differentiate between her former and present lives.
Could it be, she mused, that Gu Xi learned of her identity and that was precisely why she had assumed such a countenance towards her?
Gu Xi was clearly far more sincere and affectionate towards Fifth Young Miss. She said to her, “The Buddhist incense I made few days ago is ready, and I was about to take a box for you to try, but who knew that when I went over to your room, I learned that you came here to Lady Yu’s. Mrs. Shen caught a cold so I have to attend to her illness and I couldn’t wait long in your room, therefore, I came over instead.”
As she was speaking, He Xiang took out a black lacquered dowel box, and Fifth Young Miss’s personal maid, Ah Shan, quickly accepted it.
“Thank you, Lady Gu.” Fifth young miss said, smiling shyly, like a small child, not saying much, and her earlier playful and bubbly nature was nowhere to be seen.
Yu Tang’s heart stirred slightly as she pondered.
Gu Xi, on the contrary, seemed used to this kind of Fifth Young Miss, she smiled apologetically at Yu Tang, “My apologies, I didn’t know that Lady Yu would be coming over. I only brought a box of Hundred Flower Incense over, it is most suitable when you’re reading or writing.”
In her former life, Gu Xi also liked making various incenses and they were very famous in Lin’an. Many ladies in Lin’an were honoured to have received Gu Xi’s incense. Yu Tan received this Hundred Flowers Incense in her previous life too. It was indeed fragrant and soothing to the nose, and smelled especially nice. However, she only received one box, and before she could use it, Madam Lin took the incenses away from her stating that as she was a widow, she shouldn’t be indulging in such extravagances.
Later on, she gradually became accustomed to fresh air and didn’t like lighting incenses anymore.
However, she still received it with a smile – it would be good as a gift for someone who liked incenses in the future.
Gu Xi surreptitiously examined Yu Tang’s living space.
The furniture, curtains and so on were the Pei’s, but things like hanging screens, flower vases, tea cups should be what the respective guests customarily used at home.
The hanging screen was a four-panel black lacquered gold painting with plums, orchids, chrysanthemums and bamboos, whether the production or the material, the pattern was very ordinary, and the flower vase was the type commonly seen, and there was no need to even mention about the tea cups, which were a set of white porcelain without any pattern and colour. When she first arrived, on the round table in her room also had such a set of tea cups. She was told that they were there for display purposes, and that they would naturally store them away when the guests changed them to their own tea cups.
Yu Tang’s room seemed to be all set up, but this tea set was still on the table, it was either she didn’t know of the Pei family’s customs or that she didn’t bring her own usual belongings with her up to the mountain.
A well-off noble lady, staying at someone else’s house without bringing her daily necessities, was she still considered a well-off noble lady?
