Chapter 17: Delicate Flower Chapter 57

Chapter 57 – Double Happiness

Pei Yan and Zhou ZiJin left so abruptly that Hu Xin was dumbfounded. He quickly stopped Pei Man who was about to leave as well, asking “First Head Steward, is this how you usually spoke to Third Master? Aren’t you afraid that Third Master would get angry?”

Pei Man replied, “Third Master is a person who hates people who are dishonest, not that he refuses to listen to them at all. After spending more time around Third Master, you will understand.”

Hu Xin thought to himself, I entered this household when I was seven years old. Now that I’m already an old man, how much more time do I need to spend with the Third Master to be considered as ‘knowing him well’?

Wasn’t this as good as saying nothing at all?

However, Hu Xin, who held a relatively high position among the Pei family’s servants, in addition to being intelligent and ambitious, another strong point of his was that he would always reflect on himself.

Although he was dissatisfied at heart, he still carefully reviewed the expressions and attitudes of Pei Yan and Pei Man several times in his mind, and understood a little of what Pei Man meant.

As for the Yu family, these few days can be described as a double happiness.

First was the marriage of Yu Yuan and Lady Xiang. Although there were some twists and turns, but they finally held the formal exchange of marriage invitations. After the Double Ninth Festival, they would have the official marriage ceremony. Madam Wang was a little apprehensive when she thought about it, and privately whispered to Madam Chen. “I did not expect Lady Xiang’s stepmother to be so powerful, saying that if the marriage proceeded without her consent, she wouldn’t agree to it. Fortunately, Mrs. Wei dared to take on the role as Lady Xiang’s mother, and wasn’t afraid to offend Lady Xiang’s stepmother. She brought up the matter of Lady Xiang’s deceased mother and forced Lady Xiang’s stepmother to withdraw. I’m afraid in the future, Lady Xiang wouldn’t be able to return to her maiden family.”

Madam Chen thought that Madam Wang was overly worried, and said, “Even before this, Lady Xiang was raised in the Wei Family and is closer to her cousins than her own fleshly brothers. Her maiden family played no part in her life at all. So if she takes the Wei Family as her actual maternal family, it will be the same as before. I think Mrs. Wei thought of the same thing. Therefore, she was brave enough to confront Lady Xiang’s stepmother. Otherwise, why would she make things so awkward in front of us?”

Madam Wang thought it made sense. She couldn’t help but pity Lady Xiang, saying: “Others say that a married daughter is like water that’s thrown out. I’ll just treat it as though I had an additional daughter and treat Lady Xiang well.”

While the two sympathize with Lady Xiang, Master Xiang quietly found Yu Wen, and gave a small camphor wood box to Yu Wen, asking him to pass it to Lady Xiang. He said that Lady Xiang’s stepmother agreed to let Lady Xiang have the marriage ceremony in the Wei family’s residence. In future, it would only be more difficult for her to return home to see him. As her father, this was the only thing he could do to show his affection for her, so he wanted her to keep it for herself and her children in future.

Yu Wen felt that although Master Xiang married above his station to his current wife, but his actions(TL: passing this gift to him instead of giving it directly to Lady Xiang) showed his cowardice. Therefore he didn’t have much respect for Master Xiang and simply handed the box over to Yu Yuan. Yu Yuan thought that no matter what, this was also Master Xiang’s sincerity. Therefore in order to avoid Lady Xiang feeling as though her own father was indifferent to this marriage, he delivered it to the Wei family overnight.

These few days, Mrs. Wei got into a dispute with the Xiang family over Lady Xiang’s dowry. Even when master Xiang was still alive, Mrs. Xiang still dared to ill-treat Lady Xiang this way, what more about in the future, when Master Xiang was gone? Would they disown her? Therefore she intended to ask the Xiang family to contribute more for Lady Xiang, which was why she ended up arguing with Mrs. Xiang. But as they all wanted to preserve their reputation neither Mrs. Wei nor Mrs. Xiang disclosed this to the public.

So when she saw Yu Yuan bringing something over from Master Xiang, Mrs. Wei was so angry that she threw the box on the ground and said, “Who asked for his hypocrisy, saying that apart from Ah Ying’s mother’s dowry and three thousand taels of silver, he would not contribute anything more ……”

However, before she could finish her words, everyone was stunned.

The box that fell to the ground was broken and opened with a clang. A large pile of banknotes were blown about like paper butterflies by the cold autumn night wind.

“Quickly, quickly!” Master Wei was the first to return to his senses “Don’t let the wind blow it all away, the smallest banknote start at ten taels of silver. From what I see, these banknotes all start with at least a hundred taels of silver ……”Mrs. Wei started panicking, as she quickly instructed Yu Yuan. “Why are you still standing there? Quickly pick up those banknotes!”

Yu Yuan was so overwhelmed by the tremendous amount of silver that he didn’t even remember how he stayed in the Wei family overnight, or how he rushed back to the Yu family after the city gates opened. He only remembered that he stood trembling before Madam Wang and said to his father, “There were so many banknotes. Mrs. Wei said that there were at least 40,000 to 50,000 silver taels, which can empty out the Pei family’s silver coffers on Changxing Street in Lin’an City. She also asked me if I wanted to buy a few stores in Hangzhou city and move to Hangzhou city to do business since leaving all these silver to rot in a bank was a waste.”

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Madam Wang and Yu Bo were also in shock. They woke up Yu Wen and Madam Chen up and asked Yu Wen what to do about this. “Does this mean that the in-laws wanted Ah Yuan to move to Hangzhou? Or did they just want to ask what would our family do with so much silver?”

Yu Tang was awakened by the noise. She was a little disorientated, but her mind cleared up after hearing these words.

She thought hard about the events of her previous life.

She didn’t really hear much about the Wei family and Lady Xiang, and didn’t know whose family Lady Xiang had married in the previous life.

Her older cousin’s marriage was akin to striking the lottery.

Yu Wen’s reaction in contrast was quite normal. After yawning he said to his restless brother in front of him, saying “I have vaguely heard in the past that the Xiang family is rich. Therefore, when the Shen family and the Xiang family joined in marriage, the reason why Old Master Shen didn’t reject Master Xiang even though it was a remarriage was that Master Xiang was capable in doing business. However, I didn’t think that the rumor was actually true. Frankly, I think you should just do what you originally intended to do. Are you saying that without these 40,000 to 50,000 taels of silver, you wouldn’t marry Lady Xiang?”

After hearing his brother’s explanation, Yu Bo gradually calmed down. He thought about it and said, “You have a point. It’s because we got overwhelmed by the amount of money. This dowry was meant to be the daughter-in-law’s private assets, so she can use it however she wants. I’m just afraid that our Ah Yuan might suffer because of it.”

Yu Wen instructed Old Aunty Chen to brew a cup of strong tea and drank a few sips before he was re-energized. He then asked Old Aunty Chen to prepare breakfast before responding, “When the Wei family first chose our family, wasn’t it because they liked our children’s good upbringing? Our family can’t blame other families for being too wealthy just because our own family is not as affluent as theirs, right?”

“That’s true.” Yu Bo remarked.

“That’s why it’s important for everyone to keep calm.” Yu Wen had a rare opportunity to reason with his elder brother, and added, “It’s not like we’re gold diggers either. If we aren’t as good as them at present, what makes you think that we’ll never be as good as them? Perhaps we may even surpass them in future? When the daughter-in-law enters the door, we still have to be honest in the things we say and not blindly flatter her……”

As her father was speaking, Yu Tang kept looking at her older cousin.

When she saw that Yu Yuan’s ears had turned red, she found an opportunity to quietly move to sit by his side and whisper to him, “You wouldn’t feel too uncomfortable by that too, would you?”

Yu Yuan glanced at his parents who were listening to his uncle and whispered, “A little. However, I do think that uncle is right. If people have the money, it’s their business. As long as we don’t covet what’s not ours, naturally can lift our heads high, walk straight and sit upright.” After saying this, he hesitantly continued. “However, when Mrs. Wei said that I could go to Hangzhou city to buy a store there, I was admittedly tempted. It’s no wonder I was caught up in all sorts of wishful thinking and got ahead of myself.”

Yu Tang couldn’t blame Yu Yuan for thinking that way. Ever since she, her father and her cousin went to Hangzhou City, she too thought it was a better place to do business, much less Yu Yuan, who had always wanted to expand their business and make the Yu family prosperous in both of her lives.

The family discussed this matter for almost an hour, and when it was bright outside, they sat together to have breakfast.

Yu Yuan was still peeling the shell of one of the salted duck eggs when Hu Xin, the third head steward of the Pei family, paid a visit to their house. Yu Yuan was startled, and the women of the Yu family hurriedly carried the dishes back to the kitchen. Yu Wen, quickly invited Hu Xing to join them in having breakfast.

“I’ve already had mine.” Hu Xin replied with a smile, “I came here to tell you that Imperial Physician Yang will come to check on your wife’s condition before leaving for Suzhou. Because it’s a little sudden, so I specially made a trip over to inform you. I don’t need to have breakfast as I still have to accompany Imperial physician Yang when he comes over later.”

The Yu family was naturally overjoyed.

Yu Wen personally sent Hu Xin out, repeating words of gratitude.

Hu Xin smiled as he stopped him, saying, “This is Third Master’s intention. If you have any words of gratitude, just tell them to the third master and the imperial physician, I’m just a messenger. By doing this, you’re making it difficult for me.”

In the past, although the Pei family’s servants treated the Yu family with politeness, but they weren’t so respectful as they were now. The Yu brothers can naturally distinguish the difference between customary politeness and heartfelt respect. After sending Hu Xin away, Yu Wen couldn’t help but say to Yu Bo, “What exactly is going on here?”

Yu Bo pondered for a moment, but could not figure it out either. He could only say: “Under imperial physician Yang’s care, Sister-in-law’s illness will definitely be cured. This is a good thing, and we will talk about future things as it comes.”

Yu Wen scratched his head in puzzlement.

Yu Tang didn’t have a clue as to what Pei Yan intended either, but since this was a good thing, and anyway, their family owed the Pei family too much and can’t possibly repay in a short time, so for the time being, they’ll have to just remember first and repay in the future when they have the chance to.

Imperial physician Yang came over to check Madam Chen’s pulse. He adjusted some prescriptions and instructed Yu Wen to remember not to make Madam Chen overwork and tire out or make Madam Chen angry and then left.

The Yu family was elated. Madam Chen had not fallen ill in the summer, and felt that as long as Imperial physician Yang continued to prescribe Madam Chen medicine, Madam Chen would definitely get better. Yu Wen even wanted to find an antique to give to Pei Yan.

Unfortunately, the Yu family had limited funds, so even though Yu Wen searched for several days, he could not find anything suitable.

These few days, Yu Tang stayed at home as she contemplated whether or not she should find the Qu brothers in Banqiao Town to manage a few things for her, just like in her previous life.

In her previous life, when she entered the Li Family’s door with Li Jun’s tablet, in order to keep her tied to the Li family, Madam Lin went around saying that Yu Tang was determined to keep her purity for Li Jun, and even the Li family’s clansmen said that whether the Li family could earn a chastity tablet or not depended on her actions.

This was also the main reason why she had so much difficulty trying to extricate herself from the Li Family and took five or six years to do so.

Her eldest uncle and cousin’s deaths also made her feel that what happened to her family was closely related to the Li family. In order to investigate more, she had to seek help within Lin’an city, and was often deceived because of it. As the widowed daughter-in-law of the Li family, she did not dare to reveal her identity, and thus often had to hire people to investigate the affairs of the Li family. Many people took her silver but just fled. As such, she did not have any extra funds to support her eldest aunt.

The Qu brothers were considered as one of the more reliable ones among them.

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