Chapter 7: Delicate Flower Chapter 47

Chapter 47 – Not Letting Go

All of them didn’t want Madam Chen to worry, so they plastered a bright smile on their faces and answered her in a relaxed manner, “Coming!”

Yu Wen even added, “What did you cook today? Since Ah Yuan is staying for dinner, did you make a few more dishes?”

“Don’t worry about it!” Madam Chen smiled, “I asked Ah Cam to buy some braised side dishes, and also two taels worth of wine, so the both of you can have a nice drink together.”

Yu Wen thought for a moment and said, “Let Shuang Tao call Elder Brother over to join us. He’s been so busy with the store these days, and we brothers have not had a drink together for some time now.”

Especially meeting with this kind of trouble and it was all caused by him, but yet he couldn’t tell his brother about it… Yu Wen felt miserable.

Madam Chen didn’t think much about his request.

Their families were living right next to each other, and so whenever they made anything delicious, they would either call the other to come and eat, or send a bowl over.

She took some small pieces of silver and asked Ah Cam to buy some more wine, and instructed Shuang Tao to invite Yu Bo and Madam Wang.

Both of them came over rather quickly.

The Yu family didn’t follow those rules and traditions during mealtimes as they gathered around the table and chatted as they ate.

Yu Bo wanted to take a trip to Jiangxi, saying “Some of the family’s stencils and patterns were burned, and some of them were even family heirlooms, which can’t be easily replaced. The store that sold us the lacquerware last time seemed pretty good, so I’ll go and see if I can get the owner to refer a few skilled craftsmen for our store. Since you are a learned person, you should be familiar with those well-educated people. See if you find a good artist to help create new designs and patterns for our lacquerwares.”

Yu Wen himself was pretty good in painting, and had several close friends in this field. He agreed, saying, “I’ll ask around tomorrow.” Then he brought up Yu Yuan, asking “Could I ask him to visit Hangzhou City for me?”

Yu Bo not only agreed, but even urged Yu Yuan to do a good job for Yu Wen.

Madam Wang pulled Madam Chen aside to discuss about Yutang. “The Wei family’s son already passed his triple seventh day. Isn’t it time to decide Ah-tang’s marriage? Although Ah-tang is still young, but if we keep delaying like this, it might be too late!”

“I know.” Madam Chen said in hushed tones, “I’ve already made an appointment with the official matchmaker. After the Wei family’s triple seventh day observance has passed, I’ll officially start looking for someone suitable for Ah-tang.”

Yu Tang was on pins and needles.

If Wei Xiaoshan’s death was in any way related to the Li family, she would be bringing calamity upon those innocent marriage candidates.

Yu Tang felt she had to find Wei Xiaochuan as soon as possible.

That very night, she asked Ah Cam to send a message to Wei Xiaochuan.

Initially, Wei Xiaochuan didn’t want to meet Yutang. However, Yu Tang wanted to ask about the matters regarding Wei Xiaoshan. While his second eldest brother was still alive, he valued Yutang a lot. Furthermore, the Yu family didn’t make arrangements for marriage discussions within this mourning period to show their respect for his second eldest brother. Considering all of these, he agreed to meet up with her for the sake of his second eldest brother.

As Wei Xiaochuan still had to attend classes in school, the two agreed to meet at a small restaurant near the school during midday and have lunch together.

Yu Tang borrowed Ma Xiuniang’s identity and went to meet Wei Xiaochuan.

The place was arranged by Wei Xiaochuan, and the time was also chosen by him.

Yu Tang did not expect Wei Xiaochuan to be so thorough.

The restaurant was small, but it was clean and tidy. Wei Xiaochuan asked to have their meal in a small room in the back kitchen, which looked like the restaurant owner’s personal break room where he had his meals. The side room was just next to the restaurant’s back door, where it led to a secluded alley which led to the bustling Little plum creek, where people blended in like drops of water in the sea and one could step in the crowd and disappear.

Just from this, it could be seen that he had a maturity beyond his years. No wonder the Wei family felt that he was the most promising out of all the sons.

When Yu Tang arrived, Wei Xiaochuan was already sitting at the table waiting for her. When she took off her head covering, he said to Yu Tang coldly. “I am a poor student, and am still relying on my family’s support, so I can only invite Lady Yu to have a meal in this small restaurant. I ask for your understanding.” After saying that, he beckoned the shopkeeper over and said, “Bring your signature stir-fried meat and stir-fried vegetables, one of each.” As if to explain his actions, he said to Yu Tang, “Let’s make this quick. I still have to return to class later to study.”

Evidently, he wasn’t affluent, yet he acted as if he was a nobleman inviting her for a meal. However, he only ordered one meat dish and one vegetable dish and still claimed that they were the restaurant’s signature dishes?

It was really too adorable for words!

If not for Yu Tang’s own worries, she might have burst out laughing.

“I only want to have a conversation with you, so it doesn’t matter what dishes you order.” Yu Tang took into consideration his pride and replied in a gentle voice, “If we have an opportunity in future, and you’re not attending school, I’ll treat you to a delicious meal then.”

Wei Xiaochuan looked at her in disbelief. As there were no bystanders present except the server who was pouring the tea, he took this opportunity to ask, “What do you want to ask me about?”

Yu Tang was reluctant to discuss this matter in front of outsiders, so she wait until the server retreated, before replying, “You can eat first. We’ll talk after eating.”

She was concerned that after asking, Wei Xiaochuan would lose his appetite. As Wei Xiaochuan’s family taught him since childhood to mind his manners and not speak at mealtimes, so he did not initiate any conversation.

One wasn’t in the mood, and the other was in a rush, so both of them finished their meals quickly.

The server removed the plates and brought in two cups of tea.

Yu Tang did not beat about the bush, but asked him straight-forwardly. “You mentioned in the past that your second eldest brother was a good swimmer, and was definitely not the kind of person who would play around and forget himself. On the night before your second eldest brother’s death, who was with him?”

“It was me.” Wei Xiaochuan replied nonchalantly, “Since I am the youngest in the family, and eldest brother needed to help father in his work, I grew up under the care of my second brother and third brother. “

So they had a close relationship.

Yu Tang continued asking, “What kind of a person is your second brother?”

Wei Xiaochuan immediately looked at her warily and replied, “What are you asking about this for?”

Yu Tang replied, “I was just curious.”

The day before the first matchmaking meet-up, the two of his brothers had a fight over her, so Wei Xiaochuan had already formed a bad impression of Yu Tang. So he wanted to see just what sort of lady caused his two brothers to be at odds with one another. However, in the end, Wei XiaoShan was shy and Yu Tang seemed indifferent. He felt that his own brother was useless and felt upset with him.

Thinking back, could it be that Lady Yu actually was interested in his second brother? Just that he didn’t notice it at the time?

In that case, he should show some pity for Lady Yu and tell her more about his second brother.

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Wei Xiaochuan pondered for a while before responding, “My second brother is very good person, filial and obedient. When several of us were playing around and having fun, my second brother would be either helping my mother in the kitchen preparing meals or going down to the river to fish and bring home his catch……”

“You also mentioned to me previously that your second brother is very good at swimming. Was it because he often goes down the river to fish?” Yu Tang suddenly interrupted him, saying, “Then your second brother also should be very familiar with the nearby rivers and streams?”

Wei Xiaochuan felt that Yu Tang’s behavior was a little odd, but he didn’t think too much about it as he replied, “Yes. In the early days, when our family and other families competed for water, my second brother took us along to quietly dig a small stream that flowed from the mountains to our family fields. We never lacked small fishes and shrimp to eat, my second brother’s skill in cooking fish and shrimp was second to none – even better than my mother’s……”

Yu Tong’s heart was pounding uncontrollably, as if it was going to jump out of her chest the very next moment.

She couldn’t help but press her hand to her chest and said, “You said your second brother is very obedient, so he should have informed a family member wherever he goes out, right? If your mother refuses to let him go out to fish, will he listen?”

“Of course he will obey!” Wei Xiaochuan replied without a second thought, “People in our family will always inform their elders whenever they go out, this is the most basic etiquette, don’t you also inform your family whenever you go out?”

He felt that Yu Tang was questioning his family’s upbringing and puffed out his cheeks, scowling.

“I’m only asking.” Yu Tang forced out a smile and said, “I always felt that boys were more naughty than girls and may not be so obedient.”

Wei Xiaochuan didn’t think that way and snorted, “Do you think it’s really because my second brother won the fight with my third brother that my mother chose my second brother for the matchmaking? It was because my second brother is the most honest and upright among us. My mother said, if the mind is too easily shaken, he would not be a good son-in-law. When others gossip, it would generate resentment in their hearts, so how can the newly-weds lead a good life? If they’re unhappy, people will only say it’s because our family was not good at teaching their children. That’s not tying the knot, that’s creating animosity.”

Yu Tang stilled, and a wave of bitterness spread through her heart.

If only there hadn’t been this accident, how good it would have been!

Although she was a little apprehensive at first, but after spending time together, she would definitely come to like Wei Xiaoshan.

The corners of Yu Tang’s eyes suddenly turn moist.

She lowered her head and said softly, “Then your second brother went out in the middle of the night to fish – why didn’t anyone follow him?”

Wei Xiaochuan listened and replied exasperatedly, “It’s exactly as what those old aunties say, when you have a wife, you forget your own mother. It’s all because of you! Otherwise how would my second brother be so bold as to go out without saying anything to anyone?”

Yu Tang’s face turned pale as she responded, “You can’t accuse me like this. It’s not like I asked your second brother to go fishing. Besides, what does marriage have to do with fishing? The best customary marriage proposal gifts were swan gooses. He didn’t go into the mountains to catch geese, so what’s the point of going fishing?”

Wei Xiaochuan was at loss for words, but soon after his embarrassment turned to anger as he retorted, “It’s you, it’s you! If it weren’t for you, how would my second brother have gone out so silently? My third brother’s also good at swimming, so if he had told us, my third brother would have accompanied him. Even if we didn’t go with him, if he didn’t return by a certain time, my father would have woken us brothers to look for him ……” he said, his eyes also turning moist. “My second brother changed because he met you, before he met you he was not like this ……”

Yu Tang’s hand trembled. “How could you say that? Your farm should also have someone that always go fishing, right? Isn’t it strange that no one saw your second brother at all?”

At this, Wei Xiaochuan froze and mumbled to himself, “Yes! Why didn’t anyone see him? Although the farm belongs to our family, our family is not the kind that treats others harshly. The workers were all not well-to-do, so the fishes and shrimp in the small rivers and ditches were are left for them to catch and have something more filling for the holidays. Although, my family didn’t know when my second brother went out, but surely those farm workers who went fishing would have seen him. But why did my second brother drowned in the river that he usually goes to?”

Yu Tang couldn’t hold back her tears and closed her eyes, and her tears flowed freely.

Wei Xiaochuan was startled and asked, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you crying?”

Yu Tang opened her eyes with great difficulty. Pretending as if nothing had happened, she took out her handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes, saying, “I’ve been making flower head pieces at home for the past few days, so perhaps I hurt my eyes.”

Wei Xiaochuan looked at her suspiciously.

However, Yu Tang could not make up any more lies.

If Wei Xiaoshan was indeed implicated by her, how could she explain herself to the Wei family? How could she deal with her own conscience?

Such a good person was killed because he had a marriage discussion with her. Just because he was an outstanding prospective son-in-law, he had to lose his life.

How could she still have the audacity to live on in this world?

Yu Tang sat across from Wei Xiaochuan. She did not dare to look up at Wei Xiaochuan, and she didn’t even know how she managed to walk home.

“Young Lady!” Old Aunty Chen saw Yutang walking absentmindedly and quickly went to assist her past the door and scolded Shuang Tao who followed in after her, “How did you serve Young Miss? Luckily there’s only a few people in the house, if there were more people, you wouldn’t even be able to tell north from the south!”

Yu Tang listened to Old Aunty Chen’s scolding and went back to her room in a daze and asked Shuang Tao to find Ah Cam.

Old Aunty Chen asked concernedly. “I’ll wait until you’ve had a rest before asking you what happened. Just rest for now. I see that there’s still several bird’s nests that someone gave to Madam Chen. I’ll go now and make one for you. After you have eaten, have a good rest and you’ll feel better.”

Because Madam Chen was always sick, Old Aunty Chen was especially good at making medicinal soups and handling ingredients like bird’s nest, abalone and other tonics.

Yu Tang however, was feeling so restless that she was afraid that any delay would cause things to change, so she insisted on asking Shuang Tao to find Ah Cam, saying, “I’ll just ask him to go and buy me something, I won’t be straining myself at all. After I have settled things, I would then have some peace of mind to rest.”

After hearing this, Old Aunty Chen had no choice but to go and call for Ah Cam.

Yu Tang finally managed to dismiss both Old Aunty Chen and Shuang Tao, and she quickly instructed Ah Cam to find out more about Wei Xiaoshan. “Find out who was the first to discover Wei Xiaoshan’s body, which river he drowned in, who saw Wei Xiaoshan last in the farm, and anyone that met Wei Xiaoshan fishing in the middle of the night.” She also made Ah Cam promise, “Tell no one about this. If anyone asks, you can tell them that I am not feeling well and asked you to go to the temple to offer incense, got it?”

Ah-Cam nodded profusely and went to the Wei family’s farm.

Yu Tang tossed and turned all night and didn’t sleep well. When she got up in the morning and looked in the mirror, she found that she already had dark circles under her eyes at such a young age.

Madam Chen asked her, “What’s wrong with your father? He stays in the study all day staring at that painting that Scholar Lu sold to our family. Isn’t that a fake painting?”

Yu Tang said, “Supervisor Tong said that the painting looks very real, and it is also worth a few taels of silver. You know that father likes to paint, perhaps he is trying to spot the differences?”

Madam Chen wasn’t that knowledgeable about such things, and so could only nag them to take care of their health, saying, “There’s so many good things in this world, don’t just be awestruck and mesmerized by just one thing.”

Yu Tang smiled in response, and squeezed Madam Chen’s arm placatingly.

Ah Cam came back in the afternoon.

He too felt the death was unusual, as he quietly reported to Yu Tang. “The first to find the body of the Wei family’s second son was the personal attendant of Mrs. Wei. She went to pour the fecal matter early in the morning, and found the Wei family’s second son’s body floating in a small river not too far away. As for the exact details such as when did the Wei Family’s second son go fishing, or when did he drown, no one knows as nobody saw it.”

He repeatedly mentioned the words “no one saw” and “no one knows”.

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