Chapter 283 Moving (Part 2)
"Great!" the lady said happily, "Huguang is a land of fish, and Wuchang is a thoroughfare connecting nine provinces. This is a great place!"
Mrs. Xiang said modestly: "It is all the grace of the emperor."
The lady smiled.
Mrs. Xiang talked about selling houses: "They are all rental properties. If you count them all, there are about ten of them. They are 40 or 50 years old. Although the location is good, the houses are in disrepair. Even if they are left until the end of the year, they will only bring a few hundred taels of silver more." She smiled and glanced at the second wife, "This time I came, I also wanted to discuss with you. Which ones should I keep and which ones should I sell?"
From the tone, it seemed that he valued the Second Madam's opinion very much. But the Second Madam was a married woman after all, and since it was Xiang's family affairs, it was not appropriate to discuss it in front of the Madam.
Eleventh Lady raised her head and looked towards the Second Madam.
Then she saw a sharp look in the Second Madam's eyes, and then she smiled faintly and said, "I don't understand these things. If sister-in-law is worried that the price will not be good, the steward that the Marquis assigned to me is a smart man. How about I ask him to go home tomorrow? If sister-in-law has any questions, just ask him!" After that, she ordered the maid Jiexiang beside her, "See if uncle and the Marquis have finished their conversation. The Madam hasn't seen Yijia for several years, so you should come and greet her!" She looked like she was unwilling to talk more.
Jiexiang left immediately.
The old lady also sensed the second lady's displeasure, and she smiled and echoed the second lady's words: "When you get older, you like to be around people. I also want to meet Yijia. I remember that he was only this tall the last time I saw him..." The old lady raised her hand and gestured, "He should be a grown man now, right?"
Mrs. Xiang laughed and said, "She's taller than me!"
As they were talking, a little maid came in, "Madam, the second young master, the fourth young master, the fifth young master and the eldest young lady are here!"
"Let them in!" The lady smiled and said to Mrs. Xiang, "My grandchildren, you can meet them too!" Then she glanced at the three young ladies of the Xiang family and said, "They just moved yesterday. Today, they asked their husband for a day off and are resting at home."
Before he finished speaking, Xu Siyu and several other people walked in.
Mrs. Xiang looked at Xu Siyu and said, "Is this Brother Yu? Although we haven't seen him for a few years, he still looks like a child." Then she looked at Brother Zhe and smiled, "He's still in my arms!"
"That's right!" The lady laughed. Eleventh Lady introduced Mrs. Xiang to the children.
Mrs. Xiang gave the children jade pendants as introduction gifts.
The children bowed and thanked her. Mrs. Xiang asked the three Miss Xiangs to come over and greet Xu Siyu and others. The eldest son of the Xiang family came to pay his respects to the lady.
There was a lot of laughter for a while. The adults couldn't help but talk a lot, but the children all looked different.
The eldest and second daughters of the Xiang family looked straight ahead, looking very dignified. The third daughter of the Xiang family kept looking at Xu Siyu who was sitting opposite her. Xu Siyu sat there with his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, his posture as calm as a pine tree. Zhen Jieer and Zhe Ge beside them listened to the adults' conversation seriously. The eldest son of the Xiang family who was sitting in front of them kept looking at Zhen Jieer out of the corner of his eyes. Only the little Xu Siyu sat there and ate candy with full concentration, looking very happy.
After lunch, Madam Xiang took the children to the Second Madam's place. Eleventh Lady waited on the Madam and was about to return to her own courtyard when Amber came over and said, "Master Jining sent you some amulets. Seeing that you were not at home, she walked around the courtyard. She said that we should plant locust trees instead of apricot trees next to the waterside pavilion; the goldfish you raised should not be placed on the windowsill of the big kang next to the window, but in the southeast corner of the hall... I heard that the Fifth Madam asked her to perform a ritual for 100 taels of silver. She didn't dare to say anything and said that she would not move anything until you came back."
Eleventh Lady pondered: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. It is impossible to ignore her. But we can't let her succeed so easily. You should be careful these days and don't let us meet. But we can't offend her."
Amber agreed.
Eleventh Lady simply took the children to rest in Brother Zhen's room. After the old lady woke up, she played mahjong with her, making her laugh.
At dusk, Zhuang's mother went to Shaohua Court to invite the second wife and the Xiang family to have dinner. Taifu Daoji asked Madam Xiang to bring the children to Chuiling Waterside for dinner tomorrow: "... The fourth brother will renovate the yard and temporarily move to Chuiling Waterside to live for a few days. I think no one has lived there for a few years, and I want to liven it up for them. In addition to the family members, there are also the aunts and grandmothers of the Luo family. They are not outsiders. You can come too."
Mrs. Xiang looked thoughtful when she heard this. The second wife beside her said, "Wuchang is thousands of miles away from here. I don't know when I can see you again. Sister-in-law, bring Yijia and the others over tomorrow to liven things up!"
After hearing her own sister-in-law speak, Mrs. Xiang no longer hesitated and said with a smile: "Madam Cheng, I will bring the children to quarrel with you and the Fourth Madam tomorrow!" As she said this, she smiled and nodded at Eleventh Lady, with a very friendly attitude.
"We haven't even had time to welcome you, let alone talk about the word 'noisy'!" Eleventh Lady said a few polite words.
Except for Xu Siyu, all the other children showed some joy.
Not long after seeing off the guests and returning to the house, Xu Lingyi also came back.
As Shiyi Niang helped him change his clothes, he talked about Mr. Xiang: "...When Uncle Xiang was alive, he was upright and resolute, and he kept himself clean.
He didn't care about the powerful and the upright, and offended many people.
Mr. Xiang did not gain any benefit from the old man's kindness, but instead created a lot of trouble for himself.
In just ten years, he was able to rise from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a fourth-rank prefect. It was not easy.”
This was the first time she heard about Xiang's father.
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but picture the image of a noble and aloof old scholar in her mind.
She told Xu Lingyi that the lady had asked Mrs. Xiang to bring the children to her home as a guest.
"It's a rare occasion for them to come, so you should treat them well."
Xu Lingyi said, "My second sister-in-law is alone and helpless, and it hasn't been easy these years.
We have to reassure the Xiang family."
From Xu Lingyi's few words, Eleventh Lady knew that he had a very good relationship with his deceased second brother Xu Ling'an, and that the Second Lady helped the Lady Dowager to preside over the situation when the Xu family was in the most difficult time.
No matter from which perspective, Xu Lingyi hopes that the Second Madam can live a better life, and she can understand this feeling.
"Don't worry, Lord Hou. I'll save it."
Eleventh Lady nodded, thinking of Mrs. Xiang’s inappropriate words and the sharp look in Second Lady’s eyes, and told Xu Lingyi that the Xiang family was going to sell the house: “…Do you want to ask around secretly?
If the Xiang family is really in trouble, Lord Hou should still lend a hand!"
“This is the first time I’ve heard of this.”
Xu Lingyi pondered and said, "The Xiang family has been an official family for generations. Lord Xiang has had a smooth career in recent years. Logically, he shouldn't have any financial difficulties."
Then he looked up and said, "I will take care of this matter!"
The couple chatted for a few minutes and then stopped talking.
Early the next morning, Eleventh Lady wore a tea-white jacket, a madder-red skirt embroidered with lilies and honeysuckle, a simple bun on her hair, and a pair of south pearl flowers. She went to the hanging flower gate to welcome Grandma Luo, Grandma Luo, Twelve Lady, and Brother Xiu to the waterside pavilion.
Xu Siyu and Zhege went to school.
Sister Zhen took Xu Siqi to wait in the waterside pavilion.
When everyone meets, there will be laughter and joy.
Eleventh Lady took her two sisters-in-law for a walk around where she lived.
The three main rooms behind the water pavilion were used as inner rooms on the west and as storerooms on the east.
Xu Lingyi's study is located in the back of the house.
When the windows of the waterside pavilion are opened, the mountain and lake scenery of the Biyi River can be seen.
“It’s a great place to escape the heat!”
Grandma Luo nodded continuously.
The fifth lady came over.
"I have a lot of things to do there, and I have to avoid fishy things."
She smiled and greeted everyone in the Luo family, then pulled Shiyi Niang aside and whispered, "Forgive me for being rude here."
Shiyi Niang knew that Master Jining had been performing a ritual at her place these days, and she nodded repeatedly to show her understanding: "It's a big deal over there.
It’s just that without you and your spouse, there’s less excitement.”
"Wait until this period is over before you start arguing with Fourth Sister-in-law."
The Fifth Lady uttered a few polite words, left two small altars with golden plates of wine and dew for the palace, chatted with the women of the Luo family for a few words, and then returned to the courtyard, surrounded by maids and old women.
The second lady brought the lady over.
Seeing the wine left by the Fifth Madam, the Dowager Madam nodded slightly and pulled the eldest and fourth grandmothers of the Luo family over to talk. Twelve Niang and Zhen Jie'er took Brother Hui and Brother Yi to play in the pavilion beside the waterside pavilion.
Mrs. Xiang came with her daughter.
"During these few days in Beijing, the old man took Yijia to visit some old acquaintances and gave him some pointers on his studies."
She explained her son's absence.
"These fathers just want their sons to be successful overnight!"
The lady smiled and said, "Our brothers Yu and Zhe also have to go to school today!"
Then he asked Xiang Yijia, "Is he preparing to leave next year?"
Xiang Yijia passed the imperial examination last autumn.
Mrs. Xiang said modestly, "Our master let him have a try."
However, a hint of pride could not help but flash across his brows.
“That means moving around.”
The lady smiled and said, "With the guidance of Mr. Xiang's old friend, the child will not be so confused."
"That's exactly what the lady said."
Mrs. Xiang and the dowager were chatting, while the second lady and the first and fourth mistresses of Luo were sitting aside. A few young ladies over there had already become friends and were chatting with each other in a slightly reserved manner.
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but nodded slightly and secretly paid attention to the tea and snacks.
At noon, Xu Siyu and Chen Ge came back from school and set up two tables in the central hall of the waterside pavilion.
After a lively and noisy meal, Mother Song took Xu Siyu, Brother Zhe and Brother E to Lijingxuan to rest, Jiexiang took Sister Zhen, Sister Twelve and the three young ladies of the Xiang family to Shaohuayuan to rest, and the adults moved to the main hall behind the water pavilion to play cards.
Grandma Luo was unwilling to sit at the table and gave her seat to the Second Madam: "It's rare for you two to meet, unlike us, who come whenever we have something to do."
Then he sat down next to the Madam and said, "I'll help you look at the cards."
The lady was pleased to see that she spoke so pleasantly.
He pulled her hand: “Okay, okay, okay.
Please help me look at the cards.
Look at us beating three parties."
Everyone laughed for a while and then went to the table leisurely.
During this time, a maid brought in a platter of assorted fruits.
Fourth Madam Luo stood up, took the plate from the maid and placed it next to the Madam Dowager, then asked the maid to take her to the clean room, but she winked at Eleventh Lady.