The patriarchs of the Pei family all lived in Lixue Hall on the east road of Pei Mansion. The old Pei Ans also moved out after the death of the old Pei, but Pei Yan was unwilling to move and still lived in the farm garden where he used to live. The elders of the Pei family saw that the patriarchal family was still in mourning and Pei Yan had not yet married, so no one urged him.

When his marriage was settled, he set up his bridal chamber in Shuyu Villa next to the farming garden.

Now the older generation is somewhat dissatisfied.

Pei Yan did not explain anything and insisted on redecorating Shuyu Villa. He also transplanted a ginkgo tree originally planted in Lixue Hall to Shuyu Villa.

Old Lady Yi had to pay a visit to Old Lady Pei, and said with some emotion: "I know this child is filial. But the country has its own laws, and the family has its own rules. You can't let him do whatever he wants!"

Old Master Pei picked up the teacup and gently blew away the floating leaves on the water. He did not drink the tea, but put it down and said, "You also know that Xiaguang has a stubborn temper. Originally, the position of the clan leader should have been inherited by Ayou's family, but now the burden has fallen on him. He may have his own plans. I think you should just follow his will. He can live wherever he wants."

Old Master Yi couldn't help but think too much.

Is Pei Yan planning to return the position of clan leader to Pei You's branch?

It is not impossible.

Back then, when they moved here from Luoyang, the clan had no children, so the ancestor of their branch took over the position of clan leader. Later, the clan had a son, so the ancestor of their branch returned the position of clan leader to the clan.

With Pei Yan's arrogance, he could really do it!

But Old Lady Yi did not agree with this arrangement. He reminded Old Lady Pei: "No matter what, in my opinion, neither Atong nor Ah Fei are suitable candidates. Sister-in-law, you have to give us more advice on this matter. The Pei family can be what it is today because of the great contributions of the Zongfang branch. You can't let my old brother suffer in his grave!"

Pei Laoan thought so.

She assured Old Lady Yi: "Don't worry, nothing like that will happen."

Old Mrs. Yi was only half relieved and walked away with a sigh.

Mr. Pei didn't sleep well for several nights.

People around her just thought that Pei Yan was going to get married, so she was happy. However, only she knew that she was afraid that Pei Yan really had such intentions and would return the position of clan leader to Pei You's branch.

She also knew that the thin ginkgo tree was planted by Old Lady Pei herself the year Pei Yan was born. Old Lady Pei once said that she hoped the tree would grow into a towering tree like Pei Yan, safe and sound.

Pei Yan pretended not to care, but he often watered the tree and almost killed it.

If he transplanted the tree to Shuyu Villa, it would most likely mean that he had decided to live in Shuyu Villa in the future.

Pei Laoan sighed in his heart.

When the people who had been making a fuss in the bridal chamber had left and everyone had gone to bed, she was still full of thoughts and couldn't fall asleep.

Aunt Chen brought someone in and lit some calming incense for her.

But she suddenly didn't want to sleep anymore. She remembered when she and Old Lady Pei had just gotten married. They often lay side by side in bed, dreaming about the future. How many children would they have? What if they had sons? How would they raise daughters? But now, he had left her and left her alone to suffer in this world.

Mr. Pei suddenly became overwhelmed with grief and burst into tears.

Aunt Chen asked hurriedly, "What's wrong with you? Do you want me to read some Buddhist scriptures to you? Or should we go sit in the old lady's study for a while?"

Old Mrs. Pei's study is still preserved, and its furnishings remain the same as when he was alive, with the furnishings changing with the seasons.

Pei Laoan missed the man who had been with her for half her life.

She nodded and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay. Let's go sit in the old lady's room for a while."

Aunt Chen heaved a sigh of relief, told the maids to bring over the cloak and hand warmer, and then she helped Old Man Pei to go to Lixue Hall.

The dim light shines on the bluestone corridor, casting a warm glow.

Aunt Chen gently persuaded Old An: "Now that the Third Master is married, you will have grandchildren in a few days. Then this courtyard will be lively. After all, the Third Madam is young and there are still many things she doesn't understand. You will have to help and look after the upbringing of the grandchildren. You must take care of yourself and make sure that the Third Master's children can study like the grandchildren of the Qian family."

Pei Laoan remembered how naughty his youngest son was when he was little, and suddenly he felt in a good mood. He couldn't help but burst out laughing and said, "How can I be as important as you say? They are both smart people. They can definitely do well without me."

As she spoke, she suddenly didn't want to go to Lixuetang anymore.

She stood at the entrance of the corridor and pondered for a moment, then said to Aunt Chen, "Let's go to Shuyu Shanfang."

Aunt Chen was startled and wanted to ask, "Where are you going to do? You are not going to eavesdrop on the room, are you?" But then she realized she was thinking the wrong thing.

Pei Laoan is not such a mother.

She followed Mr. Pei to Shuyu Mountain House.

The guests had left, and Shuyushan House was quiet. Only a few night watchwomen were there, yawning and sweeping the yard.

The red firecracker paper exploded everywhere, and it was a bright red area, like a red carpet, very festive.

A maid wanted to report to Qing Yuan, but was stopped by Pei Lao An. She said, "I'm just here to take a look. Don't disturb the Third Master and the Third Madam. Today is their wedding night."

The old woman just smiled, not knowing how to respond.

Pei Laoan said to the old woman, "You can come with me! If we meet anyone from Xiaguangyuan, you can also help greet them."

The Pei family is very large, and someone like Pei Laoan may not know everyone in every room, not to mention that Pei Yan had reorganized the duties of the maids in the family a few days ago.

The old woman immediately replied "yes" respectfully and stayed beside Mr. Pei.

Pei Laoan asked her, "Is Qingyuan still the head maid of Shuyushanfang? What about Qingyan? Is she in charge of the farm garden? Haven't the people from both sides been merged? Where did you work originally? When were you transferred here? Are you only in charge of cleaning the outer courtyard? Do you know where the ginkgo tree that the third master moved here is planted? I want to go and see."

"I know!" the old woman replied, while leading Pei Laoan to live where the transplanted ginkgo tree was, she answered Pei Laoan: "I was originally in charge of cleaning at Shuyu Mountain House. After the third master moved in, he still let me work. The people in Gengyuan and Shuyu Mountain House have not been merged. Miss Yan is still in charge of Gengyuan, and Miss Qingyuan has been transferred here. Who will be responsible for what in the future will have to wait until the third wife recognizes her relatives and then rearrange them..."

The reason why Shuyu Mountain House is called a mountain house is because it is built on a small hillside with undulating terrain, which is quite wild.

Mr. Pei was supported by Aunt Chen and the old woman, and it started to rain halfway through the journey.

The rain was not heavy, just a gentle drizzle, but it seemed to be lingering.

Aunt Chen was very anxious and said, "Winter rain hurts people. Let's go back." She ordered the maid, "Go find an umbrella or ask for a sedan chair."

"No need!" Pei Laoan stopped and turned to a pavilion nearby, "Let's rest here."

Aunt Chen didn't dare to let Old Man Pei stand in the rain, so she thought it would be better for him to take shelter first.

But the old woman was smart and ran down the mountain in the rain, saying as she ran, "You and Old An wait a moment, I'll go get the umbrella."

It would be better if we could call a sedan chair, but we should not alarm the Third Elder.

Aunt Chen praised secretly.

But Elder Pei suddenly pointed to a ginkgo tree under the pavilion and said, "Look, is that the one the old lady planted?"

Aunt Chen picked up the lamp and took a closer look. She saw that the tree was tied with a new red cloth ribbon, which was exactly the method often used by the Pei family gardener.

"It's true!" Aunt Chen walked closer, stood on tiptoe to take a closer look, and confirmed, "I saw two words vaguely carved on the tree trunk."

When Pei Yan was young, he was punished by Grandma Pei to stand under a tree because he was naughty and refused to recite. He was not quiet while standing under the tree and carved two characters "Pei" on the tree.

"It's a pity that it's a little far away, and I can't see it clearly." Aunt Chen said, "How about I go down and take a look, and you sit here and don't move."

"No need." Mrs. Pei looked at the rain which was getting heavier and heavier, and she regretted her own willfulness. If she got sick, Pei Yan, a newlywed, would have to take care of her. Wouldn't that be a torture for both of them?

She said, "It won't be too late for us to come and see tomorrow. When the old woman brings the umbrella, we can go back!"

Aunt Chen did not insist.

Pei Laoan walked over.

I found a hibiscus tree next to the ginkgo tree.

In the October weather, the flower buds on a tree, although it is clearly night, are like spring flowers encountering spring rain, quietly opening their calyxes, revealing some tender red petals, struggling to bloom, and the heavy branches seem unable to bear it. Against the backdrop of the straight and tall ginkgo trees, they inexplicably reveal the charm of "a maid helping her up, so weak that she is helpless".

Pei Laoan laughed.

Is it because I haven’t seen such wild flowers and trees at home for a long time?

Ever since the old man passed away, his third son has been annoyed when he sees such flower trees. Everyone in the family revolves around him, so naturally they follow his preferences and pick the flowers before they even bloom.

I wonder if this hibiscus tree was able to remain here because everyone was busy with Pei Yan’s wedding and forgot about it, or because it is so remote that no one noticed it?

But in this night, life feels a bit warmer and more beautiful.

Not bad either!

Mr. Pei decided to tell the people in Shuyu Mountain House that if Pei Yan didn't tell them, they should not pick the flowers.

When the tree blooms in beautiful colors, it will be particularly beautiful.

Mrs. Pei was surrounded by maids and old women and returned to her room, leaving the flower buds on the tree to be tapped by the thin raindrops, drop by drop, until the bud trembled and opened a corner, and then the rain forced its way into the room like a siege, and forced it to bloom the first flower without any preparation.