Chapter 5 Covering the Sky with One Hand
Back at Zhenxiu Pavilion, the Second Madam was not sitting in the inner room. The manager said she was in the courtyard.
Passing through the small gate, one enters a small courtyard with an old locust tree. The second madam sits on a stone bench under the tree's shade, slowly fanning herself with a round fan. Tea is laid out on the stone table. No maids attend to her, only an older nanny stands there, bending down to whisper something in her ear. It's unclear what she's saying, but both women have solemn expressions.
Hearing footsteps, the old woman took a step back warily and straightened up to look at the three girls.
The second madam's solemn expression instantly transformed into a normal smile. "Oh, you're back so soon? Has Third Girl changed her ways today?" she said, waving to the nanny.
The old woman understood, bowed respectfully, and turned to walk into the house. After taking a few steps, she turned her head and glanced at Ruan Bi's face.
Ruan Bi was taken aback, looked closely, and confirmed that she did not recognize her.
"Mother, go ahead and criticize me all you want." The third young lady quickly walked over and sat down, instructing the maid to place the things she had bought on the stone table. She then handed the second madam a honey-roasted pigeon wrapped in oiled paper. "This is for Mother."
Didn't you say I didn't want it?
"Then I'll eat it myself," the third girl said, and tried to pull her hand back.
The second wife rolled her eyes at her, patted the back of her hand lightly, took the honey-roasted pigeon, slowly peeled off the oil paper, and threatened, "You're not allowed to buy it again next time, or I'll confiscate your monthly allowance."
After many such conversations, the Third Sister ignored her and pushed a honey-roasted pigeon in front of Ruan Bi, saying, "Fifth Sister, this pigeon is delicious. Eat it while it's hot." After saying that, she peeled off the oil paper, tore off a small piece, and ate it slowly. Her eating manners were very refined. She chewed it in small bites without making a sound.
"What about Fourth Sister?" Ruan Bi asked in surprise.
"Her," the third girl said, glancing at the fourth girl with a half-smile, "Don't push her too hard. If she gains even a tiny bit of weight, she'll come after you."
The fourth sister rolled her eyes at her and said, "Fifth sister, don't listen to her nonsense. I don't like eating these greasy things." Although she said that, her eyes lingered on the honey-roasted pigeon.
Ruan Bi suddenly realized that dieting was indeed an eternal topic for women. Fourth Miss's figure was perfect, neither too plump nor too slender; any more would be greasy, any less would be gaunt. No wonder she cared so much. Since that was the case, Ruan Bi stopped trying to persuade her. The roasted pigeon was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, truly delicious.
After eating the pigeon, the maids fetched water from the well. Everyone washed their hands clean.
Looking at the sky, it was almost noon, and it seemed unlikely that she would make it home in time for lunch. So, the second madam sent a servant to a nearby inn to order a table of food, which was set up in the main hall. Regardless of rank, the maids also sat down to eat. They finished their meal, chatting and laughing, by which time it was already 4:45 PM.
Ruan Bi thought, "Now I can go back to the manor."
The second wife said, "I drank too much just now, I need to rest for a while."
So everyone rested in their rooms for a while, only getting up at 1:45 PM to comb their hair and tidy their faces before heading home. The carriage turned into Locust Tree Lane and stopped in front of the Ruan residence. Ruan Bi and the others had just alighted when a person suddenly jumped out from the side of the road, sat on the ground, and shouted, "My poor daughter! You've been violated for nothing! Is there no justice? Is there no law?"
Ruan Bi looked closely and saw that the old woman sitting on the ground was in her early fifties with a fleshy face and wearing a brown shirt. Wasn't this the same old woman she had seen in the First Madam's courtyard a few days ago? Even her clothes were the same ones, only they had been washed several times and were a little faded.
Several servants who were squatting at the side gate rushed out, carrying long sticks and shouting, "You old hag, why did you cross the road again? Get out of here, get out of here!" They poked her with the sticks.
The old woman crawled all over the floor, yelling, "Someone's been hit! Someone's been killed!"
The second wife frowned and hissed, "Stop! Don't hurt anyone."
The servants acted as if they hadn't heard anything. They continued chasing the old woman with their sticks.
The gatekeeper ran out, bowing and scraping to the second madam, and said, "Second madam, you don't know, this old woman isn't very bright. She comes to our gate every few days to cause trouble and say foul language. You should take the three young ladies inside quickly, lest you offend their ears."
The second wife said sternly, “Our Ruan family has a long tradition of scholarship and has always treated people with courtesy and reason. We have never used sticks to chase people away. When the old master was alive, a local ruffian caused trouble at our gate, claiming that a leaf from the manor had fallen and hit him on the head. The steward said this man was trying to extort money and told the servants to throw him out. The old master said that our Ruan family always persuades people with reason, and we don’t tolerate this kind of violence. Then he politely invited the ruffian into the manor, took him to the garden, and told him to find which tree the leaf had fallen from so he could tie up that tree and take it to the authorities. The ruffian left in shame. When word got out, everyone said the old master was a wise and virtuous gentleman who could distinguish right from wrong. Have you all forgotten what the old master said?”
The gatekeeper said with difficulty, "Second Madam, how could we forget the old master's words? We have always treated people with courtesy, but some people just come here to cause trouble. When we treat them with courtesy, they just keep pestering us..."
Before he could finish speaking, the old woman next to him let out a scream of pain.
The second wife raised her eyebrows slightly and said in a raised voice, "Stop, stop."
The servants only remembered the madam's instructions and ignored her words, continuing to chase the old woman around on the ground with sticks.
The second wife was so angry that her face turned pale and her body trembled. The third young lady was also so angry that she clenched her teeth.
Ruan Bi was secretly alarmed. She hadn't expected that even the servants wouldn't listen to the Second Madam, which showed that the First Madam had already taken control of the situation.
The gatekeeper whispered, "Second Madam, you should go inside. The First Madam instructed us to do this..."
The second wife glared at him angrily, about to speak, when the old woman rolled behind her. A careless servant boy poked the second wife's ankle with his stick, causing her to cry out "Ouch!" and sway slightly. The servants, realizing they'd caused trouble, dared not poke her with their sticks any further and quickly retreated a few steps.
The third young lady helped the second mistress up and angrily scolded, "What's wrong with you? Can't you even see with your eyes open?"
The second wife sneered and said, "It's not that they're blind, it's that they don't recognize me as their second wife. Fine, fine, I'll go to the old lady to settle this..." Pointing to the old woman huddled at her feet, she said, "You, get up and come with me into the mansion to explain things clearly."
The gatekeeper was startled and quickly stepped in front, saying, "Second Madam, this is inappropriate. Who knows where this wild old woman came from? Bringing her into the mansion without knowing her background will be punished by the First Madam."
"I brought them in, how could I punish you?" the second madam said angrily. "You blind servants, get out of here!"
The gatekeeper didn't move, and said with difficulty, "Second Madam, please don't make things difficult for me."
The third young lady's voice trembled with anger: "Who made things difficult for you? It's you, a mere servant, who dares to block your master's way?"
The gatekeeper was so anxious that tears were almost streaming down his face. "Third Miss, I'm innocent! How dare I block the Second Madam's way? I... I... The First Madam instructed that this wild woman must not be allowed to barge into the mansion."
"Alright, alright," the second madam said. "If you won't let me bring her in, then I'll just stand outside."
The gatekeeper's face turned green upon hearing this. A servant standing at the corner gate gave him a wink, and the servant, understanding, ran inside, clearly to report to the First Madam. Ruan Bi's eyes darted around, and she tugged at the Third Miss's sleeve, saying, "Third Sister, let's go inside first. Grandmother is waiting for the sweet candies and honey cakes you have."
The second mistress's eyes lit up, but the third young lady angrily flicked her sleeve and said, "Even now, you still care about these things? Fine, fine, just take them in to Grandmother."
"Third Miss, you go in with Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss first. You are all unmarried girls, what are you doing showing your faces in public?" the Second Madam said, winking at the Third Miss.
The third young lady was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized. She nodded and said, "Alright, alright, I'll go and bring food to Grandmother first." After saying that, she stepped inside, not forgetting to glare fiercely at the servants. Ruan Bi and the fourth young lady followed. When they were almost at the hanging flower gate, the first lady, with a dark face, led a group of servants out aggressively.
Fourth Sister and Ruan Bi quickly stopped to pay their respects, but Third Sister angrily turned her head away and kept walking inside.
The First Madam acted as if she hadn't seen them, strode past them with brisk steps, and headed towards the gate. After she passed, Ruan Bi sent Xiuzhi back to Liaoyuan with the cloth, while she and the Fourth Miss went to the Old Madam's courtyard. Just as they reached the main house, they heard the Third Miss inside sobbing, "Grandmother, you must do justice for my mother!"
The old lady asked in surprise, "What's wrong, Third Girl?"
Ruan Bi and the fourth young lady entered the side hall, where they saw the old lady sitting on the couch, with the third young lady kneeling at her feet, speaking with tears streaming down her face... After listening, the old lady's expression turned solemn, and she looked up at Ruan Bi and the fourth young lady: "Fourth girl, fifth girl, is what the third girl said true?"
Ruan Bi and the Fourth Sister nodded.
The old lady sneered and said, "Very well, that explains why we haven't heard any news from outside lately." She paused, then said, "Manyun, go and fetch the First Madam."
"Yes." Manyun responded and was about to go outside to send a maid when she heard the old lady say, "Wait, don't call her anymore, go and call the master back."
Manyun responded again and hurriedly left.
The side hall was silent, the atmosphere oppressive. The old lady's face was ashen, the third young lady wept, the fourth young lady twisted her handkerchief with her head bowed, and Ruan Bi was trying to organize her thoughts. The second lady stepped out of the carriage. This old woman rushed over, her timing impeccable.
Things that seem too coincidental are usually premeditated.
No wonder she kept delaying at Zhenxiu Pavilion; she was trying to come back right on time… Just as I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard someone outside say, “The Second Madam is here.”
The curtain was suddenly pulled open, and the second madam, accompanied by her maid, walked in heavily. Her face was full of anger as she knelt before the old madam and said, "Mother, I...I..." Before she could finish speaking, her voice choked with sobs.
Then a voice came from outside: "The First Madam has arrived."
The curtain was lifted, and the First Madam strode in, her brows and eyes cold as she looked at the Second Madam kneeling on the ground. She then knelt down in front of the Old Madam.
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