Chapter 43 Returning the Umbrella to Its Rightful Owner: Here you go.
Yu Man still underestimated the status of the title "Jieyuan" in the village. The next day, Pei's mother came to the Yu family, her brows furrowed with a hint of helplessness.
She took Yu Man's hand and explained the whole story. It turned out that the village chief, Yu Zhengde, had personally visited the Pei family and spoke earnestly.
He said that Pei Ji's passing the imperial examination with top honors was a great joy, and Xingcheng Village was extremely proud of it. He insisted on holding a banquet in the village to celebrate with the whole village.
At first, Pei's father wanted to decline, feeling it would be too ostentatious. However, Yu Zhengde spoke with great skill, recounting how the village had taken in and settled the Pei family when they fled there, and how they had received various forms of care over the years. He meticulously recounted the Pei family's history, effectively elevating Pei's father's status. Yu Zhengde also expressed his hope that after Pei Ji returned from the prefecture, he could take some time to go back to the village and teach the young children who were just beginning their education, hoping to instill a sense of culture in them.
Although Pei's father was somewhat old-fashioned, he was not unreasonable. He could see that Yu Zhengfu was risking his reputation and was wholeheartedly planning for the future of the village, so he finally agreed.
When Pei's mother found out, she almost stood up and scolded Pei's father. "He really comes from a wealthy family, yet all these years he's only focused on his studies, never touching any household affairs, and knows absolutely nothing!"
Pei's mother said helplessly to Yu Man, "It's easy to say we should hold a banquet, but who will pay for it? If the village pays, every household is struggling financially, and everyone is tightening their belts. How can we let everyone share the cost of this celebration?"
After much deliberation, Pei's mother decided that the family would pay for the meal themselves to avoid gossip and to maintain good relations with their fellow villagers. She came to find Yu Man to ask her to organize the feast, which was better than entrusting it to an unfamiliar stranger.
After hearing the whole story, Yu Man thought for a moment and agreed: "Leave this to me. I'll discuss it with the village chief, and the cost of the banquet will be covered by the food stall."
Upon hearing this, Pei's mother immediately refused, saying, "How can this be! You work so hard running this food stall, from dawn till dusk. It's not easy. I absolutely cannot let you pay for it!"
Yu Man smiled and grasped Pei's mother's hand, saying with a smile, "Aunt Liu, when my father had his accident last time, didn't you secretly slip some money to Aunt Xiang?"
That amount was considerable, probably half of the Pei family's fortune. What is this small sum of money for a banquet compared to that?
She was also thinking of finding an opportunity to return the favor; although the two families were on good terms, she couldn't let the other side take advantage of her.
Recalling the past, Pei's mother's eyes welled up with tears. Seeing Yu Man's resolute attitude, she ultimately couldn't persuade her otherwise and could only gratefully agree.
No sooner had she left than the village chief, Yu Zhengde, arrived. He rubbed his hands, unusually a little embarrassed, and after a long chat, he finally revealed his purpose: he also wanted to invite Yu Man's restaurant to host a banquet, and mentioned that the money had been contributed by each household in the village.
Yu Man then recounted how Pei's mother had come earlier.
Upon hearing this, Yu Zhengde immediately waved his hand, "No, no! How can we let the Pei family pay for this, and even less can we let you pay! What kind of situation would that be!" He paused, extremely embarrassed. He had never eaten at Manxin Food Shop before, only heard that the prices were reasonable, but banquets are different from individual purchases, and he was afraid that the little money he had raised wouldn't be enough, which would be awkward.
Yu Man saw his hesitation and readily said, "Please don't refuse. This meal is our restaurant's way of thanking the villagers for their past help. Don't worry about the money; we'll make sure everyone is satisfied."
Upon hearing this, Yu Zhengde recalled how he had favored Yu Man's third uncle's family in the past, and his face burned with shame and gratitude. After returning home, he sighed to his wife, "That girl, Aman, is truly a good child, broad-minded and remembering old friendships."
His wife, who was coaxing her young grandson, rolled her eyes at him when she heard this: "I told you before that Yu Chenglu's family were no good, they were all crooked and treacherous, but you didn't believe me. You insisted that they were relatives and you had to save face. Now you know?"
Yu Zhengde was speechless after being scolded by his wife. Thinking about his foolishness back then, he tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
Meanwhile, Yu Man began preparations. She invited Shan Niang, and the two of them carefully finalized the dishes for the banquet in the open space behind the kitchen, referring to the list.
Since it was a village-wide feast, the emphasis was on affordability, large portions, delicious flavors, and a lively atmosphere. Yu Man drew inspiration from the traditional open-air banquet format he remembered, ordering eight cold dishes, eight hot dishes, two soups, and adding a few celebratory dishes as the grand finale.
For cold dishes, we ordered the refreshing Three Shredded Vegetables Salad, which consisted of shredded kelp, shredded radish, and bean sprouts. It was very refreshing, and the weather was still warm enough. Next was the Garlic Pork Belly Salad, which consisted of thinly sliced pork belly wrapped around cucumber slices and drizzled with chili oil and garlic sauce. It tasted quite good. We also ordered Spicy Pork Ear, Braised Tofu in Soy Sauce, Spicy and Sour Radish, Ginger-flavored Century Egg, Sesame Oil Bamboo Shoots, and a mixed platter.
Hot dishes are mainly hearty dishes: braised pork knuckle, tender and flavorful, suitable for the elderly, and also symbolizing good fortune; steamed pork with rice flour; taro and chicken stew; fish with broad bean paste; twice-cooked pork; braised pork with preserved mustard greens; home-style tofu; and a seasonal stir-fried vegetable dish.
The soup consists of pork rib and lotus root soup and sweet fermented rice soup with small glutinous rice balls.
In addition, Yu Man specially added two auspicious dishes: one is meatballs and quail eggs cooked together, named "Three Scholars Passing the Imperial Examination"; the other is "Eight Treasures Reunion Rice" made of glutinous rice, red dates, lotus seeds, red beans and other ingredients, symbolizing a bountiful harvest and happiness.
After finalizing the menu, Yu Man summoned all the staff at the food stall and announced that the stall would be closed for the day of the banquet, inviting everyone to come to Xingcheng Village to help out and join in the feast. Upon hearing that they could participate in such a grand event and have a day off to enjoy themselves, everyone cheered and was full of enthusiasm.
After returning home, Yu Man told Deng San Niang and Yu Chengfu about the matter. The two of them were also filled with emotion. Yu Man then said to Deng San Niang, "Aunt Xiang, let's invite Uncle Deng and the others over as well, so that we can all have a good time together."
Deng San Niang was sewing Xiu Xiu's clothes when she heard this. She paused and said in a low voice, "They... are probably busy. Let's just forget about it."
Yu Chengfu interjected, "How can we let it go? We've invited all the villagers. If my elder brother and the others don't come, people will think our two families don't get along, and that'll just give them something to talk about."
Deng San Niang looked at her husband and stepdaughter, and seeing that they were sincere, she nodded: "Then... I will send them a message tomorrow."
For the next two days, Yu Man was extremely busy, personally going to the market to purchase and pre-order various ingredients and meats to ensure freshness and sufficient quantity. Shan Niang was in charge of the daily operations of the food stall, so she invited Xiao Chun Niang, who had previously helped out and was also quite skilled, to be one of the head chefs, and also hired several capable women from the village to help out.
On the day of the banquet, Xingcheng Village was as lively as if it were Chinese New Year. Dozens of square tables and long benches were set up early in the open space in front of the ancestral hall in the village. Smoke rose from the temporary stoves, and the aroma filled the air.
With a shout of "Let's begin!", the aunties helping out in the kitchen filed out carrying huge trays. One after another, delicious-looking dishes were placed on the table, a dazzling array, steaming hot.
The braised pork knuckle was stewed until tender, the meat falling off the bone with a touch of chopsticks, and the sauce was rich and flavorful; the steamed pork with rice flour melted in your mouth, and the sweet potatoes underneath absorbed the meat juices, becoming sweet, soft, and glutinous; the braised fish with broad bean paste was fragrant, and the fish was fresh, spicy, and flavorful; the twice-cooked pork was perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat, curled up like lanterns, and served with green garlic sprouts, making it incredibly appetizing; the braised pork with preserved mustard greens was glossy and red, the slices of pork were thin and flavorful, and the preserved mustard greens underneath were savory and delicious with rice... Every dish made everyone's mouths water and they praised it highly.
"Everyone's in for a treat today!" Yu Zhengde shouted with a smile.
Yu Man had just finished her work when Liu Yiyi pulled her to sit at a table. Liu Yiyi had heard the news and specifically brought her husband back to her parents' home to secure a table at the banquet. While waiting for her husband to serve her food, she exclaimed to Yu Man, "Your restaurant is truly a coveted spot in the county now; it's always packed. I never imagined I'd be able to enjoy such an authentic feast back in the village. It's all thanks to you!"
After she finished speaking, she leaned closer to Yu Man, lowered her voice, and said with the excitement of sharing a secret: "Hey, have you heard? That lady from the Chen family has been divorced!"
"Madam Chen?" Yu Man was taken aback before realizing she was referring to her cousin, Yu Xiuyu. "What happened?"
"They say she tried to harm Chen Jing'an's favored concubine, Zhou, but Chen Jing'an caught her red-handed and sent her back to her parents' home with a letter of divorce!" Liu Yiyi said with a sigh. After a pause, she added, "But she finally reaped what she sowed. I heard that she had harmed many of Chen Jing'an's other concubines' children before. That concubine, Deng, hated her so much that she set this trap for her."
Yu Man became curious instead: "How do you know so much?"
Liu Yiyi raised her chin and pointed proudly to her husband, who was quietly eating beside her: "My husband said it, the information is guaranteed to be true!"
Upon hearing his wife mention him, Liu Yiyi, whose face resembled that of an honest-looking husband, looked up shyly, smiled at Yu Man, and whispered to Liu Yiyi, "Eat quickly, the food is getting cold." His demeanor was indeed quite different from his image as someone who could find out such secrets about the inner quarters of the household.
Yu Man sighed as she got up, asking Liu Yiyi to watch her embroidery for a while while she went to brew the medicine.
As Deng San Niang's belly grew larger, Yu Chengfu was practically counting down the days, extremely anxious. Every few days, he would call a doctor to come to their home to check her pulse and ensure the safety of both mother and child.
Yu Man found an empty stove with a fire burning, took a few pieces of burning charcoal, carefully boiled the medicine for preventing miscarriage prescribed by the doctor, filtered out the dregs, and poured out a bowl of thick brown soup.
Holding the warm bowl of medicine, Yu Man asked Xiao Chunniang, who was helping to tidy up in the yard, and said that Deng Sanniang had gone home to rest. Fortunately, the village courtyard was still there, so there was a place to rest.
Yu Man was still a few steps away from the door when she could faintly hear the voices inside, which were deliberately lowered but still couldn't hide their excitement. She recognized the voice as that of Deng's eldest sister-in-law.
"Sister! Would your brother and I ever harm you? You need to talk to your brother-in-law about this as soon as possible!" Sister-in-law Deng's tone was anxious.
“Now that Yu Man is about to marry into the Pei family, and Xiu Xiu is a money-losing girl, but the one in your belly,” Sister-in-law Deng lowered her voice, with certainty, “I’d bet my life it’s a big, healthy boy! You’d better start planning for him as soon as possible!”
“Take yourself for example. When I gave birth to Huixin, wasn’t your brother also longing for a grandson? What man doesn’t think that way?”
Brother Deng seemed a little embarrassed and interrupted, "Why bring up these old stories!"
Sister-in-law Deng disagreed, raising her voice slightly instead: "Am I wrong? What man doesn't want a son to carry on the family line? Besides, your family is doing well now, and your food shop is thriving! If that girl Yu Man were to slip a little something through her fingers, what would your son have to worry about in the future?"
She appeared completely open and honest, as if she were genuinely concerned for Deng San Niang.
After a moment of silence, Deng San Niang's calm and even voice rang out: "Brother... do you think so too?"
Brother Deng hesitated for a moment, his voice a little muffled: "...What your sister-in-law said isn't entirely unreasonable."
Deng San Niang's voice remained calm: "The food shop, and the Yu family's things, all belong to Aman. This is something that Chengfu and I discussed and decided long ago, it's a done deal, and it will never be changed."
"What?!" Brother Deng had never heard of this before, and his voice was filled with anger. "Did Yu Chengfu say that? That heartless bastard! You've worked so hard for the Yu family for so many years, bearing children, and in the end you get nothing?!"
“I said it,” Deng Sanniang interrupted him, her voice clear. “That’s what I said from the day I decided to marry into the Yu family.”
She paused, her voice tinged with helplessness: "Brother, do you remember? When our parents passed away early, we were so poor we couldn't even afford to eat. Those relatives wanted nothing more than to skin us alive and bleed us dry. Back then, you said you were determined to reopen the little butcher shop that Dad left behind, to bring glory to the family... but we didn't even have the capital."
Her voice lowered: "I agreed to marry into the Yu family. Chengfu is a good man, honest and upright, and Aman... is an even better child. But in my heart, I always feel guilty towards them, father and daughter. I feel that this marriage was not clean from the beginning."
“Over the years, I’ve tried to go back to my parents’ home as little as possible because I don’t want to get involved in these things anymore. Last time, Chengfu was framed and imprisoned, and the sky fell down on our family. You came all the way here, saying you wanted to take me back… I thought at the time…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but the disappointment in her unfinished words was hard to hide.
"After you finish this meal, you can go back." Deng San Niang's voice regained its calmness, but it carried a sense of distance. "Don't come again in the future."
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Deng became anxious, her voice sharpening: "Why are you so stubborn and unreasonable! Who are your brother and I doing all this for? Isn't it so that you and the child in your belly can have someone to rely on in the future!"
"Enough!" Brother Deng suddenly shouted, seemingly pulling Sister-in-law Deng from the bedside. His voice was filled with suppressed anger. "We've wronged Ah Xiang! Don't mention it again! Let's go!"
"Why are you pulling me! Try to persuade her again! Our Liangzu still needs to go to the prefecture to study, and the tuition..." Sister-in-law Deng's unwilling voice was pulled away and gradually disappeared outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by footsteps.
Yu Man stood quietly in the shadows outside the door, holding the bowl of medicine that was no longer scalding hot. She didn't go in immediately, but looked into the room through the half-open window.
Deng Sanniang lay on her side facing inward, her shoulders rising and falling slightly.
Yu Man stood silently for a while. In the end, she did not choose to go in at this moment. She quietly turned around, picked up the bowl of medicine, and quietly retreated back to the kitchen, putting the bowl of medicine back into the still warm pot to keep it warm.
After finishing everything, she went to find Yu Chengfu. She found her father, who was surrounded by several jubilant villagers urging him to drink and whose face was flushed, and gently reminded him, "Father, Aunt Xiang needs to take her medicine. I've already brewed it. Please take it to her."
Upon hearing this, Yu Chengfu instantly sobered up considerably and hurriedly bowed to those around him, apologizing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry everyone, something has come up at home, I must excuse myself, please enjoy your meal!" He left without hesitation and hurried towards the makeshift kitchen in the backyard, "I'll go right now!"
Watching his hurried figure, Yu Man felt a little relieved before turning to find Xiu Xiu. The little girl had been playing wildly today, running around with a group of village children, her hair a bit disheveled and her face flushed. But as soon as she saw her older sister, she immediately became obedient, like a kitten being grabbed by the scruff of its neck, and came over to take Yu Man's hand.
On her way home, Xiuxiu kicked at the pebbles on the road and muttered, "Sister, Xiaochun and the others scared me."
"Oh? What did they scare you about?" Yu Man slowed her pace.
Xiuxiu raised her head, her little brows furrowed tightly, and said clearly, "They said that when Mother gives birth to a younger brother or sister, Father and Mother will not care about me anymore. All the good things will be given to the younger brother or sister, and I will become an unwanted child."
Yu Man was about to offer some words of comfort when she saw Xiu Xiu stop in her tracks, shake her head vigorously, and say earnestly, "But I think what they said is wrong!"
She looked up at Yu Man, her eyes sparkling, and said firmly, "My parents will always love me, and so will my older sister!" She stretched out her little hands, trying to make a lot of gestures.
After saying that, she gestured for Yu Man to squat down, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Mother has always secretly told me that I want to like my older sister the most, even more than I like candy!"
Yu Man was both amused and touched after hearing this. She reached out and ruffled Xiu Xiu's soft hair, then picked her up and said, "You little rascal! Let's go home."
The next day, Deng Sanniang resumed her usual efficient work. Seeing Yu Man taking stock of the things she was going to take back to the county town, she quickly stopped her: "Aman, take a break. You haven't stopped since we came back from the prefecture. You've lost weight." As she spoke, she poured her a cup of tea.
Yu Man took the water glass but didn't drink it. Instead, he grabbed Deng San Niang's hand and gently pressed her down onto the stool next to him. He then leaned over and rested his head on Deng San Niang's shoulder.
"Mother, you should rest for a while too."
Deng San Niang first smiled habitually and patted her hand: "I'm not tired at all, why do you need to rest..." Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly stopped, her whole body stiffening instantly as if she had been struck by an acupuncture point.
What did Aman call her just now?
mother?
Not Aunt Xiang, but Mother?!
Yu Man felt the stiffness in her subordinate's shoulder and felt a little embarrassed. She quickly straightened up as if nothing had happened, said "I'll go see if Xiu Xiu is awake," and then slipped out of the house with light steps.
Deng San Niang remained in the same position, sitting there motionless, her eyes slightly wide open, the word "mother" echoing repeatedly in her mind, her heart filled with a bittersweet feeling.
Just then, Yu Chengfu brought in breakfast. Seeing Deng Sanniang sitting there blankly with a strange expression, he immediately became nervous and quickly put down his chopsticks and went over to her: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Does your stomach hurt?" He was so anxious that he didn't know what to do.
Deng Sanniang seemed not to hear his question, still lost in her own thoughts, murmuring, "Mother..."
Yu Chengfu became even more anxious, thinking she was missing her mother, and hurriedly and clumsily comforted her, "Don't be sad, when we have some free time in a few days, I'll go back to your parents' home with you to properly pay respects to your mother-in-law..."
Deng San Niang then came to her senses, turned to look at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and said in a light voice, "No... it was Aman... she just... called me 'Mother'."
Yu Chengfu: "Huh?!?!?!"
His exclamation was so loud that his eyes widened, his mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg, and he was even more stiff than Deng San Niang had been.
His shout snapped Deng San Niang out of her daze. Looking at her husband's silly expression, she couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to pat him on the head: "Look at you, so pathetic! What are you yelling about?"
Yu Chengfu was startled by the pat and snapped back to reality. He grabbed Deng Sanniang's hand and asked urgently, his voice still trembling, "Really?! You didn't hear me wrong?!"
Seeing his surprised and delighted expression, as if he wanted to spin around a few times, Deng Sanniang's lingering resentment completely vanished, leaving only a broad smile. She glanced at him sideways, her lips curving upwards: "Otherwise what? Would I lie to you?"
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Yu Chengfu grinned from ear to ear, rubbing his hands together. He paced back and forth a couple of times before moving closer to Deng Sanniang, carefully touching her protruding belly and grinning foolishly, "Good! Good! Really good!"
...
Deer Banquet
Inside the prefect's mansion, the decorations tonight were extravagant and lavish. Glass lanterns hung beside the vermilion pillars, their walls adorned with exquisite paintings of flowers, birds, and figures. Inside, the candlelight blazed brightly, illuminating the night as if it were daytime. On the sandalwood tables, delicacies were laid out in golden platters and jade bowls, and many spirited young scholars took their seats in order.
Prefect Gu Kangshi of Laizhou sat in the main seat, his face radiant. He raised his cup to toast the students present, his voice booming with the affability and enthusiasm characteristic of officials: "You are all outstanding talents of Laizhou. Your success in this autumn's imperial examinations is truly a blessing for Laizhou! I hereby wish you all continued success in next year's spring examinations, that you may achieve even greater honors and bring further glory to Laizhou!"
Everyone responded in unison and drank their cups dry.
Gu Kangshi put down his wine cup, and his gaze naturally fell on Pei Ji, who was sitting at the head of the left. His smile widened, and he said with undisguised admiration, "Pei Jieyuan, I have long heard of your talent. Seeing you today, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved. Your demeanor is truly outstanding!"
Pei Ji rose, performed the ceremony with composure, and spoke in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "Your Excellency is too kind, Prefect. I am unworthy of such praise. This fortunate turn of events is entirely due to Your Excellency and the other examiners' impartial selection."
Gu Kangshi nodded with a smile, and was about to speak again when the prefect's wife leaned slightly and whispered a few words in his ear. A glint flashed in Gu Kangshi's eyes, and he stroked his beard and laughed, "Very good! Gentlemen, my wife just mentioned that she has a niece who has always admired talented people and is impressed by the demeanor of you young talents. She wishes to play a tune on her flute to enhance the elegant atmosphere and express her congratulations."
As soon as the words were spoken, a beaded curtain fluttered slightly, and a young woman in a light purple dress stepped out gracefully. Her hair was styled in a cloud-like pattern, her face radiant with beauty, and her eyes held deep affection; she was none other than Gu Kangshi's niece, Gu Xiaoyue. Holding a jade flute, she gave a slight curtsy to the crowd before beginning to play. The flute's melody was melodious and plaintive, its sound both sorrowful and poignant, demonstrating truly superb skill.
In addition, she was beautiful and had a slender figure. When she finished singing and gracefully withdrew with a smile, many young students were already mesmerized and their hearts were swayed.
Gu Kang subtly observed Pei Ji, who sat at the top left, and Zhang Jian, who remained silent at the top right. He noticed that Pei Ji was slightly bowing his head, intently adjusting his sleeves, which had no loose threads or wrinkles, while Zhang Jian's gaze went directly across the room to a traditional Chinese ink painting of landscape hanging on the side of the hall, his eyes focused intently.
Gu Kangshi chuckled inwardly, but had no choice but to speak first, targeting the most prominent Pei Ji, his tone carrying the concern of an elder: "Young and promising Scholar Pei, I wonder if your family has an arranged marriage? If not, I do know several young ladies of excellent character and appearance..."
Pei Ji raised his head, his gaze calm: "Thank you for your concern, sir. I am already engaged, a marriage arranged since childhood."
These words caused a stir among the assembled guests. Countless gazes focused on Pei Ji, some with surprise, some with regret, and some with curiosity. Even Zhang Jian, who had been lost in thought, couldn't help but turn his gaze back, his light eyes falling on Pei Ji with a hint of slight astonishment.
Gu Kangshi's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. He chuckled and said, "Oh? I see! Good thing, good thing! A marriage arranged since childhood is the rarest of all!" He quickly shifted his gaze to Zhang Jian, "And what about Young Master Zhang? With such an air of elegance, his doorstep must have been worn down by matchmakers by now, right?"
Zhang Jian's expression remained unchanged, and he simply uttered two words: "No."
Gu Kangshi was delighted and was about to continue when Zhang Jian spoke up, his tone distant and direct: "I have no interest in this." He paused, then pointed to the painting he had been gazing at and asked, "Lord Gu, is this painting an authentic work of the blue-green landscape by the great master Li Sixun of the previous dynasty?"
Gu Kangshi was taken aback by his abrupt change of direction and nodded subconsciously: "Young Master Zhang has good eyesight."
At the same time, he weighed the options in his mind. If he could win over this young master Zhang from the capital with a painting, it would certainly be worthwhile. He quickly said, "If young master Zhang likes it, this official..."
"The green and blue hues are meticulously applied, the peaks and ridges are layered, creating a sense of vastness within a small space. However," he changed his tone slightly, still calm, but with a subtle increase in solemnity:
"I once saw a record in some unofficial historical anecdotes that Li Gong was deeply involved in the Yuanyou factional struggle of the previous dynasty in his later years. Although his painting skills were superb, he was ultimately unable to remain unscathed."
Upon hearing this, Gu Kangshi's smile froze instantly, and his pupils contracted slightly. He had collected this painting only because of its value; he had never delved into anything else. Now that Zhang Jian had pointed it out, and recalling the fierce factional struggles of the previous dynasty, a cold sweat broke out on his back. He finally understood why Prince Ding had also lingered in front of this painting for so long earlier.
He has no interest in getting involved in factional struggles!
Gu Kangshi gestured to the butler with his eyes, urging him to quickly retrieve the item!
The banquet ended, and everyone dispersed. Just as they stepped out of the prefect's mansion, they discovered that a light drizzle had begun, carrying a refreshing coolness.
The steward of the prefect's mansion hurriedly said, "Gentlemen, please wait a moment. I will send someone to fetch the umbrellas right away."
Just as they were busy, a maidservant came hurriedly from the side door, holding an umbrella. She was carrying an exquisitely crafted embroidered umbrella that was clearly a lady's item. She went straight to Zhang Jian, curtsied, and said, "Young Master Zhang, my lady heard that it was raining and specially ordered me to bring this umbrella for you to use."
Everyone glanced at her subtly, guessing that this woman was most likely Gu Xiaoyue, who had just performed the song. Her gesture of goodwill was clearly meaningful.
Zhang Jian didn't even lift his eyelids. He took a step back, avoiding the embroidered umbrella that was offered to him, and said in a voice as cold as the autumn rain, "No need." After saying that, he lifted the hem of his robe and stepped straight into the rain. His posture was upright and his steps were unhurried, as if the lingering rain was nothing more than an invisible thing to him.
Just then, Gu Qiu also came over with an umbrella and handed the two umbrellas to Pei Ji.
Pei Ji took the blue cloth umbrella and opened it. He watched Zhang Jian's back as he walked into the rain, his eyes flashing slightly. He then took a few steps and caught up with him.
"Please wait a moment, Young Master Zhang."
Hearing the sound, Zhang Jian stopped and turned around. Rain soaked his shoulders, and a few strands of dark hair clung to his forehead, making his jade-like face appear even more striking, and his eyes clear and serene. He looked at Pei Ji, who had caught up with him, a questioning look in his eyes.
Pei Ji handed over another unassuming, slightly worn oil-paper umbrella, saying gently, "This umbrella should be returned to its rightful owner."
Zhang Jian's gaze fell on the umbrella, his expression slightly tense. He recognized it immediately; it was one he had made himself when he was a child, learning carpentry from his fifth uncle. Though simple, it was made with care. His fifth uncle had grumbled a bit about how regrettable it was when he gave it to the woman in the green dress at the food stall during the last rainy day. He never expected to get it back.
He reached out and took it, feeling the cool bamboo handle and its familiar roughness. "Thank you," he said succinctly.
I don't know how this umbrella ended up in Pei Ji's hands.
Pei Ji watched him take the umbrella, a faint smile curving his lips, and continued, "I should thank Young Master Zhang. If it weren't for your generosity in lending me the umbrella that day, she would have had to return soaked in the rain. She told me to make sure to return the umbrella to its rightful owner."
she?
Zhang Jian looked up at Pei Ji, meeting his deep and unfathomable eyes.
"It's nothing, just a small favor." His tone remained calm. "But... how did Madam Pei know that I was the one who lent her the umbrella that day?" He assumed the woman was Pei Ji's sister.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, the person opposite him looked at him and smiled slightly.
“She is not my sister, and she does not share my surname.” Pei Ji’s voice was clear and steady, standing out distinctly in the pattering rain. “Aman and I have been betrothed since childhood.”
It turns out that the fiancée Pei Ji mentioned in the hall was her.
Ah Man... is that her name?
The slightest doubt that arose vanished instantly, like ink dissolving in water. Zhang Jian understood the meaning behind those words. He gripped the umbrella handle, met Pei Ji's gaze, nodded slightly, and simply replied, "I see."
"I resigned after offering my advice."
He opened the old umbrella he had lost and found, and stepped into the depths of the misty rain, leaving only the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance.
Pei Ji stood there, watching the figure disappear, the smile on his face slowly fading.
When Xia Yu returned to the Zhang family's secluded courtyard, the rain was still pouring down. The courtyard was warmly lit, and an elderly man with gray hair, wearing a worn-out hemp robe, was sitting on the porch, mending something by the light of an oil lamp. He was none other than his fifth uncle, who had taken care of him since childhood, from the capital to Laizhou.
Hearing footsteps, Fifth Uncle looked up and saw that Zhang Jian's shoulders were slightly damp. He immediately put down his work and began to nag, "Why did you come back in the rain? Weren't you going to a banquet? You didn't even know to find an umbrella? What if you catch a cold and fall behind in your studies? You child, you never know how to take care of yourself..."
Zhang Jian listened quietly, offering no explanation, but simply handed over the worn-out oil-paper umbrella he was holding.
Fifth Uncle took the umbrella, his nagging abruptly ceasing. He stroked the familiar bamboo handle and umbrella surface, his eyes revealing surprise: "This...this is the one we made years ago? You got it back from that woman in green?" He remembered clearly that Zhang Jian had mentioned lending the umbrella to a woman in green who was taking shelter from the rain at a food stall that day, and he had even expressed some regret about it.
Zhang Jian shook his head, his voice flat and emotionless: "It wasn't her." He paused, seemingly considering his words. The word "fiancé" circled on his lips, but he ultimately felt it was too inappropriate, so he changed it to a more vague and distant reference: "It was... her family who paid it back."
"Family?" Fifth Uncle paused for a moment, then seemed to remember something, and the joy that had just appeared on his face faded, replaced by a hint of disappointment. "Sigh, I thought... I went to the teahouse today and just heard a play called 'The Umbrella Romance,' which is about a talented scholar and a beautiful woman who are brought together by an umbrella. What a good omen..." He looked at Zhang Jian's still expressionless face and sighed with disappointment, "You, what's wrong with your looks and learning? But it's this kind of personality you have! What girl would like someone as taciturn as you, who can't even say a soft word?"
Zhang Jian did not respond to his fifth uncle's complaints, as if he had not heard them. He went straight to the desk by the window, spread out the Xuan paper, ground the ink, picked up the brush, and began to copy a stele inscription, his posture upright and his expression focused.
Seeing his appearance, Fifth Uncle knew that it was useless to say anything more, so he could only shake his head and mutter "rotten wood cannot be carved". He picked up the old umbrella that had been lost and found, carefully wiped it, and prepared to put it away.
Once Uncle Wu's footsteps disappeared into the next room, only the scent of ink and the soft sound of rain outside the window remained in the study.
Zhang Jian wielded his brush with a suspended wrist, the tip of the brush gliding smoothly across the rice paper. However, when he finished writing the left radical of a character, the elegant "氵" already formed, and he was about to write the right half, his body suddenly froze.
The pen tip barely touched the paper, and a drop of thick ink slowly spread, staining a small patch of Xuan paper black.
He lowered his eyes, looking at the character he had only written halfway.
Without hesitation, he reached out, crumpled the piece of Xuan paper with only one radical written on it into a ball, and threw it into the charcoal brazier next to him.
The flames licked the paper quickly, the ink twisted and charred in the flames, and finally turned to ashes, along with that moment of bewildered disorientation.
Silence returned to the study, broken only by the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire, reflecting on his once again serene face. He spread out another sheet of paper, dipped it in ink, and began to write, this time, flawless prose by sages.
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