How is it?
Not so good!
But as Song Jiyun looked at her mother’s earnest gaze, she couldn’t just bluntly throw a few harsh words at her, could she?
"Mother’s judgment is definitely right!" she forced a smile and said, "However, it’s too early to talk about this now. Let’s see how it goes. The road tests the strength of the horse, and time reveals the heart of a person."
"Yes!" Madam Qian nodded with satisfaction and started to share her plans with Song Jiyun. "Young Master Yuan is still so young. I’m thinking about finding a private tutor for him to study for a few years. I don’t expect him to participate in the imperial examinations, but it would be good for him to meet some scholars. Your father, back in his days, had supported a few scholars, and that’s how he established connections with Prince Huai’s Mansion and Prince Ning’s Mansion."
Her mother was planning to spend money to groom Yuan Yunzhong!
Song Jiyun didn’t want to listen, but she still had to respond to her mother: "These matters aren’t urgent. We’ll talk about it after Dad’s forty-ninth day memorial."
Some things, dragged on and on, just fizzle out.
She took the opportunity to change the subject and spoke to Madam Qian about her father’s fourteenth-day memorial rites: "I asked Mr. Yin-Yang, and he said that inviting monks and Taoists to perform a ritual at home is already the most dignified arrangement. I’m thinking of setting up an altar at home at that time. Those who wish to pay their respects can do so; if not, that’s fine too."
Tears welled up in Madam Qian’s eyes upon hearing this.
Song Jiyun didn’t want to make her mother sad. She sighed and hugged Madam Qian’s shoulders, saying, "Don’t worry, I keep all these in mind. Those who have been good to us, we’ll find an opportunity to repay their kindness; as for those who haven’t been good to us, we can simply ignore them even if they come begging to us."
However, Madam Qian’s conversation shifted back to Yuan Yunzhong: "I think he is a cold face with a warm heart. He never joined in front of your father’s memorial hall, probably because he felt his low status was inconvenient for taking actions. This time you drop a hint to him, say our family appreciates his forthrightness and advocacy. With his disposition, during your father’s small memorial service, he’ll definitely help us out and manage the guests. With him there, there will be much less idle talk."
Song Jiyun felt that she couldn’t escape the name Yuan Yunzhong for the whole day.
"I understand!" She replied perfunctorily and involuntarily made her way to Yinyu Hall upon returning.
Liu Zi was about to go report, but she stopped him.
She tiptoed toward the hall.
Beyond the screen, she saw Yuan Yunzhong wearing a moon-white color fine cloth Taoist robe, reclining in a Drunken Master’s Chair and reading a book, while several newly bought servant boys were learning to write on a sand tray, lying on the steps in the courtyard.
Liu Zi hurriedly gestured to her: The Young Master insists that his people must know how to read!
Quite the demeanor of a noble family.
Song Jiyun quietly stood under the camphor tree for a while and left without disturbing Yuan Yunzhong.
*
In Madam Zeng’s room, several people were also talking about Song Youliang’s fourteenth-day memorial rites.
"At that time, we all won’t go, let’s see who will lead their family’s main memorial service!" Madam Li spoke indignant, and was still resentful about the day Song Jiyun shut her up in front of Madam Zeng, "Our Tiancong and Tianhui will never acknowledge him as an uncle."
"Nonsense." Song Sanliang was considering further ahead. He sat beside Madam Zeng’s bed, adjusting her pillow as she lay there, and whispered, "Mother, have you heard? Today, the second branch invited the Store Manager from the shop and the master craftsmen from the Kiln Factory for a meal. I tried several times to find an excuse to go and see, but was blocked every time. Do you think, that cunning girl could be eyeing the shop and the Kiln Factory?"
Madam Zeng’s temples were still covered with plaster, and her face was pale and sickly as she said, "Is this something she can achieve just by planning it? Instead of watching her, you should keep an eye on The Ninth Song from the other branch; they are the real threat, the ones who devour people without spitting out the bones."
She had been pretending to be sick previously. But after Song Jiyun triggered a conflict during Song Youliang’s basin incident and also blocked her passage to the main and third branches, forcing them to take the back door to visit her, she actually fell ill from agitation.
Song Sanliang then tucked in his mother’s blanket again and said, "Mother, do you think we should also get in touch with the managers and craftsmen from the shop and the Kiln Factory?"
After the death of Song Youliang, he had already begun to secretly approach these people, but he still needed Madam Zeng to lead the way; some matters had to be kept from her. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
Madam Zeng closed her eyes.
She was not a completely ignorant woman.
Old Grand Master Song had died early, and as a widow, she had raised three sons by herself, not without means and strategies.
She half-closed her eyes and said in a deep voice, "There’s no need to worry about the store and the Kiln Factory for now; everyone there has signed long-term contracts, and some even have lifelong contracts. Whomever becomes the owner, they must listen to him. If they can’t produce porcelain, they can’t survive! However, you need to come up with a way to strike up a conversation with the Imperial Kiln Factory."
Song Sanliang had known since early morning, and with a troubled expression, he said, "The Supervising Pottery Officer over at the Imperial Kiln Factory is Eunuch Wan. I heard he is the grandnephew of Noble Consort Wan, and this man has considerable influence."
Madam Zeng opened her eyes, looked at Song Sanliang in silence for a while, and then instructed Nanny Zeng, "Take that Arhat Painting from the storeroom and give it to Third Master."
Nanny Zeng complied immediately.
Song Sanliang could hardly hide his elation.
This painting had been purchased by Song Youliang years ago for Twenty Thousand Taels of Silver.
He hurriedly said, "Mother, I will definitely do well in the future, certainly better than my second brother."
Madam Zeng nodded in relief.
*
Meanwhile, at Song Daliang’s, Madam Wang was earnestly persuading him.
"If you won’t consider your own future, you should at least consider Tianbao’s!" she said while sitting on the embroidered stool, watching as the maid and servant boy helped Song Daliang dress, and she continued, "Why should we have a destructive fight with the second branch? Their family has no sons, and Uncle Three holds grudges; he surely won’t bring Tiancong and Tianhui to pay respects to Uncle Two. If you take Tianbao with you, wouldn’t our two families come together again?"
Song Daliang, who had an appointment with friends to go drinking, was already distracted. Fixing the jade belt around his waist, he said, "What would a woman like you understand? If the third household doesn’t go, we won’t go either. The second branch will be desperate to ask for our help. I know what I’m doing, you don’t need to worry about it."
Madam Wang almost wanted to smash open Song Daliang’s head as she said, "Didn’t you say before that the second branch would definitely ask for our help to smash the basin? Yet, didn’t they end up doing it themselves?"
Song Daliang spat at Madam Wang and, lifting the curtain, he left the house.
Madam Wang chased after him to the door.
But she saw her younger daughter, Song Tao, suddenly come out from behind the screen and bump right into Song Daliang.
Madam Wang got a big fright, fearing that Song Tao would ruin Song Daliang’s mood and get a beating from him.
She hurried over, yet saw Song Tao with her chin slightly raised, coldly looking at Song Daliang and said, "Father, do you know that today the second branch invited the Store Manager from the store and the master craftsman from the Kiln Factory?"
Song Daliang dismissively waved his hand, attempting to push his daughter aside and said, "Women should stay out of men’s business, dream on!"
It was unclear whether he was referring to Song Tao or the second branch.
Song Tao watched her father and scoffed disdainfully, "Then do you know that Grandmother has given an antique painting that Uncle Two once presented to her to Uncle Three, to get in the good graces of Eunuch Wan?"
"What?!" Song Daliang exploded in rage.
Madam Wang rushed forward to pull Song Tao back, signaling her not to get involved.
Song Tao ignored her, and continued to press, "Do you also know that the secret recipe for the Song Family’s White Porcelain is known only by Uncle Two?"
"What did you say?!"
Not just Song Daliang, but even Madam Wang was dumbfounded.
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