Chapter 322 Awkwardness
Pei Qi who was waiting outside to report to Pei Yan, shrank back upon hearing the commotion inside.
Of course, Pei Yan had brief moments of anger, but he was raised as the beloved son of Grand Elder Pei since young and being somewhat reserved, he learnt to conceal his emotions from the age of seven or eight. The last time he displayed such undisguised fury was perhaps when Grand Master Pei passed away.
He dared not go in, fearing his wrath, so he stood on the steps, furtively plucking leaves from the nearby crabapple tree.
Qing Yuan walked by and saw this, her eyes widening in confusion.
Pei Qi quickly gestured for her to be quiet and pointed to the study.
Qing Yuan understood and tiptoed over.
Pei Yan’s tension-filled voice rang out from the study. “Where’s Pei Qi? Why hasn’t he returned yet? What is he helping out with?”
Pei Qi quickly dropped the leaves and answered, cautiously entering the study.
Pei Yan seemed to have regained his composure, calmly asking, “How’s things going at the Yu family’s shop?”
A few days ago, Yu Yuan came to the Pei residence and talked with Pei Man for a long time. After returning, he wrote a plan for Pei Yan to peruse, which Pei Yan found quite good. He had sent Pei Qi to check on how things were progressing.
Pei Qi hurriedly replied, “Young Proprietor Yu has re-signed contracts with the workshop craftsmen, and they all seem quite happy. Some even asked if they could introduce their relatives to work here and he agreed. He also said that after Lady Yu’s marriage, he planned to go to Suzhou and Ningbo to see if he can get some business there.”
Pei Yan nodded and asked about Jiang Chao, “Is there any news?”
Pei Qi answered, “His fleet returned safely and caused a big sensation in Suzhou. Since he returned from Ningbo, almost every household hosted banquets for him. He’s been busy attending banquets everywhere these past few days. Even the Song family sent a steward to meet with him, saying that if Jiang Chao goes out to sea again, to also include their family. Jiang Chao only commented that if he goes to sea, the Song family would definitely get a share. However, nothing was confirmed.”
This means that if he doesn’t go out to sea then the Song family wouldn’t get a share.
Pei Yan laid out such a big bait; he didn’t believe Jiang Chao wouldn’t take a bite.
Moreover, Yu Wen and Master Wu were also pushing things along.
Pei Yan smiled and said, “Let’s go see Lady Yu.”
Shouldn’t he be visiting Young Master Yu?
Pei Qi was taken aback but quickly composed himself and hurriedly followed Pei Yan out the door.
Yu Tang was at home counting the shoes and socks to be given as gifts during the family reunion. Ma Xiuniang was helping her, while Madam Chen carried her daughter Zhang Hui to see the goldfish Yu Wen kept in the study.
Ma Xiuniang laughed, “The Pei family really has a lot of people! Luckily, you have a good memory. If it were me, I would be completely at my wit’s end.”
This was all thanks to Grand Madam Pei.
No, it should be thanks to Pei Yan.
If he hadn’t made her learn household management skills from Grand Madam Pei beforehand, how could she possibly remember all the various relatives of the Pei family?
She smiled and said, “It’s good that I got to know the Pei family members during my visit.”
Ma Xiuniang smiled and asked, “Who made these shoes and socks? The stitching is so intricate.”
Yu Tang listened carefully and hearing that the outside was silent, she whispered with a sly smile, “Third Master sent them. I heard they were ordered from an embroidery shop in Jiangxi.”
Ma Xiuniang was surprised and chuckled softly, winking at Yu Tang, and teased, “Looks like he’s quite thoughtful.” (TL: Usually it’s the bride who has to personally sew all the socks and shoes for the relatives, or get a seamstress to do it on her behalf)
Yu Tang sighed, grousing out, “Sometimes he’s like a child… When he’s in a good mood, he’s so considerate and meticulous that you don’t even know how to respond. However, when he’s in a bad mood, he’s impatient to even talk to you, let alone take time to be considerate and meticulous.”
Ma Xiuniang giggled, “It seems both of you still need some time to get along.”
Yu Tang nodded with a smile and commented “I don’t expect this to change much. He has such a temper that he won’t even bow down even when Grand Elder was still around, let alone now when he’s the patriarch.”
Ma Xiuniang eyed her with a smile and teased, “But you don’t look annoyed by this at all!”
“I’m not annoyed…” Yu Tang smiled sheepishly, feeling too embarrassed to continue.
Pei Yan’s appearance was so beautiful that even if he lost his temper, she would still find it pleasing to the eye and thus could not really get angry at him.
Ma Xiuniang asked, “How did he think of ordering shoes and socks from an embroidery workshop in Jiangxi? Aren’t we the best in embroidery in Suzhou and Hangzhou? Aren’t he afraid that someone would find out?”
“No, that wouldn’t happen!” Yu Tang replied confidently “People travel to Jiangxi often and it is faster to have it sent from Jiangxi than to go to Hangzhou to order.”
This was something difficult to explain to Ma Xiuniang.
The Pei family bought a large plot of land in Jiangxi. Pei Yan instructed the steward to handle this task when he was there to sign the contract.
Few people in Lin’an knew that the Pei family bought an estate in Jiangxi, and Yu Tang felt she shouldn’t reveal this.
Both of them chatted and laughed, carefully packing the shoes and socks according to the list. Just as they were about to go to the study to check on Zhang Hui, who was with Madam Chen, they looked up and saw Ah-Tiao peeking inside.
Yu Tang teased him with a smile, “What are you doing? Is there anything you can’t tell Mrs. Zhang(TL: Ma xiuniang)?”
A-Tiao smiled shyly, lifted the curtain, and came in, saying, “It’s Third Master. He’s at our back door!”
He came in secret to see Yu Tang.
Ma Xiuniang covered her mouth and giggled, saying, “You really shouldn’t say that in front of me.”
Yu Tang blushed deeply.
Ma Xiuniang replied, “Alright, you can continue sorting shoes and socks here. I need to go see if Hui’er is bothering your mother.”
This meant she was keeping Yu Tang’s secret while also making things easy for her.
Yu Tang blushed, thanked her, and went to the backyard.
Pei Yan was leaning against the wall in the backyard with his eyes closed.
The bright sunlight shone on his face, making him so shine so handsomely that it was hard to look away.
Yu Tang quietly admired him for a while before smiling and walking over, softly saying, “What did you want to see me about?”
Pei Yan opened his eyes.
He knew Yu Tang arrived earlier, but he just didn’t want to open his eyes. He was a little afraid to see Yu Tang’s face.
Or rather, afraid to see Yu Tang’s calm, unwavering eyes.
He couldn’t help but scrutinize Yu Tang closely.
A fair face, jet-black hair, gleaming, bright eyes shining like stars, staring straight at him with a gentle smile flashing across her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Yu Tang asked, a little embarrassed by Pei Yan’s gaze. A thin blush spread from her neck up to her face, ears, and even her eyes.
Pei Yan suddenly chuckled.
How could he be influenced by Li Duan’s words?
So what if Yu Tang once harbored feelings for that second young master of the Wei family?
Now, she sees him, and her eyes are filled with only him.
Moreover, he was confident that Yu Tang would never miss or think of that person ever again.
Pei Yan suddenly pulled Yu Tang into his arms.
This person was his.
She had to be his.
She could only be his.
He would make her willingly stay by his side.
A real man, if he didn’t even have this confidence, what kind of wife would he marry?
Pei Yan’s heart settled and he couldn’t help but gently kiss the top of Yu Tang’s head.
Yu Tang’s mind went blank, completely disoriented.
It took her an unknown amount of time, whether it was a few breaths or a quarter of an hour, before she came to her senses. The first thing she felt upon regaining her senses was Pei Yan’s warm embrace, which carried a faint sandalwood scent.
It enveloped her warmly, making her feel flustered yet also stirring a quiet joy within her.
Was this Pei Yan’s embrace?
Yu Tang felt her face burning, her body stiff and aching.
She didn’t want to leave, yet she knew it was inappropriate.
What should she do?
Just as Yu Tang was debating, as quick as he had suddenly embraced her, Pei Yan abruptly released her.
Completely bewildered, she stared at Pei Yan whose face was solemn, said to her firmly, “Don’t worry, from now on, I’ll take care of you. Just stay with me and live your life well.”
Yu Tang’s almond-shaped eyes widened. She had no clue what just happened.
Pei Yan had already walked away.
As he left, he added, “Don’t worry about the lacquerware shop. I’ve sent Pei Qi to keep an eye on things there. He’ll report to me immediately if anything happens. I’ll personally keep an eye on things for my elder brother-in-law.”
What was all this about?
Completely bewildered, Yu Tang tagged behind for a while.
However, Pei Yan walked faster and faster and soon disappeared from the back alley of her house.
Yu Tang stood there, carefully recalling Pei Yan’s every move after seeing her, unable to suppress a soft laugh as she stood in the deserted back alley.
Was Pei Yan here to show her his resolve?
And when she caught up with him just now, she saw his ears were red. Was he embarrassed?
Next time she meets him, she’d have to observe him more closely.
If his ears turned red when he was shy, would she be able to more accurately discern his emotions through these small details in the future?
Yu Tang walked slowly back to her courtyard, her joy with her upcoming marriage undeterred by this incident. In fact, the occasional private visits from Pei Yan made her even happier.
However, upon returning, she saw the knowing gazes of Ma Xiuniang and Madam Chen, and her face flushed crimson.
Meanwhile, back home, Pei Yan carefully reflected on his actions since meeting Yu Tang. Feeling he hadn’t done anything wrong, he finally felt much more at ease and had time to ponder over the intentions behind Li Duan’s words.
He coldly snorted in his study.
Since he dared to provoke him, he should have the ability to bear the consequences.
He summoned Pei Qi and said, “I’ll personally oversee things at the Yu family shop. As for you, first go to the Li family’s ancestral main residence and tell them that Li Duan is constantly clamoring to sell his old house. I couldn’t stand his pleading, so I bought it and planned to return it to them. Have them send someone over to transfer the land deed. Next, go to Hangzhou and meet with Big Supervisor Tong. Ask him to help you drive Li Duan out of Hangzhou and don’t let him settle down anywhere else.”
Ideally, he’d be constantly on the move, causing he to be unable to focus on his studies.
Two years later, during the imperial examinations, even if he participated, he’d only be there to make up the numbers. That would be ideal.
Pei Qi wasn’t as strict as Pei Wu, and therefore particularly enjoyed doing this kind of “bullying.”
He understood immediately, with eyes shining as he readily agreed. He quickly left the Pei family to deliver the message to the Li family’s patriarch.
Only then did Pei Yan feel better.
Thanks Aenean for your support on ko-fi~
