Delicate Flower – Chapter 174

Chapter 174 – Going on a Trip

Do some good deeds and help women in need.

Was it true?

Yu Tang’s heart was beating frantically.

In her previous life, she was also one of those women in need of help.

The Bitter Nunnery had helped her too.

In other words, the Pei family helped her.

While she, had benefited from the Pei family’s kindness without being aware of it.

She suddenly recalled the expression that her eldest aunt and eldest aunt’s cousin had when she first went to Bitter Nunnery. Although it was full of sympathy and pity, she could see a hint of scrutiny and scepticism in her eldest aunt cousin’s eyes when she wasn’t consciously paying attention.

She had always assumed that it was because of her identity and the audacious move of escaping the Li family.

But what if it wasn’t?

Yu Tang’s heart was like a beating drum, the more it pulsed the faster and louder it got, she couldn’t help but put her hand over her heart, and she didn’t know how long it took before she recovered her senses.

But once she came to, she couldn’t help but laugh derisively at herself.

Why would she be thinking this way?

Just because in this life, Third Master Pei had shown great kindness to her, to her family, therefore she had a tendency to associate anything and everything with the Pei family. This was being too unfair to her eldest aunt’s cousin.

In the Bitter nunnery, eldest aunt’s cousin took great care of her and helped her, so how could she just attribute all those kindnesses to third master Pei and the Pei family?

Speaking of which, at this time, eldest aunt’s cousin should have already settled down in bitter nunnery, so she ought to visit and show her gratitude, and it would be even better if she could help out in some way. This time if she can go with Grand Madam Pei to the bitter nunnery, she would meet her eldest aunt’s cousin, and try to find a way to talk to her; if she can’t, then she will have to wait for the end of the New Year’s festivities before paying a visit again.

Although Bitter Nunnery was a place for broken lives, but she received heaven’s mercy and was reborn. She even changed the fate of her parents and family, so she should forget about her former sufferings and look forward to living her current life well.

Yu Tang took a deep breath, her emotions gradually calmed down, and she focused her attention on teaching the several young ladies of the Pei family on silk flowers.

Everyone chatted and laughed, and an afternoon quickly passed.

The next day, Grand Madam Pei’s mood improved greatly, and even went for a walk in the plum-blossom grove with Grand Madam Yi, and set a date to visit Bitter Nunnery in the next two days. Because Yu Tang and several of the Pei family’s young ladies were present when this was mentioned, Yu Tang would also follow at that time.

The Pei family’s young ladies were overjoyed, and went back happily to prepare their clothes and jewellery, as well as the temple donations.

Although Yu Tang’s mind was clear on this matter, the thought of setting foot in Bitter Nunnery again still made her feel very uncomfortable.

Fifth Young Miss noticed her gaze and thought she was worried about the temple donations. She brought it up tactfully, saying “Temple donations are mostly made by grandmother and a few of my aunts. We only need to show a little sincerity and toss in few silver ingots as we please. Grandmother said this was done to remind us never to forget to do good to others.” She also worried that Yutang might not have the ability to exchange the silver on such short notice, so she added, “I went last year and threw in one silver ingot that symbolises wealth and career advancement, but second sister and the rest throw in silver ingots that symbolises success in life, and then I got laughed at by them. I’ve learnt my lesson this time and discussed with second sister and the rest beforehand, and the silver ingots to be offered were to be made uniformly by the family’s steward into the pattern of success in life. Everyone would throw in two to three taels of silver, and nobody was allowed to be different.”

Yu Tang was so touched by this that her eyes turned watery.

These young girls were really warm-hearted.

She had Shuang Tao take five taels of silver and pass it to Fifth Miss’s maid, Ah Shan, and smiled, “Then we would like to request Fifth Miss to speak with the family’s steward and help me exchange these five taels of silver for silver ingots. Should I encounter a situation where I had to reward someone, I won’t be left in a lurch.”

Fifth Young Miss let out a “gasp” and squealed, “Why didn’t I think of that! I’ll tell second sister and the others, we’ll all exchange five taels of silver each, throw in the three taels of silver for the temple donation, and the rest will be kept as spare funds for rewarding, so no one will be over-rewarded.” After speaking, without waiting for Yu Tang to respond, she led her maid and left quickly.

Yu Tang couldn’t hold back her laughter as she leaned in the doorway.

Shuang Tao gazed at the back of the fifth young lady and chuckled, saying, “Young lady, do you want me to send a letter to the family, asking them to make some snacks for our temple visit? I heard from an attendant of the Pei family that it’s a two hour ride to Bitter Nunnery, so it’s a good time for the young ladies to have a taste of our snacks and in the future, you can even bring some over as gifts when you visit the Pei Residence again.”

Yu Tang thought that this idea was excellent, not only did she have someone deliver a letter to her home to have snacks made, but she also had Shuang Tao order a few coarse monastic robes, and she would find an opportunity one day to send them to the several masters, nuns and residents of the Bitter Nunnery who helped her in the past.

Shuang Tao asked curiously, “Why don’t you bring them to the Bitter Nunnery the day after tomorrow?” After saying this, she immediately realised that she had made a faux pas and grinned embarrassedly at Yu Tang.

Fifth Miss was worried that Yu Tang would be in a difficult position, and thus even had the silver ingots for rewarding people to be the same, so how could she possibly steal the limelight by doing more than others?

Shuang Tao quickly set off from the mountain.

Yu Tang thought of her previous life in the Bitter Nunnery.

During winter, thick cotton jackets were what people were most looking forward to receiving, temple donations and what not, the presiding abbot would always save up in case of a rainy day or when temple donations weren’t forthcoming, and they would not have food to eat. Therefore they wouldn’t give the people staying in the temple any extra clothes, and in some cases, the clothes were patched up over and over again, almost resembling patchwork clothing.

This was also the reason why she had never associated the Bitter Nunnery with the Pei Family.

Shuang Tao came back the next day afternoon with seven or eight boxes of Madam Chen’s homemade snacks, and also conveyed Madam Chen’s words. Madam Chen said that she missed Yu Tang and asked when she would be returning. She also added that when Yu Tang was returning, to have someone deliver a letter to her early, so that she could prepare some delicious food as well.

Of course, Yu Tang was delighted, and eagerly asked Shuang Tao about the happenings at home.

Knowing that everything was fine, and this year, the two families of Yu Bo and Yu Wen were still celebrating the New Year’s together, and the New Year’s goodies, offerings and so on were all prepared, and the silver due to the Zhang family was also delivered……. There was nothing for her to worry about. She breathed a long sigh of relief, her mind was at ease, and the clothes she prepared for the trip to Bitter Nunnery were either light green or aqua blue, which lifted people’s spirits and made them feel cheerful.

In the afternoon, she delivered a round of snacks to everyone, including Gu Xi, but she had Shuang Tao deliver them to GuXi’s residence.

Later In the evening, Ji Daniang came to deliver the silver ingots, and quietly told her, “Lady Gu has recovered from her illness, and she said she wanted to visit a temple to offer her thanks, and it so happens that Grand Madam is taking the Pei Family’s young ladies to Bitter Nunnery, so Grand Madam agreed to Guxi’s request to tag along. Second young lady specifically had someone speak with the family’s steward, so that Lady Gu could be arranged to ride in the mule-drawn cart with her.”

Yu Tang raised an eyebrow.

When Shuang Tao delivered the snacks earlier, there was no news of her going to Bitter Nunnery…… But this worked out well too. Lest she be arranged to sit in a carriage with Gu Xi – she didn’t want to socialize with Gu Xi more than necessary.

She smiled and thanked Ji Daniang.

Ji DaNiang replied, ”I should be the one to thank Miss. I didn’t expect that Miss actually remembered my family liked to eat osmanthus cakes, and specially prepared a box of osmanthus cakes for us. I just took it home, and my little grandson immediately ate two pieces, and my daughter-in-law even asked me send her thanks to Lady Yu!”

“It’s good that your little grandson likes it.” Yu Tang and Ji Daniang made some small talk before sending her off.

Shuang Tao asked brightly, “Miss, will we be able to ask Ji Daniang about things in the future?”

“Small matters should be alright.” Yu Tang smiled, “But we shouldn’t ask about important matters. We’ll have to keep those to ourselves.”

Shuang Tao looked around and whispered to Yu Tang, “Liu Shu told me that she saw Lady Gu talking to Eldest Madam for a long time over in the warm pavilion, and Eldest Madam even gave Lady Gu a pot of orchids.”

Yu Tang froze in surprise and asked, “Wasn’t Lady Gu recuperating in her room these past few days?”

Shuang Tao replied, “I don’t know either. It was Liu Shu who told me of this when I went to deliver snacks in the afternoon.”

Yu Tang smiled wryly.

Unexpectedly, Liu Shu was also a perceptive one.

Probably there weren’t be anyone dull that served under Grand Madam Pei, right?

Yu Tang didn’t specifically inquire about Gu Xi, as she believed that Gu Xi had her own purpose for doing things, and as long as her purpose didn’t involve harming her or her family, she could turn a blind eye.

That day she went to bed early and the next day, she got up at dawn and freshened up. She didn’t dare to drink porridge, and only ate some steamed buns, before heading to Grand Madam Pei’s place.

She thought she arrived early, but unexpectedly Gu Xi had already arrived. She had only just exchanged greetings with Gu Xi, when Second Madam along with Fourth and Fifth Miss arrived. When Grand Madam Yi came with Second and Third Miss, all of them went forward to greet Grand Madam Yi. After everyone was seated in accordance with seniority, Yu Tang saw Second Young Miss pulling Gu Xi to her side and complained, ”Didn’t I tell you to wait for us and we can arrive together? Why did you come over first?”

Gu Xi smiled, “I didn’t feel good about disturbing you and your grandmother’s time, so I waited for you over here.”

Second young miss didn’t respond as she examined her a few times and asked concernedly, “Are you really well? The road to the Bitter Nunnery isn’t easy to walk, so if you feel uncomfortable, you must let me know.”

“Okay!” Gu Xi smiled as she spoke, but Yu Tang inexplicably felt that she was feeling poorly, as if she hadn’t slept well.

Once everyone had arrived, the mule carts came in one by one.

The two Grand Madams sat in one with Second Madam attending to them; Second Miss, Third Miss and Gu Xi in the next one, Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss and Yu Tang in the other. Together with the various maids, serving aunties, stewards and kitchen help and along with bags of rice, oil and other supplies for the temple, there were more than twenty carts with thirty or so escort guards, that were all traveling down the mountain to Bitter Nunnery.

Bitter Nunnery was located in a small crevice, and they had to walk a section of narrow green stone road that was only shoulder-width wide.

The people then changed from carriages to travelling on soft sedan chairs.

Looking down from the sedan chair, the person carrying the sedan chair looked as though he was about to step on air at any time, which made Yu Tang terrified. Thankfully the section of the road was short and they soon arrived at Bitter Nunnery. At the entrance stood the presiding monk, who looked like a withered tree, along with two solemn-looking distinguished visitors.

But who could tell her why the two distinguished visitors were standing flanked by the imposing Pei Yan along with his seven or eight escort guards?

Upon seeing this, Yu Tang nearly stumbled as she got out of the sedan chair, but Gu Xi only looked on curiously as she helped second young miss out of the sedan chair.

“Why is Third Uncle here?” Fifth young miss was puzzled along with Yu Tang and the other young ladies, and everyone looked towards Grand Madam Pei.

---

TL: ML is finally back!!!