Chapter 178 – Target
Yu Tang tsked twice internally.
It was the same tactic as always; she enjoyed putting people on the hot seat as if the person in the bamboo forest earlier wasn’t her.
Yu Tang smiled and raised an eyebrow at Gu Xi, but addressed Fifth Young Miss instead, ”Why did the Yang Family arrive so quickly? Wasn’t it decided that we should return to our rooms to have a short nap first? As it was still early, I figured I could return and change my clothes before coming over. However, I didn’t expect the Yang family’s people to arrive so soon. When I heard the news, I had to turn mid-way and come over. We would not be greeting Gentleman Yang later on, right?” She asked the Pei family’s young ladies, and her voice was tinged with some nervousness, “This is the first time I’ve encountered such a situation, so I don’t really have an idea how to handle it.”
The Pei young ladies were immediately sidetracked by her words.
Third Young Miss promptly reassured her, ”There’s no need. Sister Yu, don’t you worry. We only came here to have tea because we are accompanying second sister. It’s impossible for Chen Daniang to allow us meet with outsiders.”
Fourth Young Miss, in contrast, asked curiously, “Has Sister Yu never experienced something like this before?”
“It’s not quite the same.” Yu Tang smiled and explained, “I’ve never encountered a match-making meeting like this one with Gentleman Yang. When sisters around me were arranging matchmaking meetings, it was either by appointment at the temple or at a mutual family’s house where we knew each other well. We would pretend to be there enjoying the flowers or doing embroidery, and when the potential partner walked by, we would then have an opportunity to look. We were usually at the side to keep them company.”
Fifth Young Miss immediately exclaimed, “That sort of matchmaking is much more interesting than our family’s. For us, we do not show ourselves at all, and when Gentleman Yang comes, Second Sister would only have to bring in the tea and pay her respects to the elders. That’s why we’re all hiding here!” After saying that, she covered her mouth and grinned.
Third and Fourth Young Miss also followed suit and grinned.
Second Young Miss shyly blushed, and glared at them, saying “I allowed you all to sit here and have tea, but you still can’t stop yourselves from gossiping.” However, she did not stop fifth young Miss from explaining the Pei family’s rules to Yu Tang. Clearly, she was a classic example of a person with “a sharp tongue but a soft heart”.
Yu Tang chuckled. Once she had regained control of the conversation flow, she then turned with a smile and answered Gu Xi’s question, “Was Lady Gu concerned about the reason I had to see Third Master earlier? I saw that the residents of Bitter Nunnery met with various hardships, and the Pei family has been financing the Bitter Nunnery for all these years. Thinking of the saying “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”, I wanted to see if we could discuss together and help the residents of the temple find a means of living. First, it would prevent them from relying on the temple for everything. Over time, this might create dissension and complacency among them, and the Pei Family might even incur their wrath and displeasure even with the good deeds done. Secondly, once they have something to work for, they will be busy earning their keep, and they wouldn’t have time to let their minds wander and ponder on negative, depressing things. If the Nunnery were to have a mishap occur, it would damage the Pei Family’s reputation.”
This was something she thought about on the way here.
She didn’t think of it when she chased after Pei Yan, and only remembered a past incident while on her way back.
Three years from now, there would be a case where a nun in the Bitter Nunnery drank arsenic and died. The husband who drove his wife out of the home, however, joined forces with her maiden family and made a scene at the temple, saying that the nunnery caused the death of the woman. At that time, the incident was big news in Lin’an City, and many people in Lin’an City then learned about bitter nunnery and that they took in homeless women.
Although the incident ended with that nun’s husband and maiden family being punished by the authorities, it wasn’t a pleasant affair at all.
Perhaps it was because of that incident that the Pei family did not publicly protect the Bitter Nunnery?
Thereafter, when everyone knew about the good deeds performed by the Bitter Nunnery, many poor women pretended to be abused by their husbands or by their sons and came to the Bitter Nunnery begging for food, which almost depleted Bitter Nunnery’s resources.
Later, the temple was forced to close.
From then on, the temple no longer took in women unless they were recommended by someone from the temple.
In order to avoid being taken advantage of by unscrupulous people while doing good deeds, Yu Tang felt that it was better to start now and follow what the Bitter Nunnery did in the later stages, by allowing the residents to start self-sufficiency earlier.
Third young miss was beaming with appreciation the moment she heard it, and said loudly, ”Sister Yu’s idea is good. No one wants to eat food handed out of pity, it’s more dignified to work in exchange for your own meals.”
The corner of Yu Tang’s mouth twitched.
Not everyone had such a noble way of thinking!
Back then, the Bitter Nunnery experienced great chaos for a period of time and was even criticised for selling its name as a way of trying to compete with Zhaoming Temple.
However, she didn’t want to spoil Third young miss’s purity and goodness.
She replied, ”It’s just that I don’t know what a good livelihood for these residents of the temple would be. After some careful consideration, I needed to ask Third Master about this. I had Shuang Tao report to Third Master and ask him about his plans for the temple. Not only did Third Master agree to meet, but he also arrived earlier than me and was waiting in the bamboo forest. Strangely, when I reached the bamboo forest, I heard someone speaking, but I couldn’t see anyone. I circled the bamboo forest for a long time and managed with some difficulty to find Third Master.” After speaking, she then looked directly at GuXi, saying “If I knew things would turn out like this, I would have arranged to meet with Third Master somewhat else. That bamboo forest is like a maze, but it would be a good place to play hide-and-seek in. But it’s not a good place to have a conversation, as the sound travels.”
Gu Xi immediately turned pale.
Could it be that Yu Tang heard the conversation between her and Third Master?
If so ……
Gu Xi felt like she had lost all traces of her dignity.
How would she maintain a firm foothold in this society in the future?
However, her experience over the years told her that this matter couldn’t possibly end like this, and that she should act clueless and test Yu Tang’s knowledge.
If YuTang really heard her, she needed to know exactly how much she heard.
What did she mean by saying this now? Was she simply displeased with her or was she attempting to warn her about something?
Gu Xi quickly calmed down and smiled, ”That place indeed not a good place for conversations. However, Lady Yu is also unfairly criticising herself for being incompetent. If she can’t even tell direction of north, south, east, and west from a place as big as the palm of her hand, how can she preside over her household in the future? Lady Yu is being too modest!”
She pretended as if nothing happened.
Yu Tang scoffed internally.
Now that she was in control of the conversation, yet Gu Xi still dared to act so arrogantly, she didn’t have any qualms about creating trouble for Gu Xi.
“Oh really?” YuTang smiled, “I wonder how a person getting lost has anything to do with presiding over a household. However, upon further reflection, Lady Gu has a point. Not even being able to see the road ahead of you is indeed a serious problem. Thankfully, I come from a humble background, and it’s rare for me to encounter such a large bamboo forest, therefore it would not be a problem of mine.”
Third, Fourth and Fifth Young Miss exchanged furtive looks.
Just a moment ago, everyone was still talking amicably, so why, in the blink of an eye Lady Yu was confronting Lady Gu like this? Especially Lady Gu, who was always graceful and unassuming, but at this very moment, although her face was still calm and gentle, her gaze revealed that she was feeling guilty or uncomfortable, as if she had done something wrong and was caught by Lady Yu, and she lost all her confidence.
As for Lady Yu, previously, she always acted mild and gentle, always keeping peace and avoiding disputes, but just now it was as if she was a different person, speaking with cutting words and her soft voice carried a strong edge.
What was it that made Lady Gu this guilty? And what was it that made Lady Yu act so differently from before?
The three girls looked at each other, suddenly unsure of how to proceed.
As for Second Young Miss, she was intentionally befriended by Gu Xi over these past few days, and thus regarded Gu Xi as her sister, so naturally, she couldn’t allow Yu Tang to target Gu Xi like this. She ignored the fact that it was currently her match-making appointment and took a few steps forward and took Gu Xi’s arm. She stood on the opposite side of Yu Tang and said, “Lady Yu, today Third Sister personally made this tea, and brought some melon slices from the Sixth Branch, and we also have some snacks that you gave to us. You must be thirsty since you have just rushed over. Quick, have a seat and drink a cup of tea with us!”
Yu Tang didn’t intend to ruin Second Young Miss’s match-making day. She smiled and spared Gu Xi, sitting down with Fourth Young Miss and Fifth Young Miss at the table.
Gu Xi also didn’t dare to pry further for fear that Yu Tang would reveal something that she shouldn’t.
She sat with second young miss, and deliberately thanked second young miss, saying quietly, “I’m afraid that I had offended her by saying that she didn’t know about presiding over a household, and I’m ashamed that you had to help me out.”
As this was not an appropriate time, Second Young Miss only smiled at her kindly and shook her head.
Meanwhile the other Pei Family’s ladies exchanged looks and also pretended as if nothing happened. Third Young Miss spoke up and continued their discussion about helping the residents of Bitter Nunnery find a suitable livelihood, “Sister Yu, do you want to teach those people how to make silk flowers? We can all help.”
Fourth Young Miss nodded her head repeatedly beside her, saying, “I can also help. My mother has a cosmetics store, I can speak with my mother and have them in our store.”
Fifth Miss pondered for a while, and said dejectedly, “My mother doesn’t have a cosmetics store, but she does have some plots of good farmland, but they are all located in the north. How about, how about I help those people make silk flowers? The silk flowers I make are very pretty now. My mother even praised me the other day, and when she sent my maternal family a New Year’s gift, she also included the silk flowers I made for maternal grandmother, auntie, and my cousins.”
They are all girls with kind and beautiful hearts!
Yu Tang smiled and said craftily, “I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to make silk flowers. This is a nunnery after all.”
The Pei family’s young ladies were all stunned, and even Gu Xi, too, looked at Yu Tang in surprise.
Only then did Yu Tang calmly add, “A nunnery, of course it’s most appropriate to make incense to sell!”
Fifth Young Miss immediately exclaimed, “Is Sister Yu talking about the kind of incense that Sister Gu makes?”
Everyone looked towards Gu Xi.
Every time Gu Xi made incense, she would burn incense and take a bath. When she spoke about the incense she made, she would either use the three-year old water specially kept under the hundred-year-old plum tree, or she would use osmanthus blossoms that first bloomed in the fall, which was not only refined, but also very pure. This garnered her a lot of praise. Including this trip when she stayed at the Pei residence, everyone had already gotten some of the incense she made and knew that she was very good at making incense.
Since Yu Tang wanted to teach GuXi a lesson, naturally, she had to start with her best accomplishment.
Gu Xi was indeed proud of herself at the moment.
After all, Yu Tang was only a girl of a small rural family with little knowledge. She wanted to do some good deeds, yet the stage YuTang created ended up being the stage where she, GuXi, would perform centerstage instead. If she was the one who taught those residents and nuns how to make the incense, when people discuss this matter, who would even speak of Yu Tang? The Pei family was the backbone supporting this work and she, Gu Xi was the one contributing.
Yu Tang, she would only be foolishly making wedding clothes for someone else!
xkurohana 
The gloves have started coming off between Gu Xi and Yu Tang. Love that the author points out the “bystanders” type of reaction. Nothing weird to them about what happened per Yu Tang meeting 3rd uncle but getting a bit turned around beforehand. Gu Xi’s reaction? Jousting with words that the listeners don’t understand the subtext to and they’re all- like wut?
Hm, I don’t think I have the brain to survive in these sort of backyard politics. How is teaching the nuns how to make incense going to teach Gu Xi a lesson? It it to make her specialty less special in the future? Thank you for the chapter!!