Chapter 180 – Good Deeds
Yu Tang and the Pei young ladies headed to YuTang’s residence, and she then wrote down the incense formula as per her memory. After checking it thoroughly and finding no mistakes, she handed it to third young lady, saying, “You all can help me take a look at it too. This is the three formulas I remember.”
Among the young ladies of the Pei Family, second young lady had the most interest in making incense, and would also occasionally make some fragrance or Buddhist incense. It was probably the reason why she got along so well with Gu Xi as they had common interests. However, Second Young Lady wasn’t with them at present.
Third Young Miss, on the other hand, wasn’t interested in incense, but she loved to read and was very inquisitive. She took the incense formulation and examined it carefully. Her eyes gradually brightened and she said to Yu Tang excitedly, ”I think we can give it a try. If Lady Yu trusts me, I will first make some Buddhist incense according to the incense formulation you wrote and let Grand Madam try.”
Why wouldn’t Yu Tang trust her?
Earlier, she even had the notion to let Gu Xi prepare it, and it worked out better that Third Young Miss took the initiative to help.
However, she did not expect Third Young Miss to know about incense making as well.
Fourth young miss laughed and said, “Sister Yu misunderstood. It’s only that Third young miss doesn’t like to use incense with her clothes. It’s not that she doesn’t know how to make it.”
True, there are many things a young lady from a prestigious family could learn. As long as she has the interest, they could always find a master to teach her, which was beyond the scope of an ordinary family.
“Then I’ll have to trouble Third Young Miss.” Yu Tang smiled.
Third Young Miss waved her hand repeatedly and replied, “This is considered as an act of charity, whoever learns about it will also lend a helping hand, it’s too polite of Sister Yu to say so.”
Fourth Young Miss didn’t seem too interested in making incense, while Fifth Young Miss was too young to read and comprehend. The incense formulation was passed among them, and then returned to Yu Tang.
Yu Tang had Shuang Tao make some tea and bring snacks to serve them, and asked if they wanted to rest for a while.
The three ladies shook their heads, and the topic somehow shifted to Gentleman Yang again.
It was only then did Yu Tang realise that third young lady was already engaged, and it was a marriage arrangement done when she was only a baby. Her fiancé was her uncle’s son, who was two or three months younger than third young lady. Probably because men mature slower, right now, he was only half a head taller than third young miss, and she was worried that he wouldn’t grow taller.
Seeing Gentleman Yang, she grew even more concerned.
Fourth young miss further added salt to the wound by remarking, ”If you knew about this earlier, then you shouldn’t have agreed to the marriage. My grandmother said that marriage can’t be arranged too early, if the person grows up and isn’t a decent one, there’s no room for regrets – in the future, when eldest sister and second sister take their husbands back to visit their maternal family’s relatives, what will you do then?”
Upon hearing this, third young miss was close to tears.
Yu Tang listened from the side and forcibly held back her laughter. Seeing the situation, she quickly consoled third young lady, “Don’t listen to fourth young lady’s nonsense. You are the apple of your father and mother’s eyes. They must have found redeeming qualities in your cousin in order to bestow this marriage, so you don’t have to worry.”
Third Young Miss nodded dejectedly, but was still unhappy.
Several others also comforted her for a while, but Third Young Miss did not feel any better, but rather got more frustrated.
It was at this point that Yu Tang realised that Third Young Miss was the sort to think about the bad outcomes in every situation.
This was somewhat frustrating.
Fortunately, both grand Madams finished meeting with their guests, and Ah Shan ran over to inform them, “Both Grand Madams are chatting among themselves, and Second Madam is arranging for the maids and servants to pack up their things and return to their private courtyard.”
Yu Tang sent someone to call Gu Xi over, and had another person inform Second Madam.
Not long after, Gu Xi came, and Second Madam’s personal serving auntie also arrived, saying that she was instructed by Second Madam to have them join her for tea in the adjoining room.
The group went next door.
In the courtyard, there were a lot of serving aunties and attendants coming and going, and a few maids were clustered around Second Madam standing in the center of the room, supervising the packing of things.
Seeing Yu Tang and the others, Second Madam greeted them with a smile and took Fifth Young Miss’s hand, and said, “Come, sit in the inner room, it’s a mess here.” She then asked if they were hungry, saying, “It must be evening by the time we return, so you need to have something to eat beforehand.” She also praised Yu Tang, “The snacks were delicious and delivered at just the right time. It was truly a lot of effort.”
Yu Tang hurriedly made a few modest remarks.
What she thought of, the Pei family’s servants naturally also considered. Second madam was only being nice by praising her like this. If she was complacent or took the praise seriously, believing that there was no one else who could be as competent like her, then she would be making a fool of herself.
After everyone sat down, the maids then served tea, while Second Madam warmly told Yu Tang, “I’ve already heard from my personal serving attendant about your matter. It’s a wonderful thing and I definitely want to support you. Tell me, what is it that you need? Money or people? I can help with both.”
Fifth young miss smiled cheekily and leaned on her mother’s side, saying, “We just wanted to ask if this matter was feasible. If it is, we’ll request both Grand Madams to make a decision. Additionally, Sister Yu has written a few incense formulas and would like you to peruse them and see if they are feasible.”
She also told Second Madam about Third Young Miss’s help with the trial production of Buddhist incense.
Second Madam was delighted.
Having the juniors get together to do charitable deeds not only enhanced the bond between sisters, but also helped them to become more compassionate.
Second Madam’s response was immediate. She instantly stood up when she heard this, stating ”This matter is definitely viable. Both Grand Madams would definitely support your efforts. You all can follow me to meet the two Grand Madams – we’ll be returning to the courtyard soon, and while we’re still at Bitter Nunnery, we can finalise this. In a few days’ time, we will also be descending the mountain and returning to Lin’an City.”
It would be quite a long journey to travel from Lin’an to Bitter Temple again. More importantly, it was soon to be the New Year’s and the two Grand Madams and Second Madam would be busy with the celebratory arrangements.
The juniors were overjoyed and cheerfully followed Second Madam to where the Grand Madams were.
Fourth young lady, who always liked noisy and boisterous events, even tugged on Second Madam’s sleeve and asked, “Is Second Sister still at Grand Madam’s place? Has Gentleman Yang returned, and did Grand Madam agree to the marriage with the Yang family?”
Second Madam, presumably already having understood Fourth Young Miss’s character, did not get angry, but pinched her cheeks in amusement, lightly chiding, “You’re just a little kid, what are you doing focusing on these things? Have you done the homework you were given by Mr. Li? After we leave the mountain, your uncle’s cousins will be coming over to give your mother New Year’s gifts, and you will also be heading to your uncle’s house to visit them. If you haven’t finished your homework, I don’t know if your mother will let you follow your older siblings to go and visit…”
Immediately fourth young lady used her hands to cover her mouth and pleaded with Second Madam “I will stop speaking rashly”, which caused everyone to laugh.
Soon they arrived at the residence of both Grand Madams, and second young lady was standing in front of them, blushing as she chatted with them. When she saw them coming in, she immediately fled to the side.
The two Grand Madam exchanged knowing looks and smiled, while Grand Madam Pei instructed the maids around her to serve Yu Tang and the others some refreshments.
The group sat down together, and second madam told the two Grand Madams about Yu Tang and the others’ intentions. Both of them were surprised and delighted, praising all the juniors. Grand Madam Pei, waved her hand and said, ”What is there more to discuss with such a good deed? Doesn’t Bitter Temple wish to stand on their own as well? My Pei Family can only support them with the bare necessities, but it’s impossible to be a constant source of refuge for them.”
Second Madam nodded her head repeatedly and asked Grand Madam Pei: “Then should we invite the presiding master of the Bitter Temple to come and talk about this?”
Grand Madam Yi interjected, “I think it’s better to discuss about it. What if they don’t want to? Wouldn’t we then be needlessly meddling for nothing?”
Grand Madam Pei nodded and instructed Ji Daniang, “Go and invite the presiding master of the Bitter Temple over.”
Yu Tang pondered over this internally.
In her previous life, Bitter Nunnery appear to live off the surrounding acres of land, resources obtained from the mountains and temple donations. She wondered if it was because they weren’t willing to obtain subsistence on their own or that they never had that opportunity.
She couldn’t predict how the presiding master would respond.
Gu Xi, on the other hand, squeezed the handkerchief in her hand into a ball.
The Pei family elders really did actively work on this matter as she expected, but unfortunately, this idea was Yu Tang’s, so if she wanted to contribute, she would be helping build Yu Tang’s reputation, and she was unwilling to do that.
Gu Xi couldn’t help but glance at Yu Tang.
Yu Tang had her head lowered, her long eyelashes flickered like a small fan, and she looked particularly virtuous and gentle.
Yet she was able to come up with the idea of teaching the Bitter Nunnery residents to make incense to help themselves.
Such a person, what kind of virtuous and gentle heart could she have?
Gu Xi sneered internally.
The presiding master of Bitter Nunnery arrived.
She may have already inquired about what the two Grand Madams wanted to discuss with her, as she looked a little excited, and when she saw them, she made a big bow and recited repeatedly, “Blessings of the Bodhisattva, allowing us to meet kind-hearted people in Bitter Nunnery”.
The two Grand Madams did not exchange pleasantries with her, but directly explained their intentions.
The presiding master was so happy that her tears fell down, her dull and sallow face suddenly gained a little more colour. “Ever since I started to preside over the Bitter Nunnery twenty years ago, I have been trying to find a way to make a living. We tried dried bamboo shoots and salted vegetables, but it always yielded very poor results. If both Grand Madams can show the people in Bitter Nunnery a way out, we, we would be immensely grateful to both of you and in this life and the next, and we would definitely set up a longevity plaque for the both of you…….” She said chokingly, and was about to kneel down and perform a grand kowtow.
Luckily, Chen Daniang and Ji Daniang were quick to stop the presiding master and didn’t let her kneel down. Chen Daniang remarked, “What are you doing? Aren’t you insulting our two Grand Madams by your actions? If you have something to say, sit down and discuss. This was only a suggestion by both Grand Madams, the feasibility is still debateable, and we still have to run it by you first, don’t we?”
Only then did the presiding master calm down. She smiled sheepishly and sat down on the embroidered stool next to them.
Grand Madam Pei gazed at Yu Tang.
Yu Tang immediately understood.
Seeing that this idea was her idea, at this time, she wanted to prop her up, so that Yu Tang could give the presiding master an explanation on incense making.
Yu Tang hurriedly refused, shaking her head and even made a pleading expression.
xkurohana 
I’m glad the nunnery folks are being appreciative. Yu Tang’s borrowing from the past life to rack up some good karma. I wonder if Gu Xi will try to horn in now or keep sitting on the sidelines?