Delicate Flower – Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Father

Yu Wen’s study was located in the west wing of the courtyard. It was a large room, stacked with books alongside all four walls with a large desk in the middle of the study. Next to the desk, there were many large blue and white porcelain jars filled with scrolls of varying lengths and thickness. On the desk, there was a small pastel-colored bowl with two goldfishes, one red and one black.

Actually, the reason why Yu Tang pulled her father inside the study, was not to ask for the jade. Instead, her main reason was to discuss her mother’s illness with Yu Wen.

Before her father returned, she thought carefully about it. In her previous life, her family’s downfall seemed to have started from when Changxing Street caught fire, but in fact, it was caused by her mother’s illness that was not cured.

So to change the fate of her past life, she had to start with her mother’s condition.

Only when her mother’s illness is cured, then her father will not rush to find treatment, and listen to the unreliable advice of other people and frantically take her mother out to see those physicians. As for their wealth and possessions, what is gone is gone. Preserving lives is the most important thing.

“Father, didn’t you say you went to Suzhou to see that imperial physician Yang?” Yu Tang fiddled with the leaves of fern plant on the nearby bookshelf in the study and said, “What did imperial physician Yang say? Can he cure mother’s illness?”

Yu Wen, who still treated Yu Tang like a child, replied, “That’s the concern of us adults, you don’t have to worry. You only need to stay with your mother and keep her company. I’ll take care of your mom’s illness!”

Yu Tang casually broke off a branch of fern and played with the goldfishes in the bowl, and then said, “Father, don’t always treat me like a child. I already knew about the flooding in Changxing Street. At that time, I even went to see the crowd. But I still helped eldest aunt hide it from mother. Mother has not even heard a whisper of it even up till today. Even eldest aunt praised me.”

Yu Wen was very surprised, and looked at his daughter while she made the two goldfishes swim around frantically in the bowl. He couldn’t help but say, “Look at you now, teasing those poor goldfishes, is this the behavior of a proper young lady? How can I see you as one?”

The seven years in the Li family were too hard, and if Yutang didn’t find something interesting in the midst of her misery, it’s likely that she wouldn’t have endured.

Yu Tang pouted, “What does this have to do with being a grown up? You are already an adult, but you still crave the water chestnut cake from the mountain-side.”

Yu Wen coughed twice in embarrassment and changed the subject: “How is your mother’s health these days? She always hides it from me, so I don’t know the exact severity of her condition.”

Yu Tang had been waiting to hear these words from her father.
She said, “If you don’t tell me what’s in your heart, I won’t tell you what’s in my heart either.”

“Ouch! My dear daughter even knows to negotiate with me now.” Yu Wen chuckled at his daughter, but when he raised his eyes and saw her serious gaze, his heart couldn’t help but feel a sense of unfamiliarity, as if in a blinking of an eye, his daughter had already grown up. She was not only sensible, but also knew how to show concern, thoughtfulness and love to her parents.

This made him both emotional and proud.

Others all say he pampered his daughter too much, but his daughter didn’t grow up spoiled at all.

Instead, she is becoming more and more filial.

Yu Wen decided to respect his daughter’s earnest request.

He decided to give his daughter the Qingtian jade to play with.

As he rummaged through the box looking for the Qingtian jade, he said, “I didn’t get to see Imperial physician Yang. His apprentice said that he was unable to practice medicine because of an injury in the tendons of both his hands, so he was dismissed from the imperial court. After knowing that, how can I be so thick-skinned to insist on seeing imperial physician Yang?”

Yu Tang faintly froze.

In her previous life, imperial physician Yang did not practice medicine after he returned home. She thought that imperial physician Yang was just retiring as he was getting old, but she didn’t expect it to be for this reason.

She said, “Father, for mother’s illness, is it only possible to turn to imperial physician Yang?”

If her father wanted to take her mother to Putuo Mountain, by all means possible, she had to stop it.

Yu Wen finally found the Qingtian jade and was searching again for a suitable box to store it.

He started rummaging through the box again: “imperial physician Yang was introduced by your uncle Lu. Imperial physician Yang used to be famous for his gynecology skills in the palace. When the empress dowager was pregnant with the emperor, it was imperial physician Yang who was in charge of protecting the fetus and to ensure the smooth delivery of the baby. Your mother’s illness only started after she had given birth to you, so of course it’s best to find imperial physician Yang.”

Uncle Lu’s name is Lu Xin, and was born in the same year as her father. The two of them have a very close personal relationship. He was the one who sold her father the “Pine Creek Fishing Hidden Painting”. He also once wanted to publish a book containing mostly poems written by himself(Luxin), and persuaded her father to fork out a large amount of silver for its production. However, as most of the poems in the book were Lu Xin’s poems, people would remember him, instead of her father, the financier, who was not remembered by anyone. Lu Xin’s poems grew in popularity and his fame gradually spread around Jiangnan.

Yu Tang thus disliked this person, said: “You don’t have to listen to everything he says. Since he knew about imperial physician Yang’s return to his hometown, why didn’t he also inquire about why he had to return to his hometown? You made a trip for nothing, and made mother worried for you.”

Yu Wen finally found a suitable red lacquer box, sat down on the round chair behind the desk and said: “You can’t say it like that. Your uncle Lu only wanted to help; not only did he personally accompany me to Suzhou, but he also helped to inquire about another imperial doctor Wang Bo living in Putuo Mountain, but Wang Bo specializes in pediatrics, so I do not know if he can treat your mother.”

It turns out that the matter of Putuo Mountain also has Lu Xin involved.

Yu Tang was furious and said, “Father, when Uncle Lu accompanied you to Suzhou, did you pay for the expenses or did he pay for it himself?”

Yu Wen laughed, “You child, how can you be so calculating?”

She knew it. Lu Xin tricked her father again.

Yu Tang said angrily, “I was thinking, since Uncle Lu knows so much about these imperial doctors, why didn’t he suggest that you take Mum to the capital to seek treatment? After all, the imperial doctors in the capital are a dime a dozen, there will definitely be someone that can treat mother’s illness.”

Yu Wen frowned and said sternly, “What do you think the imperial doctors are? So common that they are found everywhere? Your uncle Lu is concerned about me, that’s why he pays special attention to the news of imperial physicians. You can’t talk about your uncle Lu like that anymore, it’s not polite.”

Yu Tang stopped talking about Lu Xin, but still encouraged her father to take her mother to the capital instead for medical treatment.

As long as her parents avoided those dangerous places, her parents’ lives would be saved, and their family could be whole and happy.

Yu Wen was somewhat persuaded by Yu Tang’s words. But going to the capital was a big deal, and if he made up his mind, there were many things to prepare for the journey.

He put the Qingtian jade in the box and said absentmindedly, “This is the Qingtian jade you wanted, keep it well, and don’t lose it. I bought it from your uncle Lu.”

After this conversation, all the more so, Yu Tang did not want to hear the name now and said, “Then I’d better not take what’s precious to you. You can give me that lotus leaf water inkstone instead.”

“Just take it!” Yu Wen stretched out his hand placed it in her hand, and teasing Yu Tang, “I’m going to keep the lotus leaf water inkstone for the next time when you’re naughty try to bargain with me! If I gave it to you now, wouldn’t it be a loss?”

Yu Tang thought about it. This Qingtian jade was indeed a good material. She shouldn’t have to refuse a gift because of her anger towards Lu Xin.

If she feels irritated by it, she can always use it as a gift when the time comes.

Yu Tang took the box, thanked her father, and after discussing how to carve a seal out of the jade, she reminded him, “Father, if we go to the capital for medical treatment, we will need a lot of silver. You’ve been holding the Pine Creek Fishing Hidden painting in your possession for several days.”

Yu Wen smiled sheepishly.

If Yu Tang didn’t mention about this, he would have forgotten about it.

Yu Wen had no concept of money, nor did he have any greed. He nonchalantly replied “Your uncle Lu and I are good friends, if payment is a few days late, he will not say anything. Even if the family is lacking in silver, there will still be enough silver to pay for your mother’s medicine. You don’t have to worry.”

Yu Tang knew her father would answer this way.

She said, “Father never bothers about our family’s accounts, right? Do you want to go ask old Aunty Chen?”

Because of her poor health,

Madam Chen did not handle the family’s chores. It was old Aunty chen who was in charge, and she managed everything smoothly, and without error.

Yu Wen hesitantly said, “It can’t be that…. we can’t even afford your mother’s medicine, right?”

In order to make her father full understand the severity of the situation, she explained. “If there’s no silver coming in, our savings will eventually be gone. The family’s store was just burnt, so there will be no income for a long time. However, Mother need to drink her medicine everyday – not even one day can be skipped. Furthermore, eldest uncle also wants to rebuild the stores. You say, where is all this silver coming from?”

Yu Wen knew that Yu Tang would not exaggerate the facts to stop him from spending.

When his own hobbies conflicted with his wife’s treatment, Yu Wen did not hesitate to put his wife’s medical bills as priority.

“Got it.” He responded with some embarrassment.

Yu Tang knew that her father would not buy that painting.

She let out a sigh of relief and brought up the matter of the shop again: “Eldest aunt comes from a merchant family, and when grandfather was alive, he saw that eldest aunt was capable, so he arranged for eldest uncle to marry her. Before he passed away, grandfather also mentioned that in future, we must also consult eldest aunt on the stores before making any decision. So regarding the stores, shouldn’t you find a time to discuss with eldest aunt? I notice that eldest uncle and eldest cousin are so busy these days, until they seem to have lost some weight. Usually, it’s always Eldest Uncle who helps our family, so you should also help Eldest Uncle at this critical time.”

Before her grandfather passed away, there was indeed such an instruction.

Yu Wen nodded his head.

Yu Tang smiled happily.

There was finally a little bit of progress in improving the situation of their family’s business.

Yu Wen stroked Yu Tang’s head and said, “Then you have to make sure to take care of your mother and prevent her from finding out. I’ll take the opportunity to meet your eldest aunt.”

Yu Tang happily agreed and took the small red lacquered box from Yu Wen and both of them left the study.

Madam Chen asked Yu Tang to invite her eldest uncle and his family to eat at their home. “While your father was gone, eldest uncle had a hard time, so let’s invite your eldest uncle over to have a drink with your father to relieve his fatigue.”

Although the brothers of the Yu family lived separately, they were just next-door neighbors, and were very close with each other.

Yu Tang together with Shuang Tao, went through the back door to her eldest uncle’s estate.

Madam Wang was busy taking inventory of her dowry.

Yu Tang ran straight into Madam Wang’s inner room and proudly declared to her eldest aunt like she had just performed a meritorious service. “I’ve already spoken to my father, and my father said that he would consult you first regarding the store.”

She hoped that her aunt would also take the initiative, to prevent her father from being swayed by the opinions of whomever he saw and discussed with.

Eldest aunt was pleased and pinched Yutang’s cheek: “Good daughter, you are learning to be resourceful. You’re becoming more and more sensible and reliable.

Yu Tang tilted her head away, avoiding her eldest aunt “demon claw” and ran away with Shuang Tao. “Eldest aunt, Come quickly! My parents are waiting at home for you!”

Madam Wang looked at her departing back and shook her head with a smile.

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TL notes: I really like how harmonious their families are. It’s a really nice break from the inner courtyard drama and scheming you often find in c-novels, haha. It’s also one of the main reasons I starting reading this novel and wanted to translate this for more people to enjoy.

If you like the novel or my translation, please leave a review on NU or comment~ 🙂

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Delicate Flower – Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Return Home

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Thinking of these things will only make her sad.

In this life, Yu Tang wants nothing to do with Li Family, much less the Pei family.

She took this opportunity to console her eldest aunt, “Even the Pei family’s store was burned, our family’s stores will certainly be unsalvageable as well. The good thing is that we still own the land, so if there’s is a chance, we can always try again. As for the goods in the store, we certainly will have to pay double the compensation for the orders. However, if we can find the buyers to discuss, perhaps they will be willing to give us some time and we can make a new batch of goods for them or give them a discount. After all, nobody expected and wanted this fire to happen at Changxing Street.”

“That’s what I said. But I’m afraid we can’t postpone the delivery.” Eldest Aunt Wang smiled bitterly and said, “You are only a small child, so no one will tell you these things. Over the years, the people of southern Fujian made their fortune by sea trade. As such, people in Hangzhou also want to give it a try. Those who have the necessary capital and ability, will each have a boat loaded with various goods like silk, tea leaves, porcelain and so on, and form a large merchant fleet of ships to do business. Those families with lesser funds will pay a fee to get aboard one of those boats to travel and sell their tea leaves, silk and other goods. The family that ordered lacquerware from us, it was also to sell them abroad as well. The merchant boat has already set a departure date. If they do not get the required goods by that time, they will be in a difficult position as well. They will have no choice but to request compensation from us.”

In her previous life, Yu Tang certainly did not know about this. But now she knows.

The Li family is considered a new, noble family in Lin’an City.

However, with the Pei family above them, the Li’s family’s wealth and prestige seemed lackluster in comparison. It was said that every year, on the first day of the New Year, the previous three generations of the Li family would visit the Pei family to pay respect to them. It was not until the Li family’s elder, the grandfather of Li Duan and Li Jun, who won the scholarship, and later their father who also won the scholarship in the same year as the second master of the Pei family, only then did they have the pride to stand straighter in the city. Year after year, on the first day of the New Year, the Li family can comfortably sit in the hall of the Pei family to drink tea and pay their respects.

However, because of this, the Li family, although they have become rich and highly respected, could not use their power to expand their business – the mountains and waters of Lin’an City, the streets and stores, were mostly in the hands of the Pei family. Those leftovers property and businesses, which were originally little, who will want to sell their ancestral properties and land? Even if they were to sell, they were also accustomed to sell to the Pei family.

How can the Li family dare to compete with the Pei family?

However, to rise up in the official courts, you have to be generous with your subordinates and reward them according to their merits. All these need silver. If the Li family wanted more silver, they had no choice but to try to expand their business.

So the Li family also started sea trade.

Of course, sailing out to open seas is a risky venture. If there’s a storm, it’s likely that many lives will be lost. Within the city of Hangzhou, many families went bankrupt because of this. The Li family’s luck was pretty good, nine times out of ten, their merchant fleet of ships would return safely. After she married Li Jun, the Li family became even more prosperous. Li Jun’s mother praised her for bringing luck, and her eldest brother-in law, Li Duan became more infatuated with her as a result.

Ironically, when Li Jun died falling from a horse, Li Jun’s mother immediately changed her tune and cursed her for being a “fox spirit” and said she was a beauty that brought disaster……

Speaking of the past made her feel sour inside.

Yutang quickly buried these feelings and continued to speak “Then is it possible to buy from others and get their approval to sell them under our name?”

When Eldest Aunt Wang’s heard this, her eyes lit up as she looked at Yu Tang and said, “You’re thinking the same as me.”

As if she had found a confidant, she began to share her troubles. “Your eldest uncle objected. He said that the Yu family had been in business for a hundred years. Don’t mention only Lin’an, no one in the whole of Hangzhou can beat our Yu family’s workmanship. Using inferior goods made by others and selling under the Yu family’s name? He couldn’t do such a thing!”

“Your eldest cousin said, there are also a few hundred years old lacquer goods makers in Jiangxi, which lacquerwares were of around the same quality as ours. If your eldest uncle was worried about the quality, he could also go over and watch how they make them. However, your eldest uncle thinks that the goods in Jiangxi are cheaper than ours, so if others knew about this, then the buyers may decide to buy straight from there instead, even if it takes a longer time to travel there. Then our efforts to purchase lacquerware from Jiangxi would have been for nothing and instead brought profits for the lacquerware stores in Jiangxi.”

Yu Tang knew that her uncle was a bit stubborn when it comes to business, otherwise he would not have disagreements with her elder cousin in her last life. However, she did not expect him to be so stubborn.

She said: “Then why not let eldest uncle go to Hangzhou? I heard that those in the sea trade mostly sell tea leaves, porcelain and silk. Lacquer-ware, tin-ware are harder to find. Perhaps some people know that the Jiangxi’s lacquerware craftsmanship is not worse than our family, the price is also cheaper, but it is quite a big risk to travel there given the uncertainties on the road. Anyway, once the goods are sold, it would be difficult for the buyers to return them. Even if you let them earn, what is the harm?”

Eldest aunt Wang nodded her head thinking hard about the pros and cons.

Her son had also mentioned this, but her husband was too stubborn to listen. But if the second uncle(Yutang’s father) had said it, it would be different.

Eldest aunt Wang couldn’t wait for Yutang’s father, Yu Wen to return.

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Yu Tang had already had a decade worth of experience due to her previous life, so she was calmer and more collected than the average 15-year-old girl. Besides, all the things that are about to happen, already happened before, so there’s no need to be anxious. Thinking of this, her mood became better.

Following her Eldest’s Aunt’s request, she obediently stayed at home for the day, and learnt from old aunty Wang how to make snowflake pastries.

Unlike her previous life, when she took two days to learn it, in this life, with her prior experience, she picked up the skill faster, and she even made two more batches of snowflake pastries for old Aunty Chen to give to her neighbors – she remembered that in her previous life, when her family was in trouble, her neighbors helped her as well, so she wanted to express her thanks.

It was four days later when her father, Yu Wen, came home.

Yu Tang had just washed her mother’s hair and was sitting in the courtyard helping her comb.

Old Aunty Chen was fanning Madam Chen(Yutang’s mother) and praising Yutang: “Look at Eldest Miss, how obedient and filial! In future, you can just wait to enjoy being cared for by Eldest Miss and her future husband!”

Madam Chen laughed happily.

Yutang’s clear and pale face showed some regret.

Yu Tang’s marriage did not go well previously because their family thought of looking for a good family for her to marry into.

In her previous life, Yutang didn’t really think much about marriage, so everything was decided by her parents. But after her tramatic marriage experience, she realized that it would be her great fortune and blessing if she could recruit a son-in-law instead and stay by her parents’ side.

Seeing her mother feeling guilty about keeping her at her side instead of marrying her out, she playfully nestled against her mother’s shoulder and teasingly said, “I want to find a pretty one, not like the sister next door, who married a short, ugly one!”

This was the first time that Yutang expressed her idea regarding marriage in front of her mother.

Madam Chen couldn’t help but be overjoyed and asked her carefully, “Then… you are willing to recruit a son-in-law?”

“Of course!” Yu Tang say affirmatively, “If we find a son-in-law to join our the family, I can stay with Mother and Father for the rest of my life. I will be the one to decide our family affairs as well. Why wouldn’t I want it?”

Seeing that she was sincere, Madam Chen immediately cheered up as she pulled Yutang closer to her, and promised, “Don’t worry, Mother and Father will definitely help to look for a suitable son-in-law. Definitely won’t let our A-tang suffer, and won’t let our A-tang be bullied.”

Yu Tang nodded strongly.

Old Aunty Chen couldn’t help but join in as well, as she teased. “Madam, remember to pick a beautiful one. Our eldest Miss likes pretty ones.”

Anyway, they do not expect the son-in law to have any talents or ambition, so of course, they should choose one that is pleasing to the eye.

Yu Tang nodded again, “Mother has to remember this! And also must be tall and listen to me.”

Madam Chen couldn’t help but burst out laughing at her greediness.

Yu Wen, dressed formally, walked in amidst the laughter: “What are you two talking about? What made you both so happy! Let me hear it too!”

“Husband!” Madam Chen’s eyes lit up with joy.

Yu Wen’s gaze also fell straight on Madam Chen.

“I was only gone for a few days but you seem to have become thinner.” He asked Chen shi concerningly and with some heartache, “Is it because our A-tang is making trouble at home again? Or is it that the weather is too hot nowadays and you are unable to eat? Why don’t I ask someone to buy some ice from the street and have old Aunty Chen cook some green bean soup for you?”

“No, no need!” Madam Chen said with a smile as she examined Yu Wen, fearing that he have suffered while he was out. “Didn’t Physician Liu from Ji Min Hall say that my body can’t eat cold things? Yet you still encourage me to eat ice?”

Yu Wen laughed sheepishly and said, “We can always bend the rules a little, can’t we?”

This is the her father’s character.

Her father is a good person – sincere, optimistic, generous, kind, humorous… But he’s also a bit unreliable, doing things without much thought and passively going along the flow in life. When her father was a child, he just focused on studying hard, and afterwards, just helped out with his brother on some secondary matters. With some difficulty, he managed to achieve a little merit and obtained some recognition, but yet because advancing to further studies was too difficult, he gave up halfway.

If there’s no difficulties in life, it’s still ok. However, once there are problems, her father may not manage it well.

Yu Tang sighed internally as she went up to greet her father.

Her Father, Yuwen, didn’t notice she was standing there until now.

Feeling a little guilty for noticing her so late, he coughed and said “A-tang, while father was away from home, were you naughty? Did you listen to your mother?”

However Yutang didn’t mind. She liked that her father cared for her mother and treated her well.

In order to reduce any suspicion, Yutang tried to stay in character of her past 15-year old self. So she said angrily, “Where is my poria powder? You promised me! I need it to make poria cream!”

After Yu Wen heard about the condition of their family’s store, he was so busy, frantically trying to solve it – how can he remember to buy Poria powder?

For a moment, he was speechless.

Yu Tong sighed again in her heart.

In order to keep up the pretense and not let her mother worry, father would dress impeccably well every time he went out of the house. That’s why no one knew the anxieties held in his heart.

Over the years, proceeds from the store were all used in buying her mother’s medication. So when her father knew about Changxing Street fire and worrying about it alone, it was only natural that he forgot to buy her a gift.

In her previous life, she had a big fight with her father over this matter. Only after her father had accompanied her to the mountains to have a good meal, did she brush this matter aside. So in this life, she only want to make up for her errors and be a filial daughter, making sure her parents live a peaceful and happy life.

“Father’s words are just empty words.” Yu Tang said with a frown. She pushed her father towards the study, saying “I want that Qingtian jade that Father hid away.”

Yu Wen grimaced and felt heartbroken at the thought. While being pushed by his daughter, he bargained with her, “How about I give you the lotus leaf water inkstone? Or the box of wolf-hair brushes that you agreed to last time?”

“Humph!” Yu Tang said discontentedly, “I won’t fall for it! I want that Qingtian jade, and I want to carve a seal and hang it on my waist, just like Father.”

Yu Wen said cajolingly, “Only men hang seals on their waists, you are a girl, hang three things* instead. I will commission a set of three things in gold okay?”

The family is almost out of money to buy medicine for mother, yet her father is still ready to give her a set of gold three things?

Yu Tang thought exasperatingly.

However, her Mother, Madam Chen laughed so hard she couldn’t stand up.

Both of them made their way to the study, with Yutang pulling her father and her father dragging his feet unwillingly.

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TL: Done! Do leave a comment/review~ \o/

Some notes:
three things* – from the name you can’t really tell what is it referring to, haha. But in ancient china, it referred to the essential items they had to have before going out of the house. For us it’s like keys, phone, etc. For them is various tools like toothpick(for their teeth), tweezers and the tool for cleaning ears. XD

**I included a small picture reference of the places where Li’an, Jiangxi and Hangzhou are located in today’s maps. Just for you to get an idea of what Yutang and Madam Wang were discussing about.

Delicate Flower – Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – The Store

After all these inconceivable things have occurred, Yutang thought she would would be unable to sleep; however, as soon as her head touched the pillow and breathed in the familiar incense, she actually managed to sleep until dawn without even dreaming.

But she did not awaken from sleep naturally.

Instead, she was woken up abruptly by Shuang Tao: “Eldest Miss, the Eldest Madam is coming over!”

As Yu Tang had just woken up, she was still a little drowsy and confused.

She slowly sat up and leaned against the bed rest. She opened her clear, dewy-looking big eyes and yawned. It was a while before her mind cleared and she responded with a yawn. “Eldest Aunt? When did Eldest aunt come over?”

However, as she said that, Yu Tang suddenly became fully awake.

In her previous life, before dawn, on the second day after Changxing Street her eldest aunt came over. She said it was because of the hot weather and humidity, she couldn’t sleep, so she dropped by. Eldest aunt also brought along some materials for needlework to pass the time. However, this was only an excuse to keep her mother and Yutang at home for the whole day. It was only until evening time, when her eldest uncle and eldest cousin finished their store business and sent a letter to her father in Suzhou city, did her eldest aunt head back home.

Even so, when she left, her Eldest Aunt instructed the family servants not to reveal any news about the store to her and her mother, and left her personal attendant Old aunty Wang, who taught them how to make snowflake pastries.

Her mother was very pleased that she was interested in learning something about cooking, so she moved a stool to accompany her in the kitchen, and both of them made snowflake pastries until her father returned.

When her Father came back, he also didn’t mention much about the store situation. If it wasn’t for that payment of the “Pine Lake fishing hidden painting”, her mother still wouldn’t have known that their family had no silver. And it was after her parents’ death, did she find out that her family only had 50 acres of good land left.

This Changxing Street Fire was an important turning point in her life.

But she only realized this after she married into the Li family, and coveted by Li Duan(Her eldest brother-in law).

Yu Tang hurriedly got up: “Eldest aunt? Did she come alone? Does my mother know that my aunt came over?”

Shuang Tao assisted her in freshening up and said, “She came over before dawn, saying that it was too hot to sleep. however,she didn’t want to bother you and Madam, so she was accompanied by old Aunty Chen in the courtyard to cool off.”

Yu Tang nodded her head.

It was still the same as what happened in her previous life.

Only, in this life she wouldn’t leave it all to the elders of the family.

Yu Tang hurriedly went to the courtyard.

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Eldest aunt, dressed in a beautiful blue summer cloth jacket, was sitting on a bamboo chair under the balsam fir tree. Old Aunty Chen and Old aunty Wang, stood on the left and on the right, as one spoke with her, and the other helped to fan. Eldest aunt’s complexion didn’t look good, with heavy black circles under her eyes; obviously she didn’t sleep well.

How ignorant was she, in her previous life, that she didn’t notice the difference in her eldest aunt at all.

“Eldest aunt!” Yu Tang went up to bow to her Eldest Aunt Wang, but her eyes couldn’t help but well up with tears.

In her previous life, her eldest uncle and eldest cousin both died helping her. As her eldest aunt had no one to rely on, she returned to her own mother’s house as a widow, and relied on her nephews and nieces-in-law to make a living. However, even so, she did not blame her, but at Yutang’s most vulnerable and difficult time, she asked her cousin, who was a nun in a nunnery, to take her in.

“Dear child, why are you crying?” Eldest Aunt (Madam Wang) looked at Yu Tang and sighed. She personally helped her up, and instructed old aunty Wang to bring a chair over for Yu Tang, and said gently, “I heard that you went to Changxing Street yesterday. It is rare that you are so obedient. I won’t say more. The matter of the store, no matter what, it must be hidden from your mother. Your mother’s health is not good, and hearing this news will only make her anxious. Your father is also not at home now. Should your mother’s illness worsen due to this, how can your father bear it?”

Yu Tang nodded repeatedly, and helped her sit down. She offered a cup of chrysanthemum tea to Eldest Aunt, and sat down beside her, and reassured her, “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Madam Wang nodded her head and felt that today’s Yutang was very different from the past, so she couldn’t help but take a second look at Yutang.

A young girl of fifteen or sixteen is beautiful no matter how she dresses up, and what more about Yu Tang, who is a well-known beauty in Qingzhu Lane. The only thing is that as she is usually coddled by everyone so she looks a bit childish. However today, with her straight posture, dark eyebrows and her bright and clear eyes. Her whole person is beautiful and elegant, looking fresh and youthful, the more you look, the more you find her pleasing to the eyes.

Madam Wang secretly approved of her new look and said, “I heard you hit your head and fell yesterday afternoon, are you feeling better now?”

Yu Tang said reassuringly, “I am fine! It happened suddenly, and gave me a fright but I have recovered. “

However, her eldest aunt didn’t believe her and said, “Just now old Aunty Chen said that you were unconscious for four hours, and after you woke up, you said some incomprehensible words. Without even informing your mother, you took Shuangtao with you to the crowded Changxin Street. Shuangtao tried to stop you from going, but couldn’t. If it wasn’t for old Aunty Chen, who helped you to keep it secret from your mother, I’m afraid your mother would have ran out into the street to look for you.”

Feeling guilty, Yu Tang admitted her mistake, “It’s my fault. I won’t do it again.”

When Eldest Aunt saw her snow-white face turn pale with remorse, she looked so pitiful, that she couldn’t help but felt sorry for scolding her and said consolingly: “Well, I didn’t mean to blame you either. It’s just that you are their only child and as such they cherish you most dearly. It is inevitable that they will hold a lot of worries for you, so you need to be more understanding of your father and mother. What other children can do, you may not be able to do.”

“I understand.” Yu Tang obediently agreed and accepted the lesson.

Perhaps Eldest aunt was still worried about her husband and son, as she said in hushed tones about yesterday’s fire. “Your eldest uncle and eldest cousin were busy all night. They sent a report back saying that not only our shop, but even the Pei family’s shop, was burnt to the ground leaving only some debris. With such a major incident, yet no one stepped up to take charge of the situation. Even the Tang governor is troubling over this incident and how to report this matter to court.

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The Pei family is a large, prominent family in Lin’an city.

A truly prestigious household.

No matter who became the governor in Lin’an City, before they can officially take office, they have to visit the Pei family first.

Previously, until her death, the Pei family was the most prominent household in Lin’an City.

In the entire Lin’an City, the most prosperous place was Changxing Street. In addition to the seven or eight stores like their Yu family, which had operated for generations, the rest all belonged to the Pei family. Even outside the city, the nearby mountains and forests, good land, tea estates, mulberry gardens were also owned by the Pei family. Many people relied on the Pei family to get by.

In her previous life, the hundred acres of good land of their Yu family were also sold to the Pei family.

The Pei family had been wealthy throughout several generations.

From the previous dynasty to the present one, more than twenty were scholars, and around seven or eight were first-class court officials.

In this generation, out of the Pei family’s three masters, two were descended from scholars. After a few more years, the Pei family will have another two young masters becoming scholars as well.

The Pei family’s grand elder, seem to have passed away of illness right about this time.

Yu Tang lamented sadly: “Perhaps it’s no coincidence that the Pei’s family grand elder passed away at this time. Life is so fragile.”

However, upon hearing this, Eldest Aunt Wang was shocked and asked “The Pei family’s grand elder? Who told you that he had passed away? It was the Pei family’s old eldest master, who served as a minister of works in the capital who passed away. I heard he died of a severe illness in the capital a few days ago. The news only just reached Lin’an. After hearing this, the Pei family’s grand elder felt ill. Several of the Pei family’s young masters rushed to Qiantang last night to receive the body. The family servants and stewards were busy with the mourning of the old eldest master, therefore they didn’t have the time to care about the matter of the Changxing Street fire.”

Yu Tong was taken aback, but didn’t think much of it.

Whether in a previous life or in this life, the Pei family’s business was none of her concern. Her knowledge of the Pei family’s affairs only came from hearsay, and is not reliable.

Eldest Aunt Wang signed resignedly. “The fire on Changxing Street was so strong that it burnt everything up all at once. Your eldest uncle said that the fire burned strangely – it seemed to have spread from one specific place and then to the other places. Your eldest uncle suspected arson, and wanted to go to the governor to investigate. Unfortunately, due to the Pei family’s incident, the Tang governor was certainly not in the mood to take care of the matter ……”

Yu Tang listened intently, heart beating rapidly.

In her previous life, the Li family came at this time to propose marriage. At that time, she was unwilling, as she felt that she was still in the mourning period for her parents. It was not an appropriate time to discuss such matters. But eldest uncle and aunt thought that after the mourning period had passed, she would already be eighteen years old. At that age, it would be difficult to find a good family to marry into. So they discussed with her to first arrange and settle the engagement. After the mourning period was over, they could then discuss the marriage date.

She was still a little hesitant. However, the Li family sent someone to talk to her privately, saying that if she agreed to the engagement first, the Li family would be willing to lend 5,000 taels of silver to her eldest uncle, without interest, so that her family could rebuild their business.

When the fire broke out on Changxing Street, the family’s store was burned, and her uncle’s store was also burned. When the Li family came to mention this matter, the Pei family was already rebuilding Changxing Street. Although the plot of land on the street was ready, but the funds to rebuild their family’s store were paid by each family respectively. If someone did not have sufficient funds to rebuild the store, it can be sold to the Pei family for a price.

Most of the people sold their land to the Pei family.

However, her eldest uncle was unwilling to sell as it was their old ancestral property left by the Yu family.

Not only was he unwilling to sell, but he even wanted to build the two storefronts left by her father as well.

Initially, when her grandfather died, her eldest uncle, because he was concerned that her father did not know how to make a living outside of their inheritance, gave the better portion to her father. The four stores were divided equally and two hundred mu of land, one hundred mu of good land was given to her father while fifty mu of medium land and fifty mu of mountain forest belonged to her Eldest Uncle.

The cost of the four stores was 4,000 taels of silver. Even if her eldest uncle’s land were all sold, it was only just a drop in the bucket in comparison – it wouldn’t have even been enough to purchase a store pillar.

So after hearing the words of the Li family, Yutang felt that her marriage could at least get her uncle’s family out of trouble. She agreed to marry the Li family’s second young master, Li Jun, without even informing her uncle.

Afterwards, the eldest uncle felt guilty towards her and wanted to pay her back. He heard that selling grain and salt was a highly profitable business, so he proceeded to take the Li family’s 5,000 taels of silver to go to Hubei.

Although uncle and cousin made a lot of money, but it also created trouble. In order to earn enough to afford her dowry, they constantly worked hard. First to rebuild the two stores left by her father and then later to buy back the land they had previously sold. Because of differences in their management of selling grain and salt, Eldest Uncle and cousin had many disagreements and their relationship worsen. During one of their travels, they encountered bandits, and lost their lives – even their bodies couldn’t be found.

In her previous life, she was sheltered and didn’t know the outside world. Even if she knew about the Changxing Fire, and how suspicious it was, she wouldn’t have any good suggestions to solve it. However, Yu Tang, as she suffered in the hands of the Li family, saw many of their nasty tactics and ruthless strategies. Just by listening once, she knew that the Pei’s family’s methods and the past Li family were the same.

As long as there is an opportunity, they will bully the small and weak.

The same ruthlessness, the same vileness and viciousness!

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Mad respect for good translators. @_@ This really took a lot out of me…

If you like my translation, please support me on ko-fi! 🙂

❤

New C-novel Translation project – Delicate Flower – 花娇

Title: Delicate Flower 花娇

Author: 吱吱

Synopsis:

In her previous life, Yu Tang’s family was ruined and she lost her loved ones. So in this life, she only wants to focus on helping her elder cousin rebuild their family business.
Pei Yan (with a cold and scornful look): she does nothing of use; only steals and flirts. Constantly appearing in front of me no matter where I go. Does she covet the position of the Pei family’s patriarchal wife so much?
Yu Tang (silent crying): No, this is a complete misunderstanding! When your family’s fleet of ships sail out to sea, I only wanted to join in and earn a little….

Translator’s notes: It’s about how the female protagonist tries her best to right the wrongs, protect her family and be happy. If you’re reading this primarily for revenge, faceslaps and ‘dogblood’ drama, then this novel isn’t for you. It will definitely have some revenge seeing that it’s a rebirth novel, but it’s more of a side dish.

The storyline is a bit slow-paced, but if you’re patient to read further, you will definitely find it interesting.

I’ve always wanted find a good novel for translation, but could not find any that held my attention long enough. This one looks promising though! 🙂

Happy reading~

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Chapter 1: Big Fire

Huge flames rushed towards the sky, crackling loudly and painting half the sky red. As the fire grew in intensity and heat, the people nearby were running and shouting “Fire! Fire!”

Yu Tang’s legs went limp and she would have fallen to the ground if not for her maid Shuang Tao holding her up.

“Miss, Miss!” Shuang Tao was so frightened by the scene in front of her that she couldn’t speak clearly, “How could this happen? The Pei Family’s guards along with some local storeowners always patrol Changxing street in the middle of the night to check on their stores. The third master of the Pei family even said that as this year’s summer is especially hot and dry, the chances of fires are high. So a few days ago, he specifically instructed men to set up thirty-eight large water jars on both sides of Changxing Street. Every day, the shopkeepers of each family will fill the jars to the brim with water. So how could Changxing Street be on fire? Then, what about our stores?”

Yes!

What about their stores?

Yu Tang’s eyes were moist and blurry.

She had actually been reborn!

And her rebirth fell on the evening of the day their family’s store was burned.

She had a beautiful, close knitted family, allowing her to grew up peacefully. Before that, the most unpleasant things in life at most were that her parents didn’t allow her to climb trees, or play in the rivers. She couldn’t go out as she was forced to stay home and learn embroidery. Because her life was smooth-sailing and comfortable, she couldn’t remember much.

Only this summer, a sudden fire destroyed all the stores on Changxing Street. Her family’s and her eldest uncle’s lacquerware store were not spared either. Not only were the materials in the store burned, but the storehouse and workshop in the backyard of the store were also burned cleanly. The goods that were about to be delivered were gone, and so were the precious stencils left by the ancestors.

Not too far away, someone tried to rush into the store to put out the fire, but a beam suddenly collapsed, causing him to be trapped inside the burning fire.

“Boss! Boss!” A woman ran over frantically, wanting to save him, but was held back.

There were also men who fell to the ground, hitting their legs and howling, “How can we live like this?”

Yu Tang and Shuang Tao were hit on the shoulders by people who rushed over one after another on hearing the news, and Shuang Tao came back to her senses.

She hurriedly pulled Yu Tang to the side and said worriedly, “Eldest Miss, Madam is still sick and Master is not at home, and you just ran out without a word ……”

Yu Tang also came back to her senses.

At this time, Shuang Tao only thought that Yu Tang momentarily felt weak and was unable to stand firm on the swing, causing her to fall and be unconscious for half a day; but for her, she had already experienced the decline of her family, loss of both her parents, early death of her fiancé, widowed and trapped by her in-laws and coveted by her eldest brother-in law. With difficulty, she managed to escape from the clutches of her husband’s family, but was unfortunately killed in the nunnery that sheltered her.

The fire was important, but most important was her mother’s illness.

Her father, Yu Wen, and her mother, Chen shi, had a deep love for each other. Even after her mother gave birth to her and suffered poor health because of it, her father’s love for her mother and her didn’t diminish; he still continued to treasure them both as precious pearls. However, her mother’s illness persisted ever since she was born and was on medication seven out of ten days. A few days ago, her father learned from a friend that the imperial physician Yang Douxing had returned to his hometown and rushed to Suzhou to seek medical help for her mother.

In her previous life, her father returned without success. Due to Yu Tang’s fall from the swing, the shock caused her mother’s illness to worsen and she was bedridden. Her father was determined to take her mother to seek treatment from another imperial physician, Wang Bo, who lived in seclusion on Putuo Mountain, but on their way back they encountered a storm which capsized his boat and both of them died.

“Let’s go home quickly!” Yu Tong was suddenly anxious and pulled Shuang Tao in the direction of their home.

“Wait a minute, wait a minute!” Shuangtao panted and ran after her, while saying, “Where are you going? Home is over there!”

Yu Tang stopped and was silent for a moment.

It had been ten years since she had returned to her home on Qingzhu Lane, and she didn’t even remember that there was such a path between Changxing Street and Qingzhu Lane.

Perhaps because Changxing Street was on fire,this usually secluded and deserted lane was filled with people, but everyone was in a hurry, they only casted a cold glance at her before brushing past her.

The courtyard at the back of the Yu family’s house was quiet, and a few sturdy Xiang Fei bamboo shoots stood silently in the moonlight, as if the noise and chaos of Changxing Street was a matter of another world.

---

Mother’s cough was clearly audible in the night, and with a faint raspy voice she whispered, “How is A-tang? Have she woken up yet? “

The person who answered mother was old aunty Chen , her mother’s personal attendant. “She woke up early in the morning and said she needed to eat fried chestnuts to get better. Where can I find fried chestnuts for her at this time of year? She tricked me into getting her a bowl of cinnamon sugar water and ate three pieces of peach cakes before she rested.”

Yu Tang’s eyes turn moist and tears welled up.

In her previous life, she was selfish. mother was sick all the time, and she didn’t think it was important, instead she used her fall from the swing to get food and drinks, and do all the things her mother wouldn’t let her do on a regular basis. When her father took her mother to get medicine, before they left she also clamored for her father to bring her back two packets of poria powder, otherwise she would not study.

“Mother!” Yu Tang stood in front of her mother’s door and said loudly.

The door opened with a creak.

Old Aunty Chen peeked out and winked at her while saying, “What does Eldest Miss want to eat again? At this hour, the fire in the kitchen has gone out, so I can only give you a bowl of fried rice to fill your stomach, but there is nothing more.”

Yu Tang froze.

She was no longer the little girl who was the apple of her father’s eye, carefree and knew nothing about the world.

Old Aunty Chen looked strangely at her and Yu Tang’s mind raced.

Could it be that in her previous life, at this time, her mother’s condition was already not very good?

Yu Tang’s face darkened as she looked towards old Aunty Chen solemnly. She gestured to old Aunty Chen to follow her, and spoke softly in a childish voice. “Is my mother’s illness better? I’m not hungry, I just want to talk to my mother.”

Old Aunty Chen was very unfamiliar and very surprised with this kind of Yu Tang. She didn’t have time to think about it and nodded her head towards Yu Tang, but the words she said were to stop her: “Madam has just taken her medicine, she has washed up and rested. If Eldest Miss have something to ask, please come back tomorrow.”

Yu Tang stretched her neck to peek into the room.

Her mother who was just speaking with old Aunty Chen didn’t say anything now.

Obviously, her mother did not want to see her.

Yu Tang’s heart sank, and she tried her best to imitate the tone of her own voice when she was fifteen years old: “Okay, then! I’ll go back to bed first. You must remember to tell my mother I came.”

“Remember! Remember!” Old Aunty Chen smiled and said, “The wind is cold and damp, I’ll send Eldest Miss back.”

At this season, how can there be any cold and damp wind? It was only an opportunity to speak to her in private.

Yu Tang followed old Aunty Chen to her own room next door.

Because she left in a hurry, the quilt was still messily thrown on the bed, and the soft shoes were scattered on the floor, one in front of the bed and one in the center of the room. Old aunty Chen scolded Shuang Tao in a low voice: “How did you serve Eldest Miss? The house is in a mess, if the madam sees this, she will have to teach you a lesson again.”

Shuangtao blushed and turned around to clean up the room.

Yu Tang pulled old Aunty Chen aside to talk, “What happened to Mother? Don’t try to fool me with your words. I know that the person who often comes to our house to see mother is Liu SanTai of JiMin Hall. If it becomes necessary, I can find him.”

Old Aunty Chen looked at Yu Tang with surprise.

Yu Tang was spoilt by her parents growing up. Although she was not spoilt rotten, but she was definitely not a strong-willed girl. This was the first time she was so firm in her words.

Old Aunty Chen couldn’t help but hesitate a little.

Yu Tang knows herself; to put it nicely, she is not malicious, however, to put it negatively, she is naive. Should anything happen at home, she will not be the one people naturally relied on, nor will they say anything to her.

So she simply said to Old Aunty Chen, “Look at my sweaty appearance, I just ran out and saw Changxing Street on fire, and our family’s store was also burned.”

Under the candle light, Old Aunty Chen realized that Yu Tang was not properly dressed, and she was horrified, “What did you say? Changxing Street caught fire?”

Yu Tang nodded: “The goods in the store are all gone, the fields won’t have any income until after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and We still have to pay for Mother’s medical treatment, so there isn’t any money at home.”

This was the truth and not a lie to trick old Aunty Chen.

This was exactly the case in her previous life.

Their Yu family’s capital is small, but not so little that they will go bankrupt because their two stores were burned down. But this time, the fire destroyed batches of goods ordered by others and they had to make compensation as well. Her father had previously bought from his friend a painting done in the former dynasty, Li Tang’s “Pine Lake fishing hidden picture”. It was also time to pay for it. As mother did not want father to be disappointed, she took the initiative to sell the family’s thirty acres of good land. When her father took mother to Putuo Mountain, the family’s twenty acres of good land was also sold. After the death of her parents, she sold the remaining fifty acres of good land to prepare the funeral services.

Father’s inheritance from Grandfather’s estate was gone. Her uncle’s side also encountered problems, and couldn’t help her.

That is why she agreed to the marriage of the Li family previously.

The thought flashed, and Yu Tang’s complexion worsen.

She said coldly: “If anything happens to Mother, Father will not spare you when he returns!”

Old Aunty Chen couldn’t decide to laugh or cry.

She is Madam Chen’s companion since young, and Madam Chen’s nursing mother, if Madam Chen is not well, she is more anxious than anyone, more distressed than anyone, Eldest Miss actually threatened her?

But seeing such a young Eldest lady, she somehow felt relieved.

She thought about it and told Yutang: “The weather is too hot, Madam suffers greatly in summer, She can’t eat anything, always worried about your injuries, and worried that master is running around outside. Everyday, she can’t eat or sleep well and lost a lot of weight. I didn’t say because I didn’t want you to worry.”

Yu Tang felt guilty and blamed herself.

In her previous life, she always made her parents worry, and never cared for them, not to mention being someone they could rely on.

Thinking of this, Yu Tang could not help but fold her hands and chant “Amitabha Buddha” towards the West.

In her previous life, she was not a devout believer, but the Bodhisattva had mercy on her, allowing her to return to the present, back to the time when her parents were still alive. She will cherish the present time, not to let the hated things of the previous life repeat itself, not to let the family break and loved ones to separate.

Yu Tang’s tears fall like rain.

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My first translation done~ Please bear with me if there’s any mistakes. ^^;

This chapter is a bit sad, but don’t worry it definitely gets better. 🙂