The Perfect Life in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 4

After resting for a quarter of an hour, a servant came from the second gate to say that the Old Madam in the middle courtyard had risen. Madam Zhang hurriedly ordered someone to summon Chen Yu and his family to pay their respects to the Old Madam.

The Chen family mansion was divided into five courtyards: east, west, north, south, and central. The eldest, second, and third sons lived in the east, west, and south courtyards, respectively. The central courtyard was the old matriarch's courtyard, and the north courtyard was where the servants lived.

Mu Qing followed her family around the courtyard for a while, passed through a narrow alley, turned into a small door on the side, and arrived at the courtyard where the old matriarch of the Chen family lived.

The old lady's courtyard was about twice the size of Chen Yu's small courtyard, with a similar layout—square and crisscrossed by a grid pattern. A ginkgo tree stood in the center, its lush foliage providing shade from the midday sun, making the courtyard much cooler. Sunlight filtered through, casting dappled shadows on the leaves; a breeze rippled the ground, causing the light to shimmer like scattered gold.

Mu Qing was dazzled by the golden light on the ground and quickly turned her head away. Then she heard someone shout, "They're here! They're here! The Second Madam of the West Courtyard and the Fourth Master Yu's family are here!" The old woman's voice made Mu Qing shudder. It really sounded like she had entered the Chen Family Grand View Garden.

Zhang led Chen Yu's family into the main hall of the old lady's courtyard.

The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood. Mu Qing secretly glanced at the furniture in the room, which was all made of ebony. The vases and decorations were simple and elegant, giving people a sense of transcendence from the mundane world. However, when she looked up at the "red flowers and green willows" clustered in the center of the room, this beauty vanished in an instant, even though she was one of them.

After Zhang and the others entered the house, the once lively room immediately fell silent.

A moment later, the woman in red who was massaging the old lady's shoulders spoke first, "I was saying that I heard magpies chirping in the old lady's courtyard early this morning. It turns out they were telling the old lady that our fourth son's family is coming back today."

"Hehe, yes! The magpie was chirping so loudly this morning. Qizheng didn't even tell me that Silang was coming back today when he left. I only found out from my second wife after I woke up from my afternoon nap."

While the two were talking, Chen Yu stepped forward, knelt down and bowed to the old lady, saying, "Grandson greets the old lady! I have been unable to fulfill my filial duties to you for so many years, which is truly a sin."

"Quickly, help Silang up. He must be exhausted from his journey. He just got back and he's already kneeling before this old woman. Take care of yourself!" The old lady spoke up, and the maidservant serving nearby quickly came over to help Chen Yu up.

"You've worked so hard in Meizhou these past few years, putting in a lot of effort in your business, and your family knows that. I'm making the decision for you to put aside your affairs in Meizhou this time, so don't go back. Stay in Hangzhou and keep this old woman company, okay?"

Chen Yu was taken aback. Remembering the matter of Danling Shop, he couldn't help but feel displeased, but he couldn't show it on his face. He smiled bitterly and replied, "I will do as you say, Madam."

“Si Lang hasn’t seen his mother for many years, so it’s only right that he stays to serve the Dowager!” Zhang Shi said, trying to smooth things over, while gesturing for Qian Shi and Mu Qing to come up behind her. “Si Niang and Si Lang’s daughter have also returned.”

At this moment, Madam Qian pulled Mu Qing forward and knelt down as well.

This time, there was no prayer mat for kneeling, but fortunately, there was a carpet laid out in the hall. Although it was a bit hard, Mu Qing didn't feel uncomfortable kneeling on it. However, she felt that when she knelt down, Madam Qian tightened her grip on her hand, and her palm was damp. She couldn't help but frown. Why did Madam Qian seem more nervous than she was?

"Granddaughter-in-law greets the matriarch!" Madam Qian kowtowed and bowed. "Mu Qing, quickly pay your respects to the matriarch!"

After waiting for Madam Qian to finish kowtowing, Mu Qing performed a proper kneeling bow, sweetly saying, "Greetings to the Old Madam, wishing her good health and longevity!"

Pleasant words always appeal to both young and old. Mu Qing understood the importance of judging the situation. Unlike Zhang Shi, who came from a prominent family, Old Madam Chen didn't like the outfit Qian Shi had chosen. However, it wasn't hard to see Old Madam Chen's preferences; the old lady liked cute children. Although Mu Qing's complexion was a bit pale, she still had a chubby face, and with her round almond-shaped eyes, she still met the standard of cuteness. At this moment, Mu Qing spoke in a childish voice, acting like a pink and tender little girl, and didn't forget to add a "lucky word."

"Get up, everyone! Look, Si Lang's daughter has such a sweet mouth, and she's dressed so well. Come here and let Grandma take a good look at her." The old lady stared at Mu Qing, smiling broadly.

The two stood up. Mu Qing stole a glance at Madam Qian's relieved expression, then smiled brightly and obediently walked to the old lady's side.

Perhaps because the matriarch of the Chen family was a Buddhist, Mu Qing smelled a faint sandalwood scent on her. The matriarch had a thin face, her full head of silver hair was piled up, her sideburns were neatly combed, and she was only wearing two cloud-patterned wooden hairpins. Although the corners of her eyes showed deep traces of time, she was in good spirits and did not look like a woman in her seventies.

The old lady glanced at Mu Qing and said, "This little face is quite pretty... By the way, Si Lang has returned but hasn't gone to pay his respects to his uncles and brothers yet. Don't stand around among us women. Just leave your wife and daughter here with me for a while. You can go ahead now."

Chen Yu was initially somewhat uneasy, but upon hearing the old lady say that the people were being released, he was naturally happy to go first. Before leaving, Madam Qian whispered a reminder to him that if he was going, he should remember to ask Biyan first. Chen Yu knew that she couldn't leave for the time being, and that if he asked Biyan to find him, he should not forget to bring gifts for the brothers. He nodded in agreement and left the central courtyard.

After seeing Chen Yu off, the old lady happily embraced Mu Qing, looking her over from left to right. Gradually, the loving gaze in her eyes turned into an unusual fervor.

Thinking that Mu Qing hadn't yet greeted everyone present, Madam Zhang reminded her. The old lady then remembered and hurriedly said with a smile, "Quickly greet all the grandmothers, aunts, and other women in the house. Today, your great-grandmother will be your witness. Anyone who doesn't give a greeting gift will not be allowed to leave my room! You stingy people, how much money you've embezzled from this old woman, you'll all have to return it today."

Mu Qing felt that although the old lady of the Chen family had white hair like frost, she spoke frankly and didn't seem like a difficult person to get along with. Now that she could get something for bowing, Mu Qing was secretly happy and took small steps to circle around and bow to the group of "flowers and willows" sitting in the hall.

Most of those sitting around the matriarch were from the eldest branch of the family: He, the wife of Chen Qiwen, the eldest son of the Chen family, and his two daughters-in-law, Liu and Zhou. Zhou was also the wife of Shu Er. In addition, there was Yang, the wife of the matriarch's own brother, and her daughter-in-law.

After bowing to everyone, Mu Qing was pulled around and hugged repeatedly, and looked at repeatedly. She collected seven or eight small items, including a small purse containing gold ingots, a jade bracelet, and a glass hairpin. Mu Qing's smile became even brighter.

After Mu Qing finished her greetings, the old lady pulled her in front of her to see what items she had received.

The old lady picked up a white jade bracelet and said to the woman in red who had already retreated to the lower seat, "You penniless woman, you only take in and never give out. Today you've given it away, so don't come crying to me tomorrow."

(Meow~ Why isn't anyone talking? Please add to your favorites, vote, and give flowers to show your support!)

① Horse: A common name for backgammon. Backgammon, an ancient Chinese board game similar to gambling, is said to have been created by Cao Zhi, a prince of the Cao Wei dynasty, who combined elements of Liubo (a board game) with Pharaoh, a game introduced from India. Initially, two dice were used, but this was gradually increased to six after the late Tang dynasty. The pieces are shaped like horses, hence the common name "horse." There are fifteen black and fifteen white pieces. Two players gamble, moving pieces according to the dice rolls. Backgammon was popular from the Tang dynasty onwards, but during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the emergence of mahjong and chess led to a decline in its popularity, ultimately resulting in its extinction by the mid-Qing dynasty.

Who does Chapter Nine look like?

The woman in red was Liu, the wife of Chen Nian, the eldest son of the first wife.

When Mu Qing saw that the old lady had chosen her, she took a few more glances. Looking at Liu's features alone, they were indeed quite ordinary. Her eyes were not big, her nose was not straight, and her lips were not red. Fortunately, everything about her was delicate, which, combined with her oval face, gave her a touch of the light and graceful air of the Jiangnan water towns.

The old lady teased Liu, who continued, "Old lady, aren't you wronging me? If I'm not careful with everyone in this family, I'll be letting you down. Besides, it's a joyous occasion that Silang is back today. He was in such a hurry that he didn't bring many nice things, just some small personal items, nothing special. I only have one troublesome son, and he really loves girls. He was so happy to see Muqing. Qing'er, your aunt will send you a few more exquisite items tomorrow."

Madam Liu smiled at Mu Qing, then turned to the Old Madam and said, "But, Old Madam, we younger generations have already given our gifts, when will you make your move?"

"Heh, I knew you weren't that kind-hearted. Are you afraid that this old woman will outshine you?"

"How could that be? The things the old lady brings out are naturally the best."

The old lady glared at Liu Shi, then slowly untied something from around her neck. Mu Qing saw clearly that a jade Buddha, crystal clear and translucent, was tied to the red string, its interior resembling flowing green water—clearly no ordinary item. Compared to this, Mu Qing's many spoils paled in comparison.

"Come here, Qing'er, let your great-grandmother put it on you."

Mu Qing wanted to rush forward immediately, but a low gasp of surprise came from behind her. She stopped, having only taken a small step, and turned around. Liu was still smiling, but seemed a little stiff; her mother-in-law, He, had no expression and her smile had vanished; her own grandmother, Zhang, was beaming, her eyes encouraging her to hurry up; Qian looked shocked and hadn't recovered yet.

"Why aren't you coming over? Don't you like it?"

Mu Qing pursed her lips, hesitated for a long time, and then said as if she had made up her mind, "Grandma, I always hide my good things and don't let others see them. You wear this jade Buddha close to your body and hide it under your clothes, so it must be something you cherish. Mother said that you shouldn't take what other people love, because it will make them sad. I don't want Grandma to be sad, so I don't want to."

"Good Qing'er! This isn't anything rare, it's just a bit old. Your great-grandmother only gave it to you because she loves you." The old lady said, glancing at Qian Shi a few more times. "Your mother is right to say that, but now that your great-grandmother is happy to see you wearing it, will Mu Qing wear it or not?"

Mu Qing smiled and no longer declined, "Yes, if Great-Grandma likes it, Qing'er will wear it!"

When the old lady personally placed the jade Buddha on Mu Qing's wrist, the red silk cord had faded in color from being worn for so long. It's said that jade is nurtured by its owner; the Buddha's body felt warm in her hand, radiating a gentle, warm glow. Mu Qing happily and carefully tucked the jade Buddha into her clothes. Under the various gazes of the crowd, she secretly rejoiced, knowing that retreating was the best strategy!

"Thank you for the gift, Grandma!" Mu Qing stepped back from the old lady and curtsied in gratitude.

The old lady smiled with satisfaction, "Yes!"

Everyone knows that the jade Buddha is the old lady's treasure, and she has never parted from it. Now she has given it to the daughter of the fourth son so easily, which makes people really unable to guess the old lady's thoughts.

After the scene of filial piety between grandfather and grandson, everyone's feelings changed, and they began to think about how to treat Silang's family in the future.

Madam Liu smiled and said, "Grandma really dotes on Muqing! I reckon that Silang and his brothers are going to have a drink today, and now that Miss Xia is back, I'll host the dinner tonight. I'll also invite Sixth Sister and the rest of us women to have a drink together. Grandma, you have to give your daughter-in-law face and not argue with me."

"It's rare for you to be so generous today, this old woman won't argue with you, hehe!"

The old lady smiled, and everyone in the room smiled along with her.

“Look how pretty Mu Qing’er is when she smiles. Hmm, why does Mu Qing’er’s smile look like a person? Hmm, she seems to resemble Xiao Liu a bit…” Zhou Shi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up and said something unclear. Everyone was stunned, and the laughter stopped abruptly. No one responded.

After a while, Yang, the younger sister who was standing next to the old lady, pondered for a moment and said, "Hmm, Second Sister is right. The more I look at her, the more she looks like Mao'er."

Madam He chimed in, "Yes, especially those eyes, they're so bright and sparkling."

...

Mu Qing was confused. Who was Mao'er? She looked up at Madam Qian as if asking a question, but her mother was standing there absentmindedly. When she noticed Mu Qing's gaze, she smiled to comfort her, but the smile seemed a little forced in Mu Qing's eyes.

"Mu Qing naturally resembles my fourth son, which is why she bears some resemblance." Zhang Shi glanced coldly at He Shi, said this, and then shut her mouth.

"I wonder who had almond-shaped eyes?" Zhou muttered under her breath, but she controlled her voice well, just loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

Mu Qing turned to look at the old lady, who was also looking at her with a complicated expression. Then the old lady's eyes flashed, and she turned to everyone, saying, "I'm tired, you can all go back!"

Silence fell instantly, like a movie about to reach its climax but then abruptly stopping. The women in the room froze in various poses, the silence eerily profound. That seemingly unintentional remark, which had stirred up a flurry of gossip, was abruptly silenced by the old lady's single sentence. Anyone could tell that the old lady was tired after her afternoon nap, and was clearly trying to get rid of them!

The old matriarch gestured for Mu Qing to return to Madam Qian's side, then waved to everyone, "Rest now!"

Mu Qing cautiously walked back to Qian Shi's side, muttering to herself: Sigh! The Madam is very angry, and the consequences will be severe!

After Yang and Xia left, Liu excused herself to discuss the evening's banquet with the kitchen. Madam He, the first wife, also led her second wife Zhou and fifth wife Wang, who looked like they had swallowed flies, to bow and take their leave. However, the moment Madam He turned around, Mu Qing caught a glimpse of her smiling face suddenly turning from sunny to gloomy.

Zhang sat there observing coldly and remained silent until He passed by her just before leaving. Then, she glanced at her casually, her lips curling up almost imperceptibly, and she let out a soft snort.

This change in expression and smile reminded Mu Qing of a classic line from a model opera: These two women—are not simple…

Mu Qing withdrew her gaze, bowed to Zhang and Qian, and finally left the house.

The old lady stared at the small figure walking out the door, lost in thought for a moment, then murmured, "Mingyue, I think I saw Mao'er..."

"Grandma, it's time to chant the sutras."

"Yes, let's go to the Buddhist hall."

...

As soon as they stepped outside, Mu Qing reached out her little hand and pulled down Qian Shi's arm, slipping it into her sleeve. She grasped Qian Shi's big hand with her little hand, smiling contentedly. Holding her mother's hand like this was the most comfortable thing to do. She raised her little face and softly called out, "Mother, Qing'er doesn't look like a cat. Qing'er looks like Father and Mother."

Madam Qian, who was still lost in thought, paused slightly, and after a moment the worry in her eyes disappeared. "Yes, Qing'er looks most like her father and mother."

Qian turned her head away and continued walking forward, holding Mu Qing's hand. In the sunlight, there seemed to be glistening glints on Qian's thick, dark eyelashes.

(Hehe, tomorrow night is Christmas Eve~ Before you all go out, please send me some recommendations~ I wonder what kind of South Sea pearls you all like?)

Chapter Ten: Pre-Banquet Trivia (Minor Revision)

With Chen Qizheng and Chen Qiwen absent, Chen Yu and his brothers were less constrained. Except for Chen Yi, the eldest son of the second branch who was unable to return from his post, all the nephews and nieces of the Chen family gathered together to welcome Chen Yu back. After Qian Shi and Mu Qing returned to the west courtyard, Bi Yan said that the eldest master of the east courtyard had sent word that the brothers and nephews of both branches were having a small gathering at Tingfengzhai in the eldest master's courtyard to host a banquet for Chen Yu and would be returning later. Qian Shi nodded in agreement and then asked if Chen Yu had returned again in between. Bi Yan said no, and then had the gifts brought back distributed to each courtyard before leading Mu Qing back to their room.

From the moment she met the matriarch until now, Madam Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief. She tidied her hair slightly, leaned back in her chair to rest, and smiled as she watched Mu Qing sitting to the side fiddling with the spoils she had acquired that afternoon.

Biyan came in and served two cups of refreshing and cooling snow-foam herbal tea. After Qian Shi and Mu Qing finished drinking, she left, leaving only Mu Qing and her mother in the room. Qian Shi called Mu Qing to her side and gave her some instructions about the evening's banquet, basically telling her to observe more and talk less. She also detailed who was in each household and had Mu Qing repeat everything several times. Only after Mu Qing had finished recounting everything did Qian Shi finally breathe a sigh of relief and lie down for a short rest.

Although Qian Shi showed no outward signs of distress, Mu Qing sensed that Qian Shi's mind had become even more troubled after the visit.

...

On a summer evening, before darkness fell, the western sky was ablaze with a golden-red hue. Everything in the courtyard of Liulan Pavilion was bathed in a golden glow, and the shimmering green trees made the thick, red pillars supporting the house appear even more radiant and beautiful.

The view outside the window was beautiful, but Mu Qing had no interest in appreciating it. The smell of perfumes and oils filling the room made her nose feel uncomfortable. Apart from the food on the table in front of her, she had no interest in anything else in the room.

On the left, a white porcelain plate held grapes that were a deep purple-red, glistening with dewdrops—the very same "rabbit-eye" grapes that Liu had brought that afternoon. On the right were apples, and Mu Qing couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of these greenish-red fruits. Apples, it seemed, were actually different from regular apples. Having been in the Song Dynasty for so long, she had only eaten without knowing anything about them, never realizing how different the names of the food could be. She wondered if she should spend more time in the kitchen; how many everyday foods had different names in ancient and modern times? If she didn't recognize them, she would surely make a fool of herself. Besides, how would she manage to live if she truly couldn't distinguish between the five grains?

Mu Qing listened to Qian Shi's words and pretended to be a lady. She didn't move when others didn't move. She sat upright next to Qian Shi and listened attentively to Qian Shi, her grandmother Zhang Shi, and the wives in the courtyard chatting. She couldn't help but frown and think to herself, "Attending a banquet is tiring. Aren't these people thirsty? Why do they only talk about eating and not eat?"

There was a commotion at the door, and the old woman guarding the door called out, "The old lady has arrived!" Everyone got up to greet her.

The matriarch entered with a woman by her side. She had changed into a dark red summer dress, and replaced her cloud-patterned wooden hairpin with a silver-threaded, red-jeweled lotus hairpin. The silver threads and red jewels complemented each other perfectly. She had shed her ethereal attire, and now the matriarch was dignified and graceful, regaining the demeanor of the matriarch of the Chen family.

Then look at the woman supporting the old lady. She wore a light green silk shirt with pale purple lilacs at the collar, and a long, smoky-colored silk skirt that trailed on the ground. A pale yellow apron cinched her waist, highlighting her slender figure. She was about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, with a sharp chin and skin as white as snow but without any color. She had a slightly sorrowful look on her face, and her eyebrows and eyes were like silk, with a misty look in them. She looked so pitiful.