El paisaje es como una pintura

Capítulo 69

Xiao Yuan started preparing for the banquet for the headmaster's family three or four days in advance. The reason for her meticulous preparation was that her family's furnishings exuded an air of wealth and luxury, and she was worried that Madam Zhang would find them vulgar. Therefore, she planned to replace everything with a more elegant set.

She looked at the screen decorated with misty mountains and rivers by the servants, glanced at the screen, then at Wu Ge, and sighed. Before she transmigrated, she had heard people say that a daughter of a noble family should be admired, while a son should be humbled and married. How come she was still so unlucky in this Southern Song Dynasty? For her son's slight affection for another girl, she had to spend money and effort to please Wu Ge's future mother-in-law, who was not even close to being married yet.

She personally removed the granary-shaped covered jar and replaced it with a vase with a lotus-patterned openwork design, sighing, "I've gone to so much trouble, what if he doesn't have any other interest in the headmaster's daughter? Wouldn't all my efforts have been in vain?" As if to answer her question specifically, Wu Ge mysteriously dragged her into the inner room, bringing out three round boxes and asking her which one was prettier. Xiao Yuan glanced at them; they were three celadon powder boxes. One was a round, straight-walled, folded-bellied box with a cloth lid decorated with floral patterns; another was fastened with a mortise and tenon joint, its lid imprinted with a flowering branch; and the third had a straight mouth and a tapering belly, its lid molded with chrysanthemums. These three powder boxes weren't particularly valuable. Xiao Yuan glanced at Wu Ge and asked, "Are these for the young lady of the Zhang family? Why didn't you choose a few more expensive ones?" Wu Ge hadn't expected her to guess his thoughts so quickly, and hurriedly covered up, "No, no, I bought them for Mother, one for you, one for my sister, and one for my aunt."

Xiao Yuan suppressed a laugh, thanked him, and deliberately put away all three boxes. Wu Ge panicked and lunged forward, twisting his body: "Mother, you really want them?" Xiao Yuan pushed him away, slapped him, and scolded, "Even your sister doesn't act like this. You're a grown man, stand up straight." Wu Ge simply took a few steps back, stood against the wall, and pitifully pleaded, "Mother, this is a method Father taught me. If it doesn't work, he'll lose face." Xiao Yuan quickly lifted a corner of the curtain to peek outside, then turned back and glared at him: "Don't you know your father doesn't like people calling him old? Hurry up and put away the word 'old man'." She looked at the powder box again, picked up the chrysanthemum-shaped one, and asked, "Do you want me to deliver this for you?"

Wu Ge nodded repeatedly and said, "This was also taught by Father. Father is truly a wise man." The method was Cheng Mutian's idea, and he got the praise, but Xiao Yuan had to worry about the troublesome matter. Sending out the powder box was very simple, but how could she let the headmaster's daughter know that this was Wu Ge's intention?

Seeing her holding the powder box, deep in thought and silent, Wu Ge automatically assumed she had agreed. He smiled and became the caretaker of the house, strolling out to direct this person to move the cabinet and instruct that person to arrange the vases, adding even more chaos to the already busy scene.

Rui Niang was very happy that guests were coming to the house. She specially made several artificial flowers by hand, saying that she would give them to the guests as a greeting gift. She also dressed up Fu Gui Niangzi, afraid that she would be impolite in front of the guests if she did not wear makeup.

When the headmaster's family arrived, the Cheng family home had undergone a complete transformation. Several clumps of green bamboo swayed gently in the breeze in the courtyard, drawing praise from Headmaster Zhang. Cheng Mutian, accompanied by his two sons, first invited him to sit in the study for a short while, and then casually checked on his studies. Xiaoyuan, along with Ruiniang, went to chat with Madam Zhang and her daughter in the room. Madam Zhang was very satisfied with the fresh and elegant furnishings in the room, a slight smile on her face, and praised, "I knew Young Madam Cheng wasn't such a vulgar person." Xiaoyuan secretly stuck out her tongue, responded with a smile, and casually glanced at the headmaster's daughter sitting beside her.

The headmaster's daughter, dressed in a moon-white dress with subtle plum blossom patterns, lowered her head slightly and clasped her hands in front of her, appearing exceptionally dignified and serene. Xiao Yuan withdrew her gaze and chatted with Madam Zhang for a few moments, exchanging their daughters' names and ages. It turned out that the headmaster's daughter's name was Zhao Niang, and she was one year younger than Wu Ge. She had been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood and was also skilled in needlework and other crafts.

After discussing their respective family situations, A-Cai presented Xiao-Yuan with a chrysanthemum powder box as a gift. Xiao-Yuan couldn't tell if Zhao-Niang liked the gift, but Madam Zhang was clearly pleased with the simple powder box, a smile returning to her lips. She then took a brocade box and gave it to Rui-Niang.

Xiao Yuan lifted it up for her daughter to take a look, and found it to be a Wufeng crystal pen holder. Crystal items are extremely valuable. It seems that although Madam Zhang pursues elegance, her family is quite wealthy. But who would give a pen holder as a gift to a young lady? Is this how scholars behave?

Xiao Yuan shook her head secretly, told Rui Niang to thank Madam Zhang, and handed the pen holder to the maid to put away.

Rui Niang took out her artificial flowers and gave them to Zhao Niang. She then brought over the wealthy lady with the bow in her hair, intending to take her to play in the garden. Unexpectedly, Madam Zhang exclaimed, "Why do you keep a cat? And a long-haired one at that! Aren't you afraid of the cat hair all over the floor and making the house dirty?" Xiao Yuan looked embarrassed and quickly told the maid to take the wealthy lady out. Zhao Niang, however, said, "Is this a lion cat? I've heard of them for a long time but never seen one. Today I've broadened my horizons." With that, she bowed to Xiao Yuan and went out with Rui Niang.

Now it was Madam Zhang's turn to be embarrassed. Her own daughter had dared to contradict her in front of others. Not one to hide her feelings, her face instantly changed color. Xiao Yuan, unaware of the conflict between mother and daughter, quickly said, "It seems Zhao Niang and my Ruiniang get along very well. Please feel free to visit often." Madam Zhang took a sip of tea and explained the situation, saying that her daughter was always respectful and polite, and today's incident was an accident. Compared to Zhao Niang's unpleasant personality—being a guest at someone else's house yet openly expressing dislike for the host's cat—Xiao Yuan preferred this "accident."

For some reason, Madam Zhang was very talkative. Xiao Yuan chatted with her cautiously, afraid that she might suddenly change her expression. After chatting like this for a while, Madam Zhang would always manage to bring up Chen Ge in two out of every three sentences. So when they got up to go to the garden to admire the flowers, even the little maid serving them knew that Madam Zhang had taken a liking to Chen Ge.

Xiao Yuan sighed inwardly. It turned out that people who wore their hearts on their sleeves were not easy to deal with. Fortunately, Madam Zhang had her pride and did not openly bring up things like asking a matchmaker to arrange a marriage, which put her at ease.

The two hadn't walked far along the pebbled path when Madam Zhang complained of being tired. She took the little maid's hand and sat down on a stone bench by the roadside. Only then did Xiao Yuan notice that Madam Zhang's feet were bound, and she cautiously asked, "Does your Zhao Niang also have bound feet?" Madam Zhang's face showed shame, as if she couldn't bring herself to ask. It turned out that Zhang Zhao Niang had been stubborn since childhood; as a child, she was afraid of the pain and refused to have her feet bound, even threatening to starve herself, which resulted in her having unbound feet.

Seeing Madam Zhang's distressed expression, Xiao Yuan quickly comforted her, saying, "There are plenty of women who don't bind their feet. My Ruiniang didn't. Don't think we're materialistic; these days, as long as a girl has a good dowry, she can get married anywhere." Madam Zhang was about to nod when she suddenly saw Zhaoniang flying a kite with Ruiniang, running around happily. Her expression changed, and ignoring Xiao Yuan's advice, she stood up, took the little maid's hand, and strode over. She severely reprimanded Zhaoniang, ordering her to sit down with her and not to run around anymore.

Startled, Rui Niang reeled in the kite string and sat down beside Xiao Yuan, too afraid to move. Xiao Yuan sighed inwardly. Inside the second gate, everyone was a woman; there wasn't a single man. What harm could a little girl, not yet of marriageable age, possibly cause by running a few steps to fly a kite? Even Madam Zhang disapproved of this; what would her expression be if she saw Rui Niang running every morning? Xiao Yuan didn't want her daughter to follow suit, so she patted Rui Niang's head and laughed, "What are you doing sitting here? Why don't you take Sister Zhao to your room to play with your dolls?"

Rui Niang was still a child, and since her mother didn't blame her, she cheered up again. She went over and took Zhao Niang's hand. When Madam Zhang heard that they were going to play in the boudoir, she didn't object and let Zhao Niang go.

Rui Niang led Zhao Niang to her room, holding her fluffy Ketty cat, and set out small bowls and a small stove, wanting to play house with her. Zhao Niang was already a big girl, and although she played with her for a while, she was not very interested. Rui Niang noticed that she wasn't interested, so she quickly sent a little maid to Wu Ge's room to bring back a box of animal puzzles, Rubik's Cubes, kaleidoscopes, and other toys.

Seeing the large jigsaw puzzle spread on the carpet, Zhao Niang laughed, "Toy stores sell these big ones, but I have a small one, set in the base, that can move up, down, left, and right, so I can take it out and play with it anytime." She opened her purse and took out a puzzle no bigger than the palm of her hand. Rui Niang took it and looked at it, then laughed, "Isn't this my elder brother's? I asked him for it the other day, but he wouldn't give it to me. Turns out he favored Sister Zhao." Zhao Niang's face flushed red. She wanted to retort, but knowing that what Rui Niang said was probably true, she fiddled with the puzzle and explained softly, "This is one of the gifts I picked from the students at the academy for my birthday. I didn't know it was from your elder brother." Rui Niang was a clever child and understood why she was blushing. She quickly took Zhao Niang's arm and said affectionately, "It's just a puzzle, it's nothing. If Sister Zhao is still worried, just say it was from me."

Zhao Niang tapped her nose and laughed, "You little devil, I'm not afraid of what others say."

Chapter 211 A Mother and Daughter with Vastly Different Personalities (Part 2)

Rui Niang had already been instructed to subtly steer the conversation towards Wu Ge using the small puzzle piece. Zhao Niang, though shy, didn't show any aversion, listening quietly and occasionally asking questions. Suddenly, Rui Niang changed the subject, asking, "Sister Zhao, do you like the powder box my mother gave you? Have you seen the powder inside?" Zhao Niang, unsure of her meaning, honestly shook her head, "A gift from Young Madam Cheng must be a fine item, but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet." Rui Niang quickly said, "Sister Zhao, why don't you take a look? If you don't like the powder inside, I'll ask my mother to change it."

Zhao Niang wanted to say no need for trouble, but couldn't resist her enthusiasm, so she had to call her personal maid to bring the powder box to her. As soon as she lifted the lid, she understood why Rui Niang insisted that she take a look first. It turned out that there was a small "Lin" character printed on the powder box. She already knew that Wu Ge's real name was Cheng Zilin, and her face immediately flushed red.

Rui Niang had heard Xiao Yuan explain that she didn't need to pay attention to Zhao Niang's expression; as long as Zhao Niang didn't return the powder box, it meant she was intentionally refusing. Seeing that Zhao Niang was clutching the powder box tightly in her hand and had no intention of returning it, Rui Niang was overjoyed and happy for Wu Ge.

Zhao Niang closed the lid, not handing it to her personal maid behind her, but hiding it in her sleeve. She pulled her sleeve down a little, blushing as she said to Rui Niang, "This is the 'Jade Maiden Peach Blossom Powder' I usually use. Young Madam Cheng is so kind; please thank her for me." Rui Niang pretended not to know anything and smiled, "I'm glad Sister Zhao likes it."

The two played with puzzles for a while, then a maid brought them lychee syrup and invited them to take their seats. Children always form friendships more easily than adults. Rui Niang pulled Zhao Niang along, whispering secrets as they walked—about Wu Ge's appearance and temperament, their parents' love, the funny stories about their siblings, the little temper of the wealthy lady… As Zhao Niang listened, she was filled with envy. Her brother had died early, and she was the only child in the family. Madam Zhang's rules were extremely strict; she couldn't speak loudly, couldn't walk with big strides, and even a soft cough was forbidden. As she walked with Rui Niang past the swing set in the courtyard, she stopped and stared for a long time, her face full of longing. Rui Niang asked her if she wanted to play for a while, but when she heard Madam Zhang's voice coming from inside the room, she quickly shook her head.

The maid standing at the door lifted the curtain, and Rui Niang led Zhao Niang into the room and sat down. Xiao Yuan was discussing household management with Madam Zhang, but they were having some disagreements. Seeing the two children come in, she quickly took the opportunity to leave and turned to order someone to serve the dishes.

The maids had been instructed beforehand, and a row of light side dishes was laid out in front of Madam Zhang, served on a white, jade-like flower-shaped plate. It was early summer, so there was a plate of stir-fried lotus seeds, lotus root, and water chestnuts, which Madam Zhang loved and praised highly. She became even more convinced that Xiao Yuan was a refined person unlike others, and invited her to a gathering at the Zhang residence when she had time.

Xiao Yuan thought to herself, it turns out that pleasing Madam Zhang isn't so difficult. It's just that spending the whole day with her requires constant vigilance and makes her feel uneasy. She noticed that Madam Zhang wasn't averse to meat, but she didn't like large pieces of fish. However, Zhao Niang's chopsticks touched a plate of braised pork ribs twice, but when she tried to take a third bite, Madam Zhang glared at her and stopped her.

Xiao Yuan found it all very strange, but didn't dare to ask directly. She tried to probe indirectly, but Madam Zhang believed in not speaking while eating or sleeping, and wouldn't respond to anything she said. So the dinner table was silent, except for the occasional soft sound of chopsticks touching the bowl, which would make Madam Zhang frown.

Xiao Yuan ate her meal with extreme discomfort. She glanced sideways at Rui Niang and saw her looking nervous, probably worried that she might make a sound with her chopsticks and displease Madam Zhang. Rui Niang was only a few years old; how could she be so demanding of table manners? It was truly inappropriate to invite Madam Zhang to our home and make her daughter suffer like this. She then looked at Zhang Zhao Niang; the child's eating manners were elegant, without a single flaw. Madam Zhang must have taught her well. But was eating like this really enjoyable?

After the meal, Xiao Yuan really didn't want to keep Madam Zhang any longer, so she gave A Cai a meaningful look. A Cai understood, went to the front yard, and when she returned, she said that Master Zhang wanted to take his leave and asked Madam Zhang and Zhang Zhaoniang to leave. Xiao Yuan verbally tried to persuade her to stay, but in reality, she couldn't wait. She personally escorted Madam Zhang to the second gate, letting out a long sigh of relief. Spending another day with such a person would have shortened her lifespan.

Cheng Mutian and his two sons were probably still seeing off guests and hadn't returned yet. Xiao Yuan led Ruiniang back to their room first. The mother and daughter were both still hungry, exchanged a smile, and hurriedly called the maids to set the table again. Xiao Yuan was still puzzled by what had happened at the table. She picked up a piece of braised pork rib and put it in Ruiniang's bowl, asking curiously, "Zhang Zhaoniang doesn't look fat at all. Why doesn't Madam Zhang allow her to eat pork ribs? Could eating a few pieces of meat really tarnish the reputation of our scholarly family?" Ruiniang replied, "Mother, Madam Zhang doesn't mean she doesn't allow Sister Zhao to eat meat. She just thinks it's not a good way to eat pork ribs. And that's not all. Sister Zhao said that if she craves pork ribs or chicken pieces at home, she has to hide in her room to eat them. Even so, if Madam Zhang finds out, she still gets a scolding."

Xiao Yuan finished gnawing on a piece of pork rib, feeling that she had eaten quite well, and laughed, "I wonder if all the meat in her house is cut into small cubes." The maids and servants around her laughed, "Young Madam must not have noticed just now, but Madam Zhang doesn't just pick out small cubes to eat. She won't touch any meat that's even slightly larger, unless she can swallow it in one bite."

When Cheng Mutian brought Wu Ge and Chen Ge in, he heard the laughter filling the room and asked, "What's wrong? You got along very well with Madam Zhang? You're still laughing even after she's left."

Xiao Yuan managed to suppress her laughter when she saw them enter, but burst into laughter again after he asked her a question, leaving Cheng Mutian bewildered. Wu Ge glanced at the dishes on the table and the bowls of rice in front of them, and asked curiously, "Why are Mother and Sister still eating?" Rui Niang stood up to offer them seats, saying, "Have Father and Brothers eaten? Would you like another bowl?" All three men shook their heads. Cheng Mutian sat down next to Xiao Yuan, took a sip of the tea offered by a maid, and said, "I had a very pleasant conversation with Headmaster Zhang, so why are you all having a meal? Does Madam Zhang not like our dishes and not eat?" Xiao Yuan laughed again, "Yes, she really doesn't like them. It's all my fault for not telling the kitchen to cut the meat finer." After listening to her and the maids' explanation, Cheng Mutian also laughed, "I thought Headmaster Zhang was very generous and not bothered by details, but I never expected his wife to be so particular."

Wu Ge stared blankly at the roof beam, lost in thought. After sitting for a short while, he got up and left. Seeing this, Chen Ge sighed softly, apologized, and followed him out. Xiao Yuan swallowed a mouthful of rice, pointed to the door, and looked at Cheng Mutian with a questioning gaze. Cheng Mutian, mindful of his youngest daughter's presence, didn't explain. He personally helped Ruiniang finish her meal and saw her out before saying, "Headmaster Zhang praised our Chen Ge highly today, saying that if he continues on this path, he will definitely be able to enter the Imperial Academy in the future."

Xiao Yuan suddenly realized that it must be that Zhang Shanzhang had praised Chen Ge, but unintentionally hurt Wu Ge. Although that child didn't like studying, he was extremely concerned about his reputation, and was probably feeling down about it. She spoke her thoughts, but Cheng Mutian shook his head repeatedly: "You underestimate our Wu Ge too much. His ambition isn't in the imperial examinations, how could he let such a small matter cause a rift with his brother?" Xiao Yuan asked curiously: "If it's not a small matter, is it something big?" Cheng Mutian coughed awkwardly twice: "Something a little bigger. Judging from what Zhang Shanzhang said, he intends to marry his daughter to Chen Ge. Wu Ge is probably unhappy because he heard this."

Xiao Yuan coughed twice—from choking on her food—it really was a big deal.

To be honest, nothing is set in stone yet, and a bunch of adults are busy doing nothing. I really don't know if they're busy with nothing to do or if they're just showing the love and concern of parents everywhere. Zhang Zhaoniang is a year younger than Wu Ge and a year older than Chen Ge. In terms of age, she would be a suitable match for either of them. However, given that the Zhang family is a scholarly family, it's quite normal that Headmaster Zhang and Madam Zhang both favor Chen Ge, who has the potential to enter the prestigious Southern Song Dynasty academy, while neglecting the less promising Wu Ge.

Seeing Xiao Yuan remain silent, Cheng Mutian assumed she had something on her mind and quickly said, "Brother Wu is no worse than Brother Chen; the Zhang family just doesn't know how to judge people." Xiao Yuan knew he had misunderstood and smiled, "They're both my sons. I'd be happy no matter which one the Zhang family takes a liking to; why would I compare my sons?" As she spoke, she suddenly remembered the chrysanthemum powder box and quickly got up to ask Rui Niang about it. When she returned, she sighed to Cheng Mutian, "Brother Wu and Zhang Zhaoniang seem to have feelings for each other. If the Zhang family really proposes marriage to Brother Chen, this matter will be extremely troublesome."

The idea for the powder box came from Cheng Mutian, so he was very interested and pestered Xiaoyuan to tell him the whole story. He boasted about it and waved his hand, saying, "I don't think it's difficult at all. Find a matchmaker immediately and strike first." Xiaoyuan was startled: "Brother Wu is actually eleven years old, and only twelve in the traditional Chinese age reckoning. Isn't it a bit too early to get engaged at this age? What if he changes his mind in a couple of years?"

Cheng Mutian also felt it was too early, but judging from what Zhang Shanzhang meant, he wanted to settle the children's affairs sooner or later. If the Zhang family came first to propose to Chen Ge, and then they went to propose to Wu Ge, it wouldn't sound good if word got out.

Wu Ge is two years older than Chen Ge, and Xiao Yuan still thinks the engagement is too early. Doesn't the Zhang family think it's too early? Cheng Mutian explained with a hint of pride and smugness: "How many good young men like our Chen Ge can you find in all of Lin'an? The Zhang family is probably too late and someone else has snatched him away."

"Make a move?" This sounded really strange. Xiao Yuan hugged her shoulders and shook exaggeratedly. "Then spread the word that until Brother Chen gets into the Imperial Academy, he will not be sold to anyone."

"Sell to outsiders?" Cheng Mutian's eyes widened. He wanted to retort, but couldn't help laughing. "Good idea! I'll go out and make a fuss about it right now." He was serious about it. He got up and walked outside, saying he wanted to find a few of his gossipy friends to sit at the main store. Xiao Yuan followed him out of the room, reminded him to drink less, and then turned and headed towards the courtyard where her sons lived.

Chapter 212 Divorce

In the third courtyard, Wu-ge lived in the east wing, and Chen-ge lived in the west wing. However, the two were currently gathered in the bedroom of the east wing, whispering amongst themselves, seemingly discussing something. Xiao-yuan, wanting to eavesdrop, gestured for Yu-sao to stop, crossed the small reception hall, and pressed her ear against the door. The voices inside were extremely low; she only caught the gist of it. It seemed Chen-ge was explaining Zhang Zhao-niang's situation, saying he still cared about Qian-qian and had no feelings for anyone else, telling Wu-ge not to worry.

Xiao Yuan wondered if Chen Ge was saying this to reassure Wu Ge, or if he truly hadn't let go of Qian Qian. Before she could figure it out, the door opened. Chen Ge, seeing her standing outside, looked somewhat nervous, quickly bowed, and left with his head down. Seeing his guilty look, Xiao Yuan became suspicious and grabbed Wu Ge, asking, "Is your brother still thinking about Qian Qian?" Wu Ge, having heard Chen Ge's explanation, seemed to have let go of his worries and reverted to his usual self, grinning and saying, "Mother, what's wrong with thinking about her? Lin'an and Quanzhou are far apart; he can only think about her."

Xiao Yuan thought about it and realized that it made sense. She could control everything, but she couldn't control his heart. Apart from keeping a close watch on him, there was really nothing else she could do.

Wu Ge noticed that her grip on his arm loosened, so he gently pulled away and helped her into the house, smiling as he said, "Mother, what brings you here today? I haven't caused any trouble." Xiao Yuan looked at the face that resembled Cheng Mutian's but also carried a hint of cunning, and secretly sighed. He wasn't as good at studying as Chen Ge, but when it came to dealing with people, he was much better. He even knew how to read people's expressions first and then subtly change the subject.

Seeing that she remained silent but showed no displeasure, Wu Ge personally served her tea, sat down next to her, and asked in a low voice, "Mother, did she accept that powder box? Did she leave any message?" Xiao Yuan deliberately asked back, "Which 'she'?" Wu Ge became embarrassed and began to use his charm to cling to her arm. Xiao Yuan looked at his large frame acting like a child, twisting her waist back and forth, and couldn't help but laugh, "My son, stop right now, or you'll break your back." She told him about Zhang Zhaoniang accepting the powder box, and then sighed, "Don't be too happy yet. Focus more on your studies and try to win over Headmaster Zhang."

Wu Ge was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't plan to take the imperial examination. What's the use of studying so well? I was discussing with my father the other day that next year I won't go to the academy anymore. I'll focus on following my father to the docks and learn how to do business."

Although he was young, he had his own principles. Xiao Yuan was not disappointed; on the contrary, she was very pleased. She patted his shoulder and comforted him, saying, "As long as you know what you're doing, you don't need to worry too much about anything else. Your dad and I are here for you."

Indeed, there's not much to worry about. He and Brother Chen are still young, and Cheng Mutian has said that they won't get engaged until they enter the Imperial Academy. Although Headmaster Zhang often visits, he hasn't mentioned marriage to his children again.

In autumn, Xiao Yuan returned from her vacation at the mountain resort and received an invitation from Madam Tang to attend the Gengshen Gathering. Intending to befriend her, Xiao Yuan gladly accepted. As it turned out, although Madam Tang exuded shrewdness, she was a sensible and understanding person, and interacting with her was much easier than dealing with Madam Zhang. Madam Tang's Gengshen Gathering combined with a treasure-hunting event, a competition of both treasures and their sale. A group of ladies and young women were having a great time, except for Madam Zhang, who looked disdainful and insisted on discussing poetry with Xiao Yuan. Noticing Xiao Yuan's reluctance, Madam Tang quickly went to rescue her, apologizing, "She's a close friend of mine; it wouldn't be right not to invite her. But inviting her has only troubled you."

Xiao Yuan shook her head and gently patted her hand a few times to show that she didn't mind. Madam Tang found it quite amusing. She took a gold hairpin from her hair, placed it in front of the divination tube, and said with a smile, "Young Madam Cheng, come on, try your luck. Consider it my apology to you." Xiao Yuan smiled and, without any formalities, shook the divination tube a few times, won the hairpin, and then gave it to Madam Tang's daughter, Tang Dongning.

Seeing that the other guests were having a great time and didn't need much attention from her, Madam Tang pulled Xiao Yuan aside to sit for a while and asked about Li Wu Niang's situation. Xiao Yuan, sensing that Madam Tang had something to say and knowing that she had business dealings with the Li family and was quite familiar with Li Wu Niang's affairs, directly asked, "Is something wrong with my third sister-in-law's family?" Since Madam Tang had asked, there was naturally something wrong. She hadn't said it directly because she was afraid Xiao Yuan wouldn't want to hear it. Now that Madam Tang had spoken, she confidently said, "Your third sister-in-law is determined to divorce, but her husband's family and her own family disagree. She had a fight with her husband a while ago and moved to another house with her daughter. She hasn't returned for a month or so." Xiao Yuan was shocked; she hadn't expected He Yaohong and his wife to have another fight, and there was still no news of it.

There were several of Li's sisters-in-law in the room, so Madam Tang didn't want to talk to them directly. She chatted with them for a few more minutes before getting up to greet the other guests.

Xiaoyuan was ultimately an outsider to He Yaohong's family. She couldn't interfere in their divorce. Besides, Li Wuniang had indeed suffered a lot over the years. Living alone after leaving He Yaohong or remarrying would probably be better for her.

While she didn't seem to care about Li Wuniang's matter, Madam Tang sent the Li family's sisters-in-law to play in the garden, then turned around and kept talking to her. Xiao Yuan was puzzled at first, but after thinking about it, she understood. The Tang family and the Li family were a community of interests, and neither wanted Li Wuniang to divorce and lose He Yaohong's backing.

As expected, seeing that Xiao Yuan was listening absentmindedly, Madam Tang revealed her true intentions, asking her to persuade Li Wu Niang to return to her life with He Yao Hong. Madam Tang's desire for her own family's benefit was understandable, but Xiao Yuan was unwilling to meddle in her third brother's family affairs, so she said, "Madam Tang, I am a member of the Cheng family; how can I interfere in the He family's affairs?" Madam Tang, a seasoned businesswoman, naturally understood her meaning. Her face flushed, and she apologized repeatedly, then changed the subject.

Rui Niang ran in, holding Zhao Niang's hand. Seeing Xiao Yuan, she quietly asked for a small item to sell. Xiao Yuan, mimicking Madam Tang's earlier actions, pulled a hairpin from her hair and gave it to her to play with. Madam Tang smiled, "Young Madam Cheng is quite the doting daughter." Xiao Yuan laughed, "I only have one daughter; who else would I spoil? As long as a girl doesn't have any major flaws in front of others, that's enough. We don't expect them to achieve great things; why be so strict?"

These words perfectly aligned with Madam Tang's parenting philosophy, prompting her to nod repeatedly and exchange parenting tips with Xiao Yuan.

Madam Zhang noticed their rapport and felt a pang of jealousy. Madam Tang's daughter was about the same age as Chen Ge, and might have the same idea as her. Fearing her future son-in-law might be snatched away, she disregarded her reserve and went over to chime in. As the hostess, Madam Tang naturally had to respond with a few words. Xiao Yuan, out of respect for Wu Ge, also smiled and joined in the conversation. The three chatted warmly for a while, then went hand in hand to the other guests to compete in the treasure hunt, only parting ways after the Gengshen Gathering ended.

Back home, Xiaoyuan complained to Cheng Mutian, "I was bothered by Madam Zhang all day. It's so annoying. I should have Wu-ge give me a back massage." Cheng Mutian's hands automatically and naturally rested on her shoulders, gently massaging them. He asked curiously, "Madam Zhang claims to be aloof, so why is she bothering you?" Xiaoyuan smiled and said, "Probably because she's afraid Madam Tang will marry her daughter into our family first." Cheng Mutian paused. "Madam Tang has also taken a liking to our Chen-ge?" Xiaoyuan shook her head. "That's precisely what I admire about Madam Tang. To curry favor with my third brother, she urged me to persuade my third sister-in-law, but she refused to use her daughter's marriage to us to achieve her goal." Cheng Mutian said without hesitation, "If it were me, I wouldn't agree either. No matter how good the marriage is, if these ulterior motives are involved, my daughter will be looked down upon by her husband's family."

After he finished speaking, he asked about the matter between He Yaohong and Li Wuniang. Xiao Yuan relayed what Madam Tang had said to him, thinking to herself that He Yaohong and his wife had been making a fuss about divorce so quietly that even Cheng Mutian, who was always away on business, didn't know. In this day and age, the more someone doesn't want others to know, the more likely it is to be true. It seems that the couple has really reached the end of their relationship.

Cheng Mutian asked, "Aren't you going to see your third sister-in-law?" Xiao Yuan shook her head: "We haven't received any news. They must not want their relatives to know. In that case, it's best to pretend we don't know."

Less than half a month later, He Yaohong came to find Cheng Mutian for drinks. In his drunken stupor, he revealed that he and Li Wuniang had divorced. Li Wuniang left the He family with her dowry, but the Li family refused to take her in, so she had no choice but to move into a separate courtyard with her daughter.

When Cheng Mutian returned, he relayed the matter to Xiaoyuan. Xiaoyuan was quite surprised to hear that her daughter had been living with Li Wuniang, as there was no precedent for this in Lin'an. Cheng Mutian explained, "In your third brother's heart, daughters are all raised for other families, so it doesn't matter who they live with." Xiaoyuan had some more to say, but his words silenced her. She couldn't speak ill of her third brother, so she sat down silently with her head down all night.

Fortunately, after her divorce, Li Wuniang was even more energetic than before. She attended every Gengshen Market with her daughter, and even held a large event at her villa. Not wanting to live off her savings, she wanted to reopen the shop, but her brothers, resenting her abandonment of He Yaohong, refused to help her. They charged her exorbitant prices, causing her to lose money several times in a row. Xiao Yuan, remembering her kindness, secretly begged Cheng Mutian to sell her the Cheng family's foreign goods at low prices several times, which gradually helped her business recover.

Although Li Wuniang had already been married once and had a daughter, she had the advantage of a dowry of 100,000 taels of silver. People came to her door seeking marriage, and matchmakers were so numerous that they almost wore down her doorstep. However, she was like someone who had been bitten by a snake once, and was afraid of even a rope for ten years. She hesitated and never dared to marry again. Xiao Yuan tried to persuade her a few times, but she wouldn't listen, so she had no choice but to give up.

Chapter 213 Riding the Tide

Ever since Wu Ge expressed his feelings to Zhang Zhaoniang with a pink box, he had been looking forward to her returning the favor every day. Unfortunately, Madam Zhang was very strict with her daughter and rarely let her go out, let alone secretly send gifts out. Seeing that her elder brother was not eating or drinking and had no interest in helping him, Rui Niang took the opportunity of the three kittens that Fu Gui Niang had given birth to celebrating their one-month birthday to invite Zhang Zhaoniang to her house.

Three fluffy kittens rolled around on the ground. Zhang Zhaoniang squatted beside them, beaming with joy. Wu Ge, perched on the wall, also watched with a broad smile. Fu Gui Niangzi recognized Wu Ge, jumped onto the courtyard wall, rubbed against his face, and meowed, startling him so much that he tumbled straight down, landing on his bottom. Hearing the commotion, Zhang Zhaoniang looked at the wall, then at Rui Niang. Rui Niang, unable to explain, could only grab Fu Gui Niangzi and scold her for disturbing the guests' enjoyment. Fu Gui Niangzi, having taken the blame for Wu Ge, meowed twice in grievance and leaped over the wall.

Wu Ge fell and was in pain all over, but it wasn't a complete waste. When Zhang Zhaoniang finished looking at the kitten and said goodbye, she secretly handed a purse to Rui Niang, asking her to give it to Wu Ge. With the powder box exchanged for the purse, Wu Ge now had a token of love, and he was as happy as a bird in the sky, wishing he could grow wings.

Not long after he received the purse, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth of August. He tried to prepare a gift for the festival and send it to the Zhang family, just like the adults. However, Xiao Yuan told him that "chasing the festival" was something that families who were already engaged did. Embarrassed, he hid in his room for three days. It wasn't until the eighteenth of August, the day when the Qiantang River tide was at its most powerful, that Chen Ge, who was usually quiet, suddenly became interested in watching the tide and dragged him out.

On this day, Cheng Mutian took a day off and went to the academy to ask for leave for his two sons, then took them to the Qiantang River to watch the tide.

As the three traveled along the river, they saw that the banks stretching for over thirty miles from Miaozitou to Liuhe Pagoda were filled with colorful tents and viewing screens specially set up for watching the tide, leaving not a single empty place to sit. Fortunately, He Yaohong had arrived early and, being an official, had secured a good spot. He beckoned them over, allowing them to watch the tide properly.

The mouth of the Qiantang River is funnel-shaped, with a wide mouth and a narrow river body. At high tide, seawater rushes in from the wide mouth, but is constrained by the gradually narrowing riverbanks on both sides, forming a tidal bore. After the tidal bore, it is further blocked by the sandbar at the mouth, and the waves push backward and are blocked forward, forming a watershed that rises vertically on the river surface.

In the direction of Haimen, a silver thread of the tide stretches to the horizon, like ten thousand white horses galloping alongside the clouds. Nearby, hundreds of surfers, some with their hands and some with their feet, hold large and small flags and red and green umbrellas, floating on the tide, leaping and changing shape. Others use their hands and feet to hold five small flags and playfully ride the tide.

Some performers stood on the crests of the waves, treading on logs, performing water puppetry, juggling, and aquatic shows. Cheng Mutian was delighted and, wanting to show off his son to He Yaohong, asked Chen Ge to recite a poem to suit the occasion. Chen Ge did not disappoint him, reciting immediately: "I often recall watching the tide, the whole city vying to gaze at the river. It seemed as if the vast sea had vanished, amidst the sound of ten thousand drums. The tide riders stood on the crest of the waves, holding red flags that remained dry. I often saw my villa in my dreams, but even upon waking, my heart was still chilled."

Although He Yaohong had five sons, none of them were any good because he hadn't taught them properly. Hearing Chen Ge recite his verses, while proud of his nephew, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Afraid that Cheng Mutian would stop showing off, he quickly pulled him to look at the people soaked by the tide, who had to wring their clothes dry under the Xiapu Bridge. Wu Ge, also a lover of excitement, followed closely behind. Everyone was enjoying the spectacle, completely unaware that Chen Ge had quietly slipped away amidst the crowd.

After Cheng Mutian and Wu Ge had a pleasant time watching the tide and laughing at the naked, disheveled surfers, they were about to go home when they realized Chen Ge was missing. Cheng Mutian panicked, because people were often swept away by the tide while watching the Qiantang River tidal bore. He Yaohong comforted him, saying, "We're far away, and Chen Ge is sensible; he certainly wouldn't have run into the river." Cheng Mutian nodded in agreement, but he couldn't rest easy until he saw Chen Ge.

They searched until dark but couldn't find Brother Chen. Just as they were getting anxious, news came from home that there was news of Brother Chen and they should hurry home. On the day of the tide-watching, the city was crowded. Cheng Mutian finally managed to get through the crowds and arrived home. He looked around and asked, "Where is Brother Chen?" Xiao Yuan, with a sullen face, handed him a red note and said, "No wonder someone at the dock reported seeing a young man who looked just like Brother Chen." Cheng Mutian was startled and confused. He looked at the paper and saw that it was a note left by Brother Chen, saying that he had taken a boat to Quanzhou and that his parents should not worry.

Cheng Mu was furious. He crumpled the paper into a ball, threw it to the ground, and shouted, "Don't worry? How can I not worry? He's perfectly fine, why would he go to Quanzhou?"

Xiao Yuan said, "Don't you know what he's doing?" Then she glanced at Wu Ge by the wall and added, "Your brother ran away without permission, don't you know?"

Whenever his parents got angry, Wu-ge would instinctively press himself against the wall. It wasn't really because he felt guilty; he lowered his head, looking rather embarrassed, and whispered, "I... I've been thinking about what to give Zhao-niang these past few days. I wonder what Chen-ge should do..."

Cheng Mutian grabbed him by the collar and threw him out, stomping his feet in a fit of rage: "These two brats, they've infuriated me!" Xiao Yuan glanced at him: "Suit yourself." Cheng Mutian was furious and loudly called for Cheng Fu, saying he would personally go to Quanzhou to capture his rebellious son. Xiao Yuan said irritably: "Your son has run off after his sweetheart. Aren't you afraid the whole world will know? Then go ahead." Cheng Mutian was caught in a dilemma, angrily flung his sleeves: "Can't find your son, so you're taking it out on his father?"

Xiao Yuan was indeed taking her anger out on him. She laughed at his words, got up and pulled him to sit down with her, saying, "I have already sent a small boat to take Cheng Fu there."

It turned out that Cheng Fu had already gone with them. No wonder she wasn't in a hurry. Cheng Mutian got angry again: "Are you deliberately trying to make a fool of me?" Xiao Yuan glared at him: "If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault." After saying that, she took out a handkerchief, hit him in the face, and went to stroll in the garden without looking back.

Cheng Mutian was very frustrated. He paced around the room several times, but finally couldn't hold back any longer. He went to the garden to find Xiaoyuan and said, "He's not just my son. You're involved too. When he comes back, should we punish him or ignore him? Give me an answer so he doesn't provoke you and take it out on me."

Xiao Yuan was only acting rashly because she was angry. Now, after being in the garden in the autumn breeze, she has calmed down a lot. She grabbed Cheng Mutian's hand and squeezed it, saying, "Qianqian is getting engaged in a few days. Didn't you know? He must have gone there because of this. Even Gan Shier couldn't turn things around. What can he do? Let him see how heartbroken he is, and he'll behave himself when he comes back."