Chapter 36 — A Temporary Stay

Dou Huaiying stroked her daughter's head, admonished her a few times to "be good," and then returned to West Dou with Second Aunt.

The Second Madam, meanwhile, questioned Sixth Aunt in detail about how Dou Yan was to be settled, and only then did she let them go.

Sixth Aunt brought her to pay her respects to First Aunt.

As a widow like the Second Madam, she lived in the courtyard next door to hers.

The hushed house, the blue-green bed curtains, the black-lacquered furniture, the pine shadows that shut out the sunlight—First Aunt's haggard face was pale as snow.

Dou Yan recalled how she used to smile and chatter warmly, and sighed with emotion.

First Aunt smiled and drew Dou Yan into her arms, ordering a maid to bring in melons, fruit, and sweets to entertain her: "Come see First Aunt whenever you have nothing to do."

Dou Xin answered with a smile, squinting her eyes.

Sixth Aunt chatted a few words with First Aunt, then took Dou Yan and bade her farewell.

Once outside, basking in the sunlight and listening to the noisy shrilling of cicadas, Dou Yan breathed a sigh of relief for no reason she could name.

Sixth Aunt asked her gently, "Are you tired?"

Dou Yan shook her head.

Sixth Aunt smiled. "Good. Then we will go pay our respects to Third Aunt." She coaxed her along, "Once we have greeted Third Aunt, we will go home and eat chilled watermelon. How does that sound?"

Dou Xin nodded.

Third Aunt lived right next door to Sixth Aunt. When they entered, Third Aunt was in the middle of scolding Seventh Cousin Dou Fanchang, who had just come of age: "...Do you think you can compare with Qijun? He can stump the tutor with his questions—and you? You are the one stumped by the tutor..."

He was Third Aunt's eldest son. Before Dou Fanchang, Third Aunt had given birth to three daughters.

Seeing Ji and Dou Yan come in, the scolding naturally could not continue.

Dou Fanchang greeted Ji and Dou Yan with an awkward smile, then slunk off in a huff.

Third Aunt rubbed her temples and ordered the maids to serve tea and cakes, then complained to Sixth Aunt, "I do not know which god I have offended. After all that trouble I finally bore two sons—the elder is twenty and still knows nothing, thinking only of play all day long; the younger is clever enough, but he will not study. Making him read is like asking for his life..."

In Dou Zhiwei's memory, Third Uncle's two sons had indeed never amounted to much in their studies.

After Dou Fanchang passed the county examination, he kept studying, sitting for the provincial examinations, and failing; Dou Huachang, after turning thirty, switched to the antique business, and Dou Yan had even introduced several heavyweight clients to him.

Sixth Aunt consoled Third Aunt: "He is still young and not yet settled. Once he takes a wife, things will improve."

Dou Fanchang was betrothed to his own maternal cousin, and the wedding was set for March of the following year.

Third Aunt sighed. "I can only hope so!"

Sixth Aunt took Dou Yan and made their farewells.

Third Aunt saw them to the door, and when she looked up, she saw Third Uncle hurrying over with a tense expression.

"Shouyuan is here!" He smiled from afar, cupped his hands toward Sixth Aunt, called out "Sixth Sister-in-law," and said, "I have urgent business to see Mother about. Why not come over for supper tonight? Consider it my welcome feast for Shouyuan!"

Third Aunt quickly added, "Yes, yes! Come to our place for the evening meal!"

East Dou had originally been home to the second branch living together. Apart from festivals and sacrifices, each household usually ate on its own.

Since the invitation was for Dou Yan, Ji did not stand on ceremony. She accepted with a smile and then carried Dou Yan back to their rooms.

Ji's wet nurse, Wang, had already settled Dou Zhiwei's belongings and maids. Seeing Dou Zhao's face flushed red from the sun, she called for Tuoniang, and together they bathed Dou Yan in warm water, helped her pat on borneol powder, and dressed her in a light white gauze tunic with a silver neck-ring and silver bracelets. Only then did they lead her to see Ji.

Ji had also bathed and changed clothes. Two maids were fanning her, one on each side.

She took Dou Zhiwei's hand and looked her up and down, nodding with a beaming smile. She lifted Dou Yan onto the kang: "Now this is how a girl should look!" She casually picked up a fan and began fanning Dou Yan, while instructing Old Woman Wang, "We are dining at Third Uncle's today. If Sixth Master can make it back in time, have him go to Third Uncle's as well; if he cannot, prepare his supper separately."

Dou Yan guessed that Sixth Uncle had surely gone with Father to her house.

Old Woman Wang answered with a smile.

A maid with peach-blossom eyes and apricot cheeks walked in.

At the sight of her, Old Woman Wang immediately led all the serving maids out of the room.

The maid took the fan from Sixth Aunt's hand and fanned Dou Yan, saying in a low voice to Sixth Aunt, "Third Master received a letter from Fifth Master. It says Chen Jizhou was forced to retire, and Elder Zeng recommended Elder He Wendao to preside over this year's metropolitan examination. Fifth Master, in his post as Vice Minister of Personnel, enjoys great favor with Elder Zeng. When the Madam heard this, she at once sent word to the Old Master of the West Mansion. By the time I came over, the messenger had just left."

Sixth Aunt gave a soft "Mm."

The maid then lifted the curtain, and Old Woman Wang and the other serving maids filed back in, each resuming whatever she had been doing. Had that maid not still been fanning Dou Yan, Dou Yan would have thought she had been dreaming.

Sixth Aunt was indeed a master who kept her depths well hidden.

Dou Yan felt her cheeks burn with shame.

She could not help recalling what she had just heard.

Zeng Yifen had driven Chen Jizhou away, and Fifth Uncle had won Zeng Yifen's favor—surely that was a good thing! So why had the Second Old Madam summoned Grandfather over in such urgent haste the moment she heard of it?

She thought and thought, and still could make no sense of it.

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O(∩_∩)O~

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