Chapter 79 — A Visit (Bonus Update for 630 Pink Votes)

Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan answered in unison, changed into pale moon-white padded jackets of fine cotton, and went to see Aunt Cui.

Aunt Cui first took both their hands, fussing over their health and comfort, then pointed at Bie Suxin and said to Dou Yan, "So lovely—who would ever take her for someone who has trained in fists and feet?" Then she drew Bie Sulan close. "And this child. What a fine, sturdy look she has!" Her tone was utterly sincere.

Dou Yan pressed her lips together and smiled.

Their grandmother liked children with strong, solid frames.

Bie Sulan, however, was rather overwhelmed by the favor.

Standing beside her sister, she was used to hearing everyone praise her sister's looks; no one had ever praised hers.

Though it was their first meeting, Bie Sulan took an immediate liking to the old lady.

Bie Suxin, too, found their grandmother kindly and warm, and could not help letting out a long breath; the worries she had carried with her all melted away. She handed Dou Yan the keys to the Bie Family Martial Hall. "...We cannot thank you enough for giving my father a place to stay in his final days. His funeral rites are now complete, and this house should be returned to you."

Dou Yan had redeemed it in Bie Gangyi's name and had never intended to keep the house, yet Bie Suxin's readiness to give it up gladdened her, and she took back the keys.

Their grandmother chided her in a low voice, "That is their ancestral home—just give it to them. It is not as if you lack the silver."

Dou Xin said, "Of course it will be returned to them—but not now."

Their grandmother would have pressed further, but Dou Yan said, "There, there. Go and change your clothes, quick. Tuoniang and Cui Si will be bringing the children to see you soon."

Because of their grandfather, the Cui family had always waited until after the New Year to pay their respects to Aunt Cui, and though Aunt Cui had since moved into the Dou household, the Cui family had grown used to the arrangement and still came only after the New Year.

Their grandmother beamed with delight. While they waited for the Cui family to arrive, Dou Yan took the Bie sisters to meet the Second Madam.

The Second Madam asked them a few questions, and seeing that the sisters answered with courtesy, neither haughty nor fawning, she was well pleased. After a few words of instruction to serve Dou Zhiwei well, she gave each of them a silver hairpin wrought with the motif of magpies on plum branches, then raised her teacup to signal the audience was over.

Dou Yan then took them to the Sixth Aunt's quarters.

The Sixth Aunt's courtyard was thronged with people, some carrying chests and trunks, some cradling porcelain vases, others bearing trinkets of every sort, all streaming without pause toward the eastern wing.

Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan were taken aback.

Dou Xin said, "It is the Fourth Master of the Wu family, back home!"

No sooner had she spoken than Wu Shan appeared from somewhere or other.

"Fourth Sister, I trust your New Year has been well?" He clasped his hands and bowed to Dou Yan.

Dou Xin returned the greeting. "Very well! And how is the Old Dowager of the Wu family?"

Wu Shan's great-grandmother was still living.

"Well, very well," Wu Shan said with a smile, then called to his personal servant, "Bring the agarwood Go set I brought from home." To Dou Yan he said, "The Go stones are carved with arhats, their robes and ornaments brightly colored and lifelike—most amusing. Fourth Sister is sure to like it."

He often sent her little gifts, and Dou Yan kept them all stored away in her chests.

She thanked him with a smile and introduced the Bie sisters to him.

He rewarded Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan each with a jade pendant of superb water and luster.

Bie Sulan was overjoyed. She tucked the pendants away in her own chest and said to Bie Suxin, "Young Master Wu is so generous! These jade pendants must be worth forty or fifty taels of silver."

Bie Suxin smiled and stroked her sister's head without a word, but inwardly she was thinking of the way Wu Shan looked at Dou Zhiwei—his gaze never left her for a moment. She only wondered what relation Wu Shan bore to the Fourth Miss; he seemed altogether good-natured...

Just then Ganlu pushed open the door and came in. "Suxin, there is a man named Chen Lanxu who says he is your kinsman and wishes to see you on a matter."

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Sisters, pink votes, if you please...

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