Chapter 160 — The Gift

In the past, the Second Madam had naturally had to keep the aunt in her place for the sake of the Dou family; now, to keep Wang Shuying in her place, she had to raise the aunt up.

Dou Yan understood this well, and was all the happier to see it, tugging at the aunt's sleeve and begging her to agree.

The face of Pang Jinlou's wife, who had been treated as an ordinary guest and not even given a seat, turned very ugly indeed.

The aunt thought of how Dou Yan had grown up all alone in the Dou household, and could not bear to wound her feelings. She agreed at once.

A peaceful harmony filled the hall.

When the auspicious hour came, Zhao Zhangru held out the gold hairpin set with rubies that Dou Huaiying had especially sent for Dou Yan's coming-of-age ceremony, and Ji Lingze assisted the Second Madam in pinning it into Dou Zhiwei's hair.

The golden phoenix hairpin was lifelike, the rubies blazed, and together they set off Dou Yan in a great red brocade robe with a ground of gold, bordered in sapphire blue with passionflower patterns and precious stones—dignified and magnificent, radiant, a beauty altogether different from her usual dashing air, so that Ji Lingze could not help stealing a glance at her.

Watching Dou Yan move among the guests, pouring wine for her elders with generosity and warmth, she several times began to speak and stopped herself.

But Zhao Zhangru whispered to her, "Shouyuan is truly lovely today, don't you think?"

Ji Lingze nodded and said hesitantly, "Is she really betrothed to the Marquis of Jining?"

"Of course," said Zhao Zhangru, her smile like a flower. "This time my mother came not only to congratulate Shouyuan on her coming of age, but also to see how her dowry is coming along. Did the Marquis of Jining's household not send someone to say they want Shouyuan married into their house within a hundred days? My mother thinks the Jining household is looking down on us a little, so Shouyuan's dowry must not be handled carelessly..."

Ji Lingze murmured an assent, listening somewhat absently.

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Two days later, the congratulatory guests had all dispersed, and the aunt took Zhao Zhangru back to her own family home. It was rare for the Ji clan to come visiting, and she stayed to do her filial duty before the Second Madam; only then did Dou Ci have time to go through the lists of gifts.

"Well now! Mr. Yan, Xu Qing, and Lu Ming all sent congratulatory gifts!"

"Indeed," said Suxin, who had already gone through the gift lists once and knew pretty well who had sent what. "Not only did those three send gifts, but Tan Family Manor also sent a statue of the Longevity Buddha as a congratulatory present."

"Ah!" Dou Yan was much surprised and laughed in spite of herself. "I'm not celebrating a birthday." Yet it made her curious, and she said to Suxin, "Let's go and have a look."

Suxin and Dou Yan went to the storeroom where the congratulatory gifts were kept.

There were so many gifts that they were still being entered into the register.

Suxin and Ganlu, with several little maids, searched for a long while before they found it.

The Longevity Buddha was no more than three feet tall, yet it was carved from mutton-fat jade; the workmanship was exquisite, the whole piece flawless—at a glance one could tell it was worth no small sum.

Dou Xin said, "Now when Tan Family Manor does something good, we shall have to send a heavy gift in return."

"What's rare is the courtesy of it," Suxin said with a smile. "Tan Family Manor is in Lingbi County, and is one of the few great households to be counted there."

Dou Yan nodded, but wondered to herself why she had not seen Ji Yong's congratulatory gift.

Given his character, he ought not to have missed such a lively occasion.

She went back and read through the list again.

There was indeed no gift from Ji Yong.

Nor from Song Zhi.

But she did see a painting by Zhao Boju, "Immortal Mountains and Lofty Pavilions," sent by Wu Shan.

It was tucked among the Ru ware melon-pattern brush washer that Dou Huaide had sent her.

Dou Chi could not help sighing.

She told Suxin to put "Immortal Mountains and Lofty Pavilions" carefully at the bottom of a chest.

A few days later, the Sixth Aunt came with Ji Lingze to take her leave: "...the betrothal gifts are to be presented in the ninth month, and there is still a mountain of matters at home waiting for me." She tried to persuade Dou Yan through her grandmother to go back to the capital with her, "...she is to marry into the capital one day, and it would be best for her to go early and grow familiar with the place." Then she said to Dou Yan, "You will stay with me in Mao'er Alley. If anyone asks, say I invited you to come and help me. At most we need only send word to the Willow Leaf Alley side. They cannot very well force you to stay, can they?"

Even sending word—she had no wish to have dealings with the Wang family!

Dou Xin shook her head.

She would go to the capital, but not now.

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Sisters, brothers, little bugs can only be caught in the evening when I get home.

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