Purple Streets of Chang'an - Chapter 68 — Encounter - 清風書屋

"A job like this calls for someone who can read and reckon, doesn't it?" Dou Xin said. "Gousheng can only write his own name. I say we let Cui Min lend Boyan a hand instead—isn't he studying at the county school?"

She knew her grandmother disliked having the Cui family entangled in Dou family affairs, fearing people would say the Cuis were pushing their luck and taking advantage of the Dous. But compared with Zhao Liangbi, Cui Min was the better choice.

Besides, she had resolved never to marry in this life—she owed Cui Min a way forward, at the very least.

Her grandmother, hearing this, was indeed hesitant.

Dou Yan was a nimble-minded man; a turn of thought and he understood. He knew Dou Xin meant to elevate the Cui family, and there was no reason to refuse.

"Then let it be so," he said with a smile. "I'll trouble Fourth Aunt to send someone to bring Cui Min to my place in the next couple of days. Once the Double Ninth Festival is past, I'll set to work on it."

Dou Xin agreed readily.

For her grandmother to object further would have seemed petty. So the matter was dropped, and everyone fell to talking about the sunrise they had seen at the Dafang Temple: "...woken in the middle of the night by gongs and drums—someone had actually brought opera boys to sing *Han Qi, the Prince of Qi* before the main hall, and we watched together with the temple's monks and pilgrims. As the sky began to pale, we went up with that same man, one behind the other, to the Twin Geese Pagoda at Dafang Temple to watch the sun rise. Only when we came down from the pagoda, the man had vanished. If only we could have made his acquaintance—that would have been something."

Dou Yan was full of regret.

Wu Shan, however, did not share it. "The man was finely dressed and carried boys and singing girls about with him. I'd say he's not the respectable sort. Better not to know him."

"But the man was witty," Dou Yan countered. "Elegant in conversation, unrestrained in manner—I'd say he's a man of true feeling."

"Enough, enough. Why spoil the harmony over a stranger?" Dou Yong interjected, smiling. "Are we still going to the Yuquan Temple tomorrow?"

Dou Yan looked puzzled. "What would you be doing at the Yuquan Temple?"

"There's a century-old osmanthus at the Lingyan Temple," Dou Yong said. "It was struck by lightning and burned last year, but I hear it has put out new branches lately. We thought we'd go and see."

Dou Yan burst out laughing. "A few days ago Boyan was boasting to my father that you were all at home studying like madmen, drilling your thighs with awls and your heads to the beams. So that was just to fool the elders?"

"We truly were studying at home these past days," Wu Shan said quickly. "Master Du has gone off to visit friends these last few days and given us seven days' leave—that's the only reason we're out wandering about."

Dou Yan was quite envious.

"Then let's go to the Yuquan Temple tomorrow as well," her grandmother said.

"The Lingyan Temple is built on the mountaintop," Wu Shan said hastily. "There are nine hundred and ninety-nine steps from the gate to the main hall. If you mean to go tomorrow, I'll hire a sedan chair for you."

"No need, no need," her grandmother said, smiling. "Nine hundred and ninety-nine steps is nothing. I can still climb."

Dou Yan and the others were doubtful, but the next day they still had two sedan chairs follow along.

Dou Yan climbed all the way to the summit with her grandmother in one breath, while Wu Shan and the others were still gasping at the turn of the path.

She could not help laughing.

The sound was clear and sweet as large and small pearls dropping onto a jade tray, and Abbot Tuyin, waiting with a smile before the main hall, could not help but look at Dou Yan twice.

Someone nearby gave a startled "Eh?"

Dou Xin followed the sound, and all at once felt her eyes light up.