Chapter 74 — Taking Them In
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
"You two—stop arguing." Bie Gangyi's voice came out dry and rasping. "You're both doing this for my sake... it's not worth it..." As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward Dou Yan. "Fourth Miss, I know this puts you in a difficult spot, but there is no one else I can entrust them to... When their mother passed, I promised her I would take good care of the two girls..." Moisture began to shimmer at the corners of his eyes. "I cannot push my children into the fire pit..."
Listening, Dou Yan could not help but feel a pang of sorrow.
"I ask for nothing else—only that after I am gone, these two children may live with dignity," Bie Gangyi said, his voice wheezing like a bellows. "I know the Dou family is no ordinary household, but these two girls are both obedient and sensible. They will not cause you any trouble..."
"I know, I know." Dou Qu walked over and sat down where Chen Yanzhou had been sitting moments before. "If you trust me," he said in a low voice, "I will have them enter into a fictive kinship with my own grandmother's family—that is, with the relatives of Aunt Cui of the Western Dou. Then I will have the two sisters move to Aunt Cui's farmstead. That is Dou property, under Dou protection..."
Chen Yanzhou could not help but be taken aback.
Just moments ago this Fourth Miss Dou had been full of evasions and excuses—how had she changed her mind in the blink of an eye?
Dou Yan had wanted to help the Bie sisters from the moment Chen Yanzhou mentioned their circumstances, lest fine pearls be cast into the dark and they be humiliated by the likes of Shan Jie. She simply disliked being calculated against as though she were a naive child, and so she had deliberately traded barbs with Chen Yanzhou.
"So... you agree?" Bie Gangyi was both startled and overjoyed, gazing at Dou Zhiwei with eyes full of gratitude.
Dou Xin nodded.
How many fathers in this world could go as far as Bie Gangyi had for their children—and for two daughters, no less!
For that alone, she ought to help the Bie sisters.
"If you are still uneasy, you may also let them live with me at the Western Dou," she said. "No one has been at the house these past few years anyway. If the sisters come, they will keep me company..."
But Bie Gangyi shook his head. "I know the young lady means well, but the Dou clan is vast in wealth and enterprise. Fourth Miss has elders above her and siblings below. If the two sisters simply followed along, there would be no end of gossip saying they are taking advantage of the Dou family—and likely no small amount of slander aimed at Fourth Miss as well. You saved my whole family; I ought to repay you properly. It is a pity my body will not cooperate—not only can I not repay you, I have brought you no end of trouble. How could I let you suffer further grievance..." As he spoke, he called out "Uncle Chen," smiled with his withered lips, and said, "You are a man of learning, and your handwriting is fine. I ask you to write a deed of allegiance for the sisters..."
"Master Bie!" Dou Yan and Chen Yanzhou exclaimed in unison, then exchanged a glance despite themselves.
"Without a deed of allegiance, the name is improper and the words carry no weight," Bie Gangyi said, ignoring their outcry. "Rather than leave the sisters hanging ambiguously at Fourth Miss's side, it is better to fix their status. Then they will know what they may do and what would be presumptuous—it benefits both Fourth Miss and themselves."
Dou Yan fell silent.
There was no denying the sense in Bie Gangyi's words.
What people fear most is being unable to find their proper place, and striving in the wrong direction.