Chapter 374 — Discontent
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 1 of 4
Dou Yan did not know whether to laugh or cry. She said to Su Lan, "Tell me, what is this supposed to be?"
Su Lan smiled with pursed lips. "Madam should be happy. The old lord and the Heir get along so well."
"Yes!" Dou Yan sighed. "I have not been a good daughter. Thank heavens for the Heir."
Her mood brightened again. She went to the kitchen herself to instruct the old women at the stove, had a banquet prepared, and sent it to the outer courtyard.
Dou Huaiying chatted at length with Song Yantang and felt greatly cheered. He stayed at Yizhi Hall until the lamps were lit before returning home. By the time Zhao Si's family left the capital, he no longer took Zhao Si's coldness to heart.
If his own sister had met with such a thing, he would probably have found it hard to let go as well.
No one in this world can satisfy everyone. Why not conduct oneself openly and honestly? So long as I can answer to my own conscience, that is enough.
Yantang was absolutely right.
So long as one has a clear conscience, how others see it and what they think is their business.
He felt clear-headed and refreshed, as if years of gloom had been swept away. He prepared travel funds and parting gifts for Zhao Si and delivered them in person to Yuqiao Alley. Under his aunt's slightly apologetic look, he calmly drank a cup of tea, chatted with her a few idle words, rose, and took his leave.
His aunt went to the study.
Seeing her husband practicing calligraphy there in a fretful mood, she could not help sighing softly. She turned and went to Zhao Zhangru's rooms, asking whether all her luggage was packed: "...do not leave things scattered about."
Zhao Zhangru was quite indifferent. "This is Shouyuan's house. Even if something is left behind, Shouyuan will keep it for us. She has a farm estate in Huguang. When the time comes, just have someone bring it to Huguang."
His aunt glared at her.
Just then Song Yan came in. Learning of it, he laughed. "Mother, do not worry. I will help keep an eye on things. Nothing will be left behind here."
Zhao Zhangru blushed and smiled at her husband.
His aunt could not help smiling and shaking her head.
Thank goodness for Song Yan.
He had grown up eating from a hundred households, and was careful and prudent by nature. He made up for his daughter's carelessness. Yet precisely because of this, his daughter's lively cheerfulness made up for Song Yan's sensitivity and delicacy. This marriage was truly excellent.
A father-in-law must feign deafness and folly.
She smiled and went to the hall.
***
After seeing off her uncle's family, Dou Yan began preparations for Su Lan's marriage.
She prepared a dowry for Su Lan identical to Su Xin's.
Chen He was very uneasy and asked Su Lan to decline this dowry. "My brother-in-law is poor and works for Madam. But I am the Heir's milk-brother, and I have the Heir to look after me."
Su Lan shook her head. "Gifts from elders must not be declined; the same goes for gifts from our mistress. We should accept them gladly. Only, in future, when dealing with people, remember how our mistress treats us, and you will know how to conduct yourself and what to do and not do. That in itself is repayment to her."
Chen He had not expected the carefree Su Lan to voice such simple, sound principles. He could not help viewing her in a new light, and no longer dared to coax her as if she were a naive girl. From then on he treated her with more respect.
When Chen He's mother saw that Chen He truly liked his wife, she thought of the dead Chen Tao and felt that fortune and misfortune in this world were unpredictable. She became more tolerant toward Su Xin. After Su Lan married, she lived happily beyond Dou Yan's expectations. This was something Dou Yan had not anticipated.
Only she did not know it yet.