Blossom

Zhao Biru held Dou Zhao's hand as they slowly walked back.

Dou Zhao asked Zhao Biru, "What's my favorite food?"

Zhao Biru was taken aback but still answered obediently, "You like anything sweet and crispy!"

Dou Zhao pressed further, "When was the last time you came to our house?"

Zhao Biru looked at her with even greater surprise. "The day before the Winter Solstice. Father sent me and my younger sister to ask Auntie if Uncle had returned. We also brought Auntie a 'Nine Cold' painting, and she rewarded us with a pair of beaded hairpins. My sister even played string games with you for half the day. Did something happen?"

Dou Zhao shook her head.

Given how close their families were, why had she bitten Aunt when she came to take her to play with her cousins?

When they returned to the main courtyard, the maidservants were all standing on the veranda. Seeing Dou Zhao and Zhao Biru, they stepped forward with respectful smiles and bowed to Zhao Biru. "Cousin, please wait in the side room for now. Aunt is speaking with the First Madam."

Zhao Biru glanced in confusion at the latticed windows of the main house but obediently followed the smiling maid to the side room. Meanwhile, Dou Zhao darted into the inner chamber just in time to hear Aunt say indignantly, "...This is utterly outrageous! If the Wang Family dares to send anyone, don’t say a word—don’t lower your dignity. I’ll deal with that Gao Shi myself!"

Mother’s voice still carried a hint of tears. "Sister-in-law, there’s no need! Making a scene will only give the Wang Family more to talk about. No matter what, it’s Wanyuan’s fault."

Aunt sighed deeply before finally saying, "You’re too soft-hearted, sister!"

Mother laughed lightly. "Husband and wife are one. If he loses face, so do I. I appreciate your concern, but please don’t mention this to my brother—it’s just taking in a concubine. Must we trouble my natal family to glorify the Dou name?"

"I understand," Aunt said. "When the time comes, I’ll come quietly by myself."

"Thank you, sister-in-law," Mother replied. "In fact, the quieter this matter is, the better."

Aunt nodded.

On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, Aunt indeed arrived alone. When Eldest Aunt inquired, Aunt simply said that Uncle was studying behind closed doors. Eldest Aunt didn’t press further and led Aunt to the reception hall, where they exchanged greetings with Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, Sixth Aunt, and other relatives. Soon, two tables were set up for mahjong, and the gambling began. The Dou family women either played or watched, filling the hall with laughter and lively chatter.

Outside, only Father’s elder brothers were invited. They chatted and drank tea.

No one from the Wang Family came.

The sedan chair carrying Wang Yingxue stopped directly at the reception hall. Dressed in a pink rose-patterned brocade back coat, Wang Yingxue stepped out, supported by a maidservant. She served tea to Mother in the reception hall, completing the ceremony.

Yu Momo then led Wang Yingxue to Qi Xia Courtyard. Meanwhile, the reception hall remained lively with mahjong and laughter until late into the night before the guests gradually dispersed.

Wang Yingxue let out a sigh of relief.

The maidservant supporting her pouted in dissatisfaction. "Young Miss shouldn’t have persuaded the First Madam. Look—does this even resemble a joyous occasion?"“Don’t talk nonsense,” Wang Yingxue scolded the maid with a frown. “Is being someone’s concubine something to be proud of? Even if First Madam comes, it would only bring humiliation. Be careful with your words from now on. If I hear such presumptuous talk again, I’ll send you back to Nanwa immediately.”

The maid’s eyes reddened at once, and she curtsied. “This servant won’t dare again.”

Still uneasy, Wang Yingxue repeatedly warned the maid, “When under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head. Stay obediently by my side and remember not to stir up trouble.”

The young maid murmured her assent.

Someone announced, “Seventh Master is here!”

Wang Yingxue’s eyes brightened.

Dou Shiying strode in quickly.

Wang Yingxue hurried forward to greet him, curtsying as she asked, “Does Seventh Madam… know?”

“She does!” Dou Shiying replied with a smile. “In fact, she urged me to come.”

Wang Yingxue grew emotional at this. “Thank Seventh Madam for preserving my dignity. From now on, I will respect her as my own elder sister.”

“Did you not regard Gu Qiu as your own sister before?” Dou Shiying teased. “I’ve told you long ago that Gu Qiu is a virtuous and kind person.”

Wang Yingxue’s smile faltered slightly. “In this matter, I’ve been ungracious. I owe Sister Gu Qiu a great deal and feared she might resent me. Though I’ve always regarded her as my own sister in my heart, I didn’t know if she saw me as her own younger sister… Now it seems I was overthinking. After all, I’m not as magnanimous as she is.”

Dou Shiying chuckled, looking pleased.

Wang Yingxue’s gaze darkened briefly before she quickly regained her smile.

After the Kitchen God was welcomed and the dust swept away, New Year’s Eve arrived.

Both the eastern and western branches of the Dou family returned to Beilou Village for ancestral rites.

Wang Yingxue followed behind Zhao Guqiu with downcast eyes and a submissive demeanor. Whenever someone’s gaze lingered on her, Dou Zhao, clutching her mother’s skirt, would sweetly call out, “Wang Yiniang.” The crowd would then murmur in understanding, praising Wang Yingxue’s appearance, while Yu Momo explained from the side, “She’s a young lady from the Wang Family of Nanwa.” This left Wang Yingxue flushed with embarrassment.

Mother reprimanded Yu Momo a few times, and when other relatives inquired about Wang Yingxue afterward, Yu Momo said no more.

Dou Zhao could only lament her young age.

Wang Yingxue cast a grateful glance at Mother.

Mother ignored her and continued chatting and laughing with the clan’s relatives.

Yet Wang Yingxue’s status still spread.

During the New Year celebrations, Wang Yingxue hid at home, unwilling to visit relatives for New Year’s greetings. “They’re all proper madams. It’s not fitting for me to tag along.”

Yu Momo coaxed with a smile, “What’s fitting or not? With Wang Yiniang by your side, Madam will have company and someone to serve tea.”

Wang Yingxue grew visibly uncomfortable. Father frowned and turned to Mother. “Was this your idea?”

Mother sipped her tea calmly and replied indifferently, “In that case, let Wang Yiniang stay home. It’s better not to risk disturbing the baby.”

Father hesitated, wanting to say more.

Mother carried Dou Zhao out the door.

Father immediately followed, whispering, “This will only make us a laughingstock among the relatives.”

“I know,” Mother said expressionlessly. “When the child is born, should I tell everyone it was a premature birth?”

“You!” Father glared in anger.

But Mother had already stepped briskly into the carriage.

Father stamped his foot in frustration before reluctantly boarding the carriage himself after a long pause.Dou Zhao buried herself among the large bolsters in the carriage and sighed deeply.

Her mother's worries were not unfounded.

Such matters, though trivial, were vexing.

Like a flea landing on your body—if ignored, it bites and makes you itch all over; yet if you make a fuss over it, it feels too petty to mention.

Didn't Father say he would send Wang Yingxue to the farmstead?

After the New Year, she ought to remind him!

Lost in thought, Dou Zhao welcomed her third birthday.

Father, Mother, Wang Yingxue, Grandfather, Grandmother, Ding Yinyinai, Aunt, and several aunts all sent her birthday gifts. Mother reciprocated with longevity noodles. The household servants kowtowed in the courtyard to wish her long life, and Mother rewarded each with five qian of silver. They were overjoyed, even happier than during the New Year.

After the Lantern Festival, the wind no longer carried winter's chill.

It was time for spring plowing.

Dou Zhao thought to herself and pestered her mother to visit Grandmother.

Mother was surprised. "Didn’t you see her during the New Year?"

"We barely spoke," Dou Zhao said. "During the ancestral rites, Grandmother stood far away. At the New Year’s Eve feast, she stayed silent. And Father made me stay with Grandfather to keep vigil... On New Year’s Day, when I went to pay respects, she had already returned to the farmstead."

"Didn’t she leave you New Year’s money?" Mother chuckled, plucking a peach blossom from a crystal plate to tuck into Dou Zhao’s hair. "What mischief are you plotting now?"

"I’m not plotting anything," Dou Zhao muttered, though inwardly she reflected: After Grandmother’s death, the farmstead had been left to her. She had assigned capable stewards to manage it, pouring in great effort to ensure stable harvests regardless of drought or flood. It was one of the few things she took pride in.

In this life, though she hadn’t been sent to the farmstead, she still held deep affection for Grandmother and the land.

"I’ll take you in a few days," Mother relented, seeing Dou Zhao’s disappointment. "Once spring plowing is done, your father will inspect the farmsteads with the stewards. We’ll go with him then."

Grandfather’s dislike for Grandmother was no secret in the Dou family. To avoid provoking him, Mother, like the rest of the family, chose to turn a blind eye.

Thinking of that kind old woman, Dou Zhao felt a pang of sorrow.

Mother smiled. "How about I take you to your uncle’s house? It’s been a while since we visited Anxiang."

Dou Zhao noticed her mother always used the word "return" when speaking of her maiden home, as if the Dou household wasn’t truly hers. It seemed a common habit among married women—though not for Dou Zhao herself.

After marrying into the Wei family, she had felt as if a weight had lifted, her spirits soaring with newfound confidence.

Perhaps it was because she had never considered the Dou family her true home?

Lost in thought, Dou Zhao accompanied her mother to Anxiang.

In the countryside, formalities were fewer.

Aunt, having received word, waited at the gate with her two daughters.

Eldest cousin Zhao Biru was already familiar, while second cousin Zhao Xiuru was nine, and youngest cousin Zhao Zhangru was five. The sisters looked alike, though Zhao Xiuru was shy, while Zhao Zhangru was lively. The moment she saw Dou Zhao, she grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. "Momo Peng made candied chestnuts! Mother said we must wait for you to eat them together!"

Dou Zhao stumbled as she was yanked along, forced to follow her inside.

Tuo Niang hurried after them.

Amid laughter, they all entered the house.The Zhao Family's residence was at the village entrance. Beyond the black-lacquered door with bronze rings, the horse stable stood to the left, while a thatched shed housing carts and furniture occupied the right. Two side rooms accommodated several long-term laborers. Passing through the second gate, one was greeted by a five-room blue-brick tiled house flanked by three-room side wings, their window lattices pasted with white Korean paper. Thick old locust trees stood by the steps, presenting a clean, spacious, and imposing sight.

Just as Mother and Aunt had entered the house, Zhao Zhangru burst in, tugging at Peng Momo's sleeve—who carried a plate of sugar-roasted chestnuts—while urging Dou Zhao, "Hurry up! The chestnuts won't taste as good once they cool."

This provoked another round of laughter.

Once everyone settled down, Zhao Biru and Zhao Xiuru, exemplifying elder sister decorum, began shelling chestnuts for Dou Zhao and Zhao Zhangru.

Meanwhile, Mother and Aunt sat on the heated kang chatting: "Counting the days, Elder Brother should have entered the examination hall by now?"

"Mmm," Aunt replied with concern. "If he fails again this time, it'll be another three-year wait."

Mother pondered and said, "I heard from Yu Daqing that Sister-in-law recently sold ten acres of fertile land..."

Aunt flushed and whispered, "Those were debts from before the New Year. I didn't dare tell your brother. I only sold the land after he left for the Capital to cover previous deficits..." Then she added quickly, "Don't worry, Sister. I still have some dowry, but since it's all registered, I feared your brother might be displeased if he found out, so I didn't touch it."