Blossom

The grandmother and father met, but there wasn’t much to say. The grandmother kept stuffing fruits and snacks into Father’s hands:

"...These are from Li Ji’s roasted goods shop in the city... These are grown at home. I specially fertilized them in spring, so the melons are fragrant and sweet. Even if there are any sold in the city, they wouldn’t be as fresh..."

Father smiled awkwardly.

He didn’t like any of these things.

Raised by his legal mother, aside from their natural blood ties, they shared no similarities in habits or tastes. Still, he took the sunflower seeds and slowly cracked them in his hand.

The grandmother also sensed Father’s discomfort. A trace of embarrassment flashed through her smile as she asked, "When will you come to take Shou Gu back?" After speaking, she felt the question was inappropriate and added, "I mean, I never studied and don’t understand the rules of noble families. It’s fine for Shou Gu to visit me occasionally, but if she stays here too long, I’m afraid it’ll hold her back."

Father replied, "Once I’ve settled things on my end, I’ll come for Shou Gu." Then, realizing this was a shared topic, he continued, "I also think it’s not ideal for her to stay with Wang Shi. The Sixth Madam over there is very kind and gets along well with Shou Gu. Since I’ll be staying in the Capital for a few more years, I thought it best to let her stay with Sixth Madam."

The grandmother nodded. "That’s good! I’ve heard Sixth Madam comes from a prominent family in Jiangnan. Sometimes even the Madam consults her on uncertain matters, yet everyone praises her. It’s clear she’s very capable. Shou Gu will surely learn a thing or two by her side."

The conversation turned to Father’s legal mother. "...If you hadn’t been raised by her, where would you be today?"

Father lowered his head and smiled. "Mother treated me very well."

"I know," the grandmother said. "Once, I secretly went to see you. Madam was hitting your palm with a bamboo stick while asking, ‘Will you dare to do it again?’ You tearfully said no. But the moment she put the stick down, you made a face at her and asked if you could go out to play... After that, I truly stopped worrying."

Neither Dou Shiying nor Dou Zhao had heard this story before and were stunned.

The grandmother sighed. "If only Madam could have lived a few more years!"

Father’s eyes reddened.

The grandmother quickly smiled. "Ah, why am I bringing this up? You rarely visit—stay for lunch, won’t you? I’ll have someone slaughter the old hen..."

"No, no," Father hurriedly declined. "There’s much to do at home. I should return early. I’ll visit again in a few days."

The grandmother thought for a moment and didn’t press further. "Then let me see you off."

Father didn’t refuse. Holding Dou Zhao’s hand, the grandmother walked Dou Shiying out.

The villagers were curious about Father’s identity, peeking from behind doors or around corners. Some, bold enough due to their closeness with the grandmother, walked toward them with empty bamboo baskets, pretending to bump into them. They bowed with a smile. "Landlady, you have a guest!"

The entire village relied on the grandmother’s farmland for their livelihood. In the Dou family, the grandmother had no standing, but here—

She straightened her back and gave a firm "Mm." Not another word.Dou Zhao had once heard from Cui Da's wife that when her grandmother first arrived at the farmstead, there was no shortage of gossip. The Cui family had wanted to stand up for her, but the grandmother stopped them, saying, "You've already done it, so why not let people talk?" Her attitude was composed—she neither showed favoritism to those who flattered her nor deliberately made things difficult for those who spoke ill of her. Everything was judged by who grew the best crops. Over time, when harvests were poor, she would sometimes waive their rent. If a child wanted to study, she would sponsor them; if another wanted to apprentice at a shop, she would arrange it. Gradually, she earned their respect. Later, when some from the Cui family and the farmstead ultimately decided to follow Dou Zhao to the Capital, it was entirely out of regard for her grandmother. To be honest, Dou Zhao was benefiting from her grandmother's legacy.

Hunting birds in the mountains, catching fish in the rivers.

In the radiant month of May, Dou Zhao relived the farmstead life from her memories.

But she was no longer that naive child. After just two or three days, she was so exhausted that even moving her arms made her whole body ache.

Tuo Niang anxiously asked the grandmother, "What should we do?"

"More movement will help," the grandmother replied with a smile. "She’s just not used to it." Then she took Dou Zhao’s hand. "Come, let’s go deworm the melon sprouts."

Dou Zhao didn’t want to go.

Tuo Niang naturally shielded her.

The grandmother chuckled. "She’s a young lady. If she doesn’t work hard now, how will her body grow strong? How will she bear children in the future? Look at the daughters of wealthy families—so many die in childbirth because they stop moving once they’re pregnant, afraid something might happen to the child. But the more they fear, the more likely it is to happen. Now look at us farming folk—how many of us die in childbirth? It’s only the children who sometimes don’t survive!" At this, the grandmother sighed deeply.

Dou Zhao thought of her past life... It was exactly as her grandmother said. Though her health had suffered, she hadn’t died young because of it.

Given a second chance at life, if she didn’t cherish it properly, the advantages of her past life wouldn’t just fall into her lap. And if she misjudged herself because of it, the consequences would be dire.

Struggling to rise from the kang, she said weakly, "I’ll go with you to catch the bugs."

The grandmother smiled approvingly.

Tuo Niang, Haitang, Qiukui, Jasmine, Xuancao, and the grandmother’s maidservant—the one who had helped her down from the carriage, Hong Gu—trailed behind them like a string of zongzi.

This time, they were after the prettiest-looking green caterpillars.

Haitang and the others screamed in terror, and even Tuo Niang turned pale.

Dou Zhao giggled, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, and caught one after another, soon filling a plate with caterpillars.

She teased Haitang, "We’ll fry these up later and eat them!"

Haitang leaned against the wall, retching violently.

The grandmother laughed and scolded Dou Zhao, "Don’t say such things again."

But Hong Gu praised, "Truly the granddaughter of the master."

The grandmother’s face darkened. "This time, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it. If I hear such words again, you can go back to your own home."

Hong Gu turned deathly pale.Grandmother said, "Without rules, how can anything be accomplished? The fourth young lady is still young. Whatever you say, she'll take as truth. But when she returns to the Dou family, the narrative will change. Who should she listen to then? It will only bring suffering to the child." Her voice gradually softened. "Moreover, her grandfather has always looked down on her father's humble origins. If she makes any mistakes, it will only make her grandfather despise her father even more."

"Master, it's all my fault," Hong Gu said, bending her knees as if to kneel and beg for forgiveness.

Grandmother quickly lifted her up: "You're just a minor concubine of the Dou family, no different from others in status. There's no need for this. Just be more careful with your words in the future."

Hong Gu nodded repeatedly: "I understand."

Dou Zhao watched and thought of Dou Ming.

Faced with the same situation, Grandmother and Wang Yingxue's reactions were completely different.

In her past life, she had always believed Dou Ming was happier than her.

But in this life, she reevaluated herself and for the first time felt that she was the more fortunate one.

In her past life, Dou Ming had a mother who shielded her at every turn. Whatever Dou Ming wanted, Wang Yingxue would fight for it, regardless of the cost or sacrifice. This fostered Dou Ming's domineering personality. Without Wang Yingxue's protection, she could do nothing but scream and throw tantrums. She ruined a perfectly good marriage, turning it into a complete disaster, yet never understood where the problem lay, only blaming others incessantly.

Though Dou Zhao had lost her mother, she had a grandmother who adored her. Through simple yet profound teachings, Grandmother shaped her life, teaching her not to despair in adversity nor grow arrogant in prosperity, and how to protect herself and pursue happiness.

She took a deep breath.

All resentment in her heart dissolved.

She even felt a flicker of gratitude toward her father for sending her to the farmstead.

Whatever his motives in her past life, she had ultimately benefited from it.

Suddenly, Dou Zhao felt an overwhelming sense of freedom, like clouds drifting across a vast sky.

She knelt sincerely before the small Guanyin shrine, offering heartfelt thanks for the blessings bestowed upon her.

Nearby, Haitang whispered to Tuo Niang with a sob in her voice, "When are we going back?"

Tuo Niang glared at her sharply. "If you want to go back, I'll tell Consort Cui tomorrow and have you sent back alone."

Haitang shrank back, not daring to say another word.

Dou Zhao couldn't help but chuckle.

She had already met Cui Da, who had managed the farmstead for her in her past life, but she hadn't yet encountered the renowned "know-it-all" Cui Shisan, the future head of the Affairs Office at the Marquis of Jining's Mansion, nor Zhao Liangbi—the former "Zhao Gousheng," who would later become her chief steward overseeing the shops—or her personal maids Gan Lu and Su Juan...

But there was no rush.

Dou Zhao was thinking about Tuo Niang's marriage.

In her past life, Tuo Niang had been sold to a Li family as a bride. The groom was over a decade older and disabled. Tuo Niang bore a son the following year, but three years later, a plague swept through the village, claiming her husband and child. Her mother-in-law accused her of bringing misfortune and sought to sell her off.

She fled overnight, hoping to seek refuge with the Dou family.

It took her a year to reach Zhen Ding, only to hear nothing but slanderous rumors about her mother.

Furious, she sought out Dou Zhao instead.

The ordeal left her health in ruins, and she passed away at thirty-seven.

In this life, Tuo Niang remained with the Dou family and was even given the elegant new name "Su Xin."But after the New Year, she was already twenty years old.

In the Dou family, girls of that age should have long been married off. But because she was the favorite senior maid, the elders pretended not to notice, allowing her to quietly continue serving by their side.

Dou Zhao pleaded with her grandmother: "Could you help find Tuo Niang a match? Even Yu Xin has married already."

Grandmother laughed heartily, calling her "a little adult in a child's body."

This was the difference between grandmother and the other members of the Dou family.

Had it been someone from the Dou family, their first question would likely have been, "Who put you up to saying this?"

Grandmother never speculated maliciously about others' intentions. She believed that even if this was Tuo Niang's own wish, such a request was perfectly reasonable and therefore deserved serious consideration.