Blossom

Chapter 60: Observing Mourning Rites

Wu Shan said, "During the Duanwu Festival, I went to the Capital with my mother to visit Father. It's been a while since I last saw you all." He then added, "Sixth Uncle is currently observing administrative affairs at the Ministry of Justice, and we had zongzi together during the festival."

Dou Shiheng had also passed the imperial examinations and become a Bachelor of the Imperial Academy.

Dou Dechang quickly asked, "How is my father doing?"

"He's doing well," Wu Shan replied with a smile. "In fact, he seems to have put on a bit more weight compared to when he was at home." His eyes then gleamed mischievously as he added, "And I have some good news to share with you all..." He deliberately drew out the last syllable, teasing them.

Dou Dechang ignored him.

Dou Zhengchang, however, chuckled and asked, "What good news? Are you heading to the Capital?"

"How is that good news?" Wu Shan scoffed. "Right now, I’m living a carefree and happy life at home. Under Father’s watchful eye, I’d have to write five thousand large characters every day before I could even think of putting down my brush."

Pang Jixiu clicked his tongue in amazement. "That many?"

Wu Shan finally revealed with a grin, "Starting tomorrow, I’ll be studying at your Dou family’s school!"

Dou Zhengchang and the others were momentarily stunned before it sank in.

"Why the sudden decision to study at our place?" Dou Dechang asked curiously. "Would Auntie bear to let you leave home?"

Wu Shan’s mother was his father’s second wife. Wu Songnian’s first wife had passed away early without bearing any children. It wasn’t until Wu Songnian passed the Presented Scholar examinations that he remarried Wu Shan’s mother, Bi Shi. Bi Shi came from an official’s family and had vowed in her youth to marry only a Recommended Man. She married at the age of twenty-three and gave birth to Wu Shan three years later, doting on her children excessively. To ensure Wu Shan could study under his uncle, a Recommended Man, she chose to stay in their hometown rather than accompany Wu Songnian to his post in the Capital.

"Father suffers from leg ailments," Wu Shan explained. "Now that he’s older, walking has become difficult. Mother is very worried and wants to go to the Capital to take care of him, but she’s also reluctant to leave me behind. During the Duanwu Festival, she happened to meet Sixth Uncle at Fifth Uncle’s house. Sixth Uncle suggested that if Father agreed, I could study with you all while being looked after by Sixth Aunt. Both Father and Mother thought it was a good idea, and Fifth Uncle even wrote a letter to the Dowager. This time, Mother came to send me off for my studies."

Only then did they realize Madam Wu had also arrived.

"That’s wonderful, truly wonderful," Dou Zhengchang said cheerfully.

Dou Dechang, however, threw an arm around Wu Shan’s neck and declared, "You’ve finally fallen into my territory!"

Wu Shan laughed heartily, clasping his hands in mock surrender. "Spare me, great hero!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Dou Qijun and his younger brother Dou Qitai walked in one after the other.

"What’s all this commotion?" they asked with smiles.

Pang Jixiu quickly explained that Wu Shan would be studying at the Dou family school.

Dou Qijun and Dou Qitai immediately teased Wu Shan, demanding he treat them.

Wu Shan waved his hand grandly. "Everyone here today gets a share!"Pang Jixiu's family ran a teahouse, and after aligning themselves with the Wang Family, they expanded into running restaurants and pawnshops. Having grown up in such environments and surrounded by idle hangers-on, he was an expert in indulgence and entertainment. Hearing the suggestion, he immediately said, "Let's go to Jingfuchun. Every summer, they serve river delicacies in iced desserts—lotus seeds, lotus roots, water chestnuts, and fresh fox nuts, all grown in their own ponds. Ordinary fox nuts are usually harvested only when they’re old, then peddled on the streets. Any leftovers are sent to herbal shops. Fresh, tender fox nuts not only yield less but aren’t even accepted by herbal shops, so no one bothers picking them. But Jingfuchun’s iced desserts use the youngest fox nuts, sparing no expense. When cooked, they turn a pale yellow, paired with fresh walnut kernels, fresh almonds, and fresh hazelnuts, all resting on a bed of tender lotus leaves—red, white, and green, a feast for the eyes before even tasting..."

The scorching summer heat made their mouths water before he even finished speaking.

Dou Qitai quickly said, "I’ll go fetch Fourth Brother."

Among the "Qi" generation, Dou Qijun was the fifth, Dou Qitai the sixth, and the fourth was Dou Qiguang, the second son of Dou Yuchang and Wu Shan’s cousin.

Since Wu Shan was treating, how could he be left out?

Dou Zhengchang went to inform the Second Madam.

Bi Shi, a fair and plump woman with a round, kindly face, looked concerned.

The Second Madam smiled. "It’s fine. With Zhi Ge’er accompanying them and being in Zhen Ding County, nothing will happen."

Dou Qijun had passed the imperial examination last year, which eased Bi Shi’s mind a little.

The Second Madam instructed the steward to arrange for a few reliable servants to accompany Dou Zhengchang and the others to Jingfuchun.

The manager of Jingfuchun, recognizing the Dou family, immediately offered them the best private room and personally introduced the menu. With Pang Jixiu cracking jokes, the atmosphere was lively.

When the river delicacies in iced desserts were served, Wu Shan suddenly said, "How about we visit Fourth Sister at the farmstead tomorrow?"

The chatter in the room stopped abruptly, and all eyes turned to him.

Wu Shan’s gaze flickered as he quickly added, "In this sweltering heat, I’ve heard Consort Cui’s farmstead has everything. We can use visiting Fourth Sister as an excuse to go fishing, swimming, and eating fresh lotus leaf rice… Wouldn’t that be fun? Better than being cooped up at home every day."

Pang Jixiu’s heart raced as Dou Dechang grinned and said, "Great idea! Let’s go swimming at Consort Cui’s place."

Dou Qiguang never went anywhere except to study. If not for Wu Shan’s invitation, he wouldn’t have come today. Even he was tempted by the idea, let alone the others.

"Then it’s settled," Dou Qijun said. "Who’s going to inform the Second Madam? I can’t be the one—if I ask, she’ll definitely refuse."

Everyone stifled laughter.

"I can’t either," Wu Shan said. "My mother is staying with the Dou family for a few more days."

"Then I’ll go," Dou Qiguang hesitated. "But I’m afraid the Second Madam won’t agree."

"Fourth Brother is an honest man," Dou Qitai teased. "If he asks, the Second Madam will surely agree."

Sure enough, the Second Madam consented immediately.

The group set off in high spirits for the farmstead.

Dou Zhao was bent over her desk, sketching new shoe patterns for her grandmother, when the commotion startled everyone.

Consort Cui stopped them. "No swimming in the river. Rest in the courtyard, and I’ll have lotus leaf rice made for you."The boys couldn't sit still for long, splashing about and eager to jump into the river.

Seeing that she couldn't stop them, Dou Zhao called over the attendants who had followed them: "All of you, go stand by the riverbank, spacing yourselves a few steps apart." Then she summoned Hong Gu, saying, "Go to the village and find some strong swimmers to guard the riverbank. Pay them one tael of silver per day. If all the young masters come out unharmed, reward each with an additional two taels. If anyone drowns, twenty taels for each person saved."

Hong Gu immediately went to the village and found several sturdy men.

With guards watching over them, Dou Zhengchang and the others played even more recklessly.

Pang Jixiu seized an opportunity to quietly slip ashore, claiming he was tired and wanted to go inside for a drink of water.

The servants naturally didn't suspect anything.

Finding the courtyard silent, Pang Jixiu hesitated—should he enter directly or call out from the open window? He knew how to deal with women who sold their charms, but a ten-year-old girl, especially one of such high status, was another matter. He had no advantage over her.

Just then, voices drifted through the open window: "...my younger sister loves this the most, so I thought Fourth Sister would like it too. I had my page buy a bottle. Smell it—doesn’t it have a lovely fragrance?"

Pang Jixiu crept closer on tiptoe.

On the kang table sat a small egg-sized glass bottle, gilded with an amber body—luxurious and extravagant.

He was stunned.

This was Western perfume!

He peered inside eagerly.

There, he saw Wu Shan’s youthful, smiling face.

Damn it, how old was this kid, and already scheming after women? No wonder he wanted to visit Aunt Cui’s farmstead!

As Pang Jixiu silently cursed, he heard Dou Zhao say, "Thank you, Fourth Brother Wu. This perfume smells wonderful." She accepted it graciously and then asked Wu Shan about his trip to the Capital.

"The Capital truly lives up to its reputation as the Emperor’s domain—prosperous, bustling, and filled with treasures. The streets are so wide, four carriages could pass side by side..." Wu Shan excitedly described the Capital to Dou Zhao, who sat quietly with a smile, though her thoughts wandered far away.

Next summer, she’d find an excuse to bring Grandmother to stay at the Dou family for a while. That way, Grandmother wouldn’t have to wake early to water the melon vines—perhaps she could avoid sudden death.

This trip to the farmstead, she’d take Gan Lu and Su Juan back to the East Manor.

She also needed to visit Tuo Niang. She’d heard she was doing well with Cui Si, and the Cui family adored their honest and dutiful daughter-in-law. She had already secured her place in the Cui household...

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside.

Worried about the group in the river, Dou Zhao stuck her head out the window and called to Hong Gu, "What’s happening?"

Hong Gu emerged from the kitchen, one hand holding a knife, the other a chicken, and hurriedly replied, "I’ll go check."

Dou Zhao urged Wu Shan, "You should go too, shouldn’t you?"

Wu Shan gave an "Oh!" and dashed out.

About half an hour later, Hong Gu returned.

"Miss, thank goodness you had me find those strong swimmers to stand by the river," she said, pale with lingering fear. "Young Master Guang can’t swim—he slipped into the water while roughhousing with Young Master Tai... If not for the quick reflexes of the men by the bank, he might not have made it out."Dou Zhao sighed and said sincerely, "I hope they've learned their lesson and won't come swimming again."

Hong Gu quickly agreed.

The group had come in high spirits but returned in low spirits.

After a hasty dinner at the farmstead, they returned to the Dou residence.

That evening, her grandmother pointed to the rose-scented perfume on the kang table and asked, "Where did this come from?"

"It was a gift from Fourth Brother Wu Shan," Dou Zhao replied frankly. "He said he brought it back from the Capital."

Her grandmother held it in her hands for a long while before silently placing it back and going straight to bed.

Two days later, Dou Qijun came to visit Dou Zhao. "Thanks to your arrangements that day, Fourth Aunt, or else something terrible would have happened."

Although he was a junior, he was the oldest among them and the only one with an official title. If anything had happened, he would have borne the greatest responsibility.

"It was just being cautious," Dou Zhao said with a smile. "You don't need to take it to heart."

But Dou Qijun still thanked her earnestly.

A few more days passed, and Wu Shan and Dou Qiguang came to thank Dou Zhao. "It was my idea to go. If anything had happened to Fourth Brother, how could I face Fourth Cousin?"

Dou Zhao had to modestly brush it off again.

Wu Shan used the excuse of thanking her to visit several more times.

Each time, her grandmother would invite him to stay for dinner and ask him detailed questions about his family. Once, Dou Zhao even overheard Hong Gu telling her grandmother, "Bi Shi is a woman of great ambition, warm and courteous, very generous..."

Realizing her grandmother's intentions, Dou Zhao found it both amusing and exasperating.

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I'm rushing to write every day. My aunt says it's like doing double harvests. I think her description is both simple and vivid... To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) RQ