Chapter 228

Fu Tingjun called Yuwei in and asked her to make the arrangements.

Seventh Cousin, quick of tongue, chimed in from the side: "I have one daughter and two sons. The daughter is the eldest, and the two sons are the younger ones. My eldest daughter was born in the year of Jiaxu, with the childhood name Ranran. She was born in the sixth month and is one year older than Youyou. My eldest son was born in the year of Jiazi and is one year younger than Youyou, with the childhood name Changsheng. My second son just had his full-month celebration—he hasn't been named yet. Since he's the third child, everyone just calls him Sansan." With that, she covered her mouth and laughed. "If only you'd come back a few days earlier—Third Cousin came for the full-month wine and hasn't left yet, so we could have come together." Then she spoke of Third Cousin's affairs: "Her two sons—the eldest was born in the year of Renshen, in the second month, which is exactly the time for eating spring pancakes. Brother-in-law Shen's previous children never survived, so she had the Daoist masters at Nine Immortals Abbey cast his fortune. They said a humble name would make him easier to raise, so they called him 'Chunbing.' The second son was born in the same year as Youyou, but on the day of the Lantern Festival, so he's older than both Youyou and Ping'an. Following Chunbing's naming, they called him 'Yuanxiao.'"

Both of them had hurried over from Huayin and gone straight to Willow Lane upon arriving in Xi'an Prefecture, without having thought through other matters. Hearing this, they suddenly remembered that the maidservants and matrons accompanying their carriages were still waiting outside the door.

Yuwei smiled and acknowledged the order before leaving.

Seventh Cousin, however, teased: "You see—I'm not the only one who thinks there are things that need to be said to Fifth Sister."

Fifth Cousin flushed with embarrassment and warned Seventh Cousin: "Don't talk nonsense!"

And with that, the earlier hint of melancholy was brushed aside.

"April."

The two of them spoke, growing somewhat excited.

Fu Tingjun then asked Fifth Cousin how many children she had.

Seventh Cousin, however, felt that Fu Tingjun had endured much suffering and was already deeply moved. If they kept indulging Fu Tingjun's melancholy, it would only drag her spirits lower. The sisters rarely had the chance to gather—they should speak of happy things, of things that inspired hope and lifted the spirit. What was the point of making everything mournful and dreary?

"How could I let you stay at an inn when you've come to my home?" Fu Tingjun said, understanding well that Seventh Cousin's concern was not without merit. "Even if the servants accompanying the carriages stay at an inn, you two must stay at my home."

Seventh Cousin laughed: "I'm just afraid that if the mistress of the house collapses, we guests would be here eating and drinking with no one to serve us hot soup and tea."

"Four months older than our boy."

Fifth Cousin's face lit up with joy upon hearing this: "I never imagined you'd know such an influential figure. When will your Lord Zhao return to Xi'an Prefecture? The two brothers-in-law really ought to meet."

"Of course!" Fifth Cousin said with righteous indignation. "I'm not like you all—some of you are officials, some are scholars. I depend entirely on those few shops of mine to make a living!"

Fu Tingjun insisted the two stay at her home: "...not to mention anything else, at least it's safe and peaceful."

"We sisters grew up together—even if our bones were broken, the sinews would still connect. How could I not remember!" Fu Tingjun said with a radiant smile.

Seventh Cousin thought for a moment, then smiled and agreed: "Fine then! Let them stay at the inn. We sisters can have a good heart-to-heart talk."

Having fellow classmates together meant they could exchange information and inquire about the imperial examinations. If he stayed alone at her place, Zhao Ling—not being a civil official—knew nothing of the examination path, which would actually be disadvantageous to Brother-in-law Bai.

Seventh Cousin smiled and agreed.

Seventh Cousin laughed so hard she coughed, then said: "That's nothing! Last year, Fifth Sister wanted to take over a batch of leftover goods from the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau. She personally went to Third Sister's place and had Third Brother-in-law write a letter to his examination-year classmate. Then she sent her capable steward, traveling day and night with Fifth Brother-in-law to Hangzhou, and managed to close that deal through sheer determination. Now when people in Xi'an Prefecture speak of the Yao family of Lintong, who doesn't look at them with respect?"

"Look at me, so caught up in talking." Fifth Cousin jumped up and was about to call for Yuwei, but Seventh Cousin hesitated: "I'm just afraid the place might be too small... I think it's better to stay at an inn?"

"Not now—I don't have the capital or the connections." Fifth Cousin bared her teeth in a smile. "But I always think that the capital is at the foot of the Son of Heaven. All the fine things from everywhere go to the capital. Following the capital's trends can't be wrong."

"I didn't steal anything." Fu Tingjun denied it. "Third Sister was the one who went to steal—I was just keeping watch outside."

Fifth Cousin glared at Seventh Cousin upon hearing this and said: "Even if Ninth Sister is an official's wife, you don't have to flatter her like that, do you?"

As long as the couple got along harmoniously, it didn't matter who managed the household.

Fu Tingjun smiled: "What? Are you thinking of going to the capital to do business?"

Yitong smiled and stood to the side.

"Either way, you've already drunk the wine." Fifth Cousin said, raising her cup. "Seventh Sister just had her full-month celebration, so she's excused. But you're the host—you can't refuse."

Fifth Cousin was furious.

"One daughter and one son." Fifth Cousin smiled. "Same as you—daughter is the eldest, son is the youngest." She added, "My daughter was born in the year of Guiyou, two years older than Youyou."

“Fortunately, we all have children and are doing well,” she said with a hearty laugh. “Third Sister’s husband can enter officialdom once his mourning period ends, and my own is buried in his studies for the imperial examinations. Things will only get better for all of us!”

Seventh Sister and Fu Tingjun exchanged a smile, both pressing their lips together to hold back laughter.

Fifth Sister complained, “Hey, you two, no need to play off each other like that, is there?”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” Seventh Sister said with a laugh. “It’s not like there are outsiders here, right?”

Fu Tingjun thought of Shopkeeper Ye San and said with a smile, “I know a shopkeeper from Datong Hao. I’m not sure if he could be of help to you.”

Fu Tingjun couldn’t help but chuckle. “When I left Huayin, Second Aunt was fretting because Third Sister hadn’t had any news yet. Who would’ve thought that in the blink of an eye, Third Sister’s eldest son is already seven!” By the end of her words, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of wistfulness.

Fifth Sister personally poured Fu Tingjun a large cup and said with a smile, “Do you remember when we snuck into Grandmother’s storeroom to steal wine to drink?”

Fifth Sister then called out, “Yitong,” and said, “Go attend to things over there.”

Seeing the sisters enjoying themselves so boisterously, Madam Lyu offered a toast, then returned to her room.

Fifth Sister caught the hint and felt she had been a bit of a downer, so she quickly smiled and said, “Seventh Sister is right. Though my husband reads well, with Third Sister’s husband helping out, our business has only grown bigger over the years.” Then she asked Fu Tingjun, “You’re in the capital—do you know of any good business opportunities?”

Fifth Sister chided, “Do you think I’m the type to gossip about this family or that? Why are both of you telling me not to say anything?”

The atmosphere momentarily became warm and tranquil.

Fifth Sister couldn’t help but sigh.

Fu Tingjun thought of the child in her belly, and with a gentle smile, her hand unconsciously moved to her abdomen.

Seventh Sister pulled the children close, looking them over with eyes full of joy. “He looks like Ninth Sister…” Like Fifth Sister, she hadn’t prepared anything in advance, so she casually removed the pearl flower from her hair and the jade pendant from her waist as gifts: “…Next time, Seventh Aunt will have gold necklaces made for you.” She laughed and drew Youyou into her arms, then asked about the birth dates and times of Fu Tingjun’s two children. Learning that Youyou was born in the Yihai year and Xige’er in the Dingchou year, Seventh Sister was about to speak when Fifth Sister interjected with an “Aiyo!” and laughed, “Our boy is also from the Yihai year—he was born in the eighth month. Which month is your Youyou?”

Fu Tingjun instructed Yuwei to bring Youyou and Xige’er in to pay their respects to Seventh Aunt.

“It’s just that Yuwei is diligent in her work,” Fu Tingjun said modestly, though inwardly she was quite pleased with Yuwei’s quick wit.

Fu Tingjun couldn’t insist further, so she smiled and said, “Then go back and talk to your husband. If there’s anywhere I can help, just send word to me.”

And so, after the sisters’ reunion following their separation by life and death, with Zhao Ling away from home, they indulged themselves freely. The evening meal didn’t break up until the hour of Hai, and Fu Tingjun, Fifth Sister, and Seventh Sister all ended up thoroughly tipsy. The next day, everyone emerged from their rooms pale-faced, rubbing their temples.

Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister said nothing, but their eyes glistened with tears.

Seventh Sister quickly said, “Ninth Sister, in the few years we haven’t seen you, your Yuwei has become even more capable. Clearly, you’ve become quite skilled at managing people.”

Fu Tingjun laughed heartily and turned to look at Seventh Sister. “See, you become like the family you marry into. Back when we were at home, she’d tip the maid who helped buy needles with the leftover change. Now, the moment she hears I know someone from Datong Hao, she’s immediately clamoring for my husband to make an introduction.”

Fifth Sister was startled. “How are there people from the Tengji Guard involved?”

These children’s names…

And from Fifth Sister’s tone, it seemed Third Sister’s husband was also the type to help others!

Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister said in unison, “Ninth Sister, you actually still remember?”

Fu Tingjun couldn’t help but smile.

The sisters’ emotions finally settled.

They chatted and laughed, watching as the sun set in the west.

Fu Tingjun recalled the days when she and her sisters studied with the old tutor as children… Her gaze softened like spring water. “Both sisters, rest easy and stay here!” She instructed Yuwei to arrange the feast. “Remember to tell the kitchen to make the steamed fish that Fifth Aunt likes and the braised pork hock that Seventh Aunt likes.”

It wasn’t until the evening meal, when Madam Lyu brought out the Jinhua wine, that the atmosphere became lively again.

Fu Tingjun hadn’t intended to make a fuss, but now she had to caution Fifth Sister: “My husband and Commander Qin of the Tengji Guard are close friends. Since I was traveling alone with the children, Commander Qin, worried there’d be no one to look after us on the road, privately assigned a few men to escort us back to Xi’an. Don’t let this slip out.”

Fu Tingjun was quite taken aback.

"Don't worry about where to stay," Seventh Sister said with a smile. "He and a few of his classmates have agreed to travel to the capital together. They may rent a courtyard together to settle in first. But since it's a place where we know no one and have no acquaintances in the capital, I'm a bit concerned."

Fu Tingjun raised her cup without hesitation: "Let me first toast Fifth Sister."

Seventh Sister quickly stopped Fu Tingjun: "After three days apart, one should look at each other with new eyes. Fifth Brother-in-law's tolerance for alcohol isn't great, but Fifth Sister has trained hers up..."

Yuwei, however, was prepared and said with a smile: "Since we haven't informed the Madam, we didn't dare make decisions on our own. But we've reserved two small courtyards at the inn where the Tengji Guard is staying, and the east and west wing rooms are all tidied up. If Fifth and Seventh Young Ladies wish to keep a few close attendants, there's room for them as well."

Fu Tingjun felt relieved.

From the sound of it, Fifth Brother-in-law was somewhat weak-willed, but all matters at home were decided by Fifth Sister...