Delicate Flower

Chapter 146 – Exchange

It was only when Yu Tang followed Ah Ming into the pavilion that she understood why Pei Yan chose this place as a meeting place.

The octagonal pavilion, with its high arches, grey roof and red pillars, was constructed in the crevice of a mountain, with one side by the mountain and rest of it facing the lake, so the wind would not blow into the pavilion. The maple trees outside the pavilion had leaves bright crimson like fire, the lake was as clear as a mirror, so sitting on the pavilion’s luohan couch, one could see the beauty of the lake, the maple leaves and the mountains, which left people feeling refreshed and relaxed.

He really knows how to enjoy life!

Yu Tang tsked internally. She gazed at the golden autumn pears, shiny purple grapes and scarlet apples arranged on crystal plates on the table near her, wondering if she could finish eating a pear before Pei Yan arrives…… but alas he arrived just as she finished her thought.

“So you’ve met my mother?” He said as he walked in with his brows furrowed. He didn’t even start with a greeting, and his voice seemed a little impatient as he questioned her. After saying that, he unceremoniously sat down on the chair opposite the couch.

Were they that familiar with each other?

Although having lived two lifetimes, Yu Tang was braver than she was in her previous life, but her contact with people of the opposite gender was limited. Men only approached her father and brother and formed friendships with them and not her. Although Pei Yan was speaking casually, her innate wariness of men made her sit up straighter and fix her gaze on Pei Yan, and she was inwardly very uncomfortable.

If he took off his shoes and socks and sat cross-legged on the chair, should she pretend she didn’t see it? Or should she say something to him?

But soon she sighed in relief.

Although normally one would sit cross-legged in the classic meditation chair, Pei Yan apparently had no such intention. He sat upright and proper, just like one would do when sitting on a tai shi chair. He also refused the fruits that Ah Ming offered, and instead instructed Ah Ming, “Brew a cup of strong tea and bring it to me.”

Was he tired?

Yu Tang could not help but examine him closer.

Only then did she realise that his eyes were bloodshot.

Yu Tang could not help but feel somewhat worried and replied, “If you need anything, you can just have Ah Ming send me a message.”

It was not necessary to meet her in person.

He had helped her a lot and she regarded him as her benefactor, so if he needed her for anything, she was more than willing to help.

Pei Yan shook his head, saying, “I’ve been working on the accounts these past few days, and they are a mess.” After saying this, he paused.

Perhaps he felt it was inappropriate to tell her these things.

Yu Tang mused internally.

Sure enough, Pei Yan quickly changed the subject, saying “I’ve been swamped with work these days, and my mother …… her mood is especially low. I’m at a loss as to how to cheer her up. Thinking of the past, before my female cousin got married, she used to come and stay over as she accompanied my mother on shopping trips, sometimes visiting the temple in the mountains for a short stay. So, I thought of Lady Yu. I would like to request that you come over more often during this period of time……” he said, the corners of his mouth were pursed, and he looked a little serious, yet also revealing glimpses of his distress, “You can think of it as doing me a favor and keeping my mother happy. I’m aware that Lady Yu is busy too, so if there is anything I can do to help, just say the word. Just think of it as us exchanging our responsibilities.”

What kind of arrangement was this?

Yu Tang’s eyes widened.

She got curious about that married female cousin of his, who accompanied Grand Madam to shop and play, and she felt envious at the thought of it.

However, since it was the Pei family’s female cousin, her family must also be distinguished, and she probably spent most of her days shopping and playing, unlike her.

Nonetheless, she could see that Pei Yan probably wanted to fulfil his filial responsibilities  to his mother, but he had neither the time nor the means to keep her company, so he came up with this plan.

There was no need to think of it as exchanging responsibilities. She was more than happy to be of help to Pei Yan. Moreover, Pei Yan already helped her family too many times to count. Whether or not she was busy, she would still take the time to come over until Grand Madam slowly got over her loss of her husband, which probably would only be a short term arrangement.

“Please don’t say that, Third Master.” Yu Tang replied earnestly, “I am only leisurely eating and drinking at home, there’s nothing important. Whenever Grand Madam needs me, I will be glad to help.”

Pei Yan listened and lightly hummed, saying, “Have you finished reading those books I lent you?”

Yu Tang’s face burned hot and her voice trailed off, “No, no, I haven’t finished reading them yet.”

It was difficult for her to finish reading it as she simply could not understand. She called Wang Si over several times and he told her a few elementary things about farming. But as it was already autumn and there was no telling if the sea buckthorn trees would survive the winter, Wang Si needed to focus his attention on those saplings and so she could not call him into the city every two or three days.

Pei Yan took an apple and offered it to her.

Yu Tang took the apple blankly.

Pei Yan raised an eyebrow and said, “Have a taste.”

Yu Tang took a bite of the apple uncomprehendingly.

Then with a bewildered face, she looked at the red fruit in her hand.

Then, she heard Pei Yan’s snicker, “Not bad. Although unable to taste and understand what tea tastes like, at least you can still tell what fruit tastes like.”

Wasn’t that an insult?

Yu Tang glared furiously at him.

Pei Yan was unperturbed and said, “This is a crab-apple. We grew them in our family’s fields.”

She knew about crab-apples.

However, they were always quite small.

Since when did they get as big as apples?

Yu Tang looked at Pei Yan.

Was it a new variety that their family had grown again?

In a rare moment, Pei Yan nodded and said, “Exactly. This is a new variety grown by my family. It’s the same size as an apple, but it bears more fruit than an apple, ripens faster, sells cheaper, and goes on the market earlier.”

The Pei family must have gotten a master who knew a lot about growing fruit trees.

Yu Tang’s eyes turned red with envy that it was almost dripping blood.

Pei Yan leaned closer to her and whispered, “Do you want to exchange responsibilities? Hmm?”

Yu Tang was shaken.

Was this what Pei Yan’s voice sounded like when he lowered his voice?

It was rich, deep, intimate and charming, like a melodious bowed lute, but also like a feather, gently brushing across her chest, causing her heart to pound like a rapidly beating drum, and she unable to hear any other sounds around her.

When she came to her senses, she heard Pei Yan say in subtle amusement, “Then it is settled. I will ask Hu Xing to send some people to oversee your forest land. Not only to ensure that your sea buckthorn trees survive winter, but also help plant a few crab apple trees, and start up a fruit preserves business. Then when you are free, you should come over to my home more often. You don’t need to keep making silk flowers for my mother either. Whatever delicious treats or interesting and fun things you have, you can just bring them here. My mother is always interested in new and unusual items and experiences, so you only need to keep this point in mind.”

“Ah?” Yu Tang stared dumbly at Pei Yan.

When did she ever agree to this?

Pei Yan, however, already cheerfully stood up and said, “It’s been a chaotic mess these few days, but at last something has gone well! I’m still busy, so I’ll be going. If you have nothing else to do, you can stay here and have some fruit and relax for a while. Just let Ah Ming know when you are leaving and he will arrange a sedan chair for you.”

“No!” Yu Tang hurriedly got up and said frantically, “When did I agree to this?”

Pei Yan said, frowning, “Didn’t you keep nodding your head? What? Doesn’t nodding mean your agreement?”

Did she nod her head?

Why didn’t she have any memory of it?

Yu Tang was a little dumbstruck.

Pei Yan said impassively, “How can one not keep their word? This matter is thus settled. I am going back to my study. Ah Ming, you stay here and attend to her.” After saying that, he didn’t care about Yu Tang’s expression as he lifted his feet and strode out of the pavilion.

Yu Tang was struck speechless, she stared at Pei Yan’s back as he quickly faded into the distance.

Pei Yan, who was out of sight of the pavilion, finally could not restrain himself as the corners of his mouth curled up in a laugh.

He previously thought that Lady Yu was quick and adaptable, clever and good at judging situations, but he did not expect that after winding her up in circles, she would actually be caught and sillily nod her head to whatever he said.

This kind of Lady Yu …… was pretty cute.

A thousand people have a thousand faces, and Lady Yu was not always as strong as she seemed.

Satisfied, Pei Yan returned to the study and called Hu Xing over, instructing him, saying “Take Master Ding with you and help Lady Yu to sort out that forest of hers, so that she is not always left with nothing to harvest. “

Hu Xing respectfully complied. However, after leaving the door, he felt his cheeks aching.

It was not as if he had never visited the forest before, so what else was there to figure out? “Always left with nothing to harvest”, but even if they were well planted, who could guarantee a good harvest? If he was so concerned about the profitability of the forest, he could just give the Yu family a share of the profits from his own business!

Thinking of this, Hu Xing’s heart stirred as he stroked his chin.

Third master couldn’t possibly be saying this, could he?

Otherwise a small mountain forest land, why would he ask the Third Chief Steward of the Pei Household to personally keep an eye on it?

He thought of how Lady Yu had won the favour of Grand Madam when she entered the house the other day.

The Third Master, he couldn’t possibly have fallen in love with Lady Yu, could he?

When the thought came to him, Hu Xing immediately found himself unable to stand still.

If that was the case, with the Pei family’s prominence and the Third Master’s noble status, Lady Yu definitely couldn’t be the main wife.

But if she was to be a concubine, and he had befriended her at this time, wouldn’t it be embarrassing for him when the Third Master’s main wife entered the house?

So, what should he do?

For a while, Chief Steward Hu, who had always been extremely resourceful, was caught in a dilemma.

Yu Tang was a person who loved to be close to her family, so when there was nothing to do, why would she be in the mood to stay at the Pei’s residence to admire the view of the lake and the mountains and eat fruits and snacks?

As soon as Pei Yan left the pavilion, she quickly returned home at the very first chance she had.

Madam Chen was already waiting for her at home.

When Yu Tang came back, she pulled her into the room for a chat. “How was it? Did Grand Madam like it? Did she say she’d let you come again as a guest?”

“She seemed to like it.” Yu Tang smiled as she changed her clothes and told her mother about her visit. However, when speaking of the meeting with Pei Yan, she only briefly mentioned the reason why Pei Yan had asked her to meet Grand Madam.

Madam Chen was elated to hear this and said, “Everyone says that Second Master is filial, but I see that Third Master is also very filial. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be allowed to go into the house to accompany Grand Madam from time to time. The Pei family has been very kind to our family, and we can’t help the Pei family in other matters. Since Grand Madam thinks highly of you, you should listen to Third Master and go to the Pei residence often. In future, when Grand Elder’s mourning period is over, and Third Master marries, you can stop then.”

After Pei Yan marries, the one who will take over such a role would naturally be Pei Yan’s wife.

Yu Tang could also be said to have fulfilled her work and happily retire from her responsibilities.

Yu Tang nodded her head, but internally she wondered what kind of wife Pei Yan would marry. Whether it would be a meek and gentle lady or a smart, capable and bright person …… whether the former or the latter, she couldn’t imagine a scene when someone stood by Pei Yan’s side.

Unfortunately, she didn’t know if Pei Yan had gotten married in her previous life. If she knew in advance, she might have been able to quietly sneak a peek and see what kind of person Pei Yan’s wife-to-be was.