Delicate Flower

Chapter 93 – A Lesson

When Pei Yan saw that Yu Tang had ignored his words, he was so angry that it made his liver hurt.

Initially, he thought that with such a reckless person, he shouldn’t care anymore and just let do whatever she wants. But just as Yu Tang finished instructing Shuang Tao, and came to him and smiled warmly, saying “Third Master, I know you’re not particular about such things, and I also know that what happened today was our family’s fault. Please let me go buy some good tea to serve you, otherwise I’ll be uneasy the entire day. I will also arrange for the vegetarian banquet. Since you’re still in mourning, it’s not appropriate for you to remain here for long and we’ll be troubled too. If you feel that the food is to your liking, please give a token of appreciation to the attendants and this meal would just be a little token of our family’s appreciation.”

Most importantly, she had to let everyone know how grateful the Yu family was to Pei Yan, and to compensate him in public for the personal inconvenience of coming to the opening ceremony of the Yu family’s store.

Except that she couldn’t say it.

She intuitively felt that if she spoke so candidly, Pei Yan would definitely flip out.

Pei Yan looked at her face, smiling like a flower in spring, and with a touch of flattery, the frustration in his heart slowly ebbed away.

Forget it!

He’s a man, so why bother to be upset with her, a young girl.

Besides, who doesn’t make a few mistakes when they were young?

All that matters was to rectify the mistake.

He might as well enlighten her a little.

Pei Yan’s face cleared up slightly. He took a sip of tea and said calmly “Ask your serving maid to return. By no means do I lack in good quality tea. What I’m concerned about is that your servants are the ones in charge of handling everything for you. Thinking that five taels of silver for one catty of tea looks no different from than a five hundred taels per catty of tea, they simply bought the cheaper five taels of silver for one catty of tea back. If word about this spreads, people would think that I like to drink coarse tea, and from now on, everywhere I go, I would have to drink tea that tastes like dishwater. I suffer, others also suffer.”

What did he mean?

Yu Tang was perplexed.

She instructed Shuang Tao to buy the best quality tea, although they can’t afford to buy five hundred taels of silver per one catty of tea, even if they bought half a catty’s worth, it wouldn’t be enough to serve their guests, but at the very least, they would not buy the cheapest five taels of silver per catty of tea to serve him, right?

Furthermore, what’s with the drinking dishwater everywhere you go, it’s suffering for him, and for others?

It’s understandable for him to be upset, but why should others be upset as well?

Yu Tang looked at Pei Yan’s pointed expression and immediately understood.

This person was mocking her.

She didn’t even notice it at first.

But how was it her fault? Who could be sarcastic like him, with a calm expression, a normal tone of voice, not high, not low, not indignant or angry, and was as bland as water.

How could he speak without a trace of emotion?

Yu Tang vented internally, she dearly wanted to scold Pei Yan, but could not.

This person was so petty, moody and unpredictable, if she was a little slower, he might have thought up some more nonsense on his own.

Yu Tang’s mind spun.

Tea …… inexpensive …… assuming that he likes coarse tea ……

But it also matched with his constant need to uphold his reputation and pretentious behaviour.

As for saying that others have to suffer too, was it referring to the fact that before visiting poorer households, if they wanted to use coarse tea to entertain him, they still had to make a special trip to buy it?

A few minutes passed, but Yu Tang still haven’t figured out what they did wrong. The accounting room was quiet. The serving attendant who was there at the beginning had already left, Pei Man and Hu Xing had their heads down like wooden puppets, as if afraid that someone would notice them. Shuang Tao trembled at the sight of Pei Yan, and when she was assigned a task, immediately fled. If Yu Tang didn’t respond, this room would resume its silence. After a few more minutes of this, the atmosphere that she worked hard to lighten up would become heavy once again.

Talking to Pei Yan was really stressful!

Yu Tang lamented internally, but she didn’t dare to show it. She could only say in pretend confusion. “What are you saying? It’s the thought that counts! Whether it’s five taels of tea or five hundred taels of tea, they are all tokens of appreciation ……”

But before she could finished her sentence, she heard Pei Yan retort coldly, “So, the door ring that’s worth 2 taels is also considered a token of appreciation?”

Yu Tang was caught off guard by Pei Yan’s sarcastic remark, and was so shocked that she almost stumbled and fell.

The first thought that crossed her mind was that how did he know that the door ring was only worth 2 silver taels?

The second thought was that did he want to settle the score with her right now?

The third thought was, ‘It’s over, it’s finished! With PeiYan’s arrogant character, he must have thought that their family was messing with him!’

Yu Tang had no time to think it through and immediately cried out aggrievedly. “Third Master, you misunderstood. The door ring was my idea. I went to the antique store with my father and I saw that the door ring was interesting, so I thought it would make you happy……”

Pei Yan raised his eyebrows and interrupted her mercilessly, saying “It’s so beautifully packaged, and you also claimed you found it in some antique store. Obviously, you intended to send it out as an expensive gift. Then, you shouldn’t have let the recipient know that it’s only worth two taels of silver. You are the only person who is foolish enough to think of such a preposterous idea – buying from my store and giving it to me. What, now you still want to buy tea from my shop to serve me? Order a vegetarian banquet from my restaurant and deliver it to me? Can’t you think of anything else besides what is convenient to you? A sincere token of appreciation? All these things I received, what are they? What appreciation are you speaking of?”

Yu Tang’s face turned red from embarrassment.

But how could she be blamed for this?

In the whole city of Lin’an, how many other stores were not owned by their Pei family?

She wanted to buy something nice, but apart from the Pei family’s stores, where else could she go to?

Although her heart was torn, but she rationally knew that she had done something wrong.

At the very least, there was no sincerity.

But who would have expected that such a busy man like him would have known that there was actually such a door ring being sold in all the various stores his family owns!

Yu Tang could not help her astonishment, would he also know every single thing that was sold in their Pei family’s stores?

That… that should not be possible!

Pei Yan suddenly realized that Lady Yu not only had a radiant face, but those distinct and clear eyes were constantly conveying her thoughts, and was never as tranquil as water.

Just from the way she looked at him, it was easy to know what’s going on in her mind.

Pei Yan could not help but snicker as he replied sardonically, “There is no such thing as a paper that can contain a burning fire. Since you did it, you should have thought about the day when you would be exposed. Instead of making excuses with words such as “it’s the thought that counts”, why don’t you think about what you should say when giving those gifts?”

Yu Tang nodded her head obediently.

But when Pei Yan looked at her, it was clear that she still didn’t understand what he was trying to say.

He thought about it further and said straightforwardly, “Honesty and sincerity are important in all things. If you find that the door ring interesting, when sending the gift, you should inform others that the item is not valuable, and was only merely a fun trinket, so you should just casually put it in any box you have. If you think that the door ring is an antique, when you send the gift, you will have to show its heritage. If someone like you, who placed a two tael item in a ten tael box and even bought it from their store, tell me, who would like such a gift?”

Was he telling her how she ought to behave?

Yu Tang was frozen in shock, and it took her a long time before she responded.

Third Master Pei was truly telling her how she should behave!

Yu Tang got so excited she was lost for words.

Only those people who treated you as their own would be willing to teach and discipline you.

Just like the first time when she met Pei Yan, he was not even willing to listen to her explanation, but now, he actually pointed out to her what she had done wrong.

This was a real step up from her previous encounters!

It is apparent that her efforts are paying off.

Is there anything more rewarding in this world than to feel their efforts being recognised?

Yu Tang felt her eyes turning a little moist, and she hurriedly expressed her loyalty. “Third Master has taught me a lesson, I will remember it. I will definitely not make the same mistake again.” She thought of his twisted character and hastened to add, “I’ll have someone go and call Shuang Tao back. I will use whatever tea leaves that are available in the store to serve, since you are not that picky. As for the vegetarian banquet, we still need to have someone send it to your house. But it will be the best vegetarian banquet that can be ordered from the restaurant.”

At last, his words were not in vain.

Pei Yan’s expression improved.

Yu Tang was relieved but was also a little distressed by the silver she needed to spend to order the vegetarian banquet.

It is estimated to cost at least 50 or 60 taels of silver.

Vegetarian banquets were always more expensive than the normal banquets.

Couldn’t they save a little silver?

He wanted to uphold his reputation, didn’t he? And his noble name?

Yu Tang suddenly thought of an idea, and for the sake of her family’s silver, she asked cautiously, “Third Master, do you think it’s okay if I replace the vegetarian banquet from the restaurant next door with the one from Zhaoming Temple or another nunnery?”

This would make it sufficiently grand and high-quality, right?

Furthermore, the temple abbot would know that this is a vegetarian banquet meant for the Pei family, and thus would definitely do a good job and not ask for much silver in return. If they requested for a huge sum of silver, how would they get additional funding from Pei family for their incense fees in future? After all, the temple needs to maintain an unassuming and low-profile image of benevolence!

Pei Yan looked at Yu Tang’s pair of eyes that were as clear as water but with a trace of craftiness, and his mood got a little better.

She is a fast learner.

This young lady is smart, but it’s only a pity that she was born in an ordinary family like the Yu’s. Her parents have little to no insight and can’t teach her anything, so it’s a case of a pearl hidden in the sand.

“Of course.” PeiYan felt that he had always been a practical person, able to discern clearly between right and wrong. Therefore, since Lady Yu came up with an idea to save money while also keeping it refined and noble, it was naturally acceptable to him.

She knew it.

This Pei Yan, clearly likes things to be simple and unpretentious, but deep down he actually enjoys extravagance and luxury the most. However, no matter how extravagant and grandiose it was, it still has to appear simple and unassuming.

Yu Tang felt that she had gained a new understanding of Pei Yan, and he seemed more approachable to her.

She immediately asked the young serving attendant who was in the accounting room previously to ask Shuang Tao to return. She then went to find eldest aunt who was at the back in the storehouse and asked her to send someone to Zhaoming Temple to arrange for a vegetarian banquet, and reminded eldest aunt in a soft voice, “Tell them that this is our family’s gift to the third master of the Pei family.”

Wasn’t this a declaration to the public that their family is sheltered by the Pei family?

The Yu family had a hundred advantages and not a single harm.

Why wouldn’t eldest aunt agree?

“Understood.” Madam Wang smiled as she answered, “Don’t worry, I know what to do. It will definitely be handled well.”

Yu Tang was still a little worried and hurriedly added, “It’s better to be more luxurious than to offer too little.”

“I know, I know.” Eldest aunt smiled at her if there was a hidden meaning, and said, “Surely no one will criticize our Yu family for bending over backwards to flatter the Pei family.”

Yu Tang pursed her lips as she smiled.