Chapter 15

By now, the curfew had already started. The streets were closed to all casual passersby. Soldiers from the West City Military Office patrolled the streets, and anyone caught violating curfew would be arrested and questioned.

The carriage, carrying a lantern from the Zhang family, rolled along the main street. No one dared to stop it, and it smoothly reached the rear side guest rooms of the Western Mansion. Ruyi and Sister E got down from the carriage and walked back to Siquan Alley, while Sister E’s husband continued driving the carriage and returned it to the stables.

The carriage belonged to the Western Mansion officials; Sister E’s husband was just borrowing it for use.

As the carriage stopped under the carriage shed, Sister E’s husband was about to unhitch the carriage and lead the horses into the stable to feed and rest when he overheard two coachmen complaining inside:

“…That Hua family doesn’t even bother to take a look at themselves. Mei Xiang is sworn sister to us, and we’re all slaves here. In this freezing cold, so late at night, she still has the nerve to ask us to drive her home. The Hua family has their own carriage, but she just likes to take advantage of the Western Mansion, doesn’t want her own horses to get tired.”

“Sister Hua is stingy. Last time I took her home, the tip wasn’t even enough to buy some wine.”

Hearing this, Sister E’s husband immediately knew it was Sister Hua, the elder sister of Mistress Hua, who wanted to go home and the mansion’s coachmen didn’t want to take her.

When Sister Hua was ill with chickenpox last time, her elder brother gave a bunch of toys to the kids and refused to accept any money. Sister E’s husband owed the Hua family a favor and was looking for an opportunity to repay it.

He cleared his throat and said, “You all take a rest. I’ll send Sister Hua home since I just got back—it’s on the way anyway. Help me swap out two horses. The ones that just ran are tired.”

Sister E’s husband was tougher than the horses. If the horses were tired, he could still hold on a while longer.

The coachmen, unwilling to go out on such a snowy night, happily took two rested fine horses and harnessed them to the carriage.

After changing horses, Sister E’s husband drove the carriage back to the West Corner Gate, where Sister Hua and her daughter Hua Jiao, holding a hand warmer, were waiting under the porch.

The Hua family had four sons and one daughter. Hua Jiao was the family’s darling, one year older than Ruyi. Although also a child of the family, she had maids and wet nurses to take care of her and was pampered as she grew up.

Sister Hua grumbled, “Why did you come so late? Trying to freeze us to death?”

“Mom, it’s Sister E’s husband,” said Hua Jiao, a sharp girl who immediately recognized the coachman wearing a sheepskin hat.

“It’s me. I came to take you home,” Sister E’s husband, known for his good temper, smiled even after being scolded, jumped down from the carriage pole, and set the boarding stool in place.

Sister Hua felt a bit embarrassed. “Oh, it’s you, Sister E’s husband. I didn’t see it was you.”

“No problem,” he said. “It’s too cold today. If I were standing in the snow waiting, I’d have been cursing by now—get in the carriage. There’s a stove inside, it’s warm.”

Mother and daughter got in. The interior was indeed warm and comfortable. Sister Hua’s frown smoothed out.

Once they were seated, Sister E’s husband cracked the whip and drove off.

The quilted cushions still held some warmth—someone must have just gotten off the carriage. Sister Hua guessed it was Sister E, so she asked, “I heard Sister E has been looking all over to arrange for that girl Ruyi to go to Yiyuan. Has it been finalized?”

Actually, Sister Hua had come with her daughter Hua Jiao to see Aunt Hua about this matter—everyone wanted the girl to be placed as a servant in the Songhe Hall! Such a respectable position!

Sister E’s husband kept quiet, saying, “I don’t know about that.”

Sister Hua tried to find out who Sister E had connections with and asked, “Where did your carriage just go?”

In the most honest tone, Sister E’s husband lied, “To Yunxiang Building near the West Fourth Archway. Sister E and Ruyi went there to have some fine clothes measured and made, getting ready for the New Year.”

Yunxiang Building was famous for fine fabrics and skilled tailors, favored by wealthy families’ women in the capital.

Actually, Ruyi and the others had gone to Yunxiang Building a few days ago. Sister E even took Ruyi’s mother along with her.

Sister Hua no longer suspected and smiled, “Oh, Yunxiang Building! Their tailors came to our house a while ago to measure clothes for me and Hua Jiao.”

That was clearly bragging.

Sister E’s husband gladly complimented, “Your Hua family is rich and generous, running such a big foreign goods store. Even the tailors from Yunxiang Building come knocking on your door.”

Sister Hua smiled proudly but humbly, “Ah, it’s all about keeping up appearances to do business. Our clothes and hairpins are all made with care—we can’t let people think we can’t afford to dress well…”

As they spoke, they arrived at Hua’s foreign goods store, also near West Fourth Archway, a street-facing shop with three storefronts and two floors.

Behind it was a two-courtyard compound where the Hua family, servants, and shop clerks lived.

Curfew had started, and the Hua Store had long since closed, but the lanterns in front were still lit.

A somewhat thin figure stood under the lantern, wrapped in a big cloak dusted with snow, clearly having waited for a long time.

Sister E’s husband recognized him and cracked his whip, saying, “Hua Juan! I’ve brought your mother and sister!”

Hua Juan was the eldest son of the Hua family, always helping at the store. The other three sons—Huasheng, Huaduo, and Huahai—were all serving as the Third Young Master’s book attendants.

Hua Juan was fifteen, at that awkward age where bones grow faster than flesh, making him look very thin and almost bent under the weight of his thick cloak.

Hua Juan helped Sister Hua and Hua Jiao down from the carriage and said to Sister E’s husband, “Come inside for a drink and some late-night food. If you don’t, my father will think I’m being rude.”

Brother-in-law E brushed the snow off the cloak on Hua Juan’s shoulders and smiled, “I would like to stay, but it’s too late to go back. If I come home late, Sister E will make me kneel on the washboard out in the north wind. You tell your father next time I’ll definitely have a good drink with him.”

Hearing that, Hua Juan didn’t insist anymore and escorted his mother and sister home.

After this little ordeal, Brother-in-law E got home late. Sister E, who rarely spent the night at home, saw her husband come back so late, grabbed his ear, and was about to make him kneel out in the snow, saying, “…You took half a day with the carriage! Were you off somewhere getting drunk again?”

“Wife! Let me explain!” Brother-in-law E covered his ear and explained how he had delivered Hua Dazao (Hua Big Sister-in-Law) and Hua Jiao.

Only then did Sister E let go. “Soak your feet before you get on the kang! I’m sleeping at home tonight, and I don’t want to smell your stinky feet!”

“Jixiang! Heat up some foot-washing water!” She sent the son to do it. Then to Sister E, Brother-in-law said, “I told a little white lie today, said you and Ruyi went to Yunxiang Lou to get measured for clothes. Don’t let that slip out.”

Sister E sneered, “Hua Dazao was trying to find out who we have connections with. I always knew she wanted to follow Aunt Hua’s path and get her daughter Hua Jiao into Songhe Hall as a servant! What a fancy job that is! The Third Young Master already has three servants from that family — their greed is shameless. You eat meat, but at least let others have a sip of the soup, right? I don’t bother competing with people like that, no point.”

Brother-in-law E said, “Hua Dazao’s character really is a bit detestable.

Tonight, in this heavy snow, I sent those two mother and daughter home. Hua Dazao’s adopted son, Hua Juan, stood outside waiting. When she got off the carriage, she didn’t even glance at Hua Juan, just went straight inside.”

Hua Juan was the Hua family’s adopted son.

Years ago, Brother Hua and Hua Dazao had been married three years without a pregnancy. After consulting doctors, they were told both were healthy and just needed to wait.

Later, they asked Zhang the Taoist from the family temple Huai’en Temple to divine. Zhang said their marriage lacked familial affinity and suggested doing good deeds by adopting an abandoned child to continue their fate.

The Hua couple followed the advice and adopted a baby boy, naming him Hua Juan.

Sure enough, within six months of adoption, Hua Dazao became pregnant and gave birth to three sons and a daughter thereafter.

Abandoned children especially must never be treated as “used and discarded,” or they would face divine retribution. So, the Hua family always treated Hua Juan as the eldest son.

Though publicly they claimed all four sons were equal, in reality, Hua Juan helped out at the Hua foreign goods shop, doing odd jobs like a clerk, while the three younger brothers served as the Third Young Master’s personal servants, destined for a promising future.

According to clan rules, eldest sons hold higher status than younger brothers. When it comes to inheritance or ancestral worship, the main branch (eldest son) holds the advantage.

Hence, the Hua couple grew wary of Hua Juan.

Sister E knew the Hua family’s situation well and said, “Not their own child, so no affection. In my opinion, Hua Juan is better than his three brothers. They should treat him well and not chill the child’s heart. The Hua family may end up relying on Hua Juan in the future — it shows how shortsighted they are.”

Brother-in-law E nodded, “Exactly. Ever since that foreign goods shop opened, Hua Juan has been as busy as a spinning top. He can speak and gesture with foreign merchants — Dutch, English — making deals. I don’t understand a word.”

Just then, Jixiang came in carrying half a bucket of hot water. “Dad, the water’s ready, soak your feet.”

Brother-in-law E began taking off his boots. Jixiang half-squatted and dug the taro buried in the charcoal out, blowing off the black ash outside. “It’s roasted. I’ll bring some to Ruyi and the others.”

Sister E pressed against the window paper, looking at Ruyi’s house across the way. “Their lights are off, probably already asleep. Don’t disturb them.”

Jixiang gave the taro to Sister E. “Mom, eat.”

Sister E said, “No, I’ve gained weight again lately. They say it’s hard to stay thin as you get older. I want to live a few more years.”

Jixiang then gave the taro to Brother-in-law E. “Dad, here you go.”

Brother-in-law E took the taro.

Accompanied by Sister E’s scolding “Eat, eat, eat — all you ever do is eat,” Brother-in-law E soaked his feet while happily eating taro with his son.

Meanwhile, Ruyi and Ruyi’s mother were lying on the kang quietly talking, not sleeping at all.

The mother and daughter each had their own quilt and lay side by side. Ruyi put her feet inside her mother’s quilt and coquettishly said, “Mom, warm me up.”

Ruyi’s mother skillfully trapped Ruyi’s feet between her legs. “Isn’t it warm enough? Why do you need me to warm you?”

Ruyi pushed further, putting her hand into her mother’s arms. “I just like sleeping close to you.”

Her mother smiled, “Once you’re grown, you’ll have to have your own room as a servant. You’re already a young lady, and yet you still want to sleep next to me.”

Though she said this, Ruyi’s mother held her daughter’s hand.

“I want to be close! I insist!” Ruyi wiggled like a little eel, wriggling her head and tail, and slipped under her mother’s quilt, snuggling close.

Her mother held her like when she was a baby. In the dark, her face showed all the reluctance. “You’re going to that Cheng—”

“Cheng’en Pavilion,” Ruyi corrected.

Ruyi’s mother gently stroked her back, “Cheng’en Pavilion is on the mountain, it’s cold. I’ll prepare a ten-pound thick quilt for you to bring.”

Ruyi said, “Aunt E said they have everything there and give out new ones. No need to bring quilts. A ten-pound quilt is so heavy. Besides, they have plenty of charcoal to burn and keep warm. No need for such a heavy quilt.”

Ruyi’s mother said, “Bring an extra quilt. Even if you don’t want to cover yourself with it, you can put it underneath—it’ll be soft and warm.”

Ruyi hummed in agreement, burying her head in her mother’s neck. “Mom, my job is just to watch the house, very easy. Although I can’t come and go as I please, Jixiang is on duty at the east gate, so he can send messages for us…”

The snow fell heavily all night. Though the weather was bitterly cold, family affection grew warmer in the freezing night, warming their hearts.

Volume Two — Cheng’en Pavilion