Chapter 8
A few days later, Mother sent for me.
When I arrived, she was wearing a short indigo jacket with narrow sleeves. It fitted tightly at the waist, showing off her well-kept figure to the fullest.
Her bosom filled it out as well.
Apparently she was waiting for Physician Pei to teach her exercises.
I couldn’t help remarking,
“You’ve been looking so well lately, Mother.”
She smiled contentedly.
“Master Pei’s exercises really do work.”
After a pause, she finally came to the point.
“But lately my heart keeps thumping away. Perhaps I didn’t offer enough incense at Qingxu Temple last year.”
With Master Pei nuzzling close to you every day, I thought, how could it not thump?
I let none of that show, and waited for her to continue.
Sure enough, she coughed.
“You’re young and light on your feet. Go there for me. Stay a few days, offer incense, and eat their vegetarian fare.”
So she meant to get me out of the way.
I made a show of difficulty.
“Of course I wouldn’t dare disobey you, Mother.”
“Only, my father’s concubine has just given him another son in his old age.”
“I’d like to send a generous gift, so as not to disgrace the Xie family. But my husband is away, I’ve little private silver, and I wouldn’t dare ask you to take it from the household accounts.”
“I’ve been fretting over it for days. In such a troubled state, I’m afraid my prayers wouldn’t be sincere. I might spoil your errand…”
Before I’d finished, she took down the countinghouse key and instructed Nanny Du,
“Go to the countinghouse. Have five hundred taels drawn for her.”
Instantly obedient, I patted my chest in assurance.
“It’s only right that I run your errands, Mother. How many days should I stay?”
She considered.
“Ten days.”
Then, after a pause, she changed her mind.
“Ten days may be too few. Sincerity brings an answer. Make it half a month. Stay there with an easy mind. I’m here to look after the house. Don’t worry about us.”
I lowered my eyes, suppressing my delight, and answered with the utmost respect.
“Yes, Mother. I’ll leave today.”
She nodded in satisfaction, raising a hand to adjust the pearl flower in her hair with a charming air.
Behind me, Xiaocui carried a heavy box of silver, looking amazed.
“Who would have thought your father still had such vigor at his age? Miss, how much of this five hundred are you putting in the gift?”
“Not a single coin.”
I was keeping those five hundred taels for myself.
That old pumpkin of a father of mine could dream on if he thought he was putting out fresh seeds.
I might be at Qingxu Temple, but my affairs weren’t standing still.
After all this time in my married household, Xiaocui might not have acquired many other skills.
But she excelled at finding out who knew whom.
She’d long since made friends with a few serving women who loved both wine and gossip.
Over a drink, she would let slip that the old madam was getting on and her memory wasn’t what it used to be.
They must visit more often and ask her about everything, great or small, to avoid mistakes.
Every sort of person in the household, from the steward down to the grooms and little kitchen maids,
Seventy or eighty of them, inside and out, came to her courtyard for decisions on every matter, however trivial.
With so many prying eyes about, someone might see or hear something.
If a whisper reached her son, that would never do.
Besides, her time was precious. How could she waste it on such petty affairs?
Nanny Du added her persuasion.
At her age, it was time to enjoy life.
Why burden herself with all these trifles?
Let the young madam manage them. She wouldn’t dare decide anything important by herself. Wouldn’t she still have to ask you?
Mother weighed it again and again, and finally nodded.
I stayed at Qingxu Temple for a full month before returning.
Not that I deliberately dragged it out. The temple’s vegetarian food was simply too bland.
Several times I secretly sent Xiaocui down the mountain for braised pig’s trotters. I ate so many that sores broke out at the corners of my mouth.
I really couldn’t show myself like that.
Mother took my hand and placed the household tallies and keys into it herself.
“I’m getting older and always feel tired. I need more than an hour’s rest during the day, and I’m sleepy early at night.”
“Watching you these past six months, I can see you’re sensible and capable. This household must pass to you sooner or later. Better sooner.”
I hastily demurred.
“Mother, I’m young. I’m afraid I can’t manage it. Shouldn’t we wait until my husband returns, and discuss it then?”
She sat up and took a sip of tea.
“Ask Nanny Du about anything you don’t understand. She’s been with me for years. She knows everything that goes on in this house.”
From then on, I busied myself with the household ledgers and found opportunities to divert several shops into my own hands.
In between, I put the servants in order.
The cheats, the idlers, and those who refused to obey me—I sent them all packing.
In their place I put people of my own choosing.
I was run off my feet.
Mother, meanwhile, was even busier.
She had exercises to practice and paintings to admire.
Yes, the long-absent Master Han had finally found some free time and renewed their old affection.
The two men gave a splendid display of jealousy.
Mother soothed them both, spending today with one and tomorrow with the other.
She couldn’t bear to give up either.
Time passed, but she seemed untouched by it; only the plants kept the seasons.
Into this lively atmosphere came word from a man at the docks: the young master was home.