Chapter 113 — Heavy Rain

Chen Lanxu and the others followed Dou Yan without a word, walking straight past Dou Ming with their eyes fixed ahead, as though she were a stranger who had nothing to do with them.

Dou Ming's face flushed crimson with rage. Only after Dou Zhiwei and the rest had gone did she quietly ask Granny Zhou, "What sort of person is this 'Strong-Necked Magistrate'? What did she mean by that?"

Granny Zhou did not know either. She said hesitantly, "Perhaps you might ask Master Song?"

Dou Ming nodded.

In the carriage, Ganlu asked Dou Yan curiously, "Young Mistress, surely you are not going to dock the Fifth Young Mistress's monthly allowance?"

Dou Yan required all the maids about her to study, so Suxin and the others all knew the allusion. The Strong-Necked Magistrate, Dong Xuan, had been an upright and incorruptible man, and his household had been exceedingly poor.

"The monthly allowance is a rule of the household. Which article or clause has she violated that her allowance should be docked?" Dou Yan said mildly. "It is merely that the household has a rule: young ladies who have reached the capping age but are not yet married receive fifteen taels of silver a month for incense and powder; those not yet capped receive only two taels for fragrant ointment." She turned to Suxin. "In future, remember to mention this to Gaoxing: the Fifth Young Mistress is only eleven this year. What use has she for incense and powder money? And Wan Niang, who teaches the Fifth Young Mistress the pipa—she was not engaged by our household, nor did Gaosheng give any particular instruction. Wan Niang's tuition and her clothes for the four seasons should not be paid out of our purse either." What concerned her now was the rain, the harvest in the fields, the livelihood of those tenant farmers—where had she the leisure to bother with Dou Ming's provocation? "I find there are still many such small matters, Suxin. In future you must pay closer attention to these things, lest the rules of the household be broken."

For the Fifth Young Mistress to humiliate the Fourth Young Mistress thus before everyone—if the Fourth Young Mistress did not administer a small punishment, then given the Fourth Young Mistress's temperament, who knew what great trouble the girl might stir up hereafter.

The Fourth Young Mistress appeared severe with the Fifth Young Mistress, but in truth she was still very protective of her.

Suxin answered with a smile that she would.

Dou Yan put the matter from her mind and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.

The newly ploughed fields stretched white and vast, with only a few stalks of grass swaying in the wind. The wind set the branches clattering, and the rain beat on the carriage roof with a patter like falling hail.

By the time they reached the turnoff to the farmstead, the road was already deep in mire; the carriage would surely sink if it went on.

Duan Bing said without hesitation, "Unharness the horses. The few of us will push the carriage into the village." Then he said to Chen Yanzhou, "I must trouble you to wait here a while, Master. I will go into the village and borrow a mule to carry you in."

Chen Yanzhou shook his head. "No need. I will walk in. I still have luggage at the farmstead; I can change into another pair of shoes when I get there."

In such a gale and downpour, Duan Bing did not stand on ceremony with Chen Yanzhou. He broke off a branch as thick as a wine cup and handed it to him. "Master, use this for a walking stick!" Then he and Chen Lanxu and the others hauled and shoved the carriage into the village.

The labourers of every household in the village stood under the eaves, gazing at the ever-heavier rain in dismay. When they saw Dou Yan's carriage enter the village, they all cheered, snatched up whatever they could find to hold over their heads, and crowded around.

"Why, it is the Fourth Young Mistress!"

"Why has Aunt Cui not come back?"

"Fourth Young Mistress, what are we to do? The corn has only just been sown."

"That is right, Fourth Young Mistress. Should we dig ditches to drain the water?"

Everyone was talking at once.

"The Fourth Young Mistress has come precisely for this," Duan Bing bellowed at the sight. "With this wind and rain, once the Fourth Young Mistress is settled she will call you all together to discuss the matter. Do not be anxious; let the Fourth Young Mistress go inside and rest a while first."

At once the crowd opened a path.

Dou Yan, surrounded by Suxin and the others, entered the main house.

The few old women left at the farmstead boiled water and brought out clean quilts and cushions. Before long Dou Yan was sitting spick and span on the large heated brick bed by the window, drinking hot tea and discussing with the village elders how to weather the crisis.

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Dear readers, my niece is passing through Wuhan and has come specially to see me, so today's update will be a little late. Please read it when you get up tomorrow morning!

o(n_n)o~

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