ATLAS TRANSLATES

Grandmother observed Tuo Niang for some time.

Seeing that Tuo Niang was honest and sincere, she grew fond of her and genuinely wanted to arrange a good marriage for her.

She would often take Dou Zhao around the village, paying extra attention to eligible young men, asking more questions about them.

Within days, villagers were saying that Seventh Master Dou had asked Grandmother to find him a reliable attendant.

When Grandmother and Dou Zhao went out again, they would frequently encounter people who “coincidentally” brought their sons to meet them.

Grandmother found this both amusing and awkward, but couldn’t explain the real reason. She could only keep saying, “That’s not true, that’s not true.”

Naturally, no one believed her.

It was during this time that Dou Ming met Zhao Liangbi.

The Zhao family and Cui family were relatives, though she had never understood exactly how they were related.

That day, they were having dinner in the courtyard when Zhao Liangbi’s father walked in slowly with his hands tucked in his sleeves and a hunched back. Eight-year-old Zhao Liangbi followed behind his father, head down and dejected.

“Elder Sister,” Zhao Liangbi’s father stopped at a distance, forcing an eager smile on his thin, dark face. “Are you eating?” Zhao Liangbi crouched by the doorway.

Grandmother quickly put down her bowl, called out “Third Brother,” and warmly invited him: “Have you eaten? Join us!” Then she called for servants to bring chairs and add bowls and chopsticks.

Zhao Liangbi’s father waved his hands repeatedly: “We’ve already eaten, we’ve already eaten!” Then he looked at Dou Zhao and said, “This must be Fourth Miss? She’s so fair, like a figure from a New Year’s painting.”

Grandmother chuckled and ordered servants to bring tea and snacks.

Zhao Liangbi’s father then shouted at Zhao Liangbi: “You dog, what are you crouching there for? Hurry up and kowtow to Fourth Miss and your Elder Aunt!”

Zhao Liangbi approached with a sullen face.

“Who is this?” Grandmother looked at Zhao Liangbi’s father in confusion.

“Elder Sister,” Zhao Liangbi’s father said with an awkward smile, “This growing boy eats me out of house and home. You know my wife – she’s bedridden 360 days out of 365, and our meager farm earnings barely cover her medicine. Gou Sheng… we really can’t afford to keep him anymore. We heard Seventh Master Dou was looking for an attendant…” He looked at Grandmother pleadingly.

Grandmother was stunned.

Dou Zhao was also stunned.

In her previous life, Zhao Liangbi hadn’t appeared until she was ten.

At that time, Zhao Liangbi’s mother had passed away, and his father had decided to go to Fujian to work as a carpenter.

He had entrusted thirteen-year-old Zhao Liangbi to Grandmother, while his nine-year-old sister was sent to be a child bride… In this life, because of Tuo Niang, he had appeared at the estate five years earlier.

Would fate be changed because of this?

Dou Zhao pondered this.

She heard Zhao Liangbi’s father stammer: “I know Gou Sheng isn’t much to look at and has no talents, but considering we’re relatives, could you please put in a good word…”

Before he could finish, Zhao Liangbi, who had been standing awkwardly to the side, loudly interrupted: “Father, I’ve told you so many times, precisely because we’re relatives, Elder Aunt won’t recommend anyone to the Dou family. Why won’t you listen…”

Zhao Liangbi’s father angrily kicked him: “When adults are talking, children should stay quiet.” Then he turned back to Grandmother with a ingratiating smile: “Elder Sister, don’t listen to this boy’s nonsense. I know you’re worried people might say you’re taking advantage of the Dou family…”

“Elder Aunt,” Zhao Liangbi, who had been kicked aside, loudly interrupted his father again, “My father can’t support me anymore. Please let me stay at the estate? I can do any work, just feed me and that’s enough.”

Father glared at son, and son glared back defiantly.

Grandmother laughed and said, “Third Brother, if you trust me, leave the child with me. Working for the Dou family is definitely not possible, but I can ensure he’s fed and clothed.”

Just as Zhao Liangbi’s father was about to say something, Zhao Liangbi loudly agreed.

Grandmother cut through the chaos decisively, arranging for father and son to rest, then instructed Hong Gu: “Third Brother and his son definitely haven’t had dinner yet. With Miss Shou here, I was afraid she’d find them dirty, so I didn’t dare invite them to eat. Go to the kitchen now and make them a big bowl of noodles with meat slices – lots of meat, seventy percent fat and thirty percent lean, piled thick on top of the noodles, understand?”

Hong Gu nodded with a smile and went to the kitchen.

Early the next morning, Zhao Liangbi’s father left for home carrying a basket of pancakes from Grandmother. Without being told, Zhao Liangbi swept the entire courtyard front and back until it was spotless, then went to cut grass to feed the horses.

While practicing calligraphy inside, Dou Zhao thought about Cui Thirteen.

Only noble families had a department specifically handling social affairs and daily receptions.

For official families, such matters were handled by long-term advisors, who were usually failed scholars or provincial graduates…

If she didn’t marry into the Jining Marquis’s family in this life, where would Cui Thirteen’s career lead?

In her previous life, Cui Thirteen had been the backbone of the Cui family.

If Cui Thirteen ultimately remained an obscure farmer in his hometown, what changes would occur in the Cui family’s future?

Should she help Cui Thirteen?

And how should she help him?

Dou Zhao lowered her head in deep thought.

From outside came Zhao Liangbi’s sweet voice: “Sister, this teapot is quite heavy, let me help you carry it in?”

“Look at your hands, they’re filthy,” said Hai Tang. “If you carry this teapot in, how could our young miss drink from it?”

“Then, then I’ll go wash my hands.” Zhao Liangbi ran off with pattering footsteps.

When Dou Zhao next saw him, even his nail beds were clean, and his whole person looked fresh and tidy.

He efficiently helped Hai Tang and the others clean the house.

Hai Tang asked him: “Did you sweep the courtyard clean?”

“Yes, it’s clean!”

“Did you feed the young horse?”

“I did!”

“Did you cut the grass?”

“I did.”

These all became Zhao Liangbi’s responsibilities.

He picked up some of Dou Zhao’s discarded calligraphy practice sheets, looking at them front and back with admiration: “Fourth Miss’s handwriting is so beautiful!”

Hai Tang and the others covered their mouths and laughed: “You can read?”

“No, no I can’t.” Zhao Liangbi, who usually maintained his cheerful demeanor no matter what anyone said, blushed red with shame for the first time.

Something stirred in Dou Zhao’s heart. She asked him: “Would you like to learn to read?”

His face lit up: “Yes, of course I would.” Then his expression darkened again, “But my father has no money.”

“Then I’ll teach you to read!” Dou Zhao smiled, “If you study well, I’ll ask Grandmother to send you to school.”

Zhao Liangbi grabbed Dou Zhao’s sleeve: “Fourth Miss, you must keep your word.”

Dou Zhao smiled with pressed lips.

Who knew what the future would hold, but starting with literacy, starting with education, surely the path would be easier than in the previous life!

From then on, after finishing his chores each day, Zhao Liangbi would lie on the veranda of the main house practicing writing.

When Grandmother learned of this, she had someone go to Zhending City to buy several baskets of practice paper, personally cut them and placed them under the shrine in the main hall for anyone who wanted to use them.

No wonder the people on the estate were grateful for Grandmother’s kindness.

Dou Zhao carefully pondered Grandmother’s actions.

Soon it was the twenty-second day.

As usual, Dou Zhao got up early to walk around the vegetable garden with Grandmother, picked some fruits to bring back, took a bath, had breakfast, and began practicing calligraphy.

Though the Dou family residence at the west end of Zhending County wasn’t decorated with lanterns and banners, all the household members had changed into new clothes, creating a spirited atmosphere.

Ji Shi saw it was getting late and went to Second Madam Dowager’s room. She found Second Madam Dowager still lounging on the kang while her personal maid read “The Five Knights’ Tale,” and said with a smile: “You’re so composed. I was worried about being late, so I changed clothes early.”

Second Madam Dowager looked up at her with a smile and said: “You’re of the same generation, and the Western Residence is short of people. You should go join the festivities. I’m old and widowed – it wouldn’t be auspicious for me to attend someone’s happy occasion.”

Then she instructed her maid, “Go get that red gold hairpin with the green jade from my box, pack it properly. Ask Sixth Madam to take it over as my wedding gift.”

The last part was directed at Ji Shi, “As for Miss Ming, let her stay here with me. When Wan Yuan returns from the capital, he can come fetch Miss Ming then.”

This way, neither Miss Shou nor Miss Ming would have to kowtow and serve tea to Wang shi?

Ji Shi noticed that though Second Madam Dowager’s tone was casual, her eyes were cold as ice. Knowing Second Madam Dowager was determined to show Wang Yingxue her place, she didn’t want to get involved. She smiled, took the box, and left.

Meanwhile, First Madam had already dressed up and was about to check the welcoming gifts for Wang Yingxue.

When her trusted maid told her Second Madam Dowager wasn’t going and had mentioned being “widowed,” she thought for a moment, called a young maid to remove her hairpins and ornaments, keeping only a pair of pearl flower hairpins as a welcoming gift, and asked her maid to have Second Madam take them over as well.

Third Master Dou Shibang and Third Madam were helping manage household affairs at Dou Duo’s request. Seeing the women from the Eastern Residence arrive, they hurried to welcome them.

Second Madam, who led the group, smiled and said: “Those who could come have come, and those who couldn’t have sent welcoming gifts.”

Third Madam was a very astute person. One glance told her who hadn’t come, but she didn’t ask. She just smiled and led everyone to the flower hall, while the male guests sat in the main hall.

At the auspicious hour, Wang Yingxue, wearing a gold phoenix crown with pearls and metalwork and dressed in an auspicious red outfit, looked radiant as Third Madam (who had the good fortune of having both parents and spouse alive) supported her to worship the ancestors with Dou Shiying.

After three rounds of wine, everyone moved to the flower hall. Dou Shiying and Wang Yingxue served tea and formally recognized their relations. Afterward, Wang Yingxue was escorted back to Qixia Court, while Dou Shiying and the others went to He Shou Hall.

Second Madam and the others just sat in the main flower hall drinking tea and chatting.

Third Madam had to look to Sixth Madam for help.

By custom, the women should visit the newlyweds’ room to warm the house.

Sixth Madam pretended not to see.

She didn’t want to take the lead on this.

Third Madam had no choice but to call Second Sister-in-law: “Let’s go see Wang shi.”

Second Sister-in-law was someone who went with the flow. She smiled in agreement, and Third Sister-in-law, Fifth Sister-in-law, and several respectable elderly maids went together to Qixia Court.

At this point, Second Madam finally asked: “Why is Wang shi still living in Qixia Court?”

“It was Seventh Master’s idea,” answered a maid from the Western Residence who wanted to curry favor with Second Madam. “He said the main room still has Seventh Madam and Fourth Miss’s things. Fourth Miss went to the estate to care for the ill and couldn’t arrange things in time. We’ll wait until Fourth Miss returns in a few days.”

Second Madam made an “oh” sound, and when Third Madam and the others returned, she used the excuse that Madam Dowager had no one to attend her and headed back.