ATLAS TRANSLATES

She is met him under the wisteria, where destiny intertwined their paths…

“We need someone who can both write and do calculations for this,” Dou Zhao said with a smile. “Gou Sheng can only write his own name. I think it would be better to have Cui Thirteen help Boyan with the work, since he studies at the county school.”

She knew her grandmother disliked having the Cui family involved in Dou family matters, fearing others would say the Cui family was taking advantage and gaining benefits from the Dou family. But compared to Zhao Liangbi, Cui Thirteen was more suitable.

Moreover, since she had decided not to marry in this life, she had to find a path forward for Cui Thirteen!

As expected, her grandmother was very hesitant after hearing this.

Dou Qijun was a very adaptable person. After quickly thinking it through, he understood that Dou Zhao wanted to elevate someone from the Cui family, and naturally saw no reason to refuse.

“Let’s do it this way then,” he said with a smile. “I’ll have to trouble Fourth Aunt to send someone to bring Cui Thirteen to my place these next few days. After the Double Ninth Festival, I’ll start working on this matter.”

Dou Zhao smiled and agreed.

If grandmother continued to oppose, it would seem petty. So she stopped discussing this matter, and everyone started talking about watching the sunrise at Dafang Temple: “…We were awakened at midnight by the sound of gongs and drums. Someone had brought young opera performers to sing ‘Han Qi Wang’ in front of the main hall. We watched together with the temple masters and pilgrims. When the sky started turning white, we followed that person one after another to the Twin Wild Goose Pagoda at Dafang Temple to watch the sunrise. However, by the time we came down from the pagoda, that person had vanished. It would have been nice if we could have made their acquaintance.”

Dou Qijun expressed great regret.

Wu Shan, however, disagreed: “That person wore luxurious clothes and brought along children and courtesans. I don’t think they’re of good character. It’s better not to know them.”

But Dou Qijun said: “That person spoke with wit and elegance, carried themselves freely – I think they’re someone of refined temperament.”

“Alright, alright, why argue over someone we don’t know?” Dou Zhengchang mediated with a smile. “Are we still going to Fayuan Temple tomorrow?”

Dou Zhao asked curiously: “What are you going to Fayuan Temple for?”

Dou Zhengchang explained: “There’s a hundred-year-old osmanthus tree at Fayuan Temple. It was destroyed by lightning last year, but I heard it recently sprouted new branches. We want to go see it.”

Dou Zhao laughed heartily: “A few days ago, Boyan was boasting to my father that you were all studying diligently at home. So that was just to appease the adults?”

“We really were studying at home earlier,” Wu Shan hurriedly explained. “Master Du went to visit friends these past few days, giving us a seven-day break. That’s why we’re going around sightseeing now.”

Dou Zhao felt quite envious.

Grandmother said: “Then let’s go to Fayuan Temple tomorrow too!”

“Fayuan Temple is built on a mountaintop,” Wu Shan quickly said. “There are 999 steps from the temple gate to the main hall. If you want to go tomorrow, let me hire a sedan chair for you?”

“No need, no need,” Grandmother said with a beaming smile. “It’s just 999 steps, I can still climb them.”

Dou Qijun and the others were somewhat skeptical, so they still arranged for two sedan chairs to follow along the next day.

Dou Zhao followed her grandmother all the way to the mountaintop in one go, while Wu Shan and the others were still catching their breath at the turning point.

She couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Her laughter, clear and pleasant like pearls falling on jade, caught the attention of Abbot Tuyin who was waiting with a smile in front of the main hall.

Someone nearby let out a surprised “Oh!”

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but look toward the sound, and suddenly felt her eyes brighten.

Not far away, under a cypress tree, stood a young man about fifteen or sixteen years old. His face was as refined as jade, with clear bright eyes. He wore a bamboo-green brocade robe, a white jade hairpin in his hair, and various ornaments hanging at his waist – a purse, jade pendant, fragrance pouch, and folding fan. He just stood there quietly, his bearing elegant and striking.

Behind him followed two young attendants, both only twelve or thirteen years old, but with refined features. They carried themselves with a strong scholarly air that commanded respect.

Seeing Dou Zhao looking over, he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, his manner dignified and graceful.

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but smile slightly and nod back at him.

Grandmother, however, seemed somewhat displeased.

Tuyin quickly explained: “When we received your family’s letter yesterday, this young master had already retired for the night.”

Implying that they couldn’t ask him to leave.

Fortunately, Grandmother wasn’t a harsh person. She smiled and nodded, letting the matter drop, and stood with Dou Zhao to wait for Dou Qijun and the others.

That young master then asked Abbot Tuyin: “Where is the hundred-year-old osmanthus tree that has sprouted new growth from its withered branches?”

So he had also come to see that osmanthus tree.

Dou Zhao perked up her ears to listen.

“It’s behind the Main Buddha Hall,” Abbot Tuyin smiled. “I’ll have someone guide you there.”

The young master expressed his thanks and followed the guest master to the back hall with his two attendants.

Dou Qijun and the others finally made it up, bent over and holding their waists.

“Aunt Cui works in the fields every day, so I admit defeat,” Dou Dechang said. “But Fourth Sister either sits on the kang embroidering or bends over her desk writing – how did you climb so fast?”

Dou Zhao smiled proudly: “You think needlework and writing don’t require strength?” In her heart, she was grateful for Grandmother making her walk every day.

Dou Dechang and the others naturally didn’t believe her.

Dou Zhao said: “So are you going to see the osmanthus tree or not? Someone already went behind the Main Buddha Hall ahead of us.”

“Who was it?” Dou Zhengchang and the others discussed animatedly. “To have the same idea as us, they must not be an ordinary person. Why don’t we invite them to lunch together?”

They had brought vegetarian dishes prepared by the Dou family’s cook.

Wu Shan said: “But what about Fourth Sister?”

Everyone immediately felt discouraged.

Dou Zhao also felt somewhat disappointed.

Dou Qijun said: “Next time Fourth Sister comes out with us, why not dress her as a young servant?”

Dou Zhao’s heart leaped, and she quickly glanced at Grandmother.

Grandmother acted as if she hadn’t heard, smiling while examining a green pine tree nearby.

Dou Zhao wanted nothing more than to run over and hug Grandmother tightly.

Their group went behind the Main Buddha Hall.

Among the withered old tree branches, a new shoot had sprouted, its leaves emerald green and full of vitality. It was surrounded by wooden railings, and tender yellow buds had already appeared, but there was no one around.

“Didn’t you say someone came ahead of us?” Dou Dechang asked Dou Zhao while looking around.

Dou Zhao was also puzzled: “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Aunt Cui.”

Abbot Tuyin smiled and said: “They might have gone down the mountain using the small path on the side.”

Dou Zhao then noticed there was indeed a small path beside the main hall.

This person was quite courteous, she thought to herself, as she listened to Abbot Tuyin tell the history of the tree along with Dou Zhengchang and the others.

After two consecutive days of outings, although Grandmother’s spirits remained high, Dou Zhao was still worried. She didn’t join the third day’s lake excursion, instead staying home to rest with Grandmother.

Grandmother hesitated: “Are we really letting Cui Thirteen work with Boyan?”

“He’s just helping out,” Dou Zhao smiled. “It’s not like he’s seeking patronage!” She continued, “Boyan has grand ambitions. It will benefit Cui Thirteen in the future to have a connection with him.”

Before Grandmother could say more, Dou Zhao added with a smile: “Boyan only gets five taels of silver monthly allowance. With Cui Thirteen helping him, who knows who’s really helping whom?”

The Dou family’s sons only had their monthly allowance increased to twenty taels after marriage.

Grandmother chuckled.

Dou Zhao then called Cui Thirteen into the mansion and explained the situation to him.

Cui Thirteen’s eyes immediately lit up, and he asked when he could meet Dou Qijun.

Dou Zhao sent a maid to check if Dou Qijun was home, leaving Cui Thirteen to talk with Grandmother.

Soon, the maid returned with news: “Fifth Young Master hasn’t returned from the lake yet, but he left word with the servants that if Cui Thirteen came, he should wait a while, as he would definitely return before the evening meal.”

Dou Zhao thought that since Cui Thirteen was Grandmother’s nephew and she had proposed this arrangement herself, she might as well accompany Cui Thirteen – seeing her presence, even if the servants wanted to give Cui Thirteen attitude, they would have to think twice. She could also use this opportunity to visit Sixth Aunt – when Father left, she had been learning painting from Sixth Aunt, but had stopped due to concerns about Grandmother. Now that autumn had arrived, it was time to gradually resume her studies.

She took Cui Thirteen to the East Mansion.

When the gatekeeper saw Dou Zhao’s carriage, she came running to greet them.

“Fourth Young Miss, you haven’t come for a whole summer,” she said eagerly while helping Dou Zhao with the footstool. “The ladies of our mansion have missed you terribly.” Then, noticing Cui Thirteen in his fine cotton Daoist robe, unlike a servant’s attire, she immediately smiled fawningly, “Oh my, who is this young gentleman?”

Dou Zhao smiled slightly and replied concisely: “This is Cui Thirteen. Fifth Young Master invited him to help with some work.”

The woman’s eyes widened slightly.

Cui?

A relative of Aunt Cui from the West Mansion?

“I was wondering who it might be! Such a handsome young man – so it’s Young Master Cui,” the woman said flatteringly.

Dou Zhao had already walked inside with a smile.

Cui Thirteen followed behind her and whispered: “You usually seem so quiet, I had no idea you commanded such respect in the Dou family.”

Dou Zhao smiled without responding.

With Second Madame’s high regard for her, who would dare not flatter and curry favor with her?

Unfortunately, she had no interest in managing the West Mansion. Otherwise, ruling over the West Mansion would certainly make life even more carefree than now – who knew how many people in the West Mansion ate from West Mansion’s bowls while flattering East Mansion’s people.

Thinking of this, an idea struck her.

Perhaps she should take over Grandmother’s estate early, so she could arrange for some people to work there.

In her previous life, she had grown up with Gan Lu and Su Juan. Though they were formally master and servants, they were as close as sisters. After Grandmother passed away, they relied on each other, struggling together, which led to their later circumstances. But in this life, she grew up in the East Dou Mansion, and by the time she found Gan Lu and Su Juan, they were already somewhat worldly-wise. Though they required no supervision in their work, no matter how intimate she was with them, they always maintained strict master-servant boundaries. Sometimes when she spoke too freely, they would show traces of trepidation – where was the closeness of their previous life?

Gain always comes with loss!

While pondering this, they arrived at the Third House.

The Third Sister-in-law personally welcomed her at the door.

“What brings you here?” she asked with a warm smile, taking Dou Zhao’s hand. “Weren’t you supposed to be keeping Aunt Cui company? If there was anything, you could have just sent someone with a message, no need to come yourself.”

“It’s Boyan’s request,” Dou Zhao briefly explained her purpose, then asked with a smile, “Where’s Sister Shu?”

“She’s learning needlework with Sister Yi under Ninth Sister-in-law!” Third Sister-in-law smiled, sitting down with Dou Zhao on the kang by the window in the main room. “They’re not so young anymore. Second Madame said, since we have a capable teacher at home, why hire someone from outside? They might not even be as skilled as Ninth Sister-in-law.”

Dou Zhao thought for a moment before understanding.

Sister Yi, Sister Shu, and she were the same age, all twelve years old this year. According to the customs of wealthy families, it was time to discuss marriage arrangements.