Dou Zhao carefully recalled Yi’er and Shu’er’s marriages. In her previous life, they both married scholars – one surnamed Sun and one surnamed Wu. However, neither achieved much success in their official careers. She wondered which two families they were from.
Lost in thought, she went to visit Sixth Aunt.
Ji shi was also worried about Dou Zhao’s studies. She said to Dou Zhao, “Reading and writing can’t be rushed. Spend half an hour each day reading and writing, and you’ll naturally improve. What I’m more concerned about are your needlework and household management skills. Huang shi is about to give birth, so you can’t go there to help. You can learn needlework from me – while you may not be as skilled as the professionals, you’ll at least be able to handle basic mending. As for household management, you can’t just learn it in theory. It would be best to learn from Second Sister-in-law – she manages the household and has more experience. You’ll learn more by her side than here with me, where we encounter fewer situations. I’m afraid my explanations would only confuse you more.”
Sixth Aunt thought of everything for her, and Dou Zhao was grateful. However, her situation was special – what Sixth Aunt worried about happened to be what she was most skilled at and didn’t need to learn. What Sixth Aunt thought she could take time with was exactly what she lacked most and hoped to master in this life.
She smiled and said, “I think it’s better to focus on studying first! Didn’t you say people become wiser through books? Once I’ve studied well, I’m sure I’ll learn needlework and household management twice as fast.”
Ji shi could only smile bitterly at Dou Zhao’s somewhat naive optimism.
Remembering how Dou Zhao had handled needlework during her years with her, she said, “How about this: come over at chen hour every day to read for an hour and write for an hour, then learn needlework and household management from wei hour until you hour. After the new year, we’ll see what Yi’er and Shu’er plan to do, and you three can keep each other company.”
Dou Zhao didn’t dare do needlework in front of Ji shi. Even if she tried to imitate Yi’er and the others, she couldn’t replicate a beginner’s crooked stitches – she would certainly give herself away.
“How about I study reading and writing with you in the morning, and practice needlework at home in the afternoon?” Dou Zhao smiled. “The Western Mansion also has servants skilled in needlework.”
Ji shi agreed.
Dou Zhao began traveling between the Eastern and Western Dou residences every morning.
After a few days, news came from Dou Shiying that he had been appointed as Proofreader in the Hanlin Academy.
Grandmother asked Dou Zhao, “What does a Proofreader do?”
Dou Zhao only knew it was a seventh-rank minor official position and smiled, “Probably similar to a county clerk.”
Grandmother laughed, “No wonder your grandfather didn’t want to be an official. He was once a Proofreader in the Hanlin Academy too.”
However, Second Madam was pleased that Dou Shiying would be in the Hanlin Academy and smiled, “He’ll be with Zhongzhi again. The two brothers can look after each other.”
Ji shi took this opportunity to bring up Dou Zhao’s situation: “…I heard Yi’er and Shu’er are learning needlework from Huang shi, but I didn’t agree since Huang shi is inconvenienced. The children are all growing up, and we need to plan ahead for some things. Why not let Shou follow Yi’er and Shu’er to learn proper etiquette later? What do you think?”
“We’ll discuss that later,” Second Madam said, then asked about the Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth month. “…I think we should invite the ladies of each household to appreciate chrysanthemums. How can it be the Double Ninth Festival without chrysanthemum viewing?”
Ji shi couldn’t continue on the previous topic. But Dou Zhao had grown up with her, and having no daughter of her own, she had raised Dou Zhao like her own daughter. She had exposed her to music, chess, literature, and art. Though not expert in these areas, Dou Zhao could hold her own in scholarly company without feeling intimidated. Just as she was about to give some guidance on needlework and learn some household management skills to complete her education, they couldn’t find a good teacher. A woman ultimately needs to excel at managing the household – refined pursuits are just icing on the cake. Without learning household management, wouldn’t all the previous effort be wasted?
Still not giving up, she followed Second Madam’s topic and smiled, “Last year, Seventh Uncle’s ink chrysanthemum won first place. I heard this year’s blooms are even better than last year’s. Should we bring them over for the occasion?”
After Dou Shiying left, his flower house was given to Dou Zhao.
Second Madam nodded with a smile and said, “No need to trouble two people with one task. You helped borrow the flowers last year, so you can move them again this year!”
Ji shi smiled in agreement.
However, she couldn’t quite figure out Second Madam’s intentions.
If she wanted to elevate Dou Zhao’s position and let her learn household management from Second Madam, why not take this easy opportunity? If she meant to keep Dou Zhao down, why use Dou Zhao’s ink chrysanthemums as the centerpiece – this would make Dou Zhao known to all the ladies of Zhending County.
Wang mama knew Ji shi had gone to see Second Madam about Dou Zhao’s matter. Seeing her return in a daze, her heart immediately filled with anxiety and she nervously asked, “What happened? What did Madam say?”
Ji shi took a sip of the hot tea Wang mama offered before relating her meeting with Second Madam.
Wang mama exclaimed in shock, “Could it be that Madam wants to keep Fourth Miss at home?”
“It wouldn’t go that far,” Ji shi said. “Even if Madam wanted to, she couldn’t keep her here.”
Wang mama thought for a moment and said slowly, “Do you remember our Thirteenth Miss? When she married, all the servants who went with her were Ninth Madam’s people. As a result, Thirteenth Miss had to… watch the servants’ faces even to be with her husband. The young master was so angry he simply elevated his bedroom maid to concubine status. Thirteenth Miss was too embarrassed to say anything. If that concubine hadn’t given birth to the eldest son, would anyone in the family have known about this?”
Ji shi’s face immediately changed color, and she paced anxiously around the room before finally calming down.
She instructed Wang mama: “Grind some ink for me. I need to write a letter to Zhongzhi.”
Wang mama hesitated, “Sixth Master has a quick temper. Why not write to Seventh Master instead?”
“Seventh Master has Wang shi by his side,” Ji shi said helplessly. “I’m afraid the matter wouldn’t be resolved, and I’d become everyone’s target instead.”
Wang mama could only sigh.
Dou Zhao knew nothing of Ji shi’s worries. In the morning she listened to Ji shi’s lecture on the Book of Songs, practiced writing for an hour in the afternoon, then accompanied Grandmother for a walk in the east courtyard.
She discussed with Grandmother: “Sixth Aunt says that after finishing the Book of Songs, I won’t need to go study with her anymore.”
Grandmother was very pleased and said, “Does that mean you’ve finished all your studies?”
“How can one ever finish studying?” Dou Zhao smiled. “It’s just that Sixth Aunt says courses like Records of the Grand Historian and Zuo Commentary require a great scholar to teach. She only listened to these when Grandfather taught her brothers, so while she can recite them, she doesn’t dare teach them.”
Grandmother felt quite regretful.
Dou Zhao said, “What if we invite an elderly scholar to teach me at home?”
Grandmother hesitated somewhat: “What does your father say?”
“If you agree, I’ll write a letter to Father,” Dou Zhao smiled. “Otherwise, I’m afraid Second Madam won’t approve.”
“I suffer from not having studied,” Grandmother said firmly. “Write to your father. If he doesn’t agree, we’ll return to the countryside estate. Surely they can’t reach us there?”
When Grandmother had moved to the countryside estate before, Grandfather had written a deed giving it to her as retirement property. The Dou family could only reclaim it after her death.
Dou Zhao was overjoyed.
She knew that no matter what she did, Grandmother would support her unconditionally.
Dou Zhao brought Grandmother back to write a letter to her father.
Just as she put down her brush, Qiu Kui came in to report that Ji shi had arrived.
Dou Zhao and Grandmother hurried out to welcome her.
Ji shi kept apologizing to Grandmother: “How could I let you come out to greet me!”
But Grandmother smiled and said, “Shou has been in your care since she was little, and we are all grateful. If you stand on ceremony with me, that would be too distant.”
Although Ji shi had seen Grandmother every year since marrying into the family and exchanged pleasantries, she didn’t really know her. It wasn’t until Dou Zhao wanted to bring Grandmother to live at home that Ji shi carefully inquired about Grandmother’s character and felt comfortable letting Dou Zhao stay with her. So after some small talk, she explained why she had come.
When Grandmother heard it was about borrowing the ink chrysanthemums, she immediately enthusiastically accompanied Ji shi to the flower house: “When would you like them? I’ll have them moved over a day early – these flowers and plants need the evening dew to grow well.”
Ji shi smiled and said, “Shou’s flowers grow so well – did you teach her?”
“It’s because Shou is clever,” Grandmother said, showing proud satisfaction. “I once told her to use dried fish bones to attract fireflies. When she saw the flower stems weren’t growing, she knew to throw a couple of fish bones beside them – I hadn’t even thought of that!”
Ji shi chuckled.
Grandmother then pointed to the autumn silk, wild geese red, and old-and-young flowers blooming beautifully in the flower house: “Look how well these flowers are blooming!” Then she wanted to give Ji shi a pot of autumn begonias. “There are chrysanthemums everywhere, this will add some variety.”
Ji shi saw that the begonia was delicate and pink, blooming densely among the emerald leaves, already having a pitiful appearance before encountering wind and rain, which made it quite endearing.
Her heart stirred, and she asked, “Shou, what else do you grow here?”
After arriving in the capital, Dou Zhao no longer dealt with farming. After marrying into the Jining Marquis’s family, whenever she felt troubled or uneasy, she liked to garden and had even cultivated two-colored peonies. These common flowers were merely a minor skill to her.
She smiled and said, “Are you asking about the Double Ninth Festival chrysanthemum banquet? I have a pot of orchids still in bloom. Though it’s a common variety, it would look fine welcoming guests in the hall.”
Ji shi couldn’t help but stare at Dou Zhao in surprise: “I had no idea you knew how to grow flowers!”
Dou Zhao felt embarrassed and quickly said, “I just have the courage to try and don’t mind the trouble. If they don’t grow well this year, there’s always next year.”
“Being able to keep trying after failure is already excellent,” Ji shi kept praising Dou Zhao, making Grandmother beam with joy, who then insisted on giving Ji shi a camellia planted in a purple clay pot: “…I heard it can bloom in various colors.”
Ji shi was shocked: “The Eighteen Scholars?”
Dou Zhao modestly smiled and said, “It was only transplanted here last year and hasn’t bloomed yet. We don’t know if it will produce eighteen flowers.”
Ji shi hurriedly instructed the servant women carrying the pot: “Be careful!” Then she asked Dou Zhao, “How do you care for it?”
“It’s best placed in front of a glass-paned window. Water it every two or three days depending on soil moisture. The water shouldn’t be stagnant – it’s best to let it settle for a day or two,” Dou Zhao said, then realizing there was much more to explain, she simply said, “I come to your place for lessons every morning anyway, so I can help you look after it then.”
“That would be perfect,” Ji shi beamed with joy. “I can learn from you how to care for the Eighteen Scholars – my family ancestor loved camellias. My hometown in Yixing was full of various camellias, blooming throughout all four seasons.”
With different varieties of camellias having different blooming periods, Dou Zhao could imagine how spectacular it must have been.
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