ATLAS TRANSLATES

Uncle Chen’s expression was hesitant.

Bie Gangyi looked at him with dimmed eyes and called out “Uncle Chen” again with difficulty, his tone sincere and somewhat pleading.

Upon hearing this, Uncle Chen let out a soft sigh and said gently to Dou Zhao, “Fourth Miss Dou, we’ve invited you here from so far away because Master Bie has important matters to discuss with you. However, his injuries are severe now and speaking is very difficult, so he wants to entrust me to speak with you. Would that be acceptable?”

Dou Zhao was somewhat surprised.

On the way here, she had imagined many possibilities and had already made up her mind. If Bie Gangyi’s request was reasonable, considering Bie Sulan’s sake, she wouldn’t mind helping once more. If his request wasn’t reasonable, no matter how much he begged, she wouldn’t give a vague promise.

She just hadn’t expected Bie Gangyi would entrust someone else to speak with her.

This showed how much Bie Gangyi trusted this Uncle Chen!

Following Bie Gangyi’s lead, she called out “Uncle Chen” and smiled, “Please, go ahead.”

Uncle Chen’s expression became slightly tense as he addressed the Bie sisters, “Suxin, Sulan, go to the street and buy some vegetables. Later we can prepare a proper meal to host Fourth Miss Dou.”

He was actually trying to send the sisters away.

Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan looked at each other, seeing deep worry in each other’s eyes, but after brief consideration, they obediently curtsied and withdrew.

Dou Zhao thought for a moment and also dismissed her servants.

Uncle Chen watched this, a hint of warmth appearing in his eyes.

“To be honest with Fourth Miss Dou, Master Bie’s condition is very poor,” he said softly. “And Shan Jie is a narrow-minded, arrogant person. Although the Bie family escaped this crisis with your help, given Shan Jie’s character, he definitely won’t let this go. There will surely be a next time. Mrs. Bie is an only daughter, her parents have passed away, and although Master Bie has a clan brother, he’s already five generations removed. When Master Bie was imprisoned this time, his clan brother, fearing Shan Jie’s influence, refused to even see the second Miss Bie when she went to ask for help.” At this point, his tone paused. His usually gentle face suddenly became stern, showing uncharacteristic indignation, “He’s worse than us neighbors. He’s truly not someone who can be relied upon!”

Dou Zhao nodded involuntarily.

Uncle Chen’s expression softened slightly as he continued, “Master Bie fears that after he’s gone, the Bie sisters will have no one to rely on and will fall into Shan Jie’s hands.” As he spoke, he stood up and respectfully clasped his hands together, bowing deeply to Dou Zhao. “Please, Fourth Miss Dou, help us in our time of need. Take in the Bie sisters.” He straightened up, his gaze fixed intently on Dou Zhao, as if trying to see into her heart, “The Bie sisters will forever remember Fourth Miss Dou’s great kindness and never forget it.”

It took Dou Zhao a while to recover from her surprise.

She gaped at this person whom Master Bie called “Uncle Chen.”

What exactly was this person’s role?

First, he spoke of Master Bie’s illness to gain her sympathy. Then he angrily mentioned Master Bie’s clan brother’s coldness and selfishness, making her share in his indignation. Finally, he proposed entrusting the Bie sisters to her care. With the previous sympathy and agreement established, she would naturally agree readily.

How clever!

Dou Zhao couldn’t help but examine him carefully.

His smile was refined, his gaze sincere, indeed very convincing.

But how could she take care of the Bie sisters?

She was only twelve years old!

Above her was the Second Madame, below was her father, and beside them were numerous uncles, aunts, and in-laws.

The Dou family had no relation to the Bie family – how could she convince the Madame and her family to agree?

“Uncle Chen,” Dou Zhao smiled, “You must know that the Shan family and the Dou family are old friends, right?”

Uncle Chen’s eyes sharpened.

“Because Shan Jie’s actions were unreasonable, the Shan family didn’t bring this matter up publicly,” Dou Zhao said calmly. “The Dou family is Zhending’s most virtuous family. When Master Bie sought help from the Dou family, we became his guarantor without knowing the dispute between the Bie and Shan families. Even if the Shan family suspects the Dou family disapproves of their actions, they can’t say anything. Others can pretend not to know, saving the Shan family’s face, and both families can continue their relationship as if nothing happened. But if we take in the Bie sisters, this pretense will be broken. Not only will the Shan family lose face, but people might say the Dou family is arrogant and doesn’t respect old colleagues, don’t you think?”

She quietly watched the elderly man before her.

Chen Cuishui was deeply shaken, barely managing to suppress his inner turmoil without showing any unusual expression.

He had drifted through life, only settling in East Alley Street at the age of fifty among its diverse inhabitants. Bie Gangyi was honest, sincere, and generous. Seeing him alone, Bie Gangyi not only helped solve many of his difficulties but often invited him for drinks and shared interesting local stories. When they made something good at home, he would have the Bie sisters bring him a portion. Being powerless himself, he could only offer advice after Bie Gangyi’s troubles began.

He had carefully inquired about the people of the Dou family. He only knew that this legitimate young lady of the West Dou branch held a special position in the family, and everyone who had dealt with her praised her endlessly. He knew she was extraordinary, which was why he advised the second Miss Bie to seek her help, calculating that whether she was maintaining a false reputation or truly kind-hearted and gentle, she would most likely help after hearing the second Miss Bie’s story.

She did indeed help.

Now Master Bie wanted to entrust the Bie sisters to her care.

He disagreed.

The Bie sisters were strong yet gentle, with pure and kind hearts. How could they bow their heads and serve others?

But if not to the young lady of the Dou family, who else could they be entrusted to?

Who else could make Shan Jie give up his intention to harm the elder Miss Bie?

Besides the Fourth Miss Dou, among all the people they knew now, they really couldn’t find anyone else.

He had no choice but to consider what would happen if Fourth Miss Dou refused… which was why he had used some tactics, hoping to secure a refuge for the Bie sisters.

Unexpectedly, this Fourth Miss Dou, though young, was clever as ice. Although she felt sympathy for the Bie family’s plight and indignation at Shan Jie’s actions, she remained calm and composed in this critical moment, maintaining self-control.

People in North Zhili said the North Tower Dou clan developed steadily, building up strength over generations, producing talented people in every generation. Previously he had been somewhat skeptical, but now after seeing how the Fourth Miss Dou handled matters, he was truly convinced. He couldn’t help but think dejectedly: no wonder he always ended up with nothing despite his cleverness. Bie Gangyi, though rough and careless, had friends everywhere, receiving help in times of trouble. Just based on this ability to judge people, he himself was far inferior!

Chen Cuishui secretly sighed in his heart, then became alert.

Had he ruined Bie Gangyi’s affairs?

He suddenly became anxious.

“Fourth Miss Dou,” though his heart was urgent, his tone remained casual, “I heard your father, mother, and sister all went to the capital, yet you alone stayed in Zhending?”

Dou Zhao looked at Chen Cuishui, whose smile was full of certainty, her eyes flickering with a flash of sharp light like a blade in snow.

Chen Cuishui’s smile became even more composed.

“I also heard that Fourth Miss Dou’s mother was a second wife, and after your birth mother passed away, you were raised in East Dou’s Sixth Madame’s quarters. If Fourth Miss Dou could take in the Bie sisters, I think the people around East Alley Street would certainly praise your kindness endlessly. After a while, when many people speak of it, Fourth Miss Dou would surely gain a reputation for helping those in need. By then, even the Second Madame of the Dou family would have to look at Fourth Miss Dou differently, wouldn’t she? When Fourth Miss Dou reaches marriageable age, wouldn’t matchmakers from within a hundred li of Zhending wear down the Dou family’s threshold? Fourth Miss Dou, don’t you think my words make sense?”

Chen Cuishui’s words suddenly reminded Dou Zhao of that moonlit night when she overheard Ji shi and Wang mama talking privately.

It was just like this, through small details, unraveling thread by thread, piecing together fragments of words to restore the course of events.

Is this what people call seeing three steps ahead by taking one step?

Her hand tightened into a fist inside her sleeve, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Chen Cuishui.

Living this life again, what did she lack most?

Someone who could help her plan and calculate.

This Chen Cuishui was exactly the person she wanted to find.

At this moment, Dou Zhao’s heart was filled with fighting spirit.

She wanted to bring this person under her command, to use for her own purposes.

Dou Zhao smiled and asked, “May I know how to address you, sir?”

This was a sign of recognition.

Chen Cuishui’s heart leaped with joy, but his face remained composed as he said solemnly, “My surname is Chen, given name Bo, courtesy name Cuishui, style name Yuechuan.”

“Mr. Yuechuan,” Dou Zhao said, “Do you know that my stepmother is the daughter of Wang Yousheng, the Provincial Governor of Shaanxi?”

Chen Cuishui was somewhat surprised.

He wasn’t surprised by Wang Yingxue’s identity; he was uncertain about Dou Zhao’s intention in mentioning this.

“My Fifth Uncle and Wang Yousheng were classmates in the imperial examinations,” Dou Zhao said calmly. “Since Wang Yousheng captured the Mongol Khan Tumur two years ago, his prestige has reached its peak, with no one in the court able to match him, and calls for his entry into the cabinet growing stronger. But do you know why he still hasn’t been able to achieve this wish?”

Chen Cuishui’s lips twitched, seeming to want to speak but holding back.

Dou Zhao pressed her lips together and smiled understandingly, saying, “My Fifth Uncle and Wang Xingyi are like brothers eating from the same bowl. When alone, they might compete for meat using their own methods, but if an outsider tries to take their bowl, they’ll unite to deal with that outsider. Otherwise, if the bowl breaks, they’ll all have nothing to eat, right? But if any of them wants to have the bowl to themselves, they must first beat those who covet the bowl so badly they dare not reach for it, before they can fight among themselves. I think they won’t have the courage to fight for this bowl for at least ten years. Since that’s the case, what do I have to worry about? Mr. Yuechuan, don’t you think my words make sense?”

Chen Cuishui’s expression changed slightly.

Indeed.

Though Fourth Miss Dou’s current situation was delicate and awkward, as long as Wang and Dou hadn’t determined a victor, neither the Wang family nor the Dou family could trouble this Fourth Miss. Looking at the current situation, with just one word from her, the Dou family immediately helped Bie Gangyi out, showing that she was not only secure in the Dou family but also completely at ease. She didn’t need to use reputation to protect herself at all.

He looked at Dou Zhao’s demeanor with increased solemnity.

Suddenly, a violent coughing fit broke out in the room.

Dou Zhao and Chen Cuishui couldn’t help but look toward Bie Gangyi, only to see him breathing heavily, staring straight at the two of them.