Hearing Madam Lu’s words, Old Lady Zhou, unusually, did not argue or scold because it was indeed the case; once a family member was imprisoned, no amount of silver would be enough to smooth things over.
The Old Zhou family was never a wealthy household to begin with. First there was Zhou Xueli’s wedding, and then Zhou Xuennian needed silver to buy the exam questions. The little family fortune of the Zhou family had already been scraped clean. This trip to the county, Old Lady Zhou had even taken her own funeral savings. If Zhou Xuennian could not be retrieved from trouble, the next step would be to sell the fields and land.
Old Lady Zhou’s face was ashen and defeated. The consecutive blows from event after event had utterly exhausted the old woman, who seemed to have aged more than a decade; where was her usual vitality now?
While she was lost in her morose reflections, Madam Lu had already eaten the entire plate of sweet cakes, which unavoidably darkened Old Lady Zhou’s face as she glared at her several times.
Her own husband was still struggling to survive in prison, yet here she was, eating when she should, sleeping when she should, seemingly unscathed.
Just as she was about to scold her daughter-in-law, Auntie Tan returned and cheerily said to them, "Old lady, who knows when the rain will stop. Is your home far from here? If it is, with the sky darkening and the rain making travel improper, it would be all right to spend the night on our estate."
"Would that not inconvenience the noble master in any way?" Old Lady Zhou asked, full of gratitude.
Having set out from Wozi Village early in the morning and after all the commotion, they had hoped to make it home before dark. Now, it seemed they couldn’t.
"Our madam even sent me to extend her regards to you," Auntie Tan spoke heartily. "We’re all farmers; there’s no such thing as inconvenience. I’ll go arrange things."
Madam Lu then said, "Sister, who is your madam? We, mother and daughter-in-law, have received your madam’s kindness; we should at least go greet her properly."
Old Lady Zhou also earnestly added, "May we have the honor?"
She didn’t know who the master of the estate was and feared it might be someone from a wealthy household, where showing up uninvited could cause embarrassment and inconvenience.
Auntie Tan thought for a moment and then said, "Then come with me to pay your respects."
Old Lady Zhou heaved a sigh of relief and asked Zhou Xueli’s elder brother to sit for a while, and then she accompanied Madam Lu following Auntie Tan deeper into the residence.
At that moment, Zhou Xuennian’s wife was selecting embroidery patterns with Qiu Xiang, conversing while the two of Tan Datie’s daughters sat on small stools—one unraveling thread, the other winding the separated threads into small balls.
The Floral Hall was not overly lavish, but everything left by the previous master was practical. Over the past few days, Madam Zhou had wandered about, picking wildflowers with Qiu Xiang and arranging them in a coarse porcelain vase, creating a uniquely charming atmosphere.
The rain poured outside, gusts of rain-soaked wind blowing in, carrying a chill with them. However, inside the house, there was a small brazier that mingled its warmth with the cool, resulting in a comfortable temperature.
Auntie Tan brought Old Lady Zhou and her daughter-in-law to see Madam Zhou and entered the room first to announce their arrival and state their purpose.
Madam Zhou, surprised and somewhat uneasy at being approached in this way, had never experienced anything like it.
Fortunately, she had Qiu Xiang by her side, who smiled and said, "Since it’s a mother and daughter-in-law, Madam might as well meet them. After all, it’s just a matter of showing one’s face."
Qiu Xiang was well-acquainted with such situations. It was customary for those who had received favors from a master to pay their respects, and whether to meet them or not was at the master’s discretion.
Madam Zhou, being kind-hearted, was unlikely to stand on ceremony, which is why Qiu Xiang made such a suggestion.
Madam Zhou then let Auntie Tan bring the visitors in, but upon seeing the person who was led in, she was so shocked that she knocked the tea cup on the table onto the floor.