Yuan Yunzhong met Song Daliang under the grape trellis in the courtyard of Yinyu Hall.
The summer sunlight, like tiny golden arrows, shot through the gaps in the branches and leaves, landing on the stone table and benches beneath the trellis and on Song Daliang's body.
He kept wiping away his sweat and said, "Young Master Yuan, shall we not talk inside the house? It's too hot out here."
"It's stifling inside," Yuan Yunzhong coolly responded, his pale skin as flawless as mutton-fat jade, not only devoid of sweat but also exuding a sense of coolness.
Alright then!
Song Daliang, lost for words, picked up the tea cup from the stone table and took a sip before warmly asking, "Yunzhong, what do you think of me as a person?"
Yuan Yunzhong looked at him in surprise.
Song Daliang continued, "Without me, your marriage arrangement would've fallen through, right?"
Yuan Yunzhong felt that what Song Daliang said made quite a bit of sense.
Not mincing his words anymore, Song Daliang said, "You're a smart man. You should be clear about the current situation of the Song Family. If I were to beat around the bush with you, that would be underestimating you!"
Yuan Yunzhong looked at Song Daliang with interest.
Song Daliang got straight to the point, "The Second Madam's funeral is tomorrow. I have a son, and I want my son to 'break the bowl' for the Second Madam."
So, he needed the support of his son-in-law from the second branch.
Yuan Yunzhong pondered for a moment and said, "If I'm not mistaken, the Second Madam is still carrying a child, isn't she?"
Unperturbed, Song Daliang waved his hand dismissively and said, "What of it? There is an order of seniority. If the heir is older than the blood child, the family property should be inherited by the heir, as clearly written in the laws. Even if we went to court, I would win."
Indeed, that was the case!
Song Daliang stretched out his hand, intending to pat Yuan Yunzhong on the shoulder triumphantly, but Yuan was taller than him, Song couldn't reach and, somewhat sheepishly, withdrew his hand, saying, "Yunzhong, you mustn't be ungrateful! Zeng You is still eyeing us covetously!"
Yuan Yunzhong nodded and asked, "What do you want me to do?"
In a low voice, Song Daliang said, "During tomorrow's 'bowl breaking' ceremony, Tianbao from our family is the eldest son and grandson; you suggest that Tianbao should perform the ceremony."
Yuan Yunzhong agreed immediately.
Song Daliang left cheerfully.
Yuan Yunzhong asked Liu Zi to throw away the tea cup he had used.
But when Liu Zi returned after discarding the tea cup, he informed Yuan Yunzhong: Third Old Master has come!
"Oh!" Yuan Yunzhong raised his eyebrows.
It really was like one act followed by another.
Song Daliang sought favors with expectations of return, but what would Song Sanliang do?
He met with Song Sanliang under the grape trellis, just as before.
Song Sanliang wore a robe that only scholars could wear, his fair face framed by two large dark circles around his eyes. Seeing Yuan Yunzhong, he performed a courteous bow and said, "About yesterday's matter, I never expected it to turn out like that. My second brother really didn't tell us that his daughter was betrothed. My apologies for any inconvenience caused to you."
"It's all right," Yuan Yunzhong said indifferently, inviting him to sit down by the stone table, "It's better now that things have been clarified."
"Exactly, exactly," Song Sanliang said somewhat emotionally, "It's like we've gotten to know each other through conflict."
Yuan Yunzhong smiled but said nothing, gesturing towards the tea cup in front of him, inviting him to drink.
Song Sanliang picked up the tea cup but almost scalded himself with the hot steam rising from the tea, quickly setting the cup back down.
"Why is this tea so hot?" he asked, examining his reddened fingertips with a frown.
"Hot tea is good for the stomach," said Yuan Yunzhong.
But this was way too hot, wasn't it?
Song Sanliang suspected that Yuan Yunzhong had done it on purpose.
However, Yuan Yunzhong appeared completely nonchalant and serene, making it seem unlike him.
Song Sanliang had no choice but to suppress his suspicions, showing an earnest smile as if he were an elder genuinely concerned for the younger generation's happiness, and began to ask Yuan Yunzhong in detail about the books he had read, how the elders in his family were doing, and if he was getting accustomed to living here, among other things.
Yuan Yunzhong casually answered.
Song Sanliang appeared very satisfied and said, "The Second Branch has to observe mourning for three years. I heard you say yesterday that it takes three months from the Capital City to here. With one round trip, half a year would be gone. Have you ever thought about staying at the Song Family temporarily, waiting until the Second Madam's mourning period ends before returning to get married and then going back to the Capital City?"
This Song Sanliang certainly had more brains than Song Daliang.
Yuan Yunzhong laughed and said, "I really hadn't thought of that."
Song Sanliang immediately assumed the manner of an elder advising a junior, speaking earnestly, "You might want to consider it carefully! You are the son-in-law of the Second House. As the saying goes, 'a son-in-law is half a son.' Now that the Second House lacks someone to uphold the family, if you stay, there will be someone to lend them a hand."
Yuan Yunzhong pondered and said, "What you say makes sense."
Song Sanliang immediately laughed and said, "Tomorrow, during the funeral procession for my second elder brother, by rights, you also have the qualifications to perform the ritual of breaking the bowl. But as you saw yesterday, my eldest brother incessantly focuses on the 'three letters and six etiquettes,' and if you were to break the bowl, he would certainly create trouble.
"I was thinking, why not let my youngest son break the bowl for my second elder brother?"
"He's only four years old this year. In the future, the affairs of the Second House will still have to rely on you, the son-in-law, to assist."
He gazed steadily at Yuan Yunzhong and said, "What do you think?"
Yuan Yunzhong "tsked" inwardly.
Was Song Sanliang hinting to him that he would have three years to take as much of the Song Family's wealth as he could?
No wonder Song Daliang was no match for him.
Yuan Yunzhong only remained silent for a moment, and Song Sanliang was already saying, "Apart from a large amount of farmland, my second brother also left behind the largest Kiln Factory in Jingde Town."
Implicit in his words was, even if I give you all the wealth of the Second House, you'll have to be capable of swallowing it all.
Yuan Yunzhong said, "So what do you expect me to do?"
Song Sanliang smiled and said, "If someone suggests letting my youngest son perform the breaking of the bowl ceremony tomorrow, Young Master Yuan, you just need to agree."
This was to tell Yuan Yunzhong that he was not the only arrangement Song Sanliang had in place, he had accomplices.
Yuan Yunzhong agreed without hesitation.
Song Sanliang took his leave with impeccable manners.
This time, Liu Zi didn't wait for Yuan Yunzhong's instructions before wanting to throw out the cup he used for drinking tea.
Yuan Yunzhong gestured to him, "This cup hasn't been used yet, don't waste it."
Liu Zi laughed naively.
Ninth Master Song sent someone with an invitation, saying he wanted to visit Yuan Yunzhong.
Sitting under the grape trellis, Yuan Yunzhong tapped on the table and only then let Liu Zi accept the invitation card.
However, Ninth Master Song came much earlier than expected.
"Yunzhong!" He greeted Yuan Yunzhong warmly, sat down on the stone bench under the grape trellis, and had his accompanying servant place the case he was holding on the stone table, saying, "Take a look! A landscape painting by Li Gonglin. It was part of my father's collection. I'm giving it to you."
Yuan Yunzhong was astonished and repeatedly declined.
Ninth Master Song sighed and said, "Please accept it! I wouldn't visit without a reason, and I have a favor to ask of you."
Yuan Yunzhong personally poured a cup of tea for Ninth Master Song and said, "Speak your mind, but I really shouldn't accept this gift."
Ninth Master Song didn't insist and said, "You will be present at the event tomorrow. Your father-in-law is gone, and your uncle and third uncle each have their own thoughts. Tomorrow, during Sanliang's funeral procession, they will certainly argue over who should perform the bowl-breaking ritual. I discussed with the other elders of the Song Family for half a day yesterday. Rather than having them shame themselves with brotherly strife at the funeral, we thought it better to choose a grown nephew from another branch to perform the bowl-breaking for Sanliang, what do you think?"
It made no difference.
They were all tarred with the same brush.
Yuan Yunzhong readily agreed and tossed away the tea he had poured for Ninth Master Song, signaling Liu Zi to pour a fresh cup for Ninth Master Song.
Ninth Master Song merely felt that Yuan Yunzhong valued him greatly, and left content.
Yuan Yunzhong languidly returned to the hall.
Ice basins were placed at the four corners of the room, and the cold air that rushed towards him improved his mood.
He asked Liu Zi, "What is your eldest miss doing?"