Chapter 74 — Taking Them In

Zhao Liangbi had not expected Dou Yan to suddenly install him at the Dou property's grain and oil shop—that was Eastern Dou's enterprise—so he was stunned for a moment before returning Bie Suxin's salute, visibly flustered.

Dou Yan said a few more words, urging Bie Suxin to care well for her father, and then rose to take her leave.

Chen Yanzhou and Bie Suxin saw Dou Yan out.

When Dou Yan reached the front courtyard, she stopped. First she told Haitang to give Bie Suxin the two hundred taels in silver notes they had prepared in advance. "Do not let your father worry. When the doctor comes, buy the best medicine for him. If ginseng is needed, tell Zhao Liangbi and have him buy it."

If Bie Gangyi could live a few days longer, perhaps the sisters would have a little less to regret.

Dou Chi mused with a sigh.

Bie Suxin said nothing; with tears in her eyes she kowtowed three times to Dou Yan and took the silver draft.

Dou Yan turned to Chen Yanzhou. "I am still short of a tutor at my household. I wonder if you might be interested, sir?"

Chen Yanzhou was stunned.

Dou Xin instructed Zhao Liangbi: "Whether Old Chen can be prevailed upon to teach me rests on you."

The implication was that Zhao Liangbi was to find a way to persuade Chen Yanzhou.

Zhao Liangbi's mind was full of what Dou Zhiwei had just said—the grain and oil shop in Zhending Prefecture—and he wondered whether the Third Master would agree. He had no attention to spare for Dou Zhiwei's words; he bowed hastily and answered, "Yes."

As for Chen Yanzhou, that Dou Yan should send a servant to invite him to be a tutor was a profound humiliation. Yet he also noticed that Dou Yan had said "my household," not West Dou or the Dou family.

His heart tightened, and after Dou Yan left he made careful inquiries into the Dou family's affairs.

He had not known before; once he looked into it, cold sweat broke out all over him.

The Dou family's Fourth Miss—was it simply good fortune? Or was she possessed of a rare intelligence and quick wit, an uncanny genius?

He sank into a long meditation.

Dou Yan of course knew none of this, but she knew that a man like Chen Yanzhou would never rashly agree to tutor in anyone's household. She had dangled the bait of "my tutor" precisely to see whether Chen Yanzhou would take an interest.

After returning to Zhending, she first went to see her Third Uncle, intending to place Zhao Liangbi in the grain and oil shop in Zhending Prefecture.

Zhao Liangbi was capable, and Dou Yan was not making him the chief manager of the grain and oil shop; Dou Zhen had no reason to offend a man who held a quarter of the Dou family fortune over such a trifle.

Then she went to see Cui Min—first, to ask him to look into the man Chen Yanzhou; second, to have him keep watch for anyone inquiring after her.

Cui Min, however, thought she was acting rashly. "Why not look into the man thoroughly first, and then ask Seventh Master to bring him back for you?"

Though fallen on hard times, the man still dressed neatly and cleanly—a sign of proud temperament.

To do otherwise would only have earned a flat refusal from Chen Yanzhou.

Dou Xin gave no answer and went to see her grandmother.

Hearing of the Bie family's troubles, her grandmother sighed deeply and took the chance to instruct Dou Yan: "This is why one must learn to cherish one's blessings."

Dou Yan smilingly agreed again and again.

Privately, her grandmother had Hong Gu send fifty taels of silver and some food to the Bie sisters.

Dou Yan feigned ignorance and sat at the great writing desk by the window, staring blankly at the note Cui Min had sent.

Chen Yanzhou was a native of Wuji County in Zhending Prefecture. He passed the county examination at fifteen and the provincial examination at twenty-two; for ten years thereafter he failed the metropolitan examinations, his family reduced to utter poverty. His wife and only son died of illness one after another. He took a post as a resident tutor and drew his pay in advance so that he could bury his son. After that all trace of him vanished; it was said he tutored in the capital. Five years ago he bought two small rooms on East Lane Street next to the Bie family's martial arts school and settled down in Zhending Prefecture.

Where he had gone and what he had done during those intervening ten-odd years, no one knew.

Dou Yan pressed her lips together and smiled.

Truly an interesting man.

Haitang came in beaming, holding a letter in both hands. "Miss, a letter from Seventh Master. He says he has found a tutor for you, and the man will arrive in a day or two."

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There have been some revisions to Chapter 73, particularly regarding Old Chen's name, which duplicated the heroine's name in *Crowns Crowd the Capital*. I changed it on the spot; if anyone finds it odd, you may wish to reread Chapter 73.

o(n_n)o~

Could it be that I like *Crowns* too much, and so used the heroine's name without thinking?

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