Kowtowing
"This is your uncle Yi."
Lin Yunwan pulled her younger brother, Lin Yunyi, over to Lu Chang'gong.
Lu Chang'gong cupped his hands and bowed. "Uncle."
Lin Yunyi had no younger siblings, and now that he had suddenly become an uncle, he put on a bit of an air. He nodded lightly and said, "Chang Gong, you may rise."
Lu Chang'gong saw nothing amiss and straightened up.
Lady Guo and Madam Lin, however, burst out laughing.
Lin Yunwan also raised her handkerchief to hide her smile and chided Lin Yunyi, "Putting on airs already, are you?"
Lin Yunyi raised his long brows. "Of course. I'm an uncle now."
Like a handsome rooster, he held his head high and strode up the stone steps.
Lin Yunwan smiled and told Lu Chang'gong, "Your uncle is easy to get along with. He just has some of a scholar's nasty temper, so don't be afraid of him."
Lu Chang'gong smiled. "Mother, I understand."
"All right," Madam Lin said. "Let's not waste any more time. Up we go."
The group headed up the mountain.
The journey was not particularly long. Beyond the graveyard, farther up the mountain, stood the famous Red Elephant Temple. The bodhisattvas there were said to be very efficacious, and though the temple was secluded and peaceful, it still drew plenty of worshippers.
They had planned to partake of a vegetarian meal on the mountain. Lin Yunwan had already sent word to the temple, and the abbot had long since prepared to receive them.
Lin Yunyi was full of energy, and with his height and long legs, he walked quickly.
But he did not go too far ahead, staying only a few steps in front of Lin Yunwan and the others and glancing back from time to time.
"Yun Wan, why didn't you bring the other child from your family?"
Lady Guo was concerned about Lin Yunwan.
They were all among their own, so Lin Yunwan had nothing to hide. She said, "The residence has now hired Zhang Feng'an, Mr. Zhang, as Qing's tutor. Mr. Zhang has always been strict, and he didn't give him the day off. Qing's temperament does need some reining in, so I didn't bring him."
Everyone could tell it was only an excuse.
How could a teacher refuse to let a child pay respects to a deceased elder?
Lady Guo merely said lightly, "The young master's studies are more important."
She said no more about the Lu family and asked about Chang Gong's lessons instead.
"How far has the young master gotten in the Bamboo Branch Calligraphy Model?"
Lu Chang'gong said, "I've reached the fourth piece."
Lady Guo reckoned how long it had been since Lin Yunwan had taken the model from her and smiled. "So quickly?"
Lin Yunwan naturally praised him. "He's very diligent, and whatever I tell him, he understands as soon as I point him in the right direction. I hardly need to trouble myself."
Lady Guo looked Lu Chang'gong over and nodded.
Hearing them, Lin Yunyi hurriedly stopped and waited for them to catch up. "What are you praising him for?"
Lin Yunwan said, "For being so young and not turning into a monkey coming home the moment he sets foot on a mountain, unlike you."
Everyone laughed. Lin Yunyi protested, "Sister, you can't say that about me. I'm very dignified when I'm out." It was only natural that he let himself go a little among family.
Madam Lin laughed. "Why do I smell something sour?"
Another round of laughter followed.
Lin Yunyi rubbed his nose. What was wrong with him feeling a little jealous over his own sister?
Lu Chang'gong pressed his lips together and shyly comforted him. "Uncle, Mother only takes extra care of me because I'm young. When I grow up, I'll take care of you too."
Lin Yunyi laughed. "We were only joking. Would I really take issue with my own nephew?"
Madam Lin laughed until tears ran from her eyes. Her vision was very blurry, and her eyes hurt a little too.
It was a lingering problem from when she had lost her sight.
"Mother, wipe them with a handkerchief first."
Even after wiping them with a dry handkerchief, her eyes still felt uncomfortable.
Lin Yunwan asked the maids and old servants following them whether they had any water, but they all shook their heads. Since they could rest at the temple after paying their respects, they had not brought many things. Lin Yunwan and her brother both silently reproached themselves for overlooking such a small matter.
"It's nothing," Madam Lin said. "I'll wipe them when we get to the temple."
After they had walked for a while, Lu Chang'gong suddenly said to Lin Yunwan in a low voice, "Mother, I dropped something. I'll go back and pick it up."
Lin Yunwan nodded and sent an old servant with him.
Lu Chang'gong ran off in a few quick strides.
As they approached Grand Tutor Lin's grave, everyone recalled the past and had little heart for conversation.
Lin Yunyi reached it first. Looking at the clean headstone, he said, "Oh, someone's already been here." A bouquet of flowers had also been left there.
It was nothing unusual. Grand Tutor Lin had taught many students before becoming grand tutor, and other members of the Lin clan were buried nearby as well.
Lin Yunwan said, "Perhaps it was one of Father's students, or someone from the clan."
Standing before her late husband's grave, Madam Lin could not help crying for a while again.
Lin Yunwan was saddened too, but she did her best to comfort her mother and stop her tears, since crying would make her mother's eyes uncomfortable.
Madam Lin soon said, "I'm all right."
Her husband had been dead for many years, and like her children, she had gradually grown accustomed to it. Her grief was not so great that she could not control herself. Her eyes were simply red.
"Mother."
Lu Chang'gong had arrived at some point, a waterskin in his hand. His forehead was covered in sweat, and he was a little out of breath.
Lin Yunwan stared at him for a moment.
"Mother, please wipe... Madam's eyes for her," Lu Chang'gong said. He knew how to read the situation. All the way here, Madam Lin had not acknowledged him, so he did not dare address her carelessly.
Lin Yunwan smiled and took the waterskin, then dampened her handkerchief and wiped her mother's eyes.
Madam Lin held the damp handkerchief, touched. "Since you're here, come and kowtow to your grandfather."
Lin Yunwan said, "Your grandmother is speaking to you. Why are you standing there in a daze?"
Lu Chang'gong came to his senses and hurriedly kowtowed before Grand Tutor Lin. Lin Yunyi helped him up.
Before long, everyone prepared to leave.
Lady Guo said, "I won't go to Red Elephant Temple. I don't believe in these things, and going would be an offense to the monks there." Even if she did not revere gods and buddhas, she ought to show respect to living people. She had always been that way, quietly abiding by her own precepts.
Madam Lin did not urge her to stay.
Lin Yunwan nodded too. "All right." She grew even more puzzled. How could Lady Guo have met with an accident in a Buddhist place?
She walked Lady Guo a short way on her mother's behalf and briefly mentioned, "When I have time, I'd like to visit your residence and ask you for some guidance on blending fragrances."
Lady Guo readily agreed.
A sense of smell was important in blending fragrances, and Lin Yunwan had some talent. Lady Guo could not wait to train a good disciple.
Once that was settled, she went down the mountain.
After seeing Lady Guo off, Lin Yunwan turned around and saw Lu Chang'gong and Lin Yunyi discussing something in all seriousness. Lin Yunyi did most of the talking, however, while Lu Chang'gong listened. He had learned relatively little so far, after all, and had little to say in front of Lin Yunyi.
Looking at her adopted son and younger brother, she felt an even stronger desire to learn how to blend fragrances.
In her previous life, she had spent all her energy on that pack of white-eyed wolves at the Wuding Marquis Residence. In this life, she would take good care of her meager dowry. However much it amounted to, it would be a help to her birth family in the future, and her mother and brother could live more comfortably too.
Thinking of the future put Lin Yunwan in a good mood. She smiled and said, "Come on, let's go into the temple."
The two young masters immediately followed her obediently.