Chapter Nineteen: A Bucket of Bathwater

Yang Yaotong, Yin Ruxin, and Ruyi walked into the backyard together. Yang Yaotong handed the umbrella to Yin Ruxin, then went with Ruyi to the bathing area, asking Ruyi to temporarily leave the gift for Yin Ruxin in the kitchen.

Bathing required boiling water first, which would then be poured into the tub—a rather troublesome process. Some affluent families had bathhouses where the tub was fixed atop an earthen stove. The lower fifth of the wooden tub would be wrapped and secured with clay, the base sealed as well. Firewood could be burned from outside the bathhouse, heating the stove and thus the water inside the tub, much like a heated kang bed. This way, even in winter, as long as someone kept the fire going, the water could remain comfortably warm. Yin Ruxin’s bathhouse was designed in this fashion.

Ruyi asked Yang Yaotong to rest outside the bathhouse, then carried two wooden buckets to fetch water. The well was close by, just outside the bathhouse.

Yang Yaotong, knowing Ruyi was fetching water, followed her. Startled, Ruyi hurriedly said, “Young Master Yang, please go rest. This kind of labor is for the servants.”

Yang Yaotong snatched the water bucket she had just filled. “There’s no need for so many rules. I’ll fetch the water—it’ll be faster. I’m stronger than you.”

Ruyi, lacking Yang Yaotong’s strength, stamped her foot anxiously, “Young Master Yang, Young Master Yang, if you do this, Miss will scold me!”

“She won’t, she won’t. Miss Yin is so kind, she won’t scold you. Just tell her I insisted. Go add firewood. Don’t follow me. This way, as the water is added and heated at the same time, it’ll warm up faster.” Yang Yaotong carried the buckets toward the bathhouse.

Helpless, Ruyi’s face flushed as she went to tend the fire.

After four trips, the tub was nearly full. Yang Yaotong set the buckets back in their place. The weather was hot and humid; fetching all that water left him sweating profusely—he couldn’t go without a bath now. He wiped his sweat with his sleeve and went outside, calling to Ruyi, who was squatting by the fire, “It’s hot—just warm the water, no need to add more firewood.”

Ruyi nodded and went to the bathhouse for more water. Seeing this, Yang Yaotong quickly said, “That’s enough water, no more needed. It’s nearly ready. The water is hot now.”

Ruyi, face reddening, replied, “We need to heat another bucket. Miss still needs some for washing.”

Yang Yaotong gave an awkward smile and took the bucket from her. “No need for more. In this heat, there’s plenty in the tub already. I’ll fill one bucket for your Miss—it’ll be enough.”

Ruyi stared wide-eyed, thinking, “How can Young Master Yang say such things—this isn’t proper!”

Yang Yaotong saw the little maid’s expression and guessed her thoughts, laughing, “It’s nothing. It’s not even my bathwater, just water heated together. You really are a little imp, your thoughts aren’t pure.”

Ruyi blushed furiously, realizing he was right—perhaps she really had read too much into it.

Inside, Yin Ruxin was laying out a white dress on the bed. “Sister, who was that in the courtyard?” It was Yin Ruyun, her sister, asking from behind.

Ever since Yang Yaotong entered, Yin Ruyun had noticed. She’d already bounded to the front yard, ready to confront him, but saw her sister recognize the man who had climbed over the wall and gesture for her to retreat, so she silently returned to the backyard.

Yin Ruyun noticed that from the moment Yin Ruxin saw Yang Yaotong, her face was tinged with shyness and joy, the irritation and frustration of the morning gone. She guessed the intruder was likely Yang Yaotong, the name written on the paper. She had witnessed everything else unfold and found it amusing that a scholar was chased into the courtyard. She saw her sister’s every mood toward Yang Yaotong—anger and delight—and understood her sister had truly fallen for him, so she began to observe Yang Yaotong closely.

“Handsome, and when he saw my sister’s casual attire, he turned away in embarrassment. Yet his gaze was clear—he’s upright. Sharing an umbrella with her, it was my sister who felt shy, while Yang Yaotong seemed unconcerned, chatting with ease. His character seems commendable,” Yin Ruyun thought. But it seemed he only regarded her sister as a friend, while her sister... Yin Ruyun frowned at her sibling, whose happiness and every smile were unfamiliar to her. At that moment, even she had to admit her sister looked graceful and beautiful as a fairy.

Hearing her sister’s question, Yin Ruxin paused, then turned and replied, “It’s you, Sister. That was a friend of mine. He promised to bring me a gift, and today he delivered it. He was chased on the way, so he didn’t have time to knock and climbed over the wall. I’m afraid you misunderstood.” She ended with a sweet smile.

Yin Ruyun saw that Yin Ruxin did not wish to elaborate and refrained from pressing further, knowing it would only make her sister uncomfortable—their acquaintance was still brief. Nonetheless, she felt a pang of loss and pain. Her sister still guarded her heart so closely before her, treating her more like a protector than a confidante. She seemed fearful of a misunderstanding and went out of her way to explain why the man climbed in.

A series of knocks sounded. “Miss, the water is here,” Ruyi called from the door.

“Mm, bring it in,” Yin Ruxin replied.

“I’ll go downstairs to rest,” said Yin Ruyun. Yin Ruxin nodded.

Ruyi entered, poured some hot water into the basin, and handed a damp towel to Yin Ruxin, who had just come over.

Yin Ruxin, now unclothed, her skin smooth as white jade and her figure graceful as mountain ridges, pressed the towel gently to her face, the steam turning her cheeks rosy. She handed the towel to Ruyi, who gave her another damp one. Taking it, she wiped her body. Ruyi washed the used towel in the basin, laughing softly, “Miss, you know this water is from Young Master Yang’s bath barrel!”

Yin Ruxin froze, the towel just brushing her chest, and at Ruyi’s words, her body flushed pink, her heart pounding as if it would leap from her chest. The sensitive buds atop her breasts stood erect. She glared at Ruyi in shy annoyance.

Ruyi was like a sister to Yin Ruxin, often teasing her. Seeing her Miss’s embarrassment, Ruyi quickly stifled her laughter, imitating Yang Yaotong’s manner and voice, recounting how he fetched water and filled a bucket for Yin Ruxin.

“She won’t, she won’t. Miss Yin is so kind, she won’t scold you. Just tell her I insisted. Go add firewood. Don’t follow me. This way, as the water is added and heated at the same time, it’ll warm up faster...”

“It’s nothing. It’s not even my bathwater, just water heated together. You really are a little imp, your thoughts aren’t pure!” Ruyi mimicked perfectly.

And then she burst out laughing, “This Young Master Yang is truly different—so considerate. It’s a shame he’s a live-in son-in-law. Otherwise... otherwise...” She glanced at Yin Ruxin’s blushing face and left the rest unsaid. Her Miss would understand. Though she praised him, she reminded her Miss that there could be no future between them.

Yin Ruxin listened to Ruyi imitating Yang Yaotong and remembered him fetching water. The sweet smile lingered on her face, still flushed. He never acted like a scholar—never fussed over etiquette, but was meticulous in certain things. As for Ruyi’s remark about him being a live-in son-in-law, Yin Ruxin nodded quietly.

Picking up the warm towel again, she felt it almost scalding, her heart in a flutter. She wiped herself hurriedly, then went to the bed to dress. Suddenly remembering Yang Yaotong had no clothes, she quickly said to Ruyi, who was tidying up the towels and basin, “Ruyi, don’t pack up yet. Go to Feng’s Clothing Shop by Qinhuai River and buy a suitable shirt for Young Master Yang. Hmm... get undergarments too, and a pair of shoes and socks. Hurry back.”

Ruyi nodded, face flushed, and hurried out.

Yang Yaotong was now soaking in the warm water. In truth, he bathed daily and was not dirty, only sweaty and damp from the rain. The clothes he’d left on the partition between the inner and outer rooms had been taken away by Ruyi, presumably to be washed. Now, having finished bathing, his clothes had not yet arrived. Sitting in the tub, he let his hair down to wash. What he found most unbearable in this era was his long hair, but he knew the custom—body and hair are gifts from one’s parents and must be respected. He could only endure it. Usually, Xiaohua cared for his hair, tying it up with a jade hairpin, neat and tidy, resembling a Daoist’s style. It was the only look he could accept.

After washing his hair, Ruyi returned with new clothes, placing them on the partition and telling him the new shoes were outside.

Yang Yaotong dressed himself, inside and out in white. In this era, men had no underwear; they wore long trousers below, short jackets or bellybands above, and a long robe over all. Yang Yaotong disliked bellybands, so in hot weather, he simply wore long trousers and a loose robe—a comfortable arrangement. He noticed a white silk bellyband among the clothes, feeling perplexed. Should he wear it? After some hesitation, he decided not to, simply carrying it out in his hand. The clothes and shoes fit perfectly and looked freshly bought. He recalled the little maid’s flustered delivery and thought her quite clever; she had chosen everything to his size. He had kept her busy today—no doubt she would soon be boiling bathwater for him again.