Although Madam Peng came from a scholarly family, she was raised with strict discipline. As a proper noblewoman, she had to regard gold and silver as dirt and be elegant and refined in order to match the temperament of the head mistress of the household.

According to the Peng family precepts, all direct descendants must be raised to the standards of a matriarch of the family. Even illegitimate daughters are trained in the same way. However, due to their status, it is not realistic for illegitimate daughters to become matriarchs of the family. But because of their good upbringing, families of lower social standing are still willing to ask for their sons to marry them.

Therefore, in a sense, the daughters of the Peng family were very popular in Guan County.

That being said, and being well-mannered are one thing, but as a woman, who doesn't love beauty?

He naturally appreciates gold and jade, but he can't usually show it. Now that he has met a beautiful woman who understands his refined taste, they naturally have a very pleasant conversation.

The two of them went out together again today, and when they got tired of walking, they found an elegant courtyard to have tea and chat.

Looking at the spoils piled up beside her, Madam Peng smiled even more gently and kindly, "Sister Lan, although I'm a few years older than you, we really hit it off immediately. We'll definitely have to keep in touch more often in the future."

"Sister Peng's words are timely. I come from a humble background and am not particular about manners. I like to wander around. To be honest, I have never had any contact with noble ladies. Firstly, I was afraid that they would look down on my rough and unruly nature, and secondly, I didn't want to cause any trouble. Meeting you this time was purely accidental."

"I'm just glad Sister Peng doesn't mind my rough manners."

Mo Lan curved her lips into a smile, her gaze sweeping over the bracelet Peng Shi was wearing. It was top-grade mutton-fat jade, oily and lustrous, with a soft sheen, pure in texture, without any impurities or porcelain-like quality. Even someone unfamiliar with jade could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary item.

"Oh, Lan-mei, what are you saying? I like your personality. I'm not afraid to say something that I'll laugh at you for, but we women who are confined to the backyard are like birds in a cage, with only a pair of wings."

“I was taught proper manners by my elders from a young age and rarely went out more than a few times a year. Now that I’ve met my younger sister, I realize that girls can also be free and unrestrained.”

After spending a few days with Mo Lan, Madam Peng knew a little about her temperament. As a woman of the martial world, she was unconcerned with formalities and wore her emotions on her sleeve, making her easy to read. This was also why she liked to be close to Mo Lan.

Of course, her envy was genuine, but it was nothing more than envy.

Just as she herself said, having stayed in a birdcage for too long, she had grown wings but forgotten how to fly. All she could care about was the small world she had in the backyard.

Hearing the sigh in her voice, Mo Lan nodded knowingly, "That's the difference between aristocratic families and江湖儿女 (people of the martial world); each has its own merits."

As they spoke, Mo Lan pulled out a black jade thumb ring from somewhere and handed it to Madam Peng. "Sister Peng, I found this while packing my luggage yesterday. I thought you liked these stones, so I brought it to you."

"Oh dear, how can this be? I've already received too many jade pieces from my sister, how can I shamelessly accept another one?" Madam Peng looked at the black jade thumb ring. The polishing was good, without any embellishments, simple and rustic, which was suitable for her husband to play with.

"What's the big deal? It's just a stone. I have plenty of them. We just throw them away anyway. If you don't like it, you can just give it to the servants as a reward." Mo Lan waved her hand, acting as if she didn't care at all.

Rewarding the servants is too extravagant. She's still just a young girl; she doesn't know the cost of living until she's in charge of the household!