Chapter Twenty-Seven
After Yan Shujin finished speaking, she didn't mention the matter again. She knew in her heart that no matter how nicely things were said, it was useless; things still needed to be done.
Madam Qi's voice was very gentle: "Sister Bao, I really look forward to a place that can offer all women another possibility in life."
Yan Shujin looked at Madam Qi without saying a word.
"But you should know that if you want to do something like this, you may encounter many difficulties." Madam Qi couldn't bear to let the child she had watched grow up go through those things: "Many people won't understand, including your family, and even the women you want to help."
Yan Shujin pursed her lips and said, "I know."
Madam Qi stopped trying to persuade her. People are different, and everyone has their own way of thinking: "The most important thing is that no matter what you do, you must be mindful of your limits. Don't infringe on the interests of too many people unless you are absolutely certain."
Yan Shujin nodded: "I understand."
Madam Qi took a sip of her slightly cooled tea and said, "You should change how you address me."
Yan Shujin puffed out her cheeks and said, "I've been calling you that for over ten years."
Madam Qi chuckled: "See, you knew it too, otherwise how could you have realized it as soon as I mentioned it?"
Yan Shujin pursed her lips and said, "Aunt Fang reminded me that I should call them Father, Mother, and Grandmother, but I'm used to calling them Father, Mother, and Grandmother."
Madam Qi said seriously, "You have always been very smart and learn everything very quickly, but that is not an excuse."
“But my father didn’t change either.” Yan Shujin thought of how her uncle addressed her grandmother, and how her father addressed her grandmother, and said softly, “Do we also have to follow the rules like aristocratic families?”
Madam Qi asked, "Do you have a grudge against aristocratic families, or are you truly opposed to changing the way you are addressed?"
Yan Shujin was unable to answer for a moment.
These problems went unnoticed even by Yan Shujin's parents. However, Madam Qi realized it from the way Yan Shujin addressed Liu Qin. It wasn't that Yan Shujin was against changing the way she addressed him; she simply felt a certain aversion to those aristocratic families.
Yan Shujin paused for a moment before saying, "I understand."
It was because the stewards of those powerful families coveted their land that they tried to buy it from them at a very low price. When the family refused, the government officials even arrested her uncle. In the end, their fertile land was practically given away to the stewards of those powerful families for free.
Without those fields, life became increasingly difficult for the family. That's why her uncle and father left home to make a living. When she finally found her father, he was already with a woman from a wealthy family, and she looked down on her mother and her.
Even my uncle had some, and there were also those who divorced their wives and remarried.
Yan Shujin disliked aristocratic families very much, and even felt a deep-seated aversion to them.
"Actually, if you think about it, many things have both good and bad aspects. Does that mean there are no good people in aristocratic families?" Madam Qi said. "You may not like them, but you must also acknowledge their excellence."
Yan Shujin said, "I know."
Looking at Yan Shujin's aggrieved expression, Madam Qi said softly, "Baojie, you can learn from them, but don't become like them."
Yan Shujin pursed her lips, her expression turning serious.
Madam Qi instructed, "You must remember what kind of people you hate are like, and then never let yourself become like them."
Yan Shujin took a deep breath and said seriously, "I know."
Madam Qi would never know the extent of the impact her words of advice had on Yan Shujin. If Madam Qi hadn't discovered it, many years later, when Yan Shujin had grown up, she would have had a completely different attitude towards aristocratic families.
“I still don’t like those aristocratic families,” Yan Shujin said. “But I will look at them calmly and not lump them together.”
The implication is that she will still hold prejudices against the bad things.
Madam Qi laughed: "Of course, everyone has their own preferences."
Yan Shujin wrinkled her nose and said, "Aunt Qi, do you not have enough money? Why did you rent such a small courtyard?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Qi said, "Besides this courtyard, I also bought a shop. I'll do some small business there. With you as my backer, I won't be afraid of being troubled by others. Although this courtyard is a bit small, it's surrounded by scholars. Courtyards in the western part of the city are very hard to buy; it's already lucky that we were able to rent one."
Yan Shujin said, "So you want Feng Xu to pursue a career in politics?"
“Yes.” Madam Qi said frankly, “I want to see first. If Xu-ge has the talent for studying, then let him pursue a career in government. After all, with your connection, Xu-ge’s future can be guaranteed.”
Yan Shujin chuckled. She liked Madam Qi's frankness: "I will always protect him. If he dares to turn bad, I will beat him awake."
Madam Qi was amused and laughed, saying, "Okay."
Yan Shujin asked, "What if he doesn't like reading?"
Madam Qi had already thought about this, and said, "Let him go into business. If he still doesn't have the talent, I'll buy him some land and shops so that he can support himself."
Yan Shujin said, "What if he becomes rich and his father and stepmother come looking for him?"
“By then, he will no longer need my protection.” Madam Qi had considered everything carefully: “I will let him choose for himself, but I will tell him everything.”
Yan Shujin chatted with Madam Qi for a while longer. After Feng Xu woke up, she left first and made an appointment with Madam Qi to go sightseeing in the capital together after she tidied up the courtyard.
Because of Madam Qi's arrival, Yan Shujin was in a good mood until she returned home and saw Yan Qiyu's serious expression. She asked with some confusion, "What's wrong with my brother?"
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