Chapter 24 Ridiculous, ridiculous!
"Your grandmother felt sorry for her and wanted to help your second aunt raise this child so that she can look more respectable when she meets you."
Cheng Shi didn't notice her son's expression. Normally, she wouldn't say these things to anyone else, but now that she had started, she couldn't stop. She continued:
"That being said, as the saying goes, when it comes to appearances, what matters most is family background. Who really considers talent and appearance as the most important things? Those are just icing on the cake. It's best to have them, but it doesn't matter if they don't."
"I heard that Su Ying's father was just a scholar, and now he's in the tea business." Cheng snorted coldly, "No matter how flattering you are, she's just the daughter of a merchant. How can she possibly marry into a good family?"
"Your second aunt hasn't interacted much with the wives of officials in recent years, yet she's still hoping to use her family's good reputation to find a good husband for Su Ying. How could it be that easy? Even your sister, while I say I'm waiting for her coming of age next year, I'm actually hoping you'll make the list next year, so I can find a suitable match for her."
At this point, Cheng's nose tightened, and she couldn't help but think of Du Heng's father. Three years had passed. Even if he had been the Minister of Rites when he was still alive, so what? The saying "people leave, the tea gets cold" was a common occurrence in a place like the capital, where officials were everywhere.
As she spoke, her tone lowered a little, and her eyes actually turned red.
Du Heng knew it was inappropriate to say much when these words mentioned the two unmarried girls in his family, so he just listened silently. Seeing his mother's expression of grief when she mentioned his father, he finally spoke up to advise, "Mother, don't be sad."
Cheng wiped her eyes, realizing she had lost her composure a bit. She softened her tone, "Mother isn't saying that if you don't do well in the exam, your sister won't be able to get married. It's just that the world is so fickle. Don't let my idle words bother you and cause you to miss out on important matters."
At this point, she couldn't help but mention Su Ying:
"Actually, I didn't want her to come at first. It's not just about adding another pair of chopsticks. When there are more people, there are more things to do. And now is the critical time for you to prepare for the exam. I don't want you to be distracted by trivial matters."
As she spoke, she sighed, with some helplessness in her tone:
"It's all my fault for being so soft-hearted. Your second aunt assured me time and again that her niece would stay in the side courtyard after coming to Beijing. But look at her now? One moment your grandmother has her copying scriptures, the next she's asking her to attend classes with Wanyi. Isn't this just running around the house?"
"Your grandmother also said not to worry, that Su Ying would never surpass Wan Yi and steal her limelight. But I wasn't thinking about that at all. I was only thinking about your Spring Examination."
She grasped Du Heng's hand and solemnly instructed:
"Heng'er, if you feel disturbed, don't worry about your grandmother or your second aunt. Whether it's respectable or not, whether it's respectable or not, it's not as important as your success in the exam."
At this point, Cheng simply stopped trying to hide her feelings and told her everything she had done to Su Ying. "That day, for your sister's birthday, I took Su Ying out specifically to teach her a lesson. I know you're a good child, focused solely on your studies, with no other concerns. It's just that girls tend to understand things earlier than boys. If you ever sense anything's wrong, remember to tell your mother."
She paused for a moment, then said coldly, "If Su Ying really has some evil intentions, I don't care whose niece she is. Even if the Jade Emperor comes, I have to kick her out!"
Ridiculous, ridiculous!
His mother's words finally dispelled the doubts that had been lingering in Du Heng's mind for a long time.
No wonder, no wonder she always avoids him!
I originally thought it was the gender difference that made her hesitant, and I even thought it was my own seriousness that made her afraid. But now I know that the reason she avoided him was because of his mother!
Seeing his mother getting more and more excited, Du Heng finally couldn't help but said in a deep voice, "Mother, please be careful with your words."
Du Heng's expression was serious. Cheng was stunned and called out, "Brother Heng?"
"Mother, please don't ever say that again."
He stood up and knelt solemnly. Cheng was about to pull him up, but he refused to comply. He simply said, "It is understandable that mother is worried about her son's imperial examination. I believe that not only mother, but also grandmother, second aunt, Wanyi, and everyone in the Du family all attach great importance to her son's imperial examination."
But the mother needs to understand that her son’s academic performance is his own business. If one day her son really fails to make the list, it is because he is stupid and has nothing to do with others.
"Furthermore, my son has been studying since he was three years old, and it has been fifteen years now. He passed both the Tongshi and Xiangshi exams and achieved his goals. Now he is only one step away. Will he be distracted and lose his ambition just because there is a relative living in our house?"
He raised his head, gazing at Cheng with piercing eyes, his words tinged with confusion and disbelief: "Mother, do you not believe your son's ten-plus years of hard study are enough, or are you too confident that others can influence your son's determination?"
Cheng never expected that she was just careless for a moment and blurted out some of her complaints about her mother-in-law's favoritism towards Su Ying. Her son heard it with disappointment. She panicked and hurriedly explained, "Heng'er, how could mother not believe you? I just, just..."
Du Heng interrupted her and continued, "I know that Mother didn't mean that, and I also know that she was just venting her anger.
But mother doesn't know that as the mistress of the house, many things may seem like just a thought or a word to you, but in the eyes of the servants, they may indicate the direction of the wind.
They remember your every smile, every word and every action, and they ponder your likes and dislikes. You said that when you brought Su Ying back to punish her, the servants would inevitably look down on this cousin who was staying with you.
You just said that Second Aunt would find Su Ying a husband after the Spring Examination. No matter who she ultimately marries, she'll stay in the capital. Whether she's had a good or bad time at the Du Mansion this year is obvious to everyone. Why don't you be more tolerant and treat her well? Let the Du Mansion, and your son's future career, be free from criticism?
"I believe that this is why Grandmother praised Su Ying. Being kind to others is being kind to yourself. Mother, please don't overthink it. I know my own affairs, so please don't involve others."
At the end of his speech, Du Heng sighed softly: "Let's not talk about anything else. Su Ying is, after all, Second Aunt's niece and a relative of the Du family. How can you just kick someone out of the house? Mother, please don't say these words again in the future."
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