Chapter 56 I can only recognize a few words, but I don’t know how to grind ink or clean the inkstone.
Seeing her cousin looking at her thoughtfully, Taoxi lowered her head to check her dress, but didn't find anything wrong. She was a little confused, so she asked, "Miss? Did I do something wrong?"
Su Ying smiled and shook her head, saying, "No, you did a great job. With you here, I don't feel lonely in the library anymore."
After hearing this, Taoxi said shyly, "Miss."
Seeing this, Su Ying wanted to verify her thoughts even more. She walked closer to the desk and said, "There's no rush to check the bibliography today. I want to do my homework first."
As she spread out the rice paper, she casually asked, "Taoxi, do you know how to grind ink?"
Taoxi was about to answer, but she opened her mouth and then closed it again. After pursing her lips, she said with some embarrassment, "Miss, I only know a few words. I don't know how to grind ink or clean the inkstone."
What a great way to grind ink and clean the inkstone!
Su Ying couldn't help but smile. She'd simply asked if someone knew how to grind ink; a yes or no answer would have been fine, but Taoxi insisted she couldn't. It's like someone asking, "Have you ever eaten mutton?" You can simply say yes or no, but never say, "Mutton is too fishy, I've never eaten it."
What's more, how could the four words "grinding ink and washing the inkstone" be uttered by a maid who only did rough work in the front yard and could only read a few words?
Su Ying didn't show any expression, just nodded, as if it was just a casual question.
She rolled up her sleeves and picked up the inkstone. After gently pouring a few drops of water into the inkstone, she picked up the ink stick and began to grind ink.
She ground the inkstone very carefully and quietly, and Taoxi watched her intently from the side. Circle after circle, the clear water in the inkstone gradually filled with ink.
Su Ying tilted her head slightly, watching Tao Xi's gaze fall on the inkstone, and suddenly asked tentatively, "Is this ink usable?"
"It's a little gray. Can you grind it for a while longer?"
Taoxi watched carefully and answered without thinking.
Su Ying said "Oh", as if she just wanted to hear it. She continued to grind in circles as if nothing had happened, until there was no more resistance and the ink color became steady.
After some deliberate and unintentional probing, Su Ying had a clear idea in her mind. Taoxi was still young, and before coming to the library, she must have first been taught by the housemaid in the inner courtyard, and then worked in the study with the head maid.
In the Du Mansion, both the old lady and the west courtyard had study rooms, and the answer was obvious, but Su Ying hoped Taoxi was sent by the old lady. She was a little nervous and wanted to find out more.
Feigning indifference, Su Ying picked up her pen and began to write Mr. Bai's homework: "Sleeping under the bed shows her weakness, the master's servant. Playing with tiles shows her hard work, the master's diligence. Fasting and informing the ancestors shows that the master should continue the sacrifice. These three are the common ways of women and the classic teachings of etiquette and law."
This title comes from "Instructions for Women". The main idea is that a woman should obey her husband after marriage, be humble to her husband, be diligent in housework, and be filial to her parents-in-law. These are the three virtues of women.
However, Su Ying never liked these rules and regulations that confined women. She glanced at the title, and seemed to have thousands of words to express in her heart. Unconsciously, she wrote a long rebuttal.
"If husband and wife are divided by superiority and inferiority, how can they treat each other as equals?
…
God rewards hard work, not only for women, but also for men.
…
Be filial to your parents-in-law, and don't forget your parents."
When writing the last sentence, Su Ying paused and added: "Those without fathers or mothers are not included."
After a round of rebuttals, Su Ying suddenly felt relieved. She put down her brush and casually picked up the inkstone with the snow bamboo swaying in the wind. She said casually, "This snow bamboo is green. I wonder if the plum blossom on the other inkstone is red or pink?"
When Taoxi saw Su Ying pick up her pen, she stood aside, her eyes watching her nose, her nose watching her heart, silent and waiting for instructions. Only a maid who had served in the study would stand at a distance from the desk, neither too far nor too close, just right.
She listened to Su Ying pause and ask. Habits cultivated over the years are not easily changed. Her mouth moved faster than her mind, and she answered immediately: "Red plum blossoms proudly stand in the snow, so the plum blossoms are naturally red."
Su Ying realized: "Yes, Hongmei Aoxue, I actually forgot the name."
It seemed that he had no doubt about Taoxi's answer, but calmly put down the inkstone and wrote his name on the paper.
Taoxi realized she'd let the cat out of the bag after she finished answering. How could she, a maid in the front yard, know about the other inkstone screen? Her heart ached, her face flushing red. But then she saw her cousin continue writing, seemingly oblivious to the matter. Only then did she feel a little relieved.
Before coming here, the master had told me to strictly observe my identity, do my duty, and not arouse my cousin's suspicion.
Su Ying had already known the answer in her heart, but she did not feel the joy of having guessed the riddle. That indescribable emotion suddenly surged up again, as if it was about to break through the barrier she had forcibly set up.
Knock, knock, knock. There was a sudden knock on the door, which made everyone panic. Taoxi went to answer the door, but she didn't dare to look back.
For a moment, I felt my mouth dry and my cheeks burning.
The pen in her right hand was still suspended in the air, and she didn't dare put it down. She was afraid that any movement she made would make the visitor notice her panic.
"Sister Ying'er, I can't finish Mr. Bai's question again!"
A coquettish voice finally relaxed Su Ying's nervous mood. It seemed that she relaxed too quickly, and even her hands became limp. With a click, the fine goat hair brush made in Huzhou fell to the ground. There were many ink spots on the ground, which were messy and disorganized, just like her heartbeat at the moment.
The last time Wanyi was taught about her homework, it was Su Ying who gave her advice. After lunch, Wanyi thought about finishing her homework early so that she could have more time to play before the New Year. So she enthusiastically asked Qiaoshu to prepare paper and grind ink. After everything was ready, she found that she forgot the words when she picked up the pen. She had been confident at first, but now her thoughts were blocked.
She went to her brother's study first, but he refused her entry, claiming he was studying. She grumbled, but she knew her brother's exam preparation was important, so she left the west courtyard and went to the library.
"Sister Ying'er, what's wrong with you?"
As soon as Taoxi welcomed her into the house, Wanyi saw Su Ying's face turning red and white, and the pen and ink spots on the ground.
"Nothing, nothing, I just couldn't hold the pen for a moment."
Su Ying hurriedly smiled to cover it up. Just as she was about to bend over to pick up the pen, Tao Xi stopped her: "Miss, let this servant clean up."
As he spoke, he picked up the pen and then wiped the ink with a cloth.
Wanyi looked at the clever little maid and couldn't help but look at her a few more times. Then she said, "What's your name? Have I seen you somewhere before?"
When Taoxi heard this, her hand that was wiping the floor paused noticeably. Just as she was about to stand up and answer, Su Ying protected her.
"What's unclear about Mr. Bai's question? Let me take a look."
This sentence reminded Wanyi of the purpose of her trip, and she immediately put aside her curiosity about Taoxi. She hurriedly took Su Ying's hand and got closer to her.
Just as she was about to ask about something she didn't understand, she caught a glimpse of the article already written on the desk and asked in surprise, "Sister, have you finished Mr. Bai's homework?"
Su Ying finally realized that the article she had just written was extremely rebellious, completely refuting the female virtues that the world admired. She quickly shook her head and said, "No, no, I just wrote this for fun. I was just about to start my homework, sir, and I haven't even started yet!"
As he said this, he pushed the paper back, not daring to look at it again.
If anyone reads this article, they will definitely criticize her as a girl, saying that she is immoral, rude, and shocking.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
