Qi Heng was born a favored child of heaven. He came from a distinguished family and was handsome and outstanding. He was kind and easygoing to others and had a gentle temperament. He loved to study voluntarily without being scolded by his father. He had the advantages of brother Bao but was more motivated and steady than his brother. After eating three lunches in Shou'an Hall, he laughed and talked elegantly. Even Fang's mother, who had been a widow for 28 years, began to soften her expression.
About twenty years ago, the Duke of Qi's mansion was very lucky. The two sons of the Duke each married the daughters of prominent figures who were very popular at the time. The eldest son married the eldest daughter of the Grand Marshal of the Army and the king's uncle, and the second son married the only daughter of the Marquis of Xiangyang. This made the Duke of Qi, who was originally at the bottom of the noble mansion, become extremely famous overnight. However, this good luck came at a price. The two daughters-in-law came from prominent families and naturally had bad tempers. They made their mothers-in-law dizzy and controlled their husbands to no end.
The eldest daughter-in-law, using her father's iron-fisted approach to rule the army, swept away all the women in her husband's room, plucking out all the flowers and weeds, leaving the couple with only one son, a sickly child. Although her family's influence was not as great as before, Master Qi was no longer strong enough to bear a second son. A few years later, the second daughter-in-law came into the family and followed suit, treating Qi Heng's father like a fool. After giving birth to Qi Heng, Princess Pingning could no longer have children, and she even refused to allow Master Qi to open a second battlefield. He could only watch over the princess and an elderly, childless concubine, living a miserable life.
Apart from a cousin who had been lying in the house recuperating from an illness for many years, Qi Heng didn't even have any brothers or sisters. He could usually play with his cousins, but Princess Pingning was very wary of any girl who might become her daughter-in-law, so he didn't even have much contact with his cousins on a daily basis. After entering the Sheng Mansion to study, under the concept of strict separation between men and women instilled in him by Princess Pingning day and night, Qi Heng firmly kept his distance from the two beautiful girls Molan and Rulan. Only Princess Minglan didn't say much.
So for Qi Heng, Minglan was the only little sister he had ever met, and she was pretty and well-behaved like a chubby squirrel. Qi Heng liked her the moment he saw her. However, little Minglan had a stern face and always liked to act serious. After a few meals, Qi Heng couldn't help but tease her more and more. In fact, Qi Heng was a very kind person. After eating Minglan's fish soup and fish jerky that day, the next day he brought Minglan a box of cookbooks he had found at the bottom of his own box, including recipes for soup, medicinal food, and noodles. Seeing Minglan sewing, the third day he brought her several books of the latest patterns in the capital and a bag full of beads and thread in more than a dozen colors.
Minglan couldn't resist the temptation, and after she took advantage of others, she would often become very attentive and cute. She brought a stool to Qi Heng and added tea. When she saw him coming home from school, she would ask about his well-being, "Brother Yuanruo, you have worked hard in studying. Brother Yuanruo, please take a rest." She ran around busily like a chubby squirrel, and spoke to Qi Heng in a very well-behaved and humorous way.
"Sixth sister, you are bullying the weak." Qi Heng saw Minglan playing with the goldfish with water plants and deliberately joked.
Minglan said innocently, "No, it's not. Before I fought it, I didn't know it was weaker than me."
"Then why don't you play anymore?" Qi Heng asked again when he saw her throw away the water plants.
Minglan said sincerely, "I will listen to Brother Yuanruo and stop bullying the weak." - She felt that she was really a bootlicker.
Qi Heng was very happy. He rubbed her head again and laughed heart-wrenchingly. Her beautiful eyebrows were relaxed and her face was dazzling, just like Gu Kaizhi's elegant paintings of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. The maids in Shou'an Hall were all fascinated by her.
On the fourth day, he finally didn't come for lunch. Minglan took out the water plants again and walked calmly to the goldfish tank.
"...Miss." Xiao Tao came in from outside, holding an exquisite straw basket in her hands, her face full of confusion. "Master Qi asked someone to send this to you, saying that it would be fun to use this grass to tease fish."
Ming Lanton was there, feeling completely powerless. Okay, maybe she was thinking too much...
Ever since Molan moved into Weiruixuan, Wang had a headache. Even though the girls received the same amount of money on the surface, Wang naturally gave her daughter more in private. Even if they both made three new sets of clothes every season, her own daughter would of course have two more. Even the old lady didn't say anything, so Wang was naturally happy. However, Molan looked weak but had sharp eyes. Even if Ruolan had a new hairpin, she would cry for a long time, with red and swollen eyes and a miserable expression. Then she would walk in and out of the room for everyone to see. Wang gritted her teeth in hatred and wanted to slap her.
Liu Kun's wife advised, "Madam, don't worry. Even if she goes to Master to complain, what's the harm? The three girls each have their own backers, and Master knows that. Our youngest girl has Madam, the fourth girl has Concubine Lin, and the sixth girl has the old lady. They each have their own sutras. If you have the ability, take Concubine Lin's property back and move the sixth girl from Shou'an Hall to Weiruixuan. Let Madam take full charge of raising these girls. Then, if Madam has a master who is kind to her, she can speak out."
Wang was annoyed and said, "Of course I know what's going on. I'm not afraid to tell the master, but that damn girl keeps going in and out with a sad face. I wonder what kind of rumors people will spread about me."
Liu Kun's wife laughed and said, "The child is innocent, thinking that this way she can control the mistress. Why don't you go to the master first and tell him that the mistress hasn't hit or scolded her, and has provided her with good food and drink, but the fourth girl still cries all day long. The mistress is worried that she can't take good care of her, so she decided to let her go back. The mistress hasn't even touched the fourth girl, so let's see what she can say. If she really dares to accuse the mistress of favoritism, then the mistress will have something to say."
Wang hesitated and said, "...What if she doesn't say anything and just cries?"
Liu Kunjia shook her head and said, "Madam, you can say that. Not only did you take good care of her, but she didn't come to a good end. She cried all day long and was half dead. It was like a stepmother bullying her daughter. You can't bear this bad reputation. What should I do, Master?"
Wang felt that although it was a bit awkward, it was indeed in accordance with etiquette, so she did as Liu Kun's family did. After hearing this, Sheng Hong was indeed displeased, so he went to talk to Molan, and asked Molan to kneel down and lecture her as soon as he entered the door. The maids outside only heard Molan crying and Sheng Hong scolding her, "... learn the despicable tricks of crying, making a fuss and then hanging yourself", "... learn the manners of a lady from a noble family", "... take back... the property", and so on, and then he left in a huff.
This was the first time in her life that Molan was scolded by her father. She cried all night. The next day, she went to pay her respects to Wang obediently, served tea and water, and acted like a daughter. She listened to whatever Wang said, even when she was scolded, she lowered her head and listened obediently. Seeing her aggrieved look, Wang didn't want to be arrogant anymore, so she pretended to be the legitimate mother.
Ancient times was a patriarchal society with a clear division of labor between men and women. Men worked to earn money while women managed the household. When children were born, everyone took care of them half. Sheng Hong took care of his sons' studies and helped them become officials to earn a living. Wang was responsible for educating his children and their behavior, distributing monthly wages, taking care of the household, and regulating the servants. She also had to make clothes and jewelry for her daughters regularly. If she came to visit the wives of officials in Dengzhou, she would bring the three Minglans out to meet the guests. However, Old Lady Sheng was very surprised and did not let Minglan go twice out of three times.
After a few days of being the legitimate mother, Wang suddenly realized something and sighed, "Master is really very calculating. He really has the heart of a loving father!"
Liu Kun's wife was sitting on the kang, checking accounts with Wang. Upon hearing this, she hurriedly asked why. Wang smiled bitterly and said, "Master has always wanted to register those two maids under my name. Minglan is fine, the old lady has taken her in. When she grows up, I guess I won't have to worry about her. Look at how the young master of the Qi family behaved this time. He knows that this girl is honest and hasn't learned the shameless flattery. She knows her position and won't compete with her elder sister. Registering her under my name is fine. At most, I can give her some dowry later. But the fourth girl... hmph! Master knows that the feud between Concubine Lin and me has been going on for years. We have no relationship with our children, so he can't force me to take in the fourth girl. So he came up with this idea. He wants to bring her over first, let me raise her, and take her to guests. Then, when Molan is older and ready to get married, he'll ask me to register her under my name. I can't refuse."
After hearing this, Liu Kun's wife secretly thought that the Madam had made great progress. She smiled and said, "Madam, you are right. I think that is true. But Madam, don't worry. It is a common practice for wealthy families to register a concubine's daughter under the name of the legitimate mother. Recording this kind of thing in the family tree is just a deception to the ancestors and the descendants. Who in this world doesn't know everyone else's background? Could it be that the outsiders who come to propose marriage really think that Molan is Madam's daughter? It is just that she looks more respectable and can get a good marriage. But even if she looks more respectable, can she be more respectable than Madam's legitimate daughter?!"
Wang sighed and said, "I know what you mean, but I'm just unhappy about it." Thinking of how Aunt Lin was favored in the past, Wang felt suffocated with anger. She kept thinking about how to make that bitch's daughter marry miserably, but she couldn't do anything rash. If she accidentally implicated her own daughter, it would be a loss.
Liu Kun's wife saw Wang's expression and knew she was getting stuck in a rut again, so she advised, "Madam, please relax a bit. When a girl gets married, she'll be relying on her family's reputation. If Bo'er becomes successful, she'll have to rely on Madam's opinion. In my opinion, Madam, don't be angry with the maids and concubines. Focus on Bo'er's studies. The autumn examination is about to begin. We just hope our eldest young master can pass it. That would ensure Madam's dignity for the rest of her life!"
Wang Shi thought of her eldest son and suddenly became spirited. She patted her embroidered cushion and said, "That's right. That bitch always praised Feng'er for his learning. He took two attempts to pass the provincial examination, but the master doted on him like a spoiled child. It's ridiculous that he failed the imperial examination this time. Let's see how she'll continue to talk nonsense in the future! You reminded me well. It's a good thing mother sent you here!"
After studying like this for a year, the provincial examination was approaching. Mr. Zhuang was lecturing on scriptures and literature intensively, so he simply gave Changdong, who was still reciting the "Analects of Confucius", a half-day class, leaving only the three older boys to study intensively. Although Changfeng was not a student yet, he was also considered half a candidate, so he was pulled into the pre-exam cram school. Wang was nourished with fish soup, chicken soup and pig brain soup every day. Sheng Hong felt itchy and wanted to ask a few questions, but he pretended to be calm and took a copy of the "Tao Te Ching".
Minglan, a young clerk with little political awareness, cuddled with her grandmother on the kang (kang-shaped bed) by the window, enjoying freshly steamed red bean, yam, and rice papa (rice papa), a Southern snack Minglan had invented. The two savored the delicious flavor, and Minglan mumbled, "...Mmm, it's delicious...I'll give Grandma another basket for a late-night snack to warm her stomach."
Wiping her hands with a damp cloth, Mrs. Sheng said, "Give some to Bo'er. It's not easy, but this will bring honor to the Sheng family, and you'll benefit in return." After a moment's thought, she added, "I also think the school bag you made for Dong'er last time is very good. Now that your brother is taking the exam, put your other work aside and make him something useful. Your brother will appreciate your kindness."
Minglan nodded. At the beginning, she saw that the servants around Xiao Changdong were not helpful and he had to carry many things to school by himself, so she made him a three-layer backpack with shoulder straps decorated with brocade patterns and patterns of white clouds, blue sky and green grass. She used the loose sandalwood Buddhist beads that Mrs. Sheng no longer used to make and tied the bag with an elastic band. It was light and beautiful, just like Xiao Changdong's favorite.
Minglan was very encouraged by the recognition of her craftsmanship. After Changbai sent her a pair of goldfish last time, she made a stone-blue fan cover with pine, bamboo and plum patterns and sent it to him. Changbai was so happy that he reciprocated with a woven bamboo basket pen holder, a specialty of Tongcheng.
Minglan felt that she had made an extremely wise decision on her study direction; girls could choose their study direction, but boys had only one goal to strive for - the imperial examination.
Taking the imperial examination offered numerous advantages. Successful candidates could become officials, average performers could become civil servants, and those who performed poorly could become private school teachers in the village. Most importantly, achieving academic success exempted them from taxes, and even a scholar wouldn't have to kneel before the county magistrate. The imperial examination was crucial not only for ordinary men but also for the sons of officials like Sheng Changbai. Official positions in ancient times weren't hereditary. Even though Father Sheng was an official, his sons had to rely on their own merits to pass the imperial examinations to obtain them, otherwise the Sheng family's prosperity would be limited to just one or two generations.
These were all said by Old Lady Sheng, and her tone was naturally solemn. Minglan secretly glanced at her a few times. She had discovered from a long time ago that her grandmother was very strange. Although she came from a powerful family of a marquis, she was very disdainful of those young masters who relied on their cuteness to succeed. She was opposed to those students who took the imperial examinations on their own ability, but she had an inexplicable liking for them. It was probably because of this that she fell in love with the father of Sheng Hong, the suave and elegant scholar who was the third place in the imperial examination.
As Minglan reasoned about what had happened, she unconsciously reached out to grab another cake, but found nothing. She discovered that Old Madam Sheng had already asked Fang Mama to put the snacks in the warming box and sent them away. Old Madam Sheng turned around and saw Minglan's plump little hand stretched in the air. Her brows furrowed, and she advised earnestly, "Little Ming, listen to grandma. You're getting older. You can't eat like you did when you were little. If you get too fat, your clothes won't look good on you."
Minglan retracted her chubby paw awkwardly. Wasn't she just trying to hide her beauty and pretend to be low-key?
【Author has something to say】
In the entire Dream of the Red Chamber, apart from Sister Daiyu, I only like three and a half women, Ping'er, Yuanyang, Xiaohong, and Zijuan who counts as half. The above ranking is based on personal preference.
It is said that the Red Mansion is a den of thousands of beauties, and all the beauties share the same sorrow. However, no matter how miserable those young ladies were, at least they had a good time being served. Only those maids may not have such a good life, but they could not escape the confiscation of their property and selling themselves out.
I'm saying it the other way around. I have a very high opinion of Zijuan, but essentially she lived a comfortable life in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Daiyu, as her mistress, treated her like a real sister. As the head maid, she had great authority and credibility in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Cao Xueqin's evaluation of her was "wise". Her concern for Daiyu was purely from the heart, and her advice to Daiyu was completely positive and sunny, just like an elder sister's thoughtfulness. Especially when Daiyu died later, she showed her unwavering loyalty to Daiyu until her death (several endings were like this). Among all the ladies and maids in the Grand View Garden, this kind of true love is so rare.
People then ask, why is she ranked last? Because, in essence, her loyalty and sincerity are worth it. Given Daiyu's sincerity towards her, she reciprocates positively. And to be more practical, her fate is dependent on Daiyu's. If Daiyu marries well, she's lucky; if not, she's unlucky. So, her happiness is essentially a matter of nature.
Then he said, Xiaohong, many people may not like her, but I don’t like her that much either, but I admire her very much.
In that kind of big family, there are basically two fates for girls born in the family: becoming a concubine or being married off. If she did not have Lu Chunying's awareness, she would naturally think about finding a good way out for herself in getting married. This was very natural in ancient times.
At the beginning, she set her sights on Baoyu, but unfortunately, she was scolded just by secretly bringing a cup of tea to Baoyu. After she stopped crying, she immediately realized the fierce competition. Baoyu was too far away from her, and she might not be able to win him even if she broke her head. She had just wiped the tears from her face when she heard an old nanny talking about Jia Yun as "the son of the fifth sister-in-law". Thinking of the scene of their meeting that day, she immediately felt something in her heart, and then she did the handkerchief-throwing and handkerchief-returning act.
It took Xiaohong less than half a day to go from being close to Baoyu to falling in love with Jia Yun. She adjusted her life goals and marriage partners quickly and decisively. When I read this, I felt so happy that I couldn't express it!
- Damn, you think you, Jia Baoyu, are some treasure? You are just being praised by everyone. In terms of character and talent, I think Jia Yun is one of the best in the whole Dream of Red Mansions. He is motivated, smart and capable, filial to his mother, and even Ni Er, who is known for his chivalry, treats him as his brother. The most important thing is that Xiaohong has good vision, and Jia Yun later became a grateful person, and repaid Xiaohong for his support and affection.
According to Zhi Yanzhai's comments and Cao Xueqin's story line, Xiaohong later successfully married Jia Yun, transforming from a maid into a proper wife. After suffering in the Jia Mansion, she rescued Wang Xifeng and Baoyu in the Temple of the Prison God.
It can be said that in the entire Red Mansion, Xiaohong is the only woman who is sober and actively looking for a way out (some girls are sober but negative). Her efforts make me feel a vigorous upward force. What’s important is that her climbing up is benign and does not hurt or scheme against anyone. She puts her hopes on her face and wins the appreciation of Sister Feng. She then left the Yihong Courtyard and avoided Mrs. Wang’s subsequent purge of the Yihong Courtyard. She also learned a lot of management skills under Sister Feng, and she is always grateful to the strict Sister Feng.
To be honest, Qingwen once ridiculed Xiaohong for "picking up a high branch and flying away", but she also kept a close eye on Baoyu, both openly and secretly. Compared with her pretending to be noble, in fact, she loves Baoyu to death, and her heart is as high as the sky but her life is as fragile as paper, I appreciate Xiaohong's pragmatic attitude more.
In that era, what was important was to survive and live well without harming others.
Yuanyang, needless to say, her courageous resistance to the tyrannical oppressor is a shining moment in Dream of the Red Chamber. She knew full well that the old lady's life would be short, and what would become of Yuanyang after her death? Yuanyang was not a foolish or impulsive person, but in that moment, she staked the rest of her life and everything on her dignity. Many, including me, ask ourselves: could we do the same?
Ping'er, she is my favorite.
She was Wang Xifeng's maidservant, not a child of the Jia family, so naturally she had no support from the lower classes. Xiaohong had her parents, who worked as housekeepers, to help and protect her, but she was truly alone. "With Jia Lian's customs and Fengjie's power, she managed to maneuver through it all." How difficult was it? Poor her, so young and beautiful, she wasn't even considered a concubine, just a maidservant. Every time I hear people call her "Miss Ping'er", I feel sad. That time when Jia Lian and his wife had a fight, it was not easy for them to fight each other, so they took out their anger on Ping'er. Poor Ping'er, after being beaten, had to continue serving Jia Lian and his wife as if nothing had happened.
But beneath all the sad fate, I saw a noble and kind soul. She did not complain about her misfortune, nor did she plot against others. Instead, she tried her best to be kind to others, often hiding the faults of some servants from Fengjie, forgiving Zhuier who stole the bracelet, calming down the turmoil in the kitchen, and when You Erjie was bullied and unable to live or die, she secretly rescued her at the risk of being punished by Fengjie.
She did her best to be considerate and helpful to the philandering Jia Lian, and was even more loyal to the strict and domineering Aunt Feng, advising and comforting her and caring about her sincerely. She was also the most caring to Aunt Feng when she had a miscarriage.
If Zijuan is the sincerity in favorable circumstances, Xiaohong is the sincerity in instinct, and Yuanyang is the sincerity in resistance, then Ping'er is the sincerity in the midst of thorns and difficulties.
I have read many amateur novels, in which there are many women with miserable backgrounds who seduce the male protagonists and plot against them. In the end, they always say "I am so helpless and pitiful, I have to survive", etc. I want to ask: How does she compare to Ping'er?
(Personal opinion, please don’t take any photos if you disagree, and don’t delve into it)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
