At the beginning of February, the spring was still chilly and the branches and leaves were sprouting tender new green. Minglan was in a good mood and decided to write two large characters to welcome the spring. She spread out the desk that had been idle for the whole winter and asked Danju to carefully grind a thick inkstone. Just as she picked up the pen to write the line "Three or two branches of peach blossoms outside the bamboo", Molan came to visit. Minglan hurriedly put down her pen and welcomed her in with a smile.
After the greetings, Molan looked up and saw a table made of huanghuali wood with a crabapple carved into it and inlaid with marble. There was a layer of snow-white rice paper spread out, the ink still wet. She smiled and said, "Sorry to bother you with your studies." Minglan smiled and said, "I was just writing for fun, how can I call it studying?"
Molan walked over to the table, picked up the paper, and looked at it, critically saying, "You dare to write with a brush like this? You don't have any strength at all. The pen is not strong enough, so the words are just clumped together!"
Minglan was criticized right away and said embarrassedly, "My only decent calligraphy is regular script, and it was learned by copying scriptures." Please, how can those who practice in their spare time to get some extra points for the college entrance examination be the same as those who truly practice art day and night?
Molan glanced at Minglan with contempt, and without saying a word, she picked up the pen and wrote a few words in a flash, continuing the sentence "The ducks know first when the spring river water is warm." Sure enough, the words were full and round, much better than Minglan's. However... although she couldn't write, she could see that these words were still worse than the old lady's.
Of course, Minglan still cheered loudly and praised enthusiastically. Molan looked at her own words, feeling quite proud. She continued writing. Just as she finished the last word, adding a thick dot to the word "time", Rulan also arrived. When she saw Molan, she frowned and said, "Why are you here too?"
Minglan didn't have time to praise Molan's final touches before she went to welcome Rulan into the room. Yancao, who had already lifted the curtain, was already used to it and went to make tea without waiting for instructions. Molan put down her pen, walked out from behind the desk, and said with a smile, "You can come, but I can't?" Minglan quickly tried to smooth things over, jokingly saying, "It's mainly because my place is so good. The tea is good, the snacks are good, and the host is especially good."
Molan and Rulan spat at her together.
It was unknown when the three sisters started to gather at Mucangzhai. To be honest, Rulan's Taoran Pavilion was the most comfortable and luxurious, but every time Molan went in, she would tease her for being "vulgar and rustic". Molan's Shanyueju was the most elegant and pleasant, with pens, ink, paper and inkstones piled everywhere. Rulan would provoke the "fake pedant" when she went in, and a war would often break out before they could even say a few words. Only Minglan had the nerve to shrug it off.
Rulan went around the table to look at the large calligraphy as well. Although she couldn't judge the quality of the calligraphy, she still wanted to say a few words: "Why don't you use swallow-shaped paper? Didn't my uncle send a lot of it this New Year?" Minglan cupped her hands and said fearfully: "That's too expensive. I don't need it for ordinary calligraphy practice."
Mo Lan snorted coldly, "Calligraphy is all about the brushwork. Even Wang Xizhi's 'Lanting Preface' was written on ordinary paper, yet it has been passed down through the ages. Is it because of the paper?"
Minglan quickly interrupted, "You two sisters are both right, but my calligraphy skills are only suitable for ordinary rice paper. If you want to come to write with me in the future, please bring your own good paper."
She was not afraid of their quarrel, but it would be better if the battlefield was not Mu Cang Zhai. The last time they were angry with each other, Molan smashed a cloisonné incense box casually, and Rulan dropped three famille rose bean green glaze Xishi cups with a wave of her hand. It was not easy to claim compensation, and Minglan felt very distressed.
Yancao came up with a tea tray, followed by Danju, who was carrying a basket of pastries. Minglan quickly pulled them both to the table and said with a smile, "These are the red bean paste pastries that the roommate made yesterday. I got them from the old lady. Sisters, have a try."
As usual, Molan commented on the tea and Rulan also made a few comments on the snacks, which calmed the atmosphere.
After a few words, they talked about yesterday's visitor. Rulan said, "Mother said that Madam He is quite knowledgeable in medicine. She came to chat with the old lady. After a few words, she took the old lady's pulse and looked at her health. Then she didn't ask us to go and see her."
Mo Lan politely moved the lid of his teacup and said with a smile, "I heard that the young master of the He family who came with us is also studying medicine. Alas... practicing medicine is good, but unfortunately, even if you enter the Imperial Hospital and become a judge, you can only be a fifth or sixth rank at most."
Rulan snorted, "If you're capable, you'll never see a doctor again!" Molan ignored Rulan, only glanced at Minglan and smiled meaningfully, "But... fortunately, our family has a clean record and simple words."
Minglan lowered her head to drink her tea, not responding. Rulan, unaware of the situation, changed the subject, "We're going to Guangji Temple the day after tomorrow. Sixth sister, have you decided what to wear? I want to wear the large phoenix hairpin inlaid with filigree beads that my eldest sister gave me. The shrimp-shaped hairpin on it shakes and it's so fun."
Minglan smiled and said, "As for me, I'll just wear that lotus-shaped silver-thread headpiece inlaid with emerald jade." Rulan wrinkled her nose and said disdainfully, "It's too shabby. Can't you give our family face? If you don't have a better one, I'll lend it to you!" She was intimidating.
Minglan didn't care. She put down her tea bowl and said seriously, "We're going to burn incense and pray for blessings. You're wearing so much gold. Be careful not to dazzle the Buddha's eyes and then she won't hear what you're praying for! And gaining face? Be careful not to be noticed by robbers. That would be really embarrassing!"
Rulan glared and said, "Who dares to rob at the feet of the emperor? I've been bored for so many days, I really want to have some fun. I also want to wear my wife's gold hairpin with jeweled flowers and pearl necklace." Her intention to show off was evident in her words.
"Oh my God, you can open a jewelry store with what you are wearing. Fifth sister, please be kind and spare your poor neck!" Minglan complained. Rulan reached out to pinch her face, and Minglan quickly dodged.
Seeing the two of them laughing and joking together, Molan felt a little left out, so she said sarcastically, "In previous years, we always went to burn incense in the first month of the lunar year, but this year you waited until now. What's the fun in that? And you're still so happy."
Rulan immediately turned around and retorted, "The old lady said that the capital is full of people of all kinds. If we go to burn incense during the first month of the year when there are many people, we won't be able to properly supervise it. Don't worry about causing trouble later! Do you think you can drive away the idlers in and out of the temple in Dengzhou? What if a scoundrel sees us?"
Molan chuckled and said, "Sister, you've watched too many operas. You're so worried. During the first month of the year, most of the people who go there are from prominent families. Even if we don't keep a close watch, they will be on high alert. What is there to be afraid of? The old lady is too cautious. After all, she is old."
Minglan felt uncomfortable after hearing this and frowned as she said, "Is there no playboy among the noble families? Sister is so beautiful and loved by everyone, you should avoid causing trouble for father and brother." There was a hint of coldness in her voice.
Molan choked and gritted her teeth, "What do you mean, sister?!"
Minglan smiled and said, "What did your sister say?"
Molan glared at her angrily, but Minglan refused to back down. Rulan was very excited, but unfortunately, the two of them only stared at each other for a moment before Minglan looked away, smiled gently, and said, "What my sister means is that the elders are always more thoughtful than we think, and we, as the younger generation, should just be obedient."
Molan sat down angrily. Rulan was still not satisfied and was about to add two more sticks of firewood when the curtain suddenly opened and a smart and pretty little girl came in. It was Rulan's maid Xiao Xi Que. She bowed respectfully to the other girls, then smiled and said to Rulan, "Fifth Miss, the Madam wants you to go."
Rulan slapped her face in surprise and exclaimed, "Oh, I forgot again! The madam asked me to help her with some account books." She deliberately looked at the two Lans, not without pride, "...Fourth sister, sixth sister, I'm leaving first." After saying that, she left in a hurry.
After the person left, Molan slammed the table and said angrily, "Look at her arrogant look! Madam is too partial!"
Minglan picked up the teacup again and blew gently, saying, "Mrs. Lin teaches Fourth Sister poetry and songs, Madam teaches Fifth Sister how to manage the household and keep accounts, and I learn some needlework from Madam Fang. Isn't that great?"
Molan looked at Minglan and felt like she was punching cotton. She was holding her breath and said sarcastically, "I heard that the He family's son's grandfather has retired. His only uncle is the prefect in the south. I wonder if he can look after his nephew."
Minglan said nothing, just listened silently until she finished speaking. Then she put down the tea bowl, turned slightly to face Molan, and said seriously, "Sister, do you still remember Sister Meiyun from Dengzhou?"
Molan didn't expect Minglan to suddenly bring this up. She was stunned for a moment before she said, "I remember. What's the matter?"
Minglan said slowly, "Sister Meiyun is the daughter of Magistrate Liu. Madam Liu is quite kind and compassionate. Last year, she married a poor local scholar." Seeing that Molan was confused, Minglan continued, "It's not just her. We've been in Dengzhou for so many years, and Sister Meiyun has known so many women. How are those daughters of concubines marrying?"
Molan gradually understood what she meant. Her face turned grim, and her delicate eyebrows arched into sharp corners. Minglan continued, "Speaking of which, Sister Yunzhu, the luckiest of them all, only married a colleague's legitimate son. That was because her wife had no daughters of her own, so she treated Sister Yunzhu as her own. As for the others, Sister Jin'e married a middle-aged man as a concubine, but fortunately, she had no sons. Sister Ruichun married a wealthy man in town. The most pitiful are Shunniang and her sister. County Magistrate Qian was only concerned with his own greed and lust, and never cared about the lives of his illegitimate children. They were left to his wife's control. One was given to the Shandong Provincial Surveillance Commissioner as a concubine, and the other married a wealthy country man over fifty years old as a concubine, in exchange for a large gift..."
Molan thought of the girls she once knew, so charming and beautiful, yet so fleeting, all gone. Her heart sank. Minglan sighed softly, "Those who can socialize among the ladies are considered respectable. I wonder what those concubines, confined by their wives, are doing? ... My eldest sister is marrying into an earl's mansion, and the few ladies from the capital you've been befriending lately are all very respectable too, but can we compare to them?"
The legitimate daughter is better than the illegitimate daughter not only in terms of birth and education. The legitimate daughter is in a position that can be attacked or defended. If she succeeds, she may even be able to marry a rich and powerful person. But it is different for the illegitimate daughter. She is neither high nor low. She lives in the same circle as her legitimate sisters, meets the same people and lives the same life. But in the end, when they get married, bam, there is a huge difference between them. The sense of loss caused by this comparison is very terrible.
Molan said in a deep voice, "We are different. My father is an able official, and my brother is young and promising." After a pause, she whispered, "Forget about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. In terms of talent, learning, character and appearance, how am I inferior to others? Isn't it just that I wasn't born in the madam's womb? Look at Changdong. Even the servants in the mansion flatter and belittle me. If I hadn't been more careful, I would have been trampled into the mud. Why should I be inferior to others all my life?"
Minglan suddenly felt suffocated. She stood up to open the window and whispered, "I hope your wish comes true." - How to distinguish between ambition and restlessness? The higher you climb, the harder it is to fall. What if you can't succeed? As sisters, I have tried my best to persuade her. If she continues to be stubborn, it is no one's fault. Minglan is not a saint.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
