Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Seeing Each Other
Banquets are an indispensable scene in the interactions between families in the capital.
People who know each other, those who are close or distant, all gathered together. It looked lively and warm, but there were actually undercurrents. They were quietly passing on the latest news in the capital. Amidst the laughter and chatter, one could not tell whose family or person had become the topic of conversation.
The one who occupies the tongue today is Liu Jinshu.
Liu Jinshu had been the target of many families since he passed the imperial examination, but he was too absorbed in studying the classics to have any interest in marriage. While his peers were already fathering two or three children, he was still taking his time and showing no signs of rushing.
"He is not anxious, but his mother is very anxious. Now, he has finally come to see me." The speaker was Mrs. Zhou. Her hair was full of pearls and jade, and she was dressed in fashionable clothes, but she could not hide the frail look between her eyebrows.
She raised her chin towards the shade of the trees in front of her, her eyes full of envy.
There was a moment of silence at the table, and several burning gazes turned over.
That is the most beautiful and quiet water pavilion in Pingyang Marquis Mansion. Only the upturned eaves of the water pavilion can be seen through the lush willow forest.
"Which girl are you looking at?" someone asked with concern.
"The third daughter that the Zhang family just brought back." The person who answered looked at Mrs. Zhou. "I remember you wanted to marry into the Zhang family before. I think it was her."
Mrs. Zhou curled her lips and said, "I thought they were all girls from the Zhang family, so they wouldn't be much different. I didn't expect... Alas, we were also deceived."
Even a family like the Zhou family looked down on her, let alone the Liu family.
How can a chicken turn into a phoenix? It would be horrifying if a vulgar country girl could surpass all the famous ladies in the city!
The atmosphere at the banquet immediately became lively, with high and low laughter spreading out like waves. When the waves touched the people under the shade of the trees, they broke into foam and then disappeared in the bright sunshine.
In the shade of the trees, the maid led Mrs. Jiang towards the waterside pavilion.
Next to Mrs. Jiang was a tall little girl who was wearing a long jacket with a moon-white background embroidered with red peonies, and a pleated skirt that looked like sky-blue after rain. She looked simple and elegant yet charming, and walked with vigor, which immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Perhaps feeling everyone's gaze, the little girl turned her head and looked over.
She had an oval face, almond eyes, a high nose bridge, and rosy lips, exuding a quiet and pretty look, with a hint of sharpness between her brows. Her appearance was not uncommon, but among the many beautiful ladies in the capital, she was not considered the best.
Just then, the little girl smiled.
That smile was sincere and bright, like a warm spring breeze blowing across the gray and lonely branches, and instantly thousands of peach trees bloomed. It made people feel warm in their hearts and couldn't help but smile too.
"Is that... the third daughter of the Zhang family?"
She is different from the rustic and ignorant country girl in the rumors. Could it be that someone is deliberately slandering her?
The burning gazes fell on Mrs. Zhou, burning her face. It was not right to remain silent, nor to argue. She only hated that Zhang Xiaoman was so handsome and not at all timid, but made her lose face in public!
She was annoyed and bitter, "I have worked so hard for Master Liu."
This one sentence made everyone look at Zhang Xiaoman with complicated eyes again. Someone let out a faint sigh, which euphemistically expressed the feelings of these ladies.
The warm wind blew by, and the gossip was blown away by the wind before it reached Xiaoman's ears.
Although she had no expectations for this blind date, she was representing the Zhang family's daughter and her stepmother's reputation was also at stake. It would be a lie to say that she wasn't nervous.
She let out a sigh and followed her stepmother onto the pier.
As soon as the maid finished reporting, Mrs. Jiang, the wife of the Prince of Pingyang, came out to greet her.
"Aunt." Zhang Xiaoman knelt down and greeted.
Little Jiang looked at her carefully for a while, nodded and smiled at Madam Jiang, saying, "After being raised by your side for so many days, she has indeed made a lot of progress. She looks like a lady from a noble family."
Mrs. Jiang glanced at her sideways, "What do you mean by 'similar'? Our Xiaoman is exactly like that."
Her tone was a bit harsh, but the two sisters were used to playing around since they were young, so little Jiang didn't care at all. "Yes, yes, it was my fault for saying something inappropriate."
Then he lowered his voice and said, "Let's go in quickly. My eldest sister-in-law arrived early in the morning and asked about you several times."
When Mrs. Jiang heard this, she hurriedly pulled Zhang Xiaoman inside.
Zhang Xiaoman felt a little uncomfortable.
Pingyang Marquis Mansion was Madam Qin's family home, so she had come so early, so she wasn't necessarily waiting for them. Besides, Madam Qin would have surely heard them talking at the door, yet she remained seated in the room.
There is not much difference between the two families' backgrounds, and Mrs. Qin's behavior is a bit arrogant.
If she could think of this, her stepmother could certainly think of it too, but she only lowered herself for her marriage.
The stepmother greeted Madam Qin, and after a few warm greetings, she mentioned her name.
Zhang Xiaoman took a deep breath and looked up at the person sitting there.
He had a thin face, pale complexion, high cheekbones, a calm expression, and a hint of majesty. The look he cast at me was scrutinizing, not very unpleasant, but not very comfortable either.
Zhang Xiaoman squatted down and bowed politely.
Ever since she returned to Beijing, she has been taught etiquette by a nanny, which seems quite intimidating at first glance.
Madam Qin smiled lightly, but glanced towards the door before speaking. "Please sit down, poor thing. You must have suffered a lot out there. It's a wonder you came back safe and sound."
Zhang Xiaoman smiled and said, "Life here is definitely worlds apart from life in the capital. To be honest, before coming here, I couldn't imagine such a life existed in the world. For breakfast, there are four or five kinds of porridge alone, plus all kinds of dishes, snacks, and steamed buns. Even an eight-person table couldn't accommodate them all. In the countryside, even during the New Year, you can't eat such good food."
She looked at her clothes, then at her hands, and sighed, "When I first returned to the Zhang family, I saw silk and satin for the first time. They were so rare, I touched them, and the calluses on my hands immediately scratched the clothes. Later I learned that the dress was worth enough to buy ten acres of land. I was so heartbroken that I couldn't sleep for several nights."
When she spoke, she was a little embarrassed, but she did not feel inferior at all, as if she was joking about her own embarrassing moments with someone close to her.
The three ladies in the room also laughed, and the willow trees outside the window rustled their branches, drowning out the one or two chuckles in the woods.
Zhang Xiaoman added: "Life in the countryside is not that hard. I have clothes to wear and food to eat. Compared to those who can't even fill their stomachs, I'm still quite lucky."
She is an open-minded girl who doesn't always complain about everything.
Madam Qin's expression softened a bit, but she was still not polite. "Xuanfu is remote and cold, but it's hard to find a place of joy, and there are some things to be happy about."
Zhang Xiaoman didn't seem to notice the disapproval in her words, and continued to smile, "That place is indeed poor. Farmers don't have much time for fun. They spend most of their time working to make a living."
"The day begins before the sun rises. First there's the creaking sound of a door opening, and then the air gradually fills with the faint smell of wood smoke, mixed with the aroma of hot porridge. It smells wonderful."
"Soon, young men came running out the door one after another, carrying school bags on their shoulders, laughing and running towards the private school at full speed."
"Then, early risers appeared on the small bridge at the entrance of the village, carrying baskets of vegetables. Most were mothers with their daughters. Their baskets were filled with seasonal vegetables: chives, leeks, garlic sprouts, celery, radishes... all juicy, plump and tender, and sure to fetch a good price in town."
Her face showed a kind of nostalgia and melancholy for the past. "Grandma worked from dawn to dusk tending the vegetable garden, and I would go to the market before dawn to sell my vegetables. I saved money all year and bought a piece of red cloth to make a new dress for the New Year. It made me so beautiful that I refused to take it off even when I slept."
No matter how many new clothes I have now or how expensive they are, I can never get the same feeling as I did back then.
The gentle breeze brought with it moist water vapor, making the bamboo forest rustle.
The young man hiding behind the bamboo forest was listening intently.
Mrs. Qin glanced calmly at the bamboo forest outside the window. Such a growing environment was obviously not suitable for the Liu family, a family of scholars.
But the necessary formalities had to be completed, so he asked her what she did on a daily basis and whether she had gone to school.
Mrs. Jiang winked at her.
Zhang Xiaoman understood what her stepmother meant. If she wanted to leave a good impression on Madam Qin, she had to rely on music, chess, calligraphy and painting.
But she could only write one stroke which was passable.
Zhang Xiaoman is not one for boasting and bluffing, so she chose to be honest. "When I was little, I studied for a few days with a private school teacher in the village, but it was just so-so. I loved running and jumping around. Whenever I had free time, I would play shuttlecock, jump rope, and swing on the swings. I never had a moment to rest."
As she spoke, she couldn't help laughing. "When I first returned to the capital, I couldn't sit still and the headmaster was so angry that she wanted to hit me on the palm with a ruler. Unfortunately, she couldn't run as fast as me and couldn't catch up with me."
Mrs. Jiang thought to herself that this was bad, but Mrs. Qin smiled and said, "You must be in good health."
Zhang Xiaoman nodded. "Not bad. I'm very strong and much stronger than an ordinary woman."
Mrs. Qin looked her up and down, with a smile that held a hint of something else.
Mrs. Jiang had an idea. The Liu family had only one son for three generations and had few offspring. Mrs. Qin herself was sick every other day. It is said that the less you have, the more you want. Could it be that she was interested in Xiaoman's health?
Yin smiled and said, "Apart from anything else, this child is in really good health. Take the cold that was prevalent in the capital in early spring. Most of my family members fell ill, and the house was filled with the smell of medicine for a month. But she was fine. She even took care of me day and night for a long time, regardless of the risk of contracting the disease."
"Xiaoman is lively and funny. I've laughed more in the past six months since she came back than in the past ten years combined." Mrs. Jiang struck while the iron was hot. "She's been close to me since she was little. Back then, when she was only two years old and no taller than a chair leg, she knew how to fan me and wipe my sweat."
"Other children only pay lip service to their filial piety, and at most order their servants to serve them attentively. But she is the only one who truly cares about me."
It was good when she was young, and it will be even better when she grows up. This is almost a literal statement. The fourteen years of wandering outside did not make her grow up astray.
Mrs. Qin praised, "He is a filial child."
Little Jiang also echoed the praise. Madam Qin smiled and nodded. She glanced at the door again and suddenly asked, "Why hasn't the fourth young lady arrived yet?"
Mrs. Jiang was shocked and looked at her sister with doubts.
Xiao Jiang shook her head, indicating that she didn't know what was going on.
Madam Qin looked around and slowly explained, "A few days ago, Master Zhang invited my master to a drink and mentioned the Fourth Young Lady. I thought she would come today too..."
Mrs. Jiang was stunned and then became furious.
No wonder Aunt Yao had been so quiet these days, as if she didn't exist. It turned out she was secretly instigating Zhang Wen to go directly to the Liu family. She resented her husband for not telling her anything, for being so wary of her. For the sake of a concubine, he completely disregarded their years of marital love!
However, in front of outsiders, she had to maintain the face of the Zhang family, so she had to force a smile and use excuses such as "I'm not feeling well" to get away with it.
Mrs. Qin's eyes sparkled, she smiled but said nothing.
The atmosphere in the pavilion became subtle, and the only sound that could be heard was the rustling of wind through the treetops.
At this moment, one or two faint coughs sneaked into the pavilion with the wind.
Mrs. Qin showed a look of surprise on her face and subconsciously looked out the window.
Behind the layers of bamboo forest, a jade-colored robe corner swayed past. Xiaoman, with her sharp eyes, saw it immediately and guessed who was behind the tree in a moment.
"Go call Jinshu over." Before Mrs. Qin finished her words, a maid came hurriedly and whispered a few words in Xiao Jiang's ear.
Little Jiang's expression froze for a moment, then she smiled and said to her sister, "The fourth girl is here to bring you medicine. You actually forgot to take your usual pills."
Mrs. Jiang knew clearly that this must be a trick of the Yao mother and daughter!
Because she was a relative's daughter, and with Master Zhang's words, the Marquis's gatekeeper didn't dare to stop her. Now that she was at the second gate, with so many guests coming and going, even if she was angry, she had to hold it in. She couldn't let outsiders see her as a laughing stock.
They were certain that she would swallow her anger in order to maintain the dignity of the Zhang family.
Mrs. Jiang took a deep breath and said, "Bring her in."
She wanted to see what kind of waves this mother and daughter could make!
After a while, Zhang Junyi was led to the water pavilion by a maid.
She was already outstanding in appearance, and she had dressed up carefully today. She wore a red brocade jacket and skirt with gold-woven precious flowers, which made her look very noble. Her hairpins and jewelry did not swing when she walked, and her posture when she saluted was graceful. One could tell at a glance that she was a lady from a famous family.
As soon as she appeared, she made Zhang Xiaoman look a little plain.
Mrs. Jiang was furious and only nodded slightly to her without saying a word.
Zhang Junyi had a perfect smile on her face. "Mother's health is the most important thing. Although it's a minor illness, if I miss a meal, the medicine will be less effective. This is what father meant. Mother, please don't blame your daughter for being reckless."
My father meant...
Mrs. Jiang sneered. Who are you targeting?
Now that there are no outsiders here, there is no need to save face for her.
Mrs. Jiang said slowly, "I am in good health now and have not taken medicine for a long time. You are used to serving your aunt, so you may not know why."
Zhang Junyi bit her lip and her face slowly turned red.
Zhang Xiaoman felt her embarrassment.
As both are girls of the Zhang family, there is no difference between who is superior and who is inferior. However, in the eyes of most people, there is still a difference between a girl raised by a concubine and a girl raised by her biological mother.
At the same time, she couldn't help but wonder, even though she knew it would anger her stepmother, the fourth sister still came. Were she and Aunt Yao sure that the Liu family would like her?
Mrs. Jiang laughed again. "The sun is so strong today. It's hard for you to come all the way here for nothing. You should take a good rest when you get home to avoid getting sick again."
As he spoke, he looked towards Madam Qin, his tone quite emotional, "Our fourth daughter is good in every way, except that she's a little delicate. She can't stand the cold, the heat, or the wind, and she loses her appetite and can't eat easily. We put so much effort into raising her to this age, and she's the one our parents miss the most."
This sounded awkward, and Zhang Junyi couldn't tell what was wrong. Nowadays, women in the capital were in fashion to be slender and charming, and it was best to give a feeling of being fragile, sickly and thin.
She was naturally plump and didn't dare eat much, only finally starving herself to achieve a slender waist. Coupled with the charming looks given to her by her aunt and the leisurely elegance cultivated by the Zhang family's affluent life, she used to easily catch everyone's attention wherever she went.
She is confident, which is the look most favored by scholars and literati.
The aunt also said that Zhang Xiaoman could not be compared with her, and as long as the Liu family planned to marry into the Zhang family, they would definitely choose her.
But why did Mrs. Qin's gaze only glance at her and then look away, with a dull expression that made it impossible to tell whether she liked or disliked it?
The result was different from what she expected. Zhang Junyi felt nervous and couldn't help but look at the only person present who was friendly to her.
Zhang Xiaoman did not respond to Zhang Junyi's request for help.
We're even...
So that’s what it means.
It was a very convincing statement. She regarded them as her family, but they looked down on her from the bottom of their hearts. Even if she offered her sincere heart, they still looked down on her like a rotten stone.
The "family affection" that I once longed for so much, the "family" that I fantasized and longed for countless times, are as illusory as the moon in the water. They are right in front of me, but I can never touch them.
It's extremely boring.
She looked out the window. The sunlight filtered through the shadows of the lush trees, and bits of gold on the ground swayed in the wind. It was the Grain Full season again.
Did Chen Ling'an return to Xuanfu and inquire about her whereabouts?
A faint sigh, mixed with loss and expectation, when it reaches the ears of some people, it has a different meaning.
Mrs. Qin couldn't help but look at her twice more. During this pause, hurried footsteps were heard outside the window, and someone was talking in a panic. With the rustling sound of bushes, the outside returned to calm.
The people in the pavilion were at a loss as to what had happened.
The door curtain was suddenly thrown open, and a young servant with a pigtail crawled in, shaking like a sieve. "No, this is bad... Jinyiwei, Jinyiwei are coming... They want to take my cousin away!"
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