Xin Jiuwei was still thinking about how to bring up this matter with her father when she heard the next day that her sister and father had a dispute.
"What happened?"
When Wang Qing returned, she replied, "It seems that the head of the family asked the eldest young lady to attend the Spring Banquet, but the eldest young lady was unwilling."
Xin Jiuwei understood.
My sister isn't the type to stay indoors all the time; it's likely that my father didn't just send her to the banquet, but rather wanted her to take the opportunity to continue her contact with Xie Changjing.
Xin Jiuwei went directly to her father.
"Why did Wei'er come here?"
Xin Jiuwei bowed and asked directly, "I heard that Father invited you to the Spring Banquet, sister?"
Father Xin said, "You're quite well-informed. Not only Xi Yao, but you're going too."
This was optional. After thinking it over, Xin Jiuwei told her father about what happened at Lingyan Temple that day.
To everyone's surprise, Mr. Xin was not surprised at all. "Yes, I already know about this. A few days ago, your Aunt Xie sent someone to apologize."
Xin Jiuwei was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "Since Father already knows what Xie Changjing has done, why does he still want my sister to associate with him?"
"Are you thinking that your father doesn't care about your sister at all?" Father Xin stood behind the desk, slowly writing with his brush, "Just like other prominent families, you use your daughter's marriage as a bargaining chip."
Xin Jiuwei remained silent for a while before saying, "I never thought that way. I think my sister thinks the same way. But I still want to ask Father why. Is there something else to consider?"
Father Xin said, "I already know what you said in front of the Xie family that day. I am very pleased that you have such ambition and that you value your sister."
Instead of feeling happy after being praised, Xin Jiuwei became a little nervous.
She knew that her father was observing her discreetly.
Mr. Xin had long noticed that after returning home, his usually willful and naive youngest daughter had become much more mature and even took the initiative to care about her older siblings. He was naturally pleased with this, but he also couldn't help but ponder the reasons behind it.
"If I were to ask you to guess, would you know how your father is thinking?"
Xin Jiuwei pondered for a moment, but hesitated.
Father Xin said, "Just say it."
"Does Father not want my sister to marry far away?" Xin Jiuwei asked. "Father must think that my sister is worthy of all the outstanding men in the world, just like me. However, considering the current situation, if we were to find a husband for my sister outside of Yingzhou, the journey would probably be quite long."
Father Xin smiled and said, "What do you think about betrothing Xi Yao to Qing Feng?"
Xin Jiuwei was taken aback. "Cousin Qingfeng? Although my maternal grandparents' home is not far from our Yingzhou, it seems that my sister has never spent time with him."
Father Xin said, "I do remember you. You played with Qingfeng for a while when you were little."
“My cousin is older, so naturally he should take care of his daughter,” Xin Jiuwei said. “Father, Cousin Qingfeng is indeed very good, but I think that my sister should marry someone she likes.”
Father Xin asked, "What if she were to fall for a peasant, a roughneck?"
Xin Jiuwei said, "If that's the case, I will definitely work with you, Father, to carefully examine and consider your situation, and make sure that the person is a trustworthy and reliable person."
"Daughters of noble families, how many good men are there?" Mr. Xin said calmly. "What if I insist on this marriage alliance?"
Xin Jiuwei remained silent for a while before saying, "Father is not the kind of person who would disregard his daughter's lifelong happiness. If it came to that, I think he would make the best choice for his daughter and sister."
Mr. Xin then asked, "But didn't you think the Xie family wasn't a good choice?"
Xin Jiuwei mustered her courage and said, "Father asked my sister to get close to Xie Changjing at the Spring Banquet, but he didn't actually mean for her to arrange a marriage with the Xie family, did he?"
Father Xin chuckled and shook his head. "In this family now, the one who understands my considerations best is actually Wei'er."
“Your sister has been well-read since childhood. She is proud and seems intelligent, but like your brother, she is too naive.”
"At the same time, they are naive and overly sensible, and they swallow their anger even when they are insulted. This is what is called being sensible."
"Wei'er, tell me, besides Xie Changjing's bad temper, what other problems does the Xie family have?"
Xin Jiuwei pondered for a moment and said, "The Xie family and we have been friends for generations. Although the family members are not particularly outstanding, none of Xie Changjing's brothers have a bad reputation, and the Xie uncles are reliable elders. Apart from Aunt Xie being a bit weak-willed, there are no major flaws."
Xin's father asked, "Then why is Xie Changjing an unsuitable match?"
Xin Jiuwei said, "Even if the Xie family is so good in every way, it's still just my sister and Xie Changjing living their lives. Xie Changjing has been spoiled since childhood, and he is foolish and arrogant. My sister can't get along with him. With my sister's personality, the elders being too lenient is actually a constraint, which makes it difficult for her to even point out Xie Changjing's faults."
Mr. Xin nodded. "Wei'er is insightful."
“So, Father knew Xie Changjing’s character,” Xin Jiuwei continued, “but he insisted that my sister get to know him, so that my sister would know that some people can’t be tolerated and spent a lifetime together.”
“That’s one thing,” said Mr. Xin. “Secondly, your sister should also go out for a walk.”
Xin Jiuwei said, "Father, are you a little anxious?"
Mr. Xin put down his pen. "What do you mean by that?"
“In the past, neither my daughter nor my brother were good for anything, and Father struggled to support the Xin family. That’s why you didn’t want my sister to marry far away, but wanted to find her someone who could protect her family after you… after you pass away.”
Mr. Xin smiled and said, "Wei'er has really grown up."
Xin Jiuwei felt a pang of sadness. "So, what does Father think now that I don't like Qi Huaiyu anymore?"
Father Xin did not answer, but only said, "You will know in the future."
Xin Jiuwei suddenly knelt down and bowed to her father.
"Father, looking back now, I realize how naive I was. I know you believe Qi Huaiyu is capable of being entrusted with this task, but please believe me, even without her, I can definitely make the Xin family even better than it is now."
Mr. Xin was somewhat surprised, "How did you do that?"
Xin Jiuwei said slowly, "At the very least, I will make sure that my sister and brother live out their lives well."
Mr. Xin looked at Xin Jiuwei for a long time before saying, "Get up. There's no need for such tension between us."
"I insist that your sister attend the Spring Banquet. What are you planning to do about it?"
“My daughter will help her sister,” Xin Jiuwei said. “That’s the most important thing for my daughter.”
Father Xin smiled and nodded, "Good, Wei'er, remember what you said today."
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