Chapter 79 Every family has its own troubles? Just tear it up!
Having taught the young ladies from prominent families a lesson, Sheng An and Tan Qingrou sat back down at the tea table.
"Sister is amazing!"
Tan Qingrou looked at Sheng An with bright eyes, her rosy and lovely face full of admiration: "Sister, you left them speechless with just a few words, and they could only apologize to you."
Sheng An waved his hand and smiled modestly: "Those young ladies are all respectable people. If they were shameless scoundrels, I wouldn't be able to persuade them no matter how much I talked."
Tan Qingrou shook her head slightly, her voice soft and gentle: "If someone were to slander me like this, my tears would come out before I could even utter a word in rebuttal."
She was not good with words and did not know how to please her mother, who always treated her with indifference, far less affection than her younger sister.
In the past, when the little sister cried, her mother would misunderstand and think that she was bullying the little sister. She would rush to defend herself, but she could never control her tears, and her constant crying made her mother even more displeased.
Seeing the girl's gloomy expression, Sheng An, recalling her personality, pondered for a moment and vaguely guessed her situation at home, then subtly changed the subject:
"I heard from your brother that your family is in Nanjing. I wonder if there are any good places to visit in Nanjing?"
Tan Qingrou perked up, her face showing more confidence:
"Sister, would you like to go to Nanjing? There are many fun places in Nanjing. Jiming Temple is especially lively during temple fairs, with many people from other places coming to pray for blessings. They all think the Bodhisattva at Jiming Temple is very efficacious..."
Sheng An was a good listener, looking at Tan Qingrou with encouraging eyes, nodding in response from time to time, or letting out slightly exaggerated exclamations.
This reaction greatly encouraged Tan Qingrou.
Her little face was flushed, and her big eyes were bright and sparkling, as if they had been washed with water: "Sister, when are you going to Jinling? I can go with you."
Sheng An's face showed a hint of regret: "I don't have time right now, it might have to wait until after the New Year."
Xu Jinnian had previously discussed with her that he would take her on a trip after the New Year.
If you can't waste too much time on the road, Nanjing is undoubtedly the best choice.
Upon hearing this, Tan Qingrou's face showed obvious disappointment: "My brother and I are going back to our hometown to spend the New Year with our grandparents. We won't be able to come back until after the first month of the lunar calendar."
Following up on her question, Sheng An asked, "Where is your hometown? Are you and your brother the only ones who go back?"
Tan Qingrou nodded: "My hometown is in Dongxing Prefecture. My father cannot leave Jinling without an imperial edict, so my mother will stay with my younger sister to accompany my father."
Mother cared most about Father, fearing that in her absence Father would be won over by the concubines in the backyard, so only she and her brother returned to their hometown every year.
Actually, she didn't like going back to her hometown; she just preferred being with her brother.
"I didn't know your hometown was so far away. It must be very difficult for you to come back and forth."
Looking at the little girl's listless face, Sheng An knew that she had no attachment to her hometown.
"Yes, twenty days will be spent on the road. My brother will have to make the most of his time to read while on the road. He won't be able to stay in our hometown for long before he has to rush back."
Tan Qingrou's brows were furrowed with heartache for her brother. After glancing around to make sure no one was listening, she whispered in a low voice, "When my brother goes back to his hometown this year, my aunt will definitely try every means to get him and my cousin engaged."
At this point, a rare look of indignation appeared on her face: "My brother has no feelings for my cousin, but my grandparents and aunt are determined to make him marry her."
Sheng An was surprised that the young girl trusted her so much that she confided her troubles to her on their first meeting. For a moment, she didn't know whether to listen or interrupt her.
Upon seeing Sheng An's expression, Tan Qingrou guessed what she was thinking. Her face flushed slightly, and she looked at Sheng An with exceptional sincerity: "Sister is not a gossipy person. Even if she knew, she wouldn't spread it."
Upon hearing this, Sheng An teased her on purpose, "What if you're mistaken?"
Tan Qingrou was taken aback for a moment, then said firmly, "I won't misjudge you."
Now it was Sheng An's turn to be stunned. She really didn't expect that the young girl would trust her so much on their first meeting.
Tan Qingrou covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes crinkling: "The moment I saw you, I felt close to you. You are a woman of great wisdom and would never speak ill of others behind their backs."
Besides, even if you don't trust your sister, you should trust your brother.
The older brother spoke highly of his older sister, which naturally indicates that she is a good person.
Sheng An was touched and really wanted to tell this innocent and lovely girl that she also had an inextinguishable gossip fire in her heart, so she should never tell her everything.
People who are supposed to keep their mouths shut will inadvertently blurt things out.
Once a secret is known to a second person, it will quickly spread throughout the entire circle of acquaintances.
Thinking this to herself, Sheng An maintained a serious expression: "Yes, my sister isn't that kind of person."
Next, she listened to all the gossip about the Tan family from the little girl.
For example, Tan's father came from a poor family, but his talent was discovered and he received help from an old teacher who loved talent. In the end, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). He gained the favor of a noble lady and his career progressed smoothly from then on.
For example, Tan's father was an official who worked away from home for many years, leaving his parents to live in their hometown. To fulfill his filial duty, he sent his eldest son and daughter back to their hometown every year to celebrate the New Year.
For example, Tan Zhenlin was targeted by his aunt from his hometown. Ever since he was six years old, she had been urging him to arrange a marriage between himself and his cousin who was two years younger than him, which annoyed him to no end.
Last year, when I went back to my hometown for the Spring Festival, it was even more frightening. My aunt and my parents conspired to lock the two of them in one room, trying to establish their relationship in this despicable way.
Fortunately, Tan Zhenlin was incredibly shrewd and easily saw through the elders' schemes, thus preventing them from succeeding.
Even so, Tan Zhenlin was furious and took Tan Qingrou ahead of schedule to return to Jinling to tell Tan's father the truth.
Tan's father was furious. He immediately wrote a letter and sent it back to his hometown with a trusted confidant, where he gave Aunt Xu a thorough dressing-down.
Hearing this, Sheng An asked in surprise, "Even after all this, your aunt still hasn't given up?"
Tan's father was a man from a poor background who had risen to prominence, and Aunt Xu had married before he became wealthy, so she must have married into a family of modest means. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to get Tan Zhenlin to marry her daughter.
Tan Qingrou sighed, her face full of worry: "As long as Father doesn't sever ties with Aunt, Aunt will never give up."
After her aunt was scolded, Yueyue sent someone to deliver a letter seeking reconciliation, along with local specialties from her hometown.
After this happened several times, the father's attitude softened. He felt that his aunt had realized her mistake and dared not scheme against his brother's marriage anymore.
Only she and her brother knew how difficult their aunt was, so how could they possibly give up so easily?
There are still three months until the Chinese New Year, and my father has mentioned going back to our hometown to my older brother, but my brother has not agreed yet.
She knew her brother would agree sooner or later, but she didn't know if her aunt's family, grandparents, or even her father could bear the consequences of her brother's agreement.
Thinking about this, Tan Qingrou felt a little excited.
Sheng An had eaten her fill of gossip about the Xu family. Looking at the delicate and lovely girl in front of her, she couldn't help but remind her, "Your brother is fighting with the people from your hometown. You must be careful and don't become one of the fish caught in the crossfire."
Tan Qingrou held her hand, her little face full of seriousness: "Sister, I will be careful."
My aunt was always one to take advantage of others' opportunities. Seeing that my father's attitude had softened, she proposed that my aunt become his daughter-in-law, and my father actually considered agreeing.
If it weren't for his brother threatening their father, saying that if their father agreed, he would give up the imperial examination and ruin his future, their father would probably have already sent her back to her hometown to wait for marriage.
Sheng An was unaware of this, only feeling that every family has its own troubles, and there are always some messy people and things.
However, if you're willing to go all out, you can just tear this scripture up.
The two sat in a corner, drinking tea and chatting, in a very harmonious atmosphere.
Seeing this scene, the ladies and young women felt even more that Sheng An was cunning and scheming. On her first appearance at such an event, she managed to get on the good side of the prefect's daughter, making no one dare to underestimate her.
Mrs. Li watched this unfold and poked her daughter's forehead: "Learn from Madam Sheng and cultivate a good relationship with Miss Tan!"
Miss Li pursed her lips and muttered under her breath, "She's the daughter of the prefect; she wouldn't deign to befriend me."
It's not like she didn't try to please Tan Qingrou, but the other woman simply ignored her. What could she do?
Mrs. Li was exasperated: "That's why I'm making you study hard. Even a country girl like Madam Sheng can chat and laugh with Miss Tan. As a young lady from a prominent family in Qingzhou City, you can certainly do the same."
Upon hearing this, Miss Li couldn't help but look at Sheng An, as if trying to discern something from her.
Mrs. Li was still sighing: "First she married Scholar Xu, and now she has climbed up to the daughter of the prefect. It is enough to see her scheming and skill. If you can learn even a little bit of her, your mother will not have to worry about you."
"Mother—" Miss Li was indignant, stomped her foot, and ran away.
Mrs. Li shook her head, feeling utterly distressed.
As noon approached, the banquet began.
The men's and women's seats were separated. Sheng An and Tan Qingrou sat at the same table, while the other people at the table were Miss Li and her friends who were crickets in the garden.
The atmosphere at the table was extremely awkward. Miss Li and the others didn't dare to look in Sheng An's direction, for fear of meeting her ambiguous smile.
Sheng Ancai wasn't that stingy. Seeing the braised chicken with secret sauce in the middle of the table, she gently touched Tan Qingrou's hand: "Try this roast chicken later, you might really like it."
Not to brag, but everyone who has ever eaten roast chicken loves it.
Tan Qingrou has a mild appetite and prefers light flavors and does not like meat.
Now that Sheng An had brought it up, she became more interested in the roast chicken: "I'll listen to my sister."
Seeing how well-behaved the little girl was, Sheng An restrained his restless hand from slapping her on the head and rubbing it back and forth: "My cooking skills are not bad. When you have time, have your brother bring you to my house for dinner."
Tan Qingrou's eyes lit up: "Sister, can I go?"
Sheng An smiled and said, "Of course! I'd love to have a little cutie like you."
Tan Qingrou blushed deeply at the praise, her face turning visibly red.
Whether the food is delicious or not is not important; what matters is that having this sister as a friend gives her another place to go.
If her brother nags her again about staying home and turning herself into a little idiot, she'll go to her sister's house and see how much more her brother will nag.
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