Xu Keke sat on the sofa, looked at the third concubine, and smiled.
The women in this family are all incredibly shrewd. I just said I shouldn't be a sycophant, and the next thing I knew, they were making me apologize on behalf of Lin Meijuan.
Hearing the third concubine's words, Du Jue turned around and said, "Don't let eldest sister go. Tomorrow I'll go with..."
Xu Keke interrupted Du Jue and looked at the Third Madam coldly, saying, "Third Madam, did you not understand what I said? My grandmother told me since I was a child that starving to death is a small matter, but losing one's chastity is a big matter. Today, let alone offending the Sun family, I will not starve to death, but even if I offend the Sun family, I will only die. I will never live alone."
Xu Keke looked at Du Jue, who stood frozen in place, as if petrified. She knew he wanted to help her. But if he ended up saying that he went in her place, then all the humiliation Du Bingtian suffered outside would be attributed to her.
"What are you saying, Miss? What good would it do you to die? We don't know. But Master has offended the Sun family, and he won't have a good time outside."
The third concubine crossed her legs and looked at Xu Keke with disdain.
Xu Keke still smiled at her, "Third Concubine, you are still just a concubine. No matter how beautiful or eloquent you are, you are still just a concubine. It's ridiculous that you use the survival skills of a concubine to talk about the Du family and Father's affairs."
You might compromise and endure hardship just to survive. But there's one thing: even if someone lets you go, it's only because you grovel and beg. The people who let you go, the onlookers, will never treat you like a human being again. In their eyes, you're just a plaything to be trampled on at will.
We are people who must live with dignity. We will not kneel, because we are human beings, not people who can be bullied at will. If we are bullied too much, we will fight to the death.
Having resisted once, they'll think twice before bullying them again. They won't just kick or curse without thinking.
However, it's useless for me to say all this. What you need to do is serve your father well and listen to your wife. You don't need to strive for success in the world.
Du Jue and Du Wei both looked at Xu Keke thoughtfully.
The third concubine lost her composure and smiled menacingly. "Yes, I am a plaything, I am the master's concubine. Then may I ask, Miss Third, what do you plan to do about the Sun family's matter?"
Xu Keke looked at her curiously, "That's why Grandmother always says that a family should have family rules. When did it become your place to interfere in this family? Father is still here, and even if he passes away one day, it's not your place to make decisions, Aunt."
You ask me how to handle this? That's ridiculous. What do I have to handle? I'll naturally listen to my father. If he thinks it's necessary to apologize to the Sun family, then have Du Jue talk to Mr. Li and ask him to come another day. I'll go to the Sun family to apologize the day after tomorrow.”
Having even made it clear that losing one's integrity was a minor matter, and considering Li Dakang and Du Bingtian's lack of urgency regarding apologizing to the Sun family, Du Bingtian was truly in no hurry. He quickly waved his hand.
"No need, no need, there's no need to go to the Sun family to apologize first. Don't go anywhere the day after tomorrow, just stay at home and wait for Commissioner Li to come. We can talk about everything after the day after tomorrow."
"Mr. Li! Why is he coming to our house to see her?" Du Yuan was anxious. She hadn't come over when Lin Meijuan was beaten, but as soon as she heard that Li Dakang was coming to see Xu Keke, she rushed over in two steps.
Staring at Xu Keke, he questioned, "You're not familiar with him, so why did he come to see you?"
Xu Keke got annoyed and pointed at Du Bingtian, "Ask Father about this; he agreed to it. I'm tired today and don't want to explain anymore. We'll talk about what you need me to do tomorrow."
He glanced at Lin Meijuan again and said, "If I were you, I would check on your mother first, instead of worrying about which man wants to visit."
Du Yuan looked at Lin Meijuan, her expression growing increasingly grim.
Xu Keke nodded to Du Bingtian, then got up and went back to her room.
"What you said is so true, Miss!"
Xu Keke, who had just finished washing up, was stunned when she heard Xi Bao's words.
"It was just now, Miss, who said it in the living room. I heard it. She said that one cannot live on one's knees. Xiuxiu used to say that Third Madam was very clever. I think you are right."
Xu Keke chuckled, "You shouldn't overthink things or make things worse. Just say what you're told, kneel when you should kneel, and stand when you should stand. Look at anyone who's looking for death; living is definitely the best thing. As long as you're alive, things will always get better."
Du Wei, who lived next to Xu Keke by a wall, was stunned when he heard her words from the balcony. He had initially thought his older sister was right—that one shouldn't kneel before just anyone—but just now she had said it was okay to kneel. Du Wei really wanted to ask, then when exactly should one kneel, and when shouldn't one?
Xu Keke had no idea that her words would keep the Du family members awake all night.
The next morning, Xu Keke was woken up by Xibao. When she went down to the dining room, she discovered that the Du family hadn't had breakfast together that day. Even Du Bingtian had left early.
Only Du Rui and the second concubine were still at the dining table.
Du Rui took the initiative to say to her, "Father left early this morning, and everyone else has already eaten."
Xu Keke understood; this meant they weren't calling her.
"The master was worried that the young lady was too tired yesterday, so he didn't send anyone to call you," the second concubine quickly added.
Xu Keke nodded; the mother and daughter's attitude was a bit strange today.
"Big sister, are you going out today?"
Du Rui's attitude shocked Xu Keke. Her cautious demeanor was quite different from before.
Xu Keke didn't have time to play games with them. "Yes, I'm going out in a bit. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Du Rui glanced at her aunt and mustered her courage to say, "I was wrong yesterday. I shouldn't have stolen my elder sister's hairpin."
As she spoke, Du Rui pushed the box she had been clutching in front of Xu Keke. "Give this back to my older sister. I didn't know it was a gift from Mr. Li. It was my fault. You can punish me if you want."
Xu Keke took a sip of milk, swallowed the bread in her mouth, and then said, "Even if it was given to you by Mr. Li, you shouldn't have stolen it. Even if you wanted it and asked me for it, I might not have given it to you, but you still shouldn't have stolen it."
After saying that, Xu Keke pushed the brocade box back. "Since I said I'd give it to you, then it's yours. As for punishing you, it's only right for you as the eldest sister, but I haven't decided how to punish you yet. Let's talk about it later."
Du Rui looked at the second concubine again, and seeing her nod, she took the brocade box back into her hands. She whispered, "Thank you, elder sister."
Xu Keke was somewhat shocked. The apology was unexpected, but what was rare was that the person who took back the beaded flower still knew to say thank you.
Like Du Rui, Xu Keke glanced at the second concubine. Seeing that the second concubine was sitting upright, her eyes seemed to have changed somewhat.
Seeing Xu Keke looking her over, the second concubine smiled humbly at her, "What the eldest young lady said yesterday was right. I shouldn't have raised the young... no, I shouldn't have raised the fourth young lady like a concubine."
Xu Keke, “…”, I already said that yesterday.
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