Chapter 652 Zhou Wanxiang's Choice
The sunlight slanted down, casting a warm glow over the entire courtyard.
Beneath the lush foliage, two women leaned against each other, whispering and laughing softly.
In the few months since Wan Qiqi met Zhou Wanting, this was the first time she had seen Zhou Wanting smile broadly, without her usual reserved demeanor.
However, whenever someone passes by, Zhou Wanting would restrain herself and revert to her previous demeanor.
Having lived for over twenty years and learned the rules, it's absolutely impossible to change them with just a few words.
Wan Qiqi was not surprised by Zhou Wanting's restraint.
"Qiqi, thank you for your hard work at this flower viewing banquet!" Zhou Wanting smiled gently, but kept rubbing her silk handkerchief in her hands, looking somewhat anxious.
She seemed to hesitate for a long time before finally raising her eyes to look directly at Wan Qiqi, "Qiqi, I have a personal reason for this flower viewing banquet, regarding the agarwood..."
Wan Qiqi didn't hide anything and asked, "Don't you want her to marry Xie Xing?"
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I feel they should get to know each other beforehand, and get married only if they are in love. Otherwise, if they get married, neither of them will be able to adapt to each other, so how can they live together?"
Zhou Wanting seemed quite persistent about this matter, and her voice became a few decibels louder.
Wan Qiqi felt that what Zhou Wanting said was her past experience, and also the experience of most families in ancient times.
A marriage arranged by parents and matchmaker, where the two have never even met, how can anyone accept that?
This applies to everyone; any person who rebels is considered disobedient, against the rules, and acting recklessly.
"But your arrangements didn't allow the two of them to meet?" Wan Qiqi asked.
“Young Master Xiao has always been by Young Master Xie’s side, so it’s not appropriate for me to bring my sister along… It would be against the rules to meet in private.” Zhou Wanting said, lowering her head.
“Since it’s a flower-viewing banquet, how can exchanging a few words be considered a private meeting? How is it against the rules?” Wan Qiqi disagreed. “Actually, it’s not against the rules, but rather that they don’t know how to face it. The marriage is arranged by their families. Even if they don’t want it, they shouldn’t discuss breaking off the engagement on their own. That’s against the rules.”
These feudal etiquettes were completely unnecessary for Wan Qiqi.
It's fine if neither of them has someone they like; if they do, it could lead to a tragedy involving three or four families.
When Wan Qiqi touched on a sensitive point, Zhou Wanting could only lower her head and remain silent for a long time.
“Sister Wanting, I know you don’t want your sister to follow the path you’ve walked, but have you asked her what she thinks? Is she willing to break with convention to find someone she loves?” Wan Qiqi asked.
Zhou Wanting was startled, then suddenly looked up, "I don't want her to regret it!"
“You all mean well for her, but only she knows whether it’s truly good or not. Just like you in the Cao family, only you know whether it’s good or bad; others can only watch.”
Wan Qiqi took the crumpled silk handkerchief from Zhou Wanting's hand, held the other's hand and said softly, "The same thing looks different in the eyes of different people. No one can find someone whose thoughts are completely the same as your own."
"Isn't that how things are between you and Chen Guannian?" Zhou Wanting asked.
“No, we have many different ideas, but we choose to accept each other, understand each other, and tolerate each other.” Wan Qiqi was not lying.
She and Chen Yongnian did have conflicts, but they chose to avoid those points of contention.
Chen Yongnian wasn't used to taking a bath every day, but because she loved cleanliness, he would cooperate with her.
She likes to have a drink or two in her spare time, but Chen Yongnian doesn't like her drinking, so she chooses to drink less or not at all.
A lasting relationship requires mutual understanding between two people.
Zhou Wanting knew this was the truth, but she felt that apart from Chen Yongnian, no other man could do it, including her own husband.
Men are born with a higher status than women. Without equality, mutual understanding is impossible; only women can understand men.
Zhou Wanting didn't say anything more. Watching the people who had come to watch return, she pulled Wan Qiqi aside to introduce them to these people.
In the past, who would want to get to know a country woman?
But Wan Qiqi is different now. She has a wide network of connections and her connections are no less than those of these women. Most of them are willing to befriend her.
However, some people were unhappy, feeling that Wan Qiqi was just taking advantage of the situation and that she didn't have any power herself, only having a good trick up her sleeve!
But this is also Wan Qiqi's skill; ordinary people can't do it.
Seeing how easily Wan Qiqi handled the situation, Zhou Wanting felt relieved.
Soon after, the flower-viewing party came to an end, and everyone dispersed.
Zhou Wanting saw the last lady off to her carriage, signifying the complete end of the banquet.
She was a little tired, but dared not relax. She settled the bills for Xinglong Restaurant and Kelaiju Restaurant, and then saw the two men off at Hexiang Pavilion before returning to her carriage to rest.
Zhou Wanxiang had been waiting in the carriage for a long time. When she saw her sister get on, she immediately sat down and started massaging her shoulders. "Sister, you've had a long day. Come back to the Zhou family with me."
Zhou Wanting was so tired that she didn't even want to lift her eyelids, but she still opened her eyes and looked at Zhou Wanxiang, saying, "No, your brother-in-law is still waiting for me at home, I have to go back!"
As she spoke, she called out, "First, send the Second Miss back to the Zhou residence, then back to the Cao residence."
Someone outside immediately replied, "Yes, madam."
Zhou Wanxiang felt a pang of sympathy upon seeing this.
Reflecting on her cowardly behavior today, she felt somewhat sorry for her sister, but she didn't want her sister to be put in a difficult position.
She had no choice but to obey her parents' arrangements. If, as her elder sister said, she negotiated with Young Master Xie to break off the engagement, her parents would surely blame her sister if they found out.
It's alright with my parents, but I'm afraid that if my brother-in-law's family finds out, they will despise my sister's behavior and kick her out. What will my sister do then?
After hesitating for a while, Zhou Wanxiang decided to dissuade Zhou Wanting from her idea. "Sister, I met Young Master Xie today, and I think he's quite good. He's talented in both literature and martial arts, and he's also handsome. He'll definitely be able to take good care of me."
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