Chapter 65 Skipping School with a Justifiable Reason
"My darling, how could I not love you? Call Feng Ge'er over and see how she raises her children; they're all learning her domineering nature!"
Grandmother Jia hugged her, also pretending to be angry.
Daiyu giggled and nestled into Grandmother Jia's arms.
"You're so narrow-minded. You even have to argue with the old lady about this. Since you came, even Baoyu has to give way in front of the old lady. Are you still not satisfied?" Tan Chun teased with a smile.
"Oh dear, is Third Sister jealous? If I've upset you, then I must apologize to you properly." Daiyu said she wanted to apologize to Tanchun, but her actions were quite arrogant, showing no remorse whatsoever.
"I wouldn't dare. If I make you cry, not only will the old lady and the madam be angry, but even Fourth Sister will be mad at me," Tan Chun said, half-jokingly.
Daiyu covered her mouth with her handkerchief, glanced at Xichun, and the two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
The sisters chatted and laughed for a while, and the atmosphere became quite lively.
"Hello, Sister Bao, I am Yingchun." Yingchun stepped forward and bowed to Baochai first, then said...
"We've made Bao-jie laugh at us. We sisters always play around like this. Bao-jie will understand once she spends more time with us."
Baochai returned the gift.
"Hello, Yingchun. It's so nice to see all the sisters together. I'm so envious. It would be my blessing to be able to be with you all in the future."
"Hello, Sister Bao, I am Tan Chun. I usually speak without thinking, so if I say anything that you, Sister Bao, don't be angry with me when we play together in the future."
Tan Chun smiled and bowed. This older sister seemed kind, but she was very dignified. She probably couldn't joke around like Sister Lin.
“Sister Tanchun is so straightforward, I love that about her,” Baochai returned the greeting politely.
"Greetings, Sister Bao," Xichun stepped forward and gave a curtsy. Baochai returned the greeting, but before she could speak, Xichun bombarded her with questions.
"What books does Baochai usually read? What kind of chess does she like to play? All the girls in our family go to school. Does Baochai go with us?"
“That’s exactly right. Now that Mrs. Xue has settled in, why not let Baochai and the girls in our family go to school together? Even Feng’er goes to study for an hour every day, so she’s not far behind in reading letters and writing.”
Grandmother Jia originally thought that girls should focus on needlework and household chores, and that as long as they knew a few words and weren't completely illiterate, that would be enough.
After Lin Daiyu arrived, Grandmother Jia learned that Yuan Hongqu had previously been a teacher at a girls' academy, and many wealthy and noble women in Yangzhou were proud to be Yuan Hongqu's students.
So, women who excel in their studies are respected in this way?
In the past, no matter how much a woman achieved in her studies, Grandmother Jia would never have paid her any attention.
It wasn't until these past few months, through Daiyu's influence, that she gradually changed her mind, realizing that women should also read more books.
Women should study, not only to avoid being blind, but also to read more and understand the principles of things.
Those who have studied and those who haven't are not on the same level in their words and deeds; the difference is obvious at a glance.
In particular, Jia's mother saw that Wang Xifeng, after only a few months of studying, was no longer so vulgar, no longer so ruthless, and had learned to do good deeds.
Grandmother Jia wasn't deaf or blind to what Wang Xifeng had done before; many informants had told her. However, she felt that since the title had been given to the eldest son, his daughter-in-law could do whatever she wanted. As long as the second son wasn't involved, it was fine.
However, after Wang Xifeng started studying, she managed the household well without resorting to the previous heavy punishments and penalties.
Only then did Grandmother Jia begin to have some thoughts about the matter of reading.
"Reporting to Grandmother, Baochai did receive some schooling for a few years," Aunt Xue said, pulling Baochai aside, her expression somewhat somber.
"It's just that there have been many things going on at home these past few years, so she spends more time at home with me, doing needlework and helping me out. She hasn't been studying much lately. But..."
She changed the subject, her face beaming with joy.
"Because His Majesty now values poetry and etiquette, he seeks out talented individuals. Girls from official and prominent families can come to the capital to be selected as attendants to princesses and monarchs. Our Baochai has already registered and passed the preliminary selection in Jinling. After the New Year, she will participate in the final selection, so she may not be able to study in the school regularly."
Hearing this, Grandmother Jia felt a little strange and looked at Madam Wang with suspicion. Seeing that she was also somewhat confused, she figured that she was also unaware of the inside story.
"In that case, there's no need to force it."
"Sister Bao is going to the palace, is she like our eldest sister? Alas, if Sister Bao goes to the palace, she won't be able to stay by Aunt Xue's side as often. Won't Aunt Xue miss her?" Daiyu said in a sweet and coquettish voice.
Aunt Xue was speechless, unsure how to answer Daiyu's question. She glanced at Xue Baochai.
At this moment, Baochai was pulled aside by Yingchun and Tanchun, who asked her what interesting scenery and fun experiences she had had on her way to the capital.
She was still young, and when she heard Daiyu's words, she couldn't remain calm and answered absentmindedly.
His expression turned somewhat unpleasant, and he frequently glanced at Aunt Xue.
Grandmother Jia sneered inwardly, but showed no sign on her face, only gently stroking Daiyu's hair.
“Yu’er, everyone has their own ambitions. Your sister Bao has great ambitions.”
"Well, I don't have any grand ambitions. This morning I didn't want to go to school. I just wanted to stay home and play with the cat and make food for it." Daiyu spoke in an adult's tone. After she finished speaking, she saw Xichun winking at her, so she pouted and winked back at Xichun.
"You skip school and still act so self-righteously? Your nanny just indulges you like this?" Grandmother Jia said with a smile.
“Granny Yuan said that life is only a few decades long, and you can only be willful during your childhood. When you grow up, who will allow you to be willful? When you are young, skipping school or sleeping in late are not big deals. You can do them, but you are just a child! When you grow up, there will be many more things to do! Look at Sister Feng, she can't even sleep in late. How pitiful she is.”
Daiyu not only acted with conviction, but also spoke with conviction and conviction, making Grandmother Jia feel that what she said was absolutely right and that this was the only reasonable explanation.
"It's Lin Jie'er who's blessed; our Baochai should share the burden of the family," Aunt Xue said dryly.
"Lin Jie'er is naturally blessed, but Baochai is not bad either," Madam Wang said, trying to smooth things over. "When Baochai enters the palace, if she meets your sister Yuanchun, you two are sisters, so you should support each other."
Baochai replied respectfully:
"Auntie, this is natural."
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