Chapter 199: Chapter 181, Sing the Song as the Master_turn over_1
Main Courtyard.
Daohua saw Madam Li leisurely tending to the flowers and plants, glanced at the darkening sky and said, “Mother, father has gone to Shuangxin Courtyard.”
Madam Li did not turn around, continuing to prune the potted plants, and indifferently said, “Isn’t it normal for your dad to stay overnight at Shuangxin Courtyard? What’s so important about that?”
Daohua was silent. She didn’t believe that Madam Li did not understand what she meant, “Mother, you refused Madam Zhu today. Aunt Lin and the third sister will surely talk to father about it.”
Madam Li was unmoved, “Let them talk. It’s not as if it’s something scandalous.”
Daohua tilted her head and looked at Madam Li, wondering if she really didn’t get her point, or if she was just pretending not to know.
“Mother, what if father, influenced by the people at Shuangxin Courtyard, agrees to let Zhu Xiuyun come to our family for her studies?”
Only then did Madam Li put down the small scissors in her hand and turn to look at Daohua, “Why were you lingering in my room all day? So you were thinking about this matter?”
Daohua did not hide her thoughts and directly voiced her concerns, “Mother, I don’t want Zhu Xiuyun to come to our family for lessons. I feel quite content with the current atmosphere in the classroom, and the three sisters are well-behaved. If another person joins, who knows what trouble might arise.”
Madam Li smiled and sat beside Daohua, “Didn’t I already refuse today?”
Daohua glanced at Madam Li, “You refused, but don’t we still have a father who can’t think straight whenever he’s involved with his beloved concubines? What if he agrees?”
Madam Li lightly tapped Daohua’s forehead, “Is that the way to talk about your own father?”
Daohua tilted her head back, “If father were impartial and fair, I would have nothing to say, but is he? He has favored Shuangxin Courtyard more than once or twice. I have no trust in him whatsoever.”
Hearing this, Madam Li fell silent for a moment before speaking, “Don’t worry. No matter how much fuss is made on the side of Shuangxin Courtyard, your dad will not agree this time.”
Daohua looked at Madam Li in surprise, “Why?”
Madam Li replied irritably, “Where did all your shrewdness go? It’s obvious without thinking that your father would not agree.”
Daohua paused, then quickly said, “Because father has gained enough status to make his own decisions now?”
Madam Li: “….”
After a few seconds of silence, Madam Li tapped Daohua’s head again, her face speechless as she probably understood her daughter’s point.
It was nothing more than, now that the master had been promoted, he didn’t need to concern himself with Teacher Zhu anymore.
“Do you think your father is like you, acting just for short-term gratification?”
Daohua rubbed her forehead, puzzled, “Isn’t he?”
Madam Li: “…Well, to some extent! Teacher Zhu, even though he has good knowledge, is somewhat overly haughty. Coming from an aristocratic family, he’s proud, and several times he has caused your father embarrassment.”
“You know that your father has no background in the officialdom, facing colleagues from established families in the office, he has to indulge them occasionally for the smooth execution of administrative tasks, and sometimes even has to put aside his dignity to ask for their help.”
“Tell me, if you were your father, what would you do?”
Daohua straightened her back, “Isn’t it clear? I would definitely not show them any good expressions.”
Madam Li shook her head, knowing her daughter was still young and patiently explained, “The affairs in the officialdom are intricate and complex, and relationships are intertwined like a web. How could your father do as he pleases?”
“Even if he’s dissatisfied with someone, he wouldn’t show it too obviously.”
“Although the Zhu Family has fallen, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse; the Zhu family’s connections in Zhongzhou Province are definitely stronger than ours.”
“Look, didn’t they manage to get transferred to Xingzhou as soon as they mentioned it?”
“With such a family, even if we dislike them, we have to keep up appearances. One, to avoid them making trouble behind our backs; and two, what if they rise to prominence again one day?”
Daohua: “…Then why did mother still refuse Madam Zhu?”
Madam Li smiled, stroking Daohua’s head, “Ever since the Little Prince visited our house a few times, our home has become the sought-after gem in the eyes of every Xingzhou City family.”
“Today, if we agree to let Miss Zhu come over for lessons, just wait and see, tomorrow, it will be Miss Qian from the vice magistrate’s family, Miss Wang from the justice’s family all wanting to come to our house.”
“Do you think your father would agree?”
Daohua suddenly stood up, smacking her head, “Right, how could I not have thought of that!” She had been worried for nothing all day.
Madam Li smiled, “You’re still young, you’ll learn these things gradually. With more exposure, you’ll naturally come to see clearly.”
Just then, Ping Xiao covered her mouth, walking in with a smile plastered all over her face.
Daohua: “Sister Ping Xiao, did you find some money? You seem so happy.”
With a grin, Ping Xiao said, “Happier than finding money, Madam, Miss, I just heard from Butler Sun that the master has punished the third young miss and mentioned Aunt Lin as well.”
Daohua, surprised, said, “The sun must be rising from the west. Could Father be feverish?”
Madam Li glared at her: “Mind your language!”
Daohua immediately shut her mouth.
Madam Li smiled faintly, “Before Madam Zhu, an outsider, that girl Yishuang dared to openly contradict me. If the master didn’t punish her, that really would be absurd.”
“For Lin Family’s concubine to meddle in the family’s social interactions warrants more than just a couple of words. She got off lightly.”
Hearing this, Daohua appeared thoughtful.
Is stepfather trying to appease mother?
Indeed, after his promotion to Prefectural Governor, the family had become increasingly busy, and the need for Madam Li had grown. Unless stepfather had a hole in his brain, he would know that the person who had been supporting the Yan Family alongside him was Madam Li, not Aunt Lin who only knew how to take.”
…
Zhu Residence.
Upon seeing Madam Zhu and Zhu Xiuyun return, Instructor Zhu immediately asked, “How did it go? You had a good talk with Madam Li today, right?”
Remembering her cold reception at the Yan Family, Madam Zhu’s face soured as she huffed, “She’s originally from a merchant family. Now that she’s gained a bit of power, she’s too proud to acknowledge others. Right now, she’s just a wife of a Prefectural Governor, and she’s looking down on us already.”
Hearing this, Instructor Zhu’s heart sank. He knew his wife’s temperament; she had never shown a good face to Madam Li back in Linyi County.
Initially, Yan Family’s father was just a County Magistrate, and he hadn’t thought much of it, but times had changed. Considering the news his family had just relayed to him, Instructor Zhu became anxious.
“Did you show Madam Li a long face again?”
Madam Zhu flared up: “What do you mean I showed her a long face? She was the one who showed me a long face. I went there today, and she didn’t come to meet me promptly, but she actually sent that concubine Lin to receive me. What does that mean?”
Instructor Zhu was silent for a moment: “I told you before not to engage with that concubine from the Yan Family, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you’ve seen the result. With Madam Li making such a move, you can only swallow your anger.”
Madam Zhu ran out of steam.
Indeed, this was a situation she had brought upon herself.
It was ridiculous for the wife of a legitimate husband to befriend a concubine. If word got out, others would only laugh at her.
Instructor Zhu looked at Zhu Xiuyun: “What about Xiuyun attending school at the Yan Family?”
That remark riled up Madam Zhu once more: “We were rejected, and outright at that. Did they spare us any dignity?”
“After all, you’re going to be working with Mr. Yan. How could Madam Li be so ruthless?”
Instructor Zhu sighed, disheartened: “It’s my fault, I didn’t properly manage you and Xiuyun in the past, resulting in our family not being close to the Yan Family.”
Zhu Xiuyun stepped forward, tugging at Instructor Zhu’s sleeve: “Dad, talk to Mr. Yan for me, please, let me go study at the Yan Family. I don’t want to have lessons alone at home.”
Instructor Zhu forced a bitter smile: “If Madam Li did not agree, then Mr. Yan is even less likely to.”
Madam Zhu looked over: “There’s really no room for negotiation?”
She had heard that the tutor the Yan Family employed, Mistress Shen, was the most prestigious female educator in Xingzhou. If her daughter could be instructed by her, it would surely bolster her reputation in the future.
Instructor Zhu looked at Madam Zhu: “Do you realize how many families in Xingzhou City are eyeing the Yan Family? Not to mention other families, just take the foremost aristocratic Zhou Family.”
“The legitimate daughter of the Zhou Family makes frequent visits to the Yan Family. Besides the sisterly affection, could it be that the elders aren’t encouraging it?”
Madam Zhu was stunned, “The Yan Family… have gained so much influence already?”
Instructor Zhu handed the newly received letter to Madam Zhu: “See for yourself.”
Madam Zhu quickly read the letter and exclaimed in surprise, “An extra one to two stones of winter wheat! Is this real?”
Instructor Zhu: “The wheat is right there in the fields. How could it be fake? Now in Zhongzhou Province, anyone with a bit of connection knows about this.” Continuing with a sigh of admiration, “Mr. Yan’s achievements over these three years are secure.”