Chapter 9: Bird's Nest Soup

I am naturally aware of your filial piety. There is no need for ginseng; you may keep it for yourself, as I have some here. Since you all have matters to attend to, I will not keep you any longer. Lady Shen smiled and waved her hand, signaling Yan Hui to see them out.

Shen Caiwei understood that Madam Pei was in a bad mood and did not dare to add fuel to the fire, so she could only obediently nod and say, "Yes, I haven't been to my elder sister's place for a long time, and I still want to sleep with her today." After thinking for a moment, she still did not go to help Shen Caihan—after all, Shen Caihan was about to start school, and the issue of women's education was quite serious in the current dynasty. Shen Caihan was still young and unstable, lacking the self-discipline that Shen Caiwei had gained from her experiences. If Madam Pei did not pay attention, it would truly harm her. This was probably also the reason why Old Madam Shen disregarded Madam Pei's feelings and spoke out today.

Shen Caifan smiled and gently patted the top of her head: "I need to tune the piano. You can read for a while first. After we have the bird's nest soup, I will test your studies."

Shen Caifan nodded upon seeing her ambition and began to instruct: "After you enter school, you must study the Four Books, with the Analects being of utmost importance. Each year, a significant portion of the content in the women's school examinations is derived from it. On this foundation, if you can also have some knowledge of the Five Classics, the written examination for admission to the women's school will pose no significant difficulties."

Pei was unsure if she had absorbed the words, her complexion slightly pale, yet she still managed to force a smile at her elder sister-in-law. She mustered her spirits to exchange a few words with her before finally taking Shen Caiheng by the hand and leaving.

Shen Caifan reached out and tapped her smooth forehead, laughing and sighing: "I told you to read, why can't you calm your mind? You keep thinking about this and that"

Old Madam Shen gently patted her head and said with significance: "The person who gifted me this jade mentioned that this jade carries good fortune, which is why Grandmother is giving it to you. You must understand that in this world, there are indeed some people whose good fortune is accumulated in the future."

Song sighed again, yet still spoke with a smile on her face: "I will have someone bring lunch to the courtyard for the ladies later, so they can eat together." After a moment's thought, she stepped forward and patiently advised Pei: "Do not be angry; San Niang is just a little mischievous, as young girls often are. Just say a few words to her, and she will change her ways."

Shen Caifan could no longer hold on, smiled, and pinched her cheek: "Little glutton, just like Third Sister!" Although she usually had a cold demeanor, she was exceptionally kind to her two younger sisters. At this moment, her reprimand was delivered in a rare gentle tone, like ice and snow melting in the spring breeze, clear yet infused with warmth.

Shen Caiheng rarely saw Pei's expression like this; her face turned pale, and she could only look at Pei with a pitiful gaze, her small hands clenched into fists, appearing utterly terrified

It must be said that when Pei became angry, she instantly transformed from a HELLO KITTY into a genuine mountain overlord, while Shen Caiheng became a trembling little rabbit at the mouth of a tiger

Shen Caiwei nodded. She did not dare to boast in front of a talented woman like Shen Caifan, and honestly said, "I have only read it a few times, and I have not yet memorized it." She had already figured out a bit of a method for studying; first, she would read it several times and then start memorizing it from the beginning. Although it cannot be said that reading a book a hundred times reveals its meaning, it did help her build a solid foundation.

Pei pressed her lips together, took Shen Caihan's hand, adjusted her collar, and slowly said, "Third Miss will not be going; I still have something to discuss with Third Miss."

Song was observant and noticed that Old Madam Shen appeared somewhat fatigued. She gently suggested, "It is getting late, and Mother will soon need to go to the small Buddhist hall to perform her duties. It would not be appropriate for us to disturb her rest any longer. Shall we return home for now?"

Seeing her in such a pitiable state, Shen Caiwei couldn't help but glance back a few times, giving Shen Caiheng a reassuring wink.

Shen Caiwei quietly raised her eyes and immediately realized that the piece of sheep fat jade was meant for her elder cousin Shen Caifan—Shen Caifan loved white and cherished cleanliness, and even the pearls adorning her head today were white, their luster subtle like the faint starlight in the night sky

The handwriting is elegant, already possessing a certain distinctive character of its own

Shen Caiwei tilted her head, her round eyes resembling two black gemstones glistening with dew. She playfully said: "I am here to help San Niang finish her portion. And * picture * book

Indeed, the old lady picked up the piece of jade and handed it to Shen Caifan: "You have always loved cleanliness, and even prefer white jade, which reminds me of my own youth." A trace of melancholy flickered in Shen Laofuren's eyes as she looked at her granddaughter's face, filled with tenderness and affection, "However, in this world, where there is white, there is also black. I only hope you do not forget your original intention, just like this jade."

Madam Shen looked at the graceful Shen Caifan with great satisfaction. She then picked up the piece of Hetian red jade and handed it to Shen Caiwei, saying, "Second daughter, this jade is for you"

Pei could not help but feel awkward, yet still bowed slightly, following the crowd to withdraw from the ceremony

Shen Caiwei felt a pang in her eyes, nearly brought to tears. She understood that the old lady Shen was comforting and encouraging her. After all, for Shen Erniang Shen Caiwei, she was born motherless, her biological father was far away in the capital with another wife and children, and she was burdened with an unremovable birthmark that marred her appearance. It was as if both her hardware and software were lacking, almost leading her to be remade from scratch. Therefore, the old lady Shen treated her with extra kindness, hoping that she would not become extreme or self-deprecating, and that she could grow up healthy and well, becoming better and better.

Every day spent with a top student is a day of gaining knowledge! Shen Caiwei couldn't help but glance at Shen Caifan, who was adjusting the strings of the instrument, and without thinking, she blurted out: "Elder sister, why don't you teach me how to make bookmarks?"

Shen Caiwei looked around and said, "The big sister's room feels the same whether it is occupied or not; there is not a hint of liveliness."

That is good, Pei nodded and said, "You work hard every day, so it is also good to relax occasionally"

Shen Caifan, seeing the antics of the two beside her, couldn't help but chuckle. She tapped the girl's forehead with her hand and took hold of her hand, saying: "Alright, you two are always together; don't put on this act of the Eighteen Farewells now. Aren't you ashamed?"

Shen Caiwei felt a lump in her throat, as if a small hammer had gently tapped on her heart, and a sour, bittersweet sensation emerged from within, reminiscent of the tangy juice of sour fruits. Her speech was somewhat hesitant, and she nodded in response, saying: "Caiwei will always remember grandmother's words."

In Shen Caifan's clear black eyes, a glimmer of light flashed by. She performed a graceful bow and then extended her hand to receive the jade, saying, "Granddaughter humbly accepts the teachings."

Shen Caiheng seemed to understand yet not fully, but still imitated her two elder sisters and bowed respectfully to Old Madam Shen, receiving the jade: "Thank you, Grandmother"

Shen Caiwei smiled cheerfully and leaned in to hug her arm: "Mm mm, I love honey the most. Big sister, please treat me to bird's nest soup, with plenty of honey and coconut milk."

Song intended to offer a few more words of advice, but this thought lingered in her mind like mist, swirling around three times before gradually dissipating.

Shen Caiwei studied the book intently for a while, when suddenly she noticed a petal bookmark tucked between the pages. Inscribed in small characters on it were the words: "Where can one find such clarity? It is because there is a source of living water."

Shen Caiwei collected her scattered thoughts, grasped Shen Caifan's fingers, and praised, "Elder sister's hands are truly beautiful; no wonder you play the piano so well." Shen Caifan's fingers were indeed well-formed, plump yet not fleshy, delicate yet not bony, truly resembling the slenderness of scallion roots. Moreover, her hands were somewhat broad, making it very easy for her to play the piano, and her piano skills were naturally something that Shen Caiwei, who was only a novice, could only admire.

This is truly a talented woman, as the examination for female students seems hardly challenging in her eyes. Shen Caiwei, who is striving to emulate the top students, quickly nodded to express that she would not disappoint the organization's expectations: to study diligently and improve every day. She reached out to take Shen Caifan's book and said in a childish voice: "Thank you, big sister, for your guidance"

Shen Caiwei smiled slightly, pursing her lips, and playfully elongated her voice, saying: "Big sister..."

Shen Caifan has always been fond of her younger sister. Upon hearing this, she merely smiled and led Shen Caiwei through the garden to her own courtyard. Once they arrived at the courtyard, she naturally instructed the cook to bring up the bird's nest soup. At the age of ten, she naturally had her own courtyard, with a lotus pond and rockery on one side and a tranquil flower path on the other, achieving a delightful balance of movement and stillness, making her living situation quite pleasant.

Pei adjusted Shen Caiheng's collar before turning to Shen Caiwei and asking, "Second Mistress, are you planning to sit in the Eldest Mistress's courtyard for a while?"

Madam Shen looked at her seriously, nodded, and then raised her hand to pick up the last piece of jade, handing it to Shen Caihan: "Third Miss, this is yours"

However, when together with Shen Caiwei, time always seems to pass quickly. Shen Caiwei neither needs to deliberately act childlike nor engage in idle chatter; she simply reads quietly. Shen Caiwei enjoys tranquility, and the maid beside them naturally does not dare to disturb. The two sit facing each other, one reading and the other playing the zither, creating a surprisingly serene atmosphere.

Shen Caifan glanced at her but ignored her, walking straight to the desk to hand a book to Shen Caiwei: "Have you read the 'Analects'?"

Having given away the three pieces of jade, Old Madam Shen finally let out a sigh of relief, returned to her seat, picked up the almond tea on the table, took a sip, and her brows also relaxed.

In the past, before the old master passed away, he hastily arranged for Master Shen to marry Miss Pei, which naturally had its advantages and disadvantages. The Pei family is of noble lineage, and since their daughter was married off far away, her dowry was quite substantial. The second uncle, who is far away in the capital, has benefited from the Pei family due to their familial ties, which has certainly aided his career. Moreover, Miss Pei is not of a malicious disposition; she does not play petty tricks or engage in underhanded tactics, and she and Master Shen are well-matched. However, Miss Pei has been spoiled since childhood. After marrying into the Shen family, with a mother-in-law above her and an elder sister-in-law below, she does not concern herself with household matters, focusing solely on Master Shen, which naturally leads to a lack of diligence in managing the household and raising children. Furthermore, she is not of a malicious disposition; she does not play petty tricks or engage in underhanded tactics, and she and Master Shen are well-matched. However, Miss Pei has been spoiled since childhood. After marrying into the Shen family, with a mother-in-law above her and an elder sister-in-law below, she does not concern herself with household matters, focusing solely on Master Shen, which naturally leads to a lack of diligence in managing the household and raising children. She can assist Miss Pei in managing the household but cannot help her in educating the children. The third branch of the family requires Miss Pei to be proactive and to establish herself; at the very least, she must excel in both supporting her husband and educating the children.

This is a line from Zhu Xi's "Reflections on Reading Books". The surface meaning is: Why is this water so clear? Because it is continuously replenished by a source of fresh water. The underlying message, however, is that only by reading extensively can one's thoughts flow endlessly like water.

Old Lady Shen sighed: "There are both soft jade and hard jade. The most precious jadeite is indeed a piece of hard jade." She thought for a moment, but did not elaborate too deeply, only jokingly said, "Grandmother has given you jade today, so when you go to school in the future, you must study hard to repay Grandmother."

Shen Caiwei was momentarily taken aback, then bowed respectfully to the old lady Shen, before graciously accepting, "Thank you, Grandmother"

Shen Caiheng looked longingly at Shen Caiwei and Shen Caifan standing on the other side, pouted, lowered her eyes, and appeared as if she was ready to face death.

I knew it would be like this! A poor student simply cannot survive! If I were with Shen Caifan, I might as well forget about strolling in the garden; it would be like attending an extra-curricular class! Shen Caiwei wore a calm and composed expression, while internally she was constantly scrolling through her complaints.

Shen Caifan's jade-like face subtly flushed with a hint of red, yet her tone remained cold: "Such flattery! Your mouth must have truly consumed a fair amount of honey."

Pei was holding back her anger, just waiting to return home to deal with her daughter. At this moment, she hurriedly responded, "Indeed, mother must take good care of her health..." After holding it in for a long time, she finally managed to squeeze out a few words that were appropriate for the occasion, "My brother from my maternal family brought back quite a few items from the capital, including several valuable ginseng roots. They are quite rare. It would be just right to help mother replenish her health; I will have someone deliver them shortly."

Shen Caiwei had not been here for a long time. Now, upon seeing it again, she felt that the room was no different from what she had seen before, very simple and clean. On the wall hung a painting of a hundred birds welcoming spring, casually created by her uncle, while on the other side was her guqin. On the desk lay a scroll of a book that had been read halfway, with the ink and fragrance of the writing all faint, just like the landscape screen beside it, which brought a sense of tranquility to the heart. On the table was a plate of white calla lilies, in a cloisonné enamel pot, with tender leaves and delicate flowers, adding a touch of vibrant life to this plain room. The desk held a scroll of a book that had been read halfway, with the ink and fragrance of the writing all faint, just like the landscape screen beside it, which brought a sense of tranquility to the heart. On the table was a plate of white calla lilies, in a cloisonné enamel pot, with tender leaves and delicate flowers, adding a touch of vibrant life to this plain room

Song glanced over and said, "Second Sister and Third Sister haven't visited Eldest Sister for quite some time, have they?" She looked at the sky, her smile warm and friendly, "The weather is just right today; why don't you sisters take a stroll in the garden and then go to Eldest Sister's courtyard for some tea and a rest?"

Shen Caiheng smiled gently, about to say a few playful words, but then she sensed the sharp gaze of Pei behind her. Remembering that she was still in a 'guilty position,' she quickly reined in her smile and cautiously said: "Yes, granddaughter understands"

As she stepped out of the hospital gate, the maid Yan Hui, who was there to see her off, also left. Pei's expression completely darkened, her long brows furrowing as she suppressed the anger in her heart