Chapter 6, merely a trivial matter

After finishing their meal, the mother and daughter sat down to enjoy some tea together. Xie Mo You remarked, "The new tea was changed yesterday, but I find the tea from our courtyard is not as good in flavor as that from grandmother's place." In the past, when she was younger, Xie Mo You did not drink tea, but as she grew older, she began to learn to appreciate it, and was not allowed to have too much each day.

Without waiting for a response from the servants, Aunt Ning smiled and said, "My young lady, you truly know how to enjoy life. There are only six tails in total: two in your grandmother's courtyard, two in the cuckoo courtyard, one in your second uncle's courtyard, and one in our courtyard. What use is it for me to eat that alone at noon? When your father returns in the evening, I will invite your brothers over, and we can all enjoy it together. Who would have thought that you, like a greedy cat, would be able to smell it out and go to your grandmother's place at noon? What use is it for me to eat that alone at noon? When your father returns in the evening, I will invite your brothers over, and we can all enjoy it together. Who would have thought that you, like a greedy cat, would be able to smell it out and go to your grandmother's place at noon? Alas, you are naturally blessed with good fortune."

"That is biased towards you." Aunt Ning's words carried a hint of reproach, spoken with earnestness, "The tea before the Ming Dynasty is limited in quality, and it is not just our family; even the noble families are the same. Naturally, it must first be offered to your grandmother. Your grandmother has always cared for you; surely she understands this principle, doesn't she?"

Xie Meoyou not only expresses her emotions freely, but she also possesses a commendable character; she speaks her mind and is straightforward. In the Xie family, this is indeed a cherished virtue. Thus, she said, "After school, I spoke to my older sister, but she ignored me"

That is fine. The peach blossom wine is a sweet wine brewed by the Xie family, and the womenfolk drink this often, so Mrs. Xie ordered someone to warm the wine

Aunt Ning's lips curled slightly, "Do you know why your grandmother is not satisfied?"

The words spoken by the elder sister, I also feel are not right. The purpose of writing this article in the Zuo Zhuan was to alert the world against fraternal discord. Should it be excused simply because Duke Zheng was a good ruler?

Aunt Ning is also very clear about this matter

Xie Mo You said, "How could I not know this? We have grown up, and in the future, we will certainly go out more often. If we visit others' homes, we naturally need to have a few decent outfits, so as not to tarnish our family's reputation"

Xie Moru said, "Send the other piece of red fermented rice to Mr. Ji in the evening." The ice fish has lost its freshness, and is not as good as the red fermented rice

At the Peony Courtyard, Xie Mo You hurriedly instructed the maid to deliver the meal. In fact, the servants had already prepared everything; Ning Yiniang assisted Madam Xie in managing household affairs, and she was well-regarded, having three sons and one daughter, and was deeply favored by Xie Song. The servants were particularly observant and perceptive, knowing that this lady, who currently bore the title of 'Aunt,' was destined for great fortune and blessings in the future

Aunt Ning is currently serving at Madam Xie's place and couldn't help but cast a reproachful glance at her daughter upon hearing these words

"Indeed, it is difficult to nurture. " Observing her daughter, who does not seem foolish, Aunt Ning chuckled softly and decided to point out to her daughter once more, "Your grandmother and your father care for you, so you should pay attention to the matters around you. You can no longer just indulge in eating and playing mindlessly. Let me ask you again, why did your grandmother reduce the number of new dresses from eight sets per season to six sets per month? And why did she give you those fine pieces of jewelry?"

Xie Mo You pouted and said, "Who says that the younger brothers can't taste it? They just choose not to say anything."

Xie Moru continued until dusk before returning home to bathe and rest, not to mention anything further

Although Xie Mo You is a straightforward person who expresses his feelings openly, he is not without cunning. When he heard his grandmother mention the dish, he enthusiastically supported her by saying, "The shad fish is rare, and steaming it is the best method. Grandmother, we should take out last year's peach blossom wine to enjoy with it."

Xie Mo You has a poor impression of Xie Mo Ru, muttering, "How would I know? If she knows, then she knows; if she doesn't know, then she doesn't know."

Aunt Ning's expression turned cold, "If you say this again, I might have to hit you." She waved her hand to dismiss the maid and the old woman.

Both sisters have complied

Xie Moru is actually not very interested in shad; she does not find it particularly delicious. However, this type of fish is quite precious, being a tribute to the palace. Every year during this season, there is a shad banquet in the palace, making it a delicacy among the powerful families. She read in a book that although shad has a delightful flavor, it dies as soon as it leaves the water, quickly losing its taste. Of course, the shad served to the powerful families is certainly caught and immediately placed in ice for storage, then transported tirelessly over long distances to the capital. Nevertheless, it is still a dead fish that is cooked afterward. Shad is not like larger fish that can be made into preserved fish; this type of fish is meant to be enjoyed fresh. Now that the fresh taste has been lost, it is akin to a chicken rib, and Xie Moru has only taken a bite, while Fang has hardly touched it, opting instead for a plate of oil-fried river shrimp.

Xie Mo You has always been a person who expresses joy when happy and anger when angry. He greeted Mrs. Xie, and she smiled, saying, "I was just saying that dining alone is dull, and your second uncle is not at home, so it is just right for you to keep me company."

Xie Moru remarked upon seeing a dish of steamed shad at lunch, "This is indeed a rare delicacy"

Old Madam Zhang smiled in response, feeling that her eldest daughter was exceptionally kind-hearted. Not only was she generous to the servants, but she also held Mr. Ji in high regard. On ordinary days, whenever there were seasonal delicacies or rare good items, she never forgot to set aside a portion for Mr. Ji.

The rules of the Xie family are clearly defined. No matter how esteemed Ning Yiniang may be, or how she has given birth to one daughter and three sons, as long as Fang Shi is alive, she will still remain a concubine. Although Fang Shi does not leave the Cuckoo Courtyard, she has long lost her husband's heart and lives in the Xie family as if she were invisible. Yet, she stubbornly refuses to die, tending to the cuckoo trees daily to maintain her health. For some unknown reason, the Xie family continues to honor the Cuckoo Courtyard without neglect. Thus, Ning Yiniang's plan to outlast Fang Shi and elevate herself is indeed a long and arduous undertaking. Of course, given Ning Yiniang's esteemed reputation, how could she entertain such a rebellious thought?

Hmm, this is quite interesting

At that moment, Aunt Ning brought the four siblings, Xie Mo You and her brothers, to the gathering. After exchanging a few words, Xie Mo Ru and Xie Mo You went to Huazhang Hall to study. Mr. Ji was still lecturing on the Zuo Zhuan and the Spring and Autumn Annals. However, when school was dismissed in the morning, he mentioned, "Madam conveyed a message saying that we should add some of the Four Books for Women to our reading. I originally thought it was not necessary to rush, but since it is Madam's instruction, once you have the books, we will read some of the Four Books for Women."

Indeed, Granny Zhang was quite worried. As she served Xie Moru and entered the room, she asked, "Is the master looking for the young lady? Is there something the matter?"

The Xie family, aside from the unclear status of the wives and concubines, has a relatively simple composition. Since the passing of the old master and mistress, the family has been divided. At the top is the Xie Minister and Madam Xie of Songbai Courtyard. In the middle are the brothers Xie Song and Xie Bai. Xie Bai is unmarried, while Xie Song has one wife and one concubine, with the Fang family residing long-term in the Dujun Courtyard. Xie Song and Concubine Ning live in the Mudan Courtyard with their three sons and one daughter

It is neither her, nor Xie Mo You, nor Mr. Ji; therefore, it must be Mrs. Xie who is deliberately inquiring about this matter.

Ah, Xie Song must also have the same concerns

A table was set with plates and bowls, and Xie Meoyou slightly furrowed her well-groomed eyebrows, asking, "Why is there no shad fish?"

Compared to those families where three to fifty masters reside, the Xie family has a simple household. The events involving Zheng Bo and Gong Shu Duan have yet to occur. Xie Moru and her mother, Fang Shi, are both masters of the invisible arts. Although they may hold significant presence in the hearts of certain individuals, to be fair, at least in the eyes of the servants of the Xie family, these two women are exceedingly low-key. Of course, due to Aunt Ning's exceptional virtue, the items provided to the Dujuan Courtyard are of the highest quality, and the household servants do not dare to be too negligent.

"It's nothing, just a small matter." Xie Moru did not think it was worth mentioning; presumably, Mrs. Xie would not bring it up, and Xie Song would not seek her out to talk about it either

Aunt Ning said softly, "You came from my womb, and no one can surpass you in my affection. The principles of the world are all written in books; you must ponder them carefully. If I do not treat her well, how can I have a good reputation? She understands this better than you do. Look, I have supported her for many years, yet she shows no closeness to the Peony Courtyard at all"

Aunt Ning smiled gently, continuing to guide her daughter, "What she said is not wrong at all; she clearly has more insight than you. If you were to switch places, your grandmother would certainly not scold you, but would instead praise you."

Aunt Ning smiled, "I know it happens, but I do not know why it happens"

Xie Moru turned to glance at the tightly closed vermilion moon gate of the small courtyard, ah, they had reminded her. To be so apprehensive that even learning about "Zheng Bo Ke Duan Yu Yan" felt like touching a forbidden area of the heart, to be this cautious, her mother still lived in the Cuckoo Courtyard, and they did not dare to reduce her share by even a fraction. She did not go out, and they did not dare to come in. What was even more critical was that this level of apprehension had not yet been applied with any covert actions. No, it would not be accurate to say there were none; it should be that they could not, or perhaps, did not dare to. To be so apprehensive that even learning about "Zheng Bo Ke Duan Yu Yan" felt like touching a forbidden area of the heart, to be this cautious, her mother still lived in the Cuckoo Courtyard, and they did not dare to reduce her share by even a fraction. She did not go out, and they did not dare to come in. What was even more critical was that this level of apprehension had not yet been applied with any covert actions. No, it would not be accurate to say there were none; it should be that they could not, or perhaps, did not dare to.

Indeed, it was the study of the piece "Zheng Bo Ke Duan Yu Yan." Xie Mo You said, "Grandmother asked the elder sister and also inquired about me, seemingly not very satisfied with the elder sister's answer"

Mrs. Xie, the matriarch of the Xie family, is not entirely free. She shares a good relationship with her husband, Minister Xie, who only has his meals at home in the morning and evening, while he takes his working lunch at the government office. At her age, she is already a grandmother, and although she has meals with her husband in the morning and evening, she feels somewhat lonely at noon and longs for the company of her grandchildren. However, Xie Moru is caught in the middle. Mrs. Xie does not particularly like Xie Moru; she wishes to summon her grandchildren to her room for meals but cannot exclude Xie Moru. Xie Moru's perception of Mrs. Xie is similar to Mrs. Xie's perception of her. In particular, Xie Moru is a very patient person, always the first to pay her respects to Mrs. Xie in the morning. If Mrs. Xie were to send her grandchildren to the Songbai Courtyard for lunch, Xie Moru, despite her feelings, would not refuse.

However, when Xie Mo You took the initiative to come over, she was very pleased.

It seems that she has unsettled certain individuals

Indeed, if a concubine is allowed by the mistress of the house to serve at the table, it is undoubtedly a great honor

Xie Moru was almost about to laugh out loud with joy

Xie Mo You was somewhat confused. Aunt Ning said, "Your elder sister is exceptionally clever; she knows how to seek prominence, but she cannot achieve it. I will not allow her to take advantage of your strengths, and your grandmother prefers you even more. You are older now; do not always get entangled over trivial matters like tea and fish. Are we a family that lacks clothing and food? Look at the bigger picture; as long as you marry better than her and live well in the future, then today’s cup of tea and piece of fish are merely small matters."

"What’s wrong with expressing joy and anger as one pleases? Should I not be happy when I am joyful, or suppress my anger? Life should not be lived like that." Xie Mo You tugged at her mother’s sleeve, which was embroidered with peony patterns, and said in a spoiled manner, "Moreover, when I am in front of my mother, can I not express my feelings freely?"

Such a family background has led to Xie Mo You's relatively simple character, especially considering her young age; she is still a child whose emotions are governed by her heart

After leaving Huazhang Hall, the two sisters had to walk together for a while. Xie Mo You said, "Elder sister, do you think grandmother is angry?"

You, my dear, are rather shallow in thought, easily seen through at a glance. Aunt Ning gently stroked her daughter's soft and smooth hair, and said softly, You have been studying for several years now, yet you remain the same as you were in childhood. I heard that your grandmother tested you all yesterday

Due to the need to attend to Mrs. Xie, both Mrs. Xie and Xie Mo You have finished their meals, while Aunt Ning's stomach is still empty

Therefore, the dietary choices are undoubtedly highly flattering in nature

Xie Mo You could distinguish whether her mother was truly unhappy or merely saying so. She sat in a chair, serving her mother vegetables, and said, "I am just saying this, Mother, please eat your meal quickly, or it will get cold and your stomach will not feel comfortable."

Everything was fine, and they were not attending Huazhang Hall for the first time. Even if Mrs. Xie was concerned about her two granddaughters' studies, why did she not inquire earlier or later, but chose to do so just yesterday

The moon gate of the Zhengxiaoyuan is already tightly closed, and it is unknown what her mother is doing inside. Xie Moru was lost in thought, as she enjoyed speculating about the thoughts of others, especially in the Xie family, where people never speak directly and always approach matters indirectly. Everyone's thoughts are intricate and full of nuances. How did Mrs. Xie come to know about the Huazhang Hall?

Xie Mo You, being still quite young and favored by his parents, thus retains a certain air of innocence, looking at his mother with confusion. Aunt Ning gently said, "You, my dear, are just wasting a clever face."

Mrs. Xie does not possess extraordinary abilities; during class, her maids are all outside attending to her. Among them are her maids Jingwei and Zitong, as well as Xie Moyou's maids Tingqin and Xiyu, in addition to the young maid Amu who serves Mr. Ji. Amu is mute, and even when Mr. Ji visits Mrs. Xie to discuss the students' academic progress, he does not provide detailed accounts of what each student has said, as that would be too degrading for his status. Jingwei and Zitong are with her, while the remaining ones are Xie Moyou with Tingqin and Xiyu. If it were Xie Moyou, she would not rush to eat the leftovers; Xie Moyou would not deliberately time her visit to witness her being reprimanded, even if she secretly relished her misfortune, she would still want to see it on the surface. Moreover, Xie Bai, who entered Mrs. Xie's room with Xie Moyou, directly intervened on her behalf. Xie Moyou is not so kind-hearted.

Understood

Thus, Mrs. Xie instructed each household to use their own.

Mrs. Xie gently patted Xie Mo You's back and smiled, "Alright, it's just a trivial matter, not worth getting angry over. There will be shad for lunch, freshly delivered this morning. I will have the kitchen prepare it for us to taste together."

On the morning of the second day, Xie Moru went to greet Madam Xie as usual. Madam Xie did not bring up the matter from the previous day, and Xie Moru maintained her reserved demeanor. After exchanging pleasantries, the two of them, grandmother and granddaughter, returned to their previous state of ignoring each other.

Xie Mo You let out a sigh, rolled her eyes, and lifted her foot to head towards the Pine and Cypress Courtyard

The sun shone brightly in the sky, and Xie Moru rarely gave a faint smile to Xie Moru, slightly nodding, "I will take my leave now, let us talk again in the afternoon"

Aunt Ning chuckled, her mouth full of affection, "Your mouth is truly remarkable; your brothers cannot tell the difference, yet you can."

Xie Mo You curled her lips and said, "Even the cuckoo courtyard must be able to handle two tails."

After Madam Xie had lunch, Xie Mo You spoke with Aunt Ning, who had served lunch to Madam Xie, as they returned to the Peony Courtyard.

Moreover, Mrs. Xie also felt some unease

Aunt Ning sighed, "Your capriciousness truly makes me uneasy"

Whenever there is something in Mrs. Xie's courtyard, there will certainly be something in the Cuckoo courtyard as well

Old Madam Zhang said, "I heard there are only about five or six in total, which are quite precious. Our courtyard has obtained two of them." By the end of her words, Old Madam Zhang could not help but feel proud and happy

If she were unaware, she would not have sent peach blossoms to win your second uncle's favor. If she were unaware, how could the person who spoke the least in the past suddenly come up with brilliant remarks in class? " Aunt Ning said slowly, "She is indeed a clever person, Ayou"

The principle of nurturing to death is something Xie Mo You is also aware of. She said, "It is evident that one cannot raise them to maturity."

Aunt Ning looked affectionately at her daughter's beautiful face, took a sip of tea, and said, "Yes, you know, you guess, does your elder sister know?"

What is on your mind

She always felt that her mother was perhaps the most indifferent mother in the world, yet in reality, it was her mother who provided her with protection. As long as her mother was in the courtyard, she could find peace for that day

Aunt Ning sighed, picked up the silver chopsticks, and said, "From now on, you are not allowed to speak of it either."

Xie Moru and her mother, Fang, had lunch and then each went to rest.

Xie Moru's return to the Dujuan Courtyard was not late, primarily because there was nothing good to say between her and Xie Song. Once everything that needed to be said was said, she could naturally return to rest

Xie Mo You said, "I have indeed tasted good tea before, but I have long noticed that besides my grandmother's, the only place to find top-quality tea is at my elder sister's."

In the morning, it is merely a matter of having a cup of tea; however, if the entire lunch period is spent in mutual disdain, whether with Mrs. Xie or Mr. Xie, it is certainly not a comfortable experience

Some people's thoughts are easy to understand, but Mrs. Xie's intentions left Xie Mo You somewhat perplexed. Is Mrs. Xie really so concerned about the matter of "quarreling walls"? Considering Mrs. Xie's stern demeanor, Xie Mo Ru deduced that she must have touched upon Mrs. Xie's hidden worries

Her virtuous demeanor moved Mrs. Xie so much that she allowed her to serve at the table during lunch

Xie Mo You said, "Grandmother scolded her because of what she said in class"

Xie Meoyou is not happy today, and Mrs. Xie embraced her, smiling as she asked, "What is the matter? Why is your mouth pouting like this? Did Mr. Xie hit you with a ruler in class?"

Dui Rui removed the pearl hairpin, let her hair down, and gathered it loosely into a bun at the back of her head, securing it with a single pearl hairpin. Xie Moru changed into her everyday dress and, as usual, went for a walk in the garden