Chapter 260: On the Side
Wei Educational Commissioner, with his hands behind his back and a frown, ascended the steps and entered the room.
Madam Fu carefully observed Wei Educational Commissioner and asked with a smile, “Who has angered you to this extent?”
“I am troubled and worried, not angry,” Wei Educational Commissioner sat down and accepted the tea handed to him by his youngest daughter.
“You are clearly angry,” Wei Seventh Mistress poked her head forward, looking at her father.
“I am clearly troubled,” Wei Educational Commissioner tapped his forehead.
“Then what is it that troubles you so?” Madam Fu continued to ask.
“Your good nephew…”
“He is your own nephew,” Madam Fu interrupted Wei Educational Commissioner unceremoniously.
“Fourth Sister’s cousin!” Wei Educational Commissioner turned and pointed at Wei Fourth Mistress, who was watching the servant girl set the table.
“It’s Cousin who angered Father!” Wei Seventh Mistress hopped and sat back in her chair, announcing loudly.
“Listen to Father!” Wei Sixth Mistress gently patted her sister’s shoulder.
Wei Fourth Mistress glanced at her father.
“The Young Lord is in Hangcheng? Did you invite him over for a meal?” Madam Fu asked.
“He didn’t come! If he had, I would have lectured him to his face long ago…”
“It’s always Cousin lecturing you!” Wei Seventh Mistress immediately revealed the truth.
“You can’t speak to Father like that! Be more tactful!” Wei Sixth Mistress patted her sister again.
“Then it’s always Cousin giving Father advice!” Wei Seventh Mistress immediately corrected herself.
“Be quiet and listen to Father!” Wei Fourth Mistress admonished her sister.
“He sent a servant over, saying he wants that Miss Li to lecture at the Imperial Examination Hall. How old is that Miss Li? What knowledge can she possibly have? This is utter nonsense!” Wei Educational Commissioner ignored his daughters’ words and said indignantly.
Wei Fourth Mistress’s eyebrows rose upon hearing this, and she looked at Madam Fu.
Madam Fu’s eyebrows also rose in surprise as she looked at Wei Educational Commissioner and asked, “Lecture on what knowledge? How will she lecture?”
“They say it’s about Investigation of Things, and that she needs a large venue, preferably at the Imperial Examination Hall. It’s truly absurd!” Wei Educational Commissioner angrily picked up his cup to drink tea.
“I recall you were the one who told me Miss Li is skilled in Investigation of Things. How did you know?” Madam Fu looked at Wei Fourth Mistress and asked with a frown.
“Wan Jing said it. She said Cousin knows Miss Li, and it’s because Cousin asked Miss Li for advice on Investigation of Things,” Wei Fourth Mistress replied.
“Take your sister and go pick some plum blossoms to bring back and arrange in a vase. Hurry!” Madam Fu patted Wei Sixth Mistress.
Wei Sixth Mistress sighed, stood up, and pulled her sister outside.
Outside the door, Wei Seventh Mistress pouted, “They’re whispering behind our backs again!”
“Behind *your* back! I’m sixteen already, sigh!” Wei Sixth Mistress let out a long sigh.
Wei Seventh Mistress stuck out her tongue and, pulling Wei Sixth Mistress, said with a smile, “Sixth Sister, look at that plum branch, it’s so beautiful. Let’s go pick that one, and hurry back after we’ve picked it. Perhaps they haven’t finished talking yet.”
Madam Fu watched her two daughters leave, then looked at Wei Educational Commissioner and asked in a low voice, “The Young Lord intends to marry that Miss Li, this matter…”
“What?”
Before Madam Fu could finish, Wei Educational Commissioner’s eyes widened.
“Look at you! You’ve read so many books, yet how is your self-cultivation?” Madam Fu chided Wei Educational Commissioner, looking askance at him.
“When did you find out? Why didn’t you tell me? That Miss Li? Isn’t this absurd! Does Eldest Sister know? What does Eldest Sister say?” Wei Educational Commissioner asked a string of questions in one breath.
“Look at you! This is why I didn’t tell you!” Madam Fu said irritably.
“Cousin came to our house for dinner last time precisely to tell Mother about this matter. Mother said that since Cousin came from the Educational Commissioner’s yamen and didn’t tell you, it means he didn’t want you to know for the time being,” Wei Fourth Mistress explained with a smile.
“And Eldest Sister? She doesn’t know either? That letter from the day before yesterday, Eldest Sister was still worried that the Young Lord wouldn’t fancy anyone. Does that mean Eldest Sister still doesn’t know? Now that we know, how can we keep it from Eldest Sister?” Wei Educational Commissioner still had a string of questions.
“Sigh!” Madam Fu let out a long sigh.
“This is a major matter!” Wei Educational Commissioner glared at Madam Fu.
“Then what do you suggest we do!” Madam Fu slammed her hand on the table.
“I’m not, I’m just reminding you, Eldest Sister values the Young Lord’s marriage the most. What I mean is, you definitely know this, I just, I don’t mean anything else, what do you think we should do?” Wei Educational Commissioner’s imposing manner deflated.
“The Young Lord first came to me for advice, and now he wants to lecture. Isn’t this arranging matters for your Eldest Sister and the Prince’s Estate? They are proceeding step by step, in an orderly fashion. What business is it of yours?” Madam Fu was full of exasperation.
“That’s true, that’s true. Your mother is right,” Wei Educational Commissioner said with a smile, “But since we know, Eldest Sister… I mean~~”
“If we tell Aunt, then what about Cousin?” Wei Fourth Mistress asked.
“Look at you! You’re not as good as your daughter!” Madam Fu sighed again.
“One generation surpassing another is the way to prosperity,” Wei Educational Commissioner blurted out, his brow furrowed. “Then this lecturing is even more absurd. Could it be…”
“If you’re worried, then have that Miss Li lecture for you first. If you think it’s good, then let her lecture! Lecturing has been a custom for hundreds or thousands of years. Don’t worry about Miss Li or Miss Zhang, or the Young Lord or dates. Just follow the established procedure for lectures and arrange things as they should be!” Madam Fu was too tired to talk to Wei Educational Commissioner any further.
“Yes, yes. See how well your mother put it, hitting the nail on the head,” Wei Educational Commissioner said with a smile, nodding repeatedly.
………………………………
Li Xiaonan and Sister-in-law Yin worked for a few days, and then had Yu Ting go invite Wan Jing over.
Li Xiaonan invited Wan Jing into her room and spread out a fine cloth skirt, gesturing for Wan Jing to look.
“What do you think of this skirt?” Li Xiaonan put on the skirt and twirled around for Wan Jing to see.
“It’s quite nice,” Wan Jing replied perfunctorily. “Did you call me over just to see if your new skirt looks good?”
“There’s also a new jacket, and this outer garment,” Li Xiaonan put down the skirt and picked up the jacket and a long gown with wide sleeves.
“Oh! What is this for? Is there something important?” Wan Jing reached out and pinched the trim on the long gown.
“Looking at you, are these clothes not good? You don’t like them?” Li Xiaonan was a bit discouraged.
“Not at all! They are all good clothes, made of the finest fine cloth. What are you doing?” Wan Jing’s voice was a little too loud.
“Aren’t I going to lecture on Investigation of Things?” Li Xiaonan spread the clothes on the bed and sighed, looking at them.
She also felt that these clothes were a bit ordinary, but she and Sister-in-law Yin had done their best.
“Then you don’t need to worry about it. Our Young Lord has already given instructions for the needlework room to make you some decent clothes,” Wan Jing said with a smile.
“Are they all silk?” Li Xiaonan asked casually.
“Of course. If it’s not silk, how can it be considered decent?” Wan Jing gave Li Xiaonan a half-hearted eye-roll.
“Do you think fine cloth can be made into clothes that look better than silk?” Li Xiaonan picked up the skirt again.
“Yes, definitely. Fine cloth isn’t as shiny as silk; it has a bit of a damask feel. Those who value elegance and refinement like this understated luxury. But this understated luxury cannot be true understated luxury; it must be the ultimate luxury, which requires skill in needlework. I don’t like this kind of understated luxury,” Wan Jing pouted.
“Can you help me make a set of clothes like this?” Li Xiaonan asked, looking at Wan Jing.
“You like this kind? You’re not that kind of person! It’s very troublesome, and really not worth it. I’m telling you, silk is better!” Wan Jing said earnestly.
“I know, it’s for my fine cloth business,” Li Xiaonan sighed.
The amount of fine cloth collected had increased rapidly, but the amount of fine cloth sold was about the same as last year. Eldest Sister and Sister-in-law Yin were extremely worried, and she was even more so.
“Oh!” Wan Jing suddenly understood. “Then we’ll have to use the needlework room. The needlework room is very busy all year round, and I can’t order them around. You’ll have to ask our Young Lord about this.”
“Is your Young Lord coming back today?” Li Xiaonan folded the clothes.
“Probably. It’s not something I should know,” Wan Jing shrugged.
“I’ll go wait at your place. I need to read anyway,” Li Xiaonan packed up the clothes.
“Then let’s go quickly! Yesterday, the boatwoman caught a basket of old lotus roots. Aunt Wang said they’re best for making sticky rice lotus root!” Wan Jing said with a smile.
