Chapter 222: You Are Very Smart
The autumn sky was high and the air was crisp. Seizing the tail end of late autumn, Qin Luoxia took her two daughters out to visit.
It was mainly because ever since Jiang Yu became pregnant, she had been at home every day, and she was afraid she might get sick from being cooped up.
When she was pregnant, she wouldn’t stay home all day; she would do the work she needed to do, braving the wind and rain, unable to spare herself from anything. At most, when it was time to eat, she would just eat an extra bite.
Furthermore, based on Qin Luoxia’s experience, she worried that if she really acted like a refined young lady, never stepping out of the gate or the inner courtyard, her legs would become so weak she wouldn’t be able to lift them, making labor difficult when the time came.
It was still necessary to move around. Jiang Yu had an outgoing personality and loved excitement, so she couldn’t always be confined to the house.
However, since she was heavy with child, Qin Luoxia took her to the Prefect’s wife’s residence.
Among the inner courts of the various officials, Qin Luoxia had the best relationship with the Prefect’s wife, who loved chrysanthemums. They were kindred spirits.
The Prefect’s wife had a round face and was a bit plump and fleshy; she also liked Xia Mei very much, finding her efficient, straightforward, and easy to get along with.
Seeing her bring Jiang Yu along, she was startled, but also very pleased.
Bringing a pregnant woman to visit showed importance and affection, while being startled was due to the worry of not taking care of her well enough.
She ordered the servants around to prepare food that was refined and careful.
Jiang Yu was still very well-behaved when out; she wouldn’t speak unless necessary, only smiling with pursed lips.
Since getting pregnant, her face had become rounder, and her body was rounder too.
She originally had a round face anyway, so she didn’t feel bloated; instead, her skin felt increasingly delicate and supple.
They say that carrying a girl makes a pregnant woman look better.
Given the situation of the Meng Family, they certainly wanted a son, but they would surely love a daughter too. Either way was fine.
The Prefect’s wife was making flower cakes today and had specially invited them to taste them.
When Jiang Mianmian saw the Prefect’s wife, she naturally rushed over and called her Auntie.
Seeing that Magistrate Wu’s wife was also there, she greeted her obediently, and then casually took Magistrate Wu’s daughter, Wu Yian, by the hand.
Wu Yian didn’t want to go, her face pained.
Magistrate Wu’s wife was a bit angry, “Look at that small-minded appearance of yours.”
Jiang Mianmian, right under the adults’ noses, dragged the little girl away, and also took along Wu Yian’s half-brother, Wu Yilu.
Jiang Mianmian knew that the ladies needed a place to gossip, containing content that unmarried children shouldn’t hear.
However, her sister would definitely relay it to her when they went back.
Jiang Yu chatted with Mother and the other ladies.
Since she was married, she could listen to the post-marital gossip of the married ladies, and she was quite happy about it.
Hearing so much gossip, she wanted to clap and cheer, and ask, “What happened next?”
Unfortunately, Great-Aunt would always straighten her clothes at such moments, and she knew it was time to shut her mouth.
Even if she wanted to listen, she shouldn’t show it. If she wanted to laugh, she should cover her mouth with a handkerchief. Hehe.
Anyway, after coming out a few times, Jiang Yu quite liked these ladies’ gatherings. It was quite interesting. Getting together to speak ill of others.
It wasn’t really speaking ill, it was gossip. After all, these were high-class ladies’ gatherings; even when speaking ill of someone, they would lay some groundwork, saying, “That person is actually quite good, but…” blah blah blah.
It felt like there wasn’t much difference from the countryside. Because of this, Jiang Yu felt much more at ease.
Now when she went out, she didn’t look at people with a timid gaze; her temperament had changed significantly.
This was also because she had confidence, her maiden family had confidence, and her husband’s family had confidence.
It seemed that in every gesture, she had become generous and noble.
“If I don’t want anything from you, what do I have to fear?”
If one had desires, one’s waist would subconsciously bend.
Of course, it was mainly because the Jingzhou officialdom had been cleared by Commander Jiang, and everyone was very polite and friendly.
When everyone was friendly, there were no mean people.
Over there, Jiang Mianmian, Wu Yian, and a shy little boy were together. The boy was only five years old, wearing a small red robe, chubby and white, with long hair, and he was also very good-looking.
Wu Yian was actually a little academic star; she was very good at reciting and studying, the kind of top-ranking student at school.
Jiang Mianmian liked playing with good students—oh no, she liked playing with good students.
The little boy was Wu Yian’s half-brother, Wu Yilu.
As soon as Wu Yian sat down, she said to Wu Yilu, “Stay away from me. If you sit too close, and you bump into something later, you’ll blame me again.”
Most of the time, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children was clear, but there were some exceptions. For example, if there were no legitimate sons but only illegitimate sons, the status of the illegitimate son would be much higher.
Magistrate Wu had three concubines, which was neither many nor few.
The third concubine had given birth to a son for him. The original wife had only given birth to one daughter. The other two concubines had each given birth to a daughter as well.
The two daughters were older than Wu Yian, and Wu Yilu was the youngest.
As the legitimate daughter, Wu Yian should have been pampered and spoiled, but now with a younger brother—even though he was a half-brother—her status was inexplicably lost.
This made her personality a bit twisted. She worked very hard, but she was very twisted.
Away from the adults, she sat in that small courtyard, pouting. Snacks and fruits were laid out on the table, but she still puffed up her cheeks.
“What are you unhappy about again?” Jiang Mianmian asked.
“My big sister and second sister are speaking ill of me. They said I shouldn’t go to school, shouldn’t go to distribute porridge, and shouldn’t show my face in public. They said I won’t be able to find a husband’s family in the future, and that proper ladies won’t like a girl like me.”
Jiang Mianmian picked at the snacks on the table, and seeing Wu Yilu staring at a small flower cake, she casually gave him a piece and said, “Don’t care about others gossiping behind your back.”
Wu Yian looked at Jiang Mianmian, wanting to hear her high opinion.
Then she heard Jiang Mianmian say, “What they said might not be as harsh as what I’m about to say.”
Wu Yian:… How could such a good-looking face say such terrible things? o(╥﹏╥)o.
The little boy lowered his head to eat the flower cake, his shoulders trembling.
“Next time you encounter this situation, you should lash out on the spot, make a big scene, and blow things out of proportion. They aren’t just speaking ill of you; they are trying to ruin your future and the family’s future. If the legitimate daughter can’t marry well, what future does your whole family have? Your father definitely won’t be able to bear that.”
“But, but…”
“But if you talk about it now and are unhappy, you will be the one who is small-minded and petty. What’s wrong with your half-sisters criticizing you? They are doing it for your own good. You didn’t lash out on the spot, so if you bring it up now, your father and the concubines will think you are picking a fight and intentionally causing trouble. The first time they bullied you and spoke ill of you, they were testing your bottom line. So, next time you encounter this, you must lash out on the spot and curse them back. Make yourself feel good first.”
Jiang Mianmian said this while taking a sip of the small flower tea; it was a bit sweet and sour, and quite tasty.
Wu Yian stammered a couple of times, feeling that what Jiang Mianmian said made a lot of sense, but it also felt a bit wrong: “The teacher said that girls shouldn’t use dirty language.”
“What’s wrong with using dirty language? A teacher once said that only by saying dirty words can your mouth be clean. What the teacher taught are all the requirements of the world for women, which are all for the benefit of others. But in life, the most important thing is to be happy yourself.”
Wu Yian looked at Jiang Mianmian with admiration after hearing this. Aowu, she liked Jiang Mianmian so much in her heart.
“Which teacher said that?”
“Teacher Spear.”
Wu Yilu saw his sister being coaxed into being happy, and began peeling fruit for Sister Mianmian.
Sister Mianmian happily ate the fruit and shared some with him.
Wu Yian, while peeling an orange for Jiang Mianmian and carefully removing the white threads, said, “Jiang Mianmian, if you bully me again in the future, I will curse you, using dirty language, the really dirty kind.”
“Okay.”
“You are very smart; you have graduated.”
“That’s because I am very smart.”
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