Chapter 478 - 182: The Zhu Family and the Sheng Family (2)
Chapter 478: Chapter 182: The Zhu Family and the Sheng Family (2)
Her mother had been Ms. Xie’s dowry handmaiden. For her diligent service and honest, dutiful nature, she was graciously permitted to have her own children, but only after Ms. Xie had safely given birth to three sons.
But her mother was ill-fated. She suffered a severe hemorrhage during childbirth and was lucky to survive, but she struggled for six more years before passing away.
Before her mother died, she pleaded with Mrs. Xie to treat her well. Out of great magnanimity, Mrs. Xie officially registered the girl under her name and brought her to her own courtyard to be raised.
It was called being "raised," but it was more like keeping a kitten or a puppy—casually given a bite to eat and a sip to drink, and that was enough. If the mood struck, Mrs. Xie would have her brought over for a look. If not, it was normal for her to go ten days or even half a month without seeing Mrs. Xie.
Mrs. Xie came from a prominent family and had the backing of three sons. Even Zhu Tongzhi had to treat her with a degree of respect. For Zhu Caiwei, whose origins were humble, facing this woman made her all the more terrified and deferential.
Mrs. Xie had been entertaining guests for half the day and was exhausted. When she was told that Zhu Caiwei had arrived, she said listlessly, "Let her in. The poor thing. She’s still an unmarried girl, yet she was helping receive guests today. It really is our fault..."
Zhu Caiwei, who was waiting outside, overheard a snippet of this, and her heart immediately leaped into her throat. As she walked inside, every step felt like she was treading on knife points.
A warm, fragrant scent wafted from the room. The cozy heat hit her cold body, making her shiver violently.
But Zhu Caiwei didn’t dare show the slightest hesitation. As soon as she entered, she kowtowed.
"Your daughter greets you, Mother."
"Oh, my dear child, why perform such a formal bow? Get up, quickly. You’re a young lady. A young lady should carry herself with dignity and self-respect. There is Gold under a young lady’s knees..."
Mrs. Xie made small talk with Zhu Caiwei, asking if she was doing well at the academy these days, if she found it tiring to entertain her classmates and teachers today, and also why the young ladies from the Sheng Family and the Zhang Family had left the banquet so early.
Zhu Caiwei chose her words with care, answering each question in turn. The anxiety in her heart was just beginning to subside when, unexpectedly, Mrs. Xie spoke again.
"How come I heard that you tried your utmost to invite two students from your academy to the banquet, but they flatly refused to come? What, do they look down on our Vice Magistrate Mansion?"
Zhu Caiwei’s heart, which had just been settling back into her chest, shot right back up into her throat.
She blinked rapidly, her hands twisting her handkerchief into a tangled mess. Her turmoil was plain to see.
Fortunately, her head was bowed and her sleeves were wide, completely concealing the frantic state of her hands.
Zhu Caiwei calmed herself and slowly raised her head. "To be clear with you, Mother, your daughter was only being warm and hospitable when she invited her classmates. I didn’t ’try my utmost’ to invite anyone. It’s just that one of the classmates is a solid scholar with outstanding talent who could be of service to Father in the future. I wanted to win him over early, so I tried a little extra persuasion. But he’s from a small town, unworldly and unable to recognize a good opportunity. If he doesn’t want to come, so be it. I simply won’t invite him to our home again in the future."
Mrs. Xie was reclining on a chaise longue, letting a young handmaiden kneel on the floor and massage her legs.
She gave a slight nod. "You handled that correctly. Our family is of high station. We can deign to associate with some scholars, but if a scholar doesn’t have the sense to appreciate it, there’s no reason for us to chase after him. The world is full of scholars, as common as fish in the sea. So what if he has talent? If he lacks a bit of luck and has no powerful patron to back him, a person like that won’t go far..."
The curling incense smoke veiled Mrs. Xie’s face.
A note of weariness entered her voice as she continued at an unhurried pace, "You are a young lady of our family. Since you are registered under my name, you are a legitimate daughter. Your status is noble, and in the future, you are to marry into a prominent family. You must not be like those shortsighted girls who fall for a handsome face and throw themselves at him..."
A look of humiliation filled Zhu Caiwei’s eyes, but she didn’t dare let a single trace of it show.
She quickly knelt on the floor and said with sincerity, "Your daughter has received Mother’s teachings and would not dare to take a single misstep. Please rest assured, Mother. Your daughter will never do anything to disgrace the family."
As Zhu Caiwei walked out of Mrs. Xie’s courtyard, Mrs. Xie’s words seemed to still be echoing in her ears.
"You are my daughter. My only wish is for you to marry into a prominent family so you can help your father and brothers..."
The tears in Zhu Caiwei’s eyes could no longer be held back and began to fall.
’What kind of real mother could say such heart-stabbing words?’
’When she told me not to "throw myself" at someone, wasn’t she just calling me cheap? She’s only using me as a tool, hoping I’ll help her husband and sons one day...’
’If this were my real mother, she would never, ever treat me like this.’