Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 284: If She Didn’t Have the Pei Mansion as Her Backing
A few tofu skin buns were just enough to curb the hunger; once back at the Pei Mansion for a little dinner, it would be perfect.
Pei Ji’an asked about the feast, and Qu Fulan mentioned that everyone participated in the bet.
"If we win, it’s fine, but if we lose, we not only have to prepare gifts for the winners but also do something that amazes everyone—this is just too difficult."
After speaking, she looked at him, "Can you predict which team will win?"
Pei Ji’an laughed, "I’m not that skilled, and besides, I haven’t paid much attention to these things in recent years."
Qu Fulan sighed; it seemed everything depended on herself.
Though the gift is based on one’s heart, not measured by money, taking out something cheap would be embarrassing, wouldn’t it?
Too expensive is also not feasible, for if it puts others to shame, gossip is sure to follow.
Socializing is like this; it can’t be avoided, but when you do engage, there are many issues to consider.
When they returned to the Pei Mansion, they discovered there were guests at home.
It was Madam Pei’s younger sister, Mrs. Ning, and her daughter, who was twelve years old this year, named Ning Xin.
Mrs. Ning’s in-laws were not in the Capital City, and it took half a month to reach the city, which was why she couldn’t make it in time when Pei Ji’an hurriedly married.
Even though she missed her nephew’s wedding, she had to come afterward to meet her nephew and his wife.
Before seeing them, Mrs. Ning wondered what kind of person would be worthy of her nephew, but upon seeing them together and how harmonious they looked standing side by side, they seemed like a perfect couple, a match made in heaven.
The young girl had a very sweet mouth, pleasing the elderly lady so much that her smile wouldn’t close.
That evening, back in Lixiang Courtyard, Qu Fulan learned from Pei Ji’an that this aunt had visited the Pei Mansion before when Ning Xin was only seven years old.
No wonder Madam Pei merely said "the old place" when arranging accommodations earlier.
Now that Qu Fulan was managing the household, it was imperative to inquire a bit more to arrange the service properly so as not to neglect the guests.
This side was to better understand the guests for convenience, whereas Mrs. Ning and her daughter were discussing Qu Fulan.
"No wonder your cousin suddenly married, only a girl like this could catch his eye, right?" Mrs. Ning, having seen the world, was not only amazed by Qu Fulan’s beauty at first glance but could also see the essence beyond the appearance. She could tell this was not an ordinary girl; an ordinary girl wouldn’t have captured her exceptional nephew’s heart.
Ning Xin, however, being young, couldn’t see as deeply as her mother, "I think she’s just so-so; cousin must have been bewitched by her looks."
The young girl looked quite nice herself, after all, her mother was not lacking in appearance when she was young, and neither was Madam Pei. There were no unattractive people in this family; plus, Marquis Pei was handsome in his youth, then their son picked the best features from both parents, which is why the Heir Pei is so stunning now; it all had its reasons.
But Ning Xin didn’t have the same luck as her cousin; her father’s looks were average, though her appearance was not too negatively impacted. At least locally, she was one of the top beauties, and she always took pride in this.
The fact that her proud looks were overshadowed by her cousin-in-law caused the young girl some dissatisfaction, feeling the need to find some other point to redeem herself.
"I heard cousin-in-law doesn’t come from a good background. Besides her face, I doubt she has any skills in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting."
Only wealthy families could provide the best education for their children.
Besides her proud looks, Ning Xin was also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
"Don’t speak like this, you’re belittling your cousin. Would someone like him only focus on looks?" Mrs. Ning said.
Ning Xin didn’t want to admit her cousin was superficial, but also didn’t want to acknowledge her cousin-in-law was impressive.
"Coming from a humble background, what skills could she have? Mother, don’t overestimate her."
Mrs. Ning shook her head, knowing her daughter’s character, advising was not going to help, only letting her see and learn more would change her mind.
"Mother, my chess skills were even inspired by Master Lu, and over the years we’ve kept correspondence. Tomorrow, I want to visit him." Ning Xin was ready to discuss something important, letting go of focusing on a stranger for a cousin-in-law.
Mrs. Ning said, "Go ahead, as the proverb says, a day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father; visiting him is good."
Qu Fulan was busy with matters the next day and made sure to pass by that tofu skin bun shop again; it was early, so there weren’t many people in front of the shop yet.
The shopkeeper’s wife enthusiastically packed a portion of tofu skin buns and handed them to the maid.
The carriage hadn’t traveled far when the sound of things being smashed came from behind.
The maid lifted the curtain to look out and said, "Why are the government officers smashing people’s things? That’s so outrageous."
Qu Fulan also looked out, seeing the benches in front of the shopkeeper’s store overturned by officers; a few officers with swords were shouting loudly, their voices carrying from afar.
"Someone reported that your goods here are unsanitary, so we came to check it out."
The shopkeeper’s wife was at a loss and scared, watching helplessly as they casually inspected the shop, moving what they disliked.
Qu Fulan frowned; in these times, opening a shop requires government approval, unlike a street stall, so how can they disrupt freely?
It was clearly being deliberately provoked.
Qu Fulan asked Shi Yi to go check it out, to see what was actually happening.
Yet before Shi Yi could get there, someone else stepped forward and threw a few blows at the officers, then whispered something, causing those officers to bow and apologize before leaving hastily.
Qu Fulan thought the figure looked familiar; upon closer inspection, wasn’t it Fengsheng, the one who played Sha Wujing before?
Later he became a guard for the Heir Pei, though with different duties, so not often seen, and Qu Fulan didn’t encounter him much.
Shi Yi still went ahead and interacted, then came back to report to Qu Fulan.
"Reporting to the Young Madam, Fengsheng said those officers were bribed to cause trouble, and the one who bribed them was a competitor envious of the shopkeeper’s good business."
Qu Fulan said nothing further about it.
While eating the tofu skin buns, she couldn’t help but reflect on a reality.
In this world, it’s hard for women without a background to thrive. Back then, if not for the shelter of the Pei Mansion, she couldn’t enjoy today’s splendor and might have struggled like the shopkeeper’s wife, managing a small shop to make ends meet while occasionally dealing with those causing trouble.
She routinely visited various shops and then met some merchants of the city just before noon.
As for the Pei Mansion, after having breakfast, Ning Xin went to see Master Lu.
When she had visited the Pei Mansion at age seven, she was at a bottleneck in learning chess, and fortunate enough to receive Master Lu’s guidance, she instantly had an epiphany, leading far in understanding chess ever since.
Therefore, Ning Xin was extremely grateful to Master Lu.
Learning that Master Lu was once sent to a temple by her cousin due to that cousin-in-law, Ning Xin was greatly shocked.
"When did cousin become so unreasonable?"
Master Lu did not wish to elaborate on past events, only saying, "Your chess skills are now above mine; henceforth, you need not rely on my guidance."
The more indifferent Master Lu appeared, the more restless Ning Xin felt since her chess prowess was entirely due to Master Lu’s generous teachings, and yet she hadn’t had a chance to repay, only to see him suffer grievances.
