Chapter 1238: Chapter 1237: Benefits
Not to ntion Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu, at this mont they are probably the two people most genuinely happy for Wang Yongzhu in this room.
After all, they have been showing goodwill to Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu in hopes of forging a good relationship with Song Chongjin to leverage his influence in the future.
The better Song Chongjin does, the happier they are!
Having received good things, the two sisters harmoniously thanked Lady Gao and praised Wang Yongzhu, bringing joy and harmony to the room.
Although Song Chongqi felt sowhat discontent, considering the few nice items she benefited from today, her mood improved slightly.
Only Maternal Aunt Hou felt bitter as if she had swallowed bile. With Song Chongjin passing the scholar exam, his position beca even more stable. How could this not an that her Chongjun would be left with no hope at all?
Seeing the sisters Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu curry favor with Wang Yongzhu, she felt increasingly uncomfortable.
Taking advantage of the lack of attention, she nudged Third Maternal Aunt ng who was beside her and remarked, “After all, ng Sister is foresighted. Early on, she guided our Second and Third Young Ladies to climb high branches. Let’s hope they will be able to stand steadily on those branches long term. Otherwise, if they fall, they’d be worse off than roosters.”
Lady ng was not annoyed, instead she smiled faintly and said, “Thanks to Sister Hou’s well-wishes, with the guidance of their elder brother and sister-in-law, the Second and Third Young Ladies will surely find good matches and lead stable lives.”
This left Lady Hou rolling her eyes in frustration.
Just as she wanted to speak again, she caught Lady Gao’s stern gaze from above, and she obediently lowered her head.
Approaching noon, the well-connected families, ever resourceful, began sending congratulatory gifts one after another.
The gates of the Duke Weiguo Residence beca a bustling hub, with guests coming and going.
In the front courtyard, Song Hong and his brothers, along with Song Chongjin and several other brothers, were busy entertaining the guests.
In the backyard, Lady Gao was also overwheld with tasks.
Lady Yu, fond of showing off, seized the opportunity to volunteer her services on such a proud occasion.
Lady Gao was straightforward, assigning half of the tasks to Lady Yu and Lady Chiang while teaching Wang Yongzhu attentively by her side.
Seeing the envy in Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu’s eyes, Wang Yongzhu thought, although the sisters had their own agendas, they made it clear they supported her, showing a firm stance.
Perhaps granting them so benefits could demonstrate to others that siding with her and Song Chongjin brings advantages. It may not sway people imdiately, but at the very least, it could sow so doubt.
Thus, she suggested with a smile, “Madam, I notice that Second Sister and Third Sister aren’t young anymore. In a few years, they’ll probably be looking for their own households. For young ladies from families like ours, aside from other aspects, they simply must learn to manage household affairs.”
“Today is chaotic with so many things happening. Maybe it would be beneficial for Second Sister and Third Sister to learn about social engagents by staying beside Second Aunt and Third Aunt?”
This suggestion lit up the eyes of Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu, and even Lady ng’s heart was moved.
Lady ng looked at Wang Yongzhu with full gratitude.
As a mother, she knew well that in a family like theirs, skills such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were rely embellishnts. What girls truly needed to learn was how to manage household affairs.
Only then could they live comfortably after marriage.
Unfortunately, being a concubine, her two daughters grew up by her side and had no opportunity to learn the skills of household managent and social dealings.
Lady ng was constantly anxious. Song Chongqi’s mother, Lady Yuan, was once a trial maid from the Gao Family. Due to this connection and Song Chongqi’s efforts to curry favor with Madam Gao,
Madam Gao specially assigned a Sister to teach household managent when the engagent was settled.
But Lady ng herself had a distant relationship with Madam Gao, and feared such an opportunity would never co to her daughters.
If they couldn’t learn household managent, they might be laughed at even after marriage.
Thus, Lady ng was perpetually worried. She never imagined that Wang Yongzhu would suggest it today, which was an unexpected delight.
At that mont, if not for being in front of so many people, Lady ng would have knelt down to thank Wang Yongzhu on the spot.
Lady Gao was taken aback, glanced at Wang Yongzhu, and saw her smiling sweetly, seemingly a casual suggestion.
After a brief consideration, Lady Gao too smiled and patted Wang Yongzhu’s hand, “You’re right. For families like ours, aside from other skills, managing household affairs is essential. I originally thought of teaching the Second and Third Young Ladies when they were older, but now that you ntion it, letting them oversee today could be useful.”
She then instructed, “Learning to manage household affairs is a skill crucial for us won. You must learn well and don’t let your elder sister-in-law’s hard work go to waste.”
With reddened eyes, Song Chongjuan and Song Chongxiu hurriedly stepped forward to thank Lady Gao and then bowed to Wang Yongzhu, “Thank you, Mother! Thank you, Elder Sister-in-law!”
Then they bowed to Lady Yu and Lady Chiang, expressing apologies for any inconveniences caused.
Lady Yu and Lady Chiang couldn’t help but give Wang Yongzhu another look, each with their own thoughts, but verbally acknowledging that it was only a part of their responsibilities.
All were delighted at the mont.
Song Chongqi stood aside, watching her two sisters joyfully, her face turning alternately pale and flushed.
Lady Yuan couldn’t resist nudging her and whispering, “Eldest Young Lady, you should go and express your gratitude to the Eldest Young Lady and learn from them. You’re about to be married off soon, and this opportunity is rare!”
Song Chongqi knew well how precious the opportunity was, but her pride made it unbearable to bow to Wang Yongzhu and humbly beg her; she’d rather die than do such a thing.
So she bit her lip and remained silent.
Lady ng glanced at Song Chongqi and lowered her eyes, thinking that this Eldest Young Lady was foolish. Stubborn pride is aningless now; learning the skills would be wise.
Enduring current humiliation is better than making mistakes after marriage and being laughed at for life, right?
But as this wasn’t her daughter, it wasn’t her place to worry.
Lady Gao also glanced at Song Chongqi. This concubine-born girl had tried to curry favor for many years, leaving so emotional ties.
If she humbled herself now, Lady Gao would have arranged things for her as well without much effort.
Yet seeing her face flushed and still showing no intention of speaking, Lady Gao’s interest waned.
She noticed Lady Yuan only kept nudging Song Chongqi, but as the real mother, she didn’t dare to say any sweet words for her daughter to avoid offending Song Chongjin and Wang Yongzhu.
If she couldn’t fight for herself and the mother dared not speak, who else could she rely on?
Lady Gao looked away and exchanged so pleasantries with Lady Yu and Lady Chiang, then everyone busied themselves again.
Song Chongqi sat in the hall for half a day, ignored, with red eyes, covering her face with a handkerchief, and cried all the way back to her courtyard.
After noon, the guests from the Gu Family arrived to extend their congratulations.
The visitor was a trusted elder lady from the side of the Lady of the Gu Family. She first offered a series of auspicious words, congratulating Song Chongjin on his success.
Lady Gao responded with a smile, “Congratulations to you too; your son’s achievent is top-notch. We cannot compare—”
After a round of mutual flattery, the elder lady prepared to leave, “This old servant should return after sharing in the joy of your esteed residence’s eldest young master’s success. But before departing, I request the Eldest Young Lady’s indulgence in private, as the Old Madam entrusted this old servant with so private words for her.”
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