Chapter 35: Chapter 31, Boudoir Studies_l
Translator: 549690339
Early in the morning, after having breakfast in Old Madam Yan’s courtyard, Daohua followed Ping Tong toward the Virtue and Art Court where the young ladies usually had their lessons.
Since Wang Manman was newly purchased and understood many rules and etiquettes, Madam Li had Ping Tong accompany Daohua and bring Wang Manman along in passing.
The Virtue and Art Court, though called a courtyard, actually consisted of only a few rooms; the main room was used as the parlor for the ladies’ classes, and the wing room was Master Qin’s residence.
By the ti Daohua arrived, Yan Yihuan, Yan Yishuang, and Yan Yile had already gotten there.
Apart from them, there were three other young girls in the parlor.
The three girls were around eight or nine years old, one being the daughter of the Deputy County Magistrate Xu Keke, one being the daughter of the instructor Zhu Xiuyun, and one being the daughter of Xian Wei’s daughter, Fan Siran.
These three families, whether to curry favor with the Yan County Magistrate or to freeload on education, had sent their daughters here.
The mont Daohua entered the room, the chatting crowd imdiately fell silent, gave her a collective glance, and then as if by agreent, ignored her.
To this, Daohua did not even bat an eyelid; she scanned the parlor and spotted a guest table at the far corner, clearly farther back than the others. Without saying a word, she walked over to sit down and took the book chest from Ping Tong, saying, “You can go now!”
Ping Tong, worriedly glancing at the untroubled Daohua and then at the others flagrantly isolating her, frowned and quickly stepped out of the parlor.
Once outside, Ping Tong took Wang Manman, who was waiting by the house, aside and instructed, “Watch over the young lady carefully. It’s her first day of class, and if she feels any discomfort whatsoever, imdiately report to Madam in the main courtyard.”
Wang Manman, unaware of the underlying tensions within the parlor, nevertheless nodded solemnly.
Inside, Yan Yihuan looked at the silent Yan Yishuang and the others who were ignoring Daohua and felt that it was sowhat improper to act this way. She turned to Daohua, who was setting up her textbooks and writing materials, and hesitantly said, “Big sister, the light is not good there. Co sit by !”
Daohua looked up at Yan Yihuan, who was about to stand, and smiled, “No need, I’m quite content sitting here.”
Yan Yile imdiately interjected, “Exactly, second sister, big sister is the oldest among us and also taller. It’s most fitting for her to sit in the last row.”
Hearing this, the others bowed their heads to hide their smiles.
At that mont, a woman in her thirties who looked sowhat stern walked in.
Upon her entrance, Yan Yihuan and the others imdiately straightened up and rose to pay their respects, “Greetings to Master.”
When Daohua saw this, she followed suit.
Master Qin glanced at Yan Yihuan and the others, her gaze pausing on Daohua, “Sit down.”
Daohua had just sat down when she heard Master Qin call out, “Yan Yiyi.”
Startled, Daohua soon realized she was being addressed; Yan Yiyi was her formal na.
“Student greets Master!”
Daohua stood up gracefully and bowed to Master Qin.
Master Qin did not imdiately instruct Daohua to sit down, but appraised her silently instead.
This eldest young lady of the Yan family indeed had a comndable appearance and deanor. Among those present, even her favorite Yan Yishuang couldn’t compete. If she hadn’t known her background already, she might have mistaken her for a young lady from an aristocratic family.
No wonder Yan Yishuang had been restless lately, worried about maintaining her place in the favor of the Yan patriarch.
Feeling the pressure of having such an outstanding elder sister was unavoidable.
“Rise,” Master Qin finally said.
Daohua stood up, maintaining a calm composure as she looked at Master Qin.
Seeing her standing without sitting back down, Master Qin nodded approvingly. Although brought up in the countryside, she seed to have so grasp of etiquette, “You’ve just arrived, so I’m unaware of what you’ve studied.
Tell about it.”
Daohua reflected for a mont, “To Master, I have completed the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnas, and Thousand Character Classic. I am currently reading the Four Books.”
Master Qin looked at Daohua in surprise, clearly not expecting she had read so much.
Children of 8 or 9 years old are usually too restless and playful to sit still, let alone to study.
Lately, while residing in the County Governor’s Office back courtyard, she had heard plenty about the eldest Yan girl—rumors describing her as a lively and unruly young lady.
With that temperant, could she truly quiet her mind to study?
Especially the dry and profound Four Books.
Master Qin was skeptical, feeling that the eldest Yan girl was overstating her abilities, probably having just glanced over the Four Books and then claiming she had studied them. She seed sowhat dishonest.
Yan Yihuan and the others appeared equally surprised, especially Yan Yishuang.
Aunt Lin had told her that in the countryside, not to ntion won, even n had almost no access to books. She advised her to be at ease; as long as her big sister attended class, she would surely fall behind in comparison.
But now it seed that the big sister had nearly read more books than her.
Master Qin, “The Four Books are ant for n, you should not continue reading them to avoid affecting your temperant. From today onward, I will teach you the Won’s Admonitions, Won’s Instructions, Won’s Analects, and Won’s Pan Jie Lu.”
Daohua frowned slightly, “Master, why can’t won read the Four Books?”
Seeing Daohua’s retort, Master Qin’s expression turned displeased, but rembering her status, she still explained patiently, “Won should primarily focus on needlework and feminine crafts. If you are to learn, it should be the three obediences and four virtues. Reading those other texts is rely a waste of ti.”
After speaking, she waved her hand, signaling Daohua to sit down, clearly not inclined to discuss it further.
Daohua did not agree with Master Qin’s view at all, but she didn’t continue to argue either. She was aware that in ancient tis, the status of a teacher who passed on knowledge was exceptionally high—’Once a teacher, always a father figure’ was not rely a saying.
Though they were only learning from Master Qin without having formally beco disciples, they couldn’t argue with a teacher at will. If she garnered a reputation for being disrespectful to her elders, regardless of the reason, she would undoubtedly be the one to suffer in the end.
As for the directive to not read the Four Books, she’d just let that go in one ear and out the other.
“Alright, let’s begin our lesson,” Master Qin announced..
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