Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Reminded of Someone by an Object
Miss Tan’s words only angered Third Miss and Fang Yuan, but Third Miss had to consider the big picture and couldn’t directly lose her temper. For a moment, she didn’t know how to refute, whereas Fang Yuan was like a firecracker, straightforwardly exploding.
"If you feel that it tarnishes your status, you should leave. Whether it’s Sister Fulan or Sister Ren Hua, they’re our friends. Your words, where does that put us?"
Cheng Ru also had to say a couple of words, "Both of them are very capable in business and quite remarkable."
It would have been better not to say this, because someone muttered, "Reeking of money, what’s so remarkable about that?"
Fang Yuan felt like rushing over to argue but was pulled back by Third Miss, who whispered, "Just ignore her."
Meanwhile, Qu Fulan and Ren Hua were playing on the other side.
Business people have the keenest insight; how could Ren Hua not notice others’ disdain for them? However, she was also internally defiant, "These noble girls now have such high status, wasn’t it all accumulated with money? On what grounds do they look down on those who earn money?"
Qu Fulan also couldn’t understand this issue, "Maybe it’s because of their noble status, they rarely have to go out and spend money. They get whatever they want bought for them, so when do they ever handle money? They enjoy the benefits of money while despising its stench, this contradiction, I don’t get it either."
"Exactly, if they’re so capable, they should do without money, not enjoying its benefits. That would earn my respect. Now they don’t like playing with us, and we won’t play with them. It’s probably best we don’t come to such occasions in the future." It was Ren Hua’s first time encountering such a circle, the class disparity made it hard for her to bear.
Qu Fulan smiled, "Aren’t you punishing yourself for someone else’s mistake? People strive upwards, water flows downwards. Why should we hide away just because they don’t like us? We should aim to engage with better circles, meet more people, and make ourselves better and more competent. Only this way, can we turn our fortunes and not be looked down upon forever."
Actually, the current regime’s regulations are decent. Although merchants hold a low status, their families can still attain fame and fortune through exams. Historically, merchants were restricted, forbidden to wear silk or hold office, no matter how much money they made, they were without status. If the national treasury was in urgent need, their properties could be confiscated under any pretext.
Though the current regime isn’t as strict with merchants, society’s disdain for them wouldn’t change overnight.
Qu Fulan’s goal wasn’t to change anyone; she just wanted to make her own life better, with more dignity, so she had to climb upwards.
Ren Hua was deeply inspired hearing this perspective for the first time, "You’re right, I’ve been narrow-minded. Being looked down upon, I wanted to escape, but that solves nothing. Even if I evade this time, I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again. Am I supposed to hide forever?"
"That’s exactly the point." said Qu Fulan.
It’s like in modern times, working tirelessly every day, getting mocked and criticized. Should you hide at home and stop earning because of this?
If you don’t earn, what will you eat or drink?
To change the situation, the only way is to strive to climb higher.
Ren Hua added, "But saying it is easy, doing it is hard. My family has been in business for generations without a single success in officialdom exams, and it’s tough for my family to rise up. Though I always said I wanted to marry someone in a small official position to change my fate, truly good families are picky. They’d rather marry the daughter of a poor scholar than the daughter of a merchant like me."
Qu Fulan fell silent; indeed, it’s not without reason that Ren Hua said this. It’s difficult for a merchant’s daughter to rise up unless through a high marriage; there are almost no other paths.
But she also had a tough life, not entirely from a merchant family, but now carrying the title of a criminal’s daughter, she wasn’t glamorous either.
Unless one day she could clear her father’s name and have it redressed, only then could she truly hold her head high.
Ultimately, it’s a tough world for women.
Especially those who are quite humble.
The two were deep in conversation when a maid approached, and getting closer, they recognized it was Douya.
Douya, upon seeing Qu Fulan, happily curtsied, "Miss, the Princely Heir knows you’re in the mansion and asked me to invite you over, says there’s matters to discuss."
Qu Fulan wasn’t surprised, now collaborating frequently with Heir Pei, often discussing matters, she was used to it.
However—
Ren Hua noticed her unease and said, "You go ahead, I’ll sit here for a bit and then go find Third Miss. If I can’t find my way, I’ll ask a maid."
Qu Fulan then left.
But Ren Hua hadn’t been sitting long before being captivated by the beauty of the garden. Unconsciously, she looked here and there, then heard a childish voice behind her.
"Who are you, and how did you trespass into my territory?"
Ren Hua turned around and exclaimed, what a delightful, adorable boy, making you instantly like him.
"Is this your territory? I’m a guest in the mansion, I accidentally found myself here, I apologize and will leave now."
The child was indeed cute, but Ren Hua dared not provoke, if a kid from a noble family got hurt, it would be an offense.
But Tuan didn’t let her go, "Do you know how to play games?"
"What game?"
"Chengyu Connect-the-Words."
Ren Hua had played with her brother before, naturally she knew, it all depended on how many idioms one knew, and it wasn’t a dangerous game. She immediately moved closer, seeing the little boy had already written a long string on the ground, likely exhausting all the knowledge he could muster and got stuck.
At that moment, the idiom chain broke at "obvious to all," and by rule, the next had to start with "all" (目). Ren Hua thought for a moment, and said, "See something and think of someone."
This idiom wasn’t learned by Tuan, he couldn’t understand, "What does it mean?"
Noticing his eagerness to learn, Ren Hua explained, "It means when you see things left by someone you’ve parted with, it reminds you of that person."
Tuan, with high comprehension, immediately said, "I get it. When I see the jade pendant Mother left for me, I often think of her."
Though Tuan’s mother died in childbirth, and Tuan never met her, his longing for his mother was innate. He’d often envy others having mothers when he didn’t, frequently peeking at her portrait, imagining that if Mother was alive, she’d be very gentle.
In the Pei Mansion, apart from Mr. Pei’s legitimate son, which child of a concubine could hold such noble status?
Ren Hua thus guessed the boy’s identity, as there were many children born to concubines in the Pei Mansion too.
Just then Qu Fulan returned, and after inquiring a few maids, she found Ren Hua there.
"What do you think I’m holding?"
Tuan and Ren Hua both looked over and saw Qu Fulan holding two kites, one large, one small, very beautiful.
Tuan’s eyes lit up, "I want the big one!"
Qu Fulan shook her head with a smile, "Your uncle said this small one is for you."
"Then what about the big one?" Tuan asked.
Qu Fulan said proudly, "Naturally, it’s for me."
Previously, Qu Fulan had made many delicious treats for Tuan, their bond was quite good, only that she was too busy to often play with him.