Chapter 114: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 114: A Cold Reception
The harbor was located just outside Xingzhou City. After everyone gathered at the city gate, they quickly set out for the harbor. Before long, they arrived, disembarked, and began boarding the boat.
"The Zhou family's pleasure boat is enormous!" Daohua, seated in the Yan family’s carriage near the rear, couldn't resist lifting the curtain to peek outside.
"This is just a small one. If you want to see something truly grand, you should have seen the four-story ship Prince Rui used when he inspected the Grand Canal," came a voice from the carriage behind hers.
Daohua turned her head and was surprised to see Zhou Jingwan. "What are you doing here?"
"Where else would I be?" Zhou Jingwan, already close with Daohua, immediately hopped off her own carriage and climbed into Daohua’s.
"Aunt Li, greetings."
Madam Li smiled and helped Zhou Jingwan settle into her seat.
Daohua teased, "I thought you'd be the first one aboard."
"I was supposed to be, but I left home a bit late, so my mother went ahead without me," Zhou Jingwan replied, scooting closer to Daohua. "Today, we must make the most of it. I've wanted to ride on a pleasure boat for ages!"
Daohua laughed. "Why? Doesn't your family already have a boat? Can't you use it anytime?"
Zhou Jingwan pouted. "Only if my mother takes me. Otherwise, there's no chance. I'm not like my brother, who can invite friends on boat trips whenever he pleases."
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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Daohua understood. In ancient times, young ladies, especially those from wealthy families, were bound by strict rules and couldn’t go out freely.
"I'll send you an invitation sometime, and we can go play at my farmstead."
Zhou Jingwan nodded eagerly. "You better not forget!" Her lively nature made it unbearable to stay cooped up at home all the time.
Noticing Yan Yihuan sitting quietly nearby, Daohua quickly pulled her over and introduced her. "This is my second sister. Do you remember her?"
Zhou Jingwan glanced at Yan Yihuan and smiled. "Greetings, Second Miss Yan."
Yan Yihuan hastily returned the courtesy. "Greetings, Sister Zhou."
Zhou Jingwan smirked and leaned closer to whisper in Daohua’s ear, "I still remember your family has a crybaby sister. Why didn’t you bring her?"
Daohua rolled her eyes. "What little girl doesn’t cry? Don’t tell me you’ve never shed a tear."
Nearby, Yan Yihuan’s cheeks reddened. She knew Zhou Jingwan was referring to Yishuang, and she was surprised that her eldest sister would defend Yishuang in front of outsiders.
Yan Yihuan was well aware of the tensions between Daohua and Yishuang. Ever since Daohua returned to the household, Yishuang had frequently competed with her, both openly and subtly. Concubine Lin often used Daohua as a pretext to stir up trouble.
By all accounts, Daohua should despise Yishuang.
Madam Li, however, looked on with satisfaction at her daughter’s tact.
Family disputes were internal matters. No matter how heated things got at home, they should never be displayed in public to avoid becoming a source of amusement for others.
As they chatted, it was soon the Yan family’s turn to board the boat.
Madam Li descended first, followed by Daohua and the other two girls.
The ladies already aboard and those still waiting turned to look when they saw Zhou Jingwan stepping off the Yan family’s carriage.
Madam Qian, the wife of the deputy Prefect Magistrate, was nearby. She quickly approached with her daughter, Qian Bilian, in tow.
After exchanging greetings, Madam Qian nudged Qian Bilian toward Daohua. "You’re always mentioning Miss Yan at home. Now that you’ve met her, make sure to get acquainted."
Qian Bilian gave Daohua a shy smile, then glanced at Zhou Jingwan before stepping closer to her.
"Alright, let’s leave these young ladies to their fun. We adults should join the other madams over there," Madam Qian said with a smile, nodding toward Madam Zhou’s direction.
Madam Li agreed, giving Daohua and Yan Yihuan a brief glance. "Take good care of your sister," she reminded.
Daohua nodded, signaling that she would look after Yan Yihuan.
Since the Zhou family was hosting this event, Zhou Jingwan immediately became the center of attention among the young ladies present.
Daohua, pulling along a nervous Yan Yihuan, followed Zhou Jingwan. Wearing a proper smile, she greeted the other young ladies one by one.
Don’t assume these girls were innocent just because they were young. Social circles and hierarchies existed even among them.
Especially for daughters of prominent families, raised under strict rules of etiquette, they mastered the art of maintaining the appropriate level of interaction based on someone’s status.
The Zhou family had invited several prominent families from Xingzhou to this gathering. These were households with members serving as officials in the capital or holding key positions in provincial administrations.
Amidst this crowd, the Yan family didn’t hold much sway.
When interacting with Daohua and Yan Yihuan, the other young ladies exchanged a few polite words before promptly turning their attention elsewhere to seek out better company.
Even Qian Bilian, whom Madam Qian had pushed toward Daohua earlier, quickly left to join her closer acquaintances.
"Let’s go sit on the deck," Daohua said.
After fulfilling the social niceties, Daohua felt no desire to curry favor with a group of indifferent young girls. She led Yan Yihuan away from the crowd.
Yan Yihuan seemed hesitant to speak.
Daohua noticed and smiled. "What do you want to say?"
Yan Yihuan hesitated but finally asked, "Elder sister, is it okay for us to just walk away like this?"
Daohua chuckled as she walked. "Second sister, socializing with others should be about ease and comfort. Did you feel comfortable mingling with those girls?"
Yan Yihuan shook her head.
Daohua smiled. "Then there’s your answer."
By then, the two had exited the cabin and reached the deck.
A gentle breeze greeted them, instantly invigorating Daohua.
Sitting among the chattering girls couldn’t compare to enjoying the wind and the magnificent view of the Grand Canal.
On another part of the boat, Madam Li wasn’t receiving much better treatment. After Madam Qian introduced her to the other madams and they exchanged greetings, most of them deliberately ignored her.
Madam Zhou, the hostess, conversed warmly with Madam Li but was often distracted by the many other guests demanding her attention.
Nearby, the wife of the deputy magistrate, Madam Wang, sat chatting and laughing with Madam Qian.
When Madam Qian noticed Madam Li sitting alone, she stood up, intending to invite her over, but Madam Wang quickly grabbed her arm.
"Dear sister," Madam Wang began, "let me give you some advice. Even if Magistrate Yan is our husbands’ superior, there’s no need for us to go out of our way to ingratiate ourselves with his merchant-born wife. It’s beneath us."
Madam Qian glanced at Madam Wang, displeased, and sat back down. After a moment of thought, she asked softly, "Has your family heard anything about the Yan brothers’ situation at Wangyue Academy?"
At the mention of Wangyue Academy, Madam Wang frowned. Her family had tried to secure a place for her eldest son through Vice Minister Du but had failed.
"We don’t have anyone studying there, so how would we know? Why, have you heard something?"
Madam Qian awkwardly shook her head. "Our news is even slower than yours."
Hearing this, Madam Wang dropped the subject.
It was true that neither the Qian nor Wang families were native to Zhongzhou, but the Wang family at least had connections through Vice Minister Du. The Qian family, having simply been in Xingzhou longer, knew more people but wasn’t significantly better off than the Yan family.
Even when they did hear rumors, they were often vague or inconsequential.
Madam Qian glanced again at Madam Li, her mind swirling. Was the news her husband had mentioned true? Had the Yan brothers really become study companions to the young prince?
Her thoughts turned to Madam Zhou.
This time, Madam Zhou seemed noticeably warmer toward Madam Li. Since the eldest son of the Zhou family was studying at Wangyue Academy, they must have received some inside information.
Sigh.
Madam Qian looked at Madam Li with a mix of frustration and resignation. Despite her merchant background, Madam Li was exceptionally tight-lipped. Whether it was about the Yan family’s connection to the young prince or the situation at the academy, not a single piece of useful information had been revealed.
This left Madam Qian at a loss as to how to approach her.
(End of Chapter)
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