Duft erhebt sich zum Tanz

Kapitel 14

Shi Wujie blurted out:

"You don't know how? You can't possibly not know how! Old Su is particularly particular about food and loves to set up elaborate rituals to prove his nobility. How could you not know to wash your hands and have an appetizer before the main course?"

Huan'er retorted without hesitation:

“That’s him! As for me? How could I, a concubine’s daughter, have the honor of seeing such a grand display? I’m lucky to have food to eat, let alone be so particular!” Judging from Su Guangping’s attitude towards Yu Niang, he knew that the mother and daughter had never had a good day.

Eight pairs of eyes stared at her in disbelief. Wuhen slowly spoke:

"Your mother was the third wife, whom your father forcibly took from an old tenant farmer. It is said that back then, to make her smile, a magnificent building called 'Jade Tower' was built for her to live in. She was adorned with gold and silver. Your mother's favor was so great, you shouldn't be treated like this."

"I don't know what happened in the past, but my mother's current condition can only be described in four words: haggard and miserable..." Huan'er sighed softly. "Men value appearance. When a beauty fades, who will lament her passing youth? Who will pity her aging beauty? When she was like a newly blossoming spring flower, all the stars vied to surround her. In just a few short years, her beauty faded, her radiance vanished, and she was relegated to the cold palace. Are women born cheap? To be so manipulated by men! A lifetime of love, hanging on to one man for life, how many throughout history have been truly loyal and devoted in return? Just because men's philandering is accepted and tacitly tolerated, women can only suffer heartbreak time and time again. Why bring up the past? It only adds to the sadness. Radiance lasts only a few days, but the bitter fruit must be borne for a lifetime." Huan'er finished speaking with some sadness, but then she saw tears in Wuxia's eyes and the thoughtful expressions on the faces of the three men. Shi Wuji's hand, which was under the table, was holding hers, as if he were expressing or promising something, but he did not speak.

“I’m really hungry! Shall we eat?” she said.

Shi Wuji washed his hands in the lemon water, and the accompanying servants quickly handed him a white handkerchief; the others followed suit. Huan'er inwardly breathed a sigh of relief! She had thought the water was for drinking! Shi Wuji placed a piece of sweet cake in her bowl, and she smiled happily. "Thank you," he said, returning her warm gaze.

The dishes on the first table were cleared away, and soon another large table of truly exquisite delicacies was brought out—large fish, large meats, and so many varieties, so exquisitely presented, that it was dazzling to look at, and one almost didn't want to eat them. Shi Wuji, as if intending to take care of her, piled a mountain of food into her bowl. Huan'er could only bury her head and eat heartily; she was starving anyway, and didn't care about acting like a lady and chewing slowly.

"Can you read and write?" Judging from her choice of words, Wuhen thought it was possible.

"A man of vast learning." Huan'er swallowed her food and tossed him this comment without a hint of modesty.

Wu Jie burst out laughing when he heard this.

"I don't believe it! No one would let a girl study; that's against propriety!"

"Do you believe I can recite the entire 'Song of Everlasting Regret'? I wouldn't dare say I can recite the oldest classics like Confucius, Mencius, the Book of Songs, and the Lesser Odes 'Xiaoya' fluently; I only have a superficial understanding. As for Li Bai, Du Fu, Li Yu, and Bai Juyi, bring them on! I'll take the challenge!" Huan'er glared at Wu Jie. But her words drew Shi Wuji's displeasure.

"Huan'er, a girl shouldn't be so rude." Where did she learn these江湖 (jianghu) slang terms from!

"Well then, let me put it this way: I have some knowledge of literature, and I am grateful that you do not mind. Today, I would like to make friends through literature and learn from each other. What do you think, brother?" Huan'er recited the words in a very literary style, and before she finished speaking, she laughed and fell into Shi Wuji's arms. She was truly amazed at herself for reciting such pedantic and archaic phrases.

"She's quite learned; no wonder she has such unique insights," Wuhen said, beginning to admire his sister-in-law.

Huan'er stopped laughing and looked up at her husband.

“If I have time, I can teach Wuxia to read.”

"Are you asking for my permission?" He didn't believe it and raised his eyebrows.

"No, I'm just telling you first. Of course, you have the right to agree or disagree. But whether I do it or not is up to me."

Such words are utterly outrageous; the wife is openly defying her husband.

"Is this picking someone out?" This woman is quite bold.

"How dare I! I'm so weak!" Huan'er shrugged and smiled, then uttered another startling remark: "Studying isn't a bad thing. You, the great leader, don't need to maintain your dignity by ignoring right and wrong. The whole family naturally follows your lead. You're a person who handles important matters, why argue with me over trivial things! You wouldn't be so petty, would you? Managing a large enterprise, shouldering countless responsibilities, you must be extremely busy every day. The Northern Giant is not just a name, is it? You are so great, the pillar of our Shi family; while I, a weak little woman, can't carry anything, can't lift anything, my only skill is reading and writing, which I can boast about. Can you bear to forbid me from displaying this trivial talent?" Her words, seemingly praising but actually criticizing, left Shi Wuji speechless. This little woman, what a sharp tongue!