Chapter 21 : Deep Water and Scorching Fire (3)

Yuxi took the initiative and said to Yuchen, “Third Sister, shall we go and see Eldest Sister in the afternoon?”

Yuchen was somehow surprised. In her impression, Yuxi had always acted indifferent with her other sisters, not distant, but not close either. However, she was very happy when Yuxi took initiative to show her goodwill towards them.

After lunch and a short rest, Yuxi began to write again. After writing a hundred words, she put down the writing brush, rubbed her hands and complained, “I don’t know when this will end.” She was now going through the ordeal of Teacher Song. She did not believe that Teacher Song would continue doing this for three consecutive months. No one could stand this ordeal, even Yuchen.

In order to cheer Yuxi up, Mama Shen said, “It will take about half a month at most.”

Yuxi muttered in her heart that she hoped so. She rubbed her eyes. It was not just her shoulders and hands that were hurting these days, her eyes were often painful. She suddenly remembered one thing. Yuchen kept a jar of fish in her room. The fish bowl was made from ceramic glaze, and you could clearly see the fish swimming freely among the tender green aquatic plants. She looked at it with envy, but now, she thought that the fish tank may not only be beautiful decorative item. She asked, “Don’t you think there is something missing in the room, Mama Shen?”

Image credited to

This is an example of ancient Chinese fish bowl that were made by . It was much bigger than the common modern fish bowls. And it usually put on a pedestal.

Mama Shen knew Yuxi had something in her mind when she asked this question. Yuxi seldom talked to her unless something happens. Of course, Yuxi also seldom talked to Moju and Motao too which made her didn’t suspect anything unusual. “Miss, what is missing in the room?”

Yuxi smilingly said, “If a jar of fish is kept in the house, it will also warms the heart, delight the eyes (Chinese idiom, meaning pleasing).”

Mama Shen thought she knew what Yuxi meant and said with some embarrassment, “Miss, the Third Miss fishbowl was sent by the Marquis of Pingqing, not bought by the residence.”

Yuxi really wanted to spit out, why did everyone thought she was lusting over Yuchen’s stuffs one after another? Was she so short-sighted in these people’s eyes, or was she that greedy when she saw good things? Yuxi felt depressed and uncomfortable, said, “I didn’t say I must have her fish tank. I just want to keep at least two fishes in the house. It’s good to see them when I have nothing to do.” Although she didn’t know what effect a jar of fish would have in the house, but it was right for her to learn from Yuchen.

Mama Shen couldn’t guess what Yuxi thought, but she nodded and said, “Okay.”

In the afternoon, as soon as Teacher Song said school was over, Yujing packed up her things and prepared to leave Magnolia Courtyard.

Looking at Yujing, who already tidy up and ready to go back, Yuxi asked, “Second Sister, you are not going to see Eldest Sister with us?”

Yujing answered, “I have something else to do. I’ll see my Eldest Sister some other day.”

Yuchen shook her head secretly. Second Sister was really spoiled, even ignoring the sisterhood. “Fourth Sister, let’s go!”

As they walked and talked, the distance became very short, as if they could reached Yuru’s courtyard in a blink of an eye.

Yuru’s yard was planted with jujube trees instead of flowers, which looked monotonous.

When they entered Yuru’s room, they saw her lying on the bed, pale and bloodless. Yuxi went to the bedside worriedly and asked, “Are you feeling better, Eldest Sister?”

Yuru nodded and said, “It’s much better now.”

Yuchen said with concern, “Eldest Sister, you should take good care of yourself. Don’t worry about your schoolwork. When you are well, I will lend you my notes.” She really thought that Yuru had overworked and fell ill.

Yuru said weakly, “If I’m delayed for several days, I’m afraid I can’t catch up.“ Not to mention delaying for several days, she couldn’t catch up even without any delay.

Yuchen did not notice the bitterness in Yuru’s words and said, “Don’t worry, Eldest Sister. When you are well, we will ask Teacher Song to give you a private lesson.”

Hearing this, Yuru coughed violently. She managed to get rid of Teacher Song with difficulty, now they wanted to send her to Teacher Song’s door when she got better. She would not going to seek further abuse!

Looking at Yuru’s performance, Yuxi became more sure that Yuru deliberately made herself ill. However, she was not prepared to delve deep into the matter either. Whether Yuru wanted to learn or not, it had nothing to do with her. “The most important thing now is to have the disease cured first, and other things have to wait until then.” In this way, Yuru would never go to school again even after she got well.

The two left after accompanying Yuru for a short conversation.

Zhuxuan looked at the entangled look on Yuru’s face and whispered, “Miss, don’t think too much. Maintaining good health is the most important thing.”

Yuru whispered, “I won’t regret it.” Her mouth said she won’t regret, but when she saw Yuchen and Yuxi still in healthy good condition, her heart flashed with a bit of unwillingness. Why were they daughters of the first wives? Why were they so loved by God? Everything good was always in their hands.

On the way back, Shishu told Yuchen in a lower voice, “Miss, I just asked about it. Last night, Eldest Miss bedroom window was not being closed, so the wind blew into the room. Eldest Miss caught the chill from the wind.” It was easy to get such important news, which showed how loose Yuru’s yard management was.

Yuchen frowned. Her Eldest Sister wouldn’t have done such a thing!

Shishu thought Yuchen didn’t listen to the unspoken implication, so she hastily said, “Miss, It’s impossible for a servant girl to be so careless that she couldn’t even close the window. The day before, she was doing a good job. Why didn’t she do the same yesterday? “

Yuchen’s complexion showed she was uneasy. She said, “After telling me this, you should forget about it. Don’t tell anyone, not even to my Grandmother.” She had not thought about it before, but after hearing Shishu words, she had her doubt. Yuru’s body had always being healthy. How could she get ill because of overworking when she only studied for five days? Except that, it wasn’t something that would be pleasant to speak out, so she didn’t want to pay attention to it any more.

In fact, the Old Madam and Qiu Shi both knew that Yuru deliberately got sick in order to avoid going to school. Yet no one had uncovered it, and they still asked medical treatment for her.

Teacher Song did not slow down her teaching process because of Yuru’s illness. It took only one and a half days for her to finish talking about the One Hundred Surnames. In the afternoon she explained the advantages and disadvantages of the three people’s homework.

This time she praised Yuxi, “Fourth Miss has made great progress, but she still need to work hard.” Yuxi really gave her a big surprise.

Yuxi was embarrassed.

There were those who were praise and critics by Teacher Song. Her target of criticism was Yujing, “Second Miss, you haven’t finished your schoolwork these days. If you do this again, you don’t need to come anymore.” Yujing believed that if she didn’t finished her homework, her palm won’t be hit. Unlike reciting the text, which she was currently focusing on. Consequently, her homework had never been completed even once.

Hearing what Teacher Song had said, Yujing’s face turned pale. She had worked so hard for so long that she didn’t want to be driven out of class again. “Ma’am, I will work harder.”

After class, Teacher Song called Yuchen into her room. “Third Miss, the performance of these two days is much worse than that of the other days. What is the reason?” With Yuchen’s qualification, such a thing should not happen. Teacher Song still very concerned about this student whom she would appoint as her future student.

Yuchen’s face turned red. Under the pressure of Teacher Song, she could only say, “These two days, I have been practicing writing with my left hand.”

Teacher Song was stunned for a moment, but then quickly responded, “Do you want to learn to write with your left hand because Fourth Miss could use her left hand?”

Yuchen slowly nodded.

Teacher Song thought Yuchen was too ambitious and said, “Third Miss, have you ever heard that within three hundred and sixty professions, every profession has top performers (Chinese idiom which meant regardless of profession one is in, it is possible for one to become top-notch)?”

Yuchen nodded and said, “I’ve heard about it. This means that no matter what you do, you should do a good job so to make others incomparable.”

Teacher Song couldn’t help sighing. The Old Madam’s high expectations of the Third Miss led her to compete with others in everything. Didn’t she know that this was a heavy burden for the child? “No matter what kind of profession, there will be excellent talents in every three hundred sixty professions. It is good that there are chess masters in the chess field, and painting masters in the painting field … but one cannot learn everything from everyone.“

Yuchen understood what Teacher Song was saying, “What Teacher Song mean is that I am wasting my time by learning to write with my left hand like my Fourth Sister?”

Teacher Song nodded and said, “Yes, you can practice your usual handwriting better or do other things well within this time.”

Yuchen’s complexion was a little unnatural.

Teacher Song really likes Yuchen, and she has considered Yuchen as her own student. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have said these words today, “Third Miss, you are gifted and have started much higher than others. However, no matter how talented you are, you can’t learn everything. Third Miss, you have to know that one’s energy is limited. “

Yuchen knew that Teacher Song was thinking for her own good, but still she said, “Ma’am, I have to learn , poetry and ode.” These were the tasks given to her by her grandmother, and she could not avoid it.

Teacher Song replied, “I will naturally teach you if you want to learn from me, but, Third Miss, you must remember that there is a difference between learning to master and learning just the basics.”

Yuchen sincerely said, “Ma’am, I remember. I will study hard and learn all these things well. “

Teacher Song nodded her head. Although Yuchen was somewhat lofty and proud, she could still accept other people’s opinions, which was a very good trait. “You are the most talented child I have ever seen. As long as you can work as hard as you do now, your future achievements will be absolutely extraordinary.” This was not a compliment, but her expectation of Yuchen.

Yuchen smiled and said, “Thank you, Ma’am.”

Yuxi looked at the relieved face of Yuchen and could not help but sigh in her heart. It was different to have a famous teacher to guide you. If you had a good teacher, you would avoid many detours. Today, Yuchen was still young. However, when she grew up, she would be excellent in everything, and she would make people around her unable to breathe. Even now, when she was somewhat blushed with shame.

It took only five days for Teacher Song to teach them and the . Next, she began to teach them .

Yuxi looked at the book ” and suddenly fell irritated.

Moju asked, “What’s wrong, Miss?”

Yuxi was a little agitated, “I’m tired of writing and want to go for a walk.” Looking at this book, she questioned herself. Could she really change her fate by learning these things? Could these things help her if she really met with difficulties or stranded outside? Obviously, no.