Chapter 68: Chapter 67 Catching Butterflies
Meng Zhaojun was once an enthusiast of national studies. She had a fine calligraphy hand and studied historical Chinese painting, yet she never knew that after her old age and death, she would transmigrate into the newly born child of Mrs. Meng.
From a young age, she did not hide her intelligence and was very conceited and proud. Indeed, she stood out among her peers and received more affection from her family.
Meng Zhaojun was accompanying her mother and Madam in the garden pavilion, drinking tea. She felt bored listening to the adults’ conversation and was considering looking for Tang Shunyan when she saw him arriving in the garden, accompanied by the wet nurse and several maids.
She was surprised and wanted to go out to greet him, but then she remembered how Tang Shunyan never accepted her invitations, and now he had come of his own accord. She thought he was too hateful and sulkily decided not to look at him.
Tang Shunyan’s face showed an impatient expression. He was practicing his calligraphy when a maid by his mother’s side said it was his mother’s order for him to go and play with Meng Zhaojun in the garden. He frowned deeply and said unwillingly,
“Jufeng, go back and report to my mother that Yan’er is practicing calligraphy, doing the homework assigned by my teacher. As for entertaining the young guest, it would be best to ask some of the other ladies in the house to accompany her.”
...
Jufeng, well aware of what Tang Shunyan would say and still needing to complete the task, could only whisper in his ear,
“Young Master, the young guest specifically asked for you by name. All the other girls in the house are of illegitimate birth, and how could they compare with the status of the Young Master? Besides, the young madam suggested that you should listen to her at least once. Otherwise, if the young madam gets angry, it won’t be good for your younger brother.”
Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.
Tang Shunyan paused after hearing Jufeng’s words and looked at Mrs. Li at the doorway, unable to make up his mind. He wanted the wet nurse to help him decide.
Mrs. Li was watching the conversation between Jufeng and the Young Master. When the Young Master looked at her, even if she were slow-witted, she would understand what the Young Master was asking for her opinion.
She knew the young madam’s temper very well. If she dared to say anything negative, she would surely be blamed, and perhaps she would be punished by not being allowed to go home on her next visit.
Going home to see her child on that one day was her weakness, having already been unable to go home and see her child for a month. With two months adding up, if she could not go back to see her child, she might not be able to bear it and go crazy.
She also knew that pregnant women should not be provoked, unlike her in such a lowly position, who also had to work hard. The young madam was precious, and no stress should affect the fetus. She understood this and persuaded the Young Master, saying,
“Young Master, listen to Miss Jufeng. Having a young guest over is a reason for you to go out and play as well. You have been practicing for a while now; there should be some progress.”
Tang Shunyan considered the wet nurse’s words and looked down at the characters he had just written. Indeed, under Meng Zhaojun’s encouragement, it seemed that his writing had improved much more than before. Perhaps it was time to go out. He wouldn’t look at Meng Zhaojun, but he could still wander about and relax in the garden.
Tang Shunyan arrived at the garden pavilion and bowed to his grandmother first, then to the other elders among the guests. Seeing Meng Zhaojun, who turned her head away, not looking at him, he said nothing and sat down in an empty spot.
Mrs. Li poured tea for the Young Master and, after offering a courtesy to Madam and the other guests, withdrew to the side.
Madam glanced at Jufeng behind Tang Shunyan, knowing that it was her daughter-in-law’s command to have her grandson come out to the garden.
Hearing earlier that the young guest said the grandson would rather stay in his room and write than play with the little female guest, she understood that boys had different play interests than girls. If her grandson did not enjoy playing with girls, she would not force him.
Moreover, she did not like the idea of her grandson being brought up like a little lady, lacking a man’s boldness.
She was very supportive of her grandson’s keenness on studying. She knew her daughter-in-law’s thoughts were too heavy, slightly petty, and she conceded when pregnant with her grandson.
“Grandson, how well have you learned the characters and books that the teacher has taught you?”
Tang Shunyan glanced at his grandmother, then at Meng Zhaojun. If it had been any other time, he would have surely learned very well. But after Meng Zhaojun had demonstrated her excellent calligraphy, he dared not speak of his own skills as being very good in front of her.
“Grandmother, your grandson is studying earnestly.”
“Hmph, no matter how earnestly you study, you still can’t match me. You should stop coming out to play and return to the study to practice your calligraphy!” Meng Zhaojun couldn’t help but utter these sarcastic words upon hearing Tang Shunyan’s comment.
Tang Shunyan, having heard Meng Zhaojun’s words, lowered his head and did not respond. If it hadn’t been for his mother sending him here, he surely wouldn’t have wanted to come, let alone to listen to such cold remarks.
Upon hearing what the young female guest had said about her grandson, Madam Tang’s smile faded, and she frowned slightly, feeling a bit annoyed. Yet, an adult couldn’t reason with a child, so she forced another smile.
“Zhaojun, you must not be rude.”
Mrs. Meng hadn’t expected her daughter to be so impolite in their host’s home today. Normally, her daughter’s pampered behavior was acceptable at home.
But this was someone else’s home— in front of other people’s family members— and as a mother, she also felt proud that her daughter had such talent. Still, it was only appropriate for others to discover it, not to praise it in front of them.
Wouldn’t that be like a peddler praising her own melons? Self-praise could be annoying to others.
“Mother, I didn’t say anything wrong. Just now, I compared my calligraphy with Tang Shunyan’s. He has seen the good calligraphy I wrote. He doesn’t write as well as I do, it’s truly true!”
Meng Zhaojun, chastened by her mother, always pampered and never scolded in front of others by her mother, felt even more aggrieved to be reprimanded in public by her.
Mrs. Meng wanted to say more but seeing her daughter look so aggrieved, she couldn’t bear to scold her further.
Hearing the young lady speak about her grandson in such a manner, Madam Tang was a bit irritated but could only smile and smooth things over,
“Miss Meng has such admirable talents, indeed worthy of praise. My grandson is still young and needs to work harder, haha.”
Hearing Madam Tang`s words, Mrs. Meng said with a smile, “The Tang Family’s Young Master is already doing well, being so diligent makes him a good child.”
Both Madams agreed that they couldn’t let the children continue on this topic. Otherwise, the two might start to argue. So, they shifted the conversation to other matters, talking about recent popular fabrics and gold and silver jewelry.
Tang Shunyan sat obediently on the side, silently listening to the adults’ conversation, uninterested in the topic, his gaze drifting to the garden. Spotting butterflies flitting among the flowers, he couldn’t help but walk towards a butterfly he wished to catch.
Meng Zhaojun noticed Tang Shunyan’s movement, and she wasn’t idle either, asking her maid to find a tool—a small butterfly net.
In the garden, a boy and a girl, each three or four years old, ran after the butterflies.
With a small butterfly net now in hand, they pursued the butterflies, hoping to trap them in their nets.
Mrs. Li followed behind the Young Master, constantly cautioning him to be careful and not to fall.