Chapter 22: So Snobbish

They watched as a smiling Zhen Yi Yun bowed in an elegant and respectful salute.

Due to her extraordinarily slender waist, she could not support her body when she bowed in greeting, she looked like a willow branch trembling in the wind. Even her voice was clear and sweet like jade beads hitting on porcelain, “Grandmother.”

In fact, Old Madame Zhen did not like Zhen Yi Yun’s demeanor much. However, there was no reason to start picking on her granddaughter the very first moment they met. So Old Madame Zhen just gave a slight nod. 

After which Zhen Yi Yun stepped towards Zhen Ting Yun and took her hands. Holding Zhen Ting Yun’s hands affectionately, her bright eyes glimmered, looking as though she was overjoyed and choked with emotions as she said, “Second Sister has finally arrived. All these years, our parents have constantly told me about you, making me look forward to the day I’ll finally meet Younger Sister. And now, we, sisters are finally able to reunite. This is, this is truly wonderful…”

With their close proximity, Zhen Ting Yun could catch a faint whiff of the fragrance lingering on Zhen Yi Yun’s body. It was the scent of expensive incense that was used to perfume clothes and accessories. The fragrance could linger for a prolonged period of time which made it extremely stirring, giving way to the poem – the faint flutter of a beauty.

Slightly raising her head, Zhen Ting Yun was able to better see the other person’s seemingly gentle expression.  

Although Zhen Yi Yun’s attire was quite plain-looking, her face was obviously meticulously made up. Her long brows were trimmed and brushed, her fringe was carefully combed around her temples. With her face dusted in pearl powder or cream, it made her complexion look white and delicate with an inner glow. Even her rosy cheeks were most likely the work of smearing red rouge. Her lips had a faint layer of lip balm, making them pinkish, paired with her pearly teeth, it gave her person a refreshing and dewy look. 

With her current appearance, to the eyes of those that did not look closely, they would assume that she was a clean beauty without cosmetics like a hibiscus emerging from clear water, a natural jade beauty.

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He was the youngest of the three. With a little baby fat on his cheeks, his face was still round, paired with long eyebrows, a pointed nose, and reddish lips, he was a good-looking and lovely young kid. He followed Zhen Yi Yun’s steps and called out ‘Grandmother’ and ‘Second Sister’, looking very adorable and well-behaved.

Old Madame Zhen’s heart ached as she looked forward to the day she could finally meet her grandson. Now, having laid eyes on her precious grandson, her eyes turn red and she shed tears again.

On the contrary, Zhen Heng Zhe was not used to being so familiar with Old Madame Zhen, a person he just met. He glanced at Father Zhen and Pei-Shi for help, but seeing that his parents remained silent, he could only endure being cuddled by Old Madame Zhen.

Old Madame Zhen looked over her grandson. Feeling like a big stone had lifted from her chest, the gaze she used to look at Pei-Shi became more amicable as she uttered, “This is great, our Zhen Family finally have laid roots and have descendants! Our ancestors have looked after and blessed us…” 

She then turned to Father Zhen and continued, “It’s unfortunate that your father isn’t here with us to witness such a day… Otherwise, seeing how obedient our grandson is, he would’ve been so happy.” 

Old Master Zhen departed from the world early, and Father Zhen was brought up by a widowed mother. Father Zhen did not have much impression of his father, but now that Old Madame Zhen mentioned him, Father Zhen felt a sense of sentimental attachment welling up within. He consoled Old Madame Zhen, “it doesn’t matter. Who knows? Maybe in a few more years, Mother will be able to carry your great-grandson.”

Upon hearing his words, Old Madame Zhen was over the moon. She patted Father Zhen’s arm happily, and said with a grin, “Yes, yes, yes, I’ll be waiting.”

After everyone shared laughter and joy, they continued the conversation for a while more. With the initial excitation dimming down, Old Madame Zhen finally remembered the clothes she made with haste during their journey as she instructed the servants to take them out for her son and grandson. 

There were also a few pairs of cotton socks that were brought out together with the robes. Seeing her granddaughter’s silly expression and seeing how she did not even know how to say a few nice words, Old Madame Zhen had no choice but to step forward to open a path for her granddaughter. “Ting Yun sewed these socks, these are for you, and these are for Heng’er… This girl is shy and isn’t eloquent but she has a sincere heart. Along our journey to the Imperial City, she had made these for you all. Just look at this stitching, one could see how much effort she put in! You mustn’t despise it!”

Zhen Ting Yun was completely taken aback by Old Madame Zhen’s words. Since the beginning, she had disliked doing embroidery, and with the addition of that dream, she barely put on a show whenever Old Madame Zhen persuaded her to make something for her father and brother for a meeting gift. Those socks were hastily made by Old Madame Zhen on their journey but unexpectedly, the deed of making them fell onto her lap. Old Madame Zhen even said sang her such praises.

Of course, Zhen Ting Yun also understood that this was Old Madame Zhen’s way of showing affection. Although the method was a bit crude, she wanted to use this to help her granddaughter form a closer bond with her father and younger brother. Seeing that it was Old Madame Zhen’s painstaking efforts. She hesitated a little in her heart, but she did not voice out her objections.

How could Father Zhen despise the things that his mother and daughter made for him? On the contrary, he was very touched. He not only lamented that his mother used so much effort to make things for them, but he also praised Zhen Ting Yun’s filial piety towards him and displaying care for her younger brother.

Out of the blue, Zhen Yi Yun who had been standing silently to the side, blinked her eyes as she asked innocently, “Second Sister, are the gifts only for Father and Younger Brother? What about Mother and myself?” After she spoke, she seemed to have realized her slip of the tongue and she quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth as she lowered her eyes in guilt.

Pei-Shi was the quickest to react. She furrowed her brows as she glared at her eldest daughter and reprimanded, “As an older sister, how can you demand things from your younger siblings? You’re being very unruly!” She then turned to Zhen Ting Yun and tried to say something on her behalf, “Ting’er must’ve rushed to make those on your journey. With limited time, it’s no wonder you couldn’t do more.” 

Although what Pei-Shi said was reasonable, Father Zhen and Zhen Heng Zhe, the only two who had received the socks, felt slightly discomfited.  

Especially, Father Zhen, who had just praised Zhen Ting Yun for her filial piety towards him and care towards her younger brother. Now with Zhen Yi Yun’s candid words, it made him remember that Old Madame Zhen had always favored males over females so when she only made robes for him and her grandson, it was the Elder’s existing bias towards males. However, Zhen Ting Yun, who was a junior also displayed the same manners, and she only gifted things to her father and younger brother while leaving her mother and elder sister out…

Contemplating this matter on a deeper level, he realized that this child knew who to flatter. At such a young age, how could she be so snobbish?    

The more he thought about it, the gaze that Father Zhen used to look at Zhen Ting Yun became more profound.

Zhen Ting Yun had also pursed her lips. She long knew that her elder sister, Zhen Yi Yun, harbored malicious intentions towards her. However, she did not expect that Zhen Yi Yun’s malice was so strong that she would immediately start tossing pebbles at her the moment they met.

Fortunately, Zhen Ting Yun had that dream prior to their encounter. Hence, Zhen Ting Yun was prepared and was not fazed by the words she said.

The first skirmish had commenced! Will our Ting Yun be able to retreat unscathed?

(งᓀ‸ᓂ)ง 

I feel the need to defend Old Madame Zhen on her actions and views where she valued male over female descendants.

Zhen Heng Zhe, being a male, was the only sibling who could carry on the family lineage. That was what Old Madame Zhen meant when she said that the Zhen Family finally had roots and descendants.

In olden times, a female would marry ‘out’ of her family, where she would join her husband’s family and take on his surname. So even after death, she would be buried in her husband’s ancestral hall. Thus, after the females married ‘out’ of the family, the ones that essentially takes care of the parents when they grow old were the males.

There’s also a saying whereby, ‘before marriage, a woman depends on her father, and after marriage, she depends on her husband and son’.

(There are probably many other reasons for favoring sons back then, but these are the few that I know of.)