Chapter 47: Chapter 49 Putting on Airs and Talking About Rules Chapter 47: Chapter 49 Putting on Airs and Talking About Rules Indeed, in the eyes of Qin Mingyue and the others, Qin Liuxi, who had always lived in the old family home since she was young, was nothing but a country girl.
They used to think that Qin Liuxi, who had always been cooped up in the small town of Li City, would hardly have any close girlfriends from her childhood in Shengjing. Even if she did, they, like Shengjing, had changed a lot over the years. Unlike them, who were born and raised in the capital, mingling with noble ladies from the very start, indulging in high-end circles of poetry and tea gatherings, what about Qin Liuxi?
While Li City was nice, it was still just a small county town, nowhere near as bustling as the big city, and with no elders to guide her, living in solitude—who could she learn from? That’s right, it was said that she was even taught by a Daoist Temple master. She probably just shuttled back and forth between the estate and the Daoist Temple. How could such a naive country girl, with no exposure to the world, turn out to be anything but pitiable?
But now, when they compared themselves, who seemed more like a country girl?
Qin Mingyue and the others glanced at the coarse ramie clothes they wore, their faces turning red with embarrassment, suddenly feeling a sense of inferiority.
It turns out they themselves were the clowns!
While feeling awkward and inferior, they also felt a twinge of jealousy and resentfulness. They were all young ladies of the Qin family; the Qin family had fallen into ruin, and they had to wear rough ramie clothes. Why did Qin Liuxi still dress like a lady?
Jealousy tainted the face with ugliness. Qin Liuxi swept a glance at Qin Mingyue’s face, letting out a scoff.
“The Qin family has fallen, and yet you’ve all lost even the basic manners. Don’t you know how to greet someone when you meet them?”
Qin Mingyue and the others stiffened.
“We pay respect to elder sister.”
“We pay respect to cousin Liu Xi.”
“Mhm.” Qin Liuxi nodded and said, “Now that you’ve paid your respects, go back.”
Qin Mingyue’s expression changed as she stepped forward and gave a deep bow again, “We came to speak with elder sister, and yet you do not invite us into your home. Do you not welcome us?”
“Mhm, not particularly welcoming, and I have things to attend to.” Qin Liuxi began to leave.
“Why do you need to find an excuse, elder sister? If you just say you don’t like us, we’ll leave.”
Qin Liuxi turned back and smiled, “Do you think I need to bother finding an excuse to send you off?”
Who do you think you are?
Qin Mingyue bit her lip, somewhat ashamed and annoyed.
“Cousin Liu Xi, may we walk around elsewhere?” Song Yu Yan also stepped forward.
“This small courtyard can be seen in a glance, what is there to walk around for? You are forbidden to go to the back; that’s where I have planted my medicine garden, you mustn’t trespass.” Qin Liuxi spoke indifferently, “If you are bored, feel free to walk outside the courtyard. Qi Huang, lead them out.”
Qin Mingyue and the others were then half-invited, half-shooed out of the side courtyard; standing outside, their faces were a mix of awkwardness and discomfort.
“Elder sister is really indifferent. We’ve come all this way; the least she could do is invite us in for a cup of tea and some refreshments, right?” Qin Mingxin puffed out her cheeks, indignantly muttering, “Growing up in a small city, she just doesn’t understand how to treat guests; yet she still puts on airs with us about manners.”
Qin Mingyue muttered under her breath, “Who told her to be the elder sister.”
“The elder sister should set an example, to care for us sisters, isn’t there a saying ‘elder sister is like a mother’?”
“Let’s not talk about it. Maybe elder sister wasn’t taught well and doesn’t understand this.”
“Then someone should teach her. I’m going to tell mother right now.” Qin Mingxin ran off.
Qin Mingyue looked once more at the small courtyard, biting her lip and following reluctantly.
Song Yuqing followed behind her elder sister, whispering, “Sister, shall we leave too?”
That cousin Liu Xi looked so authoritative; she didn’t dare to look at her.
Song Yu Yan nodded, concealing the envy and sorrow in her eyes, and pulled her away. In terms of an embarrassing situation, who could compare to the three of them, mother and daughters?