Chapter 48: Chapter 50 Reporting a Complaint Chapter 48: Chapter 50 Reporting a Complaint When Qi Huang came in, Qin Liuxi had already changed into simpler clothes and was pouring herself some tea.
“You were only short of grabbing a broom to chase them out. Those young ladies have thin skin; how could they have the nerve to stay?” Qi Huang said with a smile, “But what did they come to see Miss for?”
“They surely didn’t come to bond over sisterly affection with me?” Qin Liuxi, while rolling up her sleeves, said, “These sheltered daughters, on ordinary days talk nothing but music, chess, calligraphy, painting, embroidery, or who has the newest jewelry or designs, then follow with various comparisons. If they’re not here to compare, they are here for comfort.”
“Comfort?” Qi Huang stepped forward to help her with the sleeves, saying, “What comfort could they possibly seek here with Miss? Though you are sisters, you are hardly close.”
“You just don’t understand. In their eyes, I’m just the pitiful little one ‘exiled’ back to the countryside, while they are city people. Now that they’ve fallen on hard times, they come to look at this pitiful me. If I were miserable, timid, and filled with inferiority, wouldn’t that comfort them?”
The psychology of most mortals, ah, is ‘I am miserable, ah, but you are even more miserable, so I’m not that miserable!’
Qi Huang chuckled, “What a pity, looking for comfort but instead got a setback.”
Qin Liuxi said, “Let’s drop them and head to the Medicine House, otherwise it will take all night.”
Qin Mingxin ran off to tattle at Mrs. Xie, exaggerating her complaint about an elder sister who fails to live up to her status.
“…Not to mention serving us tea and snacks, she didn’t even invite us inside. Mother, she’s putting on way too high airs, not a bit of affection.”
Mrs. Xie’s face turned green: “Did she really chase you out?”
Qin Mingyue sighed, “Perhaps she also despises us.”
She stretched the ramie fabric of her dress; she had never worn this material before. Now wearing it, she felt scratchy, and over the past few days, it seemed her skin had grown rough.
The more Qin Mingyue thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.
Mrs. Xie, noticing her movements and looking at the ramie on herself, also felt somewhat depressed and gloomy. It is hard to adjust from luxury to frugality; it had been many years since she wore such fabric, her children, raised in luxury, were certainly not used to it.
Wrong, that dead girl Qin Liuxi’s clothes did not include ramie; couldn’t she have shared a few pieces with her sisters?
“Alright, don’t make too much of this. Your elder sister has always been in the old house, never really following the rules. Mother will talk to your grandaunt later and get her properly taught,” Mrs. Xie advised, keeping her composure.
Qin Mingxin nestled in her arms, acting spoiled, “Mother, I saw that elder sister has a pretty pair of earrings, I want them too.”
Mrs. Xie pinched her little nose, chiding, “You always want everything.”
Qin Mingyue said, “Sister, that’s elder sister’s property, do you think she would give it to you? Don’t make a fuss, if it reaches your grandaunt or grandmother, who knows, they might say you’re being rude.”
Mrs. Xie somewhat disagreed, saying, “Yue’er, as the elder sister, she naturally should also be caring and give way to her sister.”
Wasn’t that statement also intended for her to hear?
Mother is just biased, not just favoring my younger brother, but also my younger sister.
Qin Mingyue lowered her eyelids, softly saying, “Daughter understands, but times are different now aren’t they? Hasn’t grandmother also hinted as much?”
Mrs. Xie felt a bit uncomfortable, saying, “Indeed, Xinxin, be good. Your grandmother is also ill now, don’t disturb her. Mother will speak with your grandaunt later…”