Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Apologize to Me Properly 1
Translator: 549690339 | r 3—
Wei Ruo laughed lightly, “It has two meanings. It would be a waste if I kept it since I wouldn’t use it.”
Wei Yilin retorted: “That’s just arguing for the sake of arguing. You’re going to school, how could it be a waste? How could you not use them?”
Wei Ruo smiled, then turned to call Xiumei: “Xiumei, get some of my stationery.”
Yes, miss!” Xiumei’s voice came from inside the room.
After a short while, Xiumei walked out with a big bamboo basket in her hands. Xiumei huffed and puffed as she carried the bamboo basket to everyone.
Upon seeing the contents of the basket, Mrs. Yun, Wei Qingwan, and Wei Yilin all changed expressions.
A basket full of stationery!
The most eye-catching were the sheets of paper, the color and texture immediately revealing their origin from Four Treasure House.
It was not one or two sheets, nor ten or twenty, but a thick stack!
The rest of the items included several inkstones, over a dozen brushes of various sizes, and more than ten sticks of ink.
All these items seemed to be of higher quality than what Wei Qingwan had brought.
“Ruoruo, where did you get so much stationery from?” Mrs. Yun asked with surprise on her face.
Even her eldest son didn’t have this much!
“While at Mo Jiazha, I unintentionally helped an old woman who got lost in the mountains. Her son was in the stationery business, so she gave me a basket of these items as a token of gratitude. Although I haven’t read many books, I know these items are not cheap, so I moved them all over when I came from Mo Jiazha.”
When Wei Ruo moved to the Wei Family, it was well-known that she brought two carloads of belongings.
However, everyone thought it was just cheap stuff, and no one had inquired about what Wei Ruo had brought back.
Who would have thought that in her unsightly belongings from the countryside, she had hidden such treasures!
Wei Ruo said: “So, mother, is it alright for me to say I won’t be needing Qingwan’s gifts? I can’t even use up what I have in this basket full of stationery. Accepting Qingwan’s gifts would only have left them collecting dust in the house. I didn’t want to squander Qingwan’s kindness.”
“Who would have thought that my words would be misconstrued by Qingwan and Yilin? I gave them the benefit of the doubt, but perhaps they initially believed I was the bad guy.”
At her words, Wei Qingwan and Wei Yilin’s faces took on an unpleasant look. Mrs. Yun then said: “As long as it’s cleared up, it’s only a misunderstanding.” Wei Ruo nodded: “Yes, it’s good to clear it up. I initially thought since I had so much stationery, I should give some to Qingwan, but seeing that she had an extra set ready to give to me, she probably won’t need it for quite some time, so I’ll just not give her any for now.”
‘As for Yilm, he just contradicted me and accused me of quibbling and having a poor attitude. Although as his elder sister, I shouldn’t be petty with him considering his young age. But as his elder sister, I can’t spoil him excessively either. If I were to ignore his brash and disrespectful behavior, I would be failing in my duty as his elder sister.”
Wei Ruo’s words left the three before her at a loss for words.
Mrs. Yun also realized that Wei Yilin’s attitude towards Wei Ruo was problematic: “Yilin, apologize to your elder sister! As the younger sibling, how can you talk to your elder sister like that?”
“But mother…”
“No ‘buts’!” Mrs. Yun said sternly.
Wei Yilin was on the verge of exploding, but under Mrs. Yun’s intent gaze, he had no choice but to bow his head.
“I’m sorry, I was wrong,” Wei Yilin apologized, but his face clearly showed his reluctance.
Wei Ruo responded slowly: “Little brother, when you apologize, sincerity is key. Today at home, your apology to me lacks sincerity. If I don’t correct you on this, in the future when you are out in the world, you will find yourself at a disadvantage. As the legitimate young master of the Wei family, your words and actions represent the Wei family and the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence.”
With those words, Wei Ruo elevated her brother’s apology to the level of the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence.
Mrs. Yun agreed with Wei Ruo’s points, thus further admonishing Wei Yilin- “Yilin, give a sincere apology. Your sister is right, if you’re going to apologize you need to show sincerity. Do you refuse to apologize to your mother and elder sister properly?”
Mrs. Yun’s stern expression unnerved Wei Yilin. His eyes turned a bit red as he bit his lip: “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I was reckless.”
“That’s alright, as I previously mentioned, you are still young, and as your elder sister, I wouldn’t hold it against you. As long as you learn from your mistakes, think more, weigh your actions carefully in the future, it would make me very happy,” Wei Ruo said with a smile.
Wei Yilin felt even more gloomy, but he was powerless, all he could do was stare at Wei Ruo with his round, disgruntled eyes.
With the matter resolved, Mrs. Yun left Tingsong Garden with Wei Qingwan
and Wei Yilin. At the gate, they ran into Wei Jinyi.
Their eyes met, and Wei Jinyi greeted “Mother”. Mrs. Yun nodded in acknowledgment, and then left.
Speaking politely, distanced appropriately.
Wei Jinyi had come over on hearing the argument, and watched the scene from the doorway.
He could have left before Mrs. Yun exited, but today he purposely lingered, exchanging just the barest of pleasantries with Mrs. Yun.
After Mrs. Yun left, Wei Jinyi also planned to leave, but was stopped by Wei Ruo.
“Second brother, just in time. These are for you.”
Wei Ruo picked a number of stationery items from the basket and handed them directly to Xiao Bei, who was following Wei Jinyi.
With scrolls of paper, inkstones, a pile of brushes and ink sticks, Xiao Bei looked flustered as he tried to hold everything, almost dropping some.
Wei Jinyi glanced at the items handed over by Wei Ruo, but did not refuse.
He simply said, “This is a bit too much.”
“Not at all, you’ll need them sooner or later. As the saying goes, wealth should not be flaunted, and now that these items have been on display, they should be used up soon. Rather give them to someone who might deceive me later, I prefer to give them to someone I like,” Wei Ruo replied.
At her words, Wei Jinyl’s face turned red. He quickly turned around and left with Xiao Bei in a hurry.
Wei Ruo didn’t know why Wei Jinyi left so hurriedly but attributed it to his always elusive nature so she didn’t think much of it.
###
The next day, the Xie family sent a calling card to the Military Prefecture. Mrs Xie wanted to bring her daughter Xie Ying to the Prefecture, saying that the two kids were going to attend school together in the future, so it was a good idea to let them get to know each other in advance.
Upon receiving the card, Mrs. Yun started to get busy. Even though it was only the women of the Xie family who were coming, Mrs. Yun did not dare to be negligent.
After two days of preparations, Mrs. Xie arrived with her daughter Xie Ying. “Mrs. Wei, I hope we’re not too much of a bother,” Mrs. Xie greeted with a smile.
“Not at all, both my daughter and I are delighted to have you,” Mrs. Yun replied with a face full of joy.
Mrs. Xie glanced at Wei Qingwan standing at Mrs. Yun’s side, then looked around the room, noticing no one else, she asked, “Mrs.. Wei, where is the other daughter of the house?”
