Chapter Ninety: The Yun Family’s Shame

Weiruo gave a faint, mocking smile inwardly. Then she lifted her head and, as though she had not caught the hidden meaning in Madam Yun’s words, said with a pleasant smile, “Mother is going to have clothes made for me? Since I returned to the manor, this is the first time you have offered to make garments for me. What sort of clothes are you planning? Winter will be here soon, so they ought to be made a little warmer, should they not?”

Weiruo asked several questions in a row, and Madam Yun, meeting those clear, bright eyes, found the words she had prepared drying up in her throat.

Weiruo went on, “The clothes I wore when I first came back to the manor were new, yes, but they must have been cut to Sister Qingwan’s measurements. I suppose Mother did not know my size, so you could only have them made according to Sister Qingwan’s. This time, if you are making clothes for me, do make sure the tailor measures me properly.”

At this, Madam Yun could not help feeling somewhat ashamed. Back then, she truly had not known what size her own daughter, so far away in Hu Prefecture, was, and it had been difficult to order garments. So she had taken the new clothes made the previous year for Wanwan, clothes that had never been worn, and sent them to Listening Pines Courtyard to prepare for Rouer.

Yet later, seeing Rouer wear those clothes so gracefully and lightly, so neat and delicate, with hardly any sign that they did not fit perfectly, she had not thought there was any problem.

In past years, the manor had always made clothes twice a year, but this year the outbreak of war had come in midyear. She had been busy worrying about her husband at the front and managing matters within the household, and had not made the arrangements in time. As a result, when everything was counted up, Rouer had still never had clothes made especially to her measurements since her return.

Madam Yun said with a touch of guilt, “Of course. They will be measured carefully.”

Then, when her gaze fell again on the fine brocade in front of Weiruo, hesitation colored her expression.

After thinking for a while, however, she still chose to speak. “Rouer, these two bolts of brocade are of excellent quality. Why not use them to make new clothes for the two of you? The fabric is precious, and the patterns are lovely. If you wear clothes made from it to the capital, you will look more presentable. When the manor has better material later on, Mother will make it up to you.”

“What Mother means is, if Miss Xie had not happened to send me these two bolts of brocade, then our Cavalry Captain’s Manor would not be able to attend the garden gathering in the capital next month?” Weiruo asked.

“That is not what I mean. If there were none, that would be fine too. Since there happen to be some, that is naturally a fine thing, icing on the cake,” Madam Yun said.

“If you wish to use brocade for clothes, then make only my portion,” Weiruo said.

Madam Yun frowned. “Rouer, you and Qingwan are sisters. Wanwan has always cared about you, and whenever she has anything, she thinks of you first. You should show some of the bearing of an elder sister. The Xie family brought so many gifts, and I ask nothing else of you: just these two bolts of brocade in different patterns, and the sisters of you can each have one set made. Besides, this is only a loan from me. When better material comes along, I will repay you.”

Weiruo’s smile did not fade. She explained calmly, “Mother may not know this, but the reason Miss Xie chose to send me these two bolts of brocade was that she saw that the fabric of my usual clothes was much poorer than hers, and that my garments were not especially well fitted. That was why she sent them specially. She must surely have hoped that I would wear clothes made from the fabric she gave me, do you not think?”

At those words, Madam Yun could not help feeling a sudden tightness in her chest.

Weiruo continued, “One bolt of brocade is enough to make a single garment, but not two. And these two styles were personally chosen for me by Miss Yingying; she must have wanted to see me wear both.”

With that said, Madam Yun could no longer continue asking for brocade to make clothes for Wei Qingwan. Added to this was what Weiruo had said earlier, that the manor truly had not yet taken Weiruo’s measurements and made her clothes specially, which stirred guilt in Madam Yun’s heart and completely dispelled any thought of using the brocade to make Wei Qingwan a new outfit as well.

But then Madam Yun thought that if, when the time came, Rouer wore a new set of brocade clothes while Wanwan had none, Wanwan would surely be heartbroken.

Looking at the things in front of Weiruo, she thought it over and said, “If the brocade will not do, then Rouer, choose some items you do not need and give them to Wanwan, as a way of soothing her. When you go to the capital then, the two of you will be dressed differently, and she will inevitably feel hurt.”

The faint smile on Weiruo’s face remained.

“Mother may not know this, but I am now on good terms with Miss Xie. Since she has given me gifts, I naturally cannot let her think little of me. I will certainly have to return her kindness later; otherwise, if I only accept her gifts and never repay them, it will not merely be my own face that is lost, but the face of the entire Cavalry Captain’s Manor. Surely Mother would not want outsiders to say that the Wei family has no sense of propriety and only thinks of taking advantage of others?”

“Even if no one speaks ill of me, if I keep accepting the Xie family’s generosity without knowing gratitude or giving gifts in return, sooner or later the Xie family will look down on me. By then, why would they still wish to be close to me? Isn’t that so, Mother?”

Madam Yun was speechless.

Weiruo went on, “Giving gifts necessarily costs silver, and quite a lot of it at that. It can never compare to what the Xie family has given me. But my monthly allowance is only so much. It is very hard to gather enough silver to return their kindness. Among these gifts I have received, there are some I cannot use and some that are common and not easily recognized; in a few days I will have to sort through them, and sell what can be sold. Only after exchanging them for silver can I properly prepare a gift in return for Miss Xie.”

Xiumei had just carried a load of things inside and come back out when she heard her young lady telling blatant lies with her eyes wide open.

How could the young lady possibly sell the gifts other people gave her? If she had no money, the young lady would surely find some other way to earn it.

Madam Yun said, “But selling gifts given by others to exchange for silver is not a very proper method. If people were to find out, you would be laughed at.”

Weiruo asked, “Then where does Mother think I should get the silver?”

Madam Yun was once again at a loss for words.

Weiruo said, “I also hope Mother can understand my difficulties. I have only just returned to the manor and have no foundation here, nor any savings. When dealing with other young ladies of high birth, it is unavoidable that I must give them gifts, and I also need a little private reserve of my own.”

After hearing this, Madam Yun felt rather bad. Rouer had been back at the manor only a few months, and these matters were indeed difficult for her. For her to have managed as well as she had was already no easy feat.

Her daughter’s circumstances were difficult, and the Cavalry Captain’s Manor was also short of silver at present. They could not possibly spare much money for her to buy things and give them away with the same lavishness as Miss Xie.

“I understand now. Take it as though I never said anything about this matter. Handle these gifts yourself, as you see fit,” Madam Yun said.

After speaking, she seemed to remember something else. After a moment’s thought, she added, “Come to think of it, Rouer, you are the eldest daughter in the family. Your monthly allowance should be increased.”

“Would that be proper? If my allowance is increased, what about Sister Qingwan?” Weiruo asked.