If she caused trouble for her young uncle at the Qin Residence, she would feel guilty.
So she said to Dad Gong and Madam Gong:
"Tomorrow I will go find my young uncle and tell him clearly that I won't go to the Qin Residence to learn to read and write from him anymore. I will go find him again when he's off work. What does Dad think about this?"
"That's good," Dad Gong replied. "But your literacy progress will slow down."
"No worries. It'll just be a bit slower, we have plenty of time. Xiaohua, eat first, the dishes are getting cold," he said as he put a slice of meat in front of Gong Xiaohua.
Gong Xiaohua nodded and prepared to start eating.
But then she remembered she didn't have any money on her. The ink sticks and paper her young uncle gave her were almost used up. She wanted to buy some more.
But there were still more than ten days until they got their wages from the government salt mine.
She hesitated about whether to ask her mother for some money first and pay her back after they got their wages.
Seeing that Gong Xiaohua still hadn't started eating, Madam Gong said, "Xiaohua, why haven't you started eating yet?"
Gong Xiaohua awkwardly asked her mother, "Mother, I want to buy some more ink sticks and paper. Can you lend me some money? I'll pay you back everything when we get our wages."
"Sure, how much do you need? Is one or two silver pieces enough?"
Sitting next to them, Gong Xiaonan complained, "Mother, you really favor her. Usually when I ask you for pocket money, you only give me a few coins. But you're giving Sister a whole one or two silver pieces. That's not fair. I also want to learn to read and write. You should give me one or two silver pieces too."
Before Madam Gong could put him in his place, Dad Gong had already started scolding him.
"You brat. Even a hundred silver wouldn't be enough for all your antics. Still a little fart kid but lazing around all day, drinking and getting into trouble with friends. What are you learning all this nonsense for at your age? No good things at all."
Gong Xiaonan was hard done by. What could he do when he was born after his sister who their parents clearly favored more? He was the neglected child.
He decided to keep his mouth shut. He would just find his sister privately and borrow some money from her later.
"Mother, I only need money to buy paper and ink sticks," said Gong Xiaohua.
"It's fine, take it all. You can keep the rest for your own needs. Which girl doesn't want some pretties for herself these days? You should buy some rouge and powder and dress yourself up nicely."
Gong Xiaohua???
Mother must really disdain her daughter's lack of appeal with the cursed body's current hideous looks, suggesting she tart herself up.
Oh well, she would save the leftover money for when she really needed it in the future.
"I understand. Thank you, Mother," she said.
After the family of four finished their meal, they each went back to rest on their own.
The next day, Gong Xiaohua went to the Qin Residence at the time she had agreed on with her young uncle.
Today she decided to arrive slightly late.
When she reached the back door of the Qin Residence where they had agreed to meet yesterday, she saw her young uncle already waiting there.
"Young Uncle," she called.
Li Zichen turned and saw her. He said to her, "You're right on time today. Let me give you good news. I asked and got permission from the master that you can come to my place to learn to read and write. But the Madam wants to meet you and size you up first."
"Young Uncle, I won't come to the Qins to learn to read and write from now on," said Gong Xiaohua.
"What happened?"
So Gong Xiaohua told him the plan she had discussed with her family yesterday.
Li Zichen was silent for a while, before saying to Gong Xiaohua:
"Since this matter has already come to the Madam's attention, whether you go or not, etiquette-wise, you still should go and express your thanks at the very least. What do you think, little Xiaohua?"
"Okay."
So following her young uncle, they went into the Qin Residence. Admiring its pavilions and courtyards, she thought to herself that it was truly a work of architectural ingenuity and talent.
Led by her uncle, they arrived outside the doors of Fuyun Courtyard. Her uncle explained who they were and why they had come to the little attendant at the door.
The attendant went inside to pass on the message. Just a short while later, he returned, saying that the Madam was in the hall and to bring the two guests in.
Li Zichen brought Gong Xiaohua to Fuyun Courtyard's main hall.
When they got there, she saw that it wasn't just the Madam in the hall. There were also some other young misses from other courtyards, sitting along the left and right of the hall.
Seeing Li Zichen and the woman behind him, they all stopped talking in unison, only staring at Gong Xiaohua.
Among them was a beautiful miss with superior looks, Qin Chuhan, the Qin main family's rightful daughter. Sixth in seniority, she immediately said to Gong Xiaohua:
"Why are you so fat? Aren't you embarrassed to go out and frighten people? If I were you, I'd hide at home to avoid bringing shame to the family outdoors."
When she finished speaking, laughter erupted in the great hall.
Li Zichen was so angry that his hands were clenched into fists.
He pulled the Gong Xiaohua next to him who also wanted to punch someone. Bowing, he said to the Madam sitting in the seat of honor at the head of the hall:
"This servant has brought my niece to pay her respects to the Madam, ten thousand blessings be upon you, Madam."
While Gong Xiaohua stood silently behind Li Zichen.
With people insulting her like this, yet she still had to smile and fawn before them - she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
Time seemed frozen while the atmosphere got more and more awkward. Until a sixteen year old miss sitting on the left side of the Madam lightly laughed and said:
"What an unmannerly lass. Even meeting the Madam yet not bowing."
As expected, the country bumpkin from outside really has no upbringing.
My, what a delicate little white lotus flower.
If Gong Xiaohua really was a fifteen year old girl, she might have run away in humiliation from these people's mocking.
But the soul in this current body was actually a twenty-six year old special agent from modern times who had undergone all kinds of brutal training in the military. Compared to that, these young misses' disdain could not stir up any waves in her at all. But that didn't mean she would allow them to insult her at will either.
She shook off her young uncle's hand that was holding her back. Facing the Madam at the head, she said:
"I came today intending to tell the Madam that I have no wish to learn to read and write here at your noble Residence. I only came to give thanks for your kind intention. But it's obvious the Madam never planned to let me in to study either, only wanting to humiliate me and my young uncle instead. In that case, I take back my thanks. "
Then turning to the beautiful miss Qin Chuhan who had spoken first, she continued:
"Since you're so scared of ugly people going out and frightening you, I feel you ought to gouge out your own eyes. After all, in my view, people ugly on the inside are uglier than unattractive appearances."
"How dare you! Say that again if you have the guts!" said Qin Chuhan angrily.
Gong Xiaohua ignored her threats and turned instead to the last young miss, saying:
"You said I was rude, but I am not a servant of this household in the first place. Why must I return their mockery with courtesy when others want to laugh at me?"
Her words left the little white flower's face flushed red, looking like she wanted to speak yet didn't dare.
Suddenly, there was a loud clunk from the head of the hall where the Madam had heavily set her teacup back down on the table.
"What a sharp-tongued shrew. I have really opened my eyes today. It seems a good lesson is needed before you understand this is not just any place riffraff can enter and say whatever they please. Come, discipline that impudent mouth of hers properly for me."
Li Zichen panicked. "Madam, please forgive her. She is uneducated and ignorant."
"Nonsense. It's too late now for forgiveness and regret."
"Uncle, you..." Before she could finish speaking, a clear melodious voice sounded from outside.
"Mother."
