Chapter Thirty-Four: Su's Motivation

  Su's fingers gently stroked Qingyao's beautiful eyes, saying: "Yao'er is not inferior to Qingyan at all. She is bright and charming. Now there is no sweet and lovely Yao'er, but in the future Yao'er will be even more beautiful."

  "Mother said that Yao'er will also have a day when she is more beautiful than her second sister?"

  Qing Yao's expectant gaze fell on Su Shi.

  "Yao'er has the most beautiful eyes." Su Shi said with certainty.

  Qing Yao's eyes sparkled with delight at Su Shi's affirmation, her beautiful eyes shining brightly.

  Su gently stroked her daughter's soft long hair and continued, "Does Yao'er think that a woman's appearance is the most important thing?"

  Upon hearing Su's words, Qingyao's eyes dimmed with delight. She thought of Liu Niang, who was more beautiful than her mother, and stared blankly at Su.

  Su saw Qingyao's appearance and smiled lightly: "A woman's looks are of course very important, but more important than her looks is a woman's temperament and inner qualities. Playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting are used to cultivate one's emotions, and having these skills will earn others' praise. If one doesn't understand poetry and books, others won't be able to find fault with them either. Needlework and managing household chores are truly a woman's essential skills."

  "Does Mother mean Second Sister should learn these things too?"

  "Qingjin understands more than you do, because she has read more books since childhood. This is also mother's fault, thinking that you are still young and wanting to let you play for two more years. Mother delayed your education, but it's not too late now, nanny..."

  Madam Su's wet nurse, Song, heard Madam Su's words and nodded slightly. She turned around and went out. In a moment, two young servants followed behind her, carrying a large trunk into the room. After putting down the trunk, they quickly exited with their heads lowered.

  Qing Yao curiously walked in front of the large box and asked in puzzlement: "Mother, what is this?"

  Su stood up, walked to Qingyao's side, opened the box and said: "This is the heirloom left by your maternal grandmother to your mother. If Yaoke reads through this box of books, after some time, she will surely surpass your second sister."

  "Really?"

  "As long as Yeo uses her heart, when she sees words or meanings in the book that she doesn't understand, Yeo can write them down and ask Mr. tomorrow at school. When Yeo thoroughly understands all these books, Yeo will be excellent. It's said that there are no difficult things in the world, an iron rod can still be ground into a needle for embroidery, and a drop of water can penetrate stone, let alone learning knowledge like this. As long as Yeo is willing to work hard, there will come a day when she can accumulate sand into a tower."

  Qing Yao heard what Su Shi said, her eyes became brighter and brighter, she couldn't help but take out a book and study it seriously on the table. Su Shi saw Qing Yao's teachable appearance and smiled nodding her head.

  Madam Su's wet nurse, Song, whispered in praise: "The mistress's method is indeed good, the young lady's spirit has improved a lot."

  Su said with a pleased smile: "If we can stimulate Yaoyao's interest, she will naturally study hard."

  Song nodded, Su stroked her temples and said: "I don't believe it, my Yao'er will be better than Qingjin for a lifetime."

  "Madam has a far-sighted view, and after reading these books, can the young lady be inferior to the second daughter? The great madam is not as good as Madam in terms of dowry." Song Nainai repeatedly said: "Madam comes from a family with a hundred years of scholarly tradition, how can she be compared to the great madam who is from a humble background?"

  "It's indeed strange, you say that Eldest Sister is from a noble family, how did she raise a daughter who likes poetry and books? The one who inherited the title in the manor is Eldest Brother, if Yaoke can't..."

  "The old slave said some excessive words, although the one who inherited the title in the mansion is the eldest master, but in my opinion, the eldest master has indeed inherited the title, but that's all. On the other hand, our master was capable and vigorous in his youth, and it's possible that if the Anji Marquis' manor wants to take another step forward, they will still have to rely on our master."

  Su heard the wet nurse's words, her eyes sparkled, and she didn't speak. She turned her head to look at Qingyao who was reading a book under the lamp with a serious expression. Her eyes were filled with hope as she said: "A belly full of poetry and books, naturally fragrant, my Yao'er will definitely be talented and beautiful. As for the future affairs of the Hou Mansion, it's hard to predict the variables... What about the eldest daughter of the Hou Mansion?"

  "Madam says, madam can rest assured, the young lady is sensible and knows what she's doing."

  Su said faintly: "Nanny, I heard that the other side had invited an embroidery master for a while, but was hastily dismissed by elder sister?"

  "Just before we returned to the capital, the person who was invited had a few dealings with Lao Niu in the past. It's said that the old mistress pitied her daughter and couldn't bear to see the holes pricked on Er Gu Niang's fingers, so she let the person go. I'm not saying it, but the old mistress is really too muddled-headed. How can one learn without suffering?"

  "What's next?" Su asked with a slight frown.

  "What else could she do afterwards, I heard that the second daughter became infatuated with planting flowers and raising grass, that lowly and plebeian hobby of rural women, a way for daughters from poor farming families to make a living."

  When Song nurse finished speaking, a hint of disdain flashed in Madam Su's eyes, and she opened her mouth to say, "Nurse, Yao'er's needlework has always been taught by you. I know you care about Yao'er, but if one doesn't put in hard work, it won't be accomplished. You understand this better than me. Now, be ruthless and have a stern heart. In the future, Qingyao will thank you for it. A strict teacher produces excellent students; remember this in your heart."

  "Madam, I've taken note of it. It's not that I'm boasting, but relying on the young lady's innate talent, if she puts in diligent effort, no one can surpass her in needlework."

  "I'll leave Yao'er in your care."

  Su's trusted nanny, Song Nainai, who also inherited her embroidery skills, nodded in agreement. As Su's nanny and the one who had watched Qingyao grow up since childhood, she truly cared for Qingyao and didn't want her to be constantly oppressed by Qingjin. Moreover, because she had taken good care of Qingyao, Su would respect and rely on her even more.

  Su nodded in satisfaction.

  Turning around, walking to the desk where Qingyao was, pulling out the book that Qingyao was reading, "Yao'er, it's getting late, you should read your books slowly, don't be greedy for instant gratification."

  "Mom, I want to watch it again."

  "Yao'er, reading is important, but taking care of your body is even more important. These books, mother will have someone put them on the shelves in your study tomorrow, you can read them slowly later. Aren't you going to school tomorrow? Hurry up and rest now."

  "Alright, I'll listen to you, Mother." Qingyao thought for a moment after hearing Su Shi's words and sweetly opened her mouth.

  "This is Mother's good daughter." Su smiled and pulled Qingyao back to the bedroom, looking at Qingyao lying down, and then left Qingyao's courtyard with Song nurse.

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  In the past few days, Qingjin's greatest hobby was to see Mr. looking at her with satisfaction and Gu Qingyao's increasingly pale face. She wondered when Gu Qingyao would not be able to bear it anymore. But after seeing Gu Qingyao leave with a pale face yesterday, she suddenly felt her own childishness and ridiculousness.

  She has been through one life and reborn into another, but bullying a ten-year-old girl like Gu Qingyao is getting too boring. No matter what Gu Qingyao did in her past life, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it didn't cause any actual harm to her at this point. Is it not excessive for her to be hitting Gu Qingyao so hard now?