Chapter Eleven: The Gift from Grandfather

The two were momentarily at a loss for words.

Wei Ruo continued to help them analyze the situation, her expression earnest as she tried to reassure them:

“In all things, it’s best to look on the bright side. Think differently—Mother has said that you both are equally important in her heart. If you are equal, then it matters not who is older or younger, nor who suffers more or less. Qingwan has already fulfilled what you once wished for. So there’s no need for either of you to feel upset.”

Yun and Wei Qingwan were both rendered speechless; these were their own words, repeated by Wei Ruo.

Wei Ruo then turned to Wei Qingwan: “Actually, the first time you met me, you called me ‘sister.’ I believe you truly accept me as your elder sister, and you must have hoped very much for me to be your sister.”

“Yes… yes, you’re right, sister…” Wei Qingwan replied, though somewhat reluctantly.

Having said so much, Wei Ruo had left Wei Qingwan with little room to cry; though tears brimmed in her eyes, they could not fall.

Wei Ruo handed her a handkerchief. “Dry your tears.”

Wei Qingwan took the handkerchief, but hesitated to use it. It was clean, but the fabric was coarse, worn pale from countless washings, its age evident.

After Wei Ruo’s speech, both Yun and Wei Qingwan managed to restrain their tears. Yun spoke with them a while longer before sending them off to rest.

After Wei Ruo and Wei Qingwan left, Cui Ping, the senior maid, presented Yun with a list of gifts.

Along with Wei Ruo’s grandfather’s letter, several gifts had arrived for Wei Ruo. The letter explained these were meant to compensate her for the hardships she endured away from home.

Yun, holding the list and remembering how upset Wei Qingwan had been moments before, thought for a while and decided to divide the gifts into two portions: one for Wei Ruo’s Pine Listening Pavilion, and one for Wei Qingwan’s Plum Gazing Pavilion.

She instructed Cui Ping to tell them only that the gifts were from their grandfather, not mentioning the reason behind them.

Cui Ping followed these instructions, and before long, both Wei Ruo’s Pine Listening Pavilion and Wei Qingwan’s Plum Gazing Pavilion received two large chests of gifts.

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Following Yun’s instructions, Cui Ping simply stated that the gifts were from their grandfather to his granddaughters, saying nothing more.

It wasn’t long before several large wooden chests were delivered to Wei Ruo, sent by Yun.

The chests were sizable and heavy, but when opened, they were filled mostly with copperware—bulky and weighty, but not particularly valuable.

Xiumei, at Wei Ruo’s direction, arranged the gifts carefully in her room, as a sign of respect for her grandfather.

As she worked, Xiumei asked curiously, “Miss, aren’t we supposed to be a remarkable family, one with distinguished merit, powerful and well-respected? But these things seem inferior to your own belongings.”

“Because one mustn’t judge by appearances alone. In the He family’s eyes, the Wei family is lofty and unattainable—but the reality of our wealth is only clear to those within. A family of merit doesn’t remain prosperous forever; even the deepest foundations can be exhausted.”

Xiumei nodded.

“So we must look to the future, not covet the limited wealth within the estate. There’s a wider world out there, with far greater fortunes waiting for me,” Wei Ruo said.

“Yes! You’re absolutely right!” After years under Wei Ruo’s influence, Xiumei had wholly adopted her mistress’s philosophy of self-reliance.

Xiumei muttered, “I wonder when Madam Xu will arrive.”

Madam Xu was Wei Ruo’s nursemaid, devoted to her. In the original story, she was the only one who protected Wei Ruo to the end, ultimately sacrificing her life for her.

In this life, Wei Ruo had early severed Madam Xu’s employment with the He family, encouraging her and her husband to start their own business. Wei Ruo secretly advised them from behind the scenes.

Wei Ruo’s initial intention was to repay her nursemaid’s kindness, to help her and her husband live well. But the couple insisted on leaving their businesses to Wei Ruo, claiming to be merely temporary caretakers.

They handed all their earnings to Wei Ruo, keeping only a modest salary for themselves.

When leaving Mo Family Village, Wei Ruo had left a letter at the home of Old Li by the village entrance. Calculating the time, Madam Xu should have already set out for Taizhou after seeing the letter.

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Just as Wei Ruo received several large wooden chests, so did Wei Qingwan.

Upon opening them and finding mostly copperware of little value, Wei Qingwan could not hide her disappointment.

Madam Li, who assisted Wei Qingwan, finished counting the gifts and frowned.

“Miss, the items sent from the capital seem much inferior to those from past holidays. Before, we always received fine silks and good things—this year, not a single bolt of cloth.”

Wei Qingwan lowered her head, her expression bleak, and murmured, “After all, I am not truly the legitimate granddaughter of the Wei family. Grandfather’s willingness to keep my name in the family register is already a kindness. Those silks, pearls, and jade are naturally meant for the legitimate young ladies. Why would an outsider like me receive anything?”

“Don’t say such foolish things, Miss! The master, madam, the eldest young master, the youngest—everyone in this household acknowledges you as Miss! You’re no outsider!”

“What good does that do? Grandfather’s meaning is clear—I am unworthy to be the eldest daughter of the Wei family…”

Wei Qingwan’s eyes were red, and the tears she had held back in Yun’s room now flowed freely.

Madam Li glanced around, seeing they were alone, and whispered gently at Wei Qingwan’s ear:

“Miss, you mustn’t lose heart. Of the three masters, ours is the most accomplished, and among the young masters, our eldest is the brightest—at twelve, he’s already a scholar, and in a few years, he’ll surely pass the provincial exams. His prospects are limitless!”

“You have your father’s and your brother’s love, Miss. Your future will be finer than most! Old Master’s approval isn’t so important for you!”

Madam Li spoke with conviction, and Wei Qingwan was comforted, though her heart remained uneasy. She lowered her head and quietly poured out her confusion and helplessness of recent days:

“But now, Father, Mother, and Brother’s affection must be shared with my sister… It’s not that I begrudge her a share of their love, only that, given my position in the Commandant’s estate, I can rely only on the love of my parents and brother…”

“These days, I keep telling myself not to resent fate for letting me suffer such misfortune, nor to blame others for my fall from grace. After Wei Qingruo entered the estate, I often visited her, showed her goodwill, hoping we’d get along.”

“But when I learned of Grandfather’s arrangement, remembering how his kindly demeanor changed so suddenly, I couldn’t help but feel anxious. If the position of eldest daughter had been won or begged for by Wei Qingruo, I wouldn’t feel so bad. But as it is, she neither begged nor fought for it—Grandfather simply gave it to her, showing how much he values her.”