novelraw Chapter 681: Psychological Manipulation
Chapter 681: Psychological Manipulation
People care about family status, especially the Old Madams of noble families, he worried they would look down on Sister Xiu and cause her grief.
Master Xia said with a smile, "Don’t rush, let’s first deliver the copper tripod to the Manor."
Master Xia didn’t think much of Luo Wu, but he enjoyed spending time with him.
Taking pleasure in crushing this young man’s self-esteem and turning a hopeful, spirited youth into a wasteful self-loather was quite an achievement for him.
Left with no choice, Luo Wu had to agree to transport the copper tripod for Master Xia.
The copper tripod was massive, weighing at least over two hundred catties, such a tripod adorned with auspicious mythical creatures was not something one could buy without several hundred taels of silver.
Knowing the value of the object, Luo Wu handled it with great care, fearing he might damage someone else’s property.
Yet, Master Xia chuckled beside him, "Brother Wu needn’t be so careful; it’s just a copper tripod worth a thousand taels of silver. Originally, I didn’t want to buy it, but today being Dongzhi, the lady wanted to adhere to ancient customs and feast on roasted venison cooked in a copper tripod, so I bought a new one."
With one sentence, Luo Wu nearly lost his footing and fell, luckily, with a quick reaction, he twisted around and used his shoulder to hoist the tripod onto the horse’s back.
Though the weather was cold, he broke out in a cold sweat... A thousand taels of silver spent on a copper tripod just to cook a meal?
Having been nearly a year, he still couldn’t comprehend the lifestyle of these wealthy noble families... Is it really a difference as vast as between the clouds and the mud?
Master Xia hurriedly walked up to support Luo Wu, asking with concern, "What happened to Brother Wu? Are you feeling unwell?"
Luo Wu shook his head and said, "Let’s go."
After speaking, he took out a rope, tied the copper tripod to the horse, and led the way by holding the reins.
Master Xia told the driver, "Unhitch the mule and lead it back, just leave the cart here."
The driver said, "Old Master, villagers love to take advantage of small gains; what if someone carries the cart away?"
Master Xia generously replied, "It’s just a cart frame, worth less than thirty taels of silver. If it’s lost, then it’s lost; hurry back to the Manor to celebrate the festival, that’s what matters."
"Right," the driver acknowledged, unhitched the mule, and followed Luo Wu.
Hearing their conversation, Luo Wu’s head sank even lower; a thirty-tael item tossed aside so easily, whereas it was nearly a year’s salary for him.
After walking for 30 minutes, they arrived at the Xia Family’s Manor.
Xia Family’s Manor was vast, unlike any Manor Luo Wu imagined, this Manor had no farmlands but only lotus ponds and streams, pavilions, and kiosks.
In spring, summer, and autumn, the Manor would bloom with various colors of expensive flowers, a single orchid pot could sell for hundreds of taels of silver, truly exorbitantly priced. He walked gingerly through the Manor, afraid that stepping on a plant might incur costs he couldn’t afford.
In the middle of the Manor stood a seven-section grand residence, with ornately carved beams and painted rafters; the flower hall used for hosting guests displayed precious jade vases.
When Luo Wu first came here, he almost broke the jade vase in the flower hall, frightening him tremendously, but Lady Xia said, it was just an item worth less than a thousand taels of silver, no big deal if it broke.
He never knew the Xia Family was so wealthy, and Master Xia said that their family was just an inconspicuous line among the wealthy noble families; truly precious were the items from first-rate noble families, casually any item they possess is an antique, invaluable.
At that time, Luo Wu didn’t even know what antiques were; such terms were only understood by the households of the wealthy.
"Is Brother Wu here?" Lady Xia came out to greet him, supported on both sides by two Chief Maids, followed by four second-class maids, eight third-class maids, and the Xia Family’s old nanny.
Such an entourage was still shocking to Luo Wu, even if he had seen it once before, he hung his head even lower now.
The first time he came to this Manor, Lady Xia had pointed to the maids behind her and said: "Sister Xiu’s look is top-notch and her temperament excellent; she truly deserves to be a clan woman of a noble family, enjoying days surrounded by maids."
She also asked him, "You wouldn’t want Sister Xiu to spend her days tilling the fields, would you? Such a life is not for her. Sister Xiu is so outstanding, it would truly be a waste for her to live such a life."
Luo Wu did not want to waste Sister Xiu, she should live the days of a Young Madam of a wealthy family, waking up to maids grooming and dressing her, not needing to make breakfast herself, only needing to pay respects to her elders, and after sending her official husband out the door, she could rest.
Once they had children, she could teach and talk with the children at home, and when tired, the nanny and many maids were there to take care of the children, she wouldn’t need to lift a finger.
All she needed to do was sit in a magnificent spacious room, occasionally play with the children, and do some needlework, and thus the days would pass.
Lady Xia painted for him the picture of days when Sister Xiu married into a noble son’s family, days so wonderful that he wished to find a crack in the ground to disappear into.
He couldn’t give Sister Xiu such a life... He was just a farmer’s son, a government official, working hard every day, often unable to finish his duties on time, unable to take care of Sister Xiu.
In the heat of summer, his body was always sweaty, the smell so strong it made people cover their noses, how could he be worthy of Sister Xiu?
He is always a small mud loach in the mud, while Sister Xiu is a crane soaring in the sky.
"Lady Xia." Luo Wu, with bitterness in his mouth, called out to Lady Xia, then untied the rope binding the copper tripod and moved it down into the flower hall, "Madam, your tripod, I’ve placed it here."
Having said this, he turned around to look at the slowly approaching Master Xia, "The copper tripod has been delivered. Sir, could you inform me about the character of that Jiangnan Family’s son?"
Master Xia smiled and beckoned Luo Wu into the flower hall, "Have a seat first."
Then he said to Lady Xia, "Have the servants bring the silver charcoal and slice the deer meat to be served; while Brother Wu is here, let’s all enjoy a meal of grilled deer meat together."
"Yes, I’ll arrange it right away," Lady Xia did not leave but just turned her head to the Chief Maid beside her and said, "Did you hear that? Hurry and do it; within 15 minutes, bring up the deer meat, fine wine, and side dishes."
"Yes, this slave obeys," replied the Chief Maid, and then instructed two younger maids; the three of them hurriedly went to prepare.
Luo Wu watched, feeling ever more insignificant... Such is the way of noble families; the ladies need do nothing but command the maids, even the Chief Maid doesn’t need to work, she merely orders the younger maids to do the tasks.
If Sister Xiu were with him, she’d have to work like those junior maids, dealing with all the household chores.
She deserves the leisurely days of a rich man’s wife, how could she be stuck in a kitchen cooking for their family? Or even feeding pigs and chickens?
Thinking of these, Luo Wu felt he was unworthy, feeling that his desire to marry Sister Xiu was harming her.
After Lady Xia gave instructions to the maids, she sat down and said to Luo Wu, "Brother Wu wants to know about the Zhan Family matter?"
Luo Wu hurriedly nodded, asking, "Is the family coming to propose to Sister Xiu the Zhan Family?"
Lady Xia nodded, but cleverly added, "Aside from the Zhan Family, two other noble families from the Capital think highly of Sister Xiu and want to propose to her for their grandsons. However, the Zhan Family is a friend of your Uncle Xia’s family. This time, it’s a coincidental visit to Uncle Xia, learning about Sister Xiu, they thought she has the grace of a noble lady and want to take her as an official wife."