"Tell me, what's going on? They brought your father, your uncle, and your cousin back, and even helped out a lot in the capital. Why are you still giving them the cold shoulder?" Qi Zhenzhen asked directly.
Song Mingyue pursed her lips, refusing to speak, acting as if she had done nothing wrong.
"Why are you being stubborn with me? Just tell me already."
Song Mingyue said reluctantly, "I am grateful for his help to our family, but he can't just say I'm not reserved. How am I not reserved? It's just that he drove his carriage to your house, and I was too lazy to walk, so I jumped onto the carriage, planning to hitch a ride. Who knew he would blurt out something out of nowhere? Zhenzhen, tell me, where am I not reserved? It's one thing if my cousin dislikes me, but Zhang Xiaoniu, that brat, also dislikes me. It's infuriating."
"Ge Yusheng dislikes you? Dislikes you for what?" Qi Zhenzhen seized on the key point.
Song Mingyue's face fell. "What else? A woman should not leave her home, should be gentle and virtuous, reserved, and obedient..."
Qi Zhenzhen looked bewildered. "Did Ge Yusheng say that? Who does he think he is? Ask him if his mother achieved all these things he's talking about. He really thinks highly of himself. Does your mother know about this?"
Song Mingyue shook her head. "My mother has been overwhelmed with my cousin's affairs these past few days, so I haven't told her."
"Then let me ask you, how did you feel after your cousin said that?"
"How else would I feel? I wanted to curse him. Thinking about potentially marrying him in the future, I felt my life was hopeless," Song Mingyue said dejectedly.
Qi Zhenzhen had always thought her judgment of the Ge family mother and son was too hasty. Now it seemed she hadn't seen through them at all. She originally thought Aunt Mingyue was difficult to get along with, but now it seemed that Ge Yusheng, the scholar, was even more difficult. They weren't even engaged yet, and he was already making all sorts of demands.
Reserved? Virtuous? Gentle?
Not leaving home, not stepping out of the inner chambers?
These were demands straight out of Neo-Confucianism.
Years ago, she heard that scholars greatly advocated Neo-Confucianism, but now, it was basically abolished, wasn't it? Although women's status was still not high, it was at least much better than back then. Remarriage, remarriage after divorce, women engaging in business and trade – although a small number of people still criticized these things, most people had already accepted them.
Under such circumstances, for Ge Yusheng, a scholar, to make such demands was truly astonishing.
"Talk to your mother about it when you have time. I originally thought that if Ge Yusheng treated you well, this marriage shouldn't be refused so hastily. But now, setting aside whether he treats you well or not, just these unreasonable demands... I certainly can't stand it. With your personality, can you really stay home and not go out in the future?" Qi Zhenzhen said calmly.
"Bah, bah, bah! I'm hoping to have the chance to travel around and see more in the future. Our Great Feng has beautiful scenery. I can't stay in this small place my whole life, can I?" Song Mingyue said impatiently. "Before, I did have some feelings for my cousin. He's a good student, and he's not bad-looking. But now... I certainly can't enjoy it!"
"So Xiaoniu just ran into your bad mood? I know that kid. He was probably joking when he said you weren't reserved, right?"
Song Mingyue pouted. "I know he was joking, but I was still unhappy."
Qi Zhenzhen patted Song Mingyue's hand comfortingly. Poor Zhang Xiaoniu, he became a scapegoat for no reason. Could he just consider himself unlucky?
The two chatted in the room for a while, and Song Mingyue's mood gradually improved. When she went out, Zhang Xiaoniu was no longer there. Yun Shi said he had gone home to see his elder brother.
Song Mingyue breathed a sigh of relief. She had reacted a bit too strongly on the way here. After talking with Zhenzhen, she felt a little sorry for Zhang Xiaoniu and was hesitating whether to apologize. Now that he was gone, it saved her the trouble.
"You little girl, you bullied Xiaoniu, didn't you?" Yun Shi chided Song Mingyue with a glance. This girl was mischievous and loved to tease people.
Song Mingyue cried out in injustice. "He bullied me! He said I wasn't reserved. Auntie, tell me, am I not reserved? Where am I not reserved?"
"I just asked Xiaoniu. He said he was just joking. He said that the noble ladies he saw in the capital needed many people to help them onto a carriage and needed stools. He originally wanted to help you, but he didn't even have time before you jumped onto the carriage yourself. He casually called you not reserved. What's the big deal? You're still angry with him?" Yun Shi said.
Was it because she jumped onto the carriage so fiercely that Xiaoniu said she wasn't reserved?
Did she misunderstand him?
"That's also his fault for not explaining clearly!" Song Mingyue turned her face away, hiding her embarrassment.
"You!" Yun Shi chided helplessly.
"Auntie, I'll go back now. I'll come again another day to keep you company," Song Mingyue said as she walked out. Qi Zhenzhen followed. "Mom, I'm going to the Song family's to ask Grandpa Lizheng how to handle the matter with the Xun family."
Song family's main house.
Except for Song Mingze, everyone from the elder and second branches was present.
Song family's elder uncle and Song family's second uncle were both furious. After hearing about the Xun family's behavior, both brothers wanted to rush to the Xun family to seek justice.
"Zhenzhen is here." Song Lizheng beckoned them into the house. "Tell me, when are we going to the county town?"
"Cousin's health can handle it. We can go anytime."
The Song family discussed it and decided that the two Song brothers would accompany Song Mingze to the county town, with Qi Zhenzhen as their escort. The others would wait at home for news.
Since Song Zhishu and the others had just returned from the capital today, it was almost dark, and traveling would be inconvenient. They agreed to set off early the next morning.
Qi Zhenzhen stayed at the Song family's for a short while before returning home.
During dinner that evening, Zhang Xiaoniu came over, his face a little sheepish. Qi Zhenzhen told him about the trip to the county town. He patted his chest and said, "Then I'll go to the Song family to pick them up early tomorrow morning? Zhenzhen, are you taking a carriage or riding a horse?"
Traveling by carriage was slow. Given the choice, Qi Zhenzhen naturally chose to ride a horse.
Qi Zhenzhen went ahead, with Zhang Xiaoniu and the three Song family members following behind.
Upon arriving at the county town, Qi Zhenzhen went directly to find Wen Cen. When Wen Cen heard that his father-in-law had arrived, he rushed to the city gate to welcome them.
Qi Zhenzhen originally wanted to arrange for them to stay at the noodle shop, but Wen Cen said it was not appropriate. He directly said that their family had spare rooms, and the bedding was all ready. Moreover, his father-in-law and brother-in-law were coming, and if he didn't entertain them properly, wouldn't Mingzhu scold him?
Thus, Zhang Xiaoniu stayed at the noodle shop, while the three Song family members stayed at the Wen family's.
It was late afternoon, and Qi Zhenzhen was not idle. She made a trip to Lu Family Village and spoke with Lu Qingshui. As expected, the trial was scheduled for the next day. Lu Qingshui was a bit nervous. "As long as I don't take the blame, the Xun family is in the wrong in this matter, right?"