Too high to reach

Chapter 24 I really don't understand
Mo Yi returned to her room and asked the maid to go to the kitchen to get hot water.

After washing her hair, Xiangye stood behind her and helped her dry it.

"Young lady, your hair is so beautiful, so black, shiny, and thick! And so soft to the touch... This apricot blossom dew smells wonderful too. Oh, if Young Master Liang could see and smell it, how delighted he would be!"

Xiangzhi scolded from the side, "Little girl, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"That's exactly right!" Xiangye was young and didn't know any shame, speaking with righteous indignation.

Just then, Mo Yuan arrived.

Her eyelids were slightly swollen, she looked sorrowful and burdened with unspoken thoughts...

Mo Yi felt a headache coming on as soon as she saw him. She really wanted to ask: Did you run into your older brother on the way? If he saw you like this, he would probably say some really nasty things!
"Fourth Sister is here? Would you like some almond soup?"

Mo Yuan's pretty eyes glanced at Mo Yi, carefully and silently observing her smooth black hair and the clothes prepared on the kang (heated brick bed).

"Is Fifth Sister going to wear this tomorrow?" she asked, tugging at the fabric.

Mo Yi nodded: "I've grown a bit taller recently, so my clothes are a bit too short. These two are fine, let's get them ready first."

"My sister is so lucky! Your second uncle dotes on you, and your second aunt plans everything for you."

"Third Aunt also loves my sister. It's just that Third Uncle is often not home."

Mo Yuan's eyes reddened. "My mother was very sad today. I'm alright myself, but I can't bear to see her upset."

Mo Yi had no answer to that.

"Young Master Liang, have you met my sister before?" Mo Yuan's eyes were piercing, as if she could tell at a glance whether Mo Yi was lying or not.

"I saw it twice when I was little, at my aunt's house!"

Later, as she grew up, especially after understanding her mother's and sister's thoughts, she stopped getting involved in anything.

"What does he look like?" Mo Yuan asked.

Mo Yi thought for a moment, then shook her head: "I don't remember it well. The two times I saw her, she was wearing a blue school uniform." As she finished speaking, she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart.

Originally, her ultimate goal in life was to marry a scholar in blue robes, live in a sunny little courtyard, and open a shop on Jinbao Street!
Are these things about to be realized one after another?
A smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

Mo Yuan noticed this and smiled, "That must be a respectable young master."

Mo Yi smiled but didn't say anything.

"I've heard that the Liang family and our family are of similar background. But the Xu family of Mowen is different!"

Yes, Mo Yuan is here to stir up trouble. But what she said is true, so I can only nod.

"Young Master Xu, you've met him before, haven't you?" Mo Yuan tried to get information out of him.

"No."

"Really? You've seen Mo Wen before, haven't you?"

"I don't know that. This is the first time I've heard of it either."

Mo Yuan suddenly smiled, her eyes still slightly swollen, and her smile was surprisingly charming.

"Second Aunt, you're quite adept at classifying people. Look, Mowen is first-class, you're third-class, and I can't even get to the ninth class. The Xu family and the Liang family are worlds apart, but the difference is too great! You're no worse than Mowen! Yet Second Aunt always seems to have her own biases..."

Mo Yi couldn't respond to that.

"Actually, why rush your marriage? Once Mowen marries into the Xu family, she'll meet a whole different kind of people. Once she opens her eyes, she'll see there are plenty of good families out there!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Mo Yuan put on a look of sudden realization: "Hey, look at me! Mo Wen is the most selfish! She only cares about her own comfort, how can she have any sisterly affection!? In my opinion, you and her can't get along like Second Aunt and Aunt Wang."

Mo Yi listened and surprisingly agreed. These past two days, she'd clearly sensed Mo Wen's unusual attitude towards her. She'd never given her a friendly look… Father said that Mo Wen was the one who reminded Mother about my relationship with Liang You, ha… she's probably regretting it!
Mo Yuan saw that Mo Yi was nodding her head slightly, and her eyes curved into a smile as she waited for her to speak.

But Mo Yi suddenly realized she couldn't respond. Otherwise, who knew what rumors would spread once they left this room! Seeing Mo Yi remain silent, Mo Yuan continued, "Normally, Mo Wen's clothes, jewelry, and everything she uses and eats are all better than yours. Even Mo Qing's things are better than yours. You're really good at putting up with things. If it were me, I would have lost my temper long ago!"

Mo Yi found it funny again and wanted to ask Mo Yuan: Haven't you noticed that yours is often better than mine?
Because your mother can cause a ruckus!

Suddenly I felt extremely bored. I'd rather use this time to do more work.

"Hmph... Second Aunt has always favored Mo Wen, and now she has such a good marriage... Let me tell you, Mo Yi: your dowries will be worlds apart!"

That's true! Dad was worried about this too. The fact that Dad brought it up suggests the situation is probably quite different.

It's impossible to say that I don't care about this matter.

Humans aren't gods; they need to eat grains and other necessities. A girl's dowry is fundamental to her livelihood in her husband's family for the rest of her life, and it can even affect her children and grandchildren...

However, she is different now than she was in the past.

It feels so much better to be able to live off the money you earn yourself! That's so empowering!
She lowered her eyelids, a smile playing on her lips as she fiddled with the ends of her hair.

Knowing that Mo Yi was slow-witted and didn't like to talk, she didn't expect her to respond. Mo Yuan just kept talking enthusiastically until her throat was dry.

Seeing that Mo Yi remained unchanged, neither anxious nor annoyed, and showed no signs of anger, Mo Yuan sighed, "You're such a blockhead! If it were me..." Mo Yuan's face darkened, and she left angrily.

Watching her retreating figure, Mo Yi felt somewhat uneasy.

Normally, in matters big and small, it's always Third Aunt who's at the forefront. Mo Yuan just stands behind her, appearing timid, helpless, and silent. But sometimes, it feels like... she's in control, able to make Third Aunt erupt or back down at just the right time...

This time, even those who were hiding in the background stepped up themselves. And then I remembered my third aunt's sinister gaze…

Both the Liang and Xu families are coming to visit... I hope things don't really go wrong!
After fixing my hair, I went to the front living room.

Her eldest uncle hadn't returned yet, and her father and eldest brother were discussing their studies. "Father, eldest brother!" she greeted them respectfully.

"Yi Yi is here!" Mo Ruhai smiled as soon as he saw her.

Mo Da looked Mo Yi up and down carefully before slowly saying, "I heard from your sister-in-law that she ate a few of the vegetarian dumplings you made this morning. Yi Yi is so thoughtful!"

Zhou's morning sickness was so severe that she couldn't get out of bed. She vomited everything she ate and didn't leave the room.

"My mother asked someone to get some fresh bok choy, and I was thinking of making some vegetarian fillings so the flavor would be milder. I'm glad my sister-in-law can eat it. I'll make some more later, and some meat wontons too, to see if she can eat them."

Mo Ruhai smiled and said, "Your second sister makes excellent wontons. Dad ate quite a lot of them while he was recuperating!"

"Father, there's something I want to tell you..."

Then she quietly told him what she was worried about. Mo Ruhai's expression was solemn. "I understand. Father will have your eldest uncle handle it!"

During dinner that evening, Mo Yi made a point of observing Liu Shi, whose expression was rather eerie, her gaze sweeping intently between Wang Shi and Mo Wen.

Finally, he brutally ripped himself out, only to find himself looking at her and even managing a smile.

Mo Yi immediately got goosebumps all over his body again.

After dinner, Mo Rushan said, "As you all probably know, we have important guests coming tomorrow. I'm not unaware that they often make a fuss over trivial matters! I just figured that everyone's backyard is like that, so I haven't bothered to deal with it."

But tomorrow, whatever ulterior motives anyone may have, keep them to yourself! I'll be taking a day off to personally host guests at home. If anything goes wrong, don't blame me for being ruthless!

His attitude was stiff, and he had the air of a patriarch.

Liu stared intently at Mo Rushan, her face alternating between pale and flushed, lost in thought.

Looking at Mo Yuan again, she was blinking her eyes, listening attentively and obediently to the instruction...

She's completely different from how she is when she's in her own room!
Sigh, I really don't understand...

(End of this chapter)