Too high to reach

Chapter 58 Doing My Best Again
Finally, the three leaders of the Mohist school reached an agreement:
Yunniang entered the household as a concubine, while Haoge'er and Linge'er were still born out of wedlock.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Yunniang served tea to Liu, who was dressed in her finest attire and acting like the mistress of the house.

Only then did Madam Liu take a closer look at her. Her features were merely decent; she was a very ordinary woman. "Look at Mo Rusong's lack of ambition!" Madam Liu's anger subsided somewhat. She thought to herself, "I'll deal with this after I've resolved Yuanyuan's matter!"
The Mohist men were quite pleased to suddenly have two more well-behaved boys. Moreover, Hao-ge'er was just reaching the age for early education. Upon inquiry, they learned that he could recite poems and recognize some characters.

If they are educated well, they will be the future of the Mo family. Mo Rushan pointed at Mo Bao, "Take care of your younger brother!"

The chubby boy, seeing that his younger brother had arrived, also started acting like a big brother.

Today is the day Wang Shi returns to her parents' home. After watching Yun Niang serve tea, it's time for her to leave.

As a result, Mo Ruhai dawdled and first had the family car take Liu and Zhou back to their parents' home. It wasn't until after noon that Wang and her group set off.

Having perfectly missed lunch with Brother-in-law Qin, Mo Ruhai was overjoyed, finally free from the embarrassment of the fish plate.

Wang was furious, but she hadn't slept well for the past two days and had no energy to fight him. When she arrived at the Wang family home, sure enough, her eldest sister and brother-in-law had already finished their meal and left in a hurry.

But many relatives and friends, after they arrived, exchanged gifts and received New Year's money, surrounded Mo Yi.

Mo Yi was clearly growing up, wearing a purplish-red soft silk jacket, a gold hairpin in her hair, and looking exceptionally healthy.

Two elderly women and three middle-aged women pulled her along, praising her with smiles for a long time, their eyes gleaming as they scrutinized her.

Mo Yi couldn't help but chuckle to herself; in previous years, it was Mo Wen who received this treatment.

As soon as she walked away, everyone huddled together, asking Wang Shi, "Did Yi Yi talk about someone else's son?"

"Hey, I have a distant nephew, he's very successful..."

"Quickly, go and call Jing-ge in so he can pay his respects to his second aunt!" This is to arrange a marriage between Wang Shi and Jing-ge...

It's truly a case of one woman being sought after by a hundred families...

In this atmosphere, when Wang looked at Mo Yi again, he seemed much more pleasing to the eye.

When asked questions, she was shrewd, neither refusing nor responding. None of these people could compare to Liang You, but she had to be prepared, just in case…

When Mo Yi got together with her friends from other, less formal backgrounds, she realized that girls really do change when they grow up. Before, they would talk about flowers, pastries, clothes, rouge, the plays they watched, their new sisters-in-law, and so on.

Now, whenever you talk to her, without exception, the question is always about Mo Wen.

They were all shy and timid, but they all grasped the key points accurately.

I can't help but marvel at how much more they think than I do.
On her way home, Wang was both excited and uneasy, influenced by everyone's enthusiasm. She told Mo Ruhai that she wanted to take a detour to her sister's house.

Upon hearing this, Mo Ruhai exclaimed, "What? I've been dawdling all morning just to avoid them, and now I'm just walking right into their trap?"
crazy!

Seeing that Mrs. Wang was speaking seriously, he got out of the car and said, "Madam, you go ahead. I'll stroll home."

Mo Yi understood what her mother was about to do and whispered a reminder: "Mother, Aunt has in-laws, and there will be many guests during the New Year. It would be impolite for us to come without informing her..."

Wang glared at her again: "We're sisters, what are you afraid of?"

Upon arriving at the Qin family residence, they found a considerable number of guests, with carriages and horses thronging the entrance.

Wang felt it was inappropriate for her to go in, and just as she was about to leave, the gatekeeper saw her and asked, "The concubine has arrived?" He came forward to greet her.

Hearing from the maid that her younger sister had arrived, Wang Xiujuan was puzzled, fearing something urgent might have happened. However, she had just welcomed her important guest in and it wasn't convenient for her to leave immediately.

He then gestured to the maid to lead him into his room first, and also asked the maid to call his eldest granddaughter, Qin Yuanniang, over.

Qin Yuanniang was a chubby little girl. "Auntie, Second Aunt, Third Aunt!"

Mo Yi smiled and pulled her along, "Isn't Yuan Niang a good girl?"

"Good girl!" Yuan Niang, carrying the sachet Mo Yi had made for her, filled with pine nut candy, held the hands of one of her aunts and chatted incessantly. After staying inside for a while, Wang Xiujuan arrived. "You didn't go home this morning? Why are you here now? Is something wrong?"

Wang was a little embarrassed: "I couldn't make it over this morning, and I was worried about it, so I came to visit you. I hope I didn't bother you?"

"We have guests at home today, people you don't know. Shall I take you over to chat?"

"I'm not going, I'm not going. I was just wondering if my sister has seen Mrs. Liang these past two days?" Wang asked in a low voice.

After Mo Yi and Mo Qing bowed to Wang Xiujuan, they taught Yuan Jie'er how to fold mice using handkerchiefs.

But the two Wang sisters were usually quite loud when they spoke, and they didn't try to hide it, so they both heard it.

"On the 29th of the lunar year, I went to the Liang family to offer my early New Year's greetings and also to congratulate Liang You!"

Wang glanced at Mo Yi, her throat tightening.

"Oh my, the Liang family's gate was so crowded with people coming and going! It made me dizzy. Mrs. Liang finally managed to talk to me alone for a while. She said that matchmakers have been knocking down the door. The old lady I told you about last time... she even brought her niece from her maternal family. When I went, the old lady even introduced her to me! That girl..."

Wang Xiujuan thought to herself, "She does have the air of a well-bred young lady. It's just that Liang You isn't living at home right now, otherwise, what kind of nonsense is this! This old lady Liang's behavior is really... I couldn't do that!"

"Hmph! What kind of well-bred lady is she? When it comes to profit, she's like a wolf with eyes red with greed!" Madam Wang said indignantly.

Mo Yi thought to himself: Just as I thought.

"But judging from Mrs. Liang's expression, she's not happy with that girl! Just think about it, how will her son get along with his stepmother's niece?"

Madam Wang quickly nodded: "Of course! It's just that Old Madam Liang doesn't have a son of her own, otherwise the Liang family would be in real trouble! Liang You is the eldest son, and the most outstanding one. How could she be willing to let his marriage be tied up with his stepmother's family? After all these years, haven't she had enough of that old woman?"

Wang Xiujuan patted her hand: "However, let's be frank. Although Mrs. Liang doesn't want the old lady's grandniece, well..." She paused, "You know, when I first said it..." She glanced at Mo Yi, then whispered, "Mrs. Liang hesitated a bit, but Liang You persuaded her to agree."

But now the situation is different. You wouldn't believe it! Even Madam Liang's family has come knocking. Just from close family connections alone, they've already mentioned seven or eight young ladies. And who knows what the Marquis's household is thinking!"

Leaning back, Wang muttered, "It's over, it's over, it's definitely not going to work."

"Sigh!" Wang Xiujuan sighed as well: "These are not the main issues. What Mrs. Liang cares about most now is whether Madam Hou has any plans for this matter. If she does, then everyone else has to step aside! We can't let this marriage affect his future."

Wang nodded helplessly.

"She said this: if the Mo family isn't in a hurry, they'll postpone things. Although we can't say for sure that it will work out in the future, if there are no obstacles from the Lady of the Marquis, she will definitely choose our Yi-jie first."

Mrs. Wang was somewhat moved: "Since you've already said all that, we have nothing to complain about."

Wang Xiujuan nodded in agreement: "Yes! It's not easy for someone to say that!"

After chatting for a while, Wang was about to pay her respects to the Qin family's matriarch when Wang Xiujuan said, "There are too many people there now. Let's talk about it when you come on the sixth day of the month!"

On the way back, Wang Shi found fault with Mo Yi again, "If you hadn't angered me last time, I might have already pushed your aunt to finalize things. Now look what's happened!"

Mo Yi lowered his head and remained silent.

"Think about it yourself. What good will you be if you make me unhappy? Humph, always running around with your father... Do you think he can find you a good marriage? Honestly..."

Mo Yi forced a smile and coaxed, "You're my mother. My father is my father. We're no outsiders. Your daughter follows you both closely!"

"Stop talking nonsense! Maybe it's just not meant to be for you. This is such a hassle! Look at your sister, how happy the Xu family is! Oh dear, Young Master Xu is coming again tomorrow! We still have to tidy up when we get back... Luckily, your third uncle's business is done. When Young Master Xu comes tomorrow, keep an eye on Mo Yuan and make sure she doesn't cause any trouble!"

Mo Yi nodded helplessly.

"Mo Qing, you too... Don't just stand there watching the show! You're not a kid anymore!"

"Mother... why are you dragging your daughter into this again?!" Mo Qing was not one to listen to reason.

(End of this chapter)