C15 – Your Smile Is So Light

After ending his breakfast, Tang Yue determined to take a leisurely stroll round the home, contemplating it might be his future residence. Subsequently, he closed the door earlier than stepping exterior.

Initially, he supposed to request the 4 guards for a tour of the premises. Nonetheless, as quickly as he stepped out, he noticed Grandpa Shan kneeling on the entrance to his room. Puzzled, he requested, “What’s the matter with you?”

Is he kneeling as a door deity earlier than my room?

Shan smiled excitedly and mentioned, “Younger grasp, I shall be at your service any further. How can I help you?”

Tang Yue was delighted to listen to that since he had identified Shan for a very long time and preferred him very a lot. He was each loyal and discreet, making certain that Tang Yue wouldn’t face any safety threats sooner or later.

Having been within the mansion for many years, Shan was well-acquainted with the environment and will navigate them even with closed eyes. Subsequently, Tang Yue didn’t want any further escort so long as Shan was round, and the 2 of them wandered round aimlessly.

“Any longer, the servants could have correct names,” Shan mentioned.

“What’s your title?” Tang Yue inquired.

“Tang Shan,” replied Wang Yao.

Tang Yue’s lips curled up and he let loose a smooth chuckle. “Effectively then, congratulations,” he mentioned. He had all the time assumed that each one the servants within the mansion shared the identical surname as their household, together with Grandpa Shan who was known as Tang Shan.

Seeing Shan’s puzzled expression, Tang Yue defined that slaves on this period weren’t given surnames except their grasp granted them one. They solely had a given title for the remainder of their lives.

Tang Yue discovered that the servants have been thought-about higher off than the slaves. They got here from commoner households and, unable to help themselves, labored exhausting for his or her employers. Though their lives have been nonetheless managed by their masters, that they had the potential for incomes their freedom sooner or later.

In different phrases, they have been like contracted staff who traded their youth for retirement cash. After serving for 10 or 20 years, they might be let out.

Tang Yue understood that in this period of financial underdevelopment, most individuals’s predominant focus was to satisfy their primary wants for meals, clothes, and shelter. Nonetheless, this seemingly easy purpose was troublesome to attain.

Regardless of occupying a big space, the Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion lacked a well-planned format. Timber and grass could possibly be discovered scattered between yards, indicating the absence of a unified type.

“The yard serves as the doorway to the concubines’ dwelling quarters. They don’t seem to be allowed to go away throughout regular days,” Shan defined.

Tang Yue was conscious that in this period the place males held the best standing, a profitable man may have a number of girls moreover his spouse and well-known concubines. Different girls had no social standing and have been handled as mere equipment to males.

Tang Yue contemplated to himself that if he have been the Yueyang Marquis, he would have left his spouse and son to return to his hometown. In spite of everything, which man in his proper thoughts would abandon a forest for a small sapling?

“Observe me. The bridge results in the place the younger girls reside. The younger grasp needs to pay them a go to.”

Tang Yue was momentarily misplaced in thought earlier than realizing that the girl was referring to the sister of the Seven Fairies. He agreed, “Positive, let’s go. It’s good to pay our respects.”

The ladies’ dwelling quarters have been surprisingly immaculate, adorned with lovely flowers and plush greenery. The melody of a zither could possibly be heard emanating from the home, accompanied by candy lyrics.

Tang Yue contemplated, “The younger girls from rich households will need to have been skilled within the arts of music, chess, and portray from a younger age. No marvel they’re all so well-educated.”

Unbeknownst to Tang Yue, he had already been rejected by the “well-educated” youthful sister upon his arrival.

On this period, most ladies didn’t obtain a correct schooling in music, literature, or artwork. They have been sometimes solely taught primary arithmetic to help the family. Their main focus was on singing, dancing, and enjoying musical devices to be able to please their future husbands.

Nonetheless, the Seven Fairies of the Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion have been an exception, as that they had obtained a complete schooling. They started finding out on the age of 5, studying to learn and write, and at six, they started honing their expertise primarily based on their pursuits. At this hour, they have been finding out etiquette and manners.

“What brings you right here?” The eldest sister’s sharp tone was as fierce as ever as she positioned her palms on her hips and glared at Tang Yue.

However earlier than Tang Yue may reply, a delicate voice spoke up from inside the home, “Ya, don’t be impolite. Bear in mind your manners, younger woman.”

With a scowl, Tang Ya dropped her palms and requested, forcing a smile, “What brings elder brother to this place?”

Tang Yue was stunned by her contrasting attitudes and responded politely, “I used to be passing by and determined to go to my youthful sisters.”

As he completed talking, a number of younger heads popped out of the window, gazing at him with curiosity.

He waved his hand and flashed a captivating smile. “Whats up sisters!”

The ladies giggled in unison and greeted him with a cheerful “Whats up, Brother!”

“Brother, that sweet you gave me yesterday was scrumptious. Do you’ve gotten any extra treats?” Tang Yue recalled that the woman who spoke was his second youngest sister, who was additionally a member of the household.

Observing her sister leaning out the window, Tang Ya rebuked, “Ah Wan, we are able to afford higher issues at house. In order for you one thing, simply ask somebody to purchase it for you.”

Tang Wan blushed and remained silent. It was widespread information that her true need was not for materials possessions.

Upon seeing his second sister, Tang Yue was instantly smitten. “I’ll purchase these for you subsequent time, however keep in mind to not eat an excessive amount of sugar as it may well result in tooth decay!”

Throughout these instances, toothpaste and toothbrushes have been non-existent. If that they had the sources, they might gargle with saline water, but when not, they must make do with clear water. Tang Yue customary a rudimentary toothbrush utilizing pig’s fur and brushed his tooth with salt.

Though Tang Wan might not have comprehended the idea of tooth decay, she understood that it was dangerous to tooth. She nodded in settlement, saying, “Then I’ll solely have one every single day… that’s sufficient!”

“I would like some too…” echoed a young voice in unison.

Tang Yue laughed heartily, dispelling the unease he had felt upon arriving in an unfamiliar world. Really, they have been a gaggle of lovely little angels.

“Okay, it’s a deal!”

The youthful sisters concurrently thought to themselves how type and affable their brother was, way more so than their father.