CHAPTER 368: CHAPTER 365 ZHENZHOU’S PAPER

Xie Liangchen smiled at everyone, "I grew up in the countryside and I’m not good at these things. Miss Xu, why don’t you start first? I’ll go prepare the paper and ink for everyone."

Miss Xu had already suspected this, but pretended to be embarrassed, "How could I?"

Xie Liangchen said, "Everyone can write poetry. I have nothing else to do anyway."

Miss Xu felt an indescribable ease in her heart, "Then I’ll trouble Sister Chen."

While they composed poetry, Xie Liangchen busied herself preparing brushes and ink for them. At first glance, one might think she was a maid brought along by someone, revealing the hierarchy of status.

Miss Xu lowered her gaze, hiding her joy. It’s a pity Song Xian couldn’t witness this, otherwise, he would regret marrying into the Xie Family. How could he associate with the wives of high officials and nobles without a good wife? Who knows if Song Xian will become a topic of laughter in others’ conversations in the future.

Seeing this, Meng Changshu furrowed her brow, about to speak, when her eyes met Xie Liangchen’s.

Xie Liangchen shook her head, signaling to Meng Changshu that it was alright, and Meng Changshu sat back down.

Miss Xu said, "Actually, there’s a prize at this poetry gathering. Everyone knows that the eight states have just ended their war, and the people have suffered from years of turmoil. Although the court has provided relief grain, we should also contribute. For whoever loses the poetry contest, we won’t impose any penalties. They will help the winner organize supplies to be sent to the Eight States. How does everyone feel about this?"

Miss Cao San quickly said, "Of course that’s good. I heard my father say that the Eight States are even worse than the Northern Border before. It’s truly pitiful for the people there. So, this poetry gathering was organized for this purpose."

The assembled ladies all nodded, agreeing with Miss Xu’s suggestion.

Suddenly, Miss Cao San remembered something and looked at Xie Liangchen beside her, "Miss Xie is from the North and has been to Dai State. Is it really that the situation there is worse than in your North? Are there many people starving to death by the roadside?"

Xie Liangchen put down the ink in her hand, and Chen Zigeng, who was helping her, frowned and was about to scold the prickly words of Miss Cao San.

Xie Liangchen held her brother’s hand, not angry, but smiling, "Miss Cao San is correct. No matter where, just after a war, life for the people is hard, especially since the Eight States have been unstable for nineteen years. The North, in any case, is better off than the Eight States. However, last year, our village in Zhenzhou also couldn’t get enough to eat."

Miss Cao Wu gasped at this, "Miss Xie has also gone hungry?"

Xie Liangchen smiled, "I haven’t, but eating coarse rice is common."

Miss Cao Wu said, "Coarse rice? Isn’t that meant for..." She didn’t finish, but everyone understood the implication that coarse rice was for the servants on the estate, and some wealthy families even fed it to their livestock.

Miss Cao San covered her mouth with a handkerchief. Clearly, Miss Xie grew up in such a place, no wonder her skin looks rough and sallow, even if she dresses differently, she doesn’t seem to come from a wealthy family.

Meng Changshu wasn’t sure if she should praise Miss Xie’s good temperament and couldn’t hold back, "Even if Zhenzhou was still hungry last year, this year during wartime, they still sent a lot of grain to Dai State for military provisions. Without Zhenzhou Village’s grain, it’s hard to say if the war would have come to an end."

Meng Changshu’s words made Miss Cao San’s face change slightly. Miss Cao Wu quickly looked at Miss Xu, knowing that Xu Family’s Second Master was reprimanded by the court for military provisions. Although he wasn’t imprisoned, he was confined at home. If this continues to be discussed, it might implicate the Xu Family.

Miss Xu looked displeased at Meng Changshu but pretended nothing happened, "Miss Meng is right, let’s proceed with writing poems!"

Miss Cao San quickly said, "It’s all my fault for talking too much. I’m also concerned about the situation in the North and the Eight States. Miss Xie, please don’t be offended."

Xie Liangchen just smiled without speaking.

Miss Cao San felt resentment, as she and her sister intended to make Miss Xu happy but almost made a mess of things.

"Miss Xu initiates a good poem," Miss Yan from the family of Guanlu Shaoqing stood up and said, "Miss Xu, just say the word, and I’ll write it down, to give a start to this poetry gathering."

Miss Yan intended to change the topic to avoid unpleasantness. Miss Yan’s handwriting is the best, so Miss Xu was naturally willing to let her transcribe.

Miss Yan stepped forward and first saluted Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng, "Hard work to Miss and Mr. for so many people visiting, causing trouble for your prefecture."

Chen Zigeng said, "Miss is kind," and then turned to instruct the servants to continue preparing the paper.

Miss Yan felt strange, wondering why Mr. Chen was so meticulous just about laying out paper and grinding ink, as if careful to avoid damaging the paper. It was something that could ordinarily be entrusted to servants.

Xie Liangchen gestured with her hand, "Miss Yan, please go ahead!"

Miss Yan nodded.

Miss Xu had already stated, "Let Miss Yan write the title first. It will be convenient for everyone to keep the poetry as a memento."

The young ladies all agreed.

Miss Yan picked up the brush, soaked it full of ink, lowered her wrist, and started writing on the paper in front of her. However, after making the first stroke, her face changed, and surprised, she looked at Xie Liangchen in the distance, "This paper..."

Miss Yan’s voice wasn’t loud, but everyone was already paying attention to the area, and they all heard it clearly.

Miss Cao San immediately recalled what Miss Xu had told her, that yesterday, Miss Xu took Xie Liangchen and her brother to the stationery shop, and they were surprised that a piece of paper cost over a hundred coins. Could it be that Miss Xie, to save silver coins, purchased very poor-quality paper?

To do so at a poetry gathering, truly without fear of losing face.

Miss Cao Wu and her sister shared a tacit understanding, coughed, and said, "Miss Yan, why not write it down first, as long as it’s legible, we can copy it over later."

Miss Cao Wu then looked at Xie Liangchen, "Miss Xie, don’t worry, none of us will mind."

"Miss Cao Wu is right."

"It’s no problem."

"Miss Xie is new to this; it’s her first time organizing a poetry gathering..."

Miss Xu coughed, and the conversation finally quieted down. However, Miss Yan, holding her brush, still stood there stunned, even gently caressing the paper in front of her with her hand but refusing to write further.

Miss Xu knew Miss Yan’s temperament, likely thinking the paper was too poor, fearing that if she wrote, the calligraphy wouldn’t appear as elegant as usual, losing face. How bad must that paper be, could it have been brought from Zhenzhou?

Miss Xu looked at Miss Yan, "What are you still standing there for? Everyone has said they won’t blame you, quickly continue writing!"

Miss Yan remained unmoved, as if she couldn’t hear Miss Xu’s voice.

Meng Changshu stood up, "Since Miss Yan is inconvenienced to write, today I’ll be the one to pen."

Meng Changshu walked over, took another brush from the rack, and reached out to pull the stunned Miss Yan aside. However, just as she touched Miss Yan, Miss Yan seemed to suddenly come to her senses, staring intently at Miss Xie, "Miss Xie, where did this paper come from?"

Xie Liangchen smiled, "It was brought from Zhenzhou."

Miss Xu sneered inwardly, so it was indeed from Zhenzhou.

But Miss Yan seemed even more amazed, "Miss, is this true? How is this possible?"

At this moment, Meng Changshu’s gaze also fell on the paper, and this paper... was not as bad as they thought. Not only wasn’t it bad, but... but... she finally understood why Miss Yan had hesitated to write, it turned out to be this...