Actually, Yang Mengchen had a great deal of respect for Lu Ningshuang. In a society that demanded extreme strictness from women, Lu Ningshuang had managed through her efforts to ensure that both she and her brother could live a good life, and she had personally taught her brother to be sensible and understanding. It was said that her brother had already become a recognized scholar, with good studies and character. Had she not resisted, it's very likely that her stepmother would have led her brother to become a wastrel, and his life would have been ruined.
Furthermore, Lu Ningshuang managed household affairs and was a master of sewing and cooking, but what was most important were her practicality and clever efficiency — practical, in that she saw reality clearly and was able to plan for the future, excelling in household management and needlework as capital for establishing herself and her life, all of which showed she was clever and capable.
