When Qihuang entered, Qin Liu Xi had already changed into a simpler outfit and was leisurely pouring tea for herself.
"Are they all gone?"
"You were almost chasing them out with a broom. These young ladies have thin skin. Can they still linger?" Qihuang chuckled. "But what were they looking for when they came to Miss?"
"They certainly weren't here to bond with me as sisters," Qin Liu Xi said as she rolled up her sleeves. "These young ladies from noble families, usually they're all about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or gossiping about new jewelry and fashion trends. They either come here to compare notes or seek consolation."
"Consolation?" Qihuang helped her roll up her sleeves and asked, "What consolation could they be seeking from you, Miss? Although they are sisters, they are not particularly close, are they?"
"You don't understand. In their eyes, I'm just a 'banished' poor girl from the countryside, while they are city folks. Now that they've fallen on hard times, they come to see this poor girl of mine. If I seem pitiful and timid, wouldn't that comfort their hearts?" Qin Liu Xi chuckled.
The psychology of most ordinary people is: "I'm very miserable, but if you're even more miserable than me, then I'm not so miserable after all!"
Qihuang chuckled softly. "It's a pity they couldn't find any comfort and ended up being discouraged."
"Forget about them. Let's go to the medicine room; otherwise, it will take all night."
---
Qin Mingxin went straight to Xie's side to complain about her elder sister, who was not worthy of her position.
"...Forget about inviting us in for tea and snacks; she didn't even invite us inside. Mother, she's too high-handed, showing no affection whatsoever."
Xie's face turned green. "Did she really drive you out?"
Qin Mingyue sighed, "Maybe she also looked down on us."
She tugged at her coarse cloth dress. She had never worn such fabric before, and now that she was wearing it, it felt uncomfortable. After these few days, she felt like her skin had become rough.
The more Qin Mingyue thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.
Xie caught sight of her little movements and glanced at her own coarse cloth dress. She also felt somewhat depressed. It's hard to go from luxury to frugality. She hadn't worn this kind of cloth for many years. She couldn't get used to it herself, let alone the children who had been brought up in luxury since childhood.
Wait a minute, that brat Qin Liu Xi never wears coarse cloth. She always manages to get a few pieces for her sisters, right?
"Alright, don't dwell on it too much. Your elder sister has been living in the old house since she was a child. Where would she have learned manners? I'll talk to your uncle's wife later and teach her properly." Xie advised calmly.
Qin Mingxin leaned against her, acting spoiled. "Mother, I saw Big Sister wearing a pretty pair of earrings. I want them too."
Xie pinched her little nose, scolding, "You want everything."
Qin Mingyue said, "Mother, those are Big Sister's things. Can she give them to you? Don't make a fuss. If you upset your uncle's wife or grandmother, they might say you're immature."
Xie felt somewhat uncomfortable. "Moon, as an older sister, you should also cherish and be considerate of your younger sister."
Wasn't this also a message meant for her?
Mother is biased. Not only is she biased towards her younger brother, but she also favors her younger sister.
Qin Mingyue lowered her eyelids and whispered, "I understand, Mother. But things are different now. Grandma has also reprimanded me before."
Xie felt uneasy. "That's right, Mingxin, be good. Your grandmother is unwell right now. Don't bother her. When I talk to your uncle's wife later..."