Calligraphy Practice and Lotus Pastries

Of course, Xue Qing Ning feared this eldest brother the most. After hearing Wen Zhu relay the message, she immediately slumped her face onto the table, looking dejected. She certainly knew how to read and write. Even if in her previous life she only knew simplified characters, and now people used traditional ones, after all these years, what character didn't she know? The problem was practicing calligraphy... who knew that writing with a brush had so many requirements? Moreover, wasn't it enough for her to simply know how to write? Why did her eldest brother insist she write beautifully?

As for the homework Wen Zhu mentioned. The day before yesterday, her eldest brother gave her a copybook and told her to transcribe it ten times, saying he would check it today. But so far, she had only transcribed it four times... one could predict how displeased her eldest brother's expression would be later.

How could Xue Qing Ning dare to go? She could only beg Madam Xu. Unfortunately, although Madam Xu loved her dearly, there was no room for negotiation on this matter. She gently advised her, "What is there to be afraid of? Your eldest brother won't eat you, will he? Go quickly. For dinner, Mother will have someone make your favorite fresh shrimp balls."

As she spoke, Lu Dan entered, carrying a small tea tray with both hands. On the tray was a plate with several lotus-shaped pastries in full bloom. Madam Xu had never seen such exquisitely beautiful pastries before and was momentarily stunned. She looked twice, then turned to ask Xue Qing Ning, "Are these the lotus pastries you mentioned?"

With the delicacies before her, Xue Qing Ning temporarily forgot about having to meet her eldest brother. She nodded, reached for a lotus pastry from the plate, and took a small bite. Afterwards, Xue Qing Ning's face immediately brightened: "These lotus pastries are delicious this time. Not only is the shape correct, but the taste is also very good." She reached for another one and brought it to Madam Xu's mouth: "Mother, quickly have a taste."

Madam Xu took her hand and also smiled as she took a bite. It was quite crispy, fluffy, fragrant, and sweet. Although the taste wasn't the best pastry she had ever eaten, the design was the most exquisite she had ever seen.

Seeing Xue Qing Ning eating slowly, she knew her daughter was deliberately stalling, so she smiled and urged her to quickly go find her eldest brother. She did not agree with her husband's saying, "A woman without talent is virtuous." She believed that even daughters should read, be literate, and understand worldly affairs.

Knowing this matter was unavoidable, Xue Qing Ning sighed softly. After sighing, she called her maid Xiao Tao and instructed her to go to the bedroom in the west wing and bring out the calligraphy pieces she had written these past few days. She then called Lu Dan: "Go to the kitchen and get a plate of flower pastries to put in the food box. Also, scoop a bowl of snow fungus and lotus seed soup and put it away." She only hoped that later, when her eldest brother saw these refreshments, he would be a little less strict with her.

*

In this life, Xue Qing Ning was the only legitimate daughter of the First Branch of the Marquisate of Vinh Chang. Her ancestors were those who followed the Founding Ancestor to conquer the realm, establishing their careers through military merits. After the founding of the nation, they were conferred the title of Marquis of Vinh Chang. Unfortunately, this noble title was not hereditary for generations; it could only be passed down for three generations. And by the generation of Xue Qing Ning's father, Xue Bo Ming, it was precisely the third generation. In other words, if Xue Bo Ming did not achieve great merits for the imperial court, his son would have no noble title to inherit.