Chapter 85: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 85: Position and Responsibility
Daohua thought the matter of switching seats was over, but unexpectedly, Teacher Shen shifted her attention back to her.
"Eldest Miss, I rearranged your seats today. Do you have any thoughts on this?"
Thoughts? What kind of thoughts?
Daohua’s mind raced.
Teacher Shen is impartial, unafraid of authority, and acts strictly by the rules?
Seeing the keen intelligence in Teacher Shen’s eyes, Daohua shook her head. That probably wasn’t it. This tutor didn’t seem like the type to appreciate flattery, not that Daohua was good at it anyway.
So, what did Teacher Shen want to hear?
Teacher Shen didn’t rush her. She calmly picked up her teacup and took a gentle sip.
Hmm. The tea at the Yan household was delightful. Though not as luxurious as some others, this simple jasmine tea carried a refreshing aroma and tasted remarkably pleasant.
After a brief silence, Daohua hesitantly spoke as Teacher Shen set her teacup down. “In a family, everyone has their own place. You shouldn’t try to take someone else’s place, but neither should you let others take yours.”
Hearing this, Teacher Shen raised her eyebrows, appearing somewhat satisfied with the answer. Yet, she said nothing, only signaling for Daohua to continue.
Daohua gauged Teacher Shen’s expression and added, “Sitting in different positions comes with different responsibilities. For instance, since I’ve taken the best seat, I should bear greater responsibility.”
At this, Teacher Shen’s face broke into a smile. “Very good. Eldest Miss, it’s commendable that you could derive such insights from a mere change in seating,” she said, glancing at the other three girls in the room.
The second girl, Yan Yihuan, frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought.
The third girl, Yan Yishuang, was still upset about the earlier seat change, her eyes red and brimming with tears.
The fourth girl, Yan Yile, darted her gaze around, her body swaying left and right, clearly not internalizing a word Daohua had said.
At that moment, Teacher Shen had already formed a preliminary impression of the four Yan sisters.
Turning back to Daohua, who was awaiting her evaluation, Teacher Shen smiled. “Eldest Miss, you are correct. Different positions come with different responsibilities. A family’s resources are limited, and those who enjoy more resources must, in turn, give more back to the family in the future.”
“There is no such thing as getting something for nothing. The protection and nurture you currently enjoy from the family will have to be repaid eventually.”
“The reason for rearranging your seats today was twofold: to instill the values of seniority and distinctions of legitimacy, and to help you recognize your respective roles within the family, as well as the responsibilities you must shoulder.”
“Eldest Miss, as the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yan family, you stand above your sisters. Since you enjoy better treatment, you must also take on corresponding responsibilities. For example, you should set a good example for your younger siblings and take on the duty of guiding and supervising them.”
At first, Daohua found Teacher Shen’s reasoning logical, but by the end, she wasn’t entirely convinced.
Better treatment? What better treatment?
Food, clothing, and daily necessities—everything was the same for all of them.
Well, maybe not entirely the same.
She did have her own courtyard and a small estate as personal property.
Although she had bought the estate with her own money, if not for her father’s official status shielding her, it wouldn’t have been possible for a young girl like her to purchase it, let alone keep it secure.
On second thought, her treatment did seem a bit better compared to Yihuan, Yishuang, and Yile.
Teacher Shen had been observing Daohua all along. Seeing her initial disagreement shift to thoughtful nodding, she grew even more satisfied with the eldest Miss Yan—clearly, a teachable child.
Surviving in the inner courtyards of noble families wasn’t an easy task. For tutors like her, the greatest challenge was teaching those who were either dull-witted or unteachable.
Though each family claimed they hired tutors to educate all their daughters, in truth, the focus was always on the legitimate children of the main wife. Teaching others was merely for appearances, while their real efforts were concentrated on the legitimate heirs.
In noble households, no matter how favored a concubine might be, it was the legitimate wife who hired the tutors and paid their salaries. Moreover, a fundamental unspoken rule in prestigious families was that children born of concubines must not surpass the legitimate heirs, as this would destabilize the family. Of course, there were exceptions.
For instance, in families where concubines were especially favored, their children might receive treatment equal to or even better than the legitimate children. However, such families often lacked clear rules, and few could maintain long-lasting prosperity.
There were also cases where the legitimate children were utterly incompetent, unable to meet expectations. In such instances, concubine-born children might have a chance to shine.
Still, both scenarios were rare.
Thus, tutors primarily focused on educating the legitimate children.
The aptitude of legitimate children greatly influenced the tutors’ teaching experience. After all, parents always leaned toward their own children. If a child didn’t learn well, the blame inevitably fell on the tutor.
In Teacher Shen’s view, the Yan family’s eldest daughter was teachable; the second daughter, Yan Yihuan, was quiet and well-behaved, unlikely to cause trouble; and the fourth daughter, Yan Yile, was active but manageable with the right approach.
The most challenging one was the third daughter, Yan Yishuang, who was now silently shedding tears.
From her years of observing the intrigues of inner courtyards, Teacher Shen believed most concubine-born daughters often sabotaged themselves.
Most legitimate wives, whether for the sake of reputation or to maintain their relationship with their husbands, were generally tolerant. As long as the concubine-born daughters behaved properly, sending them off in marriage wasn’t a difficult task.
Yet some concubine-born daughters insisted on competing with legitimate daughters in various ways, driven by arrogance. How could any legitimate wife tolerate that?
“Waaah!”
Yan Yishuang’s silent weeping turned into audible sobbing.
Seeing her growing distress, Teacher Shen called for her maid. “The third girl seems troubled. Let her rest for the day. Escort her back to her courtyard and explain the situation to Madam Li in the main residence.”
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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With that, Yan Yishuang was taken out of the classroom by the maid.
Once she was gone, Teacher Shen calmly began reviewing the progress of Daohua and the other two sisters.
By midday, Daohua left the classroom with admiration written all over her face. She hurried back to the main residence to share her thoughts with Madam Li.
“Mother, the tutor you hired, Teacher Shen, is truly remarkable!”
First, Teacher Shen rearranged their seating, subtly teaching a lesson about hierarchy and responsibility. Then, after reviewing their academic progress, she seamlessly transitioned into the day’s lesson.
In class, she cited classics, shared stories effortlessly, and spoke with such wit that the atmosphere was lively and engaging.
Seeing her daughter’s excitement, Madam Li smiled warmly. “I’m glad you like her. Teacher Shen is highly knowledgeable and well-informed. She’s sought after by many prestigious families in Xingzhou. You must study diligently under her guidance, especially when it comes to etiquette.”
“People are often overly critical of women. If you wish to live with confidence and avoid reproach, you must master proper etiquette.”
Daohua wrapped her arms around Madam Li’s, resting her head on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll study hard.”
(End of Chapter)
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