The Lucky Heiress

Wei Ruo laughed inwardly, then lifted her head, pretending not to understand the underlying implication of Madam Yun’s words, and smilingly said:

“Mother wants to make clothes for me? Since I returned home, this is the first time you will be making clothes for me. What kind of outfit are you planning to do? Winter is approaching, the clothes should be somewhat thick, shouldn’t they?”

Wei Ruo asked several questions in a row. Madam Yun, looking into her clear and bright eyes, found herself a bit tongue-tied with the prepared words.

Wei Ruo continued: “When I returned home, although those clothes were new, they were likely designed based on Sister Qingwan’s measurements. I assume Mother didn’t know my size, so you could only use Qingwan’s. This time when making clothes, it’s crucial to let the tailor measure me well.”

Upon hearing these words, Madam Yun felt slightly ashamed. She indeed didn’t know the size of her own daughter who had been living so far away in Huzhou Prefecture, hence couldn’t decide on the clothes. So, she had the unused new clothes, originally intended for Wanwan, sent to Tingsong Garden for Ruoruo.

But after seeing Ruoruo wearing those clothes gracefully and elegantly, there looked to be no ill-fitting parts, she thought there wasn’t a problem.

Usually, clothes were made twice a year, but this year there was a war during the mid-year, and she had to worry about her husband on the front line and manage the home affairs. She didn’t think about it, and no new clothes were arranged.

As a result, it happened that no clothes had been made based on her measurements since Ruoruo returned home.

Madam Yun said with an apologetic tone: “That is indeed the case, it will certainly be measured properly.”

Then she looked at the Yun brocade in front of Wei Ruo again, her expression somewhat hesitant.

But after pondering for a while, she decided to speak out: “Ruoruo, these two pieces of Yun brocade are of fine quality. Why not make your new clothes from them? This fabric is valuable and has a good pattern. It would seem more presentable for both of you to wear clothes made out of it when you go to Government City. Once we have fine fabrics in the house, I will make it up to you.”

“Mother means, if Miss Xie hadn’t coincidentally gifted me this Yun brocade, we wouldn’t have the means to attend the garden party in Government City next month?” Wei Ruo asked.

“I doesn’t mean that. It’s just that since we do have it, it naturally makes things better.” Madam Yun said.

“If we are using the Yun brocade to make clothes, it will only be for me.” Wei Ruo said.

Madam Yun frowned, “Ruoruo, you and Qingwan are sisters. Qingwan has always cared about you a lot, always thinking of you. You should show your grace as the elder sister. We got so many gifts from the Xie Family, and I’m not asking much from you, just these two pieces of different-patterned Yun brocade, one piece made into a dress for both of you. Besides, this is just borrowing from you, once we have good fabric, I’ll surely return it to you.”

Wei Ruo’s smile didn’t fade from her face as she explained slowly: “Mother doesn’t know, the reason why Miss Xie chose to gift me these two pieces of Yun brocade is because, she saw that the quality of the clothes I usually wear is inferior compared to her own, and those were not a perfect fit. She purposefully sent this, wishing that I could wear clothes made from the fabric she gifted, isn’t that so?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Yun felt a tightness in her heart.

Wei Ruo continued: “One piece of Yun brocade, although ample for a single outfit, wouldn’t suffice for two. And these two different styles of fabric were handpicked by Yingying for me, surely she wants to see me wearing both.”

With Wei Ruo’s statement, Madam Yun couldn’t impose Wei Qingwan to share the Yun brocade for the clothes. In addition to Wei Ruo’s previous remark that she has not had any clothes custom-made for her upon returning home, it made Madam Yun feel guilty, and she completely abandoned the idea of having a new set of clothes made for Wei Qingwan too from the Yun brocade.

However, Madam Yun thought, if Ruoruo has new clothes made of Yun brocade and Wanwan doesn’t, Wanwan will inevitably feel hurt.

Therefore, she glanced at the items in front of Wei Ruo, pondered for a moment then said: “If the Yun brocade is not okay, Ruoruo, you can pick out some stuff that you don’t need for Wanwan to soothe her. That way, you two will have different appearances when you go to Government City, and she won’t feel bitter about it.”

The corners of Wei Ruo’s mouth still held a faint smile:

“Mother doesn’t know, now that I am friends with Miss Xie, I must, of course, respect the gifts she gave me. I will certainly give her a return gift. Otherwise, if I just keep accepting her gifts without reciprocating, it’s not just my reputation at stake, but that of the entire Military Prefecture. Does Mother really want to hear people saying that the Wei family doesn’t know manners and only benefits off others?”

“Even if outsiders don’t criticize, if I always accept benefits from the Xie family without showing appreciation or reciprocating, sooner or later, I’ll be looked down upon by the Xie family and they wouldn’t want to be friends with me. Isn’t that so, Mother?”

Madam Yun was speechless.

Wei Ruo continued: “If giving a gift, quite some silver is naturally required, not less than what Miss Xie bestowed upon me. But I only receive so much as monthly allowance, which is inadequate for reciprocating gifts to the Xie family. The gifts I received, those which I won’t use and those that are common and unlikely to be recognized, I will choose among them in the future. Those suitable for resale will be sold for silver, and then I can give a return gift to Miss Xie.”

Xiumei came back in after shifting the items once, and discovered that her young lady was currently stretching the truth.

The young lady wouldn’t possibly sell the gifts she received from others, she must be planning to get the money in another way.

Madam Yun said: “But this method of selling other people’s gifts for silver isn’t good. If people found out, they would laugh.”

Wei Ruo: “So where does Mother think I should get the silver from?”

Madam Yun was once again left speechless.

Wei Ruo said: “I hope Mother can understand my difficulties. I returned to the family not long ago. I neither have a foundation nor savings. When dealing with a great family’s young lady, I must send some items, and should also have some savings suitable for myself.”

Madam Yun felt uncomfortable upon hearing these words from Wei Ruo. It hasn’t been many months since Ruoruo returned home, and these matters were indeed difficult for her. Achieving what she has so far was already very impressive.

The daughter is in a difficult situation, and the Military Prefecture is also currently lacking silver, making it impossible to spare much silver to let her daughter buy things to gift to people like Miss Xie did so generously.

“I understand. This matter shall be as if I never mentioned it, you can handle these gifts yourself.” Madam Yun said.

Having said that, she thought of something else, pondered for a while and then continued: “Speaking of which, Ruoruo, being the eldest daughter of the family, your monthly allowance should be increased.”

“Is that appropriate? If my allowance is increased, what about Sister Qingwan?” Wei Ruo asked..