Too high to reach

Chapter 42 Something happened again
Both the palace and the prince's residence are matters of great importance to everyone.

Meanwhile, Mo Yi was still preoccupied with the mundane details of daily life.

So, after watching the excitement with my father, we headed home. The streets were crowded, making it difficult to hire a carriage, and it took quite a while to get home.

As it turned out, Qiu Hong was waiting at the gate of her courtyard.

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "I had a great day out, but now I'm probably going to have to pay the price." She quickly pulled out a bag of candied melons. "Sister Qiuhong, is Mother looking for me?"

Qiu Hong didn't stand on ceremony, took the candy, and nodded.

"You know I've gone out, right?"

Qiu Hong nodded again.

"Did you lose your temper?" Mo Yi asked repeatedly.

"Not yet, I was having a good chat with the young lady and didn't pay attention for a while!" Qiu Hong teased.

Inside the Wang family's room, Mo Wen and Mo Qing were both there, and the three of them were chatting...

"Mother, sister, Aqing." Mo Yi entered and bowed respectfully.

"You went out with your father?" Wang asked, turning her head, her smile fading and her voice becoming shrill.

Her husband left with Mo Yi without saying a word, which made her angry.

"Yes," Mo Yi answered honestly.

"What have you been doing?"

"Daddy took his daughter to drink mutton soup." This version was something the father and daughter had planned beforehand.

Wang Shi didn't need to think twice before lashing out at her, "Look at you! A young lady like you, insisting on eating such foul-smelling food! I really can't believe your father!"

"You all went out and didn't even bring back any food for your sisters?"

Mo Yi pulled out a packet of Guandong candy.

"That's all?" Wang was still annoyed.

After a while, she said, "I called you over because there's something I need to tell you." She glanced at Mo Wen first.

Mo Yi began to have doubts...

Madam Wang blinked, lowered her voice, and used a more amiable tone: "You know, your sister's marriage is no simple matter. The Xu family is not a family that ordinary people can easily marry into! It's just that your sister is outstanding and lucky."

Mo Yi nodded silently, glancing at Mo Wen, who remained expressionless as she looked at the object in her hand.

"How much benefit will this bring to the Mo family, your father, your elder brother, and even you?" Wang said, feeling smug, thinking it was all because of her own abilities.

If she had to rely on her husband, who knows what kind of life she would have to live?

Seeing her mother's preparations, Mo Yi became even more nervous. What tricks was Mo Wen going to pull this time?

"But..." Madam Wang sighed, "We are just an ordinary family. Your father has worked hard for many years, suffering injuries and exhaustion, but he has never had the chance for a promotion. It is only thanks to your mother's dowry that we have been able to provide such a life for you and your siblings!"
"Your sister's marriage is good, but this dowry... after taking stock for so long, it still doesn't seem enough! Your father doesn't care about these things, but seeing this..." She patted the account book on the table.

"I'm so worried... I'm thinking that no matter what, I have to make your sister look good! I've looked at a lot of things, but the expensive ones are too expensive to buy, and the cheap ones don't suit my taste. It's so difficult."

Mo Yi still didn't understand where the mother and daughter would start, and looked at her mother with a mix of nervousness and curiosity.

When Wang got to the crucial point, she turned to look at Mo Yi and suddenly felt that this girl's eyes were so clear that they seemed to be able to see through people... She inexplicably felt a sense of pressure.

The words that were originally ready to be spoken became somewhat hesitant, and the person involuntarily averted their gaze.

"Well... here's how it is: Back then, your grandfather acquired some timber during his tenure and hired Master Huang Jun... At that time, Master Huang had just finished his apprenticeship and wasn't very famous yet. Your grandfather had helped him out. So, partly to build his reputation and partly to help out, Master Huang made ten boxes for you. Each of you brothers and sisters got one."

That’s right!

Mo Yi understood... It was by chance that her grandfather had acquired a batch of good timber while he was still in office.

They could make quite a lot of furniture. But for a family like the Mohists, using that kind of furniture was a bit excessive.

Furthermore, good wood requires a good craftsman, but good craftsmen charge high prices.

It just so happened that my grandfather knew Master Huang, and on his advice, he made ten boxes.

It took several years of intermittent effort to finally finish the game.

That was back then. Later on... the wages they paid probably wouldn't even be enough to order a set of eight-immortal table and chairs from Master Huang.

Ten boxes, even the bottoms are made of high-quality material! Beautifully designed and exquisitely crafted.

On top, various materials are used to create figures, flowers, birds, fish, and insects.

Those materials were all collected by my grandfather when he took up his post in various places, buying and collecting them from all over the place.

Although their condition wasn't great, the workmanship was exquisite. The design was excellent. Those ten boxes were truly valuable items! Speaking of which, the business she and her father were currently running had inherited some of her grandfather's talent in this area.

Each box has a unique design and story behind it.

She finally understood what her mother meant; it seemed that... Mo Wen was after the box in her hand.

But she blinked, pretending not to understand.

Wang continued, "Your sister is getting married in the fall, and time is tight, so there won't be enough time for many things. What I'm thinking is... how about we add that chest you have to your sister's dowry first... and when you get married, I'll find a way to find you the same one."

That's really true...

Mo Yi glanced at Mo Wen and knew that this must have been her idea!

However, something was still strange: although Mo Wen liked to excel, unlike Mo Qing, she wasn't exactly someone who was easily impressed. Her actions were probably due to resentment and picking a fight with me to vent her anger. Was it still about the Liang family?

I figured out the reason, but I found my mother quite funny: "Find me the same one again?"

My grandfather is gone, where can I find the same thing?

Even if we find the same box, was it given to us by our grandfather?
Mo Yi looked at the three of them, neither agreeing nor objecting, just sullenly remaining silent.

Mo Qing, who loved to stir things up, immediately laughed and said, "Mother, Fifth Sister is the easiest to talk to, she'll definitely agree. Our chests, Third Sister's are like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, and Fifth Sister's are like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea. They really are a perfect pair!"

Her personality closely resembled that of the old lady of the Wang family; she loved to play petty tricks and enjoy watching a spectacle. Whether it concerned her or not, she always had to jump in and meddle. She rejoiced when others were in trouble.

After listening to what Mo Qing said, Mo Yi suddenly smiled, "Sixth Sister, your chest is decorated with golden carp playing with a golden toad, and it matches the image of a celestial maiden scattering flowers. Besides, you're still young, and you're not getting married for several years. Mother will have plenty of time to find you the same one. Why don't you... give the chest to your older sister?"

After she said that...

The people in the room, including Qiu Hong, all widened their eyes.

Because no one expected her to say that.

Mo Wen knew she would definitely be unhappy, reluctant, and might even cry. But in the end, she didn't dare disobey!

He came up with this idea to provoke her and vent his frustration. But to his surprise, Mo Yi not only ignored him but also changed her target.

Who is Mo Qing?! He's never satisfied with taking advantage of others, and he's incredibly stingy!
Upon hearing that he had his eye on her things, he immediately became anxious, reacting even faster than Wang Shi. "We're talking about your business, why are you dragging me into this?" he said shrilly, glaring at her.

Mo Yi smiled at her, "When your interests are threatened, aren't you jumping for joy more than anyone else?"

Wang's face darkened, she slammed her hand on the table, and yelled at Mo Yi, "I'm talking to you about something, why are you dragging your sister into this?"

Mo Wen, however, was silently watching Mo Yi. "Little girl, you've got some nerve talking back..."

Getting a marriage proposal from the Liang family is such a big deal, isn't it?!
You're far from it!

(End of this chapter)