Chapter 99 - A Daughter Is Used as a Comparison
Chapter 99: A Daughter Is Used as a Comparison
Yu Qingning had caused such a commotion without caring about anything else. If no one in the residence interfered, then Nanny Jin would have nothing to fear and would only become worse.
No matter how bad Yu Qingning was, she was still of the Yu family’s bloodline. No one else could do as they pleased.
Yu Qingning was not a submissive person either. If Nanny Jin did as she pleased, she would cause trouble again and cause chaos in the house soon.
If news of this were to spread, the Yu Residence’s reputation would probably be ruined.
She also hoped that Yu Qingning would stop, so that her grandmother could worry less.
However, Yu Zongzheng looked at Yu Youyao with a gratified expression. “Yao Yao, you’ve really grown up. You’ve become more and more like your grandmother.”
Her mother was the same. She always carried herself well.
Yu Youyao felt a little embarrassed to be praised by her father. She pursed her lips and smiled, then raised her hand to touch the Tian-tsui in her hair.
It was an ordinary action, but for some reason, it attracted Yu Zongzheng’s attention. He stared at the Tian-tsui on Yu Youyao’s head and frowned. “Where did this Tian-tsui come from?”
Yu Youyao was stunned by the question. Seeing her father’s dark expression, she said in a panic, “Yes, Mother sent it over yesterday. I thought that I shouldn’t let her down, so I put it on today. I originally thought that Tian-tsui was precious, so I plan to put it away after today. It’s also to show my appreciation for Mother’s sincerity, and it’s not good to hide it.”
After hearing her explanation, Yu Zongzheng’s expression softened a little, but his brows were still furrowed. “You have to pluck the feathers of the kingfisher alive to make it. Go back and keep it. Your grandmother is paying respects to Buddha, and she can’t bear to see such an item.”
Yu Youyao was shocked, and her face turned a little pale. “I didn’t know that. Thank you for your reminder, Father.”
Seeing her uneasy expression, Yu Zongzheng softened his voice and said, “You’re a young miss who’s been raised in a large household. How would you know anything about the Tian-tsui? You don’t have to take it to heart.”
Only then did Yu Youyao heave a sigh of relief. She quickly brought the bowl of food on the table over and changed the topic. “I was missing a month of classes previously, so Ms. Ye asked me to make up for those that I had missed. Therefore, I didn’t have time to come and visit Father during this period. I finally had time today, so I made some medicinal cuisine.”
However, Yu Zongzheng knew that he had hurt his face and deliberately avoided the people in the residence until the injuries on his face had healed over the past two days.
However, his eldest daughter’s words still made him feel at ease.
“Father, have a taste. This is a medicinal drink that nourishes the body and strengthens the bones. It’s good for the bones. Although Father’s leg has recovered, you still have to recuperate for a few more days.” With that, Yu Youyao opened the bowl. It was slightly bitter, but there was a fragrance in the bitterness. Accompanied by a puff of smoke, it filled the room.
Yu Zongzheng couldn’t help but sniffle. “Yao Yao personally brewed this medicinal drink. You have to try it.”
Yu Youyao quickly scooped a small bowl of medicinal soup. The light brown soup had a faint layer of oil and a red sauce on it. There was some bone marrow and it looked light and not greasy. It was very delicious.
Yu Zongzheng took a sip from his spoon and found it to his liking. He praised, “Yao Yao has only learned from Nanny Xu for a while, but she’s already so good at cooking.”
In comparison, Yu Qingning was simply disappointing!
Yu Youyao pursed her lips. “As long as Father likes it.”
After drinking a bowl of medicinal soup, Yu Zongzheng put down his spoon. “I heard that you’ve been learning calligraphy with your cousin recently. How’s your practice going?”
When Yu Youyao heard this, she panicked. “In the past, my handwriting was ugly. After practicing for a while, I only managed to write a little more neatly, but it was still difficult for me to write elegantly.”
Yu Zongzheng said happily, “Write a few words for Father to take a look.”
Yu Youyao could only nod and follow her father to the small study room at the side.
This was where her father usually read and practiced his calligraphy. Her father dealt with official matters and discussed matters with his aides in the large study. No one was allowed to enter.
Yu Zongzheng was sitting and drinking tea.
Yu Youyao stood in front of the desk. She first spread out some rice paper and smoothed it with a paperweight. Then, she picked up a cup and bowl at the side, added some water to the inkstone, and rolled up her sleeves to start grinding the ink.
After learning from her cousin for a while, Yu Youyao also did the same. Yu Zongzheng put down his teacup and nodded to himself.
As soon as his eldest daughter stood in front of the long table, she exuded a calm aura. She seemed to be neither anxious nor anxious. Her every move was neither fast nor slow. She laid out the paper, grinded the ink, and held the brush. It was originally an ordinary action, but there was a sense of elegance to it.
It could be seen that he had indeed improved a lot recently.
Yu Youyao picked a common brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write.
About ten minutes later, Yu Youyao stopped writing and waited for her brush to be washed. After washing the brush, she carefully picked up the rice paper that had already dried. “Father, I’m done.”
With that, she walked over to her father and handed him the words she had written.
Yu Zongzheng took it and looked at it. On it was written a quote from Meng Zi: Born in trouble, die in peace.
It was the sentence that Yu Youyao had not finished reciting when Zhou Linghuai first arrived at the Yu Residence.
Yu Zongzheng looked at it carefully for a long time, but was very satisfied. “Although there’s nothing special about the handwriting, the strokes are strong and gentle at the same time. It’s already natural and beautiful.”
Writing calligraphy was not limited to structure, neatness, and rigor. Instead, it pursued nature, convenience, form, and aura. Yu Youyao’s handwriting was not good, but it was already formed and developed. It could be seen that she was also extremely talented in calligraphy. She was actually much stronger than many people who had practiced for years.
Yu Zongzheng’s heart stirred.
He had practised the standard script of Liu Gongquan, and his calligraphy skills had even been praised by the emperor. “With a brush in your heart, your heart will be upright, and your handwriting will reveal your true nature. Your handwriting is frank and straightforward. Very good, very good!”
Yao Yao had learned Wang Xizhi’s handwriting. Although her handwriting revealed the subtlety of a woman, her penmanship was just as strong as his. Although it was obvious that she had taken after him.
For a moment, he was overjoyed.
He actually felt that his eldest daughter resembled him the most.
Yu Zongzheng looked at Yu Youyao with even more satisfaction. “You’re very talented in calligraphy. You have to practice more in the future. Don’t slack off.”
Yu Youyao nodded. “Yes, Father.”
Yu Zongzheng remembered that his eldest daughter had been doing well at home recently. He had heard that she was often praised by Ms. Ye, so he asked Yu Youyao what Ms. Ye had been teaching recently.
Yu Youyao answered them one by one.
Yu Zongzheng nodded as he listened. He had also tested the homework that Miss Ye had taught her, and Yu Youyao had also answered him fluently. It was obvious that she had indeed been working hard during this period of time.
From the looks of it, his eldest daughter was not really stupid, but she had not been enlightened in the past. Now, when she worked hard, she was not inferior to Jia Jia.
Yu Zongzheng was really satisfied now. He immediately picked out a piece of calligraphy that he had written and gave it to Yu Youyao.