Plan A
Old Shadows of the Republic of China 4
Skills
Su Xin immediately sensed the difficulty of this task, finding it quite hard for people not to fall in love with her.
Even as a woman, she would feel a sort of reluctance when facing Shen Xiangting.
Perhaps she originally did not harbor any malice towards her, but if it were the first wife and the second wife, they would certainly be full of malice. How could there be any thoughts of reluctance?
【Host, this body’s lifespan is forty years this time, please take note.】
Fourteen reminded in her mind.
Okay, Master Fourteen, I understand.
“Are you here to see Master? He is inside and has just fallen asleep.”
Shen Xiangting said warmly. Her voice was very pleasant, whether she was singing or speaking, it always gave people a special feeling.
“Since Father is asleep, I won’t go in to disturb him. Has his health improved recently?”
Su Xin blinked and asked, contemplating where to start the task.
To make Wei Ting dislike Shen Xiangting, it definitely has to start with Wei Ting.
Wei Ting is very stubborn, and such a major issue can’t possibly be influenced by his younger sister’s suggestion.
Su Xin actually considered making Wei Ting bend (turning him gay), but later thought this idea was a bit excessive, and people can’t just bend simply because someone says so.
If Wei Ting did bend, the Second Aunt would definitely want to strangle her.
It’s really challenging, because emotions are not something that can be controlled just by saying so.
“A bit better, at least he appears much more spirited.”
Third Aunt gave Su Xin a faint smile. People can sense the goodwill or malice that others emit toward them.
Third Aunt could tell that the second daughter of the Second Aunt was different from everyone else in this house. If everyone in this house was already decayed, she was the only one still emitting a youthful and lively aura, carrying goodwill toward others, like a harmless lamb.
“That’s good.”
Momentarily speechless, Su Xin also turned her gaze to the pond, preparing to start cheating.
In the dense fog, the one who holds the initiative is the winner.
Master Fourteen, provide me with all the information on Third Aunt.
【Okay, searching, delivered.】
Su Xin browsed through the information on Third Aunt bit by bit, internally making tut-tut sounds.
Indeed, Third Aunt’s identity is not that simple, which also explains why Master Wei treasures her like a gem. If this identity were revealed, the whole family would have to cherish her.
The competition is very intense, and Third Aunt is considered to have been harmed and fled to this place for refuge.
She is not called Shen Xiangting; her real name may not be known by many, but her father’s name is very prominent at this time.
“Fourth Miss, Fourth Miss?”
Third Aunt waved her hand in front of Su Xin, bringing her back to her senses.
“Yes?”
“Nothing, it’s just that I saw you staring at the pond, and you didn’t react when I called your name. I thought something had happened to you.”
It seemed like you were in a trance.
“No, I was just thinking about something and got too focused.”
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Su Xin said somewhat apologetically to Third Aunt.
“You better not call me Fourth Miss like they do; it sounds strange.”
“Calling you Fourth Girl is indeed strange.”
Shen Xiangting covered her face and laughed. That’s what the First Lady called Su Xin, and since she just arrived not long ago, calling her that is indeed strange.
For those young masters in the house, she also called them the same way, distant yet polite.
“You can just call me by my name, I don’t mind at all. Just call me Zhizhi.”
“Wouldn’t the Second Madam be angry? If she hears me calling you so intimately, she would be unhappy.”
Third Aunt laughed and said, which is true.
“Then you can call me that secretly. We’re about the same age, you’re like an elder sister to me, and you look so young. It’s really difficult for me to see you as part of the older generation like my mother.”
“Then you can secretly call me Xiangting too, you are different from everyone here.”
Su Xin and Shen Xiangting kept a distance of five steps between them, actually quite close.
“Different?”
“Right, everyone here seems dead, only you are still alive.”
Shen Xiangting said.
“Hiss… What you say is quite scary, don’t let others hear it. What about you?”
Su Xin asked in return.
“Me? Half dead.”
A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the fragrance from Shen Xiangting’s body to Su Xin’s nose.
“What scent is on you? It’s so warm.”
Yet it’s not the fragrance of cosmetics.
“Maybe it’s the fragrance of flowers. I planted some in my own courtyard.”
“But didn’t you just arrive not long ago? Even if you planted them the day you came, wouldn’t it take a long time for them to bloom?”
How could there be a floral scent on her body?
“I didn’t plant seeds, but directly transplanted flowers. I don’t have much patience to watch them grow from seeds into flowers, which takes a long time. Since I can directly transplant flowers to bloom in front of me, why should I spend a lot of effort to cultivate them?”
Shen Xiangting said with her eyes downcast. To people who love flowers, this statement always feels off because, if that’s the case, the joy of the process of planting and waiting for flowers is lost.
Shen Xiangting doesn’t need that kind of joy; she only needs the result.
Su Xin raised her eyebrows, understanding something.
Shen Xiangting was not just talking about planting and admiring flowers, but also her attitude toward certain matters.
Shen Xiangting placed herself in the position of a hunter, or more accurately, in the position of the fisherman who benefits when the snipe and the clam quarrel.
Sometimes, being able to reap the benefits is also a skill.
“Zhizhi, do you like flowers?”
Shen Xiangting changed the way she addressed her.
“Not much, for me, those are things that can only be admired from afar and not played with. I don’t have much feeling about them.”
Admiring flowers is an elegant art, and Su Xin is just a rough person.
“Then what do you like?”
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“Me? It seems like nothing particularly special. If I have to say what I like, it would probably be reading books and researching some things.”
“Hmm? What books do you read?”
Shen Xiangting became interested, as she is also someone who loves reading.
“Not the kind of particularly elegant books you might think. I read textbooks, about physics and such.”
Wei Zhi, although she looks gentle and quiet like a scholarly girl, is actually a thorough science enthusiast, passionate about physics and mathematics.
Su Xin was quite desperate when receiving the memories because even though those things were stored in her mind, they seemed incomprehensible, but when it came to application, they somehow made sense.
“Hmm? You’re back from studying abroad. What did you study in a foreign country?”
“I learned quite a lot because I went abroad from a young age and stayed for almost ten years, majoring in physics, applied mechanics, aeronautics, and mathematics.”
The original Wei Zhi learned a lot and was an exceptionally brilliant student, believing in knowledge changing destiny and studying for the rise of China.
Wei Zhi actually wasn’t foolish. Although she understood a lot, she didn’t perform too outstandingly in America.
She wholeheartedly wanted to return and serve her country but didn’t know how to do so. Not to mention, there were no conditions, and now it’s so chaotic here, she didn’t even know whom to make an effort for.
She wanted to contribute to Sun Lao Da, but the mountains are high, and the emperor is far away; going there wasn’t easy because there was a place in between that was in conflict.
Moreover, her own family was also very chaotic. Things hadn’t settled here, and as a girl who just returned, Second Aunt wouldn’t allow her to run around.
In short, Wei Zhi learned so much with only one ultimate purpose: to make weapons.
Political power comes from the barrel of a gun; now whoever has more guns has the ability to speak.
“But now coming back, I find that what I learned seems to have no great use.”
Su Xin pressed her lips; actually, there is, but for whom to provide the use.
Shen Xiangting’s expression brightened, clearly understanding these things.
“Are you a scientist?”
Shen Xiangting’s voice trembled, showing great excitement.
“No, no, I can’t be considered one. I’m not that great.”
Su Xin quickly waved her hand, indicating that she was just a student studying this field.
“Then can you research things like cannons?”
Shen Xiangting asked urgently.
“I can.”
Su Xin gave Shen Xiangting a deep glance, and Shen Xiangting sensed it, slightly restraining her expression.
“That’s amazing! Since you know these things, why are you still staying here? This place doesn’t allow you to fully utilize your skills.”
Shen Xiangting showed great admiration for cultured people, asking with confusion.
“My home is here, and now my father’s health is not good, and the house is quite chaotic. My mother said that as a girl, it’s best not to run around.”
If Su Xin’s identity and abilities were exposed, surely many would want her, and life wouldn’t be peaceful then.
“That’s true, Second Aunt’s concern is very reasonable. If it were me, I certainly wouldn’t let my family run around.”
Shen Xiangting moved the jade bracelet on her hand, as if thinking about something.
Noise came from the room; Master Wei woke up.
Shen Xiangting pushed the door open and went in, letting Su Xin come in.
“Cough, cough.”
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Master Wei coughed twice, and the smell of medicine in the room was even stronger than in the courtyard.
“The fourth young lady has come.”
Shen Xiangting spoke to Master Wei, who was lying on the bed.
“Fourth girl.”
Master Wei looked quite well and waved at Su Xin.
Actually, this injury in modern times would heal after lying down for half a month, but the current medical technology isn’t advanced enough, so the wound keeps recurring and doesn’t heal.
“Father, are you feeling better today?”
Su Xin approached, walking to the side of Master Wei’s bed.
“Not bad. Are you getting used to staying here, girl?”
Master Wei still liked this fourth daughter a lot; otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent her abroad to study when she showed an interest in reading, and he arranged for living expenses to be sent monthly for ten years without interruption.
“I’m getting used to it. Although there is a big difference compared to abroad, it’s not too hard to adapt.”
“As long as you’re used to it, that’s good. If you want to go out, you can, just be careful. You’re different from your eldest and third sisters; you don’t need to maintain such airs.”
Master Wei was open-minded. Although he wasn’t a good husband, he was a good father, having different educational methods for each child.