Coming here on her own had very much been the last thing on her mind. But she needed to, with her mother fully intending for her to humor them in every sense of the word. Hence she had to head out there regardless of whether she wanted to do so. It was simply a necessity for her. Something which she could never do much about regardless of when.
She looked out the carriage ride, since this was going a little further. And the first time she was beyond her small little town, when she had the chance to fully imagine herself out of it. In a way that she never expected herself to or hope to do so. It was incredibly interesting, to see that even beyond it there were people living.
She knew that some lived a short distance away from them, where they were farmers and didn’t need to live in a town. Or in larger manors further away, and only go out when it was necessary. The scenery was vast, but she enjoyed it. Even as it was a two hours trip, and now she was here. There were things to see here, even as it did look devastated but they were on the mend.
And he was waiting for her. Carrying his fan, and with so many people. Which led her to think that he was well known, and also invited much attention from them. Particularly from the townsfolk. And she could hear mutterings about how she was his fiancee. And greeted with much warmth, just as she was uncomfortable.
They were a good but not influential family. Which meant that few wondered about her background, just as she was incredibly uncomfortable here when necessary at the very least. When she needed it as well, when she saw it no more or less than when she was here. When she needed it a little more or less than she could have.
Once she went with him, drawing stares from all of them. She also made the choice to follow him closely. To avoid the gazes just as it was fueling it. “I didn’t think they would follow my father in such a absolute way. When they needed it above all else at the very least.”
When he brought her deep into the town and into a restaurant. She always understood intimately how these things worked, and it was obvious. Just as it was an uncommon choice. “My father doesn’t have a house here, so we have been lodging for a fee at a house. And it is necessary for us to really bring it here, since it is our temporary home.”
She knew how uncommon it was, and how unusual it was. If she was gathering this sort of glares, mostly because she was not supposed to be around her. At least in their opinion. They always saw it as such, with little to almost no difference. If there was at all. Just as he sat her down, before waiting for his father and mother to come in. Along with his sister.
She was really awkward in this scenario, or in such a scenario at the very least. At the very least while they could have. She sat beside them, and he did so as well. It was a small family affair, with no intention of ever being more than that. And they were taking the chance to know their final family member at the very least. And no intention of ever breaking that at the very least.
“I wonder, have you ever stepped foot outside of your house?” The man started first. He was not stoic, but rather easy. He didn’t seem difficult or unreadable, with it being neither of those at the very least as it seemed.
“I hate to admit it, but I have. I have done so, and to be honest, I have didn’t grow up in luxury. But rather working in one of the many restaurants which you see here. I know this place, or something like it. The kitchen, the tables, these are all things which I’m very familiar with.” She answered it. Just as she saw an acceptance from her, and a little sense of curiosity from his mother.
But little else, she did not know what to think of interacting with something like this. Other than accepting it as the reality. And knowing that she could do really little about it.
“So, can you show us?” She asked. Wanting something a little more. Taking it straight from the server and passing it to them. With the tea, and serving them without even raising her eyes at all. And serving it all perfectly, without any words or any tripping up. Just as she sat down with grace.
And they knew that it was very true about it right now. Something that they could not do much about while they were now here. “And that certainly proved it.” She went to eat it, just as her mother gave a look of disapproval. While she did not choose to do so.
And she had given extra care to him. Before placing it with them. She certainly didn’t like how they condemned relationships between men and women to always be sinful. She never really did seem so at the very least, simply having another chance for them to really interact. She never understood the separate spheres, when it just kept them so ignorant of their other sex.
And yet, it was all men talked about and the same vice versa. It was forbidden, restricted. To all but the lower classes. When by then, they were much more thorough with what was said during upper classes. Where anything but acceptance and only allowing to divorce in some special conditions and rules to be followed, but little else. Things were more equal otherwise.
And she did not even want or ever want to think about how she needed or had to serve them. And accept anything. She didn’t know or did she want it. “You have the skills and also the sharpness for this. Noticing everything but never leaving anything out. And that speed and diligence.”
She had very much praised. Far from it being patronizing. “So, they were very much lying about the whole situation.”
“I was dragged into this very much against my own will. Forced into a marriage when I had very much accustomed myself to the life of a server.” Leaving out anything about her dreams. Since she figured that those would not fit. She did always want that, but placing the blame on them was good enough. “And I don’t even know what to think.
Her father had not instructed her specifically at all, choosing to let her make her choice. And from anything she knew, the first rule was to never really lie about the situation if at all. It was best to be truthful, since she could prove it. Or the location did, but it was always easy.
Food was always present in them. Where lengthy gatherings always occurred regardless of the time or place. Where families often spent a full night together and they stayed as a guest. Before sending them off the next day. Since it was always too far, and trips were often organized.
This was much smaller and she could expect to be home once the day was out. Either allowing them the chance to really get there. She didn’t pick up the food, because she didn’t want it either if at all. But since he picked it up and she did as well. The woman even choosing to put food inside, she looked at it as a positive gesture.
Not caring whether she was going to get married or otherwise. If it didn’t, she could pursue her own dreams and wishes without any caring. If it was, she was wondering what she could do. She could choose to leave, but that was jilting him. Even as she didn’t know what to expect from love even at the this age. She didn’t have much experience.
But she didn’t think that it was a good thing. The wedding was about to get married. And she understood that there was legal paperwork, and then other things which would bring her under them instead of being with her mother. And thus, a marriage had to be licensed. Although most simply left it up to the parents. If it was endorsed, it was possible.
Even without them, it was possible. Only when they were both of a certain age. Just as such matches were rare. Most had married their sons off before them, choosing the idea that the earlier it was, the better it could be. And thus there were few bachelors and even fewer spinsters before it, and even she was considered a little old at fifteen.
And many sometimes disapproved of how her marriage was already not planned for her. Suggesting that her mother had not planned far or even had her sights set far for her. Allowing her to have her future unplanned, but she did not care that much about it if at all.
She didn’t care, and cared even less when she was now here. She didn’t even bother trying to do so right now. Or when she was here at the very least as it seemed. Even as many suggested that perhaps she had this in mind, and why she did not step in. Because her father was handling it.
Just as she didn’t know what to say, except simply keep her silence. Even as the congratulatory messages were mostly annoying, and she didn’t pay all that much attention to. Except just smile and thank them, while also ignoring just any advice they presumed they could give because they were considered wiser in marital life.
They were right, and thus she just barely listened and appeared attentive to them. Although this was different. But most treated marriage as happiness and a certain ticket to a good life. “So, did you actually grew up in the Jiang family?”
“All but name honestly. I grew up helping my mother and she did pay me, later on she gave me most of the cash I earned to help me think about how I was going to spend it if it was possible. I just learned that he was my father.” She took another sip of water. Realizing just how strange it was. And knowing that she was not lying. There was not much worth telling them that her upbringing was nothing genteel, and ruining her own chances.
And they knew it, the moment they tested her out.
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