Xie Zhinuan had never dreamt that visitors would come again in the afternoon. The visitors were of all sorts, and so were the gifts they brought, even including chickens, ducks, and fish.
"..."
Xie Zhinuan sat in her chair, watching Aunt Chen organize the items, directing the maids to sort them.
"There are even soles of shoes!" Aunt Chen exclaimed, handing over a dozen pairs of soles to Xie Zhinuan.
Xie Zhinuan held them up to take a look, and then measured with her hands, "The soles are good, it's just that I have no use for them, what a pity!"
Then, looking at the chickens, ducks, and fish, she said, "Take them to the kitchen, let's cook and eat them!"
She couldn't find a bit of laughter in her heart, and it was, in fact, quite heavy.
It was one thing for the rich and noble to send gifts, but now even the common people were doing so. How widespread had this infectious disease become?
Xie Zhinuan did not know.
But the oppression she felt was real.
