Fighting was out of the question, naturally.
It was just that Xiao Wan'er did indeed feel a slight headache regarding the noble young misses and matrons who wrung their hands to find ways to pay visits.
Though those people fell short of the Xiao Family in status, family background, and prestige, they all possessed some measure of standing and maintained tangled, intricate ties with the Xiao Family.
Among them, only Madame Tang had come to the Xiao Family simply to draw closer, as her son was already studying under Chen Yi.
The rest mostly wanted to pull strings and pave paths, hoping the few powerholders of the Xiao Family would speak up and allow Chen Yi to permit their younger generations to study the Way of Calligraphy under him.
That much she could handle, as Xiao Wan'er always had a way to decline and refuse them.
At worst, she could push the excuse onto Chen Yi, saying his energy was limited.
Or she could shift it onto Xiao Jinghong, saying Second Sister had yet to return, and her brother-in-law rarely socialized with outsiders.
Yet every time these people came to call, they brought gifts.
Those of thin family fortunes sent cheap items, such as carpets from the Poshushuo Kingdom or things carved from ivory.
Those of deep family fortunes mostly hauled in cartloads of rare trinkets, not a few of which were gold and silver jewelry.
Those items were awkward either to accept or to refuse.
Xiao Wan'er had even specifically sought out Old Master for this very matter, and upon receiving the reply to accept the lot, she finally knew what to do.
She briefly recounted the situation.
Xiao Wan'er looked at Chen Yi, asking gently, "Things can't go on like this. Don't you think so?"
Chen Yi met