Simple Xiangyun, Drunk, Sleeps Among the Peonies; Foolish Xiangling, in Tenderness, Unties Her Pomegranate Skirt

Ping’er came out and instructed Lin Zhixiao’s wife: “Great matters should be made small, and small matters made into nothing—that is how a prosperous household behaves. If we make a great fuss and rattle the bells over every tiny thing, there is no sense in it. Now take the mother and daughter back and let them go about their duties as before. Send Qin Xian’s wife back as well. There is no need to mention this matter again. Only be careful in your daily patrols.” Having said this, she rose and left. Liu’s wife and her daughter quickly kowtowed to her. Lin Zhixiao’s wife brought them back into the garden and reported to Li Wan and Tanchun. Both said, “We know. It is very good that nothing came of it.” Siqi and the others had rejoiced too soon. Qin Xian’s wife had waited for this opening and finally squeezed in, but her glory lasted only half a day. She was in the kitchen busily taking over the utensils, rice, fuel, and other supplies, and had even discovered many shortages: “The polished rice is short by two piculs; the ordinary rice has been drawn a month in advance......