Chapter 17: Qingwen Tears the Fan
Qingwen was one of Baoyu's most beloved servants. She was beautiful, clever, and had a fiery personality that made her different from the other girls. She spoke her mind freely and never pretended to be someone she was not. Baoyu valued her honesty and treated her with respect.
One summer evening, Qingwen accidentally dropped and broke a valuable fan. Baoyu, in a moment of anger, scolded her harshly. Qingwen's pride was hurt, and she replied with sharp words of her own. The argument grew heated, and both of them said things they would later regret.
The next day, Baoyu felt sorry for his behavior. He found Qingwen in the garden and offered her another fan. "Tear it if it makes you happy," he said with a gentle smile. Qingwen took the fan and tore it into pieces. Then she laughed, and Baoyu laughed with her. The anger between them disappeared like morning mist.
"Your smile is worth more than a thousand fans," Baoyu told her. Qingwen looked at him with tears in her eyes. She knew that Baoyu was a kind master who cared for his servants as friends. In a world where servants were treated as property, their relationship was something rare and precious.
But Qingwen's proud nature would one day bring her trouble. In a household where careful words and quiet obedience were expected, her honesty was seen as a weakness. The storm that was coming for the Jia family would not spare even the most loyal servants.