Chapter 21: Aunt姑姑

\"Lotus, now that you\''re a part of the Xu family, you must seize this chance to climb higher. The Xu family is so wealthy that even a single hair from their bodies is thicker than our waists. I heard they have an only son, barely older than you. If you could marry him, your life would be carefree. You would live comfortably, be served by others, and carry an air of noble prestige whenever you step out. Of course, being the first wife in such a family might not be achievable for people like us. But even if you become a concubine, you will still be superior to others, and you won\''t have to worry about being able to enjoy life\''s pleasures.

“莲儿，你现在进了徐家，可要抓住机会往上爬，像徐家这样的大户人家是拔根汗毛都比咱腰粗呀，我打听到了徐家有个独子，只比你大了一点点，若是你能嫁给他，这辈子就不用愁了，起居八座，有人伺候，走出去就和那官家夫人一样威风凛凛，当然那样的人家正室夫人咱们这样的人家不一定能坐得上，可是哪怕是能给他当一个妾都高人一等，这辈子吃喝享乐都不用不愁了。”

Verdant wild grass blanketed the roadside, starkly contrasting the tall and luxuriant trees nearby. In the midst of this idyllic setting, Aunt took her gently by the hand, guiding her to a seated position on the lush, grassy terrain. As they settled, Aunt began to speak—her voice sincere and weighty, imbued with a heartfelt earnestness that underscored the importance of her words.

路边的野草青青，树木树木苍翠。姑姑就拉着她坐在草地上语重心长地开始说话——她的声音真挚而庄重，充满真诚的诚意，突显了她话语的重要性。

My aunt could be considered a sharp woman in the family. She had her own views and ideas. However, these were useful to her own social circle. She dreamed of manipulating the wealthy, laying out schemes for them, hoping for their assistance in altering her destitute destiny.

姑姑在家族中算得上是一个精明的人，她有自己的主见，也有自己的主意，可是只是在她自己的圈层，她想去设计富人，套路富人，希望富人能拉自己一把，从此改变自己穷苦的命运。

But this was only a pipe dream. Her notions were overly simplistic.

可是这只能是一个梦想，她的想法太天真了。

The Xu family, the father as the current patriarch and the son as the heir apparent, were both incredibly cunning individuals. They were both bright and ruthless, never allowing any exploitation.

徐家那对父子，老的是