Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Seems to be...testing something

Xue Yuanyin was confused by Zhang Jingxuan's action of rubbing her head. She didn't feel any intimacy, but instead felt that he had sinister intentions, which made her look stupid.

Seeing that Zhang Jingxuan had already taken a step, she came to her senses, glared at him, and hurriedly followed him.

The two of them entered the trafficking shop. Xue Yuanyin looked at several young maids under the introduction of the human trafficker and was hesitant for a moment.

She thought they were all good, and there was also a little maid who was particularly pretty. She called everyone "brother" or "sister" when she saw them, and was pleasing to the eye.

I just don’t know if Zhang Jingxuan is willing.

Xue Yuanyin went to Zhang Jingxuan for advice, but when she turned around, she didn't see him. She looked for a long time before she found him talking to a not-so-young old woman under the introduction of a human trafficker.

Xue Yuanyin was a little surprised.

Most people are reluctant to hire older women to do chores, as they think they cannot work long-term and are not as nimble as young maids who are efficient, obedient and willing to endure hardships.

Why did Zhang Jingxuan fall in love with an elderly grandmother?

Xue Yuanyin walked over and secretly gave him a hand. Unexpectedly, Zhang Jingxuan turned around and said, "I prefer Granny Chen. What do you think?"

Without answering her question, Granny Chen took the initiative to tell her about her situation: she was a local, could do both short-term and long-term work, and could take care of laundry, cooking and cleaning, but she had to go home at night to accompany her husband.

This situation was very suitable for them, as there was no extra house in the courtyard that could accommodate people.

The most important thing is that Granny Chen is obviously no longer young and it is impossible for her to do something like what happened in the Zhang family where the little maid climbed onto the bed.

Xue Yuanyin then understood Zhang Jingxuan's concerns and looked at him speechlessly.

That's right, people like him are too easy to be coveted by young girls.

Seeing that she didn't answer for a long time, Zhang Jingxuan asked again: "The monthly salary has been negotiated, 300 coins per month."

Three hundred coins was less than half a tael of silver. Considering that Zhang Jingxuan could earn half a tael to one tael of silver a month, it was more than enough for the two of them to spend.

They are considered a wealthy family in the town!

Xue Yuanyin nodded and said, "Okay. Let's sign the contract."

Granny Chen was a straightforward and honest woman. They signed the contract smoothly and paid the broker some money, and the deal was done.

She had no luggage to pack, so she could just carry a small bag and go back with them and start work today.

Xue Yuanyin was so happy that she bought a large piece of pork ribs on the way back with Zhang Jingxuan's remaining money. It had been ages since they arrived in this town. It was a pity that one didn't know how expensive firewood and rice were until they took charge of the household.

After asking about Granny Chen's situation, she answered all her questions and then asked Xue Yuanyin honestly, "What should I address Madam and Young Master?"

Granny Chen subconsciously thought of the two masters as a newlywed couple.

Xue Yuanyin paused and looked at Zhang Jingxuan beside her. Seeing that he didn't react, she said vaguely to Granny Chen, "Well... you can just call me Madam. My last name is... Zhang, Zhang Erhua."

She glanced at Zhang Jingxuan and said, "His words..."

Zhang Jingxuan took over the conversation while she hesitated, saying, "My surname is Li, and my name is Li Dazhu."

Granny Chen said "Oh" and said honestly, "Mrs. Zhang Erhua, Mr. Li Dazhu."

Zhang Jingxuan paused, responded nonchalantly, and said gently, "Grandma Chen, you don't have to be so polite. You don't have to call us by our full names."

Granny Chen said "Oh" again and followed closely, "Madam Erhua, Master Dazhu."

Xue Yuanyin: “…”

She laughed dryly twice, quickened her pace, and said, "We're here at the yard."

Granny Chen entered the courtyard, put down her bag, rolled up her sleeves, grabbed some vegetables and meat, and went into the kitchen, washing her hands and preparing lunch. An hour later, the food finally arrived. The large pot of braised spareribs was so fragrant that Xue Yuanyin's appetite was aroused. She sat down to take a bite and was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.

Granny Chen's greatest strength was her ability to cook. She felt a little embarrassed when her master praised her, shaking her head and waving her hands. After her master came to the table, she filled her small bowl with rice and ate in a corner.

After making lunch, she went to wash the dishes and clean the house. Seeing that both rooms were occupied, she wondered:

"Madam, do you and the young master have children? Are they enrolled in a private school?"

Xue Yuanyin asked in surprise: "Why do you ask that?"

Turning around, she saw Granny Chen cleaning the west wing. Then she realized she had misunderstood something and explained awkwardly, "There are no children there. That's where Master Li lives."

Granny Chen said "Oh" and asked frankly, "Did the young master and the mistress have a fight?"

Xue Yuanyin laughed dryly twice: "No, we didn't quarrel." She glanced at Zhang Jingxuan, who was sitting by the window painting. Seeing that he didn't react, she had to bite the bullet and explain, "Grandma Chen, we just sleep separately."

Granny Chen said "Oh" again, and looked at the two people who were silent honestly and said, "So the Madam and the Young Master haven't consummated their marriage yet. This can't be good! The Madam and the Young Master are both handsome men. They should not be shy about the etiquette of husband and wife."

Xue Yuanyin: “…”

For the first time, she knew what it felt like to be mute and unable to explain herself. She felt uneasy and stood up silently and went back to the house.

I thought to myself, this Granny Chen is good in every way except that she is too straightforward and honest.

…

Half a month passed in a flash, and Zhang Jingxuan received another month's salary, half a tael of silver. This month's total was one tael.

Zhang Jingxuan took the initiative to give the monthly salary to Xue Yuanyin and let her do whatever she wanted.

I had previously used half a tael of silver to hire a servant, so I couldn't waste this half a tael of silver anymore.

Xue Yuanyin left enough money for groceries and took the remaining change to the market. There was only one horse rental shop and two weapon shops in town. Xue Yuanyin inquired at each and learned that renting a horse wasn't cheap. Bows and swords weren't available for rent; they had to be purchased. Buying a bow and arrow was even more expensive, costing nearly a tael of silver along with renting a horse.

No wonder the hunter on the mountain was so careful with his bow and arrow. It turned out they were in great demand.

Xue Yuanyin returned to the courtyard, and Zhang Jingxuan also happened to come back from the bookstore. Granny Chen left the prepared dinner and went home with her bag, leaving them alone in the courtyard.

After dinner, Zhang Jingxuan came back after washing the dishes. Xue Yuanyin did not return to the house. Instead, she told Zhang Jingxuan the prices marked in the shop and said, "You must earn at least one or two taels of silver next month to be able to rent a horse and buy a bow and a sword."

Zhang Jingxuan's expression remained calm and composed as he said, "It's only one or two taels."

Seeing his attitude, Xue Yuanyin knew that one tael of silver would be no problem, so she stopped worrying and said thoughtfully: "You make so much money painting for the bookshop. If I learn painting from you, can I also find another bookshop to sell my paintings?"

Seeing her serious expression, Zhang Jingxuan thought for a few seconds, then shook his head and said, "With your painting skills, the bookshop may not accept antique paintings."

She had been learning painting from him these days, and he had come to understand her somewhat - her painting skills had not improved much compared to when she was a child, and her results in the I Ching exams were as bad as hers.

Xue Yuanyin: “…”

Why is it so derogatory? He draws so well, it's amazing!

Zhang Jingxuan changed the subject and said, "Although I can't imitate ancient paintings, I can paint other things. Don't you want to paint portraits? I'll teach you. You should learn it well. In your spare time, go to other bookstores and ask if they will accept my works."

Xue Yuanyin raised her brows slightly: "How did you know I wanted to paint a portrait?"

Zhang Jingxuan said calmly, "You've been either drawing the outline of a portrait or its eyebrows, eyes, hands and feet lately. Is that why it's so hard to guess?"

Xue Yuanyin only vaguely had the idea of ​​painting a portrait, but hadn't decided who to paint yet. Unexpectedly, he guessed it immediately and curled his lips and said:

"Okay, you're smart."

She immediately thought of something, her eyes lit up, and she said excitedly:

"I'm not asking you for help in vain. I have many strengths that you don't have. I might as well repay you with my skills. Are you interested?"

Xue Yuanyin was not a teacher, but if the person was Zhang Jingxuan, she would be excited. Compared to Zhang Jingxuan's indifferent reaction, she said to herself with great interest:

"I want to teach you something, too, to show you how powerful I am. Let me think, what should I teach you... Do you want to learn martial arts?"

Zhang Jingxuan looked at her calmly and said, "I can't learn martial arts. Have you forgotten?"

Xue Yuanyin then remembered that because he had a weak constitution when he was a child, the Zhang family found many ways to help him improve it. However, since learning martial arts required wielding swords and guns all day long, which was too intense and lacked enough energy, the Zhang family did not allow him to practice.

Besides, the Zhang family has always been a family of civil officials, and they had no intention of letting Zhang Jingxuan get involved in martial arts.

Zhang Jingxuan added, "Besides, I know everything you know. How can you be my teacher?"

Xue Yuanyin: “…”

She was angry! This was too contemptuous!

"That's not necessarily true!" Xue Yuanyin raised her eyebrows and said, "Not all martial arts have restrictions. Don't you need to strengthen your body? It's suitable for you to learn from me..."

She paused and quickly swallowed the word "qinggong" and broke out in a cold sweat.

Her father had repeatedly warned her that the road to succession would be filled with countless hostile attacks, both overt and covert, and that it would be best not to reveal her mastery of Qinggong. If she met a disastrous end, this trump card would help her escape from her cage.

Zhang Jingxuan looked up and asked, "What can I learn from you?"

"Nothing." Xue Yuanyin said perfunctorily, "I suddenly remembered that my father's martial arts are not suitable for you to learn."

Zhang Jingxuan didn't dwell on this. He lowered his eyes to think for a moment, then raised them and asked, "Did the Marquis teach you everything?"

Xue Yuanyin raised her chin slightly: "Of course."

Zhang Jingxuan nodded and said, "Then tell me how your military family should plan and deploy troops and appoint generals on the battlefield."

Xue Yuanyin thought she had misheard for a moment, then she looked at his expression carefully and realized that he was not joking. She said in surprise:

"As a civil official, why would you want to learn this?"

Night slowly fell, and the starry moonlight shone into the courtyard, making the human figures seem a little dim.

Xue Yuanyin couldn't quite make out Zhang Jingxuan's expression. She could only hear him standing not too far away, saying calmly,

"If I were to be pushed onto the battlefield as a military advisor one day and learn some techniques for marching and fighting, perhaps I could save my life? After all, I feel that if someone as outstanding as me died one day—"

He slightly dragged out his voice and said casually:

"There must be someone who misses me secretly, even across the mountains and rivers."

Xue Yuanyin noticed that in the dim night, a gaze from his direction fell on her meaningfully.

As if...testing something.

She raised her eyes calmly, but her gaze met his fixed on her.

Thinking of the manuscript paper she had thrown away, she wrote a sentence on it as if possessed by a ghost.

Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

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