Please find a good teacher

"However, Mr. Pei, your daughter will eventually get married, so it's best not to get too involved with people like me."

Upon hearing this, Pei Qingwu felt a bad premonition.

After frowning slightly, she asked, "Why do you say that? What's wrong with Madam Zheng?"

Seeing Zheng Youning's somber expression, Pei Qingwu knew that she had something difficult to say. After dismissing Qiantao, he said softly, "If Madam Zheng doesn't want to talk about it, then she won't..."

"However, my daughter Nianci is very smart, and I don't want her to be delayed because she doesn't have a good teacher."

"But if Madam Zheng is truly unwilling, I have no reason to force her. I simply really like Madam Zheng's paintings, so please, Madam Zheng, do not refuse to be my friend."

Seeing her sincerity, Zheng Youning smiled and nodded, not hiding anything: "I also like Master Pei's character very much, so I think we can be friends. As for why I said that..."

She recounted the first half of her life in detail.

The Zheng family of Xingyang was a prominent and distinguished clan, with generations of officials and a distinguished lineage.

Moreover, Zheng Youning was not from a minor collateral branch of the family. His father was a sixth-rank official in Chang'an, his mother came from the Langya Wang clan, and his maternal grandfather was a fourth-rank Palace Attendant before retiring from office.

Therefore, Zheng Youning's childhood was carefree. Her parents only had one daughter, so they doted on her and raised her like a precious jewel.

His talent and learning are also due to the fact that his parents hired famous teachers and taught him carefully.

Although her father suddenly died of a serious illness when she was twelve, she still had her mother, and her father had arranged an excellent marriage for her while he was alive.

The other party was Cui, a young talent from Boling. He joined the army at a young age and was skilled in both literature and martial arts. He was also a good person and never flirted with other women. The two, who were just beginning to experience love, exchanged love poems and made appointments to meet under the willow tree. Their feelings for each other grew deeper and deeper.

When she reached marriageable age, everything went smoothly, and Zheng Youning got married.

After her husband passed away, her mother's health deteriorated. She held on until her daughter returned home to visit her parents. Seeing that her son-in-law was well-mannered and caring towards his wife, she knew that her daughter had found someone to rely on for the rest of her life, and only then did she close her eyes in peace.

During those painful days, it was her husband who stayed by Zheng Youning's side to get through them.

Zheng Youning vividly remembers that when she fainted from crying for her mother, she opened her eyes to find her husband standing beside her, his eyes bloodshot from staying up all night. He was both surprised and delighted to see her awake, and without regard for his own health, he hurriedly brought her a bowl of yam porridge.

"Sixth Sister is awake? Quick, have something to eat."

It's not bad to live life like this. The person is gone, and the living still have decades to go.

Happiness reached its peak in the fourth year of their marriage.

Her husband was promoted to captain and took her to Lingzhou to take up his post. On the way, a doctor diagnosed that Zheng Youning was pregnant, and it was highly likely that she was carrying a baby girl.

The tall man, over eight feet tall, was overjoyed and instinctively picked up Zheng Youning and spun her around several times until she cried out that she was dizzy. Only then did he carefully put her down.

During that time, every time he finished his shift, he would be the first to run back to massage his wife's swollen calves from pregnancy, and expectantly put his ear on her increasingly protruding belly.

However, it only lasted a month.

The Tibetans rashly invaded the border, and the governor of Lingzhou was an incompetent fool who abandoned the entire city's soldiers and civilians and fled.

Without a commander, morale plummeted, and the army was eventually captured. Zheng Youning was still waiting for her husband's return, but what she received was a barbarian soldier grinning maliciously.

After enduring excruciating pain, she lost her child and, as a trophy, was bound hand and foot and thrown into a prison cart.

If it weren't for the other captured women who took turns caring for her, she probably would have died on the spot.

I spent more than a year in the enemy camp. There, whether you were a noblewoman or a commoner, you had only one purpose and only one destination.

Fewer and fewer companions remained by his side; most of them were dragged away by barbarians one day and never returned.

Zheng Youning could only recite the "Rebirth Mantra" over and over again, praying for his deceased companions and sustaining himself to live on.

Finally, she received help from the Longxi army.

Furthermore, one of the generals leading the troops was a member of the Zheng clan of Xingyang, and he took good care of her, even hiring a doctor from the army to treat her injuries.

"My lady has suffered such a calamity, and I'm afraid she will have difficulty conceiving in the future..." The doctor took her pulse and hesitated, "However, my lady is still young. With proper care, there is hope for everything."

"I understand," Zheng Youning said softly. "It's already a miracle that I'm still alive."

After a moment of silence, she asked, "Where is my husband? How is he?"

The doctor glanced at the general surnamed Zheng, who hesitated for a moment before saying, "On the day Lingzhou fell, Commandant Cui died for his country."

For a moment, Zheng Youning didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

All I remember is that everything went black and I passed out.

Although her uncle sent her back to Chang'an, she was left without the protection of her parents or a husband to rely on. On the contrary, due to the year she had been trapped in the enemy camp, coupled with the inheritance left by her relatives, it would not be an exaggeration to say that she was the target of everyone's hatred.

She had longed to go home, but Chang'an no longer had a home for her.

In the end, she sought help from her uncle, who took her to Qinzhou.

Although she had no relatives or friends, she possessed considerable talent, which provided her with a livelihood.

No one here knew her, no one knew her past, but when Pei Qingwu said he wanted to ask her to teach girls to read, she still hesitated.

Pei Qingwu listened quietly, feeling no contempt but rather respect.

She stepped forward and gently took Zheng Youning's trembling hand: "Madam Zheng, in my eyes, hardship is not a stain, but a tempering... The suffering you have endured is something that ordinary people can hardly imagine. To have survived is a testament to your great resilience."

"So-called 'reputation' is nothing but a shackle that binds a woman. What I ask you to value is the beauty of your writing and the exquisite beauty of your paintings. This is the true talent and learning that can be passed on to Nianci."

Zheng Youning stared blankly at Pei Qingwu.

In those clear eyes, there was no worldly disdain or pity, only pure appreciation and understanding.

A warm current suddenly rose up, breaking through the icy barrier in my heart.

Her eyes stung with tears, but she finally nodded forcefully: "I admire Master Pei's magnanimity. I accept the teaching position."

"That's wonderful!" Pei Qingwu smiled broadly. "The tuition fee is set at three hundred coins per month, plus lunch. Is that alright?"

Zheng Youning gently agreed: "I will do my best."

"If Nianci wishes to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting from you in the future, the tuition fee can be increased separately."

"Then I thank you for your appreciation, sir."

After a short rest, Zheng Youning gave a trial lecture to Nianci.

She chose the beginning of the Thousand Character Classic.

Her voice was clear and soothing as she lectured, effortlessly quoting classical texts and transforming dry words into landscape paintings and depicting the changing seasons.

When talking about "the passing of cold and heat, the autumn harvest and the winter storage," he simply picked up a pen and paper and sketched a vivid scene of farmers harvesting and gathering around the stove in winter with just a few strokes.

Nianci listened intently, nodding her head repeatedly, her eyes sparkling with a thirst for knowledge.

After the class ended, Pei Qingwu looked at the little girl's reluctant expression, exchanged a smile with Zheng Youning, and felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

A good teacher for Nianci has finally been found.

As dusk approached and it was time for dinner, Pei Qingwu suggested, "Since Madam Zheng will have to cook anyway when she goes back, why don't you stay at the shop and have a simple meal with us?"

“This…” Zheng Youning hesitated for a moment.

Nianci immediately rushed over, grabbing her hand and shaking it vigorously: "Teacher, teacher, please stay! I promise you, our sister Yinlan is an amazing cook..."

Zheng Youning chuckled as she looked at the little girl's adorable appearance, and Pei Qingwu took the opportunity to extend another invitation.

Unable to refuse such a kind offer, Zheng Youning agreed.

Everyone else in the shop knew that Nianci had found a teacher, and they were all happy.

When they heard that the teacher would be staying for dinner, they expressed their warmest welcome.

"Madam Zheng, do you have any dietary restrictions? Or rather, what do you like to eat? I can make it for you," Yinlan asked with a smile.

Zheng Youning was still a little reserved: "Anything is fine, I... I'm not picky."

As she spoke, Nianci pulled her to sit down, and Qiantao had already quickly set up a low table under the grapevine trellis in the backyard.

The evening breeze rustled through the vines, bringing a rare coolness and dispelling the daytime heat.

Before long, Yinlan led Wu Niang and Yu Yi in, carrying food trays in one after another.

In an instant, a rich fragrance filled the air, invigorating the senses.

The first dish was cold noodles with locust leaves, served in a celadon lotus petal bowl, the noodles glistening like the finest jade.

The noodles are made by pounding fresh, tender locust leaves to extract juice and then mixing it with flour. After cooking, they are quickly plunged into icy well water, a process known as "crossing the cold river." At this point, each noodle becomes distinct and separate, garnished with bright sashimi and water chestnuts, and then drizzled with a secret sauce. Just looking at it makes your mouth water.

"It's hot, Madam Zheng, try this first. It's the perfect appetizer to cool you down," Yin Lan said with a smile.

Next came several delicate side dishes.

One dish is rouge-colored goose breast, sliced ​​as thin as paper, with an enticing bright red color; another dish is honey-preserved lotus root slices, made from the tenderest lotus root tips, marinated in osmanthus honey and sugarcane juice until crystal clear, sweet and sour and crisp; and yet another dish is fermented shad, cut into small pieces and soaked in amber-colored fermented rice wine brine, exuding a rich and mellow aroma of wine and the freshness of fish.

The main course is roasted lamb ribs.

The carefully selected lamb ribs are first marinated with a secret blend of spices, then slowly grilled over a silver charcoal fire. When served, the outer skin is slightly browned and crispy, while the inside is juicy and tender, with the fat sizzling under the light. A small dish of green celery is served on the side to cut through the richness.

The soup is water shield and silver fish soup. The soup is clear and bright. The tender green water shield shoots are curled up like small lotus leaves. The silver fish are delicate and snow-white. The soup is smooth and delicious, with the sweet taste of the lake water.

Another beverage is chilled sugarcane juice, served in a warm, white jade bowl. The amber-colored liquid is covered with fine water droplets, and the bowl exudes a cool breeze.

This is made by carefully boiling and concentrating sugarcane juice, then chilling it with ice stored in a winter cellar. It is sweet and mellow, and one sip seems to suppress the heat of summer.

"Please, Madam Zheng, don't find the food too meager," Pei Qingwu said with a smile, offering modestly.

Looking at the dazzling array of delicacies, Zheng Youning's initial nervousness was completely dispelled by the aromas and flavors of the food.

She picked up a chopstickful of bright green locust leaf cold noodles, dipped it in soy sauce and vinegar, and put it in her mouth.

The noodles are smooth and chewy, with a slightly astringent fragrance of locust leaves and the sweet and sour taste of soy sauce and vinegar, which seems to dispel all the summer heat.

She tasted another slice of honey-soaked lotus root, and its crisp and sweet flavor made her squint her eyes slightly.

She took another sip of the icy sugarcane juice, the sweet coolness seeping into her bones almost making her sigh out loud.

Nianci ate with her little mouth glistening with oil, her cheeks bulging, and she didn't forget to put a piece of the most tempting roasted lamb rib on her teacher's plate: "Teacher, please try this. Sister Yinlan's is the best!"

Looking at the harmonious scene before her, and savoring the elaborate dinner that far exceeded her expectations, Zheng Youning felt an even stronger surge of warmth in her heart.

As I ate, a thin layer of mist quietly welled up in my eyes.

She lowered her head and swallowed gently, as if all her worries and bitterness were quietly soothed away with the warm soup.