"Please just tell me what you need, Miss. There's no need to consult me."
Jiang Shuyue stared intently at Jinhua and asked, "Your Yaozu is six years old, isn't he?"
Jin Hua picked up the teapot, added a little water to the teacup, stepped back, and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Miss. My son will be seven years old after the New Year."
"Sui Sui needs a page to study with. You can discuss it with your husband later. Would you be willing to let Yao Zu go to the city to study with Sui Sui?"
Jin Hua was overjoyed and nodded hurriedly, "Thank you, Miss. Of course I'm willing. It's a blessing that Yao Zu has accumulated in his previous life to be the young master's page."
In wealthy families, the young master usually has a page who is about the same age as him. The page eats and lives with the young master and reads and writes with him.
Xiao Jingzhao said he would arrange for Sui Sui to study with him. Jiang Shuyue was interested in cultivating the Zhang family, and Yaozu was the first person she thought of to be the page.
When Xiao Jingzhao discussed the matter of accompanying her to study, Jiang Shuyue suggested that the young page should go to the classroom to listen to the lessons together.
This was a privilege that even a page in an ordinary wealthy family would not receive.
Jiang Shuyue said, "You should discuss this with your husband."
"I will obey Miss." Jin Hua happily withdrew and left the inner courtyard, then ran all the way to the kitchen.
Aunt Zhang and Zhang Qiu are preparing lunch.
Not knowing that Miss Zhang would come today, and with no time to go to town to buy meat, Aunt Zhang used the dried wild game to make a soup.
"Mother, I have good news for you. Miss has sent Yaozu to the city to be the young master's page." Jinhua said happily as she stepped into the kitchen.
"Sister-in-law, is this really true?" Zhang Qiu was tending the fire when he threw the firewood in his hand into the stove and suddenly stood up to ask.
"Elder brother, is this really true?" Aunt Zhang was so happy she was dizzy, unable to believe that such a good thing had actually happened to her son Yaozu.
In wealthy families in the capital, the positions of pageboys are reserved for the descendants of servants born into the household. The young lady explicitly stated that Yaozu and his mother were not considered slaves, which shows how much she trusts her family.
"Of course it's true. Miss asked me to discuss it with my parents and Yaozu's father. Mother, you're willing to let Yaozu leave the estate, aren't you?"
"You have to be willing to give up something. Yaozu will have a brighter future with Miss Yaozu than staying with us." Aunt Zhang was overjoyed, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
Aunt Zhang never dreamed that her grandson would not have to pay tuition for school, and that he would be provided with food and clothing all year round. If he could win the young master's favor, he could even serve by the young master's side when he came of age.
“Sister-in-law, come and watch the fire. I’ll go and tell Dad and my brother the good news.”
My second brother led a group of people to Yanhui Mountain to burn charcoal. Every time they went up the mountain, they had to stay at the earthen kiln on the mountain for several days.
Before Jin Hua could respond, Zhang Qiu dashed out of the courtyard.
Next to the woodshed, Yaozu was holding a newborn rabbit and letting Sui Sui touch it.
"Young master, come and touch it, its fur is so soft."
Just as Sui Sui rubbed her hands, Gao Mu and Cang Yun came over.
"Ahem, young master Sui Sui, would you like to take a stroll by the river again today?" Gao Mu asked after a couple of coughs.
Looking back year after year, I wonder, "Are there any fun things to do by the river?"
Gao Mu said somewhat guiltily, "Let's go fishing."
Seeing that Sui Sui remained unmoved, Cang Yun chimed in, "That's right, let's go fishing and catch lots and lots of big fish."
Sui Sui turned to Yao Zu and asked, "Do you want to go fishing?"
"Yaozu will listen to the young master."
Just then, Qiuju's voice rang out from behind, "Come on, last time there weren't even enough fish to make soup, Suisui, don't go."
Qiu Ju glared at Gao Mu as she spoke.
Their thoughts were seen through, and Gao Mu and Cang Yun exchanged a glance and said, "If we don't want to go, then we don't want to go. Miss isn't staying here tonight, so let's go feed the horses."
Watching the two leave
Yaozu stood there, completely bewildered, wondering, "Didn't we catch several big fish last time? How come there aren't enough to make soup?"
Does the young master have a big influence in the city?
After lunch, the Zhang family began packing Yaozu's clothes. When Yaozu learned that he was going to the city with the young master, he was reluctant to leave his parents, but he was also happy and excited.
Zhang Yuanshan, in particular, thanked Jiang Shuyue several times. If Jiang Shuyue hadn't signaled Qiuju to stop him, he would have knelt down and kowtowed to thank his master for her kindness.
When Qiuju saw Jinhua carrying a package into the main courtyard, she smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Jinhua, keep this package of clothes for Yaozu's unborn brother. I will have someone prepare clothes and shoes for Yaozu when he comes back to the capital with us."
"Miss Qiuju, please don't tease me. I'm not planning on having it yet," Jinhua said with an embarrassed smile.
Qiuju asked Jinhua to take the package back, and then went outside the courtyard to find Suisui and Yaozu.
After dinner, the two took their two little rabbits outside to play.
In the hall, Zhang Yuanshan and his two sons were listening intently to Jiang Shuyue explaining how to grow leek sprouts.
"Miss, are you saying that chives don't turn green and don't need a greenhouse?" Zhang Cai listened while taking notes, asking questions about anything he didn't understand.
"Yes, it turns slightly yellow when it's not exposed to light, and it turns green if it's not properly covered, and the texture isn't tender either."
Zhang Qiu immediately understood the principle Jiang Shuyue was talking about, and he continued, "What Miss means is that if chives are not exposed to sunlight, they will grow like weeds under a stone, white and tender with a slight yellow tinge."
Jiang Shuyue gave Zhang Qiu a thumbs up, "Zhang Qiu is very observant. That's roughly it. It can be planted all year round, regardless of the season, and it's harvested again and again. It's delicious when stir-fried with meat."
Zhang Yuanshan listened intently. He had lived on the estate for so long and had grown plenty of chives in the fields, yet he still didn't know as much as his master from the capital.
Jiang Shuyue paused for a moment and said, "The villagers have all worked hard to build the greenhouses. This recipe for growing leek sprouts will be shared with everyone. Each family can grow them and take them to the market to sell, which will also be a source of income."
Jiang Shuyue knew that it would be good if the villagers could sell some cash, even if it was only a few dozen coins at a time.
In the capital, wealthy families enjoy high salaries and own shops that generate rent. Many families also secretly run their own businesses. A single set of fine clothes and jewelry from a noblewoman can easily cost hundreds of taels of silver. They cannot comprehend the hardships of ordinary people at the bottom of society.
Now that she's here, she should do something for this place; it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.
Zhang Yuanshan was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He quickly bowed respectfully to Jiang Shuyue and said, "Miss is kind. Thank you for thinking of everyone in every way. This old servant thanks you on behalf of the villagers."
The surrounding villagers all became wealthy, and remembering the young lady's kindness, they also held her family in higher regard.
After arranging things at the estate, Jiang Shuyue headed back home.
She rode in one carriage with Qiuju, while Yaozu and Suisui rode in the carriage driven by Cangyun so that Yaozu would feel at ease.
...
Inside the palace, Xiao Jingzhao breathed a sigh of relief after reading the letter delivered by the courier on horseback.
The border crisis has been resolved, and the soldiers are returning home.
Xiang Song noticed that his master was holding a secret letter and hadn't opened it yet. He craned his neck to take a look and said, "Your Majesty, the seal on this letter is special. Is it a letter in the handwriting of the Emperor of Liang?"
Xiao Jingzhao gave a soft "hmm" and slowly opened the heavy envelope...
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