Chapter 31 Scholar

It was already very late when they returned. Wen Zhiheng held a torch in one hand and supported Chen Shiyi with the other to prevent him from slipping and falling.

Chen Shiyi avoided Wen Zhiheng's support and followed behind him gropingly by himself.

Chen Shiyi thought to himself, if he had to help her, he would have to go back and wash his hands, which would be a very uncomfortable feeling. He would rather fall down by himself and then go home and wash himself.

The dust on your hands is not as bad as the dust in your heart. As long as there is water to help, the dust on your hands will eventually dissipate over time. But the dust in your heart cannot even be wiped away and will accompany you throughout your life.

"Eleven, you are mine, don't even think about getting married in the future."

When Chen Shiyi avoided him, Wen Zhiheng stood quietly in the dark, his eyes were deep, and the flickering fire in his eyes added a ghostly aura to him.

Chen Shiyi was a little unhappy.

"As a maid, I can't even marry?"

"You are my maid, how can you marry someone else?"

"Keren's life is all about having enough food and clothes and having children."

Wen Zhiheng understood instantly that she understood nothing.

She just wanted to find someone to marry, and Cui Yongan had been nice to her before, so she thought Cui Yongan was a good candidate for marriage. Even though she knew the tattoo on Cui Yongan's forehead, she could accept that he might be a flower thief.

He took a deep breath.

"Eleven, you are my woman. When you grow up, I will have children with you."

Chen Shiyi's face changed drastically.

"What? I didn't wear Murakami's red blouse, I didn't wear a peony in my hair, the village chief's donkey cart didn't have a big red flower tied to it, and my house didn't have eight bowls, so how did I become your woman? If we were not matched, then it means we had an affair, and if we were caught, we would be put in a pig cage, so don't harm me!"

Wen Zhiheng saw Chen Shiyi's face change drastically. He didn't understand why Chen Shiyi was so resistant.

If she follows him, will he wrong her?

"I have no private feelings for you, don't be afraid. The current difficulties are temporary. Once I make plans, I will let you live a rich life in the future."

Chen Shiyi shook his head.

"No, Master, you already dislike me, so why do you suddenly want me to be your woman? I don't want to, and I don't like you."

Chen Shiyi's words hit Wen Zhiheng like a bolt from the blue.

He held a torch and stood in the distance for a long time, watching Chen Shiyi disappear into the darkness.

What?

When did he give up on her?

Haven't I explained this to her before? Is it a habit?

It turned out that she was still brooding over it.

So, that's why she said she didn't like him?

He is considered one of the most talented young men in Beijing, so why can't he catch her eye?

Chen Shiyi felt depressed and annoyed.

She couldn't understand, is she going to have to serve others here for the rest of her life?

You can't even get married by yourself?

When Wen Zhirou came to find her, she was staring at the thatched roof in a daze.

When Chen Shiyi saw Wen Zhirou coming, he immediately sat up.

"Miss…"

Wen Zhirou sat beside her bed and sighed helplessly.

"When you were in the mansion before, you probably didn't have time to receive the discipline of the nanny, so you didn't know a lot of things. I'm here to tell you now."

Chen Shiyi listened carefully.

"Your contract is in the Marquis's Mansion, and it is a life contract. You belong to the Marquis' Mansion for your entire life. Whether it is birth, old age, sickness, death, marriage, or raising children, the Marquis' Mansion has the final say. My elder brother promoted you to be his maid, so that you can rely on him in the future, enjoy wealth and honor. Maybe if you serve him well, you can even become his concubine and have the qualifications to bear children for him. After giving birth to children, you can be promoted to a noble concubine, and your status will be even higher. So, don't think about getting married in the future."

Chen Shiyi was feeling a little depressed.

"It turns out that I am not even as good as a concubine."

Wen Zhirou looked at it and felt very uncomfortable.

"My eldest brother has only one woman now, you have been with him through thick and thin, and he will not treat you unfairly when he returns to Beijing to get married."

"oh…"

Wen Zhirou continued.

"Eleven, don't forget that you were sold to the Marquis' Mansion just to have a full meal."

Chen Shiyi suddenly woke up. Yes, she just wanted to have a full meal. How could a maid who was in a life-in-law be picky? The young master usually didn't put on airs and was already a very kind master.

It's because I didn't put myself in the right position.

She became more careful and cautious in her work and no longer dared to show her temper. She finished her work quietly and either stayed in her room or in the vegetable garden.

After this violent storm, in addition to repairs and purchases, Wen Zhiheng had almost used up all the money he had earned.

Chen Shiyi would occasionally pick vegetables from the fields and sell them in town to earn some money, but even so, their lives gradually became impoverished.

Xue Lianxing saw that Chen Shiyi was working very hard to earn money.

"Eleven, I'll lend you some money, so you can do some small business!"

Chen Shiyi asked.

"What kind of business is this?"

"You are a good cook, why don't you make some simple food? There are many outsiders coming and going in Ping'an Town, and many people are willing to spend money on food."

Chen Shiyi nodded. She thought it was a good idea.

Firstly, she could earn some money, and secondly, she could avoid staying in the courtyard for a long time, and it would be better to avoid the young master. She had been stupid and provoked him before.

Chen Shiyi made up his mind and started to do it with great force.

She would make crispy pocket-shaped cakes, sprinkle sesame seeds on the dough, and bake them in the oven until they were crispy and fragrant. The crust would be crispy and crunchy, and when she took them out and cut them in the middle, a small pocket would be formed. The cake bag could be used to hold vegetables or meat. One was sold for three cents, which was filling and affordable. Most importantly, she would pour a thick sauce made from large bones on the cakes, and when you took a bite, the fragrance would linger on your lips and teeth, leaving an endless aftertaste.

At least, that's what Xue Lianxing said.

She told this to Mrs. Wen, who spoke amiably.

"Eleven, thank you for taking care of this family."

Chen Shiyi said embarrassedly.

"I am a maid in the Marquis's Mansion. This is my job."

Mrs. Wen recalled Wen Zhiheng's behavior that night and spoke hurriedly.

"You are a good child, Heng'er likes you too. You must take good care of him, keeping him cool in summer and warm in winter. You must be careful and attentive. If you have children in the future, the Marquis' Mansion will not treat you badly."

Chen Shiyi blinked and responded casually to get away with it.

Xue Lianxing transported the oven back from the county town and set up a stall for Chen Shiyi on Changning Street in the town, and that's how they started their business.

Chen Shiyi was sweet-spoken and enthusiastic, his cooking skills were excellent and affordable, and he earned nearly two hundred copper coins on the first day of business.

It's so exciting!

Chen Shiyi got along well with the vendors next to him, except for the scholar named Pei on the right, who looked like he had a face and a nose that were not quite the same.

"Can you please move your things further away? The smoke from the stove is blinding me."

Chen Shiyi turned around and saw a thin young man in a patched blue shirt sitting upright on a stool. In front of him was a writing table with paper, ink, brush and inkstone. He wrote letters to people and family to make a living.

Beneath the scholar's angry eyes was a face covered with scars, which was terrifying.

Aunt Zhao, who was selling shoes nearby, told her quietly.

"At a young age, he was already a scholar, very knowledgeable. He had a frail old mother at home, and the medicine cost several taels of silver every month. Unexpectedly, misfortunes never come singly. His house caught fire. In order to save his mother, he ran into the fire and disfigured his face. With his face disfigured, he could not take the imperial examinations, nor could he become a teacher. He could only earn a living here. He was really a pitiful man."

After hearing this, Chen Shiyi could only move his seat to the side as much as possible.