"That's really strange..."
Master Wang muttered to himself, "Since she has this skill, how did she end up having her younger brother sold into slavery?"
Wei Jingnian was young and careless, and had not thought of this. After being pointed out by Master Wang, he still had some doubts in his heart. "Jingnian doesn't know much about this. Maybe his family really suffered some great disaster a few years ago."
"Alright, alright, since your father knows, I won't say any more. You can take this child back."
After finishing his sentence, Master Wang suddenly remembered something and added, "Today is the tenth of the eighth lunar month. There will be a lantern festival on East Street when it gets dark. Xue Ru has been looking forward to it for a long time. However, there are many things to do at home, and your aunt and I are too busy to help. Why don't you take Xue Ru to go for a stroll tonight, and bring Zi Qian along too?"
Sun Miao'er and Xiao Ning reminisced about the past. She told Xiao Ning about her family affairs one by one, such as how the land deed now belonged to her and how the old house had been taken back. Xiao Ning listened, her expression showing little change.
But Sun Miao'er could tell he was happy.
The gentleman had been dozing off at his desk, but woke up slowly when he heard the two talking. "What time is it?"
Xiao Ning immediately composed himself, turned around, and respectfully replied, "Replying to you, sir, it is past mid-Shenshi (3-5 PM)."
The teacher straightened up with a start, "Quickly go and call the young master back, he hasn't finished learning this lesson yet!"
"Yes, I'll go right away."
Xiao Ning received the instructions. After all, he was still a servant of the Wang family, and he couldn't neglect his duty.
Sun Miao'er followed Xiao Ning, wanting to see what Xiao Ning did on a daily basis. Just as she caught up with her outside the garden, she heard the sounds coming from inside.
"Miss, you still have the leisure to admire the flowers here?"
The one speaking was Wang's concubine, who wore a snow-purple cloud-patterned cloak and was waving a maid's fan in her hand. Two maids followed behind her, and she was arrogant and domineering.
Wang Xueru had intended to take Ziqian for a stroll in the courtyard, but unexpectedly ran into Aunt Qin. If it weren't for the fact that she was in a good mood after seeing Brother Jingnian today, she would have given her a cold shoulder long ago.
"Is Aunt Qin feeling better? Is she able to get out of bed now?"
Wang Xueru acted as if there was no such person in front of her and directly asked the maid behind Aunt Qin.
The maid replied softly, "Replying to Miss..."
"Shut up! Who gives you the right to speak here!"
Before the maid could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Aunt Qin's stern rebuke.
The little maid trembled twice in fright, shrank her neck, and lowered her head even further.
Xiao Ning remembered the master's words and wanted to go forward to call the young master back, but Sun Miao'er pressed her down behind the rockery.
Seeing that things were not going well, Sun Miao'er was afraid that Xiao Ning would become their punching bag if she went, so she lowered her voice and said, "Shh, let's take a look first."
Wang Xueru was only thinking about avoiding her and going to find Wei Jingnian. She said angrily, "Please make way for me, Auntie. Ziqian and I have important business to attend to."
"Important business? Young master, you have important business? Did you not finish your homework today and have to put it off until tomorrow?"
Aunt Qin fiddled with the nail polish on her fingernails, behaving in a manner completely unlike that of a concubine, showing no regard whatsoever for the legitimate young lady and young master.
Normally, Wang Xueru would have argued with her long ago, but today was different. She was thinking about someone and didn't want to fall into Aunt Qin's trap, so she didn't say a word and angrily pulled Ziqian away.
At the corner, they bumped into Sun Miao'er leading Xiao Ning.
"Miss Sun, what are you doing here?"
Wang Xueru was still angry, and her tone was very impatient.
Xiao Ning took over the conversation and replied in a stern voice, "Miss, the master asked me to invite the young master back to his study."
"Ziqian, you go with him first. Don't let Dad find out later and say that I led you astray."
As her younger brother disappeared from sight, Wang Xueru put on a helpless expression, "They say family scandals shouldn't be aired in public, I'm sorry to have made Miss Sun laugh."
“Miss Xue Ru, every family has its own problems, it’s only natural.”
Sun Miao'er felt from the bottom of her heart that being born into such a family might at most mean a more comfortable life, but in terms of daily routine, it might not necessarily be a comfortable one.
Wang Xueru sighed softly, remembering Wei Jingnian's words, "By the way, I heard that Miss Sun is skilled in weaving and dyeing?"
Sun Miao'er humbly replied, "It's just my clumsy skill, nothing to brag about."
Judging from all that has happened before, Wang Xueru's fear of Sun Miao'er has diminished considerably. After all, even when she encountered Aunt Qin making things difficult for her, Sun Miao'er's attitude remained calm.
Wang Xueru said frankly, "To be honest, Miss Sun, I heard about your skills from Brother Jingnian, and I have something I'd like to ask you for help with."
"Miss Xue Ru, please speak freely."
Sun Miao'er agreed, seeing this as an opportunity. If she could help the Wang family's young lady, she would have support if she wanted to do business in the city in the future.
She was going to sell that favor, no matter what.
"Next month is the birthday of the wife of the Prefect of Yingzhou. My father has some connections with the Prefect of Yingzhou. When I was young, my destiny was compatible with that of the Prefect's wife. The Prefect's wife was bedridden and her illness was difficult to cure. So my father made me recognize the Prefect's wife as my godmother. This year, for my godmother's birthday, she specifically asked me to prepare a gift for her. For so many years, I have racked my brains to prepare one every year. My godmother has very high standards, and I really have no choice this time."
Wang Xue slowed her pace, her voice tinged with melancholy, "Miss Sun, Jingnian said that the fabric you dyed is unique in the entire Pingnan City? I would like to ask Miss Sun to prepare a cloak for my godmother."
Sun Miao'er understood the meaning behind her words, "That's easy to handle."
Wang Xueru's eyes flashed with resentment as she angrily said, "I'll make Aunt Qin open her eyes and see who's really the most useless one!"
It turns out that this young lady still remembers the troubles from before.
Sun Miao'er followed her for half a garden. The globe amaranth was in full bloom, attracting several moths that flew around it a few times. It was already autumn, and even the butterflies had hidden themselves away.
"Miao'er has a question, I don't know..."
Wang Xueru said, "Miss Sun, please speak freely. You've helped me this time, so we'll be friends forever!"
Sun Miao'er reached out to dart at the grayish-brown moth, only to have her hand covered in fluffy powder. "In the front hall, I saw Master Wang and his wife deeply in love. Why was that concubine so audacious just now?"
Mentioning this brings up a painful memory for Wang Xueru.
She sighed softly, crumpled the ball of globe amaranth, and threw it hard on the ground. "Miss Sun, you don't know this, but my parents were childhood sweethearts with a deep affection for each other. Aunt Qin was originally a maid in the mansion. Later, my father fell ill for no reason and was always in a coma. He was in and out of consciousness. We searched for famous doctors but to no avail. Aunt Qin somehow got a prescription that cured my father. Later, she forced my parents to take her into their house."
I see.
Sun Miao'er understood immediately. What favor could be greater than the grace of saving a life?
However, this life-saving rescue was too suspicious, but the Wang family members were not fools. With dozens of eyes watching, how could they not think of that?
She had her doubts, but ultimately it was a matter for the Wang family, and it wasn't appropriate for her to interfere.
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