She entered the classroom and saw Tu Wenying standing in the center of the podium, waving a book in her hand and leading a group of students in reading aloud.
Today, Tu Wenying has changed back into her female attire. Holding a classic text, she exudes elegance and grace, like a classical beauty stepping out of an ancient scroll, leaving everyone in awe.
Jiang Huaiyu stood quietly to the side, listening to Tu Wenying's lecture without disturbing her. Only after Tu Wenying finished explaining did she clap her hands lightly at the classroom door, her gaze gently sweeping over the students present.
"Have you ever paid your respects to the butcher as if he were your teacher?"
Upon seeing her arrival, Tu Wenying hurried out and explained in a low voice, "Since we haven't signed a formal employment contract yet, I can't be called their teacher at the moment. It's just that I came here today and found you weren't here, so I took the liberty of entering to teach. I hope Teacher Jiang won't blame me."
Jiang Huaiyu smiled and replied, "You are my newly hired tutor, so how could I blame you? A contract on paper is just a formality. The important thing is that you are here, and they should naturally show you respect."
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to the students and asked, "Did you all hear that?"
"We heard you!" The male and female students on both sides of the bamboo curtain responded in unison. They stood up and bowed deeply to Tu Wenying in unison.
"The student pays his respects to the butcher."
Seeing this, tears welled up in Tu Wenying's eyes. She looked up at Jiang Huaiyu, who gave her an encouraging look.
Tu Wenying's gaze was firm, and a proud smile played on her lips as she said gently, "Gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities."
The students straightened up, but did not immediately sit down.
Tu Wenying walked steadily to the center of the classroom and announced loudly: "My surname is Tu, and I am the new teacher. In the future, I will be teaching alongside Teacher Jiang. Although this is my first time as a teacher, and my teaching methods may still be somewhat immature, I firmly believe that my knowledge is no less than that of Teacher Jiang."
From this moment on, I will do my utmost to guide your reading and impart knowledge to you, hoping that you will all be able to develop your talents and achieve great things in the future.
After bowing deeply, the students said in unison, "Thank you, Butcher." Their bows rose and fell like waves.
Tu Wenying gently raised her hand and instructed, "Alright, children, let's review the chapters we just learned."
Only after the students' clear voices began to fill the air did she gracefully step out of the classroom.
Jiang Huaiyu smiled and praised, "Master Tu, you are truly extraordinary. You've caught up with the students' pace so quickly."
Tu Wenying smiled playfully, cupped her hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "This is just the first test of my abilities. I hope Master Jiang will provide me with more guidance in the future!"
Jiang Huaiyu gently helped her up, saying, "It is my greatest honor to be able to exchange ideas with Miss Tu."
The two chatted amiably and signed the contract together. Holding the contract, Tu Wenying murmured thoughtfully, "I never thought I'd be able to support myself and earn my own income?"
Jiang Huaiyu's eyes were full of smiles, "I'm afraid that compared with Miss Tu's daily expenses, this income is just a drop in the ocean."
"But this is something I earned through my own efforts, which is quite different from the financial support I received from my family."
Tu Wenying carefully put the contract away and said with a smile, "Master Jiang, there's no need to be so polite. My grandfather and Scholar Bai were classmates, and our two families have a deep connection. In addition, we are now colleagues and of similar age. Why don't we address each other as sisters in private?"
"If Miss Tu doesn't mind my rough and careless manner, then I would be more than happy to accept it."
"Don't mention it!"
Tu Wenying's eyes widened. "If you are careless, then wouldn't I be an ignorant country girl? To be honest, I come from a scholarly family and consider myself to be of superior talent and appearance, with few people able to surpass me. But since I met you yesterday, I have realized what true beauty and intelligence are, and what true erudition is."
"Miss Tu, you flatter me." Jiang Huaiyu smiled modestly.
"Don't be so polite as to call me 'Miss,' Sister Jiang. Wenying greets you warmly." Tu Wenying bowed to her gracefully.
Jiang Huaiyu smiled broadly and returned the greeting, "Sister Wenying."
“By the way,” she suddenly asked, “Wenying, you’ve kept your coming to the private school a secret, but you leave home so early every day. How do you explain this to your family?”
Tu Wenying smiled slyly and replied, "Sister Jiang, you don't know, although I am well-versed in poetry and prose, I know nothing about painting. My grandfather has always regretted this."
Recently, a renowned painter happened to visit our area, so I told my grandfather that I wanted to go to painting lessons every morning. Far from objecting, he was very supportive!
Jiang Huaiyu suddenly realized: "I see. Tu Jijiu has a special fondness for painting, so this can indeed fool us for the time being. But aren't you worried that one day he might test your painting skills to see if they have improved, or even visit that painter in person, and then you'd be exposed?"
Tu Wenying gently shook her head and said in a comforting tone, "It's alright. My painting skills are still mediocre. If Grandfather asks, I will frankly say that I really lack talent."
As for that renowned painter, there's no need to worry. The great painter is of a free and unrestrained nature and has long declared that he has no dealings with government officials. Although my grandfather intended to visit him, he lacked an opportunity and ultimately failed to do so.
After a moment's thought, Jiang Huaiyu asked curiously, "The great painter you mentioned, could it be the once-famous Ling Mo?"
In her past life, she also met a painter with a similar personality. He came from the martial arts world, possessed superb painting skills, but was unrestrained and disdainful of the powerful and wealthy, and never associated with them.
Although his personality caused the aristocracy to avoid him, he enjoyed a high reputation among the common people and was loved by everyone.
"Sister Jiang actually knows him too?" Tu Wenying asked in surprise.
“It really is him.” Jiang Huaiyu smiled and shook her head gently. “I had only heard of him by name.”
Recalling her past friendship with Ling Mo, she couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion.
In her previous life, Jiang Huaiyu, the mistress of a marquis's mansion, should not have had any interaction with Ling Mo. However, Ling Mo was too arrogant and actually refused Princess Songyi's invitation to paint, which angered the princess.
In a fit of rage, Princess Songyi, accusing Ling Mo of disrespect, ordered her guards to surround and attack him, breaking all four of his limbs and leaving him on the long street. That day, Jiang Huaiyu was passing by the long street in her carriage when she saw the barely breathing Ling Mo. Overwhelmed with pity, she ordered her men to carry him back to the Marquis's residence to treat his injuries.
Ling Mo remembered this kindness. After recovering from his injuries, he did not distance himself from officialdom as usual, but instead treated Jiang Huaiyu with great respect, expressing his desire to repay the life-saving grace. However, Jiang Huaiyu had nothing that required his help, so he let him leave.
Before parting, Ling Mo left behind a keepsake—a jade pendant engraved with a cedar pattern. He told Jiang Huaiyu that if she needed to find him, she could use the pendant, and he would go through fire and water to repay her kindness, no matter who she was. Although Jiang Huaiyu never used the jade pendant in her life, when she thought of Ling Mo, she still felt that he was a man of deep feelings.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
