In terms of needlework skills, Qin Yuanniang is better than her mother. After all, she was the imperial embroiderer who had embroidered a phoenix robe, and her embroidery skills are absolutely superb.
The only disadvantage is that she is now older. After investigation, it was found that she is blind in one eye and has not held a needle for a long time, so her skills are probably a bit rusty.
After being released from the palace, she returned to her hometown of Fengchi County and was introduced to a widower with a son. Palace maids were usually not released from the palace until they were at least 25 years old. Qin Yuanniang was an embroiderer and was even older when she was released, in her 30s.
So even though she was good-looking, had excellent embroidery skills, and had prepared a generous dowry for herself, her age was a disadvantage, and she was not popular in the marriage market of that era.
The widower with a son whom she finally married was already considered tall among the short ones.
Is she not able to live well on her own? Why does she have to force herself to marry?
Twenty years ago, the social atmosphere was much more feudal and conservative than it is now, and few women dared to show their faces in public.
In just these twenty years, because the emperor doted on the imperial concubine, he did all kinds of affectionate actions that shocked the world, such as taking the imperial concubine to the palace to soak in hot springs, scolding court officials in anger for the imperial concubine, promoting the imperial concubine's father and brother and giving them generous rewards, and so on and so forth.
As the upper class followed suit, a trend of "preferring to have a boy rather than a girl" arose among the people, and the status of women was greatly improved.
The customs of the people have also become more open.
Women were even allowed to set up their own households.
However, in Qin Yuanniang's time, if a woman lived alone without a man to support her family, it would be very dangerous. Not to mention her property, she might not even be able to protect herself.
Rumors are just the beginning. In serious cases, even if someone sneaks in in the middle of the night and ruins a woman's innocence, others might still say that the woman was being immoral.
So Qin Yuanniang had no choice but to find someone to marry, just to make ends meet.
However, she was the tallest one picked out from a group of short people, and she was not a good person either. Not only did she drink and sleep all day long, but she also sometimes beat people!
He had beaten his ex-wife to death.
But maybe even God couldn't bear it and took this man away.
From then on, Qin Yuanniang lived with her stepson.
By now, the stepson had already married and had children. Seeing that Qin Yuanniang was old and blind, and could no longer embroider to supplement the family income, his attitude towards her became increasingly bad.
Qin Yuanniang simply moved out and rented a room, living in poverty. Her stepson was happy to get rid of such a big trouble.
After investigating these things, Xue Huan decided to invite her over.
Qin Yuanniang had been in the palace for so many years after all. Even if she couldn't embroider now, her knowledge and vision were unmatched by ordinary people. It would be perfect to ask her to be the needlework teacher.
Qin Yuanniang was alone, had no worries, and had no idea of being too proud of what she had. After chatting with Xue Huan for a while, she agreed to teach on the spot.
Xue Huan immediately took out the contract and asked her to sign it. Finally, she asked, "Are you free the day after tomorrow?"
"Yes, I don't have much to do now."
"Okay, come back the day after tomorrow at 9:00 PM, and we'll have a meeting to discuss some things."
"good."
Xue Huan smiled and escorted the person out of the office.
Then came Mei Jiqin...
Considering that it was unsafe for the women to stay outside too late, Xue Huan first talked to the women, and then asked people to send them back one by one to ensure that they got home safely.
Mei Jiqin did not agree on the spot, because she was employed by the Xue family after all. The Xue family saved her from danger, gave her a place to live, and treated her very well on weekdays. Although she was still a free person, she still felt that it was necessary to go back and discuss this matter with the Xue family.
She would only accept Miss Zhao's invitation if no one in the Xue family minded.
Miss Zhao said that as a music teacher, she only needs to teach four classes a month, and her schedule does not conflict with Xue Jun's.
Most importantly, she is an orphan herself and wants to come here and do her bit for those children.
Next it's the men's turn.
Old Man Tang, Master Xiao, and Zhang Jiuzhi already had friendships with Xue Huan. In addition, the benefits she proposed were good, and she was going to teach orphans, so it was a good thing, so they all agreed on the spot.
I’m just a little worried because I’ve never been a teacher and I’m afraid I won’t be able to teach well.
Xue Huan reassured them: "Just teach your students what you're good at. Just think of it as taking on apprentices."
After hearing this, the three of them calmed down.
When it was Cao Hu's turn, he was even more direct, patting his chest and saying, "Miss Zhao, just because you think highly of me, Old Cao, I'm willing to work for you even if I don't ask for any wages. What's more, what you are doing is a great merit. I don't know how many children will benefit from it. Although I, Old Cao, can't read many words, I still have a conscience.
"Thinking back, I was also an orphan. If I had met a kind person like Miss Zhao at that time, I wouldn't have taken so many detours."
Thinking of the hardships and humiliations he had endured in the past, Cao Hu felt a surge of emotion, and his eyes became red.
He wiped his eyes and said, "Well, I won't say anymore. I'm making a fool of myself for Miss Zhao."
How could Xue Huan laugh at him?
"I'm not a good person. I just want to do something for those orphans within my ability."
After Zhou Ao came in, he said, "You called us in one by one just to defeat us one by one, right?"
Xue Huan poured him a cup of tea. "Mr. Zhou, what do you mean by defeating them one by one? I'm using both reason and emotion."
"I'm afraid we have to add 'entice with benefits'?" Zhou Ao smiled.
Xue Huan smiled, but didn't deny it. She even asked back, "Then what 'benefit' do you want in exchange for agreeing to this?"
Zhou Ao: "First, you have to provide for my old age."
He has no children, and this must be guaranteed.
Xue Huan: "Of course. During your coaching career, you'll receive a monthly salary, and when you retire, you'll also receive a monthly pension. Furthermore, if you get sick, the cost of medicine and medical treatment can all be covered by the company account. You don't have to worry about food, clothing, housing, and transportation; everything is guaranteed."
Zhou Ao added proudly, "And wine."
Xue Huan held her forehead with her hand. "You can drink, but you can't get drunk and miss classes, and you can't come to the classroom drunk. If the students see you, you'll lose your dignity as a teacher."
"Hmph, do you even need to tell me that?"
"Then, Mr. Zhou, do you agree?"
"Bring me the deed."
Xue Huan immediately handed over the contract, "Please take a look. If you are dissatisfied with anything, please let me know."
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