Shen Youying was so eager to tell stories that she got up early the next day.
After washing up and getting ready, she had breakfast and couldn't wait to go to the teahouse to reserve a seat.
Xue Shen pushed the wheelchair out, and after she was seated, he pushed her to the teahouse. The two had just stepped out of the courtyard when they bumped into Zhao Meier.
Today, Zhao Meier wore a light pink jacket and skirt, with a cape adorned with a fur collar. Her makeup was meticulously done, with rosy cheeks and red lips, making her look more delicate and charming than yesterday.
Upon encountering the two, she first gave a slight curtsy before raising her head to look at Xue Shen and Shen Youying, asking with a smile, "Is Madam going to the teahouse to listen to storytelling?"
Shen Youying nodded: "Is Miss Mei'er going too?"
“Yes.” Zhao Meier lowered her head slightly, a little embarrassed, and said in a low voice, “The story the storyteller told today was written by me. I don’t know how it will be received. I’m a little nervous, so I’d better go and see for myself.”
Shen Youying looked surprised: "You actually wrote that storybook?"
Zhao Meier nodded shyly: "I just wrote it casually for amusement, but my brother insisted that it was good and wanted to take it to the storyteller." She covered her face with her hand, revealing a bit of girlish charm: "If the reaction is not good, I will be too ashamed to face anyone. Madam, please don't tell anyone."
"How could that be? I read a chapter of that storybook yesterday, and it was more exciting and interesting than many of the ones sold in bookstores these days."
Upon hearing that the words were written by Zhao Meier herself, Shen Youying immediately felt more favorably toward her. In this world, it is always more difficult for women to rise above their circumstances. There are talented women like Zhao Meier, but most of them have their talents buried because of marriage and the petty scheming in the inner quarters.
Therefore, upon hearing Zhao Meier's words, she was inclined to offer more support, and took her hand, saying, "You don't need to worry too much. I have a good friend who loves reading storybooks. Because of her love for storybooks, she even opened a bookstore and employed several scholars who specialize in writing storybooks. Even if this story doesn't receive a good response in Qingyan Town, you can give me a copy, and I'll take it to the capital for her to see. It's bound to be good."
Zhao Meier was overjoyed: "Does Madam really like the story I wrote?" She became even more shy: "It is already lucky to be liked by Madam, I dare not ask for anything else."
Shen Youying said, "Don't be so self-deprecating. Let's go to the teahouse first. When you see the teahouse packed with customers, you'll know how good your writing is."
Zhao Meier blushed at her barrage of praise and finally lowered her eyes, quietly following beside her.
Xue Shen, who was standing next to her, narrowed his eyes and gave her a cold look.
Zhao Meier seemed to sense something, and quietly raised her eyes to look at him, then looked away like a startled deer, lowering her head even further.
When the three arrived at the teahouse, the storyteller was already set up. Since it was a new story and the performance started early, there weren't many people there, and they were scattered around the teahouse.
Shen Youying had reserved the frontmost seat yesterday, and went straight to sit in the center.
After the three had drunk a cup of tea, the storyteller tapped his folding fan on the table, cleared his throat, and began to tell his story.
Shen Youying genuinely loved the story. Even though she had already read the first act of the storybook yesterday, she was still completely engrossed in listening to it.
But the other two people at the table didn't have time to listen to the story.
Zhao Meier pretended to listen attentively, but in reality, she kept glancing at Xue Shen out of the corner of her eye.
Xue Shen was clearly not interested in listening to the story; his attention was always on Shen Youying. He would occasionally refill her half-finished teacup or peel a small dish of pine nuts and bring it to her.
He had a cold and rugged appearance, especially his deep, dark eyes that seemed to keep people at a distance. But when he did these trivial things for his wife, his cold eyes seemed to be filled with tenderness.
Zhao Meier saw it all and felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
She thought to herself that Madam Zhu was indeed beautiful, but she was also a complete paraplegic. No matter how beautiful a paraplegic was, she couldn't serve anyone; on the contrary, her husband had to serve her. She was truly lucky to have such a husband.
A woman's intuition told her that Master Zhu's treatment of his wife might not simply be due to his covetousness of her family's power.
But she had no intention of competing with Madam Zhu. Madam Zhu seemed to have a good temperament and was probably tolerant. No matter how sincere Master Zhu was to his wife, men always have times when they need relief. She could take care of her husband and bear children in his place. She didn't ask for anything else in the future; she would be happy if she could enter the mansion as a concubine and occasionally help her family.
Zhao Meier's mind was racing with calculations. One moment she was thinking that if Master Zhu took her in, and she could be even a little bit as gentle and considerate as she was to Madam Zhu, that would be enough to win someone's heart. The next moment she was thinking that these two men's mannerisms were very different from the common people in Qingyan Town. She wondered what kind of family they came from. If she could join their family, she would be living a completely different life from the other women in the town.
Thinking this way, she suddenly became warm towards Shen Youying.
Seeing that the storyteller had finished the first act, the other party sighed with unsatisfaction and quickly said, "This is only the first act. I have written five acts in total, and there will be one more act every day after that."
Shen Youying asked curiously, "The ending is already halfway through? What happened to the Xu family? Did Miss Xu end up with Minister Fang?"
Zhao Meier's eyes darted around, and she covered her mouth with a chuckle, saying, "How could it be so fast? I haven't even finished writing yet."
Shen Youying smiled and said, "That's true. It's not that fast. When will you be able to finish writing? I can't wait to read it."
Zhao Meier pondered for a moment and said, "It will take at least another half month." She showed a slightly regretful expression: "You don't think you'll stay in Qingyan Town for too long, do you? But leave your address, and I'll have someone send you a copy after I finish writing it."
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