Chapter 16
Huo Yanci waved her fan, getting increasingly arrogant: "What's in it for me?"
"The advantage is that it lets everyone know that you are an exceptionally good person, unmatched by anyone in the world."
Huo Yanci said indifferently, "Forget it, let everyone think I'm a villain that no one in the world can surpass."
Ning Qingxi, whose first plan failed, came up with another: "I don't care. You're with me. If you don't help me, I'll turn around and say you're greedy too."
With her eyes closed and her heart hardened, she looked exactly like a rogue and scoundrel. However, being a young and charming girl, she didn't seem hateful at all; instead, she was quite likable.
Huo Yanci was stunned for a moment, her mind suddenly went blank, and she wanted to say something witty but something seemed to be blocking her, and she couldn't say anything. Finally, she changed the subject dryly: "Speaking of which, are you really used to using those bedding?"
"Hey, I've slept in even worse ones," Ning Qingxi said nonchalantly. "Do you know what I used before I went to Master Zhang's place? Patched and patched, you couldn't even tell what color the quilt was originally... Hey, speaking of which, has it gotten hot these past few days?"
As the weather got warmer, Ning Qingxi didn't bring any light clothes when she came. She still wore the same two sets of winter clothes in rotation. Every day, she was drenched in sweat in the open construction site. After supervising the craftsmen to go back and prepare to build the slope protection, she was so hot that she couldn't stand it anymore and wished she could pour the water from her water bag directly onto her head.
Huo Yanci had changed into her spring clothes early, a pale yellow outfit that fluttered in the wind. While she didn't quite look like an immortal, she was still quite pleasing to the eye.
In contrast, Ning Qingxi, although also dressed in pale yellow, had noticeably thick cotton padding in her sleeves, so thick that even a sandstorm wouldn't budge it. What was most frustrating was that the difference became even more obvious when the two stood together.
Huo Yanci was already tall, but Ning Qingxi looked short and fat next to him, like a winter melon.
She started thinking about going back and buying two new outfits.
Coincidentally, the chef also had some business to attend to, so Ning Qingxi took a car back to the capital.
After returning home, she rushed back to her house. As soon as she entered, Ning Qingyuan, now free from his teacher's control, shot at her like a cannonball, followed by Aunt Shen who came running out.
Before leaving, Ning Qingxi specially hired someone to take care of the two monkeys. Unexpectedly, Ning Qingyuan was so outgoing and played with the nanny so naturally. Ning Qingxi, who was introverted, would never do such a thing and did not understand it.
“Slow down, or you’ll trip and chip your teeth. I don’t have money to pay for your treatment,” Ning Qingxi said, patting Ning Qingyuan’s head. She then looked up at Aunt Shen and said, “Auntie, call Qingshan out. It’s getting hot, I’ll take them to buy some spring clothes.”
Aunt Shen was chasing after Ning Qingxi, her face covered in sweat. Upon hearing this, her eyes suddenly turned strange. She stared at Ning Qingxi for a moment, making Ning Qingxi quite puzzled. Then she turned back to the courtyard and called Ning Qingshan out, saying leisurely, "It's getting hot, isn't it? Look at me, I'm still wearing winter clothes."
Ning Qingxi was even more confused, but she didn't see anything wrong with it, so she smiled and looked at her and said, "I'm taking them out to play this afternoon, and I'll give you half a day off to buy some spring clothes."
Aunt Shen: "..."
As soon as she left, Ning Qingyuan suddenly looked up and said, "Sister, I don't like Aunt Shen."
Ning Qingshan, who was usually quiet and reserved, also said, "I don't like it either. The food she gives us is nowhere near as good as what the Zhang family used to give us."
"..." Ning Qingxi squatted down, looked them in the eye, and said seriously, "No matter who we invite, we can't eat like we used to at the Zhang family's house. If we really eat like that, you'll be banging on the bowl before my sister's wages even come in, understand?"
Ning Qingshan nodded sullenly: "But sister, I'm not full."
Ning Qingxi was also in a dilemma.
She made arrangements in a hurry and didn't know anyone, so she found someone from the village's neighborhood to take care of the two children. The salary was one tael of silver per month, with food expenses paid separately. To be fair, the treatment wasn't too bad, but the children didn't like it.
There was nothing she could do; Ning Qingxi was the kind of person who spoiled her children. She could only try to find a better nanny while she was still looking for a replacement. She comforted the two children for a few moments and then took them out to play, figuring out that a new nanny would be found.
After going out, besides buying clothes, they strolled along the food street and ate until they were stuffed. Ning Qingxi also enrolled the two of them in school. Ning Qingshan didn't react much, but Ning Qingyuan looked like he had been struck by lightning; he looked like he was roasted to a crisp.
Ning Qingxi was satisfied with her reaction and patted their heads, saying, "I've been out for a long time, and I imagine you're bored. Why don't you read a few words to pass the time?"
Ning Qingxi had suffered in school for too long. Once he turned his life around, he immediately tore up someone else's umbrella. After tearing it up, he leisurely returned to the construction site, leaving the petrified Ning Qingyuan to do nothing.
When they arrived at the construction site, dusk had fallen, just in time for dinner. Ning Qingxi unceremoniously ordered another bowl and sat down at the same table with the resentful Huo Yanci.
Huo Yanci said sarcastically, "Oh, so Miss Ning can actually still eat?"
Ning Qingxi took a bite of the steamed bun, puzzled. "Why can't I eat it?"
"Didn't you eat anything when you got back to the capital?"
Ning Qingxi: "..."
Huo Yanci said bitterly, "I came with you, but you went off to eat something nice and left me here all alone. It was only because other people told me you weren't here anymore."
Ning Qingxi put the chicken leg from her bowl into Huo Yanci's bowl and began to try to soothe him: "No way, I was so busy when I went back. You only need to eat your fill, and the whole family isn't hungry. I have a family to support, so it's different from yours. I can't just think about myself when I go back. I settled the two kids and rushed back without stopping."
Huo Yanci reluctantly accepted the explanation and condescended to take a bite of the chicken leg.
Seeing that his anger had subsided, Ning Qingxi asked, "Speaking of which, do you know anyone in the capital who is good at taking care of people?"
Huo Yanci looked up at her: "What's wrong? So high and mighty? Do you need someone to wait on you when you come out?"
“No way, my child doesn’t like the one I found, I have to hurry up and change her,” Ning Qingxi couldn’t help but complain. “To be honest, I don’t like her either, she talks weirdly.”
“It’s a bit difficult. Nowadays, a good wet nurse can raise three generations of people with one family. Where are you going to find one? Besides, they are very expensive…” Huo Yanci looked her up and down, her unspoken words quite clear.
Ning Qingxi: "...Then lower your requirements. They need to know how to serve people, and most importantly, they can't be too expensive."
Good wet nurses are not easily found; the position is usually hereditary. So Huo Yanci inherited the position, and he said, "There really is one."
Ning Qingxi's eyes lit up.
Huo Yanci: "The wet nurse in my courtyard took care of me since I was a child. She has a gentle personality."
Ning Qingxi's eyes darkened: "Come on, yours must be ridiculously expensive."
Huo Yanci said, "Is it alright? It's only three taels of silver a month. Miss Ning can afford it, right?"
Ning Qingxi clenched her fists silently, trying her best to remain calm as she said, "Do you think you're funny?"
"I was just kidding, don't be so violent," Huo Yanci leaned back slightly. "But seriously, do you really not need me to send two people over to you?"
Ning Qingxi hesitated for a moment.
To be honest, Huo Yanci really did fall for her.
A good wet nurse wouldn't suddenly go and serve another family, especially a wealthy one. As a prince, Huo Yanci's wet nurse was naturally not someone that just anyone could do.
But if you accept a meal, you're obligated to do it; if you take a gift, you'll be subservient to Huo Yanci from now on.
Two little voices started fighting in Ning Qingxi's head. One of them said, "A fool wouldn't take advantage of a good deal!"
Another said, "Poverty shouldn't diminish one's spirit. Besides, is three taels of silver a month really that little?"
Ning Qingxi: "..."
She glanced down at her purse and was speechless for a moment.
Poverty truly is the best weapon against humanity.
Huo Yanci, sitting opposite her, didn't understand the internal struggle she was going through. She only saw her conflicted expression. After a moment, she suddenly looked down, opened her purse, and glanced at it. Then, her inner turmoil disappeared, leaving only a pained look on her face. It was easy to guess what she was thinking.
Huo Yanci said, "How about this, you just write me an IOU. I'll still pay the wet nurse's money for the next few months. You can settle the matter with me when you have the money."
Ning Qingxi roughly calculated that it would cost 36 taels of silver a year.
She was in even more pain.
How many people can bear such a debt?
She waved her hand, looking very weak: "Give me a few days to think about it."
Huo Yanci said quietly, "The longer you think about it, the more trouble your younger siblings will suffer. You don't want to share a room with someone you hate every day, do you?"
Ning Qingxi: "..."
She admitted that Huo Yanci had hit her sore spot. She opened her purse and, with great difficulty, took out a few silver ingots: "Let's order for a year first."
Huo Yanci was quite shocked. She put the silver away and said insincerely, "Thank you, boss. When can we go back to the capital to take care of things?"
Those around them, initially drawn to the silver ingots, suddenly heard something they shouldn't have heard. Their thoughts instantly shifted from "Holy crap, so rich?" to "Holy crap, are they really having an affair?"
Ning Qingxi was also at a loss with Huo Yanci Sao.
Having resolved one of her worries, Ning Qingxi was eager to return home. Coincidentally, Huo Yanci, the eldest young master, was also acting up, wanting to go home. The two hit it off immediately, and the next day they hitched up a carriage and returned to the capital in a grand procession.
Upon returning to the capital, Ning Qingxi immediately took Huo Yanci back to her own courtyard, found Aunt Shen, and said in a very tactful manner, "Aunt Shen, my younger siblings are used to being wild. You've been working hard these past few days, so please take a few copper coins and buy some things for your family."
Aunt Shen's eyes were fixed on the copper coin. Upon hearing this, she smiled broadly and said, "Not at all, the young master and young lady are both very nice. You know, we are just common folk, so please bear with us if we don't serve them well."
Ning Qingxi was still thinking about how to phrase her words when Huo Yanci suddenly spoke up: "We've found a new wet nurse to take care of her."
Ning Qingxi: "..."
This poor kid has no emotional intelligence.
Having gotten carried away with the conversation, Ning Qingxi decided to throw caution to the wind: "Yes, that's why I came back this time."
Aunt Shen's face darkened: "Young Lady Ning, what do you mean by this? We're all from the same village, so when you said your younger siblings had no one to look after them, I came. And now what do you mean? You want me to leave because of an outsider? Ning Qingxi, let me tell you, I won't accept this!"
Ning Qingxi: "..."
What bothered her most was interpersonal relationships. She always felt embarrassed when arguing with people. Just as she was digging her toes into the ground, Huo Yanci stepped in and played the good cop: "Oh, we're all from the same village. So, how much does Miss Ning earn a month?"
Aunt Shen fell silent.
Huo Yanci said, "One tael of silver, is that right? To be honest, how many taels of silver can your whole family earn in a year?"
Ning Qingxi couldn't help but cover her face.
Huo Yanci is indeed a sharp-tongued person, but having her by her side saves her a lot of trouble, which makes her feel at ease.
Huo Yanci continued, "It's fine if you don't want to leave. I can just throw your bedding out, or I can have someone carry you out if you don't want to leave. We paid you to come here, so it's not a big deal if you don't want to spend the money anymore, right?"
As Ning Qingxi listened to him speak, she felt a damn familiarity; it was exactly the same as the rhetoric used by companies when laying off employees.
Those wicked capitalists!
Ning Qingxi was not criticizing her own awareness at all.
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