"That being said, it's true that it's unsettling to see her always eyeing you like that," Heyue complained.
Thirteen's eyes curved into a smile: "Watching with predatory eyes? That's an interesting word. Since you don't like it, just send her back. I won't teach her anymore."
He Yue snorted: "Easier said than done. If we send her back, what will Manager Cui think? He'll definitely wonder if Cui Yan offended us. Will he still be able to work seriously then?"
Thirteen nodded, agreeing with the idea, and suddenly said, "If you were also learned, you could teach her, which would also prevent her from coveting Master."
The last sentence had a slightly joking tone.
He Yue felt a little embarrassed, frowned and waved her hand: "Never mind, you should teach her. Anyway, she won't cause any big trouble."
"However, we can't let her continue to act recklessly." After thinking for a moment, seeing the fabric and needlework in his hand, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and called Hailan over: "Go and invite a female tutor who is good at needlework. Also, tell Steward Cui and the others that there is a difference between men and women. I specially invited a female tutor to teach Cui Yan to read. This female tutor is not only knowledgeable, but also good at needlework. If Cui Yan follows her, she can do both needlework and reading without any problems."
Hailan's face lit up with joy, and she immediately agreed, turning around and running out.
He Yue was pleased with his method.
Needlework is an essential skill for women. Given the work of steward Cui and his colleagues, they must have taught Cui Yan needlework, but it's still not comparable to those who specialize in it.
If Cui Yan studies well and becomes the disciple of the female teacher, she will be able to marry well in the future.
Zhizhu is good at needlework, but she still has to serve Heyue and Shisan, so she doesn't have time to teach Cuiyan, and her status isn't high enough to elevate Cuiyan's.
As for the reason of gender difference, it's also reasonable. It's not like they're stopping her from studying here; they're just changing her teacher to a different woman. I believe the Cui family has no reason to refuse.
As long as Cui Yan stays away from Thirteen, it's just a matter of spending a few more taels of silver, it's no big deal.
Thirteen chuckled softly as he held Heyue in his arms: "Your idea is excellent. I'm afraid Steward Cui and the others would be more than happy to accept it. Not only will they not resent it, but they will also be grateful."
"However, it's quite amusing when you're jealous, I like it." Thirteen tapped her nose, his face full of affection.
He Yue blushed, but there was no denying that she was jealous, which led to the incident of hiring a female tutor.
When Steward Cui learned of this, he was overjoyed but couldn't help but speculate. He whispered to his wife, Cui Tianshi, "Why did we suddenly hire a female tutor? The young master said there's a difference between men and women. Could it be that Cui Yan did something?"
Since learning about the hiring of a female tutor, Cui Tianshi had been beaming with joy. Hearing her husband's words, she glared at him and said, "You're overthinking it again. If she really did something, would the young master hire a female tutor for her? This is an immense favor. With this status, Yan'er will have no trouble getting married in the future."
Cui Chengbin agreed and laughed again: "Madam is a good person, and the young master is a good person too. The young master has done a great service to our family. We must do our best to serve the young master and son-in-law in the future."
Cui Tian nodded repeatedly: "Of course."
However, Cui Yan showed no joy upon hearing her parents' words. With a sullen face, she suddenly stood up and said, "Why do we need a female tutor? Master Jin teaches so well and is so knowledgeable. I want to study with Master Jin."
Manager Cui angrily rebuked, "You scoundrel! Who is Master Jin? He doesn't give you the right to follow him around like that!"
Cui Tianshi couldn't bear to see her daughter scolded, so she quickly grabbed her daughter's arm and advised her, "Yanzi, your father is right. You know Jin Ye's identity, so how can you be so willful? The young master's kindness in letting you study with Jin Ye is a great favor to our family, but there is still a difference between men and women. If others find out, they will laugh at you! It's different with a female tutor. With this, you can marry well in the future. The young master is thinking of you."
"What do you mean by 'for my own good'?" Cui Yan shook off Cui Tianshi's hand, her face darkening with anger. "She's clearly jealous. She doesn't want me to get close to Master Jin. She's doing it on purpose. I don't want to be with any female tutor. I just want to be with Master Jin!"
"You!" Steward Cui was furious and raised his hand to slap her. Cui Yan was so frightened that she quickly hid in Cui Tianshi's arms, trembling.
Cui Tianshi hugged her daughter and glared at Steward Cui: "You can be angry, but you can't hit someone!"
Manager Cui trembled with rage, pointing his right index finger at Cui Yan: "Listen to what she's saying! Is this how a girl should talk? The young master has been kind to us, yet she slanders him like this, utterly disgracing me!" He then sternly questioned Cui Yan: "Tell me, have you developed other thoughts about the young master?"
Cui Tianshi was startled and quickly looked at her daughter: "Yanzi, is this true?"
Cui Yan blushed and stammered, "You... don't overthink it, that's not true."
Cui Tianshi breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. You can't be confused. We can't afford to associate with someone like Master Jin, and we can't repay kindness with enmity to our young master."
Cui Yan frowned, not wanting to hear such words. She wanted to retort, "How is this a case of being unworthy of your kindness? How is this a case of repaying kindness with enmity?"
Butler Cui looked at her flushed face but didn't believe it. He sneered, "Whether you have such intentions or not, give up on that idea. With me here, you won't be able to step into their house."
"Father! How could you do this?" Cui Yan disregarded her shyness, broke free from Cui Tianshi's embrace, and became agitated: "Why can't I come in? A man should have three wives and four concubines. Master Jin is such a good man, yet the young mistress is so possessive of him, not allowing a single woman to come in. Master Jin is good to the young mistress and does not want to take a concubine to hurt her feelings. This is because the young mistress is ignorant. She should take the initiative to let Master Jin take a concubine."
"It's true we were servants, but we've been freed from that status. Even if we were still servants of their family, I could still follow Master Jin, even as a concubine. We'd ultimately belong to the young mistress. Once we're inside, we'd be hers, posing no threat whatsoever. What could she possibly object to?"
"You, you, you scoundrel!" Manager Cui was furious and grabbed a stick from the corner of the wall, ready to hit her.
Cui Tianshi screamed and rushed towards her daughter, shielding her behind her.
Cui He pushed open the door from the outside and rushed in, grabbing Steward Cui's waist: "Father, calm down, don't hit my sister!"
Manager Cui's chest heaved violently, his eyes bloodshot: "I'm going to beat this bastard to death!"
Cui Tianshi stood in front of her daughter, tears streaming down her face: "If you want to kill her, kill me first!"
Seeing her husband pause and look pained, Cui Tianshi breathed a sigh of relief and spoke up for her daughter: "I think what my daughter said makes sense. We can't repay kindness with enmity. But what Yanzi said is also right. We are the young master's people. Even if we enter the family, we will only help the young master. There is no reason for us to oppose the young master. The young master also has to manage the household. How can he take care of his son-in-law?"
Steward Cui was both angry and furious. Before he could even speak, Cui He stomped his foot in anger: "Mother, why are you following my sister's nonsense? How can my sister become someone's concubine? Even if Master Jin is good, he is still not someone we can afford to be with!"
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