Chapter 207: Nanny Shi Striving to Become Useful
Looking at the two fleeing silhouettes, Nanny Shi was left thoroughly bewildered in the wind. Ultimately, she gritted her teeth, determined that she must find her own value in this household.
Recalling what Wen Ying had said about the eldest young lady liking such things, Nanny Shi adjusted her clothes and walked toward Wen Di’s room, looking like a god of war.
When Old Madam Luo came over at noon to prepare food for the working men, she saw Wen Di sitting quietly under the veranda doing embroidery. Beside her, Nanny Shi would offer guidance from time to time, and Wen Di listened to it all attentively.
Such a quiet and virtuous granddaughter finally allowed Old Madam Luo to reclaim a shred of comfort that a granddaughter ought to look like a granddaughter. Seeing Nanny Shi guiding her so earnestly, she didn’t disturb them and entered the kitchen alone, preparing to make a few flatbreads and a soup to send over to the men.
Nanny Shi only realized Old Madam Luo had arrived when she heard the commotion in the kitchen. She hurriedly left what she was doing and trotted over to the kitchen to help.
“Old Madam, let this servant do it.” Nanny Shi attempted to step in and take over Old Madam Luo’s work.
Old Madam Luo cast a glance at her hands. Compared to Nanny Du, Nanny Shi’s hands clearly showed that she had never performed heavy labor. Furthermore, based on how she had guided Wen Di just now, she was presumably someone skilled in needlework. Although she was a servant, Old Madam Luo was not the type of person to mistreat others.
“Let me do it.” Old Madam Luo held the spatula and began making the flatbreads while asking, “Were you teaching Wen Di embroidery just now?”
Nanny Shi replied, “Replying to Old Madam, it can hardly be called teaching. This servant merely saw that Miss Wen Di liked it, so I gave her a bit of guidance. This servant’s embroidery work is acceptable.” As she spoke, she even fished out a handkerchief she had embroidered previously to show Old Madam Luo.
Nanny Shi was truly working very hard to show that she was useful.
Upon taking a look, Old Madam Luo put down the spatula in her hand and began examining it carefully. She really had never seen such excellent embroidery work; it was simply too beautiful, not a bit inferior to the designs on Qiu Rongrong’s clothes.
“You’re actually this impressive,” Old Madam Luo praised sincerely.
Nanny Shi smiled bashfully, doing her best to demonstrate her utility. “If the Old Madam doesn’t dislike this servant’s lowly background, this servant can teach the young mistresses needlework.”
“Really?” Old Madam Luo’s face lit up with joy. This was truly a case of someone providing a pillow just as one was nodding off to sleep; these few wild girls really needed to be brought under control.
“Not just needlework—they will be handed over to you to discipline from now on. A young lady must have the bearing of a young lady,” Old Madam Luo said directly. Nanny Shi came from a wealthy household, so she definitely knew much more than rural folks like them.
Nanny Shi smiled happily; she was finally of some use. “This servant will certainly teach the young mistresses well.”
“Mm, bring Hua’er along too,” Old Madam Luo added a sentence, handed the handkerchief back to Nanny Shi, and continued cooking.
In her heart, however, Nanny Shi had already begun to calculate. Although Hua’er currently mingled with the young mistresses every day, master was master and servant was servant; they still had to be taught separately.
Old Madam Luo didn’t know what was going through Nanny Shi’s mind, but she simply felt that having someone discipline the people in the household now was a good thing.
As for herself, she only needed to control the overall situation from the rear.
That very evening, Old Madam Luo announced this “dire news” right in front of the entire family.
“Starting from today, you girls had better rein in your temperaments and begin learning needlework from Nanny Shi.” The moment Old Madam Luo’s words fell, Wen Ying prepared to complain. Before the words could even leave her mouth, she caught a fierce glare from Old Madam Luo, forcing Wen Ying to swallow her grievances right back down.
Several of the boys sat in the back snickering, glad that they didn’t have to participate. However, before they could be happy for long, they heard Old Madam Luo continue, “Not just them; you boys will also be handed over to Nanny Shi from now on.”
The group was struck dumbfounded.
No, what were they supposed to learn? Were they seriously going to be made to learn how to hold an embroidery needle?
Old Madam Luo’s original intention was just to have someone keep an eye on their speech and behavior to repress their wild natures a bit; otherwise, what would be the difference between them and the ruffians outside?
In this household, Old Madam Luo was someone whose word was absolute. Even if the boys were unhappy in their hearts, they didn’t dare show it. In the end, they were led away by Xun Feng to the back courtyard to practice martial arts, looking thoroughly mournful.
“Grandma, my master said the medical clinic won’t have much going on tomorrow, so he wants to come to our house, and casually hold a free clinic in the village while he’s at it,” Wen Jun suddenly said to Old Madam Luo.
Old Madam Luo blanked for a second, then followed up, “If he wants to come to our house to play, then let him come to play. What is he doing holding a free clinic? It’ll just spoil the villagers for nothing. How precious a person is your master.”
Wen Jun and Wen Xiuyi exchanged a glance. Their purpose was actually not the free clinic at all. Ever since discovering there was an issue with Old Madam Luo’s health last time, Wen Jun had mentioned it to Doctor Jin, wanting him to check on Old Madam Luo.
However, Old Madam Luo seemed to be somewhat cautious, brushing it off every single time. Doctor Jin hadn’t been able to discern anything definitive either. Thus, this time, taking advantage of the fact that Li Fu was coming to the Wen family, he simply decided to set up a free clinic. When the time came, Old Madam Luo would have to be examined whether she wanted to or not.
So much time had passed, and combined with the numerous distractions from the family’s affairs during this period, Old Madam Luo had long forgotten about Wen Jun wanting to check her health. Consequently, she didn’t take it to heart, purely feeling that Doctor Jin coming here to hold a free clinic was an injustice to him.
Anticipating that she would say this, Wen Jun added a line, “Master said he can let me try to take people’s pulses and diagnose illnesses, so this free clinic will mainly be focused on me.”
Sure enough, the moment Old Madam Luo heard him say this, her attitude transformed instantly. To serve as practice for her eldest grandson? Then that was fine.
“Alright, in a moment I’ll have your grandpa go tell the village chief. Xiao Jun, you must study medicine properly with Doctor Jin, and whatever you do, do not learn from your dad,” Old Madam Luo said with earnest words and deep meaning. After speaking, she even shot a glare at the innocent Wen Xiuyi.
At any rate, Wen Xiuyi was already fearless after being innocently implicated so many times. Let her talk; regardless, he currently just wanted to be a scholar who knew how to farm. As for matters like taking the imperial examinations to gain official rank—don’t even come near him.
“Mother, am I your biological son? Could I have been picked up by you and Dad?” Wen Xiuyi said with a face full of grievance.
Old Madam Luo rolled her eyes directly. “I rather wish you were picked up.”
A vexing creature.
Old Madam Luo hummed, called the others, and left.
Li Yi looked at Wen Xiuyi, and seeing the pitiful look instantly vanish from his face, the corner of his mouth twitched.
“Jun’er, come massage your dad’s shoulders.” Wen Xiuyi moved his shoulders; these past few days had truly exhausted him.
Taking the medicinal wine, Wen Jun followed him out.
“Li Yi, aren’t you going back to your room?” Wen Yao asked, glancing at Li Yi who sat unmoving.
Li Yi stood up slowly. “I am.”
“Oh, see you later then.” Wen Yao waved goodbye.
Li Yi suddenly called out to stop her, “Those two individuals are usable. They will not implicate you.”
Wen Yao blanked for a moment before realizing what Li Yi was talking about. She smiled. “Thanks.”
Li Yi must have listened to what they said about Nanny Shi and Nanny Du being guilty servants, and gone to investigate for them.
Regardless of what channel Li Yi had obtained the news from, Wen Yao accepted this kind intention.
“By the way, I don’t have much to do tomorrow, so I’ll be making pastries at home. Should we have Xun Feng wait at home tomorrow?” Wen Yao asked.
Li Yi thought for a moment. “No matter. Tomorrow I will have Datou request a leave of absence from the teacher on my behalf, and I shall wait at home as well.” It just so happened that his imperial father was coming too, so he wouldn’t be going to the academy.
“Alright, see you tomorrow then.” After Wen Yao finished speaking, she walked away without looking back.
Li Yi looked at the empty courtyard and also returned to his room to read. It wasn’t until Xun Feng returned that Li Yi instructed, “Yao’er said she is making pastries tomorrow. Make a trip to my imperial father’s place and tell him to arrange for the people to be brought over tomorrow. Make absolutely sure the pastries are sent back to the imperial mother and Imperial Grandmother.”
