Chapter 337: Hoodwink Her… No, Invite Her Back
Upon returning home, the two sisters found no sign of Nanny Shi, learning only after asking that she had stepped out on business today.
Wen Yao guessed it was likely related to that female tutor.
When Nanny Shi returned later, it turned out she had indeed stepped out for that exact matter.
Full of curiosity, Wen Yao asked, “Did you see her?”
Nanny Shi nodded and let out a sigh, telling Wen Yao about the female tutor’s plight.
Originally a native of the capital, this Tutor Su was in her late twenties. Having lost her husband in her early years, she had been hired into the Qian family to instruct the young ladies of the household.
Later, she followed the Qian family from the capital over to the prefectural city, consistently responsible for teaching the young ladies of the estate zither techniques and proper etiquette. Yet who could have foreseen that disaster would befall the Qian family and send them into prison overnight, dragging her into the trouble as well?
Fortunately, the reigning Emperor was a clear-sighted, strictly upright monarch who never implicated the innocent. Thus, once the investigation cleared the facts, those among them who were innocent were either released or sold off into service.
Because this female tutor had served in the Qian household, many families dared not hire her out of fear of being dragged in. Unwilling to return to the capital to face those rumors and gossip either, she found someone in the prefectural city and married him.
“It truly is a shame speaking of it. With no one hiring her as a tutor nowadays, she can only do some embroidery work at home to supplement the household income. Seeing her today, she lacks all her former grace—it truly is a shame,” Nanny Shi couldn’t help sighing with emotion.
“Then did you ask her? Is she willing to come to our home?” Wen Yao asked.
Nanny Shi shook her head gently: “She didn’t agree, but this old servant explained our household’s situation to her, letting her consider it for herself without any rush to give a reply.”
Speaking up to this point, Nanny Shi added, “By the way, Miss, the man she married—his family originally ran some business.
“It’s just that this husband of hers was born to a concubine. Like Tutor Su, he lost his wife earlier, leaving him with two children from his late wife—a son and a daughter. Tutor Su was introduced by someone and married him.
“After the couple married, the first wife’s son was the one holding power in the family, so he separated them into a small residence and a single storefront to live as a family of four. Now, the couple manages that storefront together with the two children. Tutor Su does a bit of embroidery work at home herself, while her husband manages the storefront’s business. From what this old servant observed, he is quite a capable hand at accounting.”
Nanny Shi had known all along that her young mistress always wished to find a capable assistant who could manage affairs. While Nanny Shi herself could help her manage the household, she had no way to help Wen Yao manage the business outside.
Right now, the people used by her young mistress belonged to Miss Rongrong’s side. Speaking of which, the two shared a wonderful relationship at present, so there was no need to divide certain things too clearly; for those joint businesses, her young mistress merely needed to wait to receive silver each month.
What about in the future, though? As time passed and the business grew larger, could such initial intentions still be maintained?
It wasn’t that she was worrying needlessly, but that reality was simply as such. Having witnessed the warmth and coldness of human relationships, Nanny Shi was bound to act with far greater caution than others.
However, she wouldn’t voice these words aloud, keeping them buried in her heart instead. Now that her young mistress and Miss Rongrong were enjoying a wonderful relationship, there was no need for her to step forward as the villain at this time and ruin the bond between the two young mistresses.
The Wen family had shown her great kindness, so she naturally hoped her young mistress could remain this well off forever.
Sure enough, the moment Wen Yao heard there was someone capable of managing affairs, her eyes lit up instantly.
“It just so happens that I have nothing to do tomorrow. Nanny, I’ll accompany you to see this tutor! After all, she’ll be hired to teach us in the future.” Wen Yao said.
Nanny Shi burst into laughter with a pfft, teasingly saying, “If Miss can sit down properly and study zither techniques and etiquette, then this old servant can be considered to have done right by Master.”
Wen Yao: “…Nanny, see through it without voicing it aloud!”
She would have to be a ghost to sit still for that.
Early the next morning, Wen Yao explained the situation to Qiu Rongrong, bringing Nanny Shi and calling for Xun Feng as they set off to find the person.
The horse carriage traveled along the main street for a long distance, turning through several alleys before arriving at a street with very few people. The storefront businesses on this street were all faring poorly, with only a few scattered figures walking on the road.
Wen Yao knitted her brows slightly: “That elder brother is far too unfair! Allocating such a remote location to them—even with a storefront, business wouldn’t be good!”
Nanny Shi let out a helpless sigh: “Is that not so? Yet there is a distinction between legitimate and concubine-born offspring, plus the one holding power in that household right now is his eldest brother, leaving them with no say in the matter.”
As the two spoke, the horse carriage passed by the entrance of a grocery shop, and Nanny Shi called out, “We’ve arrived.”
Xun Feng came to a halt immediately.
Nanny Shi lifted the curtain for Wen Yao to take a look: “It’s this one.”
Taking a look, Wen Yao saw a tiny storefront—not even as large as her bedroom—with a few sundries arranged inside, yet lacking even a trace of business.
Nanny Shi helped Wen Yao off the carriage, then guided her into the shop.
The person who was originally tidying the shop out of utter boredom saw customers coming to the door and immediately stepped out to greet them. Upon catching sight of Nanny Shi, he froze for a moment, then cupped his hands in respect toward them: “Nanny Shi, so it is you who has come.”
Wen Yao sized up this man: in his thirties, wearing a neat mustache, appearing refined and scholarly without lacking shrewd capability. Although the clothes on his body were somewhat worn, they were kept clean and pressed, leaving quite a favorable impression.
Nanny Shi nodded, introducing Wen Yao: “This is my young mistress. Is Tutor Su at home?”
The man cupped his hands to Wen Yao and nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, yes! Right in the back courtyard. Please, after you two.”
Wen Yao cast a glance at Nanny Shi, and Nanny Shi explained, “This residence sits right behind the shop, connected directly.”
Wen Yao’s brows knitted slightly. Although she felt this elder brother had acted somewhat excessively, she couldn’t say anything either—after all, the man wasn’t entirely heartless, at least allocating a house and a storefront, even if poor ones.
It wasn’t her place to inquire much about another family’s private affairs, so she merely let Nanny Shi support her as they followed the man into the back courtyard.
“Shilan, Nanny Shi is here!” Leading them through the back door, the man brought them into a small, single-entry courtyard. Though small, the courtyard was kept spotless, with several racks placed in the corner drying clothes.
Hearing the voice, a young woman stepped out from behind the drying clothes.
Even dressed in simple attire, it failed to conceal her intrinsic grace and poise. Although no magnificent ornaments adorned her hair, a simple silver hairpin pinned it in place, making her appear thoroughly gentle and refined.
Catching sight of Wen Yao and the others, Su Shilan set down the wooden basin in her hands and hurried over to greet them.
“Nanny, you’ve come! Who is this?” Su Shilan looked toward Wen Yao beside her.
Mainly, Wen Yao rarely cared to dress up on ordinary days, so standing alongside Nanny Shi and Mingyue, it was truly difficult to tell that she was the young mistress of the household.
Nanny Shi introduced her hastily: “Shilan, this is my young mistress.”
A flash of surprise flickered deep in Su Shilan’s eyes, and she curtsied hastily.
“Greetings, Miss Wen.”
Looking at her elegant posture, Wen Yao felt deep envy—this was far superior to her own half-baked etiquette.
Wen Yao made up her mind on the spot: she definitely had to hoodwink this Tutor Su… no, invite her back!
