Chapter 223: He Should Deserve Better

The girl wailed, Yuan Jiaqi said what he had to say, then hurried off to the Yamen, without taking the delicate one.

A lady stepped out from beside, she pulled up the girl who was squatting on the ground.

"Have you given up?"

"No, I haven't given up. I want to marry her, I will marry her. Since this matter with him is unsolvable, I'll go to his house and speak to his wife."

"Truly stubborn and dull; there will be a day when you regret."

"Before I perhaps had some reservations, but after I saw his wife, I knew my chance had arrived. She is not a match for him; he deserves someone better."

My goodness, if Qiao Mai were present, she would definitely burst out laughing.

She is not a match for him? Then you, girl, are a match for him?

How amusing, why do people always seek psychological balance in appearance?

Qiao Mai's looks are ordinary, but a single fairness covers a hundred flaws; she excels in having good skin. Who among you dares to compare with her on that?

And also, she can make money?

What a spiritually radiant child; just looking at her is delightful.

"Haha, you're being jealous."

"Alright, if you are Grandmother's Wang Jiaru's Acquaintance, then come with me home; we'll talk properly once we get there, and if you're not satisfied you can leave."

"Great, Ling'er pays respects to you, sir!"

"At our tooth shop."

"No, she has never married nor wishes to marry; she hopes to find a household that can support her in old age."

"Where is the person?"

"Let's go, I'll take a look!"

"Hmm, you're coming over at this time for something?"

"Yes, you wanted to study and learn to write, so Mother hired a teacher for you."

"She used to be a nurturing nanny in the palace; as she grew older, the palace happened to send someone away, so she left with them. She originally intended to seek refuge with relatives in the North, but those relatives were gone. Now she has nowhere to go and does not wish to become a servant in a wealthy household, so she came to our tooth shop to inquire whether there is a suitable place to settle."

"She matches him in every way, doesn't she? If anyone is mismatched, it's him—Yuan Jiaqi—hmph!"

"Just as we arrived home, Qiu Guanshi from the tooth shop showed up; Qiao Mai had someone invite him to the old lady's side."

"Qiao Mai had to quietly store the winter dates into a pocket space; she went to be the driver, taking the old lady back to Jixiang Yuan. What a hassle!"

"I'll go; as long as she doesn't practice martial arts, she'll be willing to do anything."

"Grandmother, you say one princess isn't enough; I just passed by and immediately saw two of them like that. He really attracts bees and butterflies. When he wasn't an official, there was neighbor Widow Chen and a chubby girl from Tiannan Town. Now that he's an official, they all flock to him."

"Even if it's about qin, chess, calligraphy, or painting, she isn't afraid of anyone. In her past life she loved the classical style—brush calligraphy, musical instruments. She doesn't claim to master everything, but she knows a bit of each. How can anyone say she's not a match for him?"

"I don't blame him; I'm just angry."

"Yes,"

Qiao Mai didn't return home but went straight to Fucheng, to the old lady's place, like a wronged child, and poured her heart out to the old lady.

"That can be arranged."

She glanced at the sky, stood up to leave; the old lady was comfortable with her returning alone, but not with her being with Yuan Jiaqi.

"Then it's better to obey than to be merely respectful!"

Qiao Mai sized her up and felt quite satisfied.

"Oh dear, when I heard she came out of the palace I wondered if I'd know her. What a coincidence, why did you come out?"

"How old are you?"

"Try guessing."

"Yes, my granddaughter has a six‑year‑old daughter; I want to hire someone to teach her reading and writing, to involve her in various fields. If you come to teach, I'll be relieved."

"Add one more condition?"

Also, she knows martial arts. As long as no Cultivator appears, she's the southern rascal here.

"Haha, you and your master have destiny; Jin Niang, you should stay, okay?"

Ling'er hurriedly looked around the Keting; besides Mother and Grandmother, she saw a stranger. She gently approached Jin Mama.

"It's like this: Qiao Niang asked me to find a female teacher for Miss Ling'er, and there's news."

"You're too kind. You can read and write; you must come from a scholarly family, right?"

"Yes, my family has only one daughter, who is pampered, but the proper manners still need to be taught. Although women don't take imperial exams, the knowledge they should know cannot be lacking."

Qiao Mai turned and slipped a silver coin to Qiu Guanshi, "Thank you!"

Inside the tooth shop, a woman dressed in plain clothes with a feminine appearance sat upright on a chair; after Qiu Guanshi left, she remained motionless until they returned.

She originally didn't want to come back, but this time she had a reason and insisted on following her back to Jixiang Yuan; no one could stop her, and she left the old master stranded in Fucheng.

"Qiu Guanshi gave a brief, simple explanation."

The old lady also wanted to go, so Qiao Mai had to take her along.

Qiao Mai thought of Lu Ruxin, sighed, "Indeed, let's check on the child first."

"I guess so. My family fell into decline, and I happened to be chosen as a palace selection girl; I was taken away for twenty years. When I returned home, everything and everyone had changed, so I didn't want to stay there and left."

"Have you ever been married?"

"Mother, you're looking for me?"

She whispered to the old madam, "Alas, they say accompanying the lord is like accompanying a tiger; serving the empress is no different. I'm old enough as a servant and don't want to live in constant fear in the palace. So, does your family need to hire someone?"

"May I ask, what can you teach?"

"I'm thirty‑five, gentle and virtuous in appearance, yet decisive in action; I once served as a nurturing nanny in the palace."

Moreover, between husband and wife, what's about being a match? If you like each other, that's enough; being comfortable together is what matters; work together for your little nest, that's all. No need for all that fuss.

"Aside from martial arts, everything else should be no problem."

Back home, Qiao Mai had someone call Ling'er, and she entertained the Jin Mama in the Keting.

Jin Mama stepped forward and offered a bow to Qiao Mai, "I have met this madam."

"Hehe, you're being courteous."

"I suppose you have heard about my family at the Yahang, right?"

"I hope she develops good living habits, a discerning eye for people, and can tell right from wrong, good from bad."

Upon seeing Wang Jiaru's Acquaintance, the woman hurried forward and performed a grand bow to the elderly lady.

"I know he isn't that kind of person, but it's just nauseating. Those girls, you see, are really something—knowing he has a family and children, yet they still crowd around him. How can they be so shameless?"

"People are like that— the more they can't have, the more they want it, and some will use any means for profit. He can't help it; you can't blame him for this, can you?"

"I'll go too!"

"Good, Qiao Niang, good, elderly lady."

When they first met, the elderly lady exclaimed, "Aren't you the Jin Mama who served Empress Yuan?"

Qiao Mai nodded, "Then let me tell you about the gentleman's terms at my house: fifty taels per month for cultivation, two sets of clothing each season, and everything else is the same as ours. How does that sound?"

"He isn't that kind of person, so keep your thoughts to yourself. Besides, look at any official—no one sends a woman over; if he refuses, that's that."

"What?"

"Also, does she have space?"

Jin Mama shook her head, "Some children's character can be cultivated later, some are innate. Some listen to advice, some appear to listen but feel uneasy inside; some think they are right. Those can be guided, but teaching—how to say—it works for some, fails for others."

"May I ask, are you the gentleman hired by my mother?"

"I, the maid, convey greetings to the old madam."

Just then Ling'er was called over; she didn't let Yuehong and the others carry her, but ran in herself. As soon as Jin Mama saw her entering the room, she took a liking to her.

"Retirement care?"

"It's fine, as long as you're willing to stay in my house, this arrangement will never change?"

"Deal!"

Both sides didn't draft any documents; it relied entirely on trust.

(End of chapter)