Chapter 50 - 25 Teaching Literacy_2

Words : 1229 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 50: Chapter 25 Teaching Literacy_2 Sang Wan nodded and smiled, "Then it’s settled! Starting tomorrow, you will learn together with Liu Ya! Recognizing a few characters and being able to write your own name is good enough. It saves you the embarrassment of helping others count the money when you are sold off!" Both Xingzhi and Hong Ye laughed upon hearing this. "Never mind," Sang Wan continued with a smile: "Since there isn’t much to do for the rest of the day, I’ll grant you half a day’s leave. Go prepare the Four Treasures of the Study! It’s alright if you can’t gather everything in time. Starting with recognizing characters tomorrow is perfectly fine!" Xingzhi and Hong Ye were both born and raised in the household — otherwise, Gu Fangzi wouldn’t have allowed them to serve Shi Fengju. The idea was that those born into the household could be better controlled, as their actions would always consider their family’s reputation and face. For them, preparing a set of the Four Treasures of the Study was not a difficult task. Both quickly assured that they would have everything ready by today, and hurried off to tell their family. Liu Ya returned from the kitchen and, learning that the young mistress had found her two junior sisters, was also delighted. Finally, she couldn’t bear the burden alone! Sang Wan had not realized that the kitchen was indeed a place ripe with news. No wonder Liu Ya was so frequently concerned about it! Everything from Mrs. Zhuang’s visit to the events in the main courtyard was already the lively topic of discussion among the kitchen maids, wives, and servant girls. Liu Ya had overheard all of it and returned to report everything to Sang Wan, even bringing news of the sequel: Gu Fangzi pleading mercy, resulting in Xiao Que’er being penalized a month’s wages. It was Gu Fangzi again, Sang Wan thought to herself. "Miss Gu really has a way with words, Xiao Que’er was clearly making trouble on purpose, yet she managed to persuade Mrs. Zhuang to let her off so easily!" Liu Ya tut-tutted with disapproval, and seeing Sang Wan’s sharp glance, she immediately knew better and said, "Yes, yes, I’m being too talkative! I won’t say any more!" The efficiency of Xingzhi and Hong Ye, or rather their family’s efficiency, was indeed high. Before dinner, each of them had returned holding a set of the Four Treasures of the Study. Therefore, Sang Wan ordered them to redecorate the wing room that had been cleared out, adding two new tables. Xingzhi and Hong Ye placed their own brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on their respective tables, feeling a strong sense of satisfaction that made them grin uncontrollably, their smiles unrestrained and eyes sparkling with a bright light, which made Sang Wan feel somewhat embarrassed. "Young mistress, why don’t we start tonight!" Hong Ye suggested eagerly as she looked at the brand-new pens, inks, papers, and inkstones, and the spotless stack of papers, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. Liu Ya snorted with laughter, scolding her with a smile, "What’s this ’we’? The young mistress is in a good mood and you just climb up the pole with her! You’re not even aware of the time. Instead of hurrying to set the meal for the young mistress, you talk about starting tonight! Do you think the young mistress is made of steel and doesn’t need to rest?" The young mistress and the young master are newlyweds! Liu Ya added in her mind, they don’t have time for you all. Hong Ye immediately regretted her imprudence, her face flushed with embarrassment as she hastily apologized to Sang Wan, bowing repeatedly, "This slave spoke out of turn, please forgive me, young mistress, I dare not do it again! I won’t do it again!" "Alright, Liu Ya was just saying! However, I really am a bit hungry now, let’s have the meal!" Sang Wan smiled lightly, lifting her hand. Hong Ye’s words were indeed presumptuous, but while Sang Wan would not punish her severely, she also would not go out of her way to show magnanimity. A master is a master, and a slave is a slave; a clear distinction must be made to prevent slaves from bullying their masters. Having been reborn, she would no longer be a pushover. "Yes, this slave will pass the message at once!" Seeing that Sang Wan was not to blame, Hong Ye sighed a sigh of relief and, wishing to compensate for her earlier blunder, quickly agreed and went off to do so. Xingzhi and Liu Ya escorted Sang Wan to wash her hands and to the dining room, which was converted from the small flower hall, and still raised the issue, "Would the young mistress like to—wait for the young master? He’s busy at the trading house and usually returns late in the day." It doesn’t necessarily mean he’s deliberately avoiding accompanying you, young mistress. Sang Wan thought to herself, it’s really different when you promise them benefits! In the past, getting Xingzhi to say something proactive was as hard as reaching the sky, let alone such valuable information. "No need, just set my portion. We’ll talk about the young master when he returns!" Sang Wan said with a smile. After all, she and Shi Fengju were just a fake couple by agreement, and he was not her world. Of course, there was no need for her to treat him as such. She figured that eating her meal first wouldn’t be an issue for Shi Fengju. Xingzhi and Liu Ya exchanged a glance subconsciously, responded in unison, and began to prepare the utensils and bowls, waiting for the dishes brought by Hong Ye before setting the table. There were four dishes and one soup in total: steamed pork with pumpkin rice noodles, jadeite shrimp, omelet, stir-fried lettuce with lily, yam chicken cream soup, along with a large bowl of aromatic rice from Jiangnan. Even though she was dining alone, Sang Wan did not feel lonely or melancholic. She carried herself with grace and composure, her appetite was quite good, and she ate most of the rice and drank half a bowl of soup before finishing. Xingzhi couldn’t help but admire her, thinking that only someone with a truly open mind and magnanimous heart could display such an attitude; the young mistress was indeed not an ordinary woman! Unfortunately, the young master’s heart was set on Miss Gu, and the young mistress was the one wronged! After all, how many could endure such cold treatment from their husband during the newlywed period? Even if they bore it, their demeanor would likely be sad and dispirited. "The dishes taste good. Have your meals brought here, and let’s dine together! If that’s not enough, just bring your own dishes over!" Sang Wan smiled and stood up. Liu Ya, Xingzhi, and the three expressed their gratitude, then Hong Ye indeed went to fetch a food box filled with their meals and stood by the table to eat. After master and slaves had finished their dinner, night fell, and candles were lit brightening the room. Perhaps it was having a shared activity that bonded them; all felt that the atmosphere of getting along today was exceptionally pleasant. The lovely and comfortable mood made everyone reluctant to break it.

Chapter 50 - 25 Teaching Literacy_2

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