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“Mistress, I am here.” “What is your name?”

“I am Xi Juan.”

“That surname is quite rare, and your name is nice. Can you read?”

“I can read a little, and I can also do some accounting.”

“Starting today, you will be the steward of Lucky Garden. You will be responsible for managing the household affairs. For major matters, consult with me, and for minor matters, handle them yourself. But always ensure

fairness.”

“Thank you, Mistress. I will do my best!”

“Your monthly allowance will be increased to one or two silver coins. If you do well, everyone’s allowances will increase accordingly.”

“Thank you for your graciousness!”

“You may all go back to your duties!”

Qiao Mai waved her hand, and the maids dispersed. By now, she felt relieved of many of her burdens.

Just as she had sipped tea, Madam Liu Qiao came to see her.

“Mai?”

“Auntie, isn’t your shop busy at this time?”

“I have something I’d like to discuss with you. Can you think of a solution for

“Go ahead.”

Qiao Mai picked up her teacup and continued to drink while listening to Madam Liu Qiao’s chatter.

“Well, I took Bao’er to our town’s school to enroll when you were out having fun. I wanted him to learn a few characters there, but the teacher refused him right away when he learned that he was related to you. It’s infuriating. What should I do about it?”

“Oh, it’s my fault for not telling you earlier. You should have asked me first.” “Do you have any grievances with him?”

“As far as I’m concerned, no, but from his perspective, there is a grievance.”

Qiao Mai briefly explained the history between the two families. Madam Liu Qiao was astonished, unable to believe her ears.

“Is he so petty?”

“I haven’t asked my husband about this matter yet. I believe with his personality, he wouldn’t try to benefit from Mr. Lin’s reputation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have ignored him from the start and continued to teach my children.”

Coincidentally, Yuan Jiaqi came to find her at this moment. “Wife, Auntie, are you both here?”

“What’s going on between you and Mr. Lin?”

“Why?”

“He refused my auntie’s child entry into school just because we are relatives.” Yuan Jiaqi sat down and talked about his experience in detail.

“Well, it’s like this. I was eager to learn back then, and he allowed me to sit in and listen, but I had to collect firewood for his family every day. Carrying a load of firewood earned me five coins, which is equivalent to paying him. So, he claims that I’m ungrateful, which is untrue. He charges fees at the school, and it’s not free education. I paid for my lessons.”

“I see. That petty person told others that you attended his classes for free and accused you of disrespecting your teacher, even calling you an ungrateful brat.” “I couldn’t bother to argue with him. This matter is not a secret; it’s just that some people in his classes are unwilling to offend him.”

Qiao Mai looked at Madam Liu Qiao and said, “Auntie, let your child assist in the shop for now to build his confidence. I can think of a way in a few days. Old Master Wang is getting older, and it’s unfair to burden him with more students.”

“Just let Bao’er study with me. The initial learning process is straightforward. It won’t take much time.”

Madam Liu Qiao waved her hand quickly, “I can’t allow that. I heard you’ll take the imperial examination in the capital after the New Year.”

Qiao Mai glanced at him, “Study well. Leave this matter to me.”

“Alright, you can find me when you need me.”

“Very well. Do you have any other business with me?”

“Early this morning, a friend from school sent me a letter, inviting me to join them in the capital for drinks and reminiscing. Is that okay with you?” Madam Liu Qiao felt out of place here and quickly said her farewell.

Qiao Mai looked at him, “Why wouldn’t it be okay? You need friends as well. Just be cautious when drinking outside.”

“I understand.”

Qiao Mai took a vial from her sleeve and gave it to him. “If you encounter anything that doesn’t feel right, take one of these.”

“Then I’ll be off.’

“Do you have any money on you?”

“Yes!”

Yuan Jiaqi left, and Qiao Mai didn’t say anything more. She realized her husband had few friends in the past. Still, this trip to the academy had allowed him to make a few new friends. She hoped that they wouldn’t disappoint her.

She also hoped that Yuan Jiaqi could make some genuine friends.

Yuan Jiaqi returned to his residence, changed his clothes, and tucked a money pouch in his pocket. He then led a horse out of Lucky Garden and set out.

In fact, he didn’t really want to go. It had been a long time, and his fellow classmates and friends hadn’t come to visit him. Since they seemed to disregard him, there was no need to keep in touch.

However, he thought the flood might have been the reason for their absence. Therefore, he set off with hopes in his heart to meet them.

At Jufu Tavern in the capital, which was one of the Wang family’s properties, several people were chatting and laughing in a private room on the second floor.

When Yuan Jiaqi arrived, they were drinking tea and hadn’t ordered their meal yet. The sight of their warm welcome eased his cold demeanor.

“I’m sorry for making you wait. My home is quite far, and as soon as I received the letter, I rushed here.”

“No need to apologize, Brother Yuan. It’s been half a year since you left the academy. We wanted to visit you, but the timing never seemed right. Either we were attending school, or it was raining on our days off.”

“I thought so.”

After some pleasantries, the server came to ask if they were ready to order.

Yuan Jiaqi was the oldest among them. “Let’s have some of the signature dishes from this restaurant and a pot of good wine.”

“Oh, Brother Yuan, you’re so generous. We were planning to treat you to a meal.”

“I’m a few years older than you all, so it’s my treat!”

After the dishes and wine were served, they raised their glasses to toast while discussing Yuan Jiaqi’s life since leaving the academy.

“When your wife explained the situation, we all felt that both sides’ parents were in the wrong, and there was no need to continue this feud.”

Yuan Jiaqi took a sip of his wine. “It sounds like you’re trying to convince me?” “Yes, they are indeed wrong. But as a scholar, and considering your excellent performance, the academy still wants to keep you. However, the dean said that you are bound for a career in government service, and letting them continue to hound you is not a solution.”

“What if I reconcile with them? Won’t they continue to drain my resources, like bloodsuckers, asking for money endlessly?”

“I heard that your wife is capable and makes a good income. Giving them a bit wouldn’t hurt, right?”

Yuan Jiaqi had drunk some wine, and his face was rosy, but he immediately turned icy upon hearing these words.

“For one, my wife’s earnings are hers, not mine. As a man, I couldn’t make a single coin, and I still had to spend her money. It’s already a burden on our household, so I won’t feel right giving it to my parents. Secondly, you don’t know my parents; they want more than money. They want the entire Qiao family’s assets.”

“You’re all family, so it’s only right for her to support your parents.”

“I can’t believe you’re educated, yet you’re saying this. Are we really family? Does she owe my parents or me? Just because we’re family, you want her to hand over her hard-earned money to those people? I’ll tell you, it’s me, Yuan Jiaqi, who owes my wife. This debt can never be repaid in a lifetime.” The friends tried to comfort him when they saw how upset he was.

“Relax, we only mean well. We suggested this because we wanted to help you find a solution.’

“I’m telling you, as long as I reconcile with them, those two old geezers will suck me dry and eat my flesh. They only recognize money. My first wife was worked to death by them. She was carrying Chuan’er, about to give birth, and they still didn’t let her rest, forcing her to do chores..”