The head of the Mu family

Chapter 39: Offering Help and Spreading a Helping Hand During a Year of Disaster; Concerned About Ou

Shen Huai came to the Imperial Hospital disguised as a man.

Because of his young age and the way he tied his hair in a bun, everyone thought he was a little boy.

The imperial physicians often saw that many of the noble boys were more handsome than Shen Huai.

So no one suspected anything.

On the carriage back to the Duke's mansion at noon, Third Master told Shen Huai that the prescription was fine.

Without saying much else, Shen Huai wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

After a long pause, Third Master suddenly spoke again:

Are you very familiar with Doctor Lan?

"Yes, besides Chief Physician Ruan and his apprentice, the Imperial Medical Academy is most familiar with Physician Lan."

"You actually get along with his eccentric personality?"

"The Blue Doctor isn't strange at all~"

He just focuses all his energy on pharmacology and doesn't pay much attention to other aspects.

Wow, looks like we're really close!

She immediately defended him, saying, "You little rascal, you're a bit strange too; birds of a feather flock together."

"Hehe, a little bit~"

Shen Huai rolled his eyes inwardly:

You are the object, your whole family are objects.

I take back my idea of ​​offering myself to him yesterday~

In the afternoon, Third Master called Shen Huai over to take his pulse and asked how his studies were going. He then gave Shen Huai a brief test.

Shen Huai was quite happy, feeling that he had answered most of the questions correctly.

Master Qi, the top student:

This kid looks rather smug; he's really not good at all!

After Shen Huai came to the Duke's mansion, he would come to take the Third Master's pulse every now and then, and the Third Master would test him a little.

In the past, I would just take the test and be done with it, but after this test, I even said:

"The prescription is alright, but the homework is so-so."

Shen Huai thought to himself:

One learns how to make a living, the other learns how to stay relevant in this era.

Can this be the same?

"I'll work even harder in the future, and try to do better next time Third Master tests me!"

Who cares? Let's get the leaders chanting the slogans first.

Shen Huai glanced at the look in Third Master's eyes and felt that he had a ruler in his hand and could hit him at any moment.

Two days later, when Shen Huai went to the Marquis's residence, he first greeted the steward and then visited the two siblings.

The child is better now, and his two eyes are bright on his thin face.

The siblings' faces were dirty, and the younger brother was wearing Shen Huai's cotton-padded jacket.

Upon seeing Shen Huai, he bowed respectfully and greeted him:

"Greetings, my benefactor!"

Shen Huai was both amused and exasperated, and patted the child's head.

Shen Huai brought his old cotton-padded coat from last year.

On the way, they went to a clothing store in the working-class area and bought two sets of winter clothes, shoes and socks that fit the siblings.

In addition, they each bought two sets of inner garments and one set of outer garments, and also brought some food with them.

Then I asked that older sister:

"Does the young lady have any skills she is particularly good at?"

After thinking for a while, the older sister replied:

"My little benefactor, I am truly grateful!"

When I was at home, the embroidery skills were among the best in the household.

In addition, I can sew, and I'm also a pretty good cook.

"Okay, I understand. You guys eat something now~"

After you finish eating, change into clothes that fit you well, and I'll take you to find the butler.

The girl was overjoyed and quickly took out an egg for her younger brother to eat.

Shen Huai looked at it and saw that it was the same eggs he had left over from that day.

"I brought some too. You should have an egg too, otherwise you won't look energetic and it'll affect your work."

Only then did my older sister eat an egg.

Judging from the way the younger brother eats, he must have been raised in a wealthy family.

Shen Huai: Sigh! It's highly likely that something bad has happened to a wealthy family.

After the siblings finished eating, Shen Huai told his sister to hurry up and change her clothes.

"Girl, go change your clothes after you finish eating. I'll help you change your brother's clothes."

After changing, I went to find Uncle Butler; I couldn't keep him waiting.

"Oh! Thank you so much, my benefactor!"

The older sister deftly moved behind the Buddhist shrine to change her clothes.

Shen Huai pulled the child over and quickly stripped him naked, first putting on his undergarments and then his cotton-padded jacket.

Brother: Why do our benefactor's clothes always smell so good?

When I finished dressing, my older sister also came out dressed.

He then took the Marquis's carriage back to the Marquis's residence to find Steward Ping.

Upon arriving at the Marquis's residence, they waited for the steward in the steward's courtyard. He found some water and had the siblings wash their faces and hands.

My younger brother is very small; you can't tell.

My older sister was about fourteen or fifteen years old, and she was already showing signs of becoming a beauty.

Shen Huai finally understood why they had made their faces so dirty – it was for self-protection!

"With a face like that, young lady, you'd better leave it dirty when you get back."

Shen Huai didn't think twice and subconsciously reminded him.

Suddenly realizing that he was dressed as a man, despite his young age, his words were somewhat frivolous.

He then explained further:

"I didn't mean anything by it. I'm a woman too, and I just blurted it out unconsciously."

"(My) benefactor is a woman?!"

The siblings exclaimed in unison in surprise.

The older sister's face showed surprise and delight, while the younger brother's fair face flushed with excitement.

"Hehe, yes, it's also for convenience when going out normally."

Just then, the butler arrived.

Shen Huai talked about what the little girl was good at.

Pingbo immediately led them to a main street very close to the Marquis's residence.

There was a large clothing store with a waiter soliciting customers at the entrance, but inside, most of the staff were female waitresses.

"There are rooms at the back of this building. If you need a room, we can give you one. Come back and get the key from me."

Female workers earn 500 yuan a month.

If we provide food and lodging, it will cost three hundred coins.

They also take a cut from every tael of silver sold for clothes.

If you are good at embroidery, you can go upstairs to the embroidery workshop to get work when you are not busy.

Ask Aunt Luo, who manages the embroidery workshop, about the price.

The manager of the clothing shop was Madam Wang.

"If you'd like, I'll bring the key to the servants' quarters to Madam Wang in a moment."

"Great, I do! I do!"

I'll provide room and board.

The older sister was so excited that she kept bowing.

"Well, if you have nowhere to stay, you can move in today, and you'll receive your monthly allowance on the first day of next month."

And your younger brother, he'll have to move out after he turns seven; the lower rooms are for the female workers."

"Understood, then we'll go back and pack our things, and come over tonight!"

Thank you so much, thank you so much, my little benefactors!

"No need to thank me, you still have to work hard yourselves."

If you don't perform well in the future, and Uncle Ping doesn't want you anymore, I can't say anything about it.

After Shen Huai and Bo Ping finished dealing with the matters concerning the siblings, they returned to the Marquis's residence.

On the way, Shen Huai expressed his gratitude once again.

The siblings smeared their faces dirty again before going to get their luggage.

He stayed at the shop that night and started working the next day.

Spring has returned to the earth once again, and the young master of the Handkerchief Family can now run around, stumbling and falling.

Shen Huai formally bid farewell to the Duke's Mansion.

He explained that he also needed to bid farewell to the Marquis's residence, as he was going back to his hometown.

Everyone from the Duke's Mansion said they would definitely visit the Duke's Mansion again when they returned to the capital, and Shen Huai agreed.

It was Third Master who escorted Shen Huai back to the Marquis's residence. This time, Third Master asked a lot of questions.

Why go back to your hometown in spring?

"Back in my hometown, we plant two nights a year. Last year's snow disaster left me wondering how many grains we'll harvest this spring."

"Where in Panlong County is your hometown?"

"From Laiyang County, Duoshui Town, Fangmu Village."

"Near Niushou Ridge?"

"Third Master is very knowledgeable, yes."

How much money do you give to your family each month?

"An average of five hundred coins."

"That's quite a lot for the village."

Are you worried your parents will sell your sisters? Why?

“Last year’s snow disaster left the village with only thatched houses, and the money will probably be spent on rebuilding them.”

They simply won't sell to the older sisters, and they won't even consider their food needs.

"They were going to sell you before?"

"Hmm~ Except for the younger brother, when we can't survive, we'll start by selling the older ones."

Because I was a bit quick-witted, I almost got sold out first!

Hehe~ Isn't it funny?

"It's not funny at all!"

Why was it "just a little bit off"?

"Because I was the only one in the family who could earn a few coins, we were able to afford to eat during those years."

My dad and grandpa did the math, and although the other party offered a high price, it wasn't worth it.

On the one hand, I was earning money to send home.

On the other hand, I'm so clever, I'll be worth even more when I get a little bigger!