CHAPTER 387: CHAPTER 389: PERSONNEL MATTERS (2)

When it comes to interacting with literati, Fourth Master Xiao is not as patient as Tong Shen Zhi. Although it’s not difficult to find a teacher, most people turn to teaching because they didn’t succeed in the imperial examinations, carrying a sense of unfulfilled potential and melancholy. Such individuals are often somewhat solitary, and when engaging with them, talking about emotions is usually more effective than discussing a monthly salary.

Xiqiu laughed and said, "Where is this Mr. Zhao from? Why did he suddenly quit?" Fourth Master Xiao glanced at Min, who was hanging his head, and said, "He is from Qingzhou, and quit because his elderly mother passed away, requiring him to return home to mourn."

So he returned home at the end of last year, meaning Mr. Zhao is still in mourning!

"If Fourth Master doesn’t mind, I could send a message home and ask my elder brother to help search? After all, he’s among literati and perhaps knows more teachers than Fourth Master!" Afraid Fourth Master Xiao might object, she spoke cautiously.

Unexpectedly, Fourth Master Xiao didn’t mind at all, nodding and saying, "No need for you to speak intentionally, I’ll mention it to him when I see him at court tomorrow."

Xiqiu just smiled and nodded, "Alright!" and said nothing more.

Min kept his head down, awkwardly turning to look at the patterns on the cotton curtain.

Xiqiu shook her head with a smile.

Finally, the carriage stopped at the entrance of an alley, where Chunliu and Bihuai had been waiting by the door for a long time. Chunliu placed a stepping stool by the carriage, and Fourth Master Xiao was the first to alight, turning to help Xiqiu down, while Min peeked his small head out from behind the curtain, watching his father and mother who had already gotten off.

Xiqiu stood under the carriage, smiling, and extended her hand to Min, who froze and withdrew his hand hidden in his sleeve. Xiqiu smiled without insisting, while Fourth Master Xiao stretched out his long arm, causing Min to tumble in mid-air, and by the time he realized it, he was already placed steadily on the ground by Fourth Master Xiao.

"Why act like a girl?" Fourth Master Xiao frowned and walked through the courtyard door with his hands behind him.

Min’s face darkened hearing this, revealing a terrified look, and he went among the maids and old nursemaids to find his wet nurse.

Xiqiu sighed quietly; this father-son interaction rarely involved a single word, but whenever Fourth Master Xiao spoke, Min reacted like a frightened little rabbit, even trembling at Fourth Master Xiao’s cough.

"Min, come in!" Xiqiu called him with a smile, pointing at the courtyard door. Min hesitated but finally walked through the door with small steps, rushing to his wet nurse waiting at the entrance and tightly grasping her hand. The wet nurse looked at Xiqiu with an awkward smile on her face, but Xiqiu just smiled and said, "This place isn’t like the mansion; take good care of him."

The wet nurse relaxed, seeing Fourth Madam was not displeased.

The courtyard was not large, disappearing behind a wall upon entry, and appeared before them. On either side were linked rooms, totaling seven together with the main building, appearing somewhat cramped in the not-so-spacious courtyard... The walls had fresh paint, indicating Madam Xia had had them repainted. Entering the door of the main building, there was a table for offerings, an Eight Immortals table, four armchairs placed on each side, a living pavilion on the left, a smaller room on the right, and beyond that the bedroom.

This was her house, and as Xiqiu looked, she smiled slightly.

Chunliu and Bihuai assisted her, whispering, "We’ve inspected it, and though the courtyard is small, there are seven rooms; it’s a bit crowded for three families, but they can all fit."

"Hmm." Xiqiu walked around the room a couple of times: "I’ll need to get some items to furnish it." The room was empty, needing tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets.

Bihuai lowered her gaze, mentally calculating how much silver would be required for the seven rooms.

Fourth Master Xiao emerged from the back, sat on a chair with a cushion without saying a word.

Min glanced around, occasionally glancing at Xiqiu to see her expression.

Xiqiu looked back at Min with a smile: "Min, have you looked around? Any thoughts?" She pointed to the southwest corner of the bedroom: "How about putting a bed here?"

Min didn’t immediately reply, prompting the wet nurse to anxiously pull his hand, making his eyes flash as he nodded: "Mother’s right!" without sincerity.

Xiqiu watched him, revealing a helpless smile.

There wasn’t much to see in the house; Xiqiu was merely checking if it’s enough for the three households, and what might be lacking. But most importantly, this was her property, representing a full ownership with usage rights and discretion...

After walking through each room again, seeing it was getting late, Xiqiu said to Fourth Master Xiao: "Shall we go back, Fourth Master?!"

Looking at her smile, Fourth Master Xiao’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded gently, asking her, "Do you want to see the new mansion?"

The new mansion referred to the Governor Mansion bestowed by the emperor.

Xiqiu didn’t hesitate, waving her hand: "No point in visiting if we’re not moving in; let’s not see it." If she saw and liked it, they couldn’t just move immediately; she hoped the day she saw it next would be the day they moved.

Fourth Master Xiao seemed to understand and said no more, leading Min back onto the carriage.

The carriage didn’t head directly back to Marquis Mansion but turned towards the other end of East Street.

"Min." Xiqiu asked: "Do you think the bed should go there?" Min seemed caught off guard by Xiqiu’s continuation of their previous topic. He pondered for a moment before nodding: "Yes!"

Xiqiu leaned over with a smile to watch him: "Why does mother think the southwest corner is better? Why do you think the southeast corner is good?"

Wondering about the difference in placement, Min frowned slightly, puzzled why Xiqiu was digging into this question.

Min briefly glanced at Fourth Master Xiao, seeing no displeasure, quickly replying to Xiqiu: "I... I don’t know!"

Xiqiu continued: "Mother invited Min here today to ask for Min’s help. Will Min help mother?" She smiled and softly spoke to Min, without a hint of coaxing, making her words feel comfortable.

Min listening lowered his head. Xiqiu said: "Min helped mother finish breakfast the other day, isn’t Min amazing?!"

Upon hearing praise, Min’s eyes brightened, glancing at Xiqiu, thinking deeply before replying: "If placed by the window, in the southwest corner... it’s not good."

Xiqiu laughed, appearing very happy, ruffling Min’s hair: "Min is so smart."

Min’s small brows furrowed but he didn’t avoid Xiqiu’s touch.

Fourth Master Xiao looked on, slightly raising his brows.

The atmosphere in the carriage became slightly livelier compared to the journey there. Xiqiu sensed that Min’s wariness and defensiveness towards strangers originated from his inner self-doubt. He tried hard to prove himself in front of Grand Dowager, tried to evade in front of her, but displayed fear and anxiety when encountering Fourth Master Xiao...