The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 968 - 218: Living at Another’s Mercy_2

Chapter 968: Chapter 218: Living at Another’s Mercy_2

Pei Qin knew that some esteemed individuals have peculiar temperaments. Since Mo Heng could be taught by such a person, it definitely must be someone extraordinary. Xie Yi was aware of this, so Pei Wendong surely knew as well. When Mo Heng returned, he naturally sought out Mo Heng. Currently, she was unable to even leave her room, let alone seek out Master Ouyang. What use was there in agreeing now?

Pei Yuan came over with Happy, and seeing Xie Yi with somewhat reddened eyes sitting by Pei Qin’s side, she couldn’t help but ask, "Ms. Xie, have you been wronged while staying here? Our household is modest, and the servants are not strictly managed. If anything has been amiss, please forgive us."

Mo Heng was residing in the inner courtyard, and his original plan hadn’t been for Xie Yi to stay for a long time, so she was arranged to stay in an outer courtyard guest room. Pei Yuan thought perhaps she, a young lady, might be unwilling to stay in the outer courtyard, finding it inconvenient to encounter outside men every day.

Her words caused Xie Yi’s face to turn red as she quickly shook her head to deny feeling wronged, "... Just that Xie Ze went to pay respects to the teacher, and that Master Ouyang has some rules, refusing to accept Xie Ze. Since he was the General’s former teacher, I came here hoping to ask for the lady of the house’s help."

Pei Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly, "The matters of the family are such that our eldest brother-in-law doesn’t even let our eldest sister inquire about them. It’s better if Wendong goes to ask our eldest brother-in-law! Let’s see if it works out! If it doesn’t, we’ll seek out another teacher. As long as one studies diligently, a teacher can lead the way, but it’s up to the individual to make the effort! Even the best teacher can’t teach a student who cannot learn. If a student is willing to learn, even a modest village teacher can produce top scholars!"

That was what she said, but if it were truly so, people wouldn’t say "a great teacher produces outstanding students." A knowledgeable teacher tends to produce students who achieve great things. Xie Yi only thought this to herself and didn’t share it with Pei Yuan. With Pei Yuan saying as much, she dared not impose on Pei Qin any further.

Before she had left, Huang Qiu had gone to see Zhang Gengshan, learning about her kneeling and begging Mo Heng, which immediately soured his expression, "If the General didn’t agree, it surely means it cannot be agreed upon. And now Ms. Xie has come to seek out the lady of the house, deliberately making things difficult?"

"Let’s not trouble the lady of the house with these matters. She has been in good spirits lately, and her grief has improved quite a bit these days." Otherwise, the young master would have long since lost interest in asking even a single question about the Xie siblings. Since Young Master Pei brought this upon himself, let him deal with it!

Huang Qiu nodded, then turned to instruct Xue Dong and the wet nurse similarly. Staying in their house, clearly dependent on them, yet they still had all sorts of demands. Taking care of the Xie siblings for nothing, and they still weren’t satisfied—truly ungrateful!

In the household, there were only a few servants. Xie Yi’s actions were unknown to the little maids and servant boys, but Huang Qiu, Xue Dong, Zhang Gengshan, and Feng Wei were all aware.

When Xie Yi left the inner courtyard, she noticed the servants’ gaze towards her had changed. She was thinking about the matter of Xie Ze paying his respects to the teacher, not paying much attention to the reasons, and went back to her room to wait.

Mo Heng was out all day, returning just before dinner, "Has the lady dined yet?"

"Waiting for the General, she has not!" Zhang Gengshan responded as he followed him to the second gate, reporting all household matters in great detail.

Without pausing, Mo Heng entered the inner courtyard, washed up, changed into casual clothes, and went straight to the inner chamber, "Are Jiujiu and Xixi here?"

These days, Shen Songming was busy preparing for his trip to Andong Wei. Xixi had already been looking around for her father today. Though she had grown closer to Pei Qin, Mo Heng? He wasn’t her dad! Her dad didn’t look like this!

Every time Xixi looked for her dad, Mo Heng’s face turned as dark as a pot’s bottom, his expression as long as it could stretch.

Xixi liked him even less. If not for Jiujiu and Happy, Xixi would have already started making a fuss. That wasn’t her dad! Her dad was the ugly one! Not this handsome one!

Seeing Jiujiu calling him ’dad,’ Xixi stared at him with wide, puzzled eyes, and Mo Heng once again wished he could strangle Shen Songming. It would be best if he went to Andong Wei and never came back!

Pei Qin mentioned asking Master Ouyang about something, "When did you also pay respects to this Master Ouyang?"

"When I was seven years old, I studied with him for over two years," said Mo Heng as he touched her warm hand and instructed to serve the meal.

Seeing that he didn’t elaborate, Pei Qin guessed, "Xie Ze’s scholarship is lacking, and Master Ouyang isn’t willing to accept him, right?"

"His calligraphy, painting, zither, and chess are not bad. In the future, we can send Jiujiu to study with him for a couple of years, and then we’ll hire a teacher at home," Mo Heng said, bringing up Jiujiu.

The Imperial Court is currently preparing supplies. As soon as everything is ready, he would have to lead troops to fight the Rong Clan, leaving no time to teach Jiujiu at home. Jiujiu was already five years old this year, and although he had been learning a variety of things haphazardly, he had yet to formally start his education.