Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 250 Tutoring
For Li Wei, raising a child is a real headache.

After all, he had never raised children before or since his time travel. Although his relatives had children, his experience in raising children in modern society was obviously not something he could bring to this world.

The first issue to resolve was Alice's identity, which was relatively easy to solve. Levi contacted MI7 and told the old butler that he had encountered Alice while investigating a case; she had no family, so he planned to adopt her.

Although the old butler offered to help Levi send her to an orphanage, Levi decided to keep her by his side for closer monitoring, considering Alice's strange soul.

After all, he really couldn't figure out what Alice was, so just in case, it was better to keep her by his side.

There's no need to worry about food, clothing, or daily necessities. Eileen is, after all, a maid, and a girl too, so taking care of Alice won't be a problem. Besides, Levi has plenty of money. With his current financial situation, any problem that can be solved with money isn't a problem at all.

The next issue is schooling.

Since the Queen's reforms, the Empire has established thousands of public schools specifically for children from poor families who have no money to attend school.

However, nobles would not let their children attend school and mingle with the children of the poor; they would usually hire private tutors.

Of course, family education in this era is not the same as modern family education. This has to do with the empire's steam engine reforms. While these reforms elevated the empire's status and generated considerable wealth, they also destroyed many traditional industries.

Just as steam engines gradually replaced oxen and horses, many traditional industries that were doing reasonably well in the previous era collapsed and went bankrupt under the impact of steam machinery.

And those middle-class people behind them naturally became poor overnight, and may even be burdened with huge debts.

It's easier for men; as long as they are willing to endure hardship and work hard, they can find jobs to earn money and support their families.

But it's different for women.

It's important to clarify here that in the Empire, under normal circumstances, a lady would live under her father's protection and wealth, receive an education, and prepare for marriage. Once she reached marriageable age, she would find a husband of equal social standing, then bear children and take care of the family.

Therefore, in the traditional view of the empire, ladies should not work, and ladies who go out to work will be looked down upon.

Of course, with the evolution of the steam revolution, women working has become the norm, but even so, their professions are still divided into different levels.

Those socialites on the streets and alleys are naturally the lowest class and the most despised.

However, the status of female factory workers was not much higher than that of socialites, then came maids, and nurses were relatively better off than female factory workers.

However, for those former heiresses whose families have gone bankrupt, they certainly wouldn't want to do this kind of work. After all, even though they are now down on their luck, they were at least once educated and respectable people. How could they do the kind of work that only illiterate people do?
Therefore, becoming a teacher became the only way out for these women.

Even so, they weren't willing to become teachers in just any field. Teaching in public schools was out of the question. Generally, they would only go to all-girls schools or work as private tutors.

Unlike modern teachers who focus on specific subjects, private tutors are essentially all-rounders. They not only teach students reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also tutor them in foreign language conversation, history, and geography. If the students are older, they may even teach them painting, piano, dance, and etiquette.

Well… I have to say, if a woman has so many skills, she certainly wouldn’t stoop to being a textile worker.

But to be honest, life as a private tutor isn't very comfortable either.

The reason is simple. As mentioned before, most of the women who work as tutors are "former rich girls," that is, unmarried women.

Those who hire private tutors to educate their children are generally married couples.

To the woman, a woman younger and smarter than herself was living in her house all day, taking her money, eating her food, teaching her children, and seducing her husband…

Well, you could say that almost any family that hires a tutor will stage a similar romantic drama.

There are two possible outcomes: either the wife maintains her position and banishes the newly arrived concubine to the cold palace.

Either the tutor succeeds in becoming the male head of the household's legal wife, and then she can legitimately beat the children.

All in all, they were quite interesting.

So Li Wei also made a plan. The empire had a primary, secondary and high school system. He planned to have Alice receive home education during primary school, and then send her to a better school if there was one available during secondary school.

The reason for this was twofold. Firstly, Levi's identity was indeed sensitive; as a detective and the Knight of the Thistle, he attracted considerable attention. Some people, unable to deal with him, would target children. Alice, at only five years old, didn't yet possess the strength to fight back.

But when she gets a little older, and Li Wei teaches her some self-defense skills, that's a different story.

Of course, another reason was that Li Wei was worried that Alice's emotions were unstable in elementary school and that she might cause some strange trouble... which would be a real problem.

"So, you're planning to hire a tutor for Alice?"

Katie sat on the sofa, sipping her tea and watching Levi with curiosity.

"That's right. Do you have any objections?" "My objections?"

Katie tilted her head.

"Well, my advice is not to date women who are 3 or 40 and still unmarried. They are all very mean-spirited and have terrible tempers. They find fault with everything and can find any excuse to verbally abuse you, all while acting like they're doing it for your own good. But don't think I can't see the hatred hidden in their eyes! They're just jealous of young girls and desperately want to suppress them to satisfy their pathetic egos!"

Your analogy is very detailed; it seems you have firsthand experience with it.

Seeing Katie's gritted teeth, Levi knew that there must be a very unpleasant relationship between her and her tutor.

"Also, you should be wary of their beliefs."

"Belief?"

“That’s right, those devout house church members will ramble on and on about a bunch of nonsense about the Holy Bishop, and they won’t let you talk back, as if adding ‘it’s said in the Bible’ makes it the truth. If you dare to disagree, they’ll scream hysterically, thinking I have evil and sinful thoughts, and they’ll tell my parents…”

"Um……………"

Faith lunatics are indeed troublesome, but Katie is really unlucky.

"Also, you shouldn't choose someone who's too enthusiastic about children!"

"Huh? Why?"

"How can someone be so nice to a child for no reason! Especially when it's not even their own! That kind of affection is all an act, just for show, to make others see how kind, warm, and cute she is. In the end, she just wants to get into bed with him. Once she can't achieve her goal, she'll immediately change her attitude. She was so enthusiastic before, but now she's so cold to you, as if I owe her money! She was the one who insisted on coming to me, and after failing to get what she wanted, she acts like she's the one who suffered a loss. It's really infuriating!"

"Just how many tutors did you have?"

"Anyway, I can't count them on two hands."

Katie raised her head smugly, as if showing off her victory.

"Some left because I angered them, some because I beat them away. Humph! They're all no good!"

He wasn't killed, so it seems Katie showed some mercy.

"Don't you have a tutor you like?"

"Mrs. Helen was my favorite governess, and the last one to stay and teach me. She wasn't very kind to me, and was even a bit stern. To be honest, I was quite afraid of her. But she also taught me a lot, and she was a very wise person—it's a pity she's old and has retired, otherwise I would definitely have introduced her to be Alice's governess."

"Um………"

Hearing Katie's words, Levi was reminded of some of his teachers at school. They were just like that—very serious and strict. Everyone was afraid of them, but they didn't dislike them.

Students generally prefer teachers who are willing to be their friends, which is why teachers who volunteer at elementary schools are often more popular with children. After all, children see them more like older siblings. However, whether they can effectively educate the children is another matter entirely.

After all, a teacher's primary responsibility is to educate and guide children, not to be their parent or friend. Therefore, from some perspectives, not getting too close to children is actually a good thing. Of course, students generally prefer teachers who are approachable and easygoing, able to connect with them on a personal level.

From this perspective, looking at Katie now, Levi felt that Mrs. Helen was indeed extraordinary. After all, she was able to control Katie—considering this young lady's abilities, anyone who could make her obedient must be capable.

Unfortunately, she has already retired to her hometown. The elderly are too old and lack energy, so it is indeed no longer possible to hire her as a tutor.

"Ah, but I can ask her."

Katie clapped her hands.

"Perhaps she can introduce someone suitable? What do you think, Mr. Levi?"

"Um……………"

Hearing Katie's question, Levi pondered for a moment. Given his current status, it wasn't really appropriate for him to openly seek tutors outside anymore, not because of any secrecy, but simply because it would easily cause trouble. Although he didn't know much about Mrs. Helen, Katie seemed to trust her quite a bit.

As a companion, Levi trusted Katie quite a bit, and since he was someone Katie trusted, there shouldn't be any problems.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Miss Katie."

Hearing Li Wei's answer, Katie chuckled and patted her chest.

"No problem, just leave it to me."

(End of this chapter)