Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Ah Cai responded, the whip cracked softly, and the carriage moved smoothly forward.

Liu Wenying tried her best to shrink herself into a corner of the carriage and keep as far away from him as possible.

Clutching her mahjong tiles, she lowered her gaze, staring at the intricately patterned carpet beneath her feet.

"Is Third Master going to the east of the city on business?"

She couldn't help but ask, "Surely it's not really on the way, is it?"

Pei Yaojun leaned against the car wall, casually stroking the mosquito repellent bracelet hidden under his sleeve.

He wore the bracelet he had taken from her every day and never took it off.

"no."

How can that be called giving someone a ride... Liu Wenying thought to herself.

"Wherever you go, I will go."

He stared intently at her, a playful glint in his eyes. "It's boring staying in the manor, so I thought I'd go out for a stroll with you and have some fun."

Liu Wenying frowned and corrected her seriously: "This servant is not going to play. I am going to the east of the city to check the accounts and see the situation. I have serious business to attend to."

"Who says playing games isn't a serious matter? Besides, you check your accounts, I'll play mine, and we won't interfere with each other."

He moved even closer to her, his nose almost touching the top of her head.

"Besides, with me by your side, I might be able to help you solve some problems."

Liu Wenying felt a tingling sensation on the back of her neck, turned her face away, and stopped talking, secretly praying that the journey would be quieter.

Pei Yaojun was determined to follow, acting like a shameless rogue who would stick to her wherever she went, and refused to go back no matter how Liu Wenying tried to persuade him.

As they spoke, the carriage arrived at the market in the east of the city.

Because it was market day, the intersection leading to the rice shop was completely blocked by people and vehicles.

The carriage moved forward with difficulty for a short distance, but could not go any further.

Ah Cai reported from outside: "Third Master, there are too many people ahead, and the carriages and horses can't pass. We'll have to walk."

Liu Wenying immediately replied, "It's alright, the rest of the way isn't far, I'll walk there."

"Walking? With so many people, it's crowded and hot, how are we supposed to walk?" Pei Yaojun frowned before she could.

Liu Wenying had already lifted the carriage curtain; outside, it was bustling and the air was thick with heat.

"If Third Master finds it inconvenient, you can still turn back now."

Perfect, she was happy to get rid of him.

"Now that I'm here, why would I give up halfway?"

Pei Yaojun couldn't handle even the slightest provocation.

He jumped off the carriage first, landed firmly, turned around, and reached out his hand to Liu Wenying, who was still in the carriage.

The sunlight was a bit too bright, and he stood against the light under the car, so his expression wasn't very clear.

Only that outstretched hand remained steadily suspended in mid-air.

He hadn't forgotten her injured ankle.

Liu Wenying placed her hand on his palm and used it to land.

Instantly separate.

"Ah Cai, watch the car."

Pei Yaojun gave an order and took the lead towards the market.

Liu Wenying lagged half a step behind him, and the two of them, one in front of the other, merged into the crowded throng.

After many twists and turns, we finally arrived at the street where the Fengyu was located.

The street was relatively wide, lined with shops on both sides. The signboard of Fengyuhao, with its black background and gold lettering, was quite eye-catching. The shop was also quite large, and it seemed to be doing good business.

"This is it, Third Master. Please make your way. I have other errands to run."

Liu Wenying bowed and stepped inside first, while Pei Yaojun, unhurried, strolled in leisurely.

Inside the shop, the shop assistants were attending to a few scattered customers, while behind the counter sat a man dressed in a respectable silk shirt, who appeared to be around fifty years old.

He was looking down and fiddling with an abacus; he must be Manager Zhou.

Hearing footsteps, Manager Zhou looked up and first saw Liu Wenying in front of him.

She wore a light pink cloth dress, the material was decent but the style was simple, and she only wore a plain silver hairpin in her hair. She was young and had a pretty face.

Today is the day for the manor's routine audit, but the person who came was a complete stranger. She didn't seem to be the stewardess who usually came, nor did she seem to be any master.

If she's here to check the accounts, she's probably a newly promoted maidservant from the First Madam's side.

Manager Zhou had been the manager of Fengyu Company for over ten years and considered himself an old hand. He was somewhat dismissive of the fact that the mansion had sent a young maid to check the accounts, thinking it was just a formality.

In terms of attitude, it revealed a hint of unintentional disdain.

He didn't get up, but remained seated behind the counter, drawing out his question, "This lady looks unfamiliar. Did you come to our shop to buy rice, or...?"

Manager Zhou scrutinized Liu Wenying's face and body, completely ignoring Pei Yaojun, who was hidden by her.

Liu Wenying placed the pair of cards in her hand on the counter.

"Manager Zhou, I have come on the orders of the First Madam to verify the accounts of Fengyu Company for this quarter. This is the identification document; please check it."

Manager Zhou glanced at the peach wood plaques; they were indeed from his household.

"So you're someone from the First Madam's side. My apologies for not being more attentive."

"As for checking the accounts, these ledgers are quite complex, with numerous details of inflows and outflows. It's probably not something you can understand in a short time. Why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea first? I'll have the waiter bring the general ledger, and we can look at it slowly."

Manager Zhou spoke politely, implying that Liu Wenying was young and inexperienced, and that the audit was just a formality, so as not to interfere with his legitimate business.

Liu Wenying seemed not to hear the perfunctory tone in Manager Zhou's words, remaining completely calm.

"Thank you, Manager Zhou. No need for tea. Please bring me all the detailed accounts of this quarter's income and expenditure, the inventory records, and all the contracts and receipts. I will check them here."

Her businesslike demeanor made Manager Zhou's fake smile freeze. In the end, he turned around, called out to the back room, and instructed the shop assistant to fetch the account books and receipts.

He didn't believe that a young girl like her could finish reading it.

While waiting, Liu Wenying did not sit down, but walked to the rice samples on display, picked up a small handful of japonica rice, and examined it.

Sunlight streamed obliquely through the open shop door, casting a pale golden veil on her lowered profile, her long eyelashes casting tranquil shadows.

Tiny beads of sweat glistened on the tip of her delicate nose from the stuffy heat of the store, and her lips were slightly pursed, revealing a serious and focused demeanor that belied her age, as she was engrossed in her work.

Pei Yaojun was originally leaning against the door with no interest in checking accounts, scanning the street scene and the furnishings inside the shop.

But his gaze was unconsciously drawn to the lotus-colored figure with its head bowed in inspection.

The fine beads of sweat on her forehead slid down to her temples, glistening in the light like tiny, scattered stars.

A certain string in my heart was scorched by this spot of light; though dressed in simple clothes and with a simple hairstyle, it was more dazzling than any brocade.

Pei Yaojun suddenly had an absurd thought: if he plucked this star and hid it in his bosom, it would be more coveted than any toy.

The shop assistant came out carrying a large stack of account books and receipts, and placed them heavily on the counter.

Liu Wenying withdrew her hand from inspecting the rice and walked back to the counter. Instead of sitting down, she stood there.

She picked up the top ledger and opened it, her fingers occasionally moving quickly across the abacus. When she had any questions, she would jot them down on a piece of scrap paper with a charcoal pencil.

Her beautiful eyebrows sometimes relaxed, sometimes furrowed slightly.

At first, Manager Zhou was holding his teacup and sipping his tea in a half-hearted manner.

As time passed, the relaxed expression on his face gradually crumbled.

…………