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

A few days later, Liu Wenying's cold was completely cured, and she resumed her usual busy routine.

The sky was clear and the air was fresh. Xue Bi sat on a chair under the eaves.

A mahogany square table was placed in front of him, on which were spread stacks of name cards and several account books.

Today is the day to select an accountant.

The job posting had only been out for a few days when a considerable number of people applied.

Granny Wang led the people in one by one. Most of them were young men and women from nearby villages and towns, but there were also a few older people standing under the locust tree in the courtyard, waiting with different expressions.

The first person to enter was an old accountant. Xue Bi asked him to look at the account books, and after flipping through a few pages, he frowned.

"This bookkeeping method is quite different from the usual one."

Xue Bi nodded. "This is the new accounting method set by our boss. Would you like to learn it?"

The old accountant shook his head. "I'm too old to learn it. The old method is the safest."

Xue Bi didn't say anything and asked Granny Wang to see him out.

The next few older people all had similar reactions.

The younger ones are willing to learn and practice, but they are all around twenty years old.

Wenying is beautiful, virtuous, and comes from a wealthy family.

If those young men were to work as accountants, they would likely have to deal with her frequently.

They are young and impetuous, their minds are not yet settled, and it is hard to guarantee that they will not develop delusions while living together day and night.

Therefore, Xue Bi rejected all the young men.

Finally, only one young woman remained.

The girl's name was Xiuhe, and she was about eighteen or nineteen years old. She exuded a vibrant and energetic aura.

She answered with grace and clarity.

When asked about accounting arithmetic and modern accounting methods, he understood immediately.

"Have you studied bookkeeping?"

He didn't choose any of the other young male accountants, and he was prepared for the last one to be a novice.

Xiuhe nodded. "My father used to be the owner of a general store in the city when he was young. I learned from him when I was a child. Later, the store closed down, and my parents moved us to the next village."

"I heard a while ago that Zhiyun Manor was looking for an accountant, so I came to give it a try. I didn't expect it would actually be you, Mr. Xue, in charge."

Upon hearing this, Xue Bi raised an eyebrow slightly. "You recognize me?"

"Don't you remember, sir? Five years ago, when you were teaching at the private school in Tanxi Village, I even attended one of your classes."

Xue Bi thought about it carefully and realized that such a thing had indeed happened, but girls change a lot as they grow up, and he really couldn't recognize her after not seeing her for so long.

"I see, you've learned very well."

Xiuhe blushed slightly and lowered her head shyly.

"Come over at 7 AM tomorrow. You'll be on trial for a month. If you do well, you'll be officially hired."

Xiuhe was overjoyed. She looked back at him several times before leaving the courtyard with a happy smile.

After she left, Granny Wang came over to clear away the teacups and said with a smile, "That girl seems quite clever. While I was waiting outside, she even helped me turn over the quilts that were drying in the sun."

Xue Bi'en said, "I'll trouble you to lend a hand, Granny."

"No trouble at all."

After finishing his business, he hurried towards the round building, as he couldn't let such a precious time be wasted on trivial matters.

He misses her.

A new female accountant had arrived at the manor, and Liu Wenying learned about it from Xue Bi that very day.

After that, she observed the girl for a long time and found that she was indeed quick-witted and learned things very fast.

Seeing that Xiuhe was indeed reliable, Liu Wenying was willing to give her a chance, even though she was young.

A breeze swept by, dispelling some of the dryness. Liu Wenying had returned from the capital ahead of schedule and, having a rare moment of leisure, strolled around the estate, taking a look around.

As they approached the tent, they suddenly heard weeping coming from inside the half-open door.

Liu Wenying followed the sound and saw Xiuhe standing in front of the table, her shoulders trembling and tears streaming down her face.

Xue Bi stood opposite her, his face cold.

"Mr. Xue, I... I really just..."

Her voice choked with emotion as Xue Bi interrupted her.

"No need to say anything more, you don't need to come tomorrow."

Liu Wenying pushed open the door and went in; both people inside turned their heads away.

When Xiuhe saw her, her tears flowed even more fiercely, and she knelt down with a thud.

"Master, I know I was wrong, please don't send me away..."

Liu Wenying helped her up and looked at Xue Bi, "What's wrong? If it's a mistake in the accounts, it's not a big problem. Just teach her properly. What's wrong with giving a young girl a few more chances?"

Xue Bi shook his head and said decisively, "Let's just fire her. Pay her wages in full, and I'll give her an extra three months' salary as compensation."

Liu Wenying was stunned.

She had never seen Xue Bi's attitude so uncompromising before. What was wrong with him?

Xiuhe was already sobbing uncontrollably, and when she heard that she was going to be fired, she trembled violently.

She looked up at Liu Wenying through her tearful eyes, then at Xue Bi, her lips trembling, ready to take the plunge.

"Master, you are a wonderful person, capable and intelligent. You've managed the estate so well, we all respect you. But... but aren't you being too selfish?"

"What?" Liu Wenying was stunned.

Xiuhe's tears flowed freely, and she spoke more and more urgently.

"Mr. Xue is such a good person, and he's been so good to you... Why, why do you still make him suffer? He deserves a better future, a better marriage, instead of... not here..."

"Shut up!"

Xue Bi, rarely showing anger, stepped forward to shield Liu Wenying behind him.

"I am where I am today, free from my past poverty, and have the opportunity to use my skills, all because of the appreciation and trust of the master. I am willing to treat her well, and it is none of anyone else's business."

"I will not tolerate anyone, under any pretext, harming her in the slightest."

Xiuhe's face turned deathly pale. She looked at Xue Bi protecting Liu Wenying and smiled sadly.

"Mr. Xue, how could you be so foolish? What's the point of doing more when it's all wishful thinking?"

The phrase "one-sided love" transformed into a fine needle, piercing Xue Bi's heart.

He wanted to deny it, but he lacked confidence, after all, he didn't know what place he held in her heart...

Suddenly, her hand, which was hanging by her side, was grasped by a soft hand.

"He wasn't just wishful thinking."

Liu Wenying slid her grip on his wrist down, her five fingers slipping between his fingers and interlocking firmly.

Xiuhe, sitting opposite, could see it clearly as well. They were holding hands tightly; Liu Wenying's hands were fair and delicate, while Xue Bi's hands were slender and thin.

They were now tightly fastened together, without the slightest gap.

"You, you..." Xiuhe's tears rolled down her cheeks.

She couldn't continue, so she turned around, slammed open the door, and ran out.

Xue Bi was stunned by Liu Wenying's words. It took him a long time to find his voice, filled with remorse.

"It's my fault. I wanted to find a capable person, but instead I've brought you trouble and annoyed you."

"There's no need to blame yourself. To be fair, Xiuhe is indeed a rare and excellent accountant. Besides, feelings in this world are often unpredictable, and everyone has their own thoughts. You can't be blamed."

She believed he was honest and upright, and had not overstepped any boundaries.

After saying that, Liu Wenying pondered for a moment and said, "You should go and check on her. The girl is sensitive and fragile. It would be even more unwise if something happened to her while she was out alone."

Xue Bi really didn't want to have any more unnecessary involvement with Xiu Xiu, so she said, "I'll go and have Granny Wang go find her."

Liu Wenying nodded.

……

At night, a time when one should rest, Liu Wenying could not sleep.

After things calmed down, Xiuhe's words kept echoing in her ears.

—Mr. Xue is such a good person, and he's good to you too... Why, why do you still make him suffer?

She hadn't felt that Xue Bi was wronged before, but upon closer reflection, she realized that he had indeed spent too much time and energy on her.

He helped manage the farm affairs, personally cooked for her, and stayed by her side day and night when she was sick.

Like a silent tree, it planted its roots around her, sheltering her from the wind and rain, but never asking for anything in return.

Liu Wenying put on her coat, got up, and prepared to go out.

As soon as I pushed open the door, I saw Xue Bi standing in front of it.

"Perfect timing, I have something to tell you."

The two walked out side by side. The summer night breeze was slightly dry, carrying the faint fragrance of lotus pond.

Liu Wenying asked, "How is Xiuhe doing?"

"Wang Mama brought people to take her home, and I explained things to her clearly, and she came to terms with it."

Liu Wenying nodded, "Then I'll trouble you to find a new accountant."

"Um."

There was silence for a moment.

As they walked under the grape trellis, the moonlight, filtered through the leaves, fell in dappled patterns onto their shoulders.

Liu Wenying turned to look at him. Xue Bi's expression was calm, but his tightly pursed lips betrayed his true feelings.

She suddenly smiled.

"Why did you smile?" Xue Bi was caught up in guilt and self-blame, and was somewhat bewildered when he saw her smile.

"It's nothing, I just think my Xue Bi is too charming, even young girls are standing up for you."

Xue Bi hurriedly said, "Don't misunderstand, there's really nothing between her and me. Granny Wang was also present when we were talking today, I just..."

"It's not a misunderstanding, just explain it clearly."

Liu Wenying gently interrupted, Xiuhe's words surfacing in her mind again.

Indeed, Xue Bi is an excellent person and should not be confined to this world because of her.

It would be a waste of his talents to only make him a Right Remonstrance Official.

"Xue Bi, you are free to come and go as you please in this round building and the estate. If one day you grow weary, or if you have other things you wish to forget, you may leave without any worries or constraints, and without compromising yourself..."

He suddenly stepped forward, blocking the moonlight with his tall figure. Liu Wenying's vision went dark for a moment, and before she could react, a warm touch landed on her lips.

He kissed her, no longer with the bitter taste of medicine from his illness, but with a lucid, intimate embrace.

The force was somewhat heavy, as if it were about to crush her unfinished words of farewell.

After a long while, until he had squeezed all the air out of his chest, he finally stepped back slightly.

Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingling.

Liu Wenying's eyebrows and eyes were already red, her ears were burning, and her eyes were filled with tears as she stared at him blankly.

"I will not leave. Don't say such things again. I can't stand it."

Yes, he didn't share a life-and-death experience with her, nor did he come from a prominent family.

His companionship was so ordinary, as ordinary as breathing, drinking water, or the everyday meals.

But who says a relationship has to be dramatic and passionate?

When she turns around, he is always by her side.

He was always there for her when she needed him.

He cupped her face in his hands, his thumb resting on her slightly swollen lips, and whispered, "Wenying, what you said today, that I wasn't just indulging in wishful thinking, is that really true?"

The moonlight fell into his eyes, reflecting a scorching heat.

Liu Wenying suddenly remembered many things. Every day, without fail, he would have dinner with her, and he would cook even when he was very busy.

And when he taught her to practice calligraphy, he held her hand from behind.

She returned home late on a rainy night, and he came to pick her up with an umbrella, not caring that half of his body was soaked.

It wasn't just wishful thinking on his part; it never was.

Liu Wenying nodded gently, "Really."

He kissed her again, and Liu Wenying's back pressed against the grape trellis pillar, her body pressed against his warm chest.

"Wenying, please grant me permission..."

Liu Wenying stood on tiptoe to respond to him.

Under the soft glow of the full moon, two figures embraced tightly beneath the grape trellis.

"Go inside..." she said, but the next moment her lip was bitten.

Liu Wenying was carried to a recliner under the grape trellis, which swayed whenever she moved.

She gripped the handrail, sometimes tightly, sometimes loosely, and then another large hand covered hers, their fingers interlocked.

The moonlight, too shy to hide behind the clouds, and the Milky Way, too dim to disturb the stars, seemed reluctant to do so.

…………