Chapter 379 : Preaching (1)

Yuxi was currently making clothes in her room. Because the time stipulated for each day was too short, she was only making three sets of clothes for now.

Zijin muttered, “Madam, you are trying to make many clothes. Will you be able to finish them all by then?” According to Yuxi’s speed, there must be at least ten sets of clothes by the sixth lunar month.

Yuxi smiled. “This child grows fast, so we must prepare more clothes.” The baby’s due date was in the sixth lunar month, when the weather would start to warm up. It saved her from a lot of trouble. If the due date were in winter, many more clothes and hats would have to be made.

Shiliu came in and informed Yuxi, “Madam, Guard Xu said that Fu Qingluo wants to see Madam. This time Fu Qingluo came with Da Nainai Fu, and Guard Xu wanted to know if Madam wanted to let them in.” If Fu Qingluo came alone, Xu Wu would not allow her to enter. But if Da Nainai Fu came together with her, it would be difficult not to let them inside. After all, everyone knew that Fu Tianlei and Yun Qing were sworn brothers. So, forbidding Da Nainai Fu from entering would definitely affect their relationship.

Hearing these words, Yuxi said, “Please invite them in!”

Da Nainai Fu was a little embarrassed. “Sorry to bother you, Dimei.” She also had something to ask Yuxi. Otherwise, she would not have come here with Fu Qingluo.

Yuxi smiled. “I’m terribly bored and in need of someone to talk to. Saozi’s arrival is just right. Please don’t detest me for being too chatty later on, Saozi.” Since Yun Qing and Fu Tianlei had been sworn brothers, she had to give Da Nainai Fu some faces.

How could Da Nainai Fu not know that Yuxi held herself back because of her? She instantly responded with a smile, “I won’t detest you for being chatty. I’d love to chat with you more, so I can also dabble in your literary talent!”

Yuxi let out a laugh and asked, “What does Saozi mean by that?” What did she mean by ‘dabbling in her literary talent’? Could it be something about her spreading outside?

Da Nainai Fu replied, “Dimei’s quote, ‘the northern captives are not yet eliminated; why should I start a family?’ has spread throughout the streets and alleys. The head of my family knew about it and highly praised you for it!”

Yuxi smiled. “I just told the children the story of Huo Qubing. I didn’t expect this would get out.” The speed for it to spread was extremely fast!

Fu Qingluo asked, “Are you familiar with books on the art of war?” It was normal for a man to know about such a great general as Huo Qubing, but it wouldn’t be normal for a woman to know about it, especially a woman who resided inside the deep boudoir. And Yuxi, obviously not within the normal range.

Yuxi shook her head. “I have not read any book on the art of war. The story of Huo Qubing was told to us by our former teacher, so I remember it clearly.” She would never admit that she did read books on the art of war.

Fu Qingluo was very surprised. “Your teacher told you historical tales?” What kind of teacher was this?

Fu Qingluo’s reaction amused Yuxi. “Although the one who taught me was a female teacher, she was brimming with talent and full of political wisdom. Those listed jinshi may not even be as good as her. It was a pity that she was born a daughter and couldn’t take the examination. Otherwise, the zhuangyuan would have been in her pocket. The teacher believed that reading history could help us understand, so she taught us that subject for half a year.”

Da Nainai Fu sighed. “Is it possible that Dimei is so outstanding because a famous teacher taught Dimei!” There was a saying that a famous teacher would make a great apprentice.

However, Fu Qingluo was very doubtful. “As far as I know, you were not loved by the Great Old Lady Han, so why would she let such a person teach you?” The Great Old Lady didn’t even let Han Yuxi observe mourning for her after she died, so it was obvious that she was disgusted with her. Under such circumstances, how could she hire a famous teacher for Han Yuxi? One should know that getting such a prestigious teacher needed not only financial resources but also enough connections.

Zijin was very unhappy when she heard this. But after going through a bitter lesson last time, she didn’t dare to provoke Fu Qingluo again. In case it frightened Madam, even if Zijin died a thousand times, they could hardly absolve her from the blame.

Yuxi explained with a smile, “My Grandmother invited the teacher to teach my San Jie, who is now the Jing Wangfei. I was able to study with that teacher because I gained benefits through my San Jie’s capacity. My San Jie was our teacher’s last disciple. I was not well qualified, so she didn’t take a fancy to me.”

Da Nainai Fu’s eyes almost popped out. “Even when Dimei is like this, the teacher still treats Dimei with a cold shoulder? How high was that teacher’s insight?” To Da Nainai Fu, Yuxi was perfect, but it was unimaginable that someone would still reject such a perfect person.

Yuxi answered with a smile, “My San Jie is gifted and intelligent, so she can learn things quickly. I’m slower in the uptake. I can’t learn something without being taught about it three or four times. Saozi thinks I am good because you have not met my San Jie. My San Jie is proficient in everything from the four arts to poetry, and not many people can match her in preparing the incense and boiling the tea. I was unable to do all that. I’m only a half bucket of water” Once compared, she became a waste.

When Fu Qingluo heard this, she looked at Yuxi and asked, “So you never complained?” With such a radiant sister, who suppressed her to the point of being a little transparent, an average person would be uncomfortable inside. But Han Yuxi was living so well, enough to see that she was not affected by it.

Yuxi didn’t speak for a long time before drinking a glass of pear juice. There were few fruits in the northwest; thus, they had properly stockpiled these pears. “I did feel somewhat dejected. I felt useless when I first learned about it like I was just a waste. But when my Mother found out about this, she told me I had to live my own life. There was no need to compare my life with others, as that would only make it difficult. As a result, I gradually got over it.”

Da Nainai Fu nodded. “Aunt is very right. There is an old saying that constantly comparing oneself to others will only make one angry. Do your own thing, and no need to compare yourself with others.” Luckily, Yuxi met such an open-minded elder. If she had dug herself into a bull’s horns, it would have ruined her for life.

Not to mention Da Nainai Fu, even Fu Qingluo also admired her. But this time, they didn’t come here to chat with Yuxi but to ask for something. “I heard you want to let the children of the girls’ school learn martial arts as well. Is that true?”

Yuxi nodded. “Naturally, it’s true.”

Fu Qingluo didn’t go round the curves and skirt the corners and said, “I want to go to the school and teach those children martial arts. I hope you can agree.”

Yuxi refused without even thinking. “Sorry, I can’t agree to that.” It was not that she didn’t want to give any face to the Fu family, but she just couldn’t say yes to this matter.

Seeing this situation, Da Nainai Fu tried to reason out. “Dimei, Qingluo also wants to do her part for these children, so please give her this opportunity!” It was rare that this sister was willing to do something serious, so she naturally had to support it.

Yuxi shook her head. “Sorry, I really can’t agree to this matter.”

When Fu Qingluo heard this, she bit her lower lip and asked after half a second, “Do you still resent me for what happened last time?”

Yuxi couldn’t help herself from chuckling. “I’m not that narrow-minded.” She did get quite angry last time, but she wouldn’t dwell on it for a long time.

Fu Qingluo restrained her temper as she asked, “Then why can’t you let me teach these children martial arts?” If Yuxi really didn’t mind, why would she refuse her offer without even thinking about it?

Yuxi was silent for a moment before asking. “Do you want to hear the truth?”

Fu Qingluo nodded. “Naturally, I do.” If she didn’t want to hear the truth, there was no way she would listen to a basket load of lies.

Yuxi asked Mama Qu to bring all the maids out, leaving only Zijin behind, then said, “I don’t agree with you teaching those children, not that I’m being careful and still hold a grudge from last time, but you are not suitable to teach them.”

Fu Qingluo asked discontentedly, “I haven’t even taught them yet. How will you know I’m not going to be suitable?” This was too infuriating.

Yuxi was silent for a moment and said, “The way you conduct yourself in society makes you unfit to teach the children.” She was already being very diplomatic with her words. Besides, Fu Qingluo’s reputation was too bad. If she allowed her to teach these children, not only would the children’s parents be uncomfortable, but it would also have a worse outcome for them. After all, if Fu Qingluo taught them, she would be taking the reputation of a respected teacher. It was not good for the children to have such a master.

Da Nainai Fu’s expression changed slightly.

Fu Qingluo finally understood, and she immediately became angry, asking, “You think I am not worthy to teach these children?”

Yuxi was not even annoyed as she answered indifferently, “Yesterday, Zijin taught these children for one afternoon, but I forbade her to teach them again. Her temperament is too violent and not suitable for teaching children. Likewise, your nature is also inappropriate.” There were some other things that everyone already knew in their hearts, which she didn’t need to say out loud.

Hearing Yuxi’s words, Da Nainai Fu knew there was no room for manoeuvring. “In that case, just forget about it.”

Fu Qingluo exclaimed, “I thought you were different from the others!” She thought a woman who could start a school under pressure would be different. It turned out that Yuxi was just like other women.

Yuxi leaned back in her chair and stated, “Since I took in these children, I have to be responsible for them. Anyone who does not meet the requirements will not be accepted.” These children were too young and did not understand many things yet. Therefore, it was the time when others easily influenced them. If she let Fu Qingluo teach them, and if they were affected and thought that Fu Qingluo’s behaviour was right and good, they would follow the same example, which was equivalent to harming them. She would never allow this to happen.

In response, Zijin added, “The school manager had hired a teacher surnamed Chen before. This Mr Chen was framed and exiled to Yu City, but he was very talented and good at teaching children. But my Madam felt that letting a criminal teach the children was inappropriate, so she dismissed him.”

Yuxi silently cursed endlessly in her heart; if you have to say something, make sure it’s helpful. This was just great. Instead of helping her, she was pulling her leg. “Although Manager Hao told me that Mr Chen was wrongly accused, it’s not just a matter of talking about it. You also need to have evidence to support the claim. Without any evidence, nothing can be used to clear him of the charge, which makes him still a criminal. Letting a criminal teach children, what will other people think?”

When Fu Qingluo heard this, she knew it was impossible to teach martial arts to children in school. Not to mention her Saozi, even if her elder brother came here, it would still be useless. “Since that’s the case, I won’t want to make things difficult for Madam.” If she couldn’t teach the children in this school, she would find her own children to teach.

Seeing this, Da Nainai Fu said, “Dimei, then we will go back first. I will come over to see you next time.”