Despite it being a warm April day, Anran felt a biting chill again—it's best not to delve too deeply into some things for now!
Anran composed herself and had Cuiping find her vanity case.
She picked out some ordinary, substantial gold jewelry and had Jinping wrap it up. After thinking for a moment, she asked her to find the silver notes that the Grand Madam had given her.
"Put in two more fifty-tael silver notes." An Ran gestured for Cui Ping to wrap the items up, then took out two more fifty-tael silver notes and handed them to Jinping. "Have someone exchange these two notes outside. Send twenty taels of loose silver, along with the jewelry notes, wrapped up together, and deliver them to An tide."
"Keep the remaining eighty taels for me. If there is any emergency, you can withdraw from it."
The two were taken aback at first, but then agreed in unison.
Now that I see Ninth Sister, she is very opinionated, calm and decisive, and she will definitely do well in the future.
After arranging all this, An Ran couldn't breathe a sigh of relief. A thick fog loomed before her, one she couldn't break through or see through.
"You two go ahead and get busy. Just let Qingxing and the others come in to serve you." An Ran rubbed her forehead and said gently, "There's nothing else urgent."
An Ran's words clearly pleased Jinping and Cuiping, and the two agreed and went to serve tea. They also called Qingxing and Qingmei in to serve tea.
Just like last night, An Ran only asked a few casual questions. Her attitude was peaceful and friendly. After working the night shift last night, Qing Mei's attitude had become much more intimate, while Qing Xing was still a bit reserved and less lively.
"I can't rush this," An Ran told herself. With Jinping and Cuiping still around, she couldn't make her feelings too obvious.
"Do Peach Branch and Peach Leaf also work with you?" An Ran asked casually.
Qingxing shook her head and said softly, "Replying to Miss, Qingmei and I work together in the garden. Taozhi and Taoye were originally from Jing'an Hall." Seeing that Anran was puzzled, she quickly explained, "Jing'an Hall is the Buddhist hall in the Grand Madam's courtyard."
An Ran smiled.
Now everyone was present. The two head maids were originally from Zhao's courtyard, and the two junior maids were from the Grand Madam's courtyard.
How can I bring all these people under my control? How can I gain the upper hand?
An Ran rested her chin on her hand and sighed softly.
The feeling of being at the mercy of others is truly unbearable.
******
The Grand Madam acted swiftly; within two days, Anxi and Anmu's destinations were already arranged, and she even granted the siblings permission to say goodbye to Anran.
Cuiping and the others tactfully withdrew.
"Sister, I can stay with you!" Although An tide didn't understand the intricacies of life within the wealthy family, her kind and simple nature instinctively told her that An Ran's life wasn't going to be easy. "I've discussed it with Xiao Mu. He's a boy, so it's fine for him to go away to study. I'll stay with my sister!"
An Mu nodded repeatedly.
"Big sister, I'm a man now! You don't need to worry about me!" An Mu patted his chest and promised, "I will study hard and make you proud!"
Anran felt a warmth in her heart.
She had even wondered if letting them go would make the children think she was now born into wealth and abandon them. But the two children remained as well-behaved and sensible as ever…
"How naughty and playful you are, do you think I don't know?" An Ran affectionately tapped An Mu's forehead. "Good boy, now that you're a man, study hard and take good care of your sister after you go out."
"Sister—" An tide saw that An Ran showed no sign of backing down and wanted to say something, but was interrupted by An Ran.
An Ran said gently but firmly, "Xiao tide, be good."
An Ran's "domineering" influence from back then still lingers, and when she said this, there was no room for maneuver.
Seeing the disappointment on the two children's faces, An Ran felt bad, but she had no choice but to do it.
She wasn't afraid of the Marquis's family mistreating An tide and An Mu; she was even more afraid that the Marquis's family would "praise An Mu to death"! An Mu was only ten years old and his character was still developing. If someone deliberately led him astray, his life would be ruined. Ever since An Ran had guessed the reason for bringing her back to the manor, she had become extremely careful in her actions.
If An tide were by his side, constantly reminding and urging him, An Mu wouldn't have gone astray.
An Ran had wondered if she had become too suspicious after dying once, but she couldn't gamble with An Mu's life!
Seeing An Ran's resolute attitude, the two children had no choice but to say goodbye to her with heavy hearts.
“Xiao Mu is a man now. I’m relieved if you two stay out here.” An Ran said encouragingly as they were about to leave, their eyes red. Suddenly, she lowered her voice and said, “One day we can be like we used to be.”
The two looked up in surprise, their eyes revealing joy.
There will come a day...
Chapter 10 School
An Ran didn't have much peace and quiet in the manor for more than a few days before she was told that she, like the other three young ladies, would have to go and study with a teacher.
Upon receiving the news, An Ran felt a bit overwhelmed. In terms of knowledge, skills, and needlework, it was obvious that she was far behind the other three.
There's no time to cram at the last minute, so I have to bite the bullet and go for it.
Fortunately, An Ran was able to comfort herself with a "what's the use" attitude. After all, she grew up in a poor rural family and it was understandable that she was far inferior to these three girls, right?
On the day of school, Anran got up early to prepare. She and Shiniang went to pay their respects to the Grand Madam and Madam Zhao, and then the four sisters went to Tingfeng Pavilion together.
"I've always heard that Jiangnan is a beautiful and talented place, where every plant and tree seems to possess a special spirit, and where talented men and women emerge in great numbers." Shi Niang, holding An Ran's hand, said with admiration, "Ninth Sister's talent and learning are no less than exceptional!"
An Ran dared not make such a boastful promise, and could only chuckle and say, "Tenth Sister, please don't say that. I only know a few words, I'm not blind."
Before Shi Niang could reply, Qi Niang spoke up sarcastically: "Ninth Sister, don't be so modest. Do we sisters have to hide things from each other?" She seemed to be implying something, saying, "You can't hide your talents forever, can you? They'll show one day. Why be so modest? Are you thinking of shining brightly in the future?"
Seventh Sister's words were downright harsh. An Ran was extremely puzzled, completely baffled as to why her seventh sister harbored so much dissatisfaction towards her, who had just returned.
I don't have anything particularly eye-catching about me.