"You, stop arguing. It's not worth it...," he said in a low, hoarse voice, his eyes welling up with tears as he turned to Duan Zhao, "Fourth Miss, I know this is difficult for you, but I have no one else to turn to... When their mother passed away, I promised her I would take good care of the two children..."

  Dou Zhao listened, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow in his heart.

  "I don't ask for anything else, just that after I'm gone, these two children can live upright and dignified," said Bie, his voice mixed with heavy breathing, "I also know that the Duan family is not an ordinary family, but these two children are both well-behaved and obedient, they won't cause you any trouble..."

  "I know, I know." Dou Zhao hastily walked over and sat down in the place where Chen Quanshui had been sitting earlier. He said in a low voice, "If you trust me, I'll let them recognize my birth mother - that is, Cui Yiniang's natal family's people as their godmother. Later, we can have the two sisters move to Cui Yiniang's estate to live. That is Dou family property, under the protection of the Dou family..."

  The river does not flow because of the mistakes of the past.

  Just now Miss Duan's fourth daughter was still hesitant and indecisive, how come she changed her mind in the blink of an eye?

  Dong Zhao had been thinking of helping the two sisters since Chen Qu Shui mentioned their background, so as to avoid them being humiliated by a person like Shan Jie. She just didn't like Chen Qu Shui treating her like an ignorant child and calculating everything, that's why she intentionally argued with him.

  "So you agree?" Bi Gangyi was surprised and delighted, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at Dou Zhao.

  Dong Zhao smiled and nodded.

  There are few fathers in this world who can be as resolute for their children, and they're two daughters!

  At least for this reason, she should help her sister Bie.

  "If you're still worried, you can also let them live with me in Xidong," she said. "Anyway, there's been no one at home for years. Her sisters have left, and it would be nice to have some company..."

  He shook his head and said, "I know Miss is kind-hearted, but the Duan family is a big household. The fourth miss has elders above her and siblings below her, and the two sisters have followed them like this. There are many idle words saying that the two sisters took advantage of the Duan family, and I'm afraid there won't be fewer rumors about the fourth miss either. You saved our whole family, and I should repay you well. Unfortunately, my body is not strong enough, not only did I fail to repay you, but also gave you so much trouble... He said, calling out "Uncle Chen", and smiled with his dry lips, "You are a learned man, and your handwriting is good too. I'll ask you to write a letter of dependence for the two sisters..."

  "Master Bai!" Du Shuang and Chen Quanshui exclaimed in unison, exchanging a glance with each other.

  "Not writing the letter of introduction, the name is not correct. The words are not smooth." Ba Jingyi ignored their exclamations and said, "Rather than letting them follow Fourth Miss in a neither-here-nor-there manner, it's better to establish their status, so they know what can be done and what is overstepping, for both Fourth Miss and themselves. It's beneficial all around."

  Dong Zhao was silent. Elegant words and emotions were first expressed.

  What Bie said is not unreasonable.

  Sometimes people fear they can't find their own place and have strayed from the right path.

  Those who signed the contract of selling themselves, would not return to their ancestral temple when they were alive, and would not return to their ancestral home when they died. Their marriage and death would be controlled by the master. Those who wrote the letter of dependence were "義僕" ( righteous servants). The master could not sell them, they could marry on their own, have private property, as long as they did not harm or scold the master, even if they broke the law, they would be treated like ordinary people. Although there are differences between the two, after writing the letter of dependence, they and the master had a "master-servant" relationship, which was ultimately about serving people.

  She thought of Chen Qu Shui taking Bi Shi sisters out earlier and pondered: "Do Su Lan and the others know about this matter?"

  "I don't know yet." Bie Jianyi's reply was not to Tuo Zhao's liking, "But those two are both down-to-earth kids, as long as they can live a clean and honest life, I think they'll definitely be willing to follow Fourth Miss."

  Chen Qushui said: "Let's ask the two sisters first?"

  Dòu Zhāoyě thinks this is better.

  Bie Gongyi then invited Chen Quanshui to bring in his two daughters.

  Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan were naturally extremely shocked.

  They guessed that their father might be afraid that after his death, the sisters would have no one to rely on, and wanted to entrust them to Miss Duan, but did not expect their father to make them write a letter of dependence.

  Bie Sulan was still a bit dazed and at a loss, but thinking of the days her father had spent in prison, the shamelessness of Dan Jie's face, her sister's running around everywhere, and seeing the worry on her father's face that refused to close his eyes, she steeled herself and knelt down in front of Duan Zhao, saying to Chen Qu Shui: "Master Chen, please help us sisters write a letter of surrender!"

  Dòu Zhāo stretched out his hand and took hers.

  She knelt down and refused to get up, pulling Bie Sulan who was standing dazed beside her to kneel in front of Du Zhao as well: "Fourth Miss, I know that the Du family is a wealthy and noble household, with countless people wanting to curry favor with them. Who would need someone like us to write a letter of introduction? You're taking pity on my sister and me because we have nowhere else to go; we're not ungrateful people who don't know how to repay kindness. If we can follow you into the manor, I promise that in the future, we'll serve you well, accept the management of the matrons in your household, and get along with the other sisters..." By this point, she was already crying tears of gratitude.

  Bie Sulan burst into tears and crawled on her knees to Bie Gangwei's face, shouting "Dad".

  Bie Jianyi stroked his little daughter's head, and big tears silently slid into her temples from her deep eye sockets.

  Everyone in the house burst into tears.

  Zhao Liangbi lifted the curtain and peeked out, her eyes also welling up with tears as she wiped them with her sleeve.

  After a long time, the crying in the house gradually subsided.

  Dong Zhaohong's eyes were red as she said to Chen Quanshui, "Then please ask Mr. Chen to write a letter of surrender, so that the other hosts can rest assured."

  Chen Qu Shui said nothing more and saw that the other family had no pen, ink, paper or inkstone. He went home to write a letter of reliance for Bie's sisters and sent it over.

  Dong Zhao said to Bie Guangyi, "This document will be left in Su Xin's hands. You focus on recovering from your illness, and it would be best if this document doesn't need to be used at all." After speaking, he suppressed the sadness in his heart and revealed a bright smile, "When the time comes, I won't abandon you either."

  "Thank you, Fourth Miss." Although Bai Gangyi knew that Du Fourth Miss was comforting him, but Du Fourth Miss could say such words, he felt more at ease about the future of his two daughters.

  Dong Zhao called in Zhao Liangbi and pointed to him, letting Bie Suxin identify him: "In the coming days, he will be at the grain and oil shop on Dong Street in True State Prefecture. If you have any business, let him take care of it."

  Bie Suoxin hastily made a courtesy call on Zhao Liang and performed a ritual bow.

  Zhao Liangbi did not expect Du Zhao to suddenly arrange for him to be placed in the grain and oil store of the Du family, which was an enterprise of East Du, so he was stunned for a moment before giving Bie Suxin a courtesy, apparently somewhat flustered.

  Dong Zhao said a few more words about letting Bie Su take good care of his father before standing up and bidding farewell.

  Chen Qu Shui and Bie Su Xin saw Dou Zhao off at the gate.

  Dong Zhao walked to the front yard. She stopped in her tracks and first instructed Hai Tang to give Bie Suixin the 200 taels of silver notes they had prepared earlier: "Don't let your father worry, just focus on buying good medicine for him to use. If you need ginseng, tell Zhao Liangbi to help you buy it."

  It's better if they can live a few more days. For their sisters, it will also reduce some regret.

  Dong Zhao thought with mixed feelings.

  Bie Suixin didn't say anything else, and with tears in her eyes, she gave Du Zhao three head bows and accepted the silver note.

  Dong Zhaowang looked at Chen Qu Shui: "I'm still short of a western-style seat over there, I don't know if Mr. is interested?"

  Chen Qu's eyes widened in shock.

  Dong Zhao smiled and instructed Zhao Liangbi: "Whether Mr. Chen can condescend to teach me depends on you."

  The implication is to let Zhao Liangbi think of a way to invite Chen Quanshui.

  Zhao Liangbi's mind was preoccupied with what Du Zhao had just said - the grain and oil shop in Zhending Prefecture, I wonder if Third Master will agree? He didn't have the heart to carefully consider Du Zhao's words, and hastily bowed his head to respond "Yes".

  As for Chen Quanshui, Duan Zhao sent a servant to invite him to take the western seat, which was a great shame for him. But he also noticed that Duan Zhao said "I", not West Duan or the Duan family.

  He tensed up in his heart, and after Duan Zhao left, he carefully investigated the affairs of the Duan family.

  He wouldn't have known if he hadn't checked, but as soon as he did, he was suddenly covered in cold sweat.

  Is Miss Duan's family blessed with good fortune or is she gifted with a clever and wise mind? Is she an unsung genius?

  He fell into a long and deep thought.

  Dong Zhao didn't know all this, but she knew that for someone like Chen Qu Shui, he definitely wouldn't casually agree to be someone's apprentice. She threw out the bait of "my apprentice" just to see if Chen Qu Shui would take the hook.

  She returned to Zhending and first went to see her third uncle, wanting to arrange Zhao Liangbi to work in the grain and oil shop in Zhending Prefecture.

  Zhao Liangbi is capable, and Duan Zhao didn't let Zhao Liangbi go to be the shopkeeper of a grain and oil store. It's not worth it for Duan Shibiao to offend someone who owns one-fourth of the Duan family property over such a small matter.

  Then she went to see Cui Thirteen, first to ask him to help investigate Chen Qu Shui, and secondly to ask him to pay attention if anyone was investigating herself.

  Chui Thirteen felt that she was acting somewhat rashly: "Why not investigate this person clearly before asking Seventh Young Master to help you bring the person back?"

  Although he has fallen on hard times, he is still dressed neatly and cleanly, showing that he is a proud person.

  Doing so will only result in a blunt and direct refusal from Chen Qiu Shui.

  Dong Zhaoshao smiled but didn't answer, and went to see her grandmother instead.

  Grandma sighed after hearing about other people's affairs and took the opportunity to teach Du Zhao: "That's why people should learn to cherish their blessings."

  Dòu Zhāo couldn't help but laugh and admit it was true.

  Grandma secretly let Hong Gu give another fifty taels of silver and some food to the Bi family sisters.

  Dong Zhaquan sat at a large desk by the window, staring blankly at the paper note sent by Cui Thirteen.

  Chen Qu Shui was a native of Wuji County, Zhending Prefecture. He passed the imperial examination as a xiucai at the age of 15 and as a juren at 22. However, he failed to pass the next level of examinations for ten years, during which his family became extremely poor. His wife and only son died successively from illness. He took up a tutoring job and had to borrow money in advance to bury his son. After that, he lost contact with his relatives. It is said that he was teaching in the capital city, and five years ago bought two small houses next to the Wuguan Martial Arts School on Dongxiang Street, and settled down in Zhending Prefecture.

  No one knows where he went and what he did during those more than ten years.

  Dong Zhao smiled and pursed his lips.

  What an interesting person.

  Haitang smiled and walked in, holding a letter with both hands: "Miss, Seventh Master has sent a letter, saying that he has found a Western teacher for you, Mr. Xi, who will arrive within the next two days."

  ※

  The text of Chapter 73 has been revised, especially the name of Mr. Chen and the female lead of "Crown and Glory Filled with Splendor" were repeated, so I made some temporary changes. If you feel strange, you can re-read Chapter 73.

  o(n_n)o~

  Was it because I liked "The Crown" too much, so I subconsciously used the female lead's name?

  ※