Bi Su Xin met Chen Xiao Feng at the gatehouse of Dou Jia Wai Yuan.

  Chen Xiaofeng hung his head and asked Bie Suxin in a disheartened tone: "You really surrendered to the fourth miss of the Duan family?"

  "This kind of thing, can't I just coax you into it?"

  Chen Xiaofeng remained silent for a long time.

  Bie Su Xin said: "If there's nothing wrong with Big Brother, I'll head back first. These days, I've been following Sixth Madame of the Eastern Manor to learn etiquette." Then she said, "The Duan family has many people and loose tongues, our household is full of servants. We sisters are already so old when we entered the manor, it's already suspicious. If everyone hears us addressing each other as siblings, they might be even more curious about us sisters. From now on, I'll just call Big Brother 'Big Brother'." She also asked, "When did Chen Da Ge follow Chen Cuo Zi out of the pass? If there's anything at home, you can have Aunt send someone to tell us. Duan family's Fourth Miss is a kind person, we can make time to visit Aunt."

  Hearing her say this, Chen Xiao Feng felt even more ashamed: "I followed Chen Cui out of the pass, also for his silver, thinking to help you all a bit. Now you all have someone to rely on, and mother doesn't want me to leave home, I've already quit working for Chen Cui."

  Bie Su Xin uttered an "oh" and made no comment.

  A commotion was heard from the other side of the gate.

  Chen Xiaofeng and Bie Suxin both looked over.

  Two dusty black lacquer flat-top horse-drawn carriages stopped at the gate of Xi Duan, and Du An, the manager, lifted the curtain to help a man in his fifties get out of the carriage.

  The man was of medium build, with a pale face and no mustache. He wore a blue robe with a mandarin square on the chest, giving off an air of scholarly elegance.

  He looked up at the Dou family's gate. Du An introduced on the side: "This is our old master's ancestral home. Mr. Song, please!"

  The man known as Mr. Song smiled and followed Du An into the mansion.

  Duan Zhaoyi has already received news that Duan Shiyin's newly appointed Western teacher, Mr. Song, has arrived.

  Dòu Zhāo Ràng was delighted to go and settle Mr. Song.

  Gao Xing is Gao Sheng's younger brother. When Du Shiying went to Kyoto, Gao Sheng followed him as an attendant. Household matters were originally supposed to be handed over to Du An, who had served under Du Dang. However, Wang Yingxue thought that Du An was meticulous and reliable in handling affairs. He wanted Du An to follow them to Kyoto as well and suggested making Du Ning, Du An's older brother, the general manager. The household servants were numerous, and they also supported Du An because he had served under Du Dang. Du Shiying didn't care about such matters at all; he nodded without even thinking. Before Du Shiying left, Du Zhao used the excuse that his own estate lacked a manager to kick out several managers loyal to Wang Yingxue and have them work on his own estate as managers. He also promoted new managers. After Du Shiying left, Du Zhao instructed Gao Xing, who was in charge of the gatehouse at the Du residence, to handle everything. He immediately had Du Ning sidelined, and soon used the excuse that those managers didn't understand estate matters to send them back home idle.

  The Dou family's servant who sweeps the yard also knew what was going on, no one dared to make a sound, they just became more courteous when they met Dou Zhao.

  Du Ning also didn't dare to mention Du Zhao, only daring to scold loudly after getting drunk: "What the hell is he? Can't even understand the account book, still acting as the general manager, don't make people laugh their teeth off!"

  Dong Zhaoming spread the word: "I say who's capable, they're capable; I say who's not capable, they're not capable. Whether or not they're actually capable doesn't matter!" The people in the Western Mansion were terrified when they heard this, and someone with a grudge against Dong Zhaoming passed on the words to the Eastern Mansion. The Second Madam frowned when she heard them, privately thinking that Dong Zhaoming was being arrogant and overbearing. She had originally wanted to help him out, but in the end, she kept silent and did nothing. Someone else told Dong Zhaoming about what was being said behind his back, but he just pretended not to have heard it. In private, he told Gao Xing how to be lenient with minor offenses while cracking down on major ones. Gao Xing followed Dong Zhaoming's words to the letter, and although he was a bit too rigid in his handling of affairs, more than a year passed without any major mistakes being made. This left the Second Madam very surprised, exclaiming "Huh?"

  He went happily but came back after half a stick of incense time.

  "Fourth Miss," he reported respectfully. "Du Guan Shi has returned, and Mr. Song is with him!"

  Dong Zhao raised an eyebrow.

  I don't know what Du An is coming back for?

  She asked happily: "Is it you who came back by yourself or did Du Guan Shi tell you not to interfere with this matter?"

  Gaoxing said with a smile: "It's me who can't get involved and thinks I should tell Fourth Miss, so I came back."

  Dong Zhaodao said: "Since it's like that, you just pass on my words. As for Mr. Song's matter, none of you should intervene."

  Delighted to know what "don't mind" means, he hesitated and said: "But Mr. Song is the Western teacher invited by Master Qi, if it's like that Jiang Yougong who was driven away..."

  "What does it have to do with us?" Dòu Zhāoqí said, "Isn't Du An hosting Mr. Song? Mr. Song was driven away by anger, my father should also settle the account with Du An, shouldn't he?"

  Delighted, he thought for a moment and felt that Du Zhao's words were reasonable. He smiled foolishly and ordered Du Zhao's words to be passed on.

  On Du An's side, there was immediately no one left to pass the handkerchief.

  He was furious and summoned Du Ning for a severe reprimand.

  Du Ning said with a hint of resentment: "I told you earlier that you should have stayed at the Duan's house..."

  "Let your fart go!" Du An couldn't help but say, "Fourth Miss is powerful, but after a few years, she will still get married. I am more diligent, and Seventh Master likes the one who has been serving him since childhood, Gao Sheng." Then sighed, "If Fourth Miss were a young master, I would have nothing to hesitate about, wholeheartedly flattering Fourth Miss and spending my days with her!"

  "But if you offend Fourth Miss, she might suddenly think of it and have you dismissed at any time. If you offend the mistress, you can still appeal to Fourth Miss and go to work as a servant in her estate or shop..."

  If Fourth Miss hadn't obtained half of Xi's property, would she still be able to get away with it?

  Du An sighed in his heart and remained silent for a while.

  Du Ning asked him cautiously: "What should we do about this?"

  Du An glared at Du Ning fiercely and said, "What to do? You think of a way to find a few people to deal with the current situation first." He also said, "This time, my wife let me come back, there is something important to be done. Don't worry about family matters for now, just listen to my orders later." When he finished speaking, his words were already laced with gritted teeth.

  Du Ning nodded repeatedly and called over his wife, niece, and nephew who were working at the Dugong government office to help.

  Mr. Song was also used to moving in the homes of wealthy families, bringing his own nephew, Song Yan, to serve him personally. Seeing this situation, he couldn't help but secretly regret it and said to his nephew: "Earlier, I only said that there was a young lady at home who wanted to learn some elegant knowledge such as poetry, zither, books, and painting. Who knew that the affairs of this family were so complicated? Alas, if it weren't for having business with Mr. He, how would I have come here to be a house tutor?"

  Song Yan was only fifteen or sixteen years old, but he was very calm and comforted Mr. Song with a smile: "Uncle, don't be discouraged, just teach that young lady, can they still reduce our food and clothing expenses? If not, we'll finish teaching this year and won't teach next year. As for He Daren's side, there will also be an explanation."

  Mr. Song nodded.

  Song Yan and Du An's nephew helped carry boxes together.

  When it was time for dinner, Dou Shi-bang accepted Dou Zhao's entrustment to entertain Mr. Song: "The seventh uncle is not at home, and the place of courtesy is still please Mr. Song to forgive." Then he invited the Song brothers to go to Jingfu Spring.

  As a result, Du An's dinner was ruined, and in anger, he grabbed Gao Xing's collar and was about to hit him.

  Someone from the side came over and persuaded them to break up.

  He was still happily and foolishly saying: "The meals at home are all fixed, you come back without going to ask Miss Fourth for peace, Miss Fourth doesn't know, hasn't given orders, the stove can't do anything. You'd better go ask Miss Fourth for peace!"

  The Duan family throws away so much leftover food every day, does it mean they have more than enough for him?

  Du An was so angry that his face turned purple, but he couldn't say a word. Thinking of his wife's instructions, he had no choice but to go and pay his respects to Du Zhao.

  The woman at the gate blocked him outside, her face expressionless as she said: "Du, you're not suitable to enter the inner courtyard anymore. The young lady has grown up and is different from before. If you have any business, we can help you convey it."

  They waited for two hours, without even a stool to sit on. Du An's legs were numb from standing before a young maid came back with the message: "It's getting late, Fourth Miss asks Manager Du to come and talk tomorrow morning."

  Du An couldn't help but ask: "What was Fourth Miss doing just now?"

  That little maid puckered up her mouth and smiled: "Fourth Miss was just pruning flowers!"

  Du An was furious again.

  Duan Zhaocai was too lazy to bother with Du An, so she had Ganlu and several others hurry up and make a few lotus-leaf pouches. Then she went to the Great Compassionate Temple and got a "may everything go as you wish" charm for each of Duan Zhengchang, Duan Dechang, Duan Qiguang, Duan Qitai, and Wu Shan, who were all taking the children's examination this year, put them in lotus-leaf pouches, and sent them over.

  Dou Zhengchang and the others all had their maids bring over a few words of gratitude, but only Wu Shan sent over a box of white fans with lotus leaves: "In a few days when the flowers bloom, Fourth Sister can paint some fans to give to people."

  Dòu zhāo guān ěr, bù jīn xīn dòng.

  English Translation:

  The cave is bright and clean, and I couldn't help but feel moved.

  After Mr. Song finished lecturing on "Mengzi - Wan Zhang Shang" and the phrase "When marrying a wife, one must inform their parents", she asked Mr. Song: "I used to follow my elders at home to learn flower-and-bird painting, I want to paint a few fan faces, can you teach me?"

  Apart from some discord on the first day, the Duan family was very calm. Duan Zhao was also very serious about his homework, and Mr. Song was very satisfied with this.

  "He smiled and said: 'You draw a draft first, I'll take a look.'"

  Dòu Zhāo Xǐn Rán Yìng Nuò.

  Mr. Song's name is Huai, and his courtesy name is Yuemin. He is well-versed in various subjects and has a rather casual demeanor, possibly due to being from Jiangnan. He doesn't show any negligence towards Du Zhao just because she's a girl. Whenever Du Zhao asks him something she doesn't understand, he often cites classics and explains at length. Du Zhao listens with great interest, often forgetting what she originally wanted to ask about. These past few days, feeling the spring breeze on his face, he even told Du Zhao that he made a kite. Now that Du Zhao is taking the initiative to learn something, his enthusiasm is even higher.

  Dong Zhao returned home and found some fan paintings to copy.

  News came from the county school that Dou Zhengchang, Dou Dechang, Dou Qiguang, Dou Qitai and Wu Shandu had all passed the county examination. By April, they had also all passed the prefectural examination. In June, except for Dou Qitai, everyone else passed the provincial examination, especially Wu Shan who was ranked first in the examination.

  The Dou family's reputation is greatly enhanced.

  Mrs. Wu brought Wu Ya back from Kyoto on purpose.

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  I think the following content should be divided into volumes, unfortunately, I tried several times but failed, so I can only continue writing like this.

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