The Female Assistant of Wei Yuyan Shuangfei

In the study, a middle-aged man was brushing the dust off the bookshelf lazily. Suddenly, the hall darkened inexplicably, and the man instantly perked up and came out with a smile.

"Sir! Our store has all the Four Books and Five Classics, Classics, History, Prose and Stories, etc. I wonder...?"

As the man spoke, he saw who was coming. The previous happy atmosphere disappeared instantly, and he said with a hint of displeasure: "Ladies, this is my study."

Xie Shuting naturally understood the implication of the middle-aged man's words. Since ancient times, everything is inferior except reading, and reading is a right that men should have.

As a woman, she seemed to be a disgrace to the saints in the eyes of scholars for entering this study. This was due to the general environment and she could not change it.

Xie Shuting was not angry when she heard this. She glanced at the bookshelf and understood what he meant. She bowed and said, "I wonder if the shopkeeper is here. I want to discuss a business deal with him."

"Buy or sell?"

The middle-aged man looked Xie Shuting up and down, and seeing her polite attitude, he softened his tone and said, "My name is Dong Pingchang, may I ask your name, young lady?"

"You are so rude. How can you ask the name of an unmarried girl?" Lian Xi said with some displeasure.

Upon hearing this, Dong Pingchang bowed his head and apologized: "I am reckless, please forgive me, young lady."

Xie Shuting was somewhat helpless. It was inconvenient for women to go out, and they were bound by various shackles. It was very difficult for them to take a single step in the feudal society.

"Mr. Dong, there is no need to be so polite. Since I want to discuss business with you, it is not appropriate to conceal my name."

As Xie Shuting spoke, she bowed and said, "I am Xie Weiyu, and this is my maid Lian Xi."

"Hello, Miss Xie! I wonder what business Miss Xie wants to discuss with me?" Dong Pingchang's expression eased slightly, and he asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Is this how Mr. Dong plans to negotiate the deal?"

Dong Pingchang suddenly came to his senses after hearing this, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I lost my composure. Miss Xie, please move to the private room."

"Thank you!"

Xie Shuting responded, and led Lian Xi to follow behind Dong Pingchang. The three of them entered the private room next to the study one after another.

The layout of the private room was also quite simple and elegant, and the paintings and calligraphy throughout the room demonstrated the aura that a scholar should have. Xie Shuting nodded with satisfaction.

The servant served the tea and left. Dong Pingchang took a sip and asked the question in his mind: "Miss Xie! What business do you want to discuss with me?"

"Mr. Dong! Have you ever taken the imperial examination?" Xie Shuting asked softly.

"this......"

Dong Pingchang looked at Xie Shuting in a daze. He couldn't follow her train of thought at all. Why did she ask about the imperial examination when they had agreed to discuss business?

With this in mind, he still replied sincerely: "I am really ashamed. I only have the status of a scholar. I don't know what this has to do with the business that the girl is talking about?"

"I have two plans. One is to buy this study and turn it into a pharmacy. The other is to hire Mr. Dong as the teacher of the private school and give classes to students."

Lian Xi, who was standing by, had a look of doubt on her face when she heard this. If it were before, she would definitely have questioned the young lady's decision, but after following the young lady for so long, she has now gotten used to it.

The young lady's decisions have always been random, so she is not surprised at all when she says she wants to turn her study into a restaurant.

Dong Pingchang was silent for a moment, then asked with a hint of doubt: "How can Miss Xie be sure that I will sell the study to you, and how can you be sure that I will agree to your request?"

"There has been no one in your study for half a day, and there is a lot of dust on the bookshelves. I think it has not been open for at least a few months. I think Mr. Dong is not good at running the business, or because the study is his ancestral property, Mr. Dong cannot resell it, so he can only keep it like this. I don't know if what I said is right or not."

Dong Pingchang's expression froze when he heard this. His originally scattered emotions instantly focused, and he suddenly felt a little apprehensive about Xie Shuting's words.

"Ms. Xie! Since you figured out that this is my ancestral property, you know I won't sell it. Why do you ask this?"

"Mr. Dong! The second thing I just said is the most profitable for Mr. Dong. Are you sure you don't want to listen to it?"

As Xie Shuting spoke, she picked up the teacup and took a sip. With the noble aura emanating from her body, he seemed to sense a sense of being the host and the guest.

Dong Pingchang was already a little flustered. He had no idea about Xie Shuting's background, or rather, he felt that he would be selling himself to the woman once she opened her mouth.

He suppressed his curiosity, swallowed his saliva and said, "Xie Miss! There is no need to discuss this matter any further. I will not sell my study."

"Mr. Dong, don't rush to refuse."

Xie Shuting stroked the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said slowly, "Mr. Dong! This year's imperial examination has passed, and the examination three years later will probably be postponed. I wonder what Mr. Dong's plans are going to be when the time comes?"

"What did you say?" Dong Pingchang asked in shock.

The imperial examination was the only way for scholars to enter officialdom. Xie Tingwen was forced by Xie Shuting to take the exam this year. Because Empress Dowager Jingci Ren'an passed away three years later, Emperor Zhen of Song issued an edict to mourn the whole country, which led to the postponement of the imperial examination and its change to a special examination.

Xie Shuting still seemed calm and said as she stroked the teacup in her hand, "Mr. Dong! You still have a lot of time. Although my words are a little hard to understand, overall everything is for your own good."

Lian Xi, who was standing by, almost couldn't help laughing when he heard the words "Generally speaking, everything is for your own good", because every time his young lady said this, it meant that half of the things were done.

As Lian Xi expected, Dong Pingchang calmed down a little, rubbed his sweaty hands, looked at Xie Shuting and said, "Ms. Xie! What do you mean?"

"This study is already running out of money, so Mr. Dong will mortgage it to me and I will open a pharmacy. You will run the house and I will manage it. After deducting all expenses, I will put all the profits in the private school for you to use. In this way, you can preserve your ancestral property and have a livelihood. Isn't this the best of both worlds?"

Dong Pingchang was somewhat moved when he heard this. He knew that it was not a long-term solution for him to keep this study, but he could not bear to give up his ancestral property. Now the plan proposed by Xie Shuting seemed to be a good choice.

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke a little awkwardly: "Miss Xie's words do make sense, but I still need to consider whether I am qualified to be a private school teacher. After all, I only have the title of scholar, and I am afraid that I will mislead the students."

Xie Shuting smiled and said, "Mr. Dong is too modest. Knowledge is important, but the teaching method is more about guidance and inspiration. Mr. Dong is well-read and will surely teach excellent students. If you still have doubts, you may as well give it a try and give yourself a chance."

"This... I will give it a try. I will trouble you in the future."

Dong Pingchang thought for a long time and finally nodded and agreed to Xie Shuting's request. The two of them finalized some details and signed the document.

It was not until the end that Dong Pingchang understood Xie Shuting's painstaking efforts. The private school she ran was only for children from poor families, and all the tools used by the students were free of charge.

Despite such a kind act, Dong Pingchang was unable to find out Xie Shuting's family background until the very end. The only thing he got was "You will know when the time comes", and that was all.