Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 21: Reading people accurately
Seeing that Chen Xuan seemed to be in a daze, Qing He smiled and said, "Xiao Xuan, you probably don't understand what it means to be a study companion, right? Don't think too much about it now. Someone will teach you later, and after a while, you will naturally understand your responsibilities."

"Yes, as a book boy, I need to accompany the young master when he is reading and learning to read. I need to help him spread the paper, grind the ink, and organize the manuscript. I also need to remind him when to read and when to rest. I don't have to do any physical work. It's very easy. I don't quite understand it either," Qingyu echoed from the side.

Qing He thought of something, looked at Chen Xuan and smiled, "Although being a book boy is easy, if the young master makes a mistake and is punished by the teacher, you as a book boy might have to bear the punishment for the young master sometimes."

Chen Xuan blinked when he heard this, thinking, is this how a book boy is used? And he has to help bear the punishment?

At this moment, he couldn't help but pray in his heart that the young master he had never met would be a well-behaved and sensible one, otherwise he would have to suffer a lot in the future.

Qingyu comforted him, "Don't be afraid. If you fail to complete your homework or even act mischievously, the teacher will at most slap your palm. He won't really do anything to you. Just bear with it and it will pass."

Chen Xuan hesitated to speak, thinking about how to use his status to influence the young master he had never met into an obedient child.

Judging from their tone, the young master they were talking about shouldn't be very old. Naughty kids are the most annoying. You can't hit them, and you can't scold them either. It's a headache...

Looking at the sky outside, Qinghe said, "Okay, it's almost dawn. Xiaoxuan, you should eat something first. We have to go back home soon, and it will take a day or two to walk. Let's go first, and someone will come to wake you up later."

The Gao family seemed quite far away, and it would take a day or two to walk there. The lady had been running around looking for a satisfactory servant, and she was really worried sick. She just didn't know the specific situation of the Gao family. But it didn't matter, there would be plenty of opportunities to find out.

After they left, Chen Xuan didn't think about it anymore. He ate first. Traveling in this era was not an easy task.

Chen Xuan ate two white flour buns and a plate of pickles with relish. This was what human beings should eat. What he ate in the dog cage during those days was simply indescribable.

Chen Xuan also understood that even though breakfast consisted of white flour buns and pickles, in this era, most well-off families would not be willing to eat like this. As for poor families, it would be good enough to have two thin meals a day to fill their stomachs.

While Chen Xuan was eating, Qingyu Qinghe returned to the room where Mrs. Gao was to report the situation.

Mrs. Gao was combing her hair in front of a bronze mirror, while two personal maids named Qingmei and Qingping were helping her comb her hair. She was wearing seven or eight pieces of red hairpins and jewelry.

It is said that noble ladies in ancient times would often wear a hairpin on their heads to give rewards, and they didn’t feel tired of wearing so many on their heads.

She didn't look too old, maybe thirty or forty, and was well maintained. People would believe she was in her twenties. She had a good face, with a face like a silver plate, willow eyebrows, and star-like eyes. She had a round and plump figure. The silver-white long dress inlaid with gold and jade supported her temperament. Her appearance and figure could be said to be the most resistant for a woman in her age.

There were many maids around her, but she did not have that kind of condescending and overbearing air. Instead, her eyes revealed a kind of approachability that made people feel no resentment.

Before Qingyu and Qinghe, who had just returned, could speak, Qingmei, who was dressing Madam Gao, couldn't wait to ask, "Have you met that little Chen Xuan? What do you think of him?"

Compared to Qingmei's lively personality, Qingyu and Qinghe were much more stable. They first saluted Madam Gao, and then Qinghe said, "Madam, we have observed him carefully. We secretly touched his bones under the pretext of changing his clothes. Chen Xuan is in good health and has no hidden diseases or defects." Qingyu said as soon as she finished speaking, "He is handsome and articulate. He speaks very coherently at a young age and has a sharp eye. If he is trained well, he will definitely become the young master's right-hand man in the future."

"Yes, Madam has good taste. She took a liking to him at first sight. If he follows the young master in the future, he will definitely not bring shame to him. If you take him out, he will be much more pleasing to the eye than the servants of other families," Qinghe nodded quickly.

Mrs. Gao naturally believed in her own judgment. How could she be wrong in choosing someone herself? She smiled gently and said softly, "You all missed the point. As the saying goes, you can tell a person's future from the age of three. When I first saw him on Li Street, I saw three parts of kindness, three parts of steadiness, three parts of diligence, and a hint of arrogance in his eyes. Such a person knows how to be grateful and treat others with sincerity and kindness. He will never be the kind of person who is ungrateful. I feel at ease letting him grow up with your young master."

Fortunately, Chen Xuan was not here, even though he did not see the fan-shaped diagram. Otherwise, after hearing these words, he would definitely say that you have a good judge of people.

So-called kindness is simply the moral bottom line that almost everyone in Chen Xuan's past life shared: not doing evil, but also not being overly compassionate. And practicality, even in an era where one has to be mindful of their words and actions online, or else they might be invited for tea, he's never made a mistake. How could he not be practical? As for diligence, let alone hard work, even for a few thousand yuan a month, he's willing to work tirelessly like a beast of burden, and still have to thank his boss for giving him a living. It's impossible not to be diligent.

A little bit of arrogance is nothing but a boring fantasy after facing the reality. Who doesn't want to become a superior person overnight?

"Can you tell so much from the eyes? Madam really has a sharp eye," Qingyu immediately gave an admiring compliment.

Madam Gao smiled and said, "Of course. The art of judging horses has existed since ancient times. Judging people is also a science. You guys still have a lot to learn."

"We must follow Madam and learn well. If we learn a little, we will benefit from it for the rest of our lives," several maids said almost in unison.

Ignoring their flattery, Madam Gao got up after getting dressed, supported by Qingping, and said, "Let's go. It's time to meet that little Chen Xuan. He will be with my son for many years. Our fates are connected, and we will prosper together. After getting to know him, we can set off for home."

"Okay, ma'am, I'll arrange it right away," Qingyu responded immediately.

Mrs. Gao waved her hand and said, "Don't be too pushy. Let's just go over there. He's still young and has no relatives in my Gao family. He's at a loss and helpless. We'll be family from now on. Even though he's my son's book boy, I don't treat him as an outsider. A little intimacy will make him feel the warmth of home and a sense of belonging. He'll then be able to work harder for Ming Er in the future."

"Madam's good opinion"

Of course, Mrs. Gao would not say that this kind of skill in controlling people can only be mastered by starting from the details of daily life.

Fortunately, these girls were Madam Gao's personal maids, and they all knew their limits and would not say anything careless. Otherwise, she would not have said these superficial words to win people's hearts.

Then, Mrs. Gao, surrounded by Qingyu and Qinghe, went towards where Chen Xuan lived, which was in a small courtyard not far away.

Qingmei and Qingping stayed behind to pack their things, as they had to return home soon...

(End of this chapter)