Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

Sister Feng's words were well-thought-out, clearly pointing out the advantages and disadvantages while also subtly protecting him. Jia Yun felt a surge of warmth in his heart and was filled with admiration.

Without further hesitation, he bowed deeply, his voice trembling slightly with emotion: "Second Madam's considerations are thorough, your nephew... your nephew understands! Your nephew is willing to go! He will certainly do his utmost to live up to Second Madam's trust!"

Jia Yun looked up, her gaze involuntarily drawn to the person on the kang (heated brick bed).

Wang Xifeng leaned against the brocade railing, her lips, red as cinnabar, were full and plump, making her already stunningly beautiful face even more radiant and captivating.

Her lips naturally curved slightly upward, exuding charm even without a smile. At this moment, her ambiguous smile as she glanced at him made Jia Yun's heart skip a beat.

An indescribable itch surged from the bottom of my heart, and I hurriedly lowered my eyes to avoid the captivating and dazzling light.

An inexplicable surge of emotion welled up within him, prompting him to blurt out, "Yun, I am willing to go through fire and water for Second Madam!"

The warmth in his voice and the undisguised loyalty and admiration in his young eyes startled Wang Xifeng slightly.

She couldn't help but take a closer look at Jia Yun. Although the young man's clothes were worn and his face still bore scars, his handsome features and vigorous spirit were undeniable. He was tall and upright, truly a man of great talent.

A slight stirring ran through her heart; she was used to flattery. Such fervent sincerity was rare, but she showed no sign of it on her face, simply saying, "Alright, your words are enough. Doing your job well is the best way to repay me. Go back and prepare; report to the Iron Threshold Temple in three days."

"Yes!" Jia Yun bowed again before carefully retreating.

Watching that slender yet upright figure disappear beyond the curtain, Wang Xifeng finally withdrew her gaze, took the hot tea that Ping'er had brewed again, gently blew away the foam, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

It seems this move was the right one.

It remains to be seen how much of a ripple this pebble thrown into the lake will ultimately create.

Now, Jia Yun left Sister Feng's courtyard, carrying those twenty taels of silver. He felt as if he were walking on air, and the world seemed much wider.

He first went to find Ni Er, intending to pay off the debt with interest and get rid of this worry.

When Ni Er saw that he had repaid the money so quickly, and after hearing about his "heroic deeds" in the mansion, his attitude became much more respectful. After a dispute between the two, the other party did not charge interest.

Now, Jia Yun returned home and told his mother, Madam Bu, about Wang Xifeng's arrangements in detail.

When Bu heard that her son was going to work at the Iron Threshold Temple outside the city, although he was a steward, he would receive a monthly salary of one tael, which was considered a respectable and lucrative position.

But the thought of her son leaving home to live alone filled her with a thousand regrets and ten thousand heartaches.

She held Jia Yun's hand, tears streaming down her face before she could speak: "My son, you've only had a few days of peace at home, and now you have to go out again... Your injuries haven't fully healed yet..."

Seeing his mother's tears, Jia Yun felt a pang of sadness, but he forced a smile and helped his mother sit down, offering gentle words of comfort.

"Mother, this is a good thing. Second Madam values ​​me, which is why she gave me this job to gain experience. Iron Threshold Temple isn't far from the city, so I can come back to see you whenever I have free time. With the monthly salary plus what Master Zheng gives me, I get three taels of silver a month. Our lives are much more comfortable now, and you don't have to work day and night anymore, hurting your hands with those jobs."

Looking at the bruises that hadn't completely faded on her son's handsome face, Madam Bu felt both proud and heartbroken. Her son, though sensible in the past, still carried some of the frivolity of youth.

Since that accident six months ago, he seems to have been reborn. He has settled down and no longer thinks about finding odd jobs outside. Instead, he has buried himself in books, saying that he wants to take the imperial examination and bring glory to his family.

Initially, Mr. Bu was vehemently opposed.

They, a widow and her orphan, were struggling to make ends meet. How could they possibly support a man who was focused on his studies? She tried to persuade him earnestly, even shedding tears several times.

But Jia Yun, holding her hand, promised, "Mother, believe me. Studying may not guarantee immediate success in the imperial examinations, but with official rank, even if you only become a Xiucai (a lower-level scholar), your circumstances will be vastly different. I promise you, I will never let you suffer forever; I will definitely make sure you live a good life."

Perhaps it was the light in her son's eyes that moved her, or perhaps it was a lingering, faint hope deep within her heart for changing her family's fortunes; in the end, Madam Bu gritted her teeth and agreed.

Over the past six months, she watched her son sometimes go to Jigutang to copy books during the day to earn money for writing materials, and then study diligently under the oil lamp until late at night. He has become a little thinner, but his energy and spirit have only grown stronger.

She had thought that this ordeal would last forever, but who would have thought that her son's "misfortune" would turn out to be a blessing in disguise? Not only did he receive a monthly allowance of one tael of silver from Jia Zheng himself, but he also gained the favor of Second Mistress Lian, who assigned him the position of deputy steward of the Iron Threshold Temple, adding another one tael of silver to his monthly allowance! This was a good thing that she never dared to dream of.

Thinking about the ups and downs of the past six months, Ms. Bu's tears flowed even more fiercely.

While wiping away her tears with a handkerchief, she scolded, "You little rascal, you're getting more and more capable these days, daring to cause trouble even in front of the old lady and the master... It makes me so anxious."

Despite saying that, Madam Bu's hands didn't stop; she deftly began packing her son's belongings, muttering to herself.

"Bring a couple more warm clothes, it's colder in the temple than in the city... I don't know if they have bedding there, take this old one with you, it's not the best, but it's better than nothing... I just made it for you the other day, take everything with you..."

Seeing his mother busy, Jia Yun felt a warmth in his heart. But then he noticed the gray hairs at her temples, and a pang of sadness welled up inside him. He couldn't help but step forward and gently hug his mother's thin shoulders.

"Mother, don't worry, your son has grown up and knows how to take care of himself. You should stay home and take good care of yourself. Don't take on so many jobs anymore. Your son can support you now."

Mrs. Bu was taken aback by her son's sudden closeness, then her face flushed slightly. She laughed and lightly punched him, scolding, "Let go! You're so disrespectful! What will people think if they see this!"

Even so, a genuine smile appeared in her eyes and brows.

The next morning, Jia Yun bid farewell to his mother and boarded a carriage bound for the Iron Threshold Temple.

Madam Bu stood at the door, watching the carriage disappear into the alley before reluctantly turning back into the house.

The room suddenly felt empty, and a piece of her heart felt empty too. However, this emptiness was quickly filled by a new thought.

She sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), pondering: Yun'er now has a proper job with a stable monthly salary. Although it's at a temple, he's at least a manager, which is respectable. He'll be fifteen next year; shouldn't we start arranging his marriage?

In the past, her family was so poor that she didn't dare to think about it, and no one ever came to her door to mention it.

The situation is different now. Although she can't compare to the legitimate sons in the manor, Yun'er is beautiful and ambitious. Now she is valued by the higher-ups, so maybe... a marriage that is not far off can be arranged.

Madam Bu's mind began to race, and she secretly pondered which family's daughter was kind, capable, and not too concerned about the dowry...

Not to mention how Madam Bu was planning her son's marriage at home.

As Jia Yun sat on the bumpy carriage, looking out the window at the gradually thinning houses and the fields beginning to turn yellow, he was filled with mixed feelings.

Jia Yun knew that the job at the Iron Threshold Temple was both a starting point and a test for him, given to him by Wang Xifeng.

He must seize this opportunity and make a name for himself in order to truly establish himself in this vast Jia family mansion, and to live up to his mother's expectations and the appreciation of... his second mistress.

Recalling Wang Xifeng's phoenix eyes, as clear as spring water, and the inexplicable flutter in his heart when he blurted out "going through fire and water" that day, Jia Yun's face flushed slightly. He quickly composed himself and turned his gaze into the distance.

The road ahead is long, and Jia Yun's journey has only just begun.