Dream of the Red Chamber: My Daiyu Has Been Reborn

In the Pear Fragrance Courtyard, Daiyu, Zijuan, and Xueyan were gathered together, discussing what to wear for the flower-viewing banquet the day after tomorrow.

Granny Zhou lifted the curtain and came in: "Miss, someone came to deliver a message, saying that there is a young lady surnamed Huang, who is an old acquaintance of yours, and has come to pay her respects."

"Surname Huang?" Daiyu thought for a moment and then realized who it was. "Indeed, we are old acquaintances. Please come in."

Granny Zhou responded and went out.

Xueyan looked up at her mistress: "Miss, has Lady Huang arrived?"

Daiyu nodded: "That must be it."

After about the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, Granny Zhou led in a woman dressed in a blue cloth robe with a spirited appearance.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Xueyan exclaimed with delight, "Miss Huang, I never expected to see you again!" She glanced at Huang Ying's waist and asked, "Why didn't you bring your broadsword today?"

"Xueyan, don't be rude." Daiyu stood up to greet her, "Miss Huang, please come in and sit down."

Huang Ying did not sit down immediately, but clasped her hands and said, "I left in a hurry last time and did not have time to thank you properly, young lady. If it weren't for your help, I'm afraid I would have died in the river long ago. I have come here today to apologize."

"It was nothing, Miss Huang, you're too kind. Please have a seat."

Huang Ying no longer declined and sat down gracefully. Zijuan served tea.

After seeing her seated, Daiyu asked, "Miss Huang, you left in such a hurry that day, your injuries hadn't fully healed before you left. Did something important happen?"

Huang Ying sighed, her expression becoming more somber.

"To be honest, young lady, I was escorting a wealthy merchant's goods for a security escort agency when we were attacked by river bandits. Although we fought desperately to protect the goods, the bandits outnumbered us and managed to steal them. So after I escaped danger, I rushed back to report the news."

Daiyu nodded slightly: "Was the dart retrieved?"

Huang Ying shook her head sadly: "No. That wealthy merchant sued the authorities, and the head镖师 (chief镖师) of the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency) sold his ancestral home to compensate the other party, and the镖局 also disbanded."

As Huang Ying spoke, she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

"In the end, it's our fault for not being skilled enough. It's just that those who followed me suffered, losing their jobs overnight."

"So what are your plans now?"

"After this incident, no one in the escort agency dares to hire us anymore. When I was in the escort agency, I had seven or eight sisters who made a living with me. They were all from poor families, and although they were women, they were all quite skilled. After the escort agency disbanded, I thought about gathering them together and finding a way to make a living in this capital city."

She hesitated for a moment, then looked at Daiyu: "To be honest, I came today for two reasons. First, to thank you again for saving my life, Miss. Second, I thought that since you come from a wealthy family, I would be extremely grateful if you could offer me some guidance."

Upon hearing Huang Ying's purpose, Daiyu did not speak immediately. After pondering for a moment, she had already made up her mind.

Huang Ying is grateful for kindness, skilled in martial arts, and, more importantly, has several capable people under her command.

In her previous life, she was confined to the Rongguo Mansion her entire life, rarely venturing out. Reborn, her deepest realization is that a woman confined to her chambers without external assistance, no matter how many schemes or schemes she may possess, is nothing more than a bird trapped in a cage.

She could never find out the cause of her parents' deaths in her past life while confined to this courtyard. She needed someone who could travel outside and gather information for her. And Huang Ying was the person that fate had sent to her.

Daiyu looked at Zijuan and Xueyan: "The tea is cold, Zijuan, take Xueyan to brew a fresh pot."

Zijuan immediately understood, knowing that the young lady had something private to discuss, and immediately pulled Xueyan out.

Huang Ying, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, was no fool. She had come with only a try-it-out mentality, not expecting much, but now it seemed there was a chance. Her expression immediately turned serious.

Sure enough, the next second, Daiyu asked.

"Miss Huang, you said your seven or eight sisters are all skilled in martial arts?"

Huang Ying nodded: "Escorting goods is a dangerous job, and if we women don't have some skills, no escort agency would want to hire us. Although I wouldn't dare call myself an expert, three or five strong men can't get close to us."

"It would be a waste for someone with such talent to be doing menial tasks like laundry."

Huang Ying's eyes lit up immediately, realizing that Daiyu's words had a hidden meaning, and she waited for her to continue.

Daiyu continued, "If Miss Huang were given a shop, are you confident you could manage it well?"

Huang Ying was taken aback: "A shop?"

"That's good," Daiyu nodded. "I have some savings on hand anyway, and they're just sitting there. I might as well use them to open a shop. If Miss Huang is willing, she can manage it for me. Your sisters will then have a proper place to work, and I'll make sure they don't suffer any financial loss."

Huang Ying jumped up excitedly, her face showing both surprise and delight: "Is what you say true, young lady?"

"Naturally true."

"But..." Seeing Daiyu's straightforwardness, Huang Ying hesitated again. "Opening a shop is no small matter. I'm just a wandering swordsman; all I know how to do is wield weapons. What business would I know?"

"If I don't know how, I can learn. Besides, that's not what I value."

Huang Ying was taken aback: "What is that?"

"Miss Huang, you've been a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) for many years, so you must know quite a few people from all walks of life, and your information network is naturally excellent."

Huang Ying lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.

Daiyu looked at her calmly: "I am in this deep mansion and know nothing about the outside world. If you are willing, the profit or loss of the shop is not important. Just consider it as a chance for Miss Huang to practice and a place for Miss Huang's sisters to stay. I only ask that when needed, Miss Huang can help me find out news from the outside world."

Huang Ying remained silent for a while, then suddenly grinned.

"You saved my life, and now you're willing to give me and my sisters a way out. I, Huang Ying, accept your offer. From now on, your business is my business. If you want to know anything, just tell me. My sisters are tight-lipped and good fighters, perfect for doing things for you."

Seeing that she had agreed, Daiyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. If she had missed Huang Ying, she really didn't know when she would find a suitable candidate again.

She immediately got up, walked to the cabinet, took out a box, and without even looking at it closely, casually took out a silver note from it.

Daiyu handed the silver note to Huang Ying: "I'm not very good at business either. You can ask around in the market, whatever you want to do. This is one thousand taels. It should be enough to open a shop, buy goods, and purchase household items. If it's not enough, you can come to me again."

Huang Ying took the silver note and looked at the denomination. She was momentarily taken aback by the other party's generosity. She had thought that since it was the other party's personal money, two or three hundred taels would be the limit, but she did not expect the other party to give a thousand taels.

Over the years, she had escorted many daughters of officials at the security company, but she had never seen anyone so generous.

Judging from the casual way Lin Daiyu took the silver notes earlier, there were clearly quite a few more like them in the box. In her eyes, these silver notes seemed no different from a piece of paper.