CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: PIT LIN QINGQING FIRST

"Little Tao’er!" Fu Shinian was the first to speak, waving to the little girl, "Come, don’t be afraid."

Little Tao’er looked surprised and happily ran over with her little legs.

Everyone watched Little Tao’er run to Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu.

"Sister Fu!" Little Tao’er looked up and called out to both of them.

Fu Shinian took out a handkerchief to wipe the tears from the corner of Little Tao’er’s eyes.

Fu Mingzhu took out a small packet of candy from her pouch, "Little Tao’er, do you still remember who is the older sister and who is the second sister?"

Little Tao’er, about three or four years old, grinned with a row of white baby teeth showing, "The one who gives candy is Miss Fu, the one who wipes my face is the second sister."

"Little Tao’er is so smart, remembering it well." Fu Mingzhu smiled as she placed a packet of candy into Little Tao’er’s hands, "Share it with everyone, make sure no one eats too much, and supervise each other, got it?"

"Okay!"

The other children, initially hesitant to approach, now saw that Little Tao’er was fine and quickly gathered around.

"Sister Fu, why haven’t you come in the past few days?" A little boy asked.

"Second Sister Fu said they had some matters to attend to, so they couldn’t come these past few days. They said once they’re done, they’ll come! See, aren’t they here today?" Another little boy spoke crisply.

"Sister Fu, we really missed you over these few days," another little girl said.

"Did you miss us or the toys?" Fu Shinian asked with a smile.

"We’ve been studying well with our teacher!" The little girl immediately replied, "In these past few days, we’ve learned many new characters."

Little Tao’er finished sharing the candy with the children and returned with some candy in her mouth, "I can write the character for ’Tao’ now!"

"I, I, I can write the character ’Shinian’ from Second Sister Fu’s name."

"I can write ’Ming’!"

"I can too, I can too!"

"The teacher has already told us." Fu Mingzhu opened the package, revealing toys inside.

"I promised you before: if you study well, I’ll give you these toys." Fu Mingzhu said, "Look, bamboo dragonfly, rattle drum, and spinning top."

"Thank you, Sister Fu, thank you, Second Sister Fu!"

The children happily took the toys and ran off.

The Empress asked in surprise, "These children know you so well?"

Fu Mingzhu explained respectfully, "Your servant’s daughter often comes with her sister to see how the children are doing and play with them for a while, which is why they’re familiar with us sisters."

At this time, Nanny Chu came over with the director.

The Empress then asked, "The two young ladies from the Fu family often come here to see the children?"

"To Your Majesty, yes indeed." The director said gratefully, "The two young ladies come every few days to look after the children, play with them, and check their homework."

"On usual days, the institution can only ensure the children are fed and clothed, but it can’t afford anything else. It is the two young ladies from the Fu family who hired a teacher to teach the children to read and recognize characters. Now the children are learning from the ’Three Character Classic’."

"For the older ones, like those around seven or eight years old who started school late, the two young ladies have them learning character recognition and reasoning together, and then according to each child’s characteristics, they let the children become apprentices to acquire a skill."

"Some children work as apprentices at the Medical Clinic, learning from the doctor, while others learn accounting and other tasks at the shop. Each has their own path to ensure they can develop a skill and support themselves when they grow older."

"As for the girls, they learn weaving and embroidery." The director expressed appreciation, "Now all the older children have a path, and though they can’t earn money yet, as apprentices they are provided with food and accommodation, which helps reduce the institution’s burden."

"Currently, the institution only has children under five years old left," the director said with a smile, "The two young ladies says they are at the right age to begin their education. Those who are good at studying might take the civil service exam in the future. Those not interested in academics can become apprentices later, as literacy will naturally offer them more choices."

"Miss Fu mentioned that many shops in the Cheng family have female shopkeepers. If these children are willing, they can try that in the future. In short, they’re doing their best to find a life path for the children." The director spoke as her eyes turned red.

"The common woman is truly grateful to the two young ladies from the Fu family. They offer more than just financial support; they’ve given the children a future," the director said tearfully.

"Yes, it’s the idea of teaching them to fish rather than giving them fish." The Empress sighed, "I didn’t know that you two have been doing so much behind the scenes."

The Empress paused, suddenly laughing, recalling what Nanny Chu mentioned, what Fu Mingzhu had said.

"Doing good deeds, do you shout it from the rooftops, afraid others won’t know?"

"If the children hadn’t brought it up, would you all have never mentioned what you’ve done?" The Empress asked with a smile.

Fu Mingzhu, straightforward by nature, replied directly, "Your servant’s daughters aren’t so selfless that they don’t want their good deeds known, but we also refrain from talking about them everywhere to earn a good name."

Everyone: "..."

This Miss Fu is really bold with her words.

The latter half of her sentence nearly mentioned Lin Qingqing’s name directly.

Lin Qingqing, hidden in the crowd, turned pale and clenched her teeth tightly.

This Fu Mingzhu, why does she target her like this!

She truly hadn’t expected Fu Mingzhu and Fu Shinian to also sponsor the orphanage, giving them the spotlight here.

Lin Qingqing suddenly thought that perhaps they had heard her suggestion to the Empress on the day of the hunt and decided to sponsor the orphanage on a whim?

Lin Qingqing calmed herself and spoke, "I didn’t expect Miss Fu and Second Miss Fu to be so kind-hearted. Compared to you two, my small deeds are insignificant."

"Miss Lin, that’s not correct." Fu Shinian shook her head, coldly laughing inside, as Lin Qingqing intended to trip them up even in front of the Empress?

Lin Qingqing chose to speak at this time, clearly with ulterior motives.

If that’s the case, then let her trip up Lin Qingqing first.

Fu Shinian, with her seemingly harmless and innocent looking eyes, said, "I’ve already mentioned that no matter the size of the good deed, as long as it’s done, it’s good. No one should belittle the intention to do good. ’Never commit an evil deed just because it’s small; never omit a good deed just because it’s petty.’ Miss Lin, didn’t you hear that?"

Lin Qingqing: "!!!"

She truly didn’t want to speak with Fu Shinian.

Lin Qingqing laughed, "Thank you, Miss Fu, for your guidance."

"You’re welcome." Fu Shinian quickly avoided.

"When did Miss Fu and Second Miss Fu start sponsoring the orphanage?" Lin Qingqing asked.

"Didn’t you just hear the children say? Miss Fu and Second Miss Fu haven’t visited in days, saying they had things to attend to." Zheng Sulan replied, "I think what Miss Fu and Second Miss Fu referred to is attending the hunt, and thus couldn’t visit the children. So, it must be that they sponsored it earlier."

Li Zhaohui nodded beside Zheng Sulan.

Both of them had just looked at Xu Xiuyu as if she were a fool and hadn’t spoken up for Lin Qingqing.

Previously in the marquis’s mansion, Lin Qingqing had already gotten them in trouble once. They weren’t fools; why would they let Lin Qingqing trip them up again?

But Zheng Sulan held a longstanding grudge against being tricked by Lin Qingqing and always wanted an opportunity to seek revenge. If she didn’t seize the chance now, when would she?

"Actually, not very early, just a few days before the hunt." Fu Mingzhu replied truthfully.