CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 74: WOMEN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SCHOOL

Shunzi followed Qin Yao, eating five meat buns in a row, and just as he was savoring the taste, the logging work ended.

Due to the internal competition Qin Yao stirred up, the work that was supposed to take half a month was completed in seven days.

After work that day, they suddenly heard Ding Wu say, "The wood we’ve cut this time is enough, everyone go put the tools in the tool room, then head to the account room to see the housekeeper for the wages."

"No need to come tomorrow."

The crowd nodded dejectedly, took their tools down the mountain, and went to find the housekeeper for payment.

Because they worked so hard, the wages actually increased, twelve coins a day, for seven days totaling eighty-four coins.

No one had their pay docked, the top three earners got a little extra, making it an even hundred, strung on a hemp rope, jingling pleasantly.

Shunzi was quite happy, though he didn’t make a hundred coins, eighty-four was still over a dozen more than what he anticipated.

Everyone had traveled the roads from various villages, far from home, so after collecting their wages, they dispersed.

Qin Yao and the cook took the remaining four meat buns, called Shunzi over, and the two planned to head home together today.

Since there was no need to work tomorrow, Qin Yao didn’t want to hurry back home.

Later she planned to check the town for any open shops, hoping there might still be meat for sale.

"Miss Qin!"

The housekeeper suddenly chased after them.

Qin Yao and Shunzi turned around in confusion, the housekeeper smiled at Qin Yao, "Miss Qin, could I have a word with you?"

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, Shunzi sensibly stepped back to the door, "Sis, I’ll wait for you outside."

Qin Yao nodded and followed the housekeeper back into the courtyard, looking at him with curiosity.

No one would randomly offer benefits to another person, she knew the breakfast the cook had prepared for her exceeded standards, but since nobody pointed it out, she just played dumb.

The housekeeper waited until now to call her, still unsure what they wanted.

Housekeeper Yu hesitated, unsure of how to speak.

Qin Yao grew impatient, "Housekeeper, just speak your mind, I’m trying to get home, it’s not safe to walk at night."

Only then did the housekeeper ask, "Miss Qin, are you free in the coming days?"

"Is there more work to be done?" Qin Yao asked.

The housekeeper smiled, "Our master and young master plan to travel afar in a few days but are worried about the young mistress, so they wanted to ask if you are free, for about a month, just staying at the mansion and accompanying our young mistress."

He hurriedly added, "The wages will be discussed, if it’s inconvenient for you, the mansion has guest rooms for you to stay, and the kitchen will take care of meals; the cook knows your appetite well now, and won’t let you go hungry. So, are you free?"

Qin Yao: "You want me to be your young mistress’s temporary personal bodyguard?"

The housekeeper nodded with delight, "Exactly."

Qin Yao further inquired, "Room and board included, for a month, right?"

The housekeeper saw she seemed interested and nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes!"

"How much is the wage?"

He hadn’t expected her to ask about the wages so quickly, but seeing hope, he tentatively held up two fingers, "How about two taels?"

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow, indicating there was room for bargaining.

She hadn’t thought bodyguard work would pay so well, if she knew, she’d have sought city employment as a bodyguard rather than logging.

But just a thought, city dignitaries usually have their own guards, unlikely to hire outsiders.

Landlord Ding’s family probably didn’t truly lack security, just wanted extra assurance for their daughter’s safety.

From her observations, Ding Family lacked a matriarch, only Mr. Ding; with the adults away, leaving just a little girl was indeed worrying.

The clan village was three miles away, unless they sent Miss Ding to stay with relatives, the clan couldn’t arrive instantaneously if anything happened.

But clearly, Miss Ding didn’t want to stay with relatives.

Qin Yao glanced at the housekeeper, who also glanced at her; their eyes met, and the housekeeper smiled warmly.

Qin Yao then asked him, "Housekeeper Yu, when Ding Clan School is complete, will it only admit Ding Family children?"

"Miss Qin, are you thinking of sending a child from home to the clan school?" the housekeeper asked tentatively.

Qin Yao confirmed, and the housekeeper suggested she could ask Mr. Ding to help inquire when the time came, if it’s just one or two outsiders, there might be hope.

But he couldn’t promise anything, "It depends on the Clan Leader’s decision, and the earliest the clan school might be completed is year-end, still a while off."

The lumber had just been cut, needing to dry for six months, before turning into usable planks, which couldn’t be rushed.

Qin Yao knew the housekeeper’s words already showed her much respect but still asked, "What about girls? Is it possible?"

The housekeeper was greatly shocked, shaking his head repeatedly, "Impossible, girls entering school, such a thing has never happened!"

Qin Yao had asked just in case, knowing it wasn’t possible, still felt a bit regretful.

She didn’t know about other places, but in Zijing Mansion, girls indeed didn’t attend school; daughters wanting to learn had to hire private tutors.

And families able to hire tutors for daughters were very rare.

Landlord Ding’s daughter could read because her father taught her personally.

For other wealthy young ladies, literacy was uncommon; loving parents might teach accounting and arithmetic for managing household affairs after marriage.

As for ordinary daughters, not even worth mentioning.

"I’ll go home and prepare for a few days, then come over," Qin Yao said.

She accepted.

The housekeeper was overjoyed, escorting Qin Yao out, afraid she’d forget the time, reminding repeatedly, no later than five days, she must arrive by then.

Qin Yao agreed and called Shunzi, the two headed to town, but unfortunately, all shops were closed, only buying two packs of home-roasted broad beans from a farmer.

Two coins per pack, wrapped in banana leaves, size of an adult’s palm, split open with salt soaked in, looking fragrant.

Qin Yao put one pack in her cloth bag, kept one for eating with Shunzi on the way home.

Shunzi usually saw adults buy snacks for kids, but seeing someone like Qin Yao, buying snacks for both herself and family, was a first.

Yet, when Qin Yao offered him some, he couldn’t resist grabbing a handful.

Upon tasting, he understood why kids love snacks; it truly quenched cravings, crisp and fragrant, elevating mood.

By the time they reached Lower River Village, the sun was hanging halfway on the mountain top.

Qin Yao thought about how the rice jar at home might be nearly empty, buying fifteen pounds of fine rice from a local, spending all the hundred-coin wage.

Liu Ji, who’d been waiting for Qin Yao to bring back the wages, seeing the bag of fine rice, nearly choked himself with envy.