Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 41 Me?
The next morning, Chen Xuan was awakened by a ringing phone.

The ringing continued even though he was half asleep. After a moment of hesitation, he realized that it was Gao Jingming from the main building, reminding him that something was wrong.

Muttering to himself about some plant, he quickly got up and dressed, not even having time to wash up, as he opened the door and looked towards the main building.

It was still dark when Xiao Cai looked at him from the second-floor balcony and said, "Xuan'er, hurry up and wash up, and come over to accompany the young master for morning reading later."

Miss, you get up earlier than the chicken and look so energetic. I admire you.

After hearing this, Chen Xuan wiped his face and sobered up a little before responding: "Okay, I'll be there right away."

He immediately went back to the room to wash up, feeling very emotional. He had to get up at dawn to study. It seemed that the eldest young master's life was not easy either.

But I have to admit that reading in the morning is the best time to remember...

After washing up quickly, when he came to the courtyard again, Chen Xuan saw Gao Jingming sitting on the second-floor terrace. Xiao Ye was helping him wash his face and brush his teeth. It was a cold morning, and Xiao Cai had lit a charcoal stove nearby. There was also some refreshing incense lit on the table.

Hearing the noise, Gao Jingming took the time to look at Chen Xuan, waved, and said with a smile: "Ah Xuan, come up and read with me. Oh, Xiao Cai, go down and ask Ah Xuan to bring up two copies of "Beginner's Guide"

"Okay young master"

So before going upstairs, Chen Xuan and Xiao Cai went to the study. Under her guidance, they took out two thin books and flipped through them. Chen Xuan hardly recognized any of the words in them. He had only learned ten words yesterday. He guessed that these were enlightenment books.

"There shouldn't be any enlightenment books like Three Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames in this world, right?"

When Chen Xuan and the others went upstairs to get the books, Gao Jingming was already prepared. He took one of the books and said, "Xuan, I'll read a sentence and you read a sentence. Follow me and read two pages. After you read three times, you can have breakfast. In the future, when you can read, we can read together and remind each other of mistakes and omissions."

"Okay, young master," Chen Xuan nodded, thinking, "Young master, you want to teach me to read? This should also mean reviewing, so it's not the other way around."

Then Gao Jingming opened the book, cleared his throat and began to read. He read a sentence and Chen Xuan followed him, comparing it with the words in the book, trying to remember them. However, Chen Xuan seemed to have overestimated his memory.

On a misty morning, with fresh air, chirping birds and the sound of reading aloud, there really is a sense of tranquility and far-reachingness.

But gradually Chen Xuan found something wrong. It was more like Gao Jingming was reciting rather than reading, because his eyes were hardly on the book, and he just spoke without thinking.

"I'm afraid this isn't like reading a book from heaven. You just follow the rhythm and learn how to recite it, but if you pick out a single word from the book, you might not recognize it at all."

Chen Xuan was muttering in his heart, but he didn't dare to interrupt and ask. What if he made the young master lose face?
In fact, this situation is very normal. Chen Xuan had experienced it before. When he couldn't recognize all the characters, someone would lead everyone to read aloud together. After repeating it many times, he would be able to memorize it...

After about half an hour, the rising sun dispelled the mist. Gao Jingming put down his book and said, "Okay, let's stop here for now and continue tomorrow."

He didn't ask Chen Xuan about his thoughts after reading the book. As he spoke, he stood up and stretched.

Chen Xuan also put down the book. He had tried hard to remember the words he had 'read' before, but he couldn't remember much at all.

Xiao Ye, who had left at some point, came up with a wooden tray and said, "Master, let's eat first. Xuan Ge'er, I'll put your portion in your room."

Only when he was away from home did he, the servant, eat at the same table with Gao Jingming, but it was not necessary at home. Chen Xuan nodded and was about to say goodbye and leave.

Gao Jingming had no intention of trying to keep her. Although he didn't go to Mrs. Gao's house for breakfast at the moment, he still had to follow some rules when he was at home.

However, he reminded her, "Ah Xuan, I told my mother yesterday that I would invite a few classmates and friends to a small gathering at Dewei Tower and introduce you to them. Later, you will go to the accounting office to withdraw ten taels of silver for your future expenses. Don't forget."

"Me?" Chen Xuan pointed at his own face in surprise.

No, how old am I? Do you trust me to withdraw the money?
Gao Jingming said as a matter of course: "Of course, you are my servant, if you don't go, then why should I go?"

"Okay, young master, I understand," Chen Xuan nodded quickly. In that case, does this mean that he, as a servant, also has the part-time job of keeping the young master's purse?

So does that mean... Bah, stop it. It's best not to have any evil thoughts. Wang Hai said that Butler He had broken the hands and feet of servants who had dishonest behavior.

Xiao Cai reminded him again, "Xuan Ge'er, do you know how to get to the accounting office? Do you want me to take you there?"

"Sister Qingyu took me to meet the bride yesterday, I remember," said Chen Xuan.

"That's good……"

After Chen Xuan went downstairs for breakfast, Gao Jingming, while enjoying his own breakfast, made arrangements: "Xiao Ye, arrange for a few servants to go to Zhou Lin, Luo Taiyun, and Tian Xueyu's homes to inform them that I'm hosting a banquet at Deweilou to welcome them. Yeah, let's also include Deng Lingfeng. If any of them are busy, remember to come back and let me know."

"Okay, Master, I'll arrange it right away," Xiao Ye replied and hurried off. Originally, invitations should have been sent out in advance for something like this. Although it was troublesome, it was also a formal procedure and a matter of etiquette. But children, after all, were less particular, so it was a good thing they didn't just show up and ask for help.

On the other side, after Chen Xuan had breakfast, he followed the route he remembered to the accounting office. He didn't need to pack anything at all.

He had noticed before that Gao Jingming's breakfast consisted of five or six kinds of food, including milk, and was served by maids, while he only had porridge and fried dough sticks. Tsk, he envied the young master's second day...

After many twists and turns, they arrived at the door of the accounting office, which was guarded by guards. Although Qingyu brought Chen Xuan to recognize the door yesterday, the guards did not let him in immediately. They only let him in after Chen Xuan explained his purpose.

Apparently, Mrs. Gao had given instructions in advance, and the process of withdrawing the money went smoothly. Chen Xuan just needed to sign and seal the document to clarify the whereabouts of the money so that the accounts could be reconciled later.

Since he didn't know how to write his name in the language of this world, Chen Xuan just pressed his handprint, which was also an expression of approval.

"Ten taels of silver is quite a bit, but I don't know what its purchasing power is yet," Chen Xuan returned with the silver.

The silver that Wang Hai had stuffed into his pocket that day had already been placed in the wardrobe in his room. He had no tools to weigh it, so he didn't know how much it was. The ten taels of silver he had just withdrawn were weighed in front of Chen Xuan.

By this calculation, Chen Xuan did have some private money. He was hesitating whether he should tell anyone about the private money. After all, it would be taboo for wealthy families if they were not careful.

Be safe and talk about it when you have time. Don't lose your job over a small sum of money. Should I tell Gao Jingming or Butler He? Or Madam Gao?

While he was thinking about this, he met Butler He before he even reached the gate of the courtyard where Gao Jingming was.

The other party seemed to be waiting for him here. After meeting, he smiled and waved, saying, "Xiao Xuan, come here."

"Hello, Butler He. What do you want to talk to me about?" Chen Xuan stepped forward and said.

Smiling, Butler He said, "Are you used to it these past two days?"

"Thank you for your concern, Butler He. I'm fine."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Butler He finally got down to business, saying seriously, "Xiao Xuan, do you remember what I told you that day? When the young master goes out, you have to eat at the same table. You have to eat first, and you can't let the food out of your sight."

Chen Xuan hadn't forgotten this matter, and wanted to pretend that he had forgotten it because he was young, but when he thought about the unfathomable means of Butler He, deceiving him would probably backfire, so he simply nodded and said, "Butler He, I remember it."

"Well, that's good. Go ahead. The young master is going out for a banquet later. You have to do what I said just now. It's okay. I will arrange someone to watch over you, but you have to learn to adapt slowly. Once you can stand on your own, you will be held accountable if anything goes wrong," said Butler He, patting him on the shoulder.

There are always people who play the good cop and the bad cop. Although Butler He's tone was gentle, the content of his words was unquestionable, and Chen Xuan could feel it.

"I understand, Butler He, if there is nothing else, I will go first."

"Go ahead. Remember to arrange for maids, servants, and guards. If you don't understand something, ask Xiaoye and the others. They know better than you."

Chen Xuan responded: "Yes"

Young Master Gao Jingming is really popular. Even Butler He came to inquire about this little matter.

Tsk, it’s quite troublesome to go out.

After taking two steps, Chen Xuan's previous thoughts popped up in his mind. He stopped and turned to look at Butler He, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Instead, he asked in silence, "Xiao Xuan, is there anything else?"

So Chen Xuan simply told Wang Hai about the money he had slipped into his pocket. Maybe it wasn't a big deal, but at least he had to feel at ease.

After hearing this, Butler He thought for a moment and said earnestly, "I don't think it's a big deal. Since he offered it to you and you've already accepted it, you shouldn't feel any burden. However, I must remind you that in the future, you'd better not take similar money, especially if someone pays you to do something for them. Just ignore them. As the saying goes, you have to repay a debt of favor. You'll understand in the future. Don't think too much about it now. It's right to listen to me."

"I understand. Thank you, Butler He," Chen Xuan nodded.

There is no free lunch in the world, he still understands this principle. This incident has passed, and it is best to refuse similar situations in the future. It is not the time when he is penniless and can't survive.

I am just a mere servant, yet someone has already approached me on his own initiative. No wonder some people can't control their hands. It must be so easy for them to get what they want. How many people can withstand such a test?

This incident actually gave Chen Xuan a wake-up call. At that time, he hadn't settled down yet and really didn't think too much about it, but now things have come to this...

(End of this chapter)