Farmhouse Green Plum

While Madam Sheng was still hesitating, Master Sheng had already composed himself and pleaded earnestly, "What are you saying, being impolite? Doctor Song's miraculous healing skills cured my son's chronic illness, a debt of gratitude to the Sheng family."

This girl is truly blessed to have won your favor; I wonder what kind of good karma she accumulated in her past lives.

As he spoke, he glanced at Ruyi, who was filled with anticipation, joy, and fear, and his tone became even gentler: "This girl has grown up in the manor since she was a child, and she is the most clever and sensible. If she can serve the divine physician, it will not only fulfill her destiny, but also be considered as a small token of our Sheng family's gratitude."

Once her husband spoke up, Madam Sheng stopped arguing and replied with a smile, "That's exactly right. It's quite a coincidence. This girl used to work in the flower room and was very good at tending to flowers and plants. She's putting her talents to good use by working with Doctor Song to manage medicinal herbs."

Ruyi was overjoyed upon hearing this, and quickly knelt down and kowtowed heavily, her voice trembling slightly: "This servant is willing to follow the divine physician and will serve him wholeheartedly, never failing the kindness of my master and the divine physician!"

"No, I don't agree, she's my maid!" Sheng Jia protested.

"Shut up!" Master Sheng shouted sternly.

Madam Sheng also pulled her aside, saying, "Jia'er, don't be rude."

"Who was rude? A gentleman does not take what others love. Who is the one who lost it..." Sheng Jia wanted to argue, but under the sharp gaze of Master Sheng, she reluctantly fell silent.

“Sister Song, why didn’t you say so earlier if you needed to buy a maid? I know several reliable matchmakers, and they all have very well-trained maids.” Pei Yuexuan suddenly spoke up, while winking at Song Ying as she spoke.

"I brought two maids with me on this trip, one clever and the other steady. If you don't mind, feel free to use them on the road. When we get to Rongcheng, I'll have the matchmaker send a few more smart ones for you to choose from."

Unfortunately, Song Ying had only known her for a short time and didn't understand what she meant at all.

Ruyi was anxious and disregarded the rules. She looked up at Song Ying expectantly and said, "This servant knows how to grow vegetables and flowers, can read some characters, and is also skilled in needlework and cooking. I have even memorized a few recipes."

Pei Yuexuan didn't even look at her, but smiled and said to Song Ying, "When choosing servants, the most important thing is loyalty, and the most taboo thing is having a disloyal heart."

Ruyi's face turned pale instantly. She was a maid in the Sheng family, yet she was here offering herself up, wanting to become someone else's maid. No matter how you looked at it, she was uneasy.

She slumped to the ground, as if all her energy had been drained away, her whole being filled with death and despair.

Song Ying paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Thank you, Sister Pei, but I find this girl quite pleasing to the eye, so I'll choose her."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ruyi's eyes lit up again, and then became misty with tears.

Since they were not close friends, Pei Yuexuan didn't try to persuade her further. She simply covered her mouth with her fan and chuckled, "Since you've made up your mind, that's for the best."

Seeing this, Madam Sheng smiled and said, "The word 'fate' is most wonderful. I will have someone prepare a satisfactory indenture."

Ruyi, stop kneeling and hurry back to tidy up.

As if waking from a dream, Ruyi kowtowed several times, saying, "This servant thanks Master and Madam for their kindness."

Knowing that he couldn't keep Song Ying and the others, Master Sheng had no choice but to order people to prepare carriages, dry food, snacks, and other necessities for them to set off.

While everyone was busy, Pei Yuexuan pulled Song Ying a few steps behind, half-covering her lips with a round fan in her hand, and said in a low voice, "Sister, why are you so naive? That maid is so beautiful, and your husband is handsome and talented. Aren't you worried that she might have other ideas?"

Song Ying was stunned for a moment. "Uh, I didn't think that much about it. It's rare to meet a woman who is willing to study medicine. She... probably wouldn't, right?"

Pei Yuexuan shook her head, "She's too clever for her own good, knowing how to read and memorize prescriptions!"

"It's nothing, is it?" Song Ying felt that she was exaggerating a bit. Ruyi had grown up in the Sheng family since she was a child. Although she was a maid, there were many literate people around her, so it was normal for her to be literate.

And that's perfect, because we don't need to teach her to read first.

Pei Yuexuan shook her head at her nonchalant attitude. In these kinds of situations, it's better to be safe than sorry. If you're not careful now, you'll regret it later.

Ruyi acted quickly. As soon as Song Ying and her party arrived at the gate, she rushed over with a small blue cloth bundle on her back and very perceptively helped Song Ying onto the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Yuan Qinggang was about to speak when his gaze fell upon Ruyi, who was sitting with her head bowed, and he swallowed his words back.

Ruyi was very clever. Upon seeing this, she immediately whispered, "Master, Madam, if you need anything, just call me and I'll be right next to the carriage."

As he spoke, he was about to lift the curtain and get out of the carriage.

"Wait," Song Ying stopped her, "How can we let a young girl like you come along? There's plenty of room in the car."

The journey of dozens of miles would wear out even the soles of a man's feet, let alone a woman raised in a secluded courtyard.

She pointed to her side, "Go ahead and do it. Let me ask first."

Upon hearing this, Ruyi immediately became somewhat nervous.

"Do you really want to study medicine? What about the few prescriptions you mentioned you memorized before?"

So that's what they wanted to ask. Ruyi relaxed and said, "Yes, Madam, I really want to learn!"

I heard that you first learned about herbs from the apprentice at the clinic, and then went back to collect and sell them. I wanted to follow your example, but even after asking people to search all the bookstores in the city, I couldn't find a single medical book.

Later, I secretly copied down the Third Young Master's prescription, but after memorizing more than ten pages, I was still completely confused and didn't understand anything, so I had to give up.

I thought I'd never have the chance to learn medicine in my life, but you came and even offered to teach women medicine.

Song Ying was stunned. She asked for Ruyi because it was rare for a woman to take the initiative to study medicine, and because she couldn't bear to see her being bullied.

Having worked in the Shen family, she knew very well what would happen to a maid who was disliked by her master.

A servant depends on his master for survival. If he is rejected by his master, it means he will never have a chance to rise in rank, and anyone can trample on him.

The maid who served tea in the flower hall yesterday was clearly from Madam Sheng's courtyard, yet she still bullied a maid from a young lady's room, especially in such a setting.

Behind the scenes, Ruyi will only suffer more bullying.

"Okay, I'll teach you."

Ruyi's eyes lit up, and she was about to kowtow to express her gratitude, "Thank you..."

"Don't thank me yet," Song Ying raised her hand to stop her. "I'm just teaching you. Whether you can become my apprentice depends on whether you can pass the test."

Ruyi was still overjoyed. She was already very satisfied with being able to study medicine. She asked excitedly and nervously, "What kind of test?"

"First, we look at character; second, naturally, we look at academic performance."

"This servant will definitely study hard!" This request was not difficult for Ruyi at all. She wanted to learn medicine and be respected like Doctor Song.

Even if she has no talent, as long as someone is willing to teach her, she will learn by rote memorization!

As for her character, she has a clear conscience!

Thinking of the injury on her hand, Song Ying took out a box of ointment from the medicine box: "Hold out your hand."