Lan Xun was seeing this kind of charcoal pencil for the first time. He was a bit curious, but seeing Bai Zheng concentrating on the map, he didn't dare to disturb her.
The little girl who was temporarily assigned to serve Bai Zheng, however, stared at her with admiration in her eyes and said to Bai Zheng, "Miss, you're really amazing! You can understand such a complicated topographic map!"
Bai Zheng slightly raised her eyebrows, stuffed a piece of pastry into her mouth, and said indistinctly, "If you want to learn, I'll arrange someone to teach you."
The little girl immediately felt a yearning in her heart. Her eyes sparkled with light. Looking at Bai Zheng, she said happily, "Really?"
Then she seemed to think of something. She shrank her neck a bit ruefully and said, "My father won't agree. He said that girls will get married sooner or later. Learning how to please the mother - in - law is more important than anything else."
There was no nine - year compulsory education in this era, and the belief that "a woman without talent is a virtue" was advocated.
Poor families had little education in general, and daughters were regarded as a burden. They were raised until they were of a suitable age and then married off in exchange for a betrothal gift.
Bai Zheng glanced at her and sighed softly. This was the limitation of the whole era, a situation that she alone couldn't change for the time being, so she didn't say anything more.
Even so, the little girl showed no sign of disappointment. It seemed that it was the first time she had seen a cultured and elegant woman like Bai Zheng in a small place like Qinghe County. Her face was full of admiration, and she served Bai Zheng even more attentively.
"Miss, try this shortcake. It's fragrant and crispy. It's really delicious!"
"Miss, eating too much shortcake will make your throat dry. Have some tea to moisten it."
"Miss, these fruits were just picked from the back of the village this morning. They're so fresh. Try some?"
Bai Zheng couldn't refuse her kindness and ate one mouthful after another. In the end, she was stuffed full by this little girl.
Bai Zheng was a bit helpless. When the little girl offered another plate of mung bean cakes, she put down the charcoal pencil in her hand, looked up at the girl seriously.
The little girl looked about twelve or thirteen years old. Her skin had a healthy tan. Her facial features were delicate. Her round eyes were like grapes, and her long eyelashes fluttered as she looked at Bai Zheng.
It made people's hearts soften.
Bai Zheng softened her tone and asked gently, "What's your name? When did you come to this yard?"
The little girl was flattered to be talked to by Bai Zheng. She said, "My name is Huang Ying. I was hired today. They said that there was a girl coming from Yongding who needed someone to serve her.
This is the first time I've left home to work. My younger brother is naughty. He fell from a tree and broke his leg. He's lying in bed unable to move.
But our family is poor. Although the old doctor in the village is kind - hearted and doesn't charge us for the consultation, our family can't afford the medicinal materials needed for the treatment. So my brother's leg has to be left untreated.
My mother cries every day, and my father sighs all the time. I thought I should come out to do something and earn some silver to buy medicine for my brother.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I came out, I met such a beautiful girl. Look, I even brought these fruits. My mother said that the fruits on the mountain are fresh and told me to bring some to please the masters here. Then the masters will treat me well..."
Once the topic was opened, Huang Ying talked on and on. Bai Zheng smiled helplessly, took the mung bean cake still in her hand, and interrupted her, "You've done a great job. I like it very much."
Huang Ying was stunned for a moment, and her round eyes curved into two crescent moons. "Really? I'm glad the miss is satisfied."
"However," Bai Zheng raised her eyes and glanced at her faintly.
This glance made Huang Ying's heart tighten. She subconsciously asked, "However what?"
"However, I'm already full now. I need to study these things quietly. Please go outside and guard the door for me. If anyone dares to break in and disrupt my train of thought, you have to stop them for me."
Hearing this, a serious look immediately appeared on Huang Ying's face. She nodded and firmly patted her chest and said, "Miss, don't worry. Leave it to me."
Then she rushed out like the wind.
Looking at Huang Ying's departing figure, Bai Zheng couldn't help curving her lips.
In the yard of Tianyi Pavilion, there was hardly anyone who would break in. She just found an excuse to send this little girl out because she was really annoyed by her.
This simple mountain girl actually believed it.
It was really interesting.
Bai Zheng looked up at the moon outside through the window beside the desk. The stars were twinkling in the sky. It was so quiet everywhere that there was not a single sound. Even the occasional barking of dogs in the first half of the night had disappeared.
She stretched and then concentrated on the various drawings in front of her again.
When the rooster crowed, she looked up and suddenly realized that a faint light had begun to appear on the horizon.
Bai Zheng yawned. This was the training she had received during her study abroad. Every time it was the end of the semester, she would stay up all night to review for the exams, but she could still be energetic and perform exceptionally well the next day.
Bai Zheng looked at the stack of maps that she had scribbled on beyond recognition. Her eyebrows relaxed.
She hoped that today's plan could go smoothly.
"Huang Ying." She called out, but there was no response from outside.
She frowned slightly, got up and walked forward to open the door. She saw the little girl who had curled up and fallen asleep on the ground beside the door. She shook her head with a smile.
"Wake up." She reached out and gently patted Huang Ying's cheek. Huang Ying then opened her eyes groggily.
Bai Zheng said softly, "Sleeping outside will make you catch a cold easily. Go inside and rest."
Huang Ying saw clearly who was in front of her. She immediately woke up more than half of the way. She stammered, "I, I, I don't need to. I'm not sleepy!"
"If you don't have a good rest, you may collapse tonight. Go and rest for two hours. Come and find me after two hours." Bai Zheng said with a smile.
Seeing that Bai Zheng didn't blame her for dozing off on duty, Huang Ying couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, she was still young. Hearing Bai Zheng say that she could rest, she nodded and went into the room.
It seemed that Bai Zheng's movement at the door had alerted Lan Xun. Soon he came to the outside of Bai Zheng's guest room.
"Miss Bai is awake so early. Why don't you rest a bit longer?"
Seeing him coming, Bai Zheng waved a topographic map in her hand with a smile and said, "I'm going to visit these places today. After the wine arrives, there will still be a lot of things to do."
Lan Xun sized up Bai Zheng, who was still wearing the same neat outfit as when he first saw her yesterday. He frowned and said with concern, "Miss, you stayed up all night. The marquis may blame me."
"I'll have plenty of time to rest after the person is found." Bai Zheng said indifferently. "By the way, have you found the person I asked you to look for last night?"
Lan Xun nodded. "He's waiting outside the door."
"Then let's set off now."
Leaving this sentence behind, Bai Zheng walked towards the yard gate in the direction she had come from last night.