The strongest eldest son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 86 You want me to study when I'm supposed to be a maid?!

The next morning, Xu Miaoyun and Deng Shengnan walked out of the post station together. The two were dressed in simple clothes, but their temperament was still outstanding and refined.

Deng Shengnan looked in the direction of the Liu residence and asked softly, "Sister Miaoyun, shall we go directly to the Liu residence now?"

Xu Miaoyun blushed slightly, shook her head gently, and looked somewhat shy and bashful.

"No, it would be too impolite for us to go there so rashly. It would be like we're going to arrange a blind date. It would be too obvious and make us a laughingstock."

Just as the two hesitated, a commotion suddenly arose from the street, attracting passersby to stop and watch.

A man who appeared to be in charge stood at the street corner and loudly announced, "The Liu family is recruiting servants and maids! Those selected will be provided with room and board, have no worries about food or clothing, and receive a monthly stipend!"

People on the roadside quickly asked, "May I ask which Liu family is receiving such generous treatment?"

The steward, with an arrogant expression, replied loudly, "There is only one such residence in the entire Chenzhou; it is naturally the Liu residence where Young Master Zhu Yao resides!"

Upon hearing this, countless people on the street immediately became agitated, pulling their daughters along, wanting to sign up for the election.

Everyone knows that the Liu family is wealthy and powerful, and that they treat people kindly. To be able to enter the family as a maid is already an immense blessing for an ordinary family.

A glint instantly lit up Xu Miaoyun's eyes, and she immediately came up with a plan. She turned to Deng Shengnan and whispered something in her ear.

"Sister Shengnan, why don't we take this opportunity to blend in with the maids and enter the manor?"

"The safest approach is to observe him discreetly, without being too direct or awkward, so that we can get close to Young Master Zhu."

Deng Shengnan's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly, immediately agreeing, "Sister's plan is excellent! Let's do it this way!"

Suppressing their shyness, the two squeezed into the crowd of applicants and, with their outstanding demeanor, were successfully selected, becoming one of the ten candidates for maids.

A moment later, the ten people were led into the courtyard of the Liu residence. Chen Zhong, with a solemn expression, stepped forward and addressed the group in a deep voice.

"All ten of you were shortlisted, but the Liu family does not tolerate mediocrity. In the end, only half will remain, and five will be eliminated."

Whether you can stay and serve in the government depends entirely on your own abilities and character; do not harbor any illusions.

After finishing his instructions, Chen Zhong raised his hand and calmly ordered, "Let's take you to your lodgings first, and then we'll arrange your tasks later."

Then, a maid led the way, taking each of the ten maids to their respective quarters, where each was given a private, elegant room.

Xu Miaoyun stepped into the room and was shocked by the clean and tidy furnishings and the exquisite tables, chairs and beds.

She murmured to herself, "Such an exquisite and tidy private courtyard room is only for servants; it's far too much of a privilege."

Before long, Deng Shengnan rushed into Xu Miaoyun's room, looked around, and still looked incredulous.

She lowered her voice and said with a look of suspicion, "Sister Miaoyun, I have never seen such a mansion before."

"Whose servants in wealthy families could enjoy a private room and such generous treatment? I always felt there must be some hidden traps involved!"

Xu Miaoyun looked at the exquisite furnishings of the room, suppressed her doubts, turned to Deng Shengnan beside her, and whispered some instructions.

"Everything here is unusual. Let's hold our breath for a few days, observe the situation, and figure out the rules of the mansion before making any decisions."

Deng Shengnan nodded solemnly, her eyes showing a hint of wariness, and responded in a low voice while clenching her fists.

"Don't worry, sister. I've practiced martial arts since I was a child and I'm quite skilled. I will definitely protect you and make sure neither of us suffers any harm or danger."

The two were meticulous and stayed quiet all day, not peeking around or saying much, waiting for the arrangements made by the mansion.

After a day of rest, at the crack of dawn the next day, a gentle knock came at the door, and someone came to summon everyone to get up.

Xu Miaoyun and Deng Shengnan opened their eyes upon hearing the sound. They instantly became alert, exchanged a quick glance, and their eyes were filled with seriousness.

Deng Shengnan moved her lips slightly and whispered, "They're here. I'm afraid they're going to assign hard labor and chores."

Xu Miaoyun nodded slightly, her expression calm, and replied in a low voice, "Be prepared and act according to the situation."

Taking advantage of a gap in their formation, the two leaned close together and quickly whispered their plan.

"When ordinary wealthy families hire maids, they will definitely have them do cleaning and hard work for the first few days to test their character and physical strength."

"If the task assigned later is too difficult or has hidden dangers, you don't need to worry about me. Go out and find a way out first."

Deng Shengnan's eyes were firm, and she replied in a deep voice, "Don't worry, sister. If anything goes wrong, I will immediately take you out of the Liu residence without delay."

The two were prepared to face arduous tasks and even deliberate difficulties, and were on high alert.

However, after the maids were neatly led to the main hall and school, no one assigned them any labor or chores.

The manager simply gestured for everyone to sit down and calmly informed them that their only task for the day was to study and learn.

Upon hearing this, Xu Miaoyun and Deng Shengnan were both stunned, their eyes wide open, their faces filled with disbelief, completely shocked and bewildered.

What surprised the two women even more was that what was placed on the table was not the well-known Four Books and Five Classics or the Admonitions and Instructions for Women, but neatly arranged arithmetic books.

Just as everyone was filled with surprise, Zhu Yao walked slowly into the school, his posture upright and his expression gentle and composed.

He stood in front of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the ten maids, and slowly spoke, his voice clear and resonant.

"From today onwards, your primary focus will be on mathematics and arithmetic. Set aside the classics for now; there is no need to rush your studies."

"Mathematics is the foundation of everything. Accounting, measurement, scheduling, and livelihood are all inseparable from it. You must study it diligently."

"Everyone must first memorize the multiplication tables and be able to recite them backwards fluently. This is the first hurdle to overcome in establishing oneself and learning a skill."

Everyone listened quietly, no one daring to speak. Xu Miaoyun suppressed her shock and took the lead in standing up, cupping her hands in greeting, and asking a question.

"Please forgive my impertinence, sir, but ordinary maids only need to work diligently; why must we be required to study and learn?"

Zhu Yao looked at her, his eyes gentle, and patiently explained, "Studying makes one wise, while not studying makes one foolish. Regardless of status, a reasonable person will act with propriety."

"My household does not need ignorant and blindly obedient people; what it needs are wise people who know right from wrong, understand boundaries, and are capable of getting things done."

Xu Miaoyun seemed to be thinking about something, then bowed again and asked, her eyes full of doubt.

"When people study, they first learn the virtues of sages, the principles of propriety, and the classics. Why does Your Highness prioritize teaching arithmetic?"

Zhu Yao smiled faintly and explained the situation clearly and slowly.

"The moral principles of sages and saints are about cultivating one's mind and character, but they are abstract and difficult to apply to making a living. Mathematics and calculations are practical and can help one establish oneself, manage one's family, and build a business."

"In times of chaos, military force is used to stabilize the world; in times of prosperity, strategy is used to secure a livelihood. Mathematics is the most practical and down-to-earth skill for making a living."

After saying that, Zhu Yao casually posed a question to test him, his tone calm and natural: "Let me ask you, what is eight plus nine?"

The question was extremely simple, and Xu Miaoyun answered without hesitation: "Young master, it equals seventeen."

Zhu Yao nodded slightly and continued with the question: "Then what is eight times nine?"