"She was not used to the local customs and fell ill as soon as she arrived at Nanyun City, vomiting and having diarrhea, getting thinner by the day. Seeing that she couldn't take it, we decided to bring her back." said Guan Shi. This was what everyone had discussed and agreed upon yesterday.

  Ye Zhuo furrowed her brow and sat up. The room immediately made a sound, Qiu Yue lifted the curtain and asked: "Miss, are you awake?"

  "Hmm." Ye Zhuo helped Qiu Yue put on her clothes while asking, "Aunt, why did you come over so early in the morning?"

  Before autumn moon could speak, autumn chrysanthemum brought water over and said with a smile: "Miss, on the second day you were taken to the Nie family, Auntie came to propose marriage, saying she wanted to send her nephew to our house as a live-in son-in-law."

  Ye Zhuo and Qiu Yue were both taken aback, exchanging a glance before they couldn't help but burst out laughing. This Liu family was really something else. At first, when the Ye family's main house was going through all sorts of difficulties, not only did Liu never mention marriage, but she also always looked down on Zheng Manwen, feeling that she was dragging down the Zheng family. Later, when Ye Zhuo showed talent in jade carving and made some money, and the workshop's business slowly improved, she thought about bringing Ye Zhuo back home to marry, but as for the matter of entering the family through marriage, she was firmly opposed. Now, seeing that Ye Zhuo had entered the Nie estate and become Nie Zhongkun's personal disciple, she hastily sent her capable and talented eldest son to enter the Ye family through marriage. She still thought this marriage was like buying and selling pork, waiting for a good price to sell.

  And what about the attitude of the second house of the Ye family? Isn't it also changing faces three times a day? In a while, Ye Yuzhang should come to visit and ask for news, right?

  "It's not just Auntie, once this news gets out, many people will come to propose. I heard Old Lady chatting with our lady, saying that Xu Laoban, who owns three shops on Jade Street, even told Old Master that he wants to send his son to be a live-in son-in-law for the young lady." Qiuju helped Ye wipe her mouth and then handed her a handkerchief to wipe her face.

  Ye Zhuo gently wiped her face and said lightly: "Tomorrow, when the news of my return home spreads out, I estimate that Grandfather will experience the coldness and warmth of human relationships again."

  She didn't ask if Guan's family had agreed to Liu's proposal. She knew that Guan looked down on Liu, and by extension, also looked down on Zheng Fangjing. To put it accurately, in Guan's eyes, there were hardly any men in this world who were worthy of her precious granddaughter.

  At this point, a man with an ordinary appearance but bright eyes flashed through Ye Zhuo's mind.

  After washing her face and changing her clothes, Ye Zhuo had her hair combed by Qiu Yue before leaving the house. As expected, she heard Liu Shi and Guan Shi talking in the hall. Ye Zhuo didn't go that way, but instead went to the kitchen.

  Although the Ye family's main house now has servants and a distinction between masters and servants, their old habits of life have not changed. The masters still eat in the kitchen as before. However, since buying Yu's mother and son, because Yu Bo is no longer young, it was not quite proper for him to eat at the same table as Ye Zhuo, so Guan Shi took charge and divided everyone into two tables for meals: one for the masters and one for the servants.

  Because the people of Nanshan Town were doing business, not farming, they had to go to the shop or workshop after eating breakfast, and since it was a long day in the south, they got used to having three meals a day. At this time, it wasn't early. Ye Yuqi had already eaten his breakfast and gone to the shop, leaving only Ye Zhuo who hadn't eaten yet. Seeing Ye Zhuo come in, Yu Jie quickly brought over the leftover ginseng chicken soup from last night, and also served a bowl of rice porridge with radish and eggplant, which were small dishes that accompanied the porridge, and placed them on the table.

  "Autumn Chrysanthemum, go to the alley entrance and see who is waiting outside for the horse carriage. Whoever it is, let them call each other out loud, and have Wei Brother and Tang Brother come here together. I have something to discuss with them." Ye Zhuo instructed after taking a sip of chicken soup.

  "Yes." Qiu Ju responded and turned away.

  "What's the point of bringing me to the kitchen? Auntie should be leaving soon, right?" Qiu Yue said. Based on her understanding of Liu Shi, after hearing about Ye Zhuo not going to Nie's house anymore, she estimated that this stool hadn't even warmed up yet and would have to bid farewell.

  "There will be many people coming to ask for news, it's better to stay in the kitchen and keep quiet." Ye Zhuo said. After all, the house of the main room of the Ye family was a bit narrow, which was very unfavorable for what she was going to do next. There were really many things to do. Ye Zhuo sighed and said to Qiu Yue: "You go to the hall to serve, it's okay with Yu Sao here."

  "Alright." Akatsuki reluctantly went. She wasn't unwilling to do things, but rather didn't want to see Liu Shi.

  As expected by Qiu Yue, Ye Zhuo hadn't finished drinking the chicken soup when he heard Liu's voice bidding farewell in the courtyard.

  It stands to reason that even if Ye Zhuo is no longer a direct disciple of Nie Daoshi, the main house of the Ye family has Yang Jianxiu as a backing, and it's still worth Liu's family to curry favor with. However, these people are very clever, they can hear the sound of the string and know the elegant meaning, although the Ye family's words are that Ye Zhuo is not feeling well and doesn't want to stay in the Nie house, but they can't help but suspect - from their understanding, they naturally think that entering the Nie house is a great opportunity, it's something that you can't even ask for, but Ye Zhuo went there for a few days and ran back, his body seems to be fine too, he must have done something wrong and was kicked out by the Nie family.

  It's better for those who are disliked by the Nie family to keep a distance.

  Just as Liu had stepped out of the Ye's main house, Ye Yu and Jiang arrived. Ye Zhuo heard the noise outside and was glad that Guan kept her habit of eating in the kitchen. She shook her head, finished the last mouthful of porridge, put down the bowl, and let Yu Sao clean up the table.

  When Daiyu's sister-in-law had just poured out the tea, Qiuju led in Tang Songgui and Wei Xiang.

  "Miss Ye, you're back?" Tang Shun and Wei Da Xiang were overjoyed to see Ye Zhuo. Since they started following her and helping her gather information, their lives had become much better. Ye Zhuo was always very generous with her rewards. Moreover, if there was any trouble at home, Ye Zhuo would also send someone with money, just saying it was a gesture of goodwill, which made them extremely grateful to her. A few days ago, when they heard that Ye Zhuo had gone to the Nie residence, they were happy for her but also felt a little lost. This meant that they would no longer have any extra income and their lives would return to the previous state of struggling every day just to make ends meet. But unexpectedly, Ye Zhuo returned after only a few days, and earlier, they heard from Qiu Hua that she would be staying at home from now on and wouldn't be leaving again. Tang Shun and Wei Da Xiang were both sad for her but also very happy.

  "Ah, Brother Tang, Brother Wei, let's sit down and talk." Ye Zhuo stood up and invited Tang Shun Gui and Wei Da Xiang to the seats beside him.

  "How can this be? Let's just stand instead." Tang Shun Gui and Wei Xiang refused to sit.

  After Ye Zhuo repeatedly persuaded them, they finally sat down. Qiu Ju came forward and poured tea for each of them again.

  Ye Zhuo didn't rush, first asking about the elderly at their home, then said: "I remember that Tang Da Ge had two older sons driving horse-drawn carriages, and also two younger ones; one was twelve years old, one was ten years old. And Wei Da Ge's children, the oldest is only ten years old, the second child is eight years old this year. I didn't get it wrong, did I?"

  "The girl's memory is really good, it's exactly like that, not a single mistake." Tang Shungui smiled and said.

  "What do they think of their two elder brothers? Do they still want them to grow up and drive horse carts?"

  Tang Shun-gui sighed: "We've been driving horse-drawn carriages all our lives, so we naturally know how hard this job is and that the pay is extremely low. It's just enough to make a living. If there are heavy burdens at home, then even making a living is difficult. But what can be done? Although Nanshan Town is full of jade carving workshops, those master jade carvers also take on apprentices. You also know how high the threshold for this profession is! It's not something that we carriage drivers can afford. Everyone has more than one child at home, and even if they tighten their belts, they can only send one child to learn jade carving. If you send one child but not another, then you have to let the child who didn't go learn jade carving work hard to save money to support the one who did. This isn't a harmonious way of doing things. The palm and back of the hand are both flesh, and as parents, we can't be so biased. So, everyone just muddles along like this. No one should blame anyone else."

  Ye Zhuo nodded. Tang Shungui was telling the truth.

  To become an apprentice in jade carving, one must be intelligent and resourceful, but also have a certain economic foundation at home.

  After becoming an apprentice, I followed the master to work in the workshop. The materials we came into contact with were precious jade. If you accidentally damaged something, the master would have to take the risk. Therefore, when a jade carver accepts an apprentice, they must choose someone from a family with relatively good economic conditions, so that if they break any jade, they can afford to compensate for it and not drag the master down. Not only do they select those from wealthy families, but also require them to pay a deposit when entering the workshop, which is something that poor families cannot afford. This is one reason.

  Secondly, the top of the knife is made of diamond, which is extremely expensive. Adding other things, a set of jade carving tools costs a lot, and it's not something that a poor family can afford. You can't ask your master to help you buy the tools, right? If your master had that kind of financial ability, he wouldn't be a jade carver, but rather a workshop owner.

  Thirdly, jade carving is not something that can be learned in a short period of time. It takes at least three years and up to five or six years. For such a long time, only investing without producing anything, how can families with poor living conditions afford it?

  So, Tang Shungui and those people's sons can only continue to be carters.

  Ye Zhuo raised his head, looking at Tang Shun and Wei Da Xiang: "You see when you have time, bring your four children over for me to take a look. If there are any with quick minds that meet my requirements, I will choose two as my disciples."

  "What?" Tang ShunGui and Wei DaXiang both stared with wide eyes.

  Ye Zhuo nodded: "As long as they sign a contract with me, promising to learn the craft from me and work for me for seven years, not only will I not ask for a deposit, but I'll also give each of them a set of carving tools. Of course, these seven years won't be worked for nothing. Once they've become skilled craftsmen, I'll pay them wages at market price."

  “Th...th...” Tang Shungui couldn't believe his ears. Who was Ye Zhuo? She was someone both the Jade Concubine and the Nie family praised and valued, her carving skills were even better than those of the fifth young master of the Nie family. To be able to become her apprentice was a great fortune, not to mention that no guarantee money was required, and she would also give him carving tools! If these words got out, within an hour, the entrance to the Ye household would be crowded with people. How many poor young men couldn't get the opportunity to learn jade carving?

  As for signing a contract to work for seven years, Tang Shun thought it was not a big deal. Ye Zhuo wasn't a strict person, on the contrary, she was kind and generous. Even if they didn't sign a contract after graduation, he would still be willing to let his son work under her.

  Thank you sophia1108, rox for the water evaluation votes, thank you passerby Yī, Lóng Xiáng Fèng Luán, 0 Míng Huì 0 for the pink votes!