Bai Sheng took another moment to call Lu Hua, Ga Mei, and Qing Feng to her side.
"The teaching job at the academy, the three of you are to stop doing it. I've temporarily handed it over to Lord Ji. Later, I'll find two more tutors to come back, and the academy matters will be settled," Bai Sheng planned to play coy for a moment, teasing the trio.
After exchanging glances, all three showed expressions of confusion.
Ga Mei, the most impatient, asked, "Mistress, are the three of us not doing well enough?"
Bai Sheng looked at them and smiled without speaking.
"Yes, sister-in-law, why are you suddenly asking us to stop? If we've done anything wrong, please tell us, and we'll definitely correct it," Lu Hua spoke much more generously and calmly now.
Lu Hua really liked this job. She had learned from her mother when she was young, and all those learned skills were now useful, which made her very happy.
"I will await my junior sister's arrangements," Qing Feng was not anxious. He felt that his junior sister must have other matters to assign him. He was not one to make trouble; whatever his junior sister asked him to do, he would do.
Bai Sheng smiled, "You have all done very well at the academy. I have other matters to assign you."
"So that's how it is, Mistress, you... you scared me to death! I thought I could no longer make my old dad proud," Ga Mei giggled.
Lu Hua also smiled shyly, "Sister-in-law, you're teasing us."
Bai Sheng chuckled, blinked her eyes, and asked, "Do you, want to go and see the capital?"
"The capital?!"
The three exclaimed in unison.
"Want, want, want! Mistress, I really want to go!" Ga Mei excitedly stood up. She had never been further than Tianshui Town in her life, and she longed to go out and see the world.
The capital! That was the capital of their Great Xia Kingdom, the most prosperous and largest city. She desperately wanted to go.
"Of course, I am willing," Qing Feng was also a little excited. It was said that there were many Guqin shops in the capital, which he could go and see. In the past, when his master took him on travels, although they had been to the capital, they hadn't stayed long. The key was that he was too poor back then and had no money.
"Hua, what about you? Do you want to go?" Bai Sheng asked Lu Hua gently.
Lu Hua thought for a moment and said hesitantly, "Sister-in-law, I really want to go, but I'm also a bit scared. I... I've never traveled far, and I can't bear to leave my elder brother and sister-in-law and my younger siblings."
"As long as you want to go, that's enough. Anyway, in a few years, our Hua Hua will be married, and leaving home is bound to happen sooner or later. Let's go out and get used to it first," Bai Sheng winked playfully.
"Sister-in-law!" Lu Hua's face turned completely red with shyness.
"Sister Hua is so beautiful, perhaps she'll meet a young suitor in the capital!" Ga Mei laughed heartily, and after laughing, she glanced at Qing Feng with red ears.
Lu Hua, blushing furiously, reached out to tickle Ga Mei.
Qing Feng was picking up a pastry from the table and eating it elegantly. The chatter of the two girls did not disturb him.
Seeing that all three had agreed, Bai Sheng carefully explained the work they would be doing in the capital.
This time, even Ga Mei was a little scared. She asked nervously, "Mistress, can we handle such important work? We... we are girls."
"Yes, sister-in-law, we are girls, and we don't know if we are suitable," Lu Hua also hesitated.
Bai Sheng raised her eyebrows, "What's wrong with being a girl? What men can do, we girls can do too. We shouldn't limit ourselves just because we are girls.
Although many people in the Great Xia Kingdom hold prejudices, thinking that women should stay at home, tend to their husbands and children, and should not be seen in public. But we ourselves should not look down on ourselves. As long as we don't do anything wicked, we should bravely do what we like.
Women have their own value; they don't have to depend on men to survive. You are still young, and you absolutely must not be corrupted by those old, outdated ideas."
Lu Hua and Ga Mei were shaken by these words. Yes, they had almost forgotten. The Great Xia Kingdom had no female tutors either, yet they themselves had been female tutors for several months and had done very well. If so, they could do other jobs too.
The two girls exchanged glances and clasped hands under the table. They were going to the capital, to venture out, to become women like their Mistress.
Qing Feng was even more surprised. His junior sister was indeed different from ordinary women, worthy of being... cough cough...
"Don't worry, sister-in-law. Ga Mei and I will definitely do this job well," Lu Hua's tone was gentle but very firm.
Ga Mei also nodded. She remembered what her Mistress had said to her a few days ago: women must continuously improve themselves. Only by being excellent could butterflies and bees be attracted.
Bai Sheng looked at the two girls with great satisfaction, "You will depart in about half a month. Your elder brother will escort you to the capital and arrange everything there before returning. So, don't worry.
For the next ten days, you will review arithmetic, as well as how to keep accounts, read account books, and take inventory. Make sure to master this series of skills thoroughly.
In the future, sister-in-law will also be doing several businesses for women in the capital. Once you have the capability and get the hang of it, I will hand them all over to you to manage."
Lu Hua and Ga Mei's eyes lit up, as if they saw themselves commanding their subordinates in luxurious shops in the capital. That feeling made them very excited.
Bai Sheng said to Ga Mei, "Ga Mei, go home first and ask your parents if they agree. When you go to the capital, I will give you a monthly salary of one tael of silver. All three of you will receive the same, one tael per month. Later, when you can manage affairs independently, it will be ten taels per month."
The three were quite surprised. One tael of silver was already a lot. Ten taels a month was something they couldn't even imagine.
"My parents will definitely agree. My dad will probably be bragging everywhere again. No, I must tell him not to talk carelessly!" Ga Mei was very excited. After all, for a twelve-year-old girl to receive a monthly salary of one tael of silver, no one could refuse such temptation.
After the three left, Bai Sheng suddenly thought of another problem. If goods were to be transported from the spatial dimension, Lu Ye would have to bring Hengheng to the capital. Especially fresh fruits, which needed to be transmitted almost every day or two. Would Lu Ye have to stay in the capital all the time?
No, Bai Sheng disliked long-distance relationships; the longing was too difficult to bear. Moreover, the little ones couldn't be without their father's company.
Furthermore, Lu Ye himself would certainly not agree.
Lu Hua and Qing Feng were trustworthy people. If she were to reveal the matter of the spatial dimension to them, she wondered if Lu Ye would agree.
In the future, she would place Hengheng by Hua Hua's side. When transmitting goods, she and Qing Feng would provide cover. If they encountered danger, Hengheng could bring them all into the spatial dimension with a single thought, which would also serve as a means of survival.
Bai Sheng planned to discuss it with Lu Ye after he finished training the guards.
Knowing that he would be away for a long time, Lu Ye intensified the training of the guards. While he was away, Yang Ming and Wang Xiao Ma could protect Bai Sheng.