Liu Zhen briefly mentioned that Madam Zhang had a nightmare last night.

Liu Yuan also knew about this. The couple had even quarreled over it and parted on bad terms.

Liu Zhen said, "Mother has long been filled with regret over accidentally causing the deaths of the two maids. Not to mention Mother, even I was quite frightened when I first heard of it, and I regret even more not being able to dissuade her in time, leading to this complication. Mother and I grew up in the countryside. At most, we would kill dogs and pigs. When have we ever taken a human life? As for taking her anger out on Father this morning, she already regrets it and even asked me to come and apologize to Father on her behalf!"

Liu Yuan said, "Right now, there are a thousand things to do, all waiting for me. How could I have the leisure to bicker with her?"

Liu Zhen did not hesitate to offer a piece of flattery: "Father's heart is as vast as the sea, possessing the bearing of the great sages of old!"

Liu Yuan feigned anger, "If you have nothing else to say, I'm going to kick you out!"

Liu Zhen, still grinning, said, "How could I have nothing to say? I have an important matter. Mother has never managed such a large residence, nor has she ever handled so many maids and servants. She doesn't know where to start, which is why she made so many mistakes just now. Therefore, I'd like to ask Father to find a manager who can help with household affairs, to avoid repeating yesterday's blunders. Furthermore, please also help me, Ah Wan, and Ah Zhuang hire a female tutor, to teach us proper deportment and cultivate our character."

In noble households of this era, even for girls, a female tutor would be hired to teach them from a young age. This kind of teacher was called a governess. Children usually began their studies at the age of six. At first, they were taught the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches and simple mathematics. Then, as they grew older, the difficulty of the lessons would gradually increase. The content was mostly related to their status, such as how to walk and eat without being impolite. For instance, if Madam Zhang needed to engage in social diplomacy in the future, interacting with the families of officials and prominent clans, she couldn't very well discuss the price of an egg with them. These matters of etiquette and conversation all required special cultivation.

For the Liu family to be doing this now was like "clasping the Buddha's feet in an emergency"—it was already late, but it was better than nothing.

Liu Zhen didn't know how far her old man's path of rebellion would go, but no matter what, as his wife, Madam Zhang should have been able to help in some small way, instead of confining her focus to the inner quarters and backyard, obsessing over the existence of two concubines, and worrying all day about trivial matters.

Liu Zhen herself also needed to learn. It was true she had read many books, but they were all filled with lofty principles; not a single one taught her how to manage maids and servants or interact with subordinates. Therefore, both Madam Zhang and Liu Zhen needed a guiding light, a mentor who could teach them specifically what to do.

Liu Yuan scratched his topknot, "Ah Zhen, it's not that Father is unwilling to help you, it's just that I truly don't know where to find such a person."

Liu Zhen's mouth twitched. "...Father, aren't you going to personally visit Governer Song? You can ask him to recommend someone then. Governer Song is from a noble clan; he's bound to have suitable candidates."

With the conversation having reached this point, Liu Yuan naturally agreed readily. In his heart, he couldn't help but feel fortunate to have such a precocious and sensible daughter at home. He sighed, "If your mother were still here, I'm afraid I wouldn't have to worry about household affairs at all right now!"

Liu Zhen knew he was talking about her birth mother, Madam Zhou. Liu Zhen's impression of her birth mother was already very vague. But in the eyes of the living, when someone dies, people mostly remember their good qualities. That's why Liu Yuan lamented so. Even if Madam Zhou were still alive, she, like Madam Zhang, was the daughter of a minor merchant and would have been completely incapable of handling such a large mess of affairs.

In truth, Liu Zhen was very clear that her old man didn't really have any deep feelings for her stepmother, Madam Zhang. Back when Madam Zhou died, there were two young children at home crying for food, and with their family's financial situation, Liu Yuan had no choice but to quickly marry another. These past years, the family had been peaceful and stable. Although they were barely fed and clothed, far from being comparable to Liu Chi's family, and Madam Zhang had complained quite a bit, complaints were just complaints. Madam Zhang still treated her and her elder brother well, and that was more than enough. Between Liu Yuan and Madam Zhang, just like most common couples, there was certainly no earth-shattering romance, but at most, something closer to an affection forged over time.

Liu Zhen: "For Father to say that... our current mother is also doing her best. I saw that Mother was distraught and worried that day after seeing Father's two concubines, and that's why she did the wrong thing."

Liu Yuan was very surprised. "Those two concubines? If your mother doesn't like them, she can just send them away. What's there to be distraught about?"

As expected! Liu Zhen had only been testing the waters with a casual remark. She hadn't expected Liu Yuan's answer to be exactly as she had predicted, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

The way men and women think are worlds apart. In Madam Zhang's eyes, those two concubines were thorns in her heart. But to Liu Yuan, they were merely goods or playthings that could be sent away at will.

If Madam Zhang knew her old man's attitude, she probably wouldn't be so downcast anymore, right?

Liu Zhen let out a huge sigh of relief, her mission accomplished.

She went back and briefly relayed Liu Yuan's words. As expected, Madam Zhang cheered up, and her spirits lifted considerably. She couldn't help but feel ashamed of her earlier suspicious and insecure behavior, and she became even more considerate toward Liu Yuan.

As for the two concubines, now that Liu Yuan's attitude was clear, Madam Zhang didn't insist on driving them out. She just moved them to a more remote room to live in, out of sight, out of mind.

The Governor's manor was vast. As the eldest daughter, and having been independent from an early age, Liu Zhen was able to have her own room, no longer adjacent to Madam Zhang's main house. Liu Nan, as the eldest son, also had his own room, and because of his gender, it was located even farther from the main house. This left only Madam Zhang's three children living with her. Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang also had their own separate rooms, but for the convenience of being cared for, their rooms were next to the main house.

Liu Zhen was very satisfied with this arrangement. Everyone maintained an appropriate distance, neither too far nor too close, avoiding the need to see each other all the time and thus preventing many conflicts. Moreover, she liked peace and quiet, so this gave her a perfect environment for reading. She only needed to go and pay her respects to Liu Yuan and Madam Zhang daily.

After that day's conversation, Liu Yuan became even busier, often leaving early and returning late. Every time Liu Zhen went to pay her respects, she couldn't find a trace of Liu Yuan. Over time, Madam Zhang inevitably began to complain to her.

"Even if a Governor is busy, it can't be to the point where he doesn't even have time to sit down for a meal!"

Madam Zhang said this while the family was sitting in the main hall having their evening meal.

The variety of dishes was now far richer than before. After all, Liu Zhen's family had entered the ranks of the "decadent ruling class," and their standard of food had improved significantly along with it.

Not counting the days spent in the mountains, the best meal Liu Zhen and her family used to have was just dry-steamed millet rice with a bowl of stewed mutton. Now, millet rice was merely the minimum standard.

Look at the dining mat in front of her. For drinks alone, there were two types: one was cassia drink, which is an osmanthus flower beverage, and the other was mare's milk, which tasted a bit like yogurt.

Next to the millet rice was a plate of roasted cured meat and a plate of roasted pork neck.

The former was honey-glazed roasted pork, the latter was roasted pork neck, specifically from a tender young suckling pig.

Then there was also a small bowl of pickled greens to go with the rice.

Oh, right. It was said that during the Spring and Autumn period, the pickled greens from the State of Wu were famous, so this bowl of pickled greens was made following the Wu State recipe. It was sour with a hint of spice, very appetizing.

And to her left was a bowl of mutton and radish soup.

First, the mutton was stewed for four hours, then the radish was added and cooked. The tender mutton and the sweetness of the radish permeated each other, creating a heavenly delicacy.

A mix of meat and vegetables, healthy and not tiresome.

This is simply decadent!

Liu Zhen was extremely satisfied with her current life, so she chewed slowly, savoring this happiness on the tip of her tongue with her sense of taste.

But some people clearly didn't feel the same.

At this moment, Madam Zhang was looking at Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang, her face a mask of tolerance and impatience.

Although those two maids were dead, their words lingered in Madam Zhang's ears, stabbing right at her heart.

Although she didn't say anything, she had subconsciously started paying attention to her own table manners, forcing herself to stop the habit of smacking her lips while eating. She even slowed down and lightened her movements when scooping food and holding her wooden chopsticks, hoping to emulate more "elegant" actions. But without a frame of reference, in Liu Zhen's eyes, it just looked awkward no matter how she looked at it.

To avoid being laughed at again, Madam Zhang dismissed all the maids after they had brought the food. But even so, she still felt very uncomfortable in her heart.

Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang weren't so particular. They had grown up in the countryside since childhood, and unlike Liu Zhen, they didn't have memories from a past life. Naturally, they did whatever was comfortable. Madam Zhang had never disciplined them in this regard. As a result of parents teaching by example, the children naturally copied them, and so Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang had also picked up the habit of smacking their lips when they ate.

Just like now...

Madam Zhang looked at her two young daughters and frowned deeply. She suddenly slammed her wooden chopsticks down hard on the dining mat!

The 'pa!' sound made everyone jump. Liu Nan almost spilled the soup from his bowl.

Not to mention Liu Jin. He was timid to begin with, and the shock made his eyes go wide and blank.

But Madam Zhang had no time to pay attention to him right now.

"Don't talk while eating, don't speak before sleeping!" Madam Zhang had heard this saying from Liu Zhen. "What kind of behavior is this?!"

Liu Zhuang shrank back, timidly put down her wooden chopsticks, and didn't dare to make a sound. Liu Wan, however, pouted, unconvinced. "Mother does it too. We learned it from Mother..."

Madam Zhang was furious. She stood up and walked toward her. Liu Wan let out a cry and ran toward Liu Zhen and Liu Nan. "Big Brother, Big Sister, save me!"

Liu Nan quickly said, "Mother, Ah Zhuang is just ignorant. You can teach her slowly. Let alone her, even I can't break this bad habit when I eat!"

Madam Zhang: "You are a boy, she is a girl, how can you be the same?! This little girl is getting more and more insolent as she grows up. If I let her continue, I'm afraid something terrible will happen. None of you stop me, I must teach her a good lesson today!"

Liu Zhen coughed lightly. "Mother, Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang are still young. It's understandable for them to be a bit lively. I've already asked Father to look for a female tutor and governess to come to the mansion and help teach us. I'm sure there will be news soon. Mother, please don't be anxious."

Madam Zhang took a few steps but failed to catch Liu Wan, who was desperately hiding behind her older brother and sister. The girl was quite agile, dodging back and forth. Persuaded by the two of them, Madam Zhang's anger subsided by more than half, and she could only sigh and give up.

In the end, Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang had learned this behavior because there were examples to follow. Liu Nan was the eldest son and not her biological child, so it wasn't her place to say anything. Liu Zhen, however, hadn't picked up this bad habit. Liu Jin was still small and even stammered when he spoke—for some reason, perhaps because the days spent on the mountain in his childhood were too harsh and his nutrition was inadequate, Liu Jin's development was always a bit slow. After the family arrived in Yangdi County, Madam Zhang, in order to make up for the past, doted on him endlessly, causing him to be timid around strangers now. The only thing he learned quickly was the etiquette of eating and conduct. That only left Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang. Every time Madam Zhang saw them eat, she would remember the maids' private mockery of her. She had endured it again and again, and today she had finally reached her breaking point.

After this little episode, Madam Zhang became even more eager for Liu Yuan to hire someone from the outside soon, not only to teach her children, but also to help her manage the huge mess of affairs in the Governor's manor.

Day and night she hoped, and Liu Yuan finally did not disappoint them. About ten days later, while Liu Zhen was practicing her calligraphy, a maidservant came to summon her, telling her to go to the front hall.

When Liu Zhen arrived, she found that Liu Nan was already there, kneeling beside Liu Yuan.

The person conversing with Liu Yuan was someone Liu Zhen didn't recognize, but from his attire and bearing, he was clearly not an unknown figure. Moreover, to show respect for the guest, Liu Yuan was not even sitting in the seat of honor, but had come down to sit in a lower seat, facing the man.

"Father." Liu Zhen walked over, first bowed to Liu Yuan, then bowed to the guest, and then knelt down beside Liu Yuan.

"You're here." Liu Yuan chuckled and introduced her to the other person, "Sir, this is my daughter, named Zhen. You may call her Ah Zhen directly."

While Liu Zhen was observing the other party, Song Xie was also sizing up Liu Zhen.

He was a little surprised, feeling that this new Governor was far too unconventional. To show closeness, introducing his son was one thing, but why call out his daughter as well?

But Song Xie was no fool. As they chatted, he soon discovered the strangeness of this young girl.

Due to their background, whether it was Liu Yuan or his two children, their conduct was not very dignified in Song Xie's eyes, but there were differences among them.

Although Liu Yuan was also crude, he was sufficiently respectful toward him. Liu Nan was forcing himself to listen to a topic he wasn't interested in, impatience gradually showing on his face with the fretful temper of a youth. As for Liu Zhen, she clearly understood what the elders were talking about, but was in no hurry to interrupt, appearing even more composed than her brother.

Song Xie found the results of his observation quite interesting.