"After I was being kicked out, I thought about it a lot. Ever since my mother's died, Qin Xiu Ai's mother was promoted as the main wife. She pampered me a lot, but she didn't let me learn anything. I stupidly believed that she loved me and didn't want to give me a difficult life. However… what about now? I don't even have any talent to survive."

Ning Qing Xue thought… if she could turn back times, she wouldn't want to fall into the trap all over again. But what had been done couldn't be undone… she could only accept her fate.

Yao Ling was speechless at the current Madam Qin's cruelness. "How about your father?"

Ning Qing Xue laughed bitterly. "Hah… I won't rely on him! He's just a selfish person. If not for him, my mother won't be dead and I won't be in this predicament either."

Yao Ling suddenly realized that 'Wang Fu' condition was still far better than 'Qin Fu'. She was lucky that there were no children from the concubines, otherwise, there would be a tight competition. If they had children of their own, they would probably try to remove both of Yao Ling and her – just to secure their own children's position. Ning jie was the living example.

"Why don't I help you manage the children's job? But you are the one who has to oversee them. I can't always be here." Yao Ling offered voluntarily. "But first… tell me how you maintain them so far."

When Yao Ling heard Ning jie's explanation, her face darkened. She was rendered speechless. Ning jie really had the heart to help, but she didn't have the mean. She couldn't believe that she could keep these many children for two years, well… even though she barely survived herself.

Fortunately, Yao Ling met Xiao Xia at the right time. Otherwise, Ning jie's kindness would end up in a disaster! They survived because of the money that Ning jie had brought from 'Qin Fu' when she was kicked out. Until recently, her saving was depleted. Ning jie had no talent, so she could only find odd jobs here and there. The salary was barely enough for their foods, but as long as they were frugal, then it was okay.

However, once someone was sick – just like Xiao Yang, they didn't have the money to buy the medicine. Yao Ling could only shake her head at the angel before her. She didn't know whether Ning jie was too kind or too stupid.

Ning jie couldn't earn money and manage them, fortunately… Yao Ling could see the children under her wings were pretty happy. At least, she did something right. She wasn't in the position to judge, because she wouldn't be able to do what Ning jie did. That was why she didn't voice her opinion and only nodded.

"Did you do all the household chores by yourself?"

"I usually cook for them. I ask for leave permission to prepare foods for lunch and back to work until I need to cook for dinner. Xiao Yang is the oldest, so he usually helps me oversee the kids. Xiao Er is helping me with the kids," Ning jie explained while she started preparing the ingredients.

At the same time, Yao Ling was preparing the medicine. "You can have the other kids to help you, you know. They also need to grow up and take responsibilities. Doing a little is okay. It's better than to raise a lazy bunch of kids."

Yao Ling didn't know what she had said just now was heard by Xiao Xia and Xiao Li. They didn't get angry, because what she had mentioned was true. They indeed didn't really chip in any contribution to Ning jie. It made them blush in embarrassment, even though the pretty lady didn't exactly reprimand them.

Yao Ling turned around and surprised when she saw Xiao Xia and Xiao Li stood behind her. She looked at their expressions and knew that they had heard what she just said. Yao Ling was fanning the fire to brew the medicine. She looked lazily at the kids and smiled, "What do you think of what I've just said?"

Ning Qing Xue turned around and saw how Yao Ling asked the children with a smiling face. "Don't…" Before Ning Qing Xue could say anything, her words were being cut off by the children.

"What Ge ge said is true. We don't really help with anything. What Ge ge said really makes us feel ashamed," Xiao Xia meekly said that, grimacing.

"Do you want to change for the better?" Yao Ling asked once again.

Xiao Xia nodded excitedly. Xiao Li – the one who always had indifferent expressions- was also nodding. To Ning jie, they were really indebted. They would do anything to repay her kindness.

Yao Ling turned to Ning jie and laughed. "See? You are spoiling them too much. If… I said if… you were gone and they didn't have any expertise, then what would happen to them? How will they continue their life? You should consider this too."

Yao Ling already said what she had to say, after that, she didn't say anything more. Ning jie needed to think and figure it out by herself. She couldn't force someone to do something that he or she didn't want to do. They wouldn't do it wholeheartedly and also… she wouldn't gain their loyalty.

Ning Qing Xue started cooking while thinking about what Yao Ling said. She knew Yao Ling was right. She sighed and knew that she had to discuss this with the children first. She believed that people should choose their own fate. Ning Qing Xue nodded at Yao Ling, "I will talk to the children and I will give you the answer tomorrow."

"Where do you work?"

"I work as a servant in a nearby restaurant. The pay isn't that much, but they kind enough give me spare time to go home at lunch," Ning Qing Xue explained.

"Do they deduct your pay if you go home?" Yao Ling asked.

"Yes."

Yao Ling couldn't help but shake her head. This girl was really too naïve. If she were allowed to go home without deducting the salary, it was called kindness. Well… whatever floated her boat [1]. Her naivety was quite cute though.

"Tomorrow, come to 'Fu Rong'. I will give you work with better salary but you have to work hard. I won't go easy on you, even though I'm the one who is recommending you there. How is that sound?"

Ning Qing Xue's eyes lit up with happiness. "Really? I can really work there?"

"Of course." Yao Ling rolled her eyes and answered, "I'm in charge of the production so it's up to me to hire embroiderers. You can do some embroideries, right?" Yao Ling furrowed her eyebrows, thinking that there was no way a Di daughter didn't get the four arts lesson, right?

"I can."

What Ning jie said made Yao Ling sigh in relief. "Good."

"Although I'm not really that good."

*Bang*

Yao Ling could feel her spirit was dampened by what Ning jie had just said. What the heck did she mean by that statement? She was happy when she said that she could do embroidery, but then she lowered her happiness level by saying that she wasn't that good. Ning jie really made her headache worsened.

Yao Ling scowled and said, "Well… let's just see tomorrow. I will test your embroidery level first."

"Okay," Ning jie answered excitedly. "I will certainly work hard!"

"You can also tell me your answer tomorrow, okay? I will personally test you at 'Fu Rong' and discuss our next step. Of course, if you agree to our sisterhood. If you refuse, you can still work at 'Fu Rong'. I won't force you."

Yao Ling could only compromise this way. She prayed to Big Buddha that Ning jie would agree to her terms. Perhaps the children could persuade her. After finished brewing the medicine, Yao Ling knew that it was time for her to go. If she was dilly-dallying longer than this, the one who would get in trouble was Xiao Yu and she didn't want that to happen.

***

[1]. Whatever floated your boat: Do whatever makes you happy or suit yourself.