Nanny Qin was short and stood quietly in the corner of the courtyard, partially hidden by the ox.

She remained silent from start to finish, making her easy to overlook if one didn’t pay close attention.

Earlier, while Qiao Xin and her companion were chatting happily, she had not spoken a word.

Only when Fan Jihuai left and Qiao Xin turned to look at her did she step forward and bow.

“I greet Old Madam Qiao. My husband’s family name was Qin, and I once served as Heng’er’s nanny. Now, I would like to ask Old Madam to grant me a way to make a living.”

Qiao Xin clapped her forehead and said with a laugh, “Oh dear, I was so happy I lost my bearings! I’m so sorry for neglecting you! But don’t call me Old Madam—I’m just an ordinary village woman. You’ve seen the conditions of my home. If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to stay. But I must say, the food, clothing, and lodging here won’t compare to what you had in the marquis’s residence!”

Nanny Qin glanced at Qiao Xin’s coarse linen clothes, the mud on her feet, and her rolled-up sleeves. Indeed, she didn’t look like a dignified noblewoman.

She smiled and said, “Madam, what are you saying? I also come from a poor family. When I was a child, if I could have owned an ox, I would have been so happy I wouldn’t have been able to sleep for several nights!”

“Hahaha, no farmer dislikes oxen! How is Heng Wen? Did he have any other instructions? How did he know I was looking for someone? That brat should be staying home to recover from his injury—why did he go to the border?”

“The general is fine now. After the New Year, he followed the marquis to the frontier. He only told me to get along well with you, Old Madam, and left no other instructions.”

Nanny Qin added, “Originally, I had planned to return to my clan to retire, but with my husband and son both gone, my reputation is tarnished. I doubt I’d have a place there anymore. Heng’er, remembering our years of bond, arranged for me to come here.”

Qiao Xin sighed. “You’ve had a tough life. It’s not easy for women to survive in this world. If you don’t mind, you can stay and keep me company.

“My eldest and third sons are in the military, my second son is studying, and I’m here with my two daughters-in-law, three grandsons, and three granddaughters. There’s also Old Mo and his son, as well as Granny Shi and her grandson.”

“There aren’t too many people, but each mouth needs to be fed. It’s hard for me to manage everything alone. Now that you’re here, you can lend me a hand and give me some breathing room!”

Nanny Qin hesitated, thinking Qiao Xin hadn’t understood her implication. After a pause, she asked, “Old Madam, you don’t mind my reputation?”

Qiao Xin was momentarily stunned before realizing what she meant.

Wasn’t it just about being labeled as unlucky, a bringer of misfortune to her husband and son?

Wasn’t she herself a widow?

In comparison, they were about the same—neither had the right to judge the other!

She laughed heartily. “I’m a widow myself. My reputation isn’t much better than yours! People call us unlucky just because they’re jealous of how capable we women are. They’re always trying to throw dirt on us.”

“But I refuse to believe in such nonsense! We don’t rely on anyone else’s food or money—we live honestly by our own abilities. What is there to fear? If I had cared about such things, I wouldn’t have survived this long, let alone raised all my children!”

Nanny Qin felt an inexplicable warmth in her heart.

She blinked, and when she looked at Qiao Xin again, there was a newfound softness in her gaze. “Old Madam is indeed as open-minded as Heng’er said.”

“Hahaha, that brat just knows how to flatter! And don’t call me Old Madam all the time—I’m only 37! Don’t go making me sound older than I am. Also, stop referring to yourself as ‘this old servant’—it sounds awkward!

“This isn’t the marquis’s residence. There aren’t so many rules here. Be more at ease. You can call me Qiao Xin or Sister Qiao. I’ll call you Nanny Qin.”

Nanny Qin nodded and said, “I wouldn’t dare be too informal. How about I call you Lady Qiao?”

“That’s fine, suit yourself!”

Qiao Xin didn’t insist.

A person who had followed strict rules all her life was already making an effort—change would come gradually.

“What expectations do you have for the children?” asked Nanny Qin.

“I don’t have many strict requirements. I want them to learn proper manners, but I don’t want them to be strangled by rules. They should live freely within the boundaries of discipline.”

“For boys, they should have broad horizons and not be fixated on trivial matters. For girls, they shouldn’t be trapped by small affections all their lives. Most importantly, they should learn to please themselves, not just others.”

Qiao Xin smirked mischievously. “We’re just a small family. We may never learn all the refined rules of noble houses, but there’s no harm in treating their schemes and intrigues as stories for our children to hear.”

“My grandsons and granddaughters are all bright and lively. I don’t want them growing up burdened by outdated customs like ‘not smiling openly, not revealing their knees when sitting, and not exposing their feet when walking.’”

Nanny Qin was surprised—she hadn’t expected Qiao Xin to hire a governess just to broaden the children’s horizons.

She didn’t know what to say.

Qiao Xin reassured her, “Don’t feel pressured, Nanny. Just let things happen naturally. We’re not an aristocratic family—we’re just giving the kids a broader perspective. We’re not trying to blindly imitate nobility!”

Hearing this, Nanny Qin finally felt at ease. “I understand now.”

“As for my daughters-in-law, I’ll have to trouble you. My eldest is now a sixth-rank official, but my daughters-in-law grew up in the countryside. Their knowledge, manners, and education are lacking, but that’s not their fault.”

“They both have good hearts and treat me well. You might as well teach them how to be proper household mistresses. When they accompany their husbands to their posts in the future, they just need to ensure they don’t make any major mistakes.”

Outside the door, Xu Shi and Zhang Shi, the two daughters-in-law, felt their hearts tighten.

Their faces were filled with confusion and helplessness.

But when they heard that their mother-in-law wasn’t looking down on them but had instead invited someone to teach them proper etiquette, they couldn’t help but burst into tears.

The fear and anxiety that had built up since their husbands’ promotions found an outlet, and they began sobbing uncontrollably.

Hearing the noise, Qiao Xin opened the door and saw her two daughters-in-law crouched at the entrance, wailing loudly.

Villagers nearby had already poked their heads out to watch the commotion.

“It’s the middle of the day—why are you crying? Get inside!”

Xu Shi wiped her tears with her sleeves, her face a mess of snot and sobs.

She looked at Qiao Xin with red eyes, pouted, and called out, “Mother!”

Zhang lowered her head, not daring to look up, but sniffled and followed suit.

They looked so pitiful that anyone unaware might have thought Qiao Xin had mistreated them!

Qiao Xin sighed, pulled them inside, and asked, “What’s all this wailing for? Who bullied you?”

Xu Shi waved her hands frantically and glanced at Nanny Qin before lowering her head again.

Seeing this, Qiao Xin understood immediately—they must have overheard her conversation with Nanny Qin.

She sighed in relief and ordered, “Go wash up first. Then come meet her properly.”