“Please, stop arguing,” Bie Gangyi said, his voice hoarse. “You’re all concerned about me… it’s not worth it.” He turned his gaze to Dou Zhao. “Fourth Miss, I know this situation puts you in a difficult position, but I have no one else to turn to. When their mother passed away, I promised her I would take good care of her two children…” His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I can’t push the children into the fire…”

Hearing this, Dou Zhao felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

“I ask for nothing more than for these two children to live honorably after I’m gone,” Bie Gangyi continued, his voice strained, punctuated by labored breaths. “I understand that the Dou family is not an ordinary household, but these two children are well-behaved and won’t cause you any trouble…”

“I understand, I understand,” Dou Zhao said, quickly moving to sit in the spot where Chen Qu Shui had just been. “If you trust me, I can have them recognize my biological grandmother—Cui Ainiang from the West Dou family—as their godmother. Then, I can arrange for the two sisters to move to Cui Ainiang’s estate, which is part of the Dou family’s holdings and will provide them with protection…”

Chen Qu Shui was taken aback.

Just moments ago, the Fourth Miss of the Dou family had been hesitant, and now she had changed her mind so quickly.

Dou Zhao had already intended to help the Bie sisters when Chen Qu Shui mentioned their background, wanting to prevent them from being humiliated by someone like Shan Jie. She simply disliked being treated like a naive child by Chen Qu Shui, which was why she had playfully bantered with him.

“So, you agree?” Bie Gangyi asked, a mix of surprise and joy lighting up his face as he looked at Dou Zhao with gratitude.

Dou Zhao nodded with a smile.

How many fathers would go to such lengths for their children, especially for two daughters like Bie Gangyi did?

For that reason alone, she felt compelled to assist the Bie sisters.

“If you’re still worried, they can stay with me at the West Dou residence,” she suggested. “After all, there’s no one at home for the next few years. Having them around would be good company for me…”

Bie Gangyi shook his head. “I appreciate your kindness, Miss, but the Dou family is large and influential. The Fourth Miss has elders above her and siblings below. If the two sisters were to follow you, there would be gossip about them taking advantage of the Dou family. I fear the rumors about the Fourth Miss would be no less. You saved our entire family; I should repay you properly. Unfortunately, my health is failing, and instead of repaying you, I’ve caused you so much trouble. I can’t let you suffer anymore…”

As he spoke, he called out, “Uncle Chen,” forcing a smile through his parched lips. “You are a learned man with excellent writing skills. I ask you to draft a letter of dependency for the sisters…”

“Master Bie!” Both Dou Zhao and Chen Qu Shui exclaimed in unison, exchanging surprised glances.

“Without a letter of dependency, it would be improper,” Bie Gangyi continued, ignoring their shock. “Rather than having them follow the Fourth Miss without any formal arrangement, it’s better to establish a clear relationship. They will know what they can and cannot do, which benefits both the Fourth Miss and them.”

Dou Zhao fell silent.

Bie Gangyi’s words held merit.

Sometimes, people fear losing their place and end up striving in the wrong direction.

Those who sign a contract of servitude are bound to serve their master in life and death, with their marriages and lives dictated by their employer. In contrast, those with a letter of dependency are considered “loyal servants.” Their employer cannot sell them, and they can marry and own property, as long as they do not harm or insult their employer. Although there are distinctions, once a letter of dependency is signed, a formal “master-servant” relationship is established, which ultimately involves serving others.

She recalled how Chen Qu Shui had sent the Bie sisters away earlier and pondered, “Do Su Lan and the others know about this?”

“They don’t know yet,” Bie Gangyi replied, as Dou Zhao had expected. “But they are both grounded children. As long as they can live with integrity, I believe they would be willing to follow the Fourth Miss.”

Chen Qu Shui suggested, “Let’s first ask the sisters how they feel about this.”

Dou Zhao agreed that this was a good idea.

Bie Gangyi then asked Chen Qu Shui to bring in his two daughters.

Bie Suxin and Bie Sulan were naturally shocked.

They guessed that their father was worried they would be left helpless after his death and wanted to entrust them to the Fourth Miss of the Dou family. However, they never expected him to ask them to sign a letter of dependency.

Bie Sulan was still dazed and unsure, while Bie Suxin recalled the torment of their father’s imprisonment, Shan Jie’s shamelessness, and her sister’s frantic efforts. Seeing their father’s worried expression, she steeled herself and knelt before Dou Zhao, saying to Chen Qu Shui, “Uncle Chen, please help us draft a letter of dependency!”

Dou Zhao reached out to help her.

But Bie Suxin remained kneeling, pulling the still-dazed Bie Sulan down with her. “Fourth Miss, I know the Dou family is a wealthy household, and many wish to seek your protection. There’s no need for us to write a letter of dependency. Your willingness to take us in shows your compassion for our plight. We are not ungrateful people. If we can follow you into your household, we will serve you well, obey the management of your maids, and get along with your sisters…”

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

Bie Sulan began to cry as well, crawling to her father and calling out, “Father!”

Bie Gangyi stroked his youngest daughter’s head, tears silently streaming down his sunken cheeks.

Everyone in the room began to cry.

Zhao Liangbi peeked through the curtain, feeling a lump in his throat, and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

After a long while, the cries in the room gradually subsided.

Dou Zhao, her eyes red, turned to Chen Qu Shui and said, “Then please, Mr. Chen, draft a letter of dependency to put Master Bie’s mind at ease.”

Chen Qu Shui said nothing more. Noticing that the Bie family lacked writing materials, he went home to write the letter of dependency for the Bie sisters and brought it back.

Dou Zhao handed the document to Bie Gangyi. “This letter will be in Suxin’s hands. Focus on your recovery; the best outcome is that you won’t need to use this letter.” As she finished speaking, she suppressed her sadness and smiled brightly. “If anything happens, I won’t turn my back on you.”

“Thank you, Fourth Miss.” Bie Gangyi understood that Dou Zhao was trying to comfort him, but her words gave him a sense of security regarding his daughters’ future.

Dou Zhao called Zhao Liangbi in and pointed him out to Bie Suxin. “He will be at the grain and oil shop on East Street in Zhen Ding. If you need anything, just let him handle it.”

Bie Suxin quickly knelt and offered a respectful greeting to Zhao Liangbi.

Zhao Liangbi was taken aback that Dou Zhao would suddenly place him at the Dou family’s grain and oil shop, which was part of the East Dou family’s holdings. He hesitated before returning the greeting, appearing somewhat flustered.

Dou Zhao then offered some advice to Bie Suxin about taking care of her father before rising to leave.

Chen Qu Shui and Bie Suxin accompanied Dou Zhao to the door.

As Dou Zhao reached the front courtyard, she paused and instructed Haitang to give Bie Suxin the two hundred taels of silver notes she had prepared in advance. “Don’t let your father worry. If the doctor comes, just buy the best medicine for him. If he needs ginseng, tell Zhao Liangbi, and he can help you buy it.”

If Bie Gangyi could live a few more days, it would lessen the sisters’ regrets.

Dou Zhao thought, feeling a mix of emotions.

Bie Suxin said nothing, tears in her eyes as she bowed three times to Dou Zhao, accepting the silver notes.

Dou Zhao turned to Chen Qu Shui. “I still need a teacher for the West residence. I wonder if you would be interested?”

Chen Qu Shui was taken aback.

Dou Zhao smiled and instructed Zhao Liangbi, “Whether Mr. Chen can be persuaded to teach me depends on you.”

The implication was clear: she wanted Zhao Liangbi to find a way to convince Chen Qu Shui.

Zhao Liangbi was preoccupied with Dou Zhao’s earlier words about the grain and oil shop in Zhen Ding, wondering if the Third Master would agree. He had no time to seriously consider Dou Zhao’s request and hurriedly bowed in response, saying, “Yes.”

For Chen Qu Shui, being invited to teach by a servant was a great humiliation. However, he noticed that Dou Zhao referred to it as “my teacher” rather than “the West Dou” or “the Dou family.”

His heart tightened. After Dou Zhao left, he began to investigate the Dou family thoroughly.

He hadn’t realized it before, but upon investigation, he was drenched in cold sweat.

Was the Fourth Miss of the Dou family simply lucky? Or was she a rare genius with extraordinary insight?

He fell into deep contemplation.

Dou Zhao, of course, was unaware of this. She knew that someone like Chen Qu Shui would not easily agree to teach just anyone. By presenting the idea of “my teacher,” she wanted to see if he would be interested.

After returning to Zhen Ding, she first went to see her third uncle to arrange for Zhao Liangbi to work at the grain and oil shop.

Zhao Liangbi was capable, and Dou Zhao wasn’t asking him to be the shopkeeper. There was no reason for Dou Shibang to offend someone who owned a quarter of the Dou family’s wealth over such a trivial matter.

Then she went to see Cui Shisan, asking him to help investigate Chen Qu Shui and to keep an eye out for anyone looking into her.

Cui Shisan thought her actions were somewhat reckless. “Why not investigate this person thoroughly before asking the Seventh Master to help you bring him back?”

Although he had fallen on hard times, he still dressed neatly and cleanly, indicating a proud character.

Doing so would only result in a direct refusal from Chen Qu Shui.

Dou Zhao smiled without answering and went to see her grandmother.

Her grandmother expressed sympathy for the Bie family’s situation and took the opportunity to teach Dou Zhao, “This is why one must learn to cherish blessings.”

Dou Zhao repeatedly smiled and agreed.

Privately, her grandmother had Hong Gu send fifty taels of silver and some food to the Bie sisters.

Dou Zhao pretended not to know, sitting at the large writing desk by the window, lost in thought over the paper Cui Shisan had sent.

Chen Qu Shui was from Wujixian in Zhen Ding. He passed the scholar examination at fifteen and became a jinshi at twenty-two. After failing numerous times over the next decade, his family fell into poverty. His wife and only son died in succession. He managed to secure a position as a sitting official, withdrawing money in advance to bury his son. After that, he disappeared, reportedly settling in Kyoto and purchasing two small rooms next to the Bie family’s martial arts school on East Alley five years ago.

No one knew where he had been or what he had done during those years.

Dou Zhao smiled to herself.

What an interesting person.

Haitang entered with a bright smile, holding a letter. “Miss, Seventh Master has written to say he found a teacher for you, and he will arrive in a few days.”