The Meeting

Chen Feng Mian claps her hands together with a smile and says "Thank you very much for your help. As it is our first project, we will be in your care." She stands up and bows once more and Ye Han does the same.

Seeing how the children act, Ye Mu and Ye Heng can't help but feel overwhelmed and stand to bow as well and say "We shall be in your care as well Young Master, Young Miss." Unconsciously the aides can't help but take their work with the two more seriously once they all sit down.

Now updated on what they have on hand, Ye Han commences the meeting once more. He and Chen Feng Mian present their ideas to the aides. They proceed to compare and analyze both ideas. Taking a glimpse at the aides, Chen Feng Mian can't help but hide a little smirk. They've finally brought everyone to the same page.

Ye Han envisions the orphanage as a place for the students to stay and be fed. They would provide lodging and food for the orphans until they reach the age of 12 which is the age when children start their apprenticeships. During their time in the orphanage, there would be adults to supervise and help the children.

Chen Feng Mian has a similar idea for the orphanage though a bit more detailed. In addition to providing lodging and food for the orphans, they would grow their own vegetables and raise some life stock to the side. The money they would be saving and perhaps earning would in turn be invested in the children's education.

Although it's an ancient world, the literacy rate of Glory City was quite high. However there were no public schools whoever wanted to learn how to read and write would have to pay money to attend either an academy or some tutoring.

Often big families would have their own family school in which they educate their children. Otherwise they were also some scholars who would earn some money by the side by teaching the children in the neighborhood.

The idea of providing basic education (learning how to read and write as well as basic mathematics) to the orphans seemed foreign to Ye Heng, Ye Mu and Ye Han. To Ye Heng and Ye Mu, it was unnecessary to provide the orphans with more than necessary. A roof over the head and a full stomach seemed already generous enough to them. Even Ye Han's idea of adult supervision seemed overly generous to them. Nevermind Chen Feng Mian's idea.

To Ye Han however it was a long forgotten dream. As a former orphan himself, he was envious whenever he saw older children showing off their knowledge. He was able to learn some characters before his adoption due to him sneakingly eavesdropping a tutoring session. That was something orphans would often do in order to learn even a bit.

Ye Mu wanted to oppose the notion of Chen Feng Mian. "The money they would earn should be set to the side for emergencies and to one day make the orphanage self sufficient without funds from the City Lord Manor. An education for the orphans seems like an unnecessary expenditure that will lead to nowhere. Rather keeping the money for future seems like a better idea."

Chen Feng Mian didn't want to give up and said "I believe by educating the orphans, we would be improving their chances in the future and they wouldn't have to resort to stealing and thus would be more stable in the future. This would result in there being less orphans in 20 years time. Futhermore it wouldn't be an excessive expenditure if they are being taught by their caretakers. We would have to pay the caretakers more but we wouldn't need hire any additional people. What do you think Ye Han?"

Ye Han was suddenly brought back from his thoughts and looked back and forth between Chen Feng Mian and the aides. Both parties were looking at him for support. He understood why the aides were against educating the orphans as the funds could instead be used by the orphanage to ensure its sustainability.

However Chen Feng Mian's idealistic idea just wouldn't leave his mind. It would be fulfilling his past dream and the dream of an orphan out there. The fear of not understanding the world around him as an orphan still haunted his dreams. He was well aware of how other people would use the illiteracy of orphans against them on different levels. How not being able to read would stigmatize them whenever they wanted to help. How older orphans would get exploited due to their illiteracy.

With that in mind, Ye Han stood firmly at Chen Feng Mian's side. "If we can afford to educate the orphans, I don't see any fault in the notion."

And so the discussion went on and on, the only break they took was during lunch time. When it was late afternoon, the aides excused themselves and left. They would meet once more in a week time after the aides have calculated their budget for the building or land of the orphanage and have already searched around for them.

As they were returning to their other duties, they couldn't believe that the ones they were discussing this topic with were children. During their meeting, everyone was serious and deeply engaged that they forgot their ages. Even Chen Feng Mian lost her usual child like manner. If they were the City Lord and wife, then Glory City would be in good hands.

Left alone and completely exhausted, Chen Feng Mian and Ye Han couldn't help but sigh in relief temporarily forgetting the manners that had been hammered into them. Hearing each other sigh loudly and seeing the other completely exhausted and not sitting in a proper manner, they couldn't help but laugh loudly like the children they are.

"All those lessons we had to take are finally paying off." Chen Feng Mian said after a long laugh.

Ye Han couldn't help but nod in exhaustion "I will definitely pay more attentions to them in future."

Chen Feng Mian let out a "Me too" and the room was silent once more. It was a comfortable silence that left both satisfied and relaxed.

After a while, Ye Han sincerely complimented Chen Feng Mian with a slight blush"You did really well today. You brought in great ideas. I hadn't even thought about asking them for help and was completely nervous at the beginning. I thought we would have to decide and manage everything on our own. For that I want to thank you."

Hearing the sincerity in his compliment, Chen Feng Mian didn't hesitate to reply "You are welcome. I was also nervous and then I remembered that they were here to help us. You did great as well. You started leading the meeting after I asked them that question. You also agreed with my idea even though they were against it. Thank you."

The small silence that followed after her thank you was once again interrupted by laughter.

In a joking mood now, Ye Han asked "Do you think this how our future will look like? You know... attending meetings together, working on projects together and siding against the aides?"

Chen Feng Mian was stunned by his question and remembered that they are to wed in the future. Hiding to hide how stunned she was by the question, she jokingly replied with a smile "Unless you get tired of me, that's how our future will look like. Sitting in a room exhausted and forgetting all manners."

Ye Han genuinely replied "I won't get tired of you after all you are my partner."

After joking around some more and laughing, it was time for Chen Feng Mian to leave. Sitting in her carriage, Chen Feng Mian remembered how close and genuine Ye Han was to her. Compared to the previous day, when he was treating her like a child, he was treating her like an equal and most importantly a friend today. The difference was so stark it was hard to believe that it was just two days.

However Chen Feng Mian didn't doubt that Ye Han would most probably return to the usual, the next time they meet. Nevertheless Chen Feng Mian had now created her personal side quest - to get close to Ye Han.