At the entrance of a large house in an upscale residential area in Haicheng, a taxi came to a stop. The back seat's door opened and a girl got out.
She was about 1.68 meters tall and had a good figure. She was dressed in a white t-shirt, with nine-cent black cloth pants and white board shoes. Her long, black hair was tied up in a high ponytail that reached her waist.
It was noon when she got out of the car, and the sun was very hot. She raised her hand slightly to block the sunlight and took a look at the house in front of her. Under the sunlight, the girl's appearance could not be seen very clearly, but her temperament could not be hidden.
She was elegant and quiet, giving people the feeling of a lady from an ancient family.
She took a look at the house in front of her, then looked away. She went to the back of the taxi and opened the trunk, taking out her luggage. It was a very big suitcase, so much so that the taxi driver thought that a little girl with small arms and legs like her would not be able to carry it. Just as he got out of the car to help, he saw her take out the suitcase with ease.
"You are very strong!" the taxi driver praised.
The girl smiled slightly in response.
Only then did he see her face clearly.
She was very beautiful, but not in a flamboyant type of way. Her beauty was reserved and special, her upright appearance like that of a dignified lady walking out of a picture. Just looking at her made people feel very comfortable.
After thanking him and paying the fare, she was about to drag her suitcase to the house when a person walked up to her.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Shi Yan?"
The person who came was a kind, old man who appeared to be in his fifties.
Shi Yan smiled slightly, "Yes, I'm Shi Yan. Hello."
When the old man saw Shi Yan, he was clearly stunned for a moment, but his manners were very good, so he quickly came back to his senses and introduced himself.
"My name is Jiang Hai, and I'm the Jiang family's housekeeper in Sea City. Old Madame Jiang had something urgent to attend to, so she left Sea City for the next few days. She asked me to come and receive Miss Shi."
"Thank you for your trouble. I'm sorry for disturbing you."
"You haven't disturbed me. After learning that Miss Shi had accepted a place in Sea City University, the Old Madame Jiang has been talking about you for a long time, waiting for you to come. If it weren't for the fact that an old friend suddenly fell ill and Old Madame Jiang wanted to visit her, she wouldn't have left when you arrived."
Shi Yan smiled faintly, "Thank you for your concern, Old Madame Jiang."
"It's only right for her to miss you. You saved Old Madame Jiang's life."
"It was just a coincidence. It doesn't deserve the word 'save.'"
"Miss Shi is too modest. You saved Old Madame Jiang. It was a huge favor for the Jiang family in Sea City. Let me help you with your suitcase."
Without waiting for Shi Yan's reply, he took her luggage.
Shi Yan did not argue with him. Although the luggage was a little heavy, it did not take much effort to drag it along the road, so she smiled and thanked him.
The Jiang family was indeed an important family in Sea City. Their house was very big, and there was a long, stone road at the entrance. The stone road was very wide, able to accommodate two cars. On both sides of the road were rows of trees, large enough so that people could only hug them with their arms wide open. It was obvious that they were quite old.
The flagstone road was very clean, with basically no fallen leaves.
"Usually, the cars would drive in directly. You didn't allow us to send a car to the airport to pick you up and the taxi could only go to the entrance, so we still have to walk for some distance,"Jiang Hai explained patiently.
"Thank you for your trouble," Shi Yan said with a smile.
"Miss Shi, you're too kind. Even with my old bones, I should be more active. It's okay to walk a little. I'm just afraid that you'll find it difficult to walk so far."
"I'm fine. I've lived in the countryside for many years and have worked a lot. It's not difficult for me to walk a little."
Jiang Hai smiled and said, " After you saved Old Madame Jiang three years ago, she had been under your care for half a month. When she came back, she constantly talked about how excellent and sensible you were. Now that I have met you in person, I know that Old Madame Jiang wasn't exaggerating."
"You're flattering me."
She smiled faintly, neither servile nor overbearing.
Jiang Hai praised her in his heart.
No wonder Old Madame Jiang kept thinking about such a sensible, obedient, and well-mannered child. Who wouldn't like her?
Just by looking at her like this, it was really hard to believe that she was a child from the country.
From her words and actions to her manners to her smile, everything was well-mannered. She simply had the temperament of a well-mannered young lady.
"Let me introduce Miss Shi to the members of the family."
"Okay."
With a faint smile, she listened quietly.
"Apart from Old Madame Jiang, the Eldest Master and the Eldest Madam are also a party of the Jiang family of Sea City. However, ever since the Eldest Young Master officially took over the family business and the Eldest Master gradually retired, he and the eldest madam no longer live in the old house. Only the Eldest Master and the Eldest Madam's children, the Eldest Young Master, and the Eldest Miss live in the old house.
"The Second Master and the Second Madam do not come into contact with the family business. They are engaged in scientific research and often work overtime or go on business trips. They also do not live in the old house that often
"They only have one son, the Second Young Master in the family. He lives with them and rarely comes back to the old house.
"The Third Master is an actor. He is determined to devote his life to his acting career and is not married. He is very busy with his work and often travels around the world. He also rarely lives in the old house.
"Only the Fifth Master stays in the old house. He has been recuperating at home due to his poor health.
"The composition of the members in the family is about the same. Miss Shi, you don't have to try to remember it. It's fine as long as you have a number in mind."
If the first, second, third, and fifth masters existed, then what about the fourth master?
Although she had this thought in mind, Shi Yan did not ask, as it would be impolite.
"Thank you for telling me."
"Miss Shi, you're welcome. Even if I didn't tell you this, you'd be able to figure it out after staying in the old residence for a few days. The members of the family are not complicated. I just suddenly thought of it and told you about it so that you would have a better idea and won't feel too unfamiliar and afraid when you first arrive here."
What a thoughtful and kind person.
"Thank you for your concern."
Jiang Hai smiled, then continued, "Eldest Miss is older than you by a month. Just like you, she has just finished her college entrance examination and received the admission notice. She couldn't stay at home and accompanied Old Madame Jiang to visit her old friend. Speaking of which, the Eldest Miss was also accepted into Haicheng University. In the future, the two of you will be in the same school."
Shi Yan smiled and said, "I heard Grandma Jiang mention this over the phone. But in terms of grades, I'm inferior to Miss Jiang. I just happened to step on the admission line for my major. The admission line for Miss Jiang's major is much higher than mine. She's also dozens of points higher than her major's admission line. She even passed the admission line for Jingdu University. I heard Grandma Jiang say that she chose Haicheng University because she didn't want to be too far away from home."
"Everyone has their own strengths. Our Eldest Miss just happens to be good at learning. Perhaps there are things that our Eldest Miss is not good at that Miss Shi is good at."
As he was only a butler, Jiang Hai did not judge the young miss of the main family too much. However, he was very good at talking.
"Thank you for your high opinion."
"Old Madame Jiang and Eldest Miss are not at home. The Eldest Young Master is at the company. However, he will come back in the evening. Miss Shi should be able to meet him then.
"As for the Fifth Master, he usually stays in his own courtyard and rarely goes out. Miss Shi won't have much of a chance to meet him, as he does not like to be disturbed by others. From now on, Miss Shi should try her best to avoid the Fifth Master's courtyard in the old residence."
The last sentence was said without any change in expression. In fact, it was a reminder to Shi Yan.
One had to say that Jiang Hai was indeed a very talkative person.
"Is there anything else you need to pay attention to in the old residence?"
Actually, she wanted to ask if there were any taboos.
However, Jiang Hai had said it tactfully, so Shi Yan asked tactfully as well.
"No, it's just that the Eldest Young Master has always been quiet and cold. If he treats you a bit coldly, I hope you won't take it to heart. Just pretend that he doesn't exist."
In the end, Jiang Hai added with a smile, "It was Old Madame Jiang who told me to tell you this.
"Old Madame Jiang said that it was not easy for her to coax you to come and stay at the house for a bit before school started. She didn't want you to live unhappily, and she didn't want you to be unable to stay for even two days. She said that during the half month that she stayed at your house, you took care of her as if she was your own grandmother. She once treated that place as her own home. I hope that you can also treat the Jiang family in Sea City as your own home."
When Shi Yan heard his words, she did not give a long speech of gratitude.
She only smiled and said, "Grandma Jiang is a very loving old woman, worthy of respect."
Neither arrogant nor impatient.
Jiang Hai looked up to her even more.
He felt more and more that she did not look like a child who grew up in the countryside.
Yet, she was.
According to Old Madame Jiang, during the half month that she stayed at Miss Shi's house, she heard from her neighbors that Miss Shi used to live with her grandmother. When her grandmother passed away at the age of 13, she had begun to live alone.
From the age of 13 to 19, she graduated from junior high school to senior high school, living alone for six years.
She was a poor child.
However, no matter how one looked at her bearing, she did not look like someone who had been raised by a poor family, much less someone who had been orphaned at the age of 13 and lived alone since.
Perhaps some people were born with good temperaments?
Coming out from the stone path in the shade of the trees, one could see a very large garden. In the garden, there were all kinds of flowers and rocks and even Lotus Ponds. It was the season when the lotus flowers were in full bloom, and it was very beautiful.
Jiang Hai pointed to a building and introduced it, "That is the main building. No one lives there. The first floor is the main hall, where we usually receive guests. The second floor is the dining room, where everyone usually eats. The third floor is decorated more elegantly. Usually, if the ladies and young ladies need to receive guests, they will be there. They will hold a tea party or something similar.
"When everyone in the family reaches the age of ten, they are given a courtyard to live alone in. Everyone has their own courtyard in the old house, even if they don't live here often. The courtyard that Old Madame Jiang arranged for Miss Shi is right next to her courtyard. Your courtyard and that of the Eldest Miss is closest to Old Madame Jiang's Courtyard.
"I'll take Miss Shi to the courtyard that Old Madame Jiang prepared for you and allow you to settle down first."
"Okay, thank you."
Jiang Hai was surprised once again.
According to Old Madame Jiang, Miss Shi lived in a mud-walled, tile-roofed house in the countryside. The vegetables she ate were all personally planted on a piece of land in the courtyard, and the conditions there were very difficult. Why didn't she have any reaction when she first entered such a large house?
Her expression did not seem like she was pretending to be calm because she was afraid of being looked down upon.
She was really calm. It was as if in her opinion, this huge house was no different from the earthen walls and tile-roofed houses in the countryside.
It was really rare for her to have such a temperament at this age.
It was no wonder that Old Madame Jiang liked her so much.
After dragging the suitcase for more than twenty minutes, they finally arrived at the courtyard that Old Madame Jiang had arranged for Shi Yan. The courtyard was separated by a wall and was not considered big, with only a two-story house and a small garden.
After sending her into the courtyard, Jiang Hai did not follow her into the house.
"It's not convenient for me to go in. From now on, Xiao Zhao will take Miss Shi with her. If you need anything, just tell Xiao Zhao. She will arrange for it or call me directly. Here is my business card."
Xiao Zhao was a female helper that Jiang Hai had just called over, seeming to be in her thirties.
Shi Yan took his business card with both hands and smiled, "Thank you. It's been hard on you to pick me up personally."
"You're welcome, Miss Shi."
After Jiang Hai left, Xiao Zhao said, "Miss Shi, let me help you carry your luggage upstairs. Your room and the study are on the second floor, and the living room is on the first floor. You can sit on the first floor and rest for a while, then go upstairs after I'm done unpacking."
Shi Yan refused with a smile, "No need. I can unpack by myself. Just give me your phone number, and I'll look for you if there's anything I need. I've been traveling for a long time. I want to take a shower and rest after I'm done unpacking."
"Then I'll help you take your luggage upstairs."
"No need. I can do it myself."
Xiao Zhao wanted to insist, but Shi Yan easily carried the luggage up the stone stairs and into the house.
This Miss Shi Yan may look thin and weak, but she was surprisingly strong.
"Then call me if Miss Shi needs anything. I'll leave my phone number on the coffee table in the living room."
"Okay."
Xiao Zhao's eyes were suddenly dazzled by her smile.
This was too beautiful!
Her temperament was also excellent. She was actually not inferior to the eldest miss at all…
Miss Shi and the eldest miss did not seem to be of the same style, but no matter what, she felt that Miss Shi was like a socialite from an orthodox aristocratic family.
Was this the country girl who saved Old Madame Jiang in the legend?
She didn't look like she came from the country at all.