The happiest days of A Yao's life were spent at the Jingzhou Prefectural Office.
Every morning, the first thing she did was wake the young master, help him dress and wash, then, after breakfast, pick up the schoolbag she had prepared the night before and escort him to the gate.
A Yuan would already be waiting there. The two of them would hand over the schoolbag, and the young master, too.
During the day, the madam liked to read and write with her, and sometimes embroider new patterns. Whenever there was something tasty, she always made sure A Yao got some. A Yao would eat half and save the rest.
When the shadow of the camellia in the courtyard reached the third paving stone, she would drop everything and happily go to the gate to greet the young master, and A Yuan, too.
At night, she went to bed later than the other maids. Now and then, she and the young master would bicker. Sometimes she lost, but she usually won, and that was all by design.
The young master would be so angry he couldn't sleep, and would vow to study hard.
A Yao covered her mouth and giggled under the blankets.
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The happiest days of A Yuan's life were spent at the Jingzhou Prefectural Office.
Every morning, after washing up, he would wait outside the courtyard gate. A Yao would always appear right on time with the young master, and then he would escort him to the academy to study.
During the day, he had to wait at the academy until the young master finished his lessons, topping up his tea and water now and then, then escorting him back at around five in the afternoon.
A Yao would always appear behind the gate right on time. Sometimes she gave him two soup dumplings, sometimes a piece of beef. He would grin and take a couple of bites in front of her, then give most of it to someone else, all so that person would teach him staff fighting and boxing. He ended up covered in bruises, but never tired of it.
Their greatest wish was for their days to go on just as they were.
Theme: Protecting what matters with strength and resolve
