"Madam, what are you thinking?" Jane called out to Joyce.
Startled, Joyce awoke abruptly, realizing she had been too sensitive. The enemy was unknown, and they might not even be among the maids. If she had chosen the wrong direction, all her efforts would be in vain.
At least she shouldn't show it.
Quietly pondering in her heart, she stood up and said, "I'll go check on Cullen."
With that, she entered Cullen's room.
Mrs. Brown was playing with Cullen in the room, while Mrs. Powell stood respectfully on the side, looking cautious. Upon seeing Joyce walk in, she stood even more rigidly.
Accepting Cullen from Mrs. Brown's hands, Joyce said to Mrs. Powell, "You don't need to be so formal, relax a bit. This morning we learned about your family's situation, discussed it, and decided we can sponsor your son to go to university. After all, talent is rare. Does your son have a university in mind? Let us know, I'll inquire about it. Enrolling him should not be difficult. You don't have to worry about his living expenses and tuition. We will cover them. And he wants to study medicine, as you know, all the military hospitals in Khebury are owned by my family. His internships and future jobs are secured."
Mrs. Powell did not react, stunned for a moment before regaining her composure.
Suddenly, she knelt down with a "thump," "Madam, I've only been working here for less than a month. How can I deserve such grace? I am truly grateful for your immense generosity. Madam, I do not covet these things. I just want to stay and work hard. With the salary I earn, coupled with my son's hard work, we can get by."
Glancing at Mrs. Powell, Joyce changed her opinion of her at this moment. Faced with such a great temptation, she remained unmoved. This was probably the pride of an educated family, the so-called backbone. Joyce could understand Jane's feelings. Without merit, one should not accept rewards, and even if one takes them, one cannot feel at ease.
So Joyce smiled, "Don't be too quick to decline. If your son is truly outstanding, why can't he get existing scholarships? And our charitable organizations can provide assistance for outstanding talents. These can all be applied for. Strive for them based on ability. I'm just providing an opportunity for you."
Overjoyed, Mrs. Powell asked, "Really?"
Joyce nodded, "Of course it's true. I'll get the application form for you. Whether he can be selected will depend on his performance."
"That's great. I'll have my son apply. I'll call him later." Mrs. Powell repeated her thanks, wanting to kowtow, but Joyce stopped her.
"It's a different era now, we don't do this at our house." Joyce pulled Mrs. Powell up from the ground, "You want to be self-reliant, I admire your approach. You are right, you have educated your child very successfully."
After Mrs. Powell stood up, a smile appeared on her face, a stark contrast to her previous restraint.
In her thoughts, Joyce observed that Mrs. Powell seemed to have a strong character with integrity and did not succumb to the lure of benefits. She understood that ultimate success had to be achieved through one's own abilities. Coming from an educated family, with her determination, they could eventually return to middle-class status.
At this moment, Mrs. Brown said to Mrs. Powell, "Look at you, creating a strange atmosphere. You've been working half the night, let me take over for a while. I'm almost bored, I think you need rest. Let me handle the next few nights."
Mrs. Powell nodded, indeed she had been working quite hard, giving her all.
Playing with Cullen in her arms, Joyce's smile grew wider.
"Cullen is lively and active, his little hands and feet never stop moving," Mrs. Brown remarked, "Wilson, on the other hand, is much calmer. The two brothers have very different personalities. Shouldn't twins be more similar?"
"Twin personalities vary widely," Mrs. Powell said, "During my time as a maternity nurse, I've seen many twins, even fraternal twins, with completely different preferences and characters."
"Oh, I see." Mrs. Brown nodded, "It seems my experience is lacking."
Pulling the curtains further apart, Mrs. Powell suggested, "Madam, the sunshine is perfect today, and there's no wind. We can let the children enjoy some sunlight for their calcium intake."
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