Chapter 1027: Getting Married by the End of the Year

During this time period, it was when most people were out working. However, as soon as the door was opened, they heard a commotion outside.

Especially the neighbors living next to the Lu family, they were surprised to see Liu Matchmaker, who was famous far and wide, and their eyes widened.

Someone, curious about the situation, asked, "Zhao, Dr. Zhao, are you here to propose marriage?"

To whom? Could it be to Lu Xiangjun?

Zhao Xi had a smile on his face, looking very excited. "Yes, I am here to propose."

Matchmaker Liu, who was standing nearby, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed. "Our young Master Zhao here takes this marriage proposal very seriously. In order to gain the approval of the Lu family, he specially went and caught a large wild goose. Look at this wild goose, its feathers are of excellent quality and it took a lot of effort for Young Master Zhao to acquire it."

It wasn't easy to catch a wild goose, so generally, people would use a large goose or duck as a substitute. To actually bring a wild goose, it indeed showed the groom's great effort and his regard for the bride.

While they were exchanging a few words at the door, the courtyard gate opened.

The old lady smiled and invited them in. The people at the door glanced inside and saw Shu Yu standing in the courtyard but didn't see Shu You.

They immediately understood that this was a marriage proposal to the eldest daughter of the Lu family. After all, a girl who had been proposed to would not be able to show her face and could only stay in her room.

So, it turned out not to be Lu Xiangjun.

It was no wonder they thought that way. Although the neighbors in Liufang Lane knew that the eldest daughter of the Lu family was a good girl, kind-hearted and gentle, she was still a divorced girl. The previous suitors were indeed numerous, but when it came down to it, their conditions were quite average.

Either they were poor or older in age, and the ones with slightly better conditions were widowers.

Although Zhao Xi was previously seen as a fool, he had improved now, hadn't he? He was not only skilled in medicine but also a handsome young man. Apart from being orphaned, he was indeed recognized by everyone in this neighborhood as a promising son-in-law.

They didn't expect that he would set his sights on the eldest daughter of the Lu family.

The neighbors exchanged complicated glances, and as soon as the Lu family's courtyard gate closed, they immediately gathered together and whispered to each other.

"Do you think this marriage proposal will succeed?"

"It will definitely succeed. If there hadn't been prior discussions, why would Zhao Doctor boldly come for a marriage proposal?"

Someone jealously remarked, "It's a pity. Doctor Zhao is handsome and capable, yet the Lu family's eldest daughter has already been married once and can still get such a good match."

"Indeed, I guess it's because of Lu Xiangjun's connections."

Some people who were close to the Lu family couldn't help but retort, "You guys are just sour grapes. Even if she has been married before, she is still an innocent and pure young lady. Isn't she capable and obedient? What's wrong with Doctor Zhao being interested in her?"

"Exactly, I think they make a great match."

"Are you brave enough to say that in front of Lu Xiangjun? Let's see if she'll come at you with an axe."

Those few envious individuals instantly turned red and didn't dare to speak ill of Shu You again. They snorted and ran away.

The others remained in their spots, wanting to see the outcome.

They waited for a long time. Nowadays, when the groom goes to the bride's home for a marriage proposal, if both parties are satisfied, lunch will be served.

Smoke was already rising from the Lu family's kitchen, and the aroma wafted through the air. Everyone knew that the proposal had been accepted.

Some were happy, while others sighed.

But the most excited person was Zhao Xi himself. He happily sat at the dining table, eating the delicious meal prepared by his future mother-in-law, and he seemed to be on cloud nine.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 36: Farewell

Wang Shu was straightforward, saying whatever came to mind. He didn't care if the other party wanted to listen or not—he spoke for his own satisfaction!

If you didn’t want to listen, he would just leave with a flick of his sleeve.

He had lived his life with a carefree and unrestrained attitude. How else could he have lived past ninety?

Wang Shu spoke quickly. At first, Suisui could follow along, listening and thinking as he talked.

But soon enough, her ears and brain couldn’t keep up!

Suisui wanted to raise her hand and say, “I don’t understand, Uncle. Can you slow down?”

However, she was too tired and soon fell asleep.

Wang Shu: ?

Wang Shu didn’t mind. He kept talking.

It wasn’t until Suisui had been breathing steadily for over half an hour that Wang Shu finally stopped, somewhat reluctantly.

He raised his hand and gently patted Suisui’s head.

"Goodnight, Suisui."

"I hope my stories give you more courage!"

The next day was sunny.

Prince Qing and Physician Liu got up early and began packing.

They were preparing to return to the capital that day.

Although Prefect Magistrate Sun was reluctant to see them go, Prince Qing had to return to the capital to report, so he couldn't ask them to stay longer.

When Sun Ronglin heard that his playmates were leaving, he burst into loud sobs.

But crying couldn’t change the adults' decision.

In the end, Sun Ronglin could only look at Feng Xuanrui with teary eyes, pleading, "How about I feed my sister today?"

When Feng Xuanrui remained silent, ignoring him, Sun Ronglin’s voice grew more pitiful, "If I don’t feed her today, who knows when I’ll get another chance!"

Last night, he had asked his mother if he could go to the capital with them.

He remembered that his grandaunt and the others were in the capital.

But his mother said no.

His father had already settled in Hezhou, and soon he and his mother would have to join him.

Sun Ronglin didn’t want his father; he only wanted his sister!

The chubby boy looked truly pitiful.

Feng Xuanrui, though soft-hearted, didn’t forget to ask Suisui, “Sister, do you want him to feed you?”

Suisui really only wanted her brother to feed her, but if he wasn’t available, she could feed herself.

Last night, she had listened to Uncle Wang Shu’s story.

Sometimes, you had to be brave and say what you wanted, especially when it came to saying “no.”

But Ronglin had been so kind to her. If she refused, he would be sad, wouldn’t he?

With that in mind, Suisui obediently nodded, “I’ll listen to whatever my brother says.”

Feng Xuanrui hadn’t been too pleased initially, but upon hearing Suisui’s words, he immediately felt triumphant, raising his eyebrows and giving Sun Ronglin a smug look.

His expression seemed to say: See? She agreed because of me!

Sun Ronglin didn’t care about Feng Xuanrui’s little triumph.

He was just happy he could feed his sister!

The chubby boy had never taken care of anyone before. He usually ate in such a messy way that a servant had to watch over him.

But when it came to Suisui, Sun Ronglin was serious and meticulous: "Sister, is it too hot?"

"Has it cooled enough?"

"Is this bite the right size?"

"Is this position comfortable for you to eat from?"

...

Suisui sat obediently, nodding as she responded, “It’s fine, Brother Ronglin.”

"Thank you, Brother Ronglin."

"This is just right."

The little girl continued to call him "Brother Ronglin" instead of dropping the “Brother” part.

This made Sun Ronglin a little disappointed.

But he didn’t stay sad for long.

Even though he’d never fed anyone before, the joy of feeding someone was something you had to experience to truly appreciate.

Sun Ronglin was satisfied, but the Qiu brothers watching nearby looked at him with envy.

Sun Ronglin: …!

I don’t see you, I don’t see you!

After they finished eating, it was time for Suisui and the others to leave.

Sun Ronglin felt that just as his happiness had begun, it was suddenly shattered.

He pouted, his eyes welling up with big tears, as if they were about to fall at any moment.

Suisui, however, didn’t seem to mind. She obediently followed behind Feng Xuanrui, afraid of being left behind.

She rarely had a brother who doted on her.

She didn’t want to be the one abandoned!

So, she stuck close to her brother!

Physician Liu carefully checked the items they needed for the road, thanked the steward of the Sun residence for the snacks he had prepared, and then got ready to carry the two children back to the carriage.

They needed to hurry and reach the next town before dark, so they could settle down properly.

Otherwise, traveling with two children and staying in the wilderness wasn’t ideal!

In the end, Sun Ronglin’s tears fell. He grabbed Suisui’s hand and refused to let her go.

The Qiu brothers also wiped their eyes.

Seeing this, Feng Xuanrui grew nervous.

Were they trying to take his sister away?

The anxious young boy held tightly to Suisui’s hand.

His warm, clean hand gave Suisui a strong sense of security.

She thought, her brother wouldn’t want to abandon her!

How wonderful!

...READ THE REST OF THE CHAPTER ON PATREON...

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  Chapter 35: The Brilliance of the World, We Must See More

Neither Suisui nor Feng Xuanrui knew what "Da Tie Hua" was.

Although Physician Liu had lived in the capital for a long time, he was older and had heard much about such customs.

At this moment, he was carefully explaining to the two children, "Da Tie Hua is similar to releasing river lanterns. It started as a ritual for worship or to mark the start of work, but over time, it evolved into an activity for making wishes and offering thanks."

"Da Tie Hua involves striking molten iron, heated to a high temperature, into the sky. As the sparks scatter, they bloom like magnificent fireworks."

...

Suisui didn’t quite catch what Physician Liu said afterward because the performance had begun.

Even though it was nighttime, a large crowd had gathered to watch.

Cheers rang out in waves.

The blacksmiths lined up in the arena, each with molten iron of over a thousand degrees in their hands. With precise strength and timing, they struck the iron upward.

The molten iron soared into the sky, sparks flying, creating a grand, brilliant display.

Yet, within moments, the sparks slowly fell, leaving only ashes on the ground.

Before anyone had time to feel regret, the next blacksmith quickly followed.

One fiery spectacle after another.

The sky was filled with sparks, seemingly endless, majestic and dazzling.

Suisui had never seen such a spectacle. She didn’t want to blink, afraid to miss even a second of its beauty.

The iron flowers bloomed like a grand, brilliant dream in the night sky, igniting a stunning splendor that captivated the world and filled the air with cheers.

It was as if Suisui could see the beautiful dream that Aunt Deqing had woven for her.

Suisui felt both moved and nervous.

After a while, she softly said to the system in her heart, "Lele, this dream is so beautiful."

In the dream, her brother gently held her hand, and there was a grand display of fire trees and silver flowers.

The warmth of the world, the fireworks of life.

Suisui had it all!

Seeing the contentment and peace on Suisui’s little face, the system finally felt a bit more at ease.

"Suisui, the world is full of splendor, so we must see more of it~"

This time, Suisui felt no anxiety or apprehension.

She pursed her lips slightly and nodded seriously and earnestly, "Mm!"

The Da Tie Hua performance lasted about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

Afterward, everyone gradually returned to the city.

Suisui sat in the carriage, recalling the beautiful scene earlier, her face flushed, looking more lively than usual.

Physician Liu watched from the side, feeling very content.

Feng Xuanrui, unusually excited tonight, sat in the carriage, chattering nonstop to Suisui. "That molten iron was so hot, but it was so beautiful when it went up in the sky!"

Suisui obediently responded, "Yes, yes, so beautiful!"

"I feel like writing a poem!"

"Go for it, brother, I want to see it!"

...

Due to his lack of academic prowess, Feng Xuanrui's poem-writing attempt ended in nothing.

However, this didn’t stop him from being a good brother in Suisui’s eyes!

Perhaps the performance was too thrilling, as the children were not only awake on the way back but also quite excited.

Suisui and Feng Xuanrui kept talking, and even the three brothers in the other carriage, despite having seen the performance before, were still animated.

Everyone chatted and laughed all the way back to the Sun residence. Since it was late, Physician Liu sent everyone to wash up and go to bed.

Sun Ronglin was reluctantly pulled back to the rear courtyard.

Last night, Prefect Magistrate Sun had allowed him to squeeze in with Feng Xuanrui, but tonight, it wasn’t appropriate.

The bamboo couch wasn’t big, and with two children squeezed together, neither would sleep well.

After freshening up, Suisui changed into soft sleepwear and lay down in bed.

Feng Xuanrui had promised to tell Suisui a bedtime story, thinking he enjoyed listening to them.

Tonight, since he wasn’t too sleepy and Sun Ronglin wasn’t there to cause trouble, Feng Xuanrui decided to tell Suisui a bedtime story instead!

But he was young and hadn’t learned much.

And, well, he wasn’t the best student.

After thinking for a long time, his face turning red, he finally recited a poem for Suisui.

After hearing it, Suisui’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands. "Brother, you’re amazing!"

Feng Xuanrui, who had been feeling a bit frustrated, thought to himself that he really needed to study harder!

He felt like he didn’t deserve Suisui’s praise!

To make up for it, Feng Xuanrui quickly recited another poem. "Suisui, we didn’t get to fly the kite, so I’ll recite a poem about flying kites!"

Suisui thought her brother was truly incredible!

She clapped her little hands until they turned red, looking at Feng Xuanrui with eager eyes.

Feng Xuanrui: ...!

Suddenly, the poem felt much harder to say!

But he forced himself through it, reciting, "...Hurry to catch the east wind and fly the kite."

Suisui didn’t understand a word, but that didn’t stop her from thinking her brother was amazing.

Her clapping grew even louder.

This made Feng Xuanrui even more embarrassed.

He awkwardly patted Suisui’s head. "Time to sleep. Brother is here."

The words "Brother is here" made Suisui feel very safe.

She obediently lay down and closed her eyes.

Feng Xuanrui didn’t rush to leave. He had said he was there, so he would wait until Suisui was truly asleep before leaving.

Even though his eyelids were starting to droop.

But no, he couldn’t!

He had promised to watch over her!

So, he persisted.

After closing her eyes, Suisui heard the system ask.

"The uncle or aunt who tells tonight’s bedtime story is ready. Should we start now?"

In the past, after hearing a bedtime story from her brother, Suisui would feel content and wouldn’t want to hear more.

But Lele had said that the world is full of brilliance, and she should see more.

Suisui thought Lele was right, and she needed to hear more stories to become as amazing as her brother.

One day, Suisui would tell her brother bedtime stories too!

With this thought, Suisui responded loudly in her heart, "Yes!"

This boldness made the system feel particularly proud.

It thought, the little one it's been accompanying is going to grow more and more confident!

The system quickly found someone.

When it saw tonight’s storyteller was Wang Shu, it nearly blacked out.

Suisui, not knowing how to read, saw it was an uncle tonight and felt a little disappointed.

She had wanted a gentle aunt.

But an uncle would do.

Adjusting her mindset, Suisui politely greeted him, "Good evening, Uncle!"

Wang Shu responded courteously, "Hello, Suisui, I’m Uncle Wang Shu."

Having spoken loudly all his life, Wang Shu found it a bit uncomfortable to soften his voice for this bedtime story, as the system required.

But he adapted quickly to new environments.

"Uncle isn’t very good at telling bedtime stories."

"But I can tell you some lessons about life."

"When you encounter something or someone you don’t like, speak up and act boldly."

"You have your own mouth—say whatever you want, don’t worry about what others think!"

"If you can’t win an argument, just walk away. Don’t let others bother you."

"Blame others more and reflect on yourself less!"

"That way, you can live comfortably and happily until you’re ninety-nine."

End of chapter

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 118: I won’t leave

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 528: Past Life

"You probably don't know, the rationality and calmness you display would never appear in the Ye family." Chu Heng remarked.

"Later on, it was about my mother-in-law."

"I'm prepared for you to, as usual give away all the valuable items in the house to her."

"I'm not angry that Ye Yunlan supports her natal family, but the two children are innocent." Chu Heng lowered his gaze. In his past life, when he was truly this age, he was fully focused on the imperial examinations, leaving the care of the two children mostly to Ye Yunlan and his mother.

Moreover, Ziluo was very sensible and never showed any disrespect in front of him.

It wasn't until later, when he went to the capital, that he found out that Ye Yunlan had never liked Ziluo.

At that time, the last bit of responsibility he should have as a husband towards Ye Yunlan was completely eroded, and after that, he and Ye Yunlan became estranged. Later on, it was as if he threw himself into officialdom, disregarding household matters entirely.

The last time he saw Ye Yunlan was when she passed away due to illness, a gap of twenty years between their meetings.

In other words, the last time he truly interacted with Ye Yunlan was twenty years ago.

After Ye Yunlan's departure, he never remarried and there was not a single woman in his life. He was renowned in the court and even in the capital for his lack of desire.

He lived his whole life like this, never once feeling attracted to a woman, because he had seen too much in his past life and no woman could make him take a second look.

Afterward, he passed away peacefully, closed his eyes, then opened them again realizing he had returned to his youth. Although he didn't believe in ghosts and gods, he wasn't someone who doubted everything either.

Once he confirmed it, he peacefully continued his life.

Until he met Ye Yunlan, who had changed!

To be precise, until he met the 'Ye Yunlan' who had become Ye Muyu.

His gaze couldn't help but fall on her, wanting to uncover the secrets hidden within her and even the curiosity buried deep in her heart, prompting him to involuntarily pay more attention to her.

Thinking of this, Chu Heng felt a sense of joy and satisfaction. He wasn't an ignorant young man, on the contrary having experienced a lifetime, he had long realized that his feelings for Ye Muyu were different.

Ye Muyu hadn't heard Chu Heng's response for a long time and couldn't help but sneak a glance back at him.

Unexpectedly, their eyes met and Chu Heng's gaze was tender and indulgent.

She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say  feeling embarrassed to be caught by him.

However, Chu Heng acted as if he hadn't noticed her awkward expression and with concern he leaned over and gently touched her forehead. "What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"

"N-no, I'm fine." Ye Muyu stammered, avoiding his gaze with embarrassment.

"How could you be fine? Let me take a look." Chu Heng said as he reached out and pulled Ye Muyu into his arms.

Ye Muyu was startled, unable to react in time and before she knew it, she was sitting on Chu Heng's lap. It was too unexpected and Ye Muyu wasn't prepared. After sitting down, she instinctively hugged his neck to stabilize herself.

Realizing her situation, she tried hard to control her nervousness and shyness. The skin below her neck turned red and she tried to keep her voice steady. "Please let me go."

She struggled lightly.

But Chu Heng wouldn't let go of such a good opportunity.

He quietly increased the strength of his grip, but on his face he wore a worried expression. "Ah Yu, don't move, I... I just want to see if you're feeling uncomfortable. Don't fall, I just want to check if you're okay."

"I-I'm fine, I'm not feeling uncomfortable anywhere." Ye Muyu hurriedly replied.

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 527: Confession

Chu Heng continued to coax Ye Muyu, feeding her a few more bites. If he continued, she might refuse to eat altogether, so he reluctantly gave up.

"I'm fine. You should go out and have your lunch." Ye Muyu said when she noticed he was still sitting by the bed. The voices of the Hu family members outside had started and she didn't want to waste Chu Heng's time, especially considering he barely had time to study.

Chu Heng gazed deeply into her eyes and used his fingers to stroke her cheek.

Ye Muyu's hand, beneath the thin blanket, slightly curled up. She stared at him with determination, trying hard to control her nervousness.

For some reason, Chu Heng, who used to be quite lenient and wouldn't interfere much, seemed different this time. His gaze towards her carried a hint of intrusiveness that was more pronounced than before.

Realizing this, Ye Muyu felt a slight tremor.

"You..." Chu Heng thought she wanted to send him away, so he quickly picked up the spoon and started to eat the remaining noodles in the bowl.

"This is what I didn't finish..." Ye Muyu was startled, not only by the strange feeling in her mind a moment ago but also by Chu Heng's indifferent attitude. She hurriedly reminded him.

However, Chu Heng seemed completely unconcerned "We can't waste food. If you can't finish it, I'll eat the rest for you."

Saying that, intentionally or not, he lightly licked the spoon in front of Ye Muyu performing the action in a seemingly natural manner. However, Ye Muyu could sense the ambiguous atmosphere.

Her cheeks instantly turned red.

Due to the fever-induced dizziness, she felt the person in front of her becoming somewhat blurry. Vaguely, she seemed to see a smile at the corner of Chu Heng's mouth.

Ye Muyu had never reacted so quickly. With a turn, she lay down facing away from Chu Heng, her voice low, "I want to rest now. You can go out."

"Cough, cough..." Without waiting for Chu Heng's reply, he coughed lightly several times. Although he restrained himself, Ye Muyu still heard it.

She clutched her clothes tightly, furrowed her brows and thought about Chu Heng's exams. She couldn't bear to ruin his path to success which was a way to change his fate.

She already owed him enough.

She pursed her lips and whispered "You can stay but remember to take your medicine."

"Alright... I knew Ah Yu wouldn't ignore me. We've been together for so long." Chu Heng's voice was lingering and extremely gentle.

He spoke slowly and leisurely, even if Ye Muyu didn't listen, he continued.

"When you first came, I knew you were different from the Ye family."

"I thought Ye Yunlan had come to her senses, but I also felt that a person's nature is hard to change. So, I asked Ah Xing to send me some information about you for a few days."

Ye Muyu felt a sense of awe. She didn't know what Chu Heng meant by saying these things now. The crucial point was that he had noticed the difference between the two from the beginning.

But, thinking about Chu Heng's personality, it seemed strange if he hadn't noticed.

She felt relieved.

Curious to know what Chu Heng would say next, she didn't even realize that her entire body was becoming tense.

Chu Heng's gaze remained on Ye Muyu. He had already placed the bowl and chopsticks on the table by the window.

Sitting by the bed, he leaned back, his gentle gaze fixed on Ye Muyu. His eyes were full of mysterious emotions and a touch of persistence.

Extending his finger, he gently coiled a strand of Ye Muyu's hair around his finger, softly intertwining it before continuing to speak, "Then, through Ah Xing's letters I learned about everything happening in the village."

"First, you got along well with my mother..."

Next Chapter ▶▶

  Chapter 34: What is "Da Tie Hua" (Iron Flower)?

Suisui only wanted her brother to feed her.

Feng Xuanrui proudly thought about standing on the chair!

But no, that wouldn't work! If he stood up, he wouldn't be able to feed his sister.

He smugly raised an eyebrow at Sun Ronglin, then picked up the bowl of porridge beside him.

The Sun family had prepared chicken porridge, its rich rice fragrance mixed with the fresh taste of chicken, creating an incredibly appetizing aroma.

Feng Xuanrui thought the porridge smelled wonderful and would definitely taste great.

So, first, he fed his sister!

Sun Ronglin felt so upset, as if he was about to break into pieces on the spot. He pitifully glanced at Suisui, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to blame her. All he could do was gnash his teeth at Feng Xuanrui while gulping down his own porridge.

There's plenty of time ahead!

Just wait—one day, she will also be his sister!

The breakfast went by relatively smoothly.

After eating, Physician Liu signaled for everyone to pack up and return to the inn.

The matters involving Prince Qing were almost resolved, and it was time for them to head back to the capital.

When Sun Ronglin heard they were leaving, he immediately objected: "No, they can't leave! Let them go, but my sister stays here—I want her!"

Prefect Magistrate Sun, exhausted by his grandson's antics, was still privately very indulgent with the boy.

Moreover, there was an event outside the city that evening.

Thinking of this, Prefect Magistrate Sun smiled and said, "Your Highness, tonight outside Shangqing Temple, there's a performance of Da Tie Hua—an iron flower show—put on by a local wealthy family. How about we watch it before heading back?"

Prince Qing was actually worried that Prince Qi, back in the capital, had been waiting too long and might be feeling uneasy.

After all, Feng Xuanrui had snuck off without anyone knowing.

Even though Prince Qing had sent a letter to the capital once he found out, the prince was still just a child, and the royal family would surely be concerned.

Prince Qing's first instinct was to refuse Sun Zhifu's suggestion.

But Feng Xuanrui’s curiosity couldn’t be suppressed: "Huh? Da Tie Hua? What kind of flower is that?"

Suisui didn’t understand either, and she looked at Prefect Magistrate Sun curiously along with Feng Xuanrui.

At this moment, Sun Ronglin smugly chimed in: "You've never seen it before, have you? It's a unique performance around here. It's so beautiful!"

Since Sun Ronglin wasn't diligent in his studies and was still young, his vocabulary was limited.

Thinking of the breathtaking spectacle of Da Tie Hua, all he could say was: "Beautiful."

Meanwhile, the system was explaining to Suisui.

[It's a very traditional performance, with a bit of danger and challenge.]

[The scene is magnificent and well worth watching.]

[Suisui, Le Le's suggestion is that we stay and take a look.]

[There are many interesting things in this world. If we have the chance, we should try to see them all.]

In the past, Suisui never dared to fight for anything.

She knew that fighting for something was useless.

In the Chen family, no one would indulge or spoil her.

If they didn’t bully her, Suisui already considered herself lucky.

But now, with her brother giving her some confidence and the system saying it would be beautiful, Suisui suddenly felt a surge of courage.

She lightly tugged on Feng Xuanrui’s sleeve, thinking: If my brother notices, I’ll speak up!

If he doesn’t notice, then never mind.

Suisui wasn’t too keen on watching...

Okay, fine, she still wanted to watch!

Suisui’s tug was gentle, but Feng Xuanrui, who had been sulking at Sun Ronglin, noticed it immediately.

He turned his head and met Suisui’s bright, shiny eyes, and his heart melted.

Feng Xuanrui instinctively raised his hand to pat her head but remembered the ointment in her hair hadn't dried yet, so he reluctantly lowered his hand. He softly asked, “Does sister want to see it?”

Suisui hesitated for a moment, then obediently nodded.

Seeing that Feng Xuanrui didn’t respond immediately, Suisui quickly added, “It’s okay if we don’t watch it. I’ll go wherever my brother goes.”

So, don’t leave Suisui behind.

The thought of possibly being left behind made Suisui tug at Feng Xuanrui’s sleeve a little harder.

Feng Xuanrui didn’t answer right away because he was busy thinking about how to plead with Uncle Prince Qing.

Now, sensing his sister’s anticipation and nervousness, the young boy suddenly gathered his courage.

He turned around, hands on his hips, puffed out his chest, and boldly declared to his uncle, "Uncle, I want to stay and watch Da Tie Hua!"

Physician Liu had been about to speak when he heard Suisui say she wanted to watch. Now that Feng Xuanrui had spoken up first, it made his persuasion even easier. "Your Highness, our schedule isn't too tight. How about we stay one more night and leave after watching the performance?"

As soon as Physician Liu finished speaking, Suisui, Feng Xuanrui, Sun Ronglin, and the Qiu brothers—all the children—fixed their sparkling eyes on Prince Qing.

Prince Qing was momentarily speechless. After a while, he sighed and said, "Fine, let's watch."

He was really afraid that if he refused, the children would throw a tantrum and cry on the spot!

With the decision made to stay and watch Da Tie Hua, preparations had to be made.

There were many children, so snacks had to be prepared.

Spare clothes were also necessary, and security needed to be tightened.

Even though the bandits had been mostly eradicated, there was always the chance that one or two had slipped through, which would be troublesome.

The performance was at the temple, and beyond the temple were deep forests. If a child got snatched, it would be hard to find them.

Fortunately, Suisui and the others didn’t need to worry about such things.

After lunch, they spent the afternoon exploring the toy boxes.

The children played boisterously throughout the day.

At noon, Sun Ronglin thought he finally had a chance to feed Suisui.

But Feng Xuanrui, quick to act, gave him no opportunity.

Sun Ronglin: So annoying!!!

Sun Ronglin resolved to eat more so he could use his weight to overpower Feng Xuanrui!

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 Chapter 254: Making a Small Profit and Deciding to Act (6)

Although greenhouse vegetables were profitable, Mo Yan had actually considered planting them. However, this winter, many villagers planned to set up greenhouses. If they successfully grew vegetables, the price of vegetables would surely drop, and they wouldn't earn much profit by planting them.

If they couldn't grow anything, seeing their land lush green would only breed resentment. There might even be trouble or rumors instigated out of jealousy, resulting in their family being ostracized.

Furthermore, the villagers of Liuyang Village were not fools. If there was a significant difference in yield between similar lands and greenhouses, they might become suspicious. If they discovered any clues, it would be dangerous for their family. She wouldn't take such a risk for a small profit.

Later on, some families who wanted to plant greenhouse vegetables noticed that the Mo family hadn't taken any action and came to inquire.

Mo Yan half-truthfully explained her reasons and hinted that they shouldn't invest all their assets in greenhouse vegetables.

Some people listened and reduced the area they planned to plant, while others dismissed her advice and continued with their original plans.

Unfortunately, this winter was exceptionally cold, with several heavy snowfalls. The accumulated snow damaged many greenhouses, and even with constant heating, it was difficult to maintain a stable temperature. Leafy vegetables like cabbage and garlic sprouts managed to grow somewhat, but melons and cucumbers bore no fruit at all.

When they calculated their losses in spring, those villagers who blindly expanded their greenhouse vegetable production not only lost their hard-earned savings but also accumulated significant debts. Upon reflection on Mo Yan's earlier advice, they regretted their decisions deeply.

Although the villagers who heeded Mo Yan's advice didn't manage to preserve their capital, they fared much better than those who lost everything. They were extremely grateful to Mo Yan, praising her as a lucky star.

Because of this incident, the status of the Mo family in the village became even more esteemed. Subsequently, whatever the Mo family planted, the villagers followed suit without daring to act recklessly.

Considering the well-being of her fellow villagers and the need to prevent envy, Mo Yan did her best to lead them in prospering.

Only when everyone lived better could they prevent resentment toward the wealthy and ensure their own safety. Because of this, several years later, Liuyang Village became one of the wealthiest villages around the capital.

Of course, these were stories for another time, not to be mentioned now.

Since entering September, the temperature had dropped significantly, and Mo Yan worked hard to ensure the fruit seedlings safely survived the winter.

While Spirit Spring Water could promote rapid growth and increase resistance to cold, it wasn't enough. Providing the seedlings with "warm clothes" was crucial.

In the past, people used to wrap tree trunks with straw ropes to keep them warm. Mo Yan learned from this and planned to wrap the fruit seedlings with straw ropes. Only about a dozen original resident families in Liuyang Village had straw, so she spent money to buy a lot of it and asked the villagers to twist the straw into ropes the thickness of a little finger. She would wait until the temperature dropped a bit more before wrapping the seedlings.

Mo Yan took the lead, leaving the rest of the work to Li Zhong. She didn't interfere much. However, just as she began to relax for a couple of days, she started having nightmares again, and unlike before, she had them almost every day now.

In these dreams, ordinary people no longer appeared; even soldiers from the Chu Empire's border appeared. Somehow, moldy grain entered the military camp, and the soldiers who ate the moldy rice fell ill one after another. It started with severe diarrhea, then progressed to dehydration and high fever.

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 Chapter 1026: Zhao Xi's Marriage Proposal

Both mother and daughter were mild-mannered individuals. Although they had just arrived the previous night, they got along very well with Ah Xiang and her mother.

However... the tailoring room was still a bit small.

It was fine when it was just Ah Xiang and her mother, but with two more people, the space for storing fabrics and clothes became much narrower, and it wasn't comfortable for them to live there.

After looking around the tailoring room, Shu Yu suggested to Shu You, "Sister, why don't we let Tian Qin and her mother stay in the courtyard of Yiren Pavilion? It's currently vacant, and the finished clothes from here are supposed to be delivered to the shop anyway. If there are any embroidery needs on the clothes, Tian Qin can conveniently work on them there."

They could even communicate with customers who wanted specific designs on the spot.

Ever since the couple who used to live in the courtyard, Zhou Qiao and her husband, went to manage the estate, the rooms in the back courtyard had become vacant.

Fortunately, there wasn't much inventory left in the shop's back courtyard, and the money and goods were brought back every day. Moreover, with Shu Yu's current status as the county lord, no one dared to sneak into the shop and steal things.

However, it still wasn't safe to leave the place unattended for too long. Someone needed to keep an eye on it.

It would be convenient for Tian Qin and her mother to move there. Ning Shui Street was bustling, and transportation was convenient.

Unexpectedly, Shu You shook her head and said, "I originally had the same idea, but Tian Qin wants to rent a small house on her own and come to work here every day. She feels it would be more comfortable that way. However, since she just arrived and is unfamiliar with Jiangyuan County, she asked me to help her find a small courtyard nearby. Until then, she will stay here in the tailoring room for two days."

Shu Yu thought for a moment and realized it was also a good idea.

If it were her, she would also choose to rent a house on her own.

With the arrangements settled, now that they had an embroiderer, Shu Yu planned to talk to her sister about Lan Hua.

But before she could say anything, Shu You brought up the topic first.

"Ah Yu, I was thinking, we should find someone to learn makeup artistry. What do you think... about Lan Hua?"

Shu Yu was taken aback. She had thought of the same thing?

She hesitated for a moment and asked, "What do you think, sister?"

"Lan Hua has always enjoyed dressing up since she was young. I remember when we were little, she used to draw eyebrows with charcoal and paint her nails with hibiscus juice. She even picked flowers to put in her hair. Although she looked strange back then, thinking about it now, if we had money at that time, Lan Hua would probably make herself look the most beautiful."

Compared to Shu You, who had grown up with Lan Hua since childhood, Shu You had a deeper understanding of her.

Shu Yu smiled. Her older sister had grown up faster than she had imagined. After visiting the capital, she had a better understanding of the shop's future development and the need for manpower.

It seemed that from now on, she could leave the matters of the shop entirely to her older sister.

She said, "If you think she's suitable, then ask Lan Hua about her thoughts."

"Alright."

Shu You became happy, but she had been busy these past few days.

She needed to first arrange things for Tian Qin and her mother, and then Zhao Xi was eagerly bringing a matchmaker to propose marriage.

Coincidentally, Meng Yunzheng also returned to Jiangyuan County after two days.

He came with Zhao Xi, and they had quite a grand appearance.

Zhao Xi clearly wanted to announce to the world that both he and Shu You were taken, and there was no need for anyone to act as matchmakers for them in Liufang Lane.

So early in the morning, he changed into brand new clothes, had Meng Yunzheng help carry a large wild goose, and accompanied the spirited matchmaker to knock on the door of the Lu family.

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