Chapter 1326: Ten Liang Red Envelope

Grandma Lu sat by the bedside, smiling at Zhou Qiao.

Zhou Qiao was covered in sweat, looking slightly uneasy. "Grandmother, the baby..."

"The baby is doing well." Grandma Lu knew what she was thinking. Li Shi had sought secret methods for conceiving a son, which must have put pressure on Zhou Qiao. In these times, having a boy as the first child was always good for a mother.

But Grandma Lu didn't mind that. She patted Zhou Qiao's hand and whispered, "Your mother-in-law just carried the baby out for everyone to see. The baby looks beautiful, resembling Da Niu, but the mouth looks particularly like you, very attractive. She will definitely be a pretty little girl in the future."

As she spoke, she took out a red envelope from her pocket. "Here, this is for you. You've worked hard giving birth to a child, so use this money to buy something you want and treat yourself. I've prepared a separate gift for the baby."

Zhou Qiao was taken aback and wanted to refuse, "No, Grandmother, I can't accept this."

"Take it. If you refuse, I won't be happy."

Zhou Qiao looked at Da Niu, who nodded, "It's Grandmother's heartfelt gift, just accept it."

"Thank you, Grandmother."

Grandma Lu smiled, "Alright, you've just given birth to a child, and you must be tired. Ah Yu will have someone bring you food later. After you've eaten, rest first, and if there's anything uncomfortable, tell Da Niu."

"Okay."

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....

Grandma Lu didn't say much and soon got up and left.

As she turned around, she added, "Your mother-in-law seemed to really like the baby when she held her just now. She just has a sharp tongue, don't take it to heart, take good care of yourself during the postpartum month."

Zhou Qiao's eyes were slightly moist as she watched Grandma Lu leave, tightly clutching the red envelope in her hand.

When there was no one around, she looked inside the red envelope and found there were ten liang of silver notes. Even Da Niu was surprised.

He knew that Grandma Lu was currently well-off, but it was still not easy for her to take out ten liang of silver all at once.

After the elderly lady left, she happened to see the servant bringing in the food. She then had Li Shi, who was still showing off, carry the baby inside to avoid the cold outside as the weather was not very warm.

Shu Yu was about to ask about Zhou Qiao's condition when Ying Xi hurriedly came over, "Miss, someone from the county government has arrived."

"County government?" Shu Yu was stunned.

Ying Xi nodded and said in a low voice, "It's Master Hu. Around noon today, the street was particularly lively, and the lord personally came out to welcome the visitor."

Shu Yu suddenly realized, "Is it the official announcing the decree and...the palace procurators?"

"According to Master Hu's meaning, it seems like it."

Shu Yu's face showed joy and turned to, "Grandmother, I'll go over for a while."

Grandma Lu also heard what Ying Xi said. She knew about the situation with the sunflower oil being noticed by the palace. Now that she heard Shu Yu's words, she quickly nodded, "Go ahead, go ahead. Ah, it's really a double happiness today."

Shu Yu hurried to the front hall. Hu Li must have heard about the commotion in the backyard, so when he saw Shu Yu coming over, he quickly got up and smiled, bowing his hand, "Congratulations, congratulations. The mansion has gained another precious daughter. The Lu family's eldest son is now a father."

Shu Yu politely waved her hand and asked eagerly, "Is it the palace procurators who came with the official announcing the decree?"

"Yes, but it's not just ordinary palace procurators. It's...Master Qi."

"Master Qi?" Who is that?

Hu Li explained Master Qi's background.

 Chapter 1324: Shu Yu's Explanation

The old lady paused her steps, and Shu Yu's ears caught the faint sound of Li Shi praying with her hands clasped and eyes closed, "Bless me with a chubby grandson, it must be a grandson, a boy."

Shu Yu frowned, and the old lady was so infuriated that her exhaustion vanished in an instant.

She was about to scold Li Shi, but when she saw Zhou Father and Zhou Second Miss nearby, she forcibly held back her anger.

Instead, she reached out and grabbed Li Shi's hand, lowered her voice, and gritted her teeth, saying, "Come with me!"

Li Shi shrank her neck nervously and was dragged aside by the old lady.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, have you lost your mind? At this critical moment, your daughter-in-law is laboring hard inside, and your in-laws are not far away. Yet, you are here saying such nonsense? When did you become someone who favors sons over daughters?" The old lady coldly sneered.

Li Shi felt wronged and said, "Mother, I didn't want this either, but..."

She glanced at Zhou Father and Zhou Second Miss in the distance and whispered, "Mother, you are not in Shishi Village, so you don't know how hurtful some people's words can be. When the eldest daughter-in-law was pregnant, I was happy and couldn't help but show off a bit. But those women who usually don't get along with me said that the eldest daughter-in-law will end the family line."

"What did they say?" The old lady frowned.

Li Shi bit her lip and continued, "The in-laws are indeed good to us, but all their four children are daughters, plus the one who died prematurely, making it five daughters. They said that this kind of thing can be hereditary, and in the end, the eldest daughter-in-law will only give birth to daughters too."

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....

At first, Li Shi dismissed this idea, but as she heard it repeatedly, she couldn't help but be influenced by it. That's why she sought out secret methods to conceive a son, but unexpectedly, it angered her son, Da Niu.

Now, with the child about to be born, she hoped desperately for a grandson, not just to silence those people but also because Da Niu was the eldest son of the Zhou family. It wouldn't be right for him to have no son.

The old lady wrinkled her brow. Having grown up in the village herself, she had heard such talk before.

Li Shi was not very bright, and it was easy for her to take such words seriously.

Hearing Li Shi's explanation, the old lady found it somewhat understandable.

On the side, Shu Yu couldn't help rolling her eyes and said, "Aunt, how is it possible for gender to be hereditary? Whether it's a boy or a girl is not decided by women; it depends on men. Let's say, for the sake of argument, if it were hereditary, then Da Niu is male, so why would he be afraid of not having a son?"

The old lady and Li Shi turned their heads in astonishment, both of them hearing such a viewpoint for the first time.

"What? Are you saying that whether the child is a boy or a girl is determined by the man? How is that possible? The child comes out of the woman's belly," said the old lady.

Shu Yu's mouth twitched. "Yes, the woman decides whether to give birth to the child, but what about the man? He must have some say in it, right? Otherwise, if childbirth were entirely a woman's affair, what use would men be? Why would children call them fathers?"

The old lady and Li Shi were stunned, thinking that this argument actually made sense. Indeed, having a child is a joint effort between a man and a woman, so men should play a part in determining the gender.

 Chapter 1323: Muttering Li Shi

At this moment, Zhou Qiao was about to give birth. Shu Yu, being a woman herself, understood that women during childbirth often longed for their family members to be by their side.

Even if this father and younger sister didn't understand such things and didn't like to talk much, they were still the closest people to her.

Zhou Qiao's father and Zhou Qiao's second sister stood there anxiously, and despite Shu Yu's repeated insistence for them to sit down, they refused to do so.

As they acted like this, Da Niu became even more anxious. Sweat covered his forehead, and he kept pacing outside the room without a moment's rest.

Li Shi grew annoyed by his nervousness, "Can you stop for a moment? What's with all the nervousness? It's normal for women to give birth this way. Your wife has only been in there for two hours. Some people may take a whole day and night to give birth."

As soon as these words came out, Da Niu's face turned even paler, "A whole day and night?"

Wouldn't that be too painful?

The old lady glared at Li Shi irritably, "Can't you speak properly? If not, just shut up."

She then comforted Da Niu, "Don't worry. Zhao Xi has been checking on Qiaoqiao's condition all this time and said everything is fine. Besides, Qiaoqiao has a wide pelvis, so giving birth might be easier for her than others. Moreover, Zhao Xi is there. What are you worried about?"

The old lady's words had a certain logic to them, and Da Niu felt somewhat reassured.

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However, he soon became anxious again and said hurriedly, "But Qiaoqiao's due date was still a few days away. If she's having complications early, will it really be okay?"

Everyone turned to look at Zhao Xi, and he reassured, "It's alright. Early complications are quite normal. No need to worry."

Zhao Xi was also outside the room, while inside the room, there was a midwife and some of the family's servants assisting in the childbirth.

Li Shi had also wanted to go in, but Grandma Lu worried that her temperament might cause trouble and put unnecessary pressure on Zhou Qiao, so she didn't allow her to go. After all, there were already enough people in the room.

After a while, everyone had not eaten lunch yet, and Shu Yu was afraid that they might not be able to withstand it, so she had some chicken porridge made and served it to them, urging everyone to have a little.

Zhou Qiao's father and Zhou Qiao's second sister thanked Shu Yu in a low voice. Only then did they realize that it was getting late, and they were feeling hungry.

Shu Yu was most worried about Grandma Lu. She carried the porridge over to her and said, "Grandma, have something to eat. Didn't you say it yourself? With Zhao Xi here, there's no need to worry."

Grandma Lu didn't want to show her concern, but she couldn't help it. "After all, she's the first great-grandchild of the Lu family." Saying that she wasn't worried would be a lie.

Shu Yu didn't try to persuade her anymore and just accompanied her to drink the porridge.

After finishing the porridge, the old lady felt somewhat relieved and asked, "Has Shu You and the others eaten?"

"Don't worry, they've all eaten."

As Shu You was pregnant, they didn't let her stay here during this time.

First, they were afraid she would get tired, and second, they were afraid that hearing Zhou Qiao's screams would scare her and add unnecessary pressure.

So they asked her to take Xiao Songle to practice writing in the front hall. Xiao Songle was almost three years old after the New Year. Although he was still young, Meng Yunzheng had already started teaching him how to read and write.

The child was obedient and would spend time every day writing and drawing, even though he couldn't hold the pen steady yet. His enthusiasm for learning was worth praising.

As a result, whenever Xiao Songle played with him, Quan Quan imitated him and began to write as well.

Today, Xiao Songle didn't go to play with Quan Quan. Perhaps he knew that something big was happening in the family, so he quietly stayed in the study in the front courtyard.

After finishing the porridge, Grandma Lu felt a bit tired. Shu Yu wasn't sure how much longer they would have to wait. She couldn't keep the old lady waiting the whole time, so she decided to support her back to rest for a while.

As they were about to walk over to the old lady, they heard Li Shi muttering to herself.

 Chapter 1322: Zhou Qiao's Complication

Hu Li left through the side door, and outside the county government office, there were quite a few people gathered, causing a crowded scene.

However, even though Ren Huai and manager Xu wanted to inquire about Qi Lie's situation, the guards stationed there looked solemn and wouldn't let anyone get close.

Seeing this, the two of them had to give up and planned to return later to observe the situation from afar.

Unexpectedly, as they turned a corner, they saw Xiang Weinan's trusted subordinate hurrying away.

Judging from his appearance, it seemed like something very important had happened.

Almost instinctively, Ren Huai followed him, and then saw him going to Fenghuai Street and entering the gate of the Lu family.

Ren Huai exchanged a surprised glance with Xu Steward, "A person from the capital, Xiang Weinan, actually sent someone to find Lu Xiangjun immediately?"

What's the connection between Qi Lie and her?

Even if Xiang Weinan has a good relationship with her and is friends with Meng Yunzheng, isn't it just a personal relationship?

Ren Huai had a bad feeling in his heart and decided to sit in a small stall across from the Lu family and observe.

Inside the Lu family at this time, chaos ensued.

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....

Zhou Qiao was going into labor. Her due date was supposed to be five or six days later, but who knew that early this morning, while she was chatting with Shu Yu about some of the experiences of being pregnant, she suddenly went into labor.

The Lu family immediately became anxious. Fortunately, Zhao Xi had been staying with the pregnant Zhou Qiao during this period and was the first to check her pulse and assess the situation.

Shu Yu was just about to go out when she saw the situation and immediately sent someone to find the midwife. Then she quickly sent someone to inform Da Niu, who was outside the city.

Da Niu almost flew back on his horse and rushed straight into Zhou Qiao's room as soon as he entered the house.

At that time, Zhou Qiao's condition was still okay, with occasional pains, but they became more frequent as time passed.

Now, it had been two hours since she went into labor, and from the beginning of occasional contractions to the current constant cries of pain, Da Niu was anxious, his face pale.

In addition to Da Niu rushing over, Li Shi also arrived.

The servant who had gone to inform Da Niu returned from the estate and then went to Shishi Village, not only bringing Li Shi but also Zhou Qiao's father and second sister.

However, they arrived late. It had only been a short time since they came, and standing in the courtyard, they didn't know what to do.

Zhou Qiao's second Aunt also wanted to come, but since Zhou Qiao went into labor at the Lu family's residence and Shu Yu was there, she was afraid and didn't dare to come.

In addition, after she bought the inferior medicine for protecting the fetus last time and sent it over, Da Niu not only warned Li Shi but also warned her.

After that, she didn't dare to face Zhou Qiao again and hadn't appeared before her since then.

 Chapter 1317: Is the Luji Workshop Like This?

On the second day, Shu Yu appeared early in the morning at the entrance of the inn where Ren Huai and the others were staying.

Ren Huai arrived quite quickly. He politely greeted Shu Yu and then got into his carriage, following behind her as they left the city.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of Luji Workshop. Shu Yu said to Ren Huai, "This is our Luji Workshop. It was just built not long ago, and many things inside are still incomplete. The place is simple, so please don't mind, Young Master Ren."

Ren Huai smiled and replied, "Lu Xiangjun is too polite."

As they spoke, the two of them stood at the front gate.

The gatekeeper was still Old Yang. He greeted Shu Yu first and then looked up and saw Ren Huai and Xu, the steward. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh? Young Master, it's you?"

Shu Yu pretended to be surprised and asked, "Old Yang, have you met Young Master Ren before?"

"Yes, about six days ago. When Young Master passed by here, he asked me for directions," Old Yang replied.

Shu Yu was taken aback and turned to Ren Huai, "Young Master Ren has been here for six days?"

Ren Huai could only smile and vaguely explain, "I didn't expect this to be Lu Xiangjun's workshop. It's just a coincidence. I did come here a few days ago, but I had some personal matters to attend to, which delayed my visit."

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"I see," Shu Yu nodded with realization. She didn't dwell on the matter and simply smiled, inviting them inside.

Observing their backs, Old Yang stroked his chin and made a soft sound of 'tsk.'

As Shu Yu entered the gate, Da Niu came forward to greet them.

Shu Yu introduced both parties, and Ren Huai nodded in acknowledgment. Da Niu then led the way ahead with a simple and honest smile, guiding them.

"Here is our sunflower seed workshop. Please come in, Young Master Ren," Da Niu said.

Looking left and right, Ren Huai noticed that there were very few people in this workshop. Apart from Shu Yu and a few others, hardly anyone was moving around.

When they arrived at the entrance of the workshop, Ren Huai was about to enter, but Da Niu reached out and stopped him, saying, "Wait a moment, Young Master."

He took a cloth cover from a nearby cabinet and handed it to both of them, saying, "These are shoe covers. Since our workshop deals with food, cleanliness is crucial. To avoid bringing in dust and mud from outside, everyone entering or leaving the workshop must wear these."

Ren Huai looked at the shoe covers in surprise and then glanced at Shu Yu.

Shu Yu had already crouched down and put on the shoe covers. She stood up and smiled, saying, "Young Master Ren, do you think we're being too fussy?"

Ren Huai snapped back to reality and shook his head, saying, "Why would I think that? I just didn't expect Lu Xiangjun to be so thoughtful."

In fact, it was his first time seeing something like this.

While the Liao family also ran a food store, the melon seeds with their shells removed, which required a cleaner environment, were even more in need of such conditions.

However, no one in the Liao family had ever thought of implementing such measures.

Honestly, since he just entered the door, Ren Huai was already quite confident in Lu's sunflower seeds.

He glanced at Xu, the manager, who had wanted to find an excuse to nitpick but was forced to hold back.

Both of them silently changed into the shoe covers and, passing by a folding screen, they walked inside.

But as soon as they turned the corner, Ren Huai was stunned again.

All the workers present were dressed in the same clothes, and they wore protective gowns on the outside, with their hair tied up and covered with cloth... and there was something on their faces?

Luo Chun was currently having the freshly fried sunflower seeds packed up. Earlier, the head manager had come and told him that visitors were coming, so he put away the freshly fried sunflower seeds and decided to wait until they left before continuing.

 Chapter 1321: Qi Lie

Manager Xu wanted to ask further but noticed that Ren Huai's expression wasn't right, so he paused and asked, "What's wrong?"

"That person, isn't he the new emperor's personal bodyguard?"

Manager Xu raised his head, following Ren Huai's gaze, and indeed saw a familiar figure beside Weinan.

Indeed, it was Qi Lie, the inconspicuous prince before the Fifth Prince ascended the throne. He occasionally appeared in the market, always accompanied by a bodyguard, often Qi Lie.

Since the Fifth Prince ascended the throne, as one of his trusted confidants, Qi Lie's status naturally rose, becoming a sought-after and favored person in everyone's eyes.

Logically speaking, someone like him should be in the capital, guarding the emperor.

So why... did he appear in this remote county?

"Just sending an official proclamation to Master Xiang doesn't require Qi Lie's presence," Xu Steward nodded, "and it seems like Qi Lie is quite familiar with Master Xiang."

Ren Huai couldn't figure it out, "Let's go, follow them and see."

But the two of them could only follow to the entrance of the county government office. Xiang Weinan and Qi Lie both went inside.

After entering the room, Xiang Weinan smiled and patted Qi Lie's shoulder, "Didn't expect it would be you."

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Qi Lie sat in a chair and poured himself a cup of tea, "Do you think I came for you? How presumptuous."

Xiang Weinan squinted his eyes, "Then who did you come for?"

"Lu Xiangjun," Qi Lie replied.

Xiang Weinan, "......"

"She's engaged now," Qi Lie said, "to Meng Yunzheng. Do you think I want to court death and compete with Young Master Meng?"

"Then it can't be for that sunflower oil, right? Such matters can be handled by the palace's procurement, no need for you to personally come here," Xiang Weinan said.

Qi Lie sighed, "Sunflower oil is one of the reasons."

Xiang Weinan, curious, sat across from him, "What's the other reason?"

Qi Lie glanced at him, "Why are you so curious about other people's affairs? First think about your own situation. You'll be returning to the capital soon. Since Xiao shi, your wife, returned to her family home, the Xiaos directly took her in, saying that her father was ill and she went back to take care of him. She never returned to your home after that."

Xiang Weinan's expression turned serious, and he furrowed his brows slightly, "What did my parents say about this?"

"Madam Xiang came to visit her twice and wanted to take Xiao shi back. But the Xiaos wouldn't let her go. I find it strange. They are holding your wife for what reason? They didn't know you were going to be promoted and return to the capital. The emperor finds it odd as well. When you return to the capital, go see the Xiao family," Qi Lie advised.

"I know," Xiang Weinan thought about the Xiao family and couldn't help but feel a headache.

Fortunately, although Xiao shi was from the Xiao family, she wasn't the daughter of the head of the family.

Xiao shi was the only granddaughter of Old Master Xiao, and in that big family of the Xiaos, Old Master Xiao held the highest position and power.

Xiao Noble Consort was the daughter of Old Master Xiao, and Xiao shi should address her as "Aunt."

Because there was only one granddaughter of Xiao shi's generation in the Xiao family, Xiao shi was very favored, especially by Noble Consort Xiao.

As her husband, Xiang Weinan shouldn't have any problem taking Xiao shi back home. She couldn't be serving someone else's family forever.

Qi Lie spoke about the current situation in the capital and then asked about Shu Yu, "Tell Lu Xiangjun that I don't have much time in Jiangyuan County. I'll settle the matter of the sunflower oil first."

"I'll have Hu Li go to the Lu family right away," Xiang Weinan said.

 Chapter 1325: Gave Birth to a Daughter

Shu Yu knew that explaining with concepts like chromosomes and basic physics wouldn't work for the elderly lady and Li Shi. Even Zhao Xi might not understand it.

Well, then she should try a simpler explanation that they could grasp.

As expected, Grandma Lu and Li Shi were oscillating between sudden enlightenment and doubtful confusion.

After a while, Grandma Lu suddenly frowned and stared at Shu Yu, "Ah Yu, you're an unmarried young girl. Where did you hear all these things about childbirth and men and women?"

Shu Yu, "... " She didn't expect the conflict to suddenly shift to herself.

She cleared her throat and said, "Grandmother, when I went to the capital last time, I met a very knowledgeable doctor who told me. Actually, he explained it in a more complex way, but the medical aspects were hard for me to understand, so I just summarized what he said."

She had considered using Zhao Xi and old doctor Zhao as an excuse, but the lie would have been exposed in no time.

Grandma Lu had never been to the capital, and she had an inexplicable filter for such a bustling and talented place.

Hearing Shu Yu's explanation, Grandma Lu believed, "I see."

Li Shi was even more convinced and said, "I'll tell those gossipy women when I get back. They're just ignorant."

Shu Yu, "..."

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....

While they were talking, a baby's cry suddenly came from the room.

"The baby's born, the baby's born," the elderly lady rejoiced.

She didn't go to rest but turned around and hurried inside, "Quick, let's see."

By the time they reached the doorway of the room, Da Niu had already rushed inside. The servants in the room couldn't stop him.

However, Zhou Father and Zhou Second Miss didn't enter and stood at the doorway, asking, "How is Qiao Qiao? Is she alright? Did she give birth to a boy or a girl?"

"A girl, a 5.7-pound baby girl."

As Li Shi heard this at the doorway, her steps faltered, and her face didn't look very good. But she remembered what Shu Yu said earlier and suppressed the unease in her heart before stepping into the room.

Not long after, she carried the baby out.

There was an obvious joy on Li Shi's face, "This baby looks beautiful, just like Da Niu."

Everyone gathered around, and Grandma Lu was happy, "Indeed, she really does."

The children of the Lu family were not ugly, and even if the baby looked like Da Niu, she would grow up to be a pretty girl.

Although Li Shi was unhappy a moment ago, she was now calling the baby her precious granddaughter.

Shu Yu couldn't quite figure out what Li Shi was thinking. She probably had some sort of split personality.

However, Zhou Father and Zhou Second Miss exchanged glances, and though they were happy, there was still some anxiety lingering.

After looking at the baby, they went to check on Li Shi and the elderly lady's expressions. Seeing that they didn't seem displeased, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After seeing the baby, Grandma Lu wanted to go in and check on Zhou Qiao.

Shu Yu supported her, but Grandma Lu waved her hand, "You, an unmarried young girl, better not go in." Didn't she see Zhou Second Miss being so worried and not going in?

At this crucial moment, Shu Yu wouldn't argue with her and simply nodded, "Then I'll tell the kitchen to bring over the food they were keeping warm on the stove."

"Go ahead."

Grandma Lu waved her hand and entered the room. The room was dimly lit.

As she turned past the screen, she saw Da Niu squatting by the bed, speaking softly to Zhou Qiao.

When he saw her come in, Da Niu quickly stood up and moved aside, "Grandmother."

 Chapter 1320: Visitors from the Palace

After leaving the workshop and getting on the carriage, both Ren Huai and Manager Xu looked mentally exhausted.

Even though the weather wasn't hot, both of them were sweating on their foreheads.

Manager Xu whispered, "Young Master, it seems like we can't push the price down."

Ren Huai gritted his teeth, "I really misjudged her. This Lu Xiangjun is not an easy person to deceive. Look at what she said every time, she precisely steps on our plans."

Manager Xu asked, "What should we do now? Should we still go ahead with the deal?"

"Yes!" Ren Huai said through clenched teeth. "We'll just let her wait for a while. I don't think she wants to lose our cooperation either. Let's not make any moves and let her be the one in a hurry."

Ren Huai instructed him, "In the next few days, let's tour around Jiangyuan County and inform the others. If Lu Xiangjun's people come looking for us, tell them that we are still waiting for a response from the capital and that the family head is still considering. Whenever they come, we will hold the upper hand."

"Understood."

Ren Huai's plan was good, and sure enough, the next day, someone from Shu Yu's side came looking for them.

Just as Ren Huai breathed a sigh of relief, the other side said, "Young Master Ren, I am Ying Dong, the steward of the Lu family. Madam Xiangjun instructed me to find someone to be your guide since you are new to Jiangyuan County. As the host, we naturally have to show hospitality. If you want to go anywhere or learn anything, feel free to ask him."

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....

Ren Huai's expression twisted for a moment. Manager Xu whispered in his ear, "Young Master, maybe Lu Xiangjun wants to keep an eye on us, afraid that we might leave directly and ruin the deal."

Although Ren Huai felt this possibility was unlikely, Manager Xu's words still gave him some comfort.

He thanked Ying Dong, who left a person behind and returned.

Shu Yu had already made the necessary arrangements for Ren Huai, thinking she had been quite thoughtful. She didn't want to disturb him when she wasn't feeling well. Anyway, he would find her when he had made his decision.

So, she continued to busy herself and paid no attention to Ren Huai and Manager Xu.

Meanwhile, people from the capital's palace arrived in Jiangyuan County.

The palace's procurement team came along with the imperial decree officials.

So, their team was much larger than Ren Huai's modest two-carriage convoy.

They had three carriages and about ten guards. When they arrived at the city gate, Xiang Weinan had already come out to greet them.

Following Xiang Weinan, they entered the city and proceeded towards the county government along the largest street in the city.

The people along the roadside were all spectators, wondering what was happening when they saw such a high-ranking official being personally greeted by the county magistrate.

Only a few people knew that Xiang Weinan was about to be promoted.

This included Master Ding from the Ding family, third young master Fan from the Fan family, Jiang Yi from Jixiang Wine Shop, and Ji Dongjia from peach blossom forest, among others, who were usually more concerned about current affairs.

After all, the identity of the county magistrate had a significant impact on them.

Of course, this also included Ren Huai and Manager Xu, who had come from the capital.

Thus, at this moment, the two of them were standing in the crowd, observing the spectacle.

"After the Emperor ascended the throne, it seems that Xiang Weinan is the first official to be transferred from the county to the capital," Ren Huai remarked.

Manager Xu nodded, "Are you implying, Young Master, that the Emperor deliberately wanted to drive a wedge between the Xiang family and the Xiao family?"

"Who knows?" Ren Huai shrugged, but his gaze suddenly sharpened.

 Chapter 1319: Accommodation Environment

Ren Huai looked around and couldn't find anything to criticize. Although this workshop was newly built, it was much better than the workshops of the Liao family.

In comparison, he felt embarrassed to nitpick.

However, as a businessman, his expertise lay in speaking without thinking.

"Lu Xiangjun, this workshop is indeed good, but you seem to be short on manpower, and it seems like the workers lack experience. If our two families cooperate in the future and we need a large quantity of goods, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep up with the demand."

Shu Yu smiled and replied, "You can rest assured about that. It's true that we're a bit short-handed at the moment. If we really manage to cooperate, I will immediately recruit more workers. As you can see, our workshop is quite large, so we're prepared to have many workers in the future. We've already built a large accommodation area for that purpose."

"Accommodation area?" Ren Huai asked.

Shu Yu nodded, "Yes, it's right ahead. Young Master Ren, are you interested in taking a look?"

"Sure." Since he couldn't find any faults with the workshop, maybe the accommodation area would have something.

The group left the workshop and headed towards the accommodation area.

The accommodation area was indeed spacious. Shu Yu introduced as they walked, "We built this area specifically to ensure that our workers can work more comfortably and wholeheartedly. There are four-person rooms, three-person rooms, two-person rooms, and single rooms available. Take a look; the environment is quite good, isn't it?"

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....

"Yes... It's very good," Ren Huai exclaimed in surprise.

In front of him was a four-person room, but it wasn't the kind of large dormitory he had seen before. Instead, there were four beds, each equipped with a chair and a wardrobe. In the center was a large table, and on it were... books?

The workers were even reading? He couldn't believe his eyes.

Shu Yu had brought them to the accommodation of a few people from Shishi Village, and she had already obtained their permission before they arrived.

However, she hadn't expected to see books on the table in this room.

She raised an eyebrow and looked at Da Niu, who took the opportunity while Ren Huai and the others weren't paying attention to whisper, "Didn't you appoint Ruan Dalai as the manager? He has been studying and reading diligently recently, and seeing him like this, others have followed suit, hoping for the day they can become managers too."

Shu Yu touched her chin, "This atmosphere is quite good."

As they talked, the group had already finished viewing the dormitories. Ren Huai walked out of the room in a daze.

Were the accommodations too good? They were even better than what most of his workers had at home!

Shu Yu asked with a smile, "What do you think, Young Master Ren?"

"It's excellent," he blurted out subconsciously.

Shu Yu clasped her hands together, "Since you think it's good, then there's no doubt about it."

Ren Huai, "... No, that's not what I meant."

Who knew that Shu Yu would sigh and say, "Originally, I thought that providing better accommodation would increase the enthusiasm of the workers. They would work with more spirit and not be careless. Who would have thought that it would exceed the budget? Constructing this accommodation area cost quite a sum. Fortunately, my father is the one overseeing the construction, and I can delay payment for now. However, I can't keep delaying it forever. After all, my father also has a large group of workers who need to be paid."

She looked at Ren Huai and continued, "Young Master Ren, your arrival couldn't have come at a better time. If we can cooperate, it will solve my urgent financial problem. Of course, I'm not pressuring you with my words. Young Master Ren can consider it carefully. The price is negotiable; as long as it doesn't cause me to lose money, paying off the debt will be enough."

Ren Huai, "..."

 Chapter 1318: Our Costs Are High

Churning sunflower seeds wasn't considered a highly skilled task. Other roasted snacks like peanuts, chestnuts, watermelon seeds, and so on had similar processes in their production. Therefore, there were no secret techniques to be hidden, and it didn't require avoiding people's gaze.

Especially for someone like Ren Huai, who came from a family that specialized in nuts and dried fruits.

However, the five-spice flavor that Shu Yu used was unique, and it hadn't been seen elsewhere. She used more ingredients and ample amounts, with proportions that had been carefully studied through experiments, resulting in the sunflower seeds having a delicious and aromatic taste.

Naturally, this was something they didn't want outsiders to know.

That's why Luo Chun put away the more private parts of the process when he saw Shu Yu bringing visitors in, allowing the workers to do regular tasks.

Ren Huai understood the situation, and he also knew that they had come mainly to observe the workshop's environment and the atmosphere of the workers.

Ren Huai intended to pick at some aspects, hoping to use that as an opportunity to negotiate lower prices. However, now, he found it hard to say anything.

He looked at the stuff on the workers' faces and asked curiously, "Why are they covering their mouths like this?"

Shu Yu smiled as she explained, "It's not exactly covering their faces; they're just blocking their mouths. When everyone is working, it's natural to talk. Sometimes, if they speak loudly and hastily, it's inevitable that there might be saliva. So, to prevent saliva from falling onto the sunflower seeds, they use something to cover their mouths."

....

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....

Shu Yu didn't wear a mask herself because the weather wasn't too hot yet. Wearing a mask would be more comforting in colder weather. However, when the weather got hot, wearing a mask would be uncomfortable.

In the modern era, there were many places selling cooked food, and the staff would wear transparent plastic masks. Since there was no plastic in this era, Shu Yu had improvised with bamboo pieces. She would see if there was a better alternative in the future.

In reality, with the sunflower seeds having shells, it wasn't necessary to go to such lengths.

However, Shu Yu also sold shelled sunflower seeds. Although the soul of sunflower seeds was in the act of cracking them open, for some noble ladies and young misses, the act was not particularly elegant. So, shelled melon seeds were a good alternative.

Ren Huai hadn't expected Shu Yu to consider this aspect. He looked at the makeshift masks with a thoughtful expression.

But in the next moment, he heard Shu Yu sighing and saying, "Young Master Ren, as you can see, our shop's sunflower seeds are both clean and of high quality. But we have put in too much effort and incurred many expenses for this. Not to mention the sunflowers seeds themselves, just look at these shoe covers, masks, and clothing – they were all prepared by the workshop. To ensure the workers' comfort, we had to use good materials, and that increased our costs significantly."

Ren Huai's eyelids twitched at her words, and he quickly forced a wry smile, "Lu Xiangjun is a conscientious owner."

"Yes, I see that everyone works hard here, putting in their best effort. I, on the other hand, can't do much to help. I just want them to have a better life so that they can work without worries. But I can't directly raise their wages; if our wages are significantly higher than those of other workshops, it might upset people. After thinking about it, I can only occasionally give them some rewards and more goodies on festivals. But even then, it raises our costs," Shu Yu continued.

Ren Huai, "..."

Manager Xu, silently lowered his head. He had no chance to speak up to negotiate lower prices. What should he do?

He discreetly glanced at Ren Huai and saw that he seemed at a loss for words as well. Manager Xu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

 Chapter 1315: A Slight Thought

  Ren Huai spoke with difficulty, "You've considered Linzhang Prefecture and Changjin Prefecture, but have you never thought about the capital?"

  "The capital?" Shu Yu blinked, then sheepishly pinched her little finger, "Well, I did have a slight thought about it."

  "A slight thought?"

  Shu Yu nodded solemnly, then said seriously, "But I immediately dispelled that thought without hesitation. After all, that's the capital, where the Emperor resides, and the competition is too intense. Although my sunflower seeds are a fresh commodity, are rare items in the capital in short supply? People who set up shops there probably have powerful backers behind them."

  Ren Huai: Don't you also know a few powerful backers?

  Shu Yu sighed, "As for me, I just set up a workshop, and I lack experience and knowledge. It's not wise to take big steps, or I might stumble. Although I know people like Minister Qi, they are all important officials of the court, busy with state affairs and the livelihoods of the people. I am just dealing with small matters, and it's not right to bother them too much. It might be fine to trouble them once or twice, but if I open a shop in the unfamiliar capital, how many difficulties will I face? If there are many, won't they also get tired of me bothering them?"

  She spoke at length, then picked up the teacup on the table and took a few sips to moisten her throat, "Selling sunflower seeds in the capital is my plan for the future, after I have accumulated experience and become skilled in business. However, I didn't expect that the Candied Fruit Shop would be interested in my sunflower seeds and propose such generous conditions. I'm really pleasantly surprised."

  She put the teacup down and said with a mournful expression, "Alas, if only I hadn't replied to the Southwest so quickly. Master Ren, you tell me, isn't this situation just too unfortunate? If it were only two days earlier, how much trouble could I have saved? I was really looking forward to cooperating with the Liao family, but now..."

....

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....

  Master Ren and manager Xu looked as if they were constipated, their expressions tortured.

  The private room fell silent for a while, with only the sounds of Shu Yu sighing and Ren Huai gritting his teeth.

  After a while, Ren Huai furrowed his brow, "Can't you change your mind?"

  Shu Yu looked sad, "Those in the Southwest are my friends, and you know that some of them are extremely wealthy, while others are truly poor. My friend was exiled there, and that shop is the result of investing all their assets. If I suddenly change my mind and say I won't supply them, wouldn't I be driving them into a dead end?"

  "We can compensate. If Lu Xiangjun can't bear to do it, the Liao family..."

  Shu Yu shook her head before he finished, "I can't do something so unprincipled. Besides, let's not talk about the Southwest. Even in Changjin Prefecture, my fiancée is going to take the imperial examination. If he breaks his promise, it will damage his reputation."

  Ren Huai suddenly laughed, "Lu Xiangjun, it seems like you care a lot about your fiancé's reputation." Then why didn't you care about your own reputation and dare to treat your grandmother that way?

  Shu Yu said solemnly, "Of course, it's my duty as his fiancée."

  Ren Huai, "..."

  The private room fell silent once again.

  Shu Yu pursed her lips, and after a long while, asked regretfully, "master Ren, with things turning out this way, does it mean we can't cooperate?"

  Ren Huai's head started to ache again. Of course, they should cooperate.

  Although Shu Yu didn't know, he knew that sunflower seeds had already become popular in the capital.

  If the Candied Fruit Shop refused to cooperate, there were plenty of other shops willing to sell them.

 Chapter 1314: You're Too Late

  Ren Huai quietly took a sip of tea and leaned forward slightly, "We hope that all the sunflower seeds produced in your workshop will be sold exclusively by our Candied Fruit Shop."

  Shu Yu was taken aback, and inwardly sneered at his wishful thinking.

  Seeing her silent, Ren Huai's voice became low, with a hint of temptation, "Lu Xiangjun, this proposal is beneficial to both parties. We can have sufficient supply, and you can save a lot of trouble. You don't need to worry about sales and how to sell them. Just supply us with the goods, and we will take care of everything."

  He smiled, "Lu Xiangjun, by cooperating with us, your seeds will be distributed throughout the entire Grand Su region. You can focus on production and not worry about anything else."

  Listening to him, Shu Yu sighed after a long while, "master Ren, your proposal is indeed very good, and I am truly tempted. To be honest, I really dislike trouble, and having someone come to me as a sales channel makes me very happy. However..."

  She looked troubled, genuinely torn.

  Ren Huai frowned, "What's wrong, Lu Xiangjun? The price is negotiable, and we can sign a contract to ensure that you won't be at a disadvantage."

  Shu Yu shook her head, "It's not because of that."

  "Then what is it?"

  "master Ren, you're too late."

....

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....

  Ren Huai squinted, "What do you mean?"

  "Just two days ago, I received a letter from the Southwest Linzhang Prefecture. We have already signed a contract, and the goods have been shipped there. They have already started selling the seeds in Linzhang Prefecture."

  "What? Southwest?"

  Shu Yu said regretfully, "As you know, I was originally exiled to the Southwest. Although I didn't stay there long, I got to know some people who had a good relationship with me. After setting up the workshop and producing the goods, I was troubled about how to sell them. Since I am only a Xiangjun, I don't have many connections and don't know many people. So, I had to figure out how to sell them on my own, right? That's when I thought of my friends in the Southwest. I sent a letter earlier, and they responded that they were very willing to cooperate. I was overjoyed and didn't think much about it, so I went ahead and finalized the deal."

  Ren Huai and manager Xu were at a loss for words. Just two days ago?

  Two days ago, they had already arrived in Jiangyuan County and were still investigating. They hadn't had the chance to meet and negotiate.

  However, Shu Yu continued, "In addition to the Southwest, there's also the Changjin Prefecture. My fiancé left for Changjin Prefecture yesterday morning to participate in the imperial examination. I believe he has acquaintances there and asked him to see if he could find any businesses willing to cooperate in selling the seeds. My fiancé is swift and efficient; he probably already arranged it once he arrived in Changjin Prefecture."

  Pausing for a moment, she looked up, "Oh, by the way, my fiancé's name is Meng Yunzheng. He is quite famous in the capital, and I'm sure you must have heard of him. Few things he sets out to do go unresolved."

  Ren Huai felt a headache coming on.

  Shu Yu looked innocent and said with a tinge of regret, "If I had known that you, Ren Huai, would come to find me, saying that the Candied Fruit Shop in the capital wanted to cooperate with me and fully take over the sales, I wouldn't have spent so much effort. To be honest, it was quite exhausting. Mainly because it was mentally taxing, as I had to worry about how well they would sell."

 Chapter 1313: Meeting with Ren Huai

  After leaving the house, what Shu Yu didn't know was that manager Xu, didn't actually leave after delivering the invitation. He was still outside the Lu family's gate.

  Seeing Shu Yu coming out, he was a bit surprised and subconsciously followed her.

  Then he witnessed Shu Yu happily shopping, seeming to be in a very good mood.

  manager Xu couldn't understand. Wasn't her fiancé just gone? He had left, so why was she so happy?

  He suddenly remembered that he had handed over the invitation earlier.

  The invitation clearly stated their identity and their purpose of discussing sunflower seed business.

  So, did Lu Xiangjun think they were about to strike a big deal and that's why she was so delighted?

  Considering her straightforward and emotional nature, manager Xu felt that this possibility was quite likely.

  He went back and discussed with Ren Huai making them more confident about tomorrow's negotiation.

  On the second day, Shu Yu dressed neatly and went to the appointed place.

....

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....

  Ren Huai chose a mansion-style teahouse, which was expensive but had good privacy, making it suitable for business discussions.

  Shu Yu had been here once before, casually coming to have tea with Ding Yuehua.

  As she entered the teahouse, there was a large front garden in front of her, with flowers quietly blossoming as the weather turned warm, exuding a vibrant atmosphere.

  The garden had pavilions and tea tables, and there were corridors on both sides of the entrance, with rooms along the corridors.

  Ren Huai's room was a bit deeper inside, in the backyard.

  As Shu Yu entered the teahouse with Ying Xi, the waiter recognized her and warmly led her directly to the door of Ren Huai's room.

  Hearing a knock on the door, Ren Huai straightened up slightly, "Please come in."

  Shu Yu entered, and Ren Huai stood up with a smile, "Lu Xiangjun, I've heard your name for a long time. Please take a seat."

  After exchanging a few polite words, Ren Huai formally introduced himself and manager Xu.

  The largest candied fruit business in the capital is owned by the Liao family, and Ren Huai is old master Liao's nephew. However, he also has some ability and is valued by his uncle, managing part of the Liao family's business.

  "We have great sincerity in wanting to cooperate with Lu Xiangjun to be the sales channel for Sunflower Seeds. Our candied fruits are not only the largest in the capital but also have shops in other bustling cities like Huajiang Prefecture and Jinjiang Prefecture. Lu Xiangjun, no matter how many sunflower seeds you have, we will have no problem selling them."

  Shu Yu looked a bit hesitant, "It is indeed my pleasure to cooperate with the Liao family. However, my family's Sunflower Seeds are limited in quantity, so I might not be able to supply enough."

  "Don't worry about that. With the limited supply, we can start selling in the capital first. Right now, Sunflower Seeds have just been introduced, and not many people know about them. But I believe that soon enough, Lu Xiangjun will have a growing number of seeds, right?"

  Shu Yu nodded, "That's true. This is just the first batch of Sunflower Seeds. In the future, I'm afraid the Liao family's shops won't be able to handle them all."

  "That's not a problem. The Liao family has its own connections. But if we cooperate with Lu Xiangjun, there is one requirement."

  Shu Yu raised an eyebrow, here it comes.

  "Requirement? What requirement?"

 Chapter 1312: Invitation

Shu Yu tilted her head and looked up at the sky, "So, the main purpose of your master's return is to make medicinal food?"

These days, Old Doctor Zhao spends more time outside, not only him but also Ah Ning as well. After Ah Ning became Old Doctor Zhao disciple, she began formal medical studies. After chatting with Ah Ning, Old Doctor Zhao discovered that this young girl had extraordinary talent in medicine. He was overjoyed and wished to pass on all his medical skills to her. The feeling was mutual, and they harmoniously immersed themselves in the vast ocean of medical knowledge.

Old Doctor Zhao was someone who liked teaching through real-life experiences. He started by taking Ah Ning up the mountain to collect herbs and then treating the villagers in nearby villages, all while teaching Ah Ning.

In such a situation, Ah Ning's medical skills improved by leaps and bounds.

Just a few days ago, Old Doctor Zhao took her to the neighboring county, and it will probably take another two days for them to return.

As a result, only Zhao Xi and his wife remained in the Zhao family, along with the servants they had bought before getting married.

There was only an old cleaning lady among the servants, and a young girl who wasn't a suitable candidate for taking care of a pregnant woman.

Therefore, staying at the Lu family was the best arrangement for Shu You.

Shu Yu disdainfully glanced at Zhao Xi, and then Ying Xi suddenly came in, holding an invitation card in his hand.

"Miss, a certain official Xu came just now and handed over an invitation card."

....

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....

"Invitation card?" Shu Yu unfolded the card and glanced at it, raising her eyebrows, "They finally came."

"What do you mean by 'finally came'?" Zhao Xi asked.

Shu Yu handed him the card, and after he finished reading it, he furrowed his brows, "Didn't they say they would come many days ago? Why are they only now coming to discuss business?"

"I actually hoped they would come later."

"Later? Aren't these many days of delay enough? Even Ah Yun has gone to participate in the county examination, and if they wait any longer, he will have finished the provincial examination... Do they look like they're doing business?" Zhao Xi's words halted midway as he glanced at Shu Yu, "They just came to see you right after Ah Yun left. Do you get the feeling they deliberately wanted to avoid him?"

Shu Yu put away the invitation card, not concerned about it, "After all, they came from the capital. The name Meng Yunzheng is renowned in the capital. Everyone knows about his achievements and intelligence. When the other party found out he is my fiancé, they must have some concerns. In business, they probably don't want to deal with someone too clever, as that would prevent them from maximizing their profits."

Zhao Xi suddenly realized and then wore a constipated expression, "Do they think that without Ah Yun, dealing with you will be easier? Do they believe they can gain more advantages from you? Impossible, so impossible, too impossible."

Shu Yu, "..."

She felt that Zhao Xi was implying something without any evidence.

"You take good care of my sister. Don't worry about anything else," she said to him and left without paying further attention.

Tomorrow, she will meet with that young master Ren. He will probably suggest visiting the workshop, so she needs to give Da Niu a heads up in advance.

She went to find a coachman and sent him to the estate to deliver the message.

As for the people who came from the capital, she didn't need to hurry. Soldiers will stop the water and soil will cover it. She will know everything after the discussion tomorrow.

Ying Xi followed behind Shu Yu, unable to help shaking her head. "Miss, what happened to staying calm?"

 Chapter 1311: Triumphant Old Lady

When the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Lu family's house, Shu Yu was the first to jump down and directly went inside.

Zhao Xi supported Shu You and walked slowly from behind. By the time they passed the gate, Grandma Lu had already heard the news from Shu Yu and eagerly greeted them.

"Oh, Ah You is back. Take your time, no need to rush," Grandma Lu said with a smile, supporting Shu You's other hand and attentively staring at her belly.

Shu You wasn't nervous at first, but seeing the reactions of the two people beside her, she suddenly became more concerned and felt a surge of acid in her stomach, rushing to the side to vomit.

Shu Yu couldn't bear to watch, "This kind of pressure will be too much for my sister. Relax, eat and drink as you like, don't be too restrained. The child is resilient, just avoid running or jumping."

Everyone: "..."

It sounded reasonable, yet also unreasonable. You're an unmarried young lady, as if you know more than they do.

But seeing Shu You looking so uncomfortable, both Grandma Lu and Zhao Xi indeed didn't dare to say much anymore.

Once Shu You felt a bit better, Zhao Xi supported her back to the room to rest.

Seeing the couple's figures leaving, Grandma Lu let out a sigh of relief and said angrily, "Ah You is pregnant. Let's see what those gossipers have to say now."

Shu You had a difficult marriage before, and for two years, she didn't conceive, so the people of Dayan Village regarded her as an unfortunate woman behind her back.

....

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....

Later, when Zhang Shu's situation was exposed, they realized that Shu You had not yet consummated her marriage.

However, some busybodies didn't believe it and kept whispering behind her back, suggesting that even though Zhang Shu might be gay, who said he couldn't touch a woman? Maybe the reason she couldn't conceive was because of her.

Unfortunately, before the Lu family returned to Jiangyuan County, Zhang Shu had already killed his mother.

Otherwise, the old lady would have definitely sought her out and held her accountable.

But even though the Zhang's Family old lady was dead, the rumors she spread still existed. Though they didn't dare to say it openly because of the Lu family's current wealth and power, they still secretly suspected that Shu You couldn't conceive.

Shu Yu and Shu You advised Grandma Lu not to take it to heart, but how could she not mind?

Now that her granddaughter was pregnant, she wanted to see what those people would say.

Grandma Lu was elated, and her spirits were high. Then she turned to Shu Yu and said, "I'll go back to Shishi Village tomorrow."

After a pause, she continued, "No, let's wait until Ah You is stable for three months before saying anything."

Grandma Lu still believed in this custom. It was not appropriate to inform others within the first three months.

"I'll go to the kitchen and see if I can make something delicious for Ah You. She must be hungry after vomiting like that."

After saying that, she left, not expecting Shu Yu to respond.

Shu Yu stood there like a tool person and sighed. When he turned her head, he saw Zhao Xi coming over.

However, Zhao Xi wore a worried expression on his face. Shu Yu couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, "What's wrong with my sister?"

"Oh, she's resting now."

"Then why do you have that expression on your face?"

Zhao Xi sighed, "Seeing her suffer like that, I can't help but feel uncomfortable as well. No, I must ask my master to come back. He's good at preparing medicinal food."