Chapter 1358: Ruan Dalai Couldn't Help But Laugh

The sunflowers were planted, and Shu Yu's instant noodle workshop was also built and ready to start. They began preparing ingredients while hiring new employees.

This time, everyone knew that Luji Workshop offered good benefits and high wages, so even more people came compared to the last hiring session.

Shu Yu looked at the crowded crowd and started to feel a headache.

Her requirements were always clear, and there were quite a few restrictions, which could filter out a large number of people. However, even so, there were still many people who refused to give up and wanted to try.

Especially among the new applicants were people from Ruan Family Village. They believed that if Shu Yu could hire Ruan Dalai, she could also hire them.

Moreover, Ruan Dalai was now in charge, which boosted their confidence even more.

Ruan Dalai himself couldn't help but laugh when he saw the villagers from Ruan Family Village forming a line, smiling, and walking towards him.

They actually wanted Ruan Dalai to hire all of them.

Ruan Dalai immediately called the workshop assistants and drove all these people away.

Shu Yu only learned about this incident later and didn't witness the farce.

But Ruan Dalai had already thought it through, so she felt reassured.

Although the number of employees at the instant noodle workshop increased slightly, it wasn't too much. This time, in addition to the oil pressing workshop and the sunflower seeds workshop, they hired about a hundred more workers.

The oil pressing and sunflower seeds workshops mostly employed male workers, while the instant noodle workshop had more female workers.

Interestingly, among the new workers, there was Da Qiang's older brother, Da Zhuang.

Da Zhuang had been doing odd jobs in the Dong'an Prefecture, but a while back, Da Qiang contacted him and asked him to come back and try to join the construction team at Lu Erbai's place. Unfortunately, at that time, Da Zhuang was too busy with work and couldn't come back.

Now that Luji Workshop was hiring again, Da Qiang specially took care of their parents and personally went to the city to call Da Zhuang back for an interview at the workshop, and he got the job.

After the hiring was completed, the production of instant noodles began.

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Now that the sunflower seeds and sunflower oil didn't need to worry about sales, Shu Yu's focus was on selling instant noodles.

The first thing she thought of was scholars and escort agencies. Meng Yunzheng was right; instant noodles were a good choice during the imperial examinations.

As for merchants traveling on the road, they would likely enjoy instant noodles as well.

Shu Yu didn't know many merchants, but she was familiar with teacher Wen.

However, teacher Wen was now teaching children who were just beginning to learn, and they hadn't participated in the examinations yet.

There used to be someone she knew, Tang Wenqian, but he went to the capital.

After some consideration, Shu Yu realized that the provincial examinations were about to begin. The scholars had been preparing for a long time and were cautious about eating unfamiliar food before the exams to avoid getting an upset stomach.

So, she temporarily suspended her plan to promote instant noodles among scholars.

In the midst of their busy days, the provincial examinations began.

 Chapter 1356: Xiao Songle Gives the treasured beads

However, the letter written by Shu Yu to Meng Yunzheng was different from the one written to Qi Lie.

The letter sent to Qi Lie had a special channel, but there was none for Meng Yunzheng. If the letter were to be intercepted midway and its contents revealed, it would be disastrous.

Therefore, Shu Yu treated this letter as a family letter, asking about Meng Yunzheng's well-being, and subtly mentioned the bead in Xiao Songle hand, the same one they had seen while painting two years ago.

The painting they did two years ago could only have been during their visit to the black market.

Meng Yunzheng could easily understand that if the bead was related to the black market, he would inevitably think of Prince Gong Qiu. Shu Yu didn't need to say more; he would understand the rest.

After sending both letters, Shu Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

However, in the evening, she still went to Xiao Songle's room.

During this time, Meng Pei and Meng Yunzheng were not at home. Although there were servants in the Meng family, they were still concerned and decided to have the child stay with them, as it was originally his room in the Lu family.

When Shu Yu arrived, she saw the nanny, Niu Shi, helping Xiao Songle finish his bath and get dressed.

When Niu Shi saw Shu Yu, she was slightly surprised, but both she and Xiao Songle were used to her presence.

"Mama, I want to talk to Xiao Songle," Shu Yu said.

Niu Shi understood and quickly stood up, saying, "Second Miss, please have a seat. I was just about to wash up."

Once Niu Shi left, Xiao Songle immediately came over, grabbing the corner of Shu Yu's clothes and looking up at her with expectant eyes.

Shu Yu couldn't help but smile and lifted him back onto the bed, tucking him in.

"Auntie?" Xiao Songle tilted his head, looking puzzled.

Shu Yu smiled and took the bag she had placed on the bedside table, passing it to him with a soft voice, "Little Le, can Auntie ask you for a favor?"

The little boy paused, and then his eyes lit up. He eagerly nodded, indicating he could help; he had grown older and could do things now.

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Shu Yu couldn't help but smile at his bright eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Auntie wants to borrow that bead from you. The pattern on it is very beautiful, and Auntie wants to study it. But it might take some time, so I..."

Before she finished speaking, Xiao Songle suddenly made a move she didn't expect. He reached into the bag and took out the bead without hesitation, then handed it to her without saying a word.

Shu Yu was momentarily stunned by his action. "Little Le?"

"Auntie, here you go," Xiao Songle said.

Shu Yu paused and slowly took the bead from him, asking softly, "Are you really giving this to Auntie?"

She had seen how much he treasured this bead.

She was prepared for rejection, and she couldn't force it from him. She had even considered an alternative plan.

But unexpectedly, he willingly gave it to her.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Songle who still couldn't articulate fluently, managed to express himself, "Today, the bead fell out, and Uncle... um, I was very nervous. I put the bead in Auntie's hand, so it won't fall off next time."

Shu Yu understood. Although he was a child, he had a good sense of its importance. He must have guessed that it wouldn't be safe to keep the bead with him, especially when she came to him late at night to ask for it.

Chapter 1357: Raising the White Flag

Shu Yu couldn't help but touch Xiao Songle's head and smiled, saying, "Don't worry, the bead will be safe with Auntie. When you grow up and can take care of this bead, Auntie will give it back to you, alright?"

She was afraid that today's incident might happen again. Fortunately, Yuan Shanchuan saw it this time, but what about next time?

Xiao Songle was still young now, but when he grew up and understood everything, Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng would explain his identity and the origin of the bead to him. Then, it would be up to him to decide how to handle the bead.

Xiao Songle pursed his lips and looked at the bead reluctantly for a moment before nodding firmly.

In the past, he had always held onto this bead because it was something his father had left behind, and it was very important to him.

Being a little child all alone, having this bead with him made him feel like his parents were accompanying him, and he didn't feel so alone. He used to look at this bead every night before going to sleep.

But now, things were different. He had his beloved Auntie and Uncle, Quan Quan and Zhao Cai, and many other people who treated him well.

He hadn't looked at the bead before going to sleep for a long time.

He believed that Auntie wouldn't harm him, and she must have an important reason for wanting the bead.

Xiao Songle raised his head and hugged Shu Yu tightly, saying, "Auntie, I'll entrust the bead to you."

He looked as if he was carefully handing over a precious item, which made Shu Yu chuckle.

"Okay."

She carefully put away the bead, feeling relieved.

Now, it seemed that the restoration of the Black Market Manor would have to be postponed.

But they weren't in a hurry in the first place.

With this matter settled, Shu Yu returned to her busy schedule.

The workshop didn't have much to do now, as there were two managers in charge. So, Da Niu returned to the village and sold sunflower seeds to the villagers. After that, he started teaching them how to plant sunflowers.

Many people in the village thought these people were fools. Why would they grow flowers instead of planting crops? At least they were experienced in planting crops. Sunflowers were a new and unfamiliar thing. What would they do if something went wrong in the future?

Especially when Da Qiang, who had put all his land on sunflower cultivation, seemed crazy.

Some households were frightened by these comments and started to have second thoughts.

However, since they had already bought the seeds and signed the contract, even if they wanted to back out, the others wouldn't agree.

Luckily, they didn't plant a large area, and especially after seeing Da Qiang's resolute determination, they finally settled down and began to work seriously.

Da Niu was in Shishi Village, so Zhou Qiao was naturally there too.

She didn't like living with Li Shi, but Li Shi was good to her granddaughter. Just for this reason, Zhou Qiao felt that there was nothing to argue about. She was already better off than most people in the village, especially with servants to take care of her.

 Chapter 1355: Shu Yu Sends Two Letters

Shu Yu's family had a total of three carriages and mules, and when combined with Meng's family and Zhao Xi's, they almost surrounded the entire Lu family's house.

Today, Da Niu's family, Cui Hua's family, Lan Hua, Er Niu, and others did not return to the county.

Therefore, the carriages were spacious, and when it was time to leave, Shu Yu saw her three younger sisters squeezed into their narrow carriage, finding it difficult, so she let them come to her carriage to sit.

The three little girls were extremely happy. Although they were a bit restrained, Shu Yu's carriage was indeed very comfortable.

Zhuer Village, where the Zhou family was located, was situated between the county and Shishi Village. Shu Yu had originally planned to drop them off at their home and leave.

However, Zhou's father felt that since the in-laws had come all the way, they should at least have some tea before leaving; otherwise, it would be impolite.

So Shu Yu's carriage stopped at Zhuer Village. The others had already left, leaving only Shu Yu, Grandma Lu, and Ying Xi, who was acting as the coachman, in the carriage.

This was Shu Yu's first time visiting the Zhou family. According to Da Niu, the Zhou family used to live quite well. Even though they didn't get much during the family split due to not having a son, they managed to live a good life through their unity.

But a few years ago, Zhou Qiao's mother fell ill and passed away, and most of their savings were spent on her treatment. Their life became difficult again.

Fortunately, they managed to recover in the past few years, but their house was still the old one, not very big and somewhat dilapidated.

Shu Yu took the tea handed over by Zhou Qiao's second sister and said thank you.

Zhou Qiao's second sister quickly waved her hand, looking very embarrassed, and blushed as she went to the kitchen.

Shu Yu thought to herself, "...I'm only one year older than Zhou Qiao's second sister, but it seems like she treats me like a younger generation treats their elders."

Suddenly feeling a bit old.

Shu Yu didn't delay at the Zhou's house for too long. After drinking some tea out of politeness, she was ready to leave.

Zhou Qiao's father didn't stop them this time and just watched them leave.

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As soon as Shu Yu left, the neighboring women who were peeking around immediately came over to inquire.

Zhou Qiao's father wasn't good with words and excused himself, saying he was feeling dizzy from drinking too much, then went back to his room to rest.

So the others approached Zhou Qiao's second couple. Despite appearing envious and jealous in front of Zhou Qiao's father's family, they secretly taunted and cursed them from time to time, but when facing outsiders, Zhou Qiao's second Aunt would smile and say, "Oh, the Lu family might not have a grand ceremony, but their food and drinks are top-notch. Otherwise, why would my husband and big brother drink so much? They're just too happy. Seeing that Qiaoqiao is doing well, we can rest assured... I'm not lying, did you not see just now? That person is Lord Lu Xiangjun, if she didn't value our Qiaoqiao, why would she personally send us back?"

Zhou Qiao's second Aunt knew that she had to cling to Lu Xiangjun, as it would bring them benefits. After all, if people knew that the Lu family treated Zhou Qiao well, they would also benefit from the association.

Sure enough, when the others heard what Zhou Qiao's second Aunt said, they all showed envious looks.

By this time, Shu Yu had already returned to the county with the old lady.

Once she got home, she immediately wrote a letter to Qi Lie. She explained her suspicions and the situation with the bead, then sent it through the channel he provided.

Besides Qi Lie, she also wrote a letter to Meng Yunzheng. Although he was about to participate in the government exam, Shu Yu was worried that if something happened in the capital, it might affect those below. So she wanted to let Meng Yunzheng know, in case he was caught off guard.

 Chapter 1354: Signing the Agreement

"Of course, if you're tight on money, you can borrow for now. Once the sunflowers are grown, you can deduct the seed money from the payment."

After Shu Yu finished speaking, the villagers began to whisper to each other.

In the end, three families decided to borrow, while the rest chose to pay upfront.

Shu Yu wasn't surprised and quickly asked them about the area they wanted to plant.

For those who were planting sunflowers for the first time, about half of them were only planting one or two mu of land. Shu Yu didn't mind, as she would purchase the sunflowers based on weight and quality.

Among the remaining half, the smallest area was three mu, like what Liang's wife wanted to plant.

The largest area was planned by the young man named Da Qiang, as mentioned earlier. He had ten mu of land and intended to plant sunflowers on all of it, leaving only six fen for growing vegetables.

Shu Yu was a bit surprised and looked at Da Qiang, asking, "Are you sure?"

Da Qiang nodded, "I'm sure."

The soil on his family's land was not good at all. In the past, their fertile land had been forcibly exchanged by a wealthy landlord due to its advantageous location.

As a result, starting from his grandfather's generation, they could only cultivate inferior land, and life became worse with each passing day.

By the time of his generation, although his family had more land, the harvests weren't good, leading him and his elder brother to remain unmarried even in their twenties.

His elder brother had gone to the prefectural city to find work, and he also wanted to leave, but he couldn't because there were elderly parents and a twelve-year-old sister at home, and he couldn't leave them.

As a result, he couldn't even go to the workshops for employment. However, he felt suffocated staying on these ten mu's of land.

He was the first one to think about planting sunflowers, and since he wasn't familiar with the Lu family, he asked his neighbor, Liang's wife, for information. After all, uncle Liang had been working with Lu Erbai for some time.

As a result, Liang's wife was also convinced, and the news spread from one person to another. Currently, twelve households were planning to plant sunflowers.

Shu Yu was very pleased; she had a strong impression of Da Qiang.

"If everyone is okay with it, I will start writing the agreement. When Da Niu brings the seeds, you can ask him if you have any questions. However, he will only stay in Shishi Village initially and will return to his village afterward. If you have any questions later, you can ask my uncle."

"Alright," Da Qiang was the first to nod.

Shu Yu asked Ying Xi to bring the writing tools from the carriage and began writing the agreement in front of everyone.

She wrote down all the details and then filled in the area each person wanted to plant.

Finally, they pressed their handprints.

Shu Yu collected the agreements and saw that it was getting late, so she stood up and said, "Alright, everything is done. When you go back, prepare the land first. I hope everyone will have a good harvest."

After signing the agreements, the villagers were a little nervous and excited. When they left Lu's house, they were somewhat bewildered and didn't know if their decision today was right or wrong.

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However, after they planted the sunflowers and received twice the money they would have earned from growing crops, they began to feel fortunate about their decision.

As time went on, more and more people started planting sunflowers. Gradually, not only Shishi Village but also the neighboring villages were filled with shimmering golden colors as sunflowers became a local specialty of Jiangyuan County.

Shu Yu took the signed agreements back to Lu Dasong's house. By this time, everyone had rested enough, and they were discussing their plan to return.

Even Grandma Lu seemed much more energetic. However, Zhou Qiao's father wasn't good with alcohol and was still a bit groggy after taking a nap.

It seemed that he couldn't drive the carriage, but Zhou Qiao's second uncle didn't know how to drive.

In the end, the Zhou family decided to leave with Shu Yu's group since they had to pass through their village on the way back to the county.

Chapter 1353: Settling Scores with Close Brothers

The villagers arrived quickly, knowing that Shu Yu and Da Niu would both be at Lu's house today, so they had been waiting at home early in the morning.

Lu Dasong's house was crowded and noisy, not suitable for discussing matters.

Shu Yu decided to hold the meeting at her own house. Although the house in the village was no longer occupied, Lu Dasong took care of it, so it hadn't fallen into disrepair.

Moreover, when they came over this morning, Ruan Shi had already tidied up the inside and outside of the house, so everything was neat and clean.

Ying Xi brought two teapots from Lu Dasong's house and just poured water into the cups when people started arriving at the door one after another.

Most of them were men, with three women among them.

Surprisingly, one of them turned out to be Liang Wangsheng's wife.

Ever since Liang Wangsheng started working with Lu Erbai on repairing jobs, the family's life had gradually improved.

Lu Erbai and Liang Wangsheng were indeed a perfect match, and they worked together efficiently, making tasks much easier.

As a result, Liang Wangsheng earned more money. Originally, Liang's family was in dire straits due to the debts from Li Dashan, their son-in-law, who gambled recklessly. Now, someone even wanted to propose to Liang's daughter.

However, Liang's daughter had just given birth to a child and had experienced the incident where Li Dashan took the money and eloped with someone else. She was not particularly interested in getting married again.

Currently, Liang Wangsheng was working outside, while his wife and daughter were living a peaceful life at home, taking care of their grandson.

In Shu Yu's memory, didn't Liang's family sell most of their land? Li Dashan owed a lot of gambling debts, and creditors were going after Liang's family to collect. They used the land to fill the holes caused by his debts.

Because they knew each other, Liang Wangsheng's wife came forward first to say hello.

Seeing that others seemed a bit reserved, Shu Yu decided to talk to Liang Wangsheng's wife first to understand the situation.

Liang Wangsheng's wife smiled, "Yes, we originally sold all our land. But recently, we bought three mu of land. At first, we wanted to grow crops, but when we heard that Da Qiang and the others wanted to grow sunflowers, I discussed it with my husband and decided to try growing sunflowers too."

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The main reason was that she had inquired with Lu Dasong, and sunflowers weren't that complicated to grow, nor did they require excellent soil conditions.

Currently, it was only her and her daughter at home, plus they had to take care of their grandson. They didn't have much time to spare. When they bought those three mu of land, it wasn't fertile, and the soil quality wasn't great. Growing crops might yield limited results, so they thought of trying sunflowers.

After hearing this, Shu Yu nodded, "Since you and your husband have discussed it, then give it a try. But let me make it clear: if the harvest is not good, I won't buy it."

She deliberately raised her voice a bit at the last sentence, wanting others to hear it too.

Liang Wangsheng's wife hurriedly assured her, "Second Miss, please rest assured. We understand. If the harvest is bad, we won't sell it to you either."

The others quickly echoed, "That's right, we won't force a sale. We can sign an agreement on this."

Seeing their attitude, Shu Yu knew they had considered everything.

"Alright, since all of you uncles are interested in growing sunflowers, I'll write up an agreement. Find someone who can read and write to review it, and we'll write down the required price. Each household will sign it, and after that, I'll have Da Niu sell the seeds to you."

Yes, sell. Clear agreements between close brothers, and she would make sure to explain everything clearly. If they were okay with it, then they could proceed.

However, she would also provide some convenience.

 Chapter 1352: Persuading to Drink

At the end, only second Uncle Zhou was still shouting there.

Da Niu rejected him a few times, but second Uncle Zhou didn't back down. Getting a bit annoyed, Da Niu pretended not to hear his words, laughed it off, and walked past him directly.

The noise over there was quite loud, and Shu Yu subconsciously looked over, frowning slightly.

Second Uncle Zhou was unhappy that Da Niu didn't take him seriously. He was about to chase after him when he turned around and saw Shu Yu giving him a displeased look. He immediately withdrew his hand.

When he realized what happened, he felt a bit embarrassed. Why should he be afraid of that girl? Today was the celebration day of his in-laws. Could she dare to make trouble for him on such a day?

Thinking this way, second uncle Zhou still didn't dare to stop Da Niu. Instead, he turned and pulled Zhou Qiao's father, saying, "Big brother, are you feeling particularly happy today? If you're happy, have a few more drinks. This wine is from the son-in-law's family, and it's a rare good wine that shouldn't be wasted."

That was true. Second uncle Zhou was enticed by the fragrance of the wine and couldn't resist having two cups right at the beginning.

He inquired about the wine and found out that it was not cheap; it was specially purchased by Big Bull from the famous auspicious liquor store in the county. Anyway, it wasn't his money, so he just enjoyed it.

"Yes, I am happy today," Zhou's father said and also had a cup. He was genuinely happy.

His daughter had married a good husband, and he had worried that his daughter a bit dizzy from drinking.

Second Uncle Zhou was unhappy and wanted him to keep drinking. Seeing this, Lu Sanzhu couldn't bear it any longer. It was just drinking, right? He would handle it.

So Lu Sanzhu made second Uncle Zhou drink until he couldn't get up, feeling proud. His alcohol tolerance was definitely top-notch.

The banquet ended, and Zhou Qiao's father and second uncle Zhou couldn't walk properly, so they had to be sent to their rooms to rest.

Zhou's mother was furious because she still had some business to attend to, but everyone was lying around like mud.

Zhou Qiao's three younger sisters, on the other hand, were very happy and chatted with Zhou Qiao for quite a while.

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Grandma Lu also had a few cups, and Shu Yu escorted her back to her room to rest.

It was still early, and since they couldn't leave temporarily, Shu Yu planned to talk to the villagers about growing sunflowers.

Originally, she wanted to stay overnight and discuss it tomorrow.

Now that she knew about Zhu Zi's situation from Yuan Shanchuan, she couldn't wait. She just wanted to hurry back to the county and write a letter to inform Qi Lie about the matter.

If the Second Prince was truly alive, they would have to rely on Qi Lie and his group to find him. Shu Yu didn't have the influence or manpower for that.

Shu Yu moved the discussion with the villagers to today, which left Fan Zhongzheng stunned for a while.

He had also drunk quite a bit at noon, and when he heard that Shu Yu wanted to meet with the villagers now, he was dazed for a while before he came back to his senses.

He didn't want to go and get them. He just wanted to sleep after drinking so much.

However, Fan Zhongzheng still had to consider Shu Yu's identity, so even though he felt uneasy, he still sent his son to get the villagers.

 Chapter 1351: Forgetting the Pearl Incident

  Shu Yu came back to her senses and took a deep breath, forcing a smile, "It's nothing, just thinking about some unpleasant things."

  "Related to the pearl?" Yuan Shanchuan, now having a broader perspective as someone who eats from the government, easily thought of more complicated matters.

  Shu Yu nodded, "Yes, somewhat. Fourth Uncle, thanks for telling me about this. I've also felt that the pearl looked familiar, but couldn't remember where I had seen it. Now, at least, I have some clues and feel relieved."

  "I was afraid it might get us involved with the black market and cause trouble."

  Indeed, if things were as she had imagined, it would be a serious problem.

  Shu Yu fell silent for a moment and then looked serious when she lifted her head, "Fourth Uncle, regarding the pearl incident, do not mention it to anyone in the future. You're right; getting involved with the black market is not a good thing. From now on, you must completely forget about the pearl."

  Yuan Shanchuan opened his mouth, intending to ask if she encountered any trouble and needed his help. But then he realized that with her current status and the people she knew, if she faced serious issues, those people would be more suitable to help her, and he might actually become a burden.

  Thinking of this, Yuan Shanchuan nodded, "Alright, I'll follow your lead."

  "Let's go back and continue the feast."

  They both walked back, and when they arrived in the backyard, Shu Yu subconsciously looked at Xiao Songle.

  The little guy was sitting next to Quan Quan, as if they were in a competition to see who could eat faster. Lu Sixing was on the side stopping them, and on the other side sat the woman that Meng Yunzheng had hired to take care of Xiao Songle.

  The child had become much more cheerful now. Compared to last year, he seemed like a completely different person.

  "Ah Yu?" Grandma's voice rang in her ears.

  Shu Yu turned her head and smiled as she sat beside her.

  Grandma Lu noticed that something seemed off about her expression and asked with concern, "Did you talk about something with your Fourth Uncle? You look like you have something on your mind."

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  "It's nothing. Just some business-related thoughts." She quickly changed the topic, "Grandma, how many dishes have been served?"

  Seeing that Shu Yu didn't want to talk about it, Grandma Lu didn't press further, "Three dishes have been served. Here, I've already put two of them in your bowl. Eat quickly."

  "Grandma Lu, you're the best."

  For now, Shu Yu put aside those thoughts and focused on eating.

  The Full Moon Banquet was particularly lively. During the meal, Da Niu went to toast several tables.

  He only touched his lips with a small wine cup, not drinking much.

  Soon, this annoyed the others, and they insisted that he change to a larger cup.

  Especially second uncle Zhou, who had probably had two drinks already and was a bit tipsy. He demanded that Da Niu show some respect for him as an uncle and insisted that Da Niu drink three cups in a row.

  Da Niu didn't want to reek of alcohol when holding his daughter, as the little girl was quite sensitive to smells. If she smelled something unpleasant, she would cry.

  So, Da Niu made an excuse that he had to deal with matters at the workshop later, so he couldn't drink much.

  The Lu family members were more understanding; apart from Lu Sanzhu, the others were not good drinkers, and they were easy to talk to. The younger generation, including Lai Jinhai, who was slightly older than Da Niu, wouldn't force him to drink.

  As for Lu Sanzhu, he was afraid of Shu Yu. When he heard Da Niu mention that he had some business to deal with later, he immediately calmed down.

  Lai Jinhai always listened to Cui Hua, so naturally, he wouldn't make things difficult for his brother-in-law.

 Chapter 1350: Did He Really Die?

Wait a minute.

Shu Yu's face suddenly changed.

Xiao Songle's bead was left behind at the scene when the Song family was exterminated. It was the murderer's possession.

And they had no doubt that the murderer was from Gong Qiu.

Now, the steward of the black market also had the same bead necklace. There must be a significant connection between the steward and the murderer.

If the murderer was from Gong Qiu, could it be that the black market was also related to Gong Qiu??? Shu Yu was shocked by her own conjecture. If the black market was indeed connected to Gong Qiu, it might explain why manager Guo, the steward, was unwilling to sell the black market to Meng Yunzheng.

Earlier, she and Meng Yunzheng couldn't figure out the grudges between the black market and him. Now, it didn't seem strange anymore.

But Gong Qiu was dead. He was beheaded last year. However, the black market was still operating, and someone was clearly giving orders. Even when they closed down the black market in Jiangyuan County, it was done orderly.

Gong Qiu's identity was verified before his execution. The Fifth Prince was a cautious person and would not let him escape by faking his death.

Wait a minute... Gong Qiu's identity was verified, but there was one person who was not verified—the Second Prince.

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The Second Prince was Gong Qiu's son. The late Emperor hated him to the core and would never spare him.

But that was something only the late Emperor knew in his heart; he would not publicly announce that he was cuckolded.

Therefore, the late Emperor would not directly execute his "son" even though he hated him in his heart. The court officials would not agree either.

Moreover, the Second Prince had rebellious intentions, but he hadn't taken any action yet.

Throughout history, even for those princes who took action, their final fate was not necessarily execution.

So the late Emperor simply demoted the Second Prince to a commoner and imprisoned him in a secluded courtyard.

Of course, whether it was Shu Yu or Meng Yunzheng, they both knew that the late Emperor would not let this trouble linger. He was just waiting for an opportunity, and he was definitely aiming to let the Second Prince die before him.

So, at the end of last year, just about ten days before the late Emperor's death, an accident occurred in the secluded courtyard.

It was said that the Second Prince was feeling depressed and paddled a bamboo raft in the courtyard's lake.

Unexpectedly, he fell into the water and drowned.

However, the servants in the courtyard did not discover his body until several days later. After all, the Second Prince, as a demoted commoner, only ate one meal a day, and the servants did not dare to serve him wholeheartedly.

Moreover, the Second Prince became extremely irritable after his demotion and often abused the servants. Over time, the servants were unwilling to approach him. They would only leave food outside his room and leave if they couldn't remember him.

As a result, they sent him meals several times before realizing that he had not taken them inside. They found his body in the lake afterward.

By then, the Second Prince's body was already swollen from soaking in the water.

After being informed, the late Emperor merely had the Dali Temple and the Forbidden Army confirm the situation, and then he dealt with the servants in the courtyard and hastily buried the Second Prince.

The world said that the Second Prince was dead.

But what if it wasn't him who died?

Shu Yu had never thought about it in this direction before. She believed that the Second Prince's death must have been done by the late Emperor, and nothing accidental would happen.

But if the black market was really related to him and Gong Qiu, could there be something suspicious about the Second Prince's death?

"Ah Yu, Ah Yu? What are you thinking about?" Yuan Shanchuan noticed that she had been silent for a long time, and her expression was extremely bad. He couldn't help but worry.

 Chapter 1349: Where Have I Seen This

The tables were set in the backyard since the house had just been renovated, and the backyard was still plain without vegetables being planted yet.

The backyard was spacious enough to accommodate several tables.

Shu Yu sat at the main table with Grandma Lu . At this moment, Xiao Zao Zao was already back in Zhou Qiao's arms, curiously looking around.

Shu Yu took a glance and saw that the dishes were served, so she helped Grandma Lu with some food.

"That's enough, sit down and eat. You don't need to take care of me," Grandma Lu said, pulling her back and smiling happily as she looked at the whole family enjoying the reunion.

Shu Yu sat back down and just lowered her head to take a sip of soup when she suddenly felt a gaze fixed on her.

She turned slightly and lifted her head, meeting the eyes of her Fourth Uncle, Yuan Shanchuan.

Shu Yu was taken aback, looking puzzledly at her Fourth Uncle.

Yuan Shanchuan pursed his lips and gestured to her. Shu Yu understood and said to the old lady, "Auntie, I suddenly remembered something I need to discuss with my Fourth Uncle. Let me go over there for a moment so I won't forget later."

"Go ahead."

Shu Yu got up, and Yuan Shanchuan also quickly communicated with Lu Sixing before walking to the front yard with Shu Yu.

....

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....

There weren't many people in the front yard at this time. Apart from those helping with serving dishes, most of the others were dining in the backyard.

Walking to a corner, Shu Yu asked, "What does Fourth Uncle want to talk to me about?"

Yuan Shanchuan said in a low voice, "Ah Yu, do you know that Le Le has a bead in his hand?"

Shu Yu paused and suddenly raised her head, "Why did Fourth Uncle suddenly mention that bead?"

Of course, she knew. When she first saw Xiao Songle, she felt that the bead in the child's hand looked somewhat familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere, but she couldn't recall where.

She didn't expect Yuan Shanchuan to bring it up. Could it be...

"Did you see it somewhere else too, Fourth Uncle?"

"Yes." Yuan Shanchuan nodded.

Shu Yu was startled. Somewhere else? In the black market?

"Fourth Uncle, have you seen it in the black market?"

Yuan Shanchuan frowned slightly, "Yes."

Shu Yu was stunned. In the black market?

"Did you remember where in the black market?"

"The black market's steward wanted to get my painting. We had a conflict, and at that time, on his wrist, I saw a bead necklace with the same beads as the one in Xiao Songle's hand. He seemed to treasure it a lot."

After seeing the bead, Yuan Shanchuan thought it over and decided to talk to Shu Yu about it first.

That steward was not a good person, and the black market was not a good place to go. The relationships inside were complex, and the forces behind it were strong.

Yuan Shanchuan was worried that Xiao Songle might not know where he found the bead or who gave it to him, which might cause trouble later.

If they speculated a bit more conspiratorially, Yuan Shanchuan was even more worried that someone might target Shu Yu and then target Xiao Songle.

Especially since Xiao Songle cherished the bead so much, Yuan Shanchuan was even more concerned.

At this moment, Shu Yu felt like she had been struck by lightning. She had never thought of it before her Fourth Uncle brought it up.

Now that she suddenly recalled it, she did see the bead in the hand of that steward in the black market. That was why she felt somewhat familiar with the bead.

Back then, she and that steward also had some interactions, but it was merely a brief encounter. Afterward, the steward was punished for failing to complete a task, and then he was replaced by Guo, the steward who was there now.

Since then, Shu Yu had only seen Guo, not that steward. Compared to Yuan Shanchuan, who had a conflict with that steward, Shu Yu had only had a casual encounter with him, so she naturally couldn't remember him clearly.

 Chapter 1348: Thoughts of the Upper Stone Village Residents

Grandma Lu was half doubtful, "Really?"

"Yes, he talked to me about the villagers in the village wanting to grow sunflowers."

The old lady was taken aback, "Grow sunflowers?"

"Probably some of the workers from the workshop mentioned it when they came back. The village knows about our long-term business partnership with the capital. Sunflowers are likely to be in long-term demand, and some villagers are interested in trying their hand at it."

Of course, there weren't many people interested in growing them.

In this day and age, grains were the foundation for a farmer's household, and planting anything other than food crops made people uneasy.

However, there were some families who liked to take risks. They had land and asked Lu Dasong whether sunflowers were suitable to plant. Then, they wanted to try it out.

These people had consulted Lu Dasong quietly and inquired about whether the workshop needed sunflowers and whether it was a good idea for villagers to grow them.

Once they received a definite answer from Lu Dasong, they felt reassured.

However, it wasn't just one or two villagers who sought Lu Dasong's advice. There were around ten families interested in growing sunflowers. When there were more people interested, Lu Da Song suggested that they should go to the village head and let him talk to Shu Yu about it.

Shu Yu thought Lu Dasong's decision was wise.

....

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....

Otherwise, if everyone came to Lu Dasong, it would cause him a lot of trouble.

With Fan Zhongzheng as the village head, everyone could communicate and coordinate better.

However, Fan Zhongzheng wasn't exactly a proactive and far-sighted village head. He believed that these people were just fooling around. Why would they want to plant sunflowers when they could focus on growing food crops? If they encountered a year of disaster later on, he wondered how they would handle it.

He not only disagreed initially but also scolded these people, telling them to focus on farming.

He even said that if they felt they didn't have enough money to get by, he could swallow his pride and go to Shu Yu to ask for help in arranging some work in the workshop for the villagers.

However, the villagers who dared to take risks were not without brains.

They knew roughly what kind of person Lu Xiangjun was, let alone the village head's face, she might not even consider the face of the entire Lu family.

They didn't believe the village head's empty promises and considered finding Lu Dasong instead.

But they also knew the village head's character. If they directly went to Lu Dasong, it might make the village head feel uneasy and create trouble later on.

So, someone suggested sending some meat to the village head's wife to try to influence her.

With this suggestion, Fan Zhongzheng agreed.

These things were told to Lu Dasong by one of the villagers. When Shu Yu went to see Fan Zhongzheng after entering the main hall, Lu Dasong mentioned it to her first.

Sure enough, Fan Zhongzheng talked to her about this matter. However, he still thought these people were fooling around, so he didn't take it too seriously when discussing it with Shu Yu.

To his surprise, Shu Yu agreed. She said that she would take care of purchasing all the sunflowers the villagers grew.

The price could be negotiated slowly, but the quality of the sunflowers couldn't be too poor. If they were of poor quality, she had the right not to cooperate.

However, since today was Zao Zao's full moon banquet, Shu Yu didn't want to discuss these matters here. She arranged to talk about the specific details tomorrow.

Grandma Lu felt relieved and didn't ask any more questions.

Just then, Liang Shi's voice came from outside, "The banquet is ready, come out and eat."

Shu Yu quickly helped Grandma Lu to stand up, and the two of them walked out together.

 Chapter 1347: Xiao Songle Ran Away

Yuan Shanchuan furrowed his brows and looked at the pearl, flipping it over and over. He was certain that he had seen this pearl before.

"Uncle, my pearl, give it to me." Xiao Songle saw Yuan Shanchuan return but kept his head down, looking at his small pearl. However, Yuan Shanchuan didn't return it to him, which made him anxious. He stood on his tiptoes and tugged at Yuan Shanchuan's sleeve.

Yuan Shanchuan snapped back to reality, crouched down, and handed the pearl back to him. He smiled and asked, "Le Le, where did you get this pearl?"

Xiao Songle quickly put the pearl back into his bag. He obviously hadn't forgotten that he needed to prepare a gift for Zao Zao. So, as soon as he secured the precious pearl in his bag, he immediately began searching for something else in his bag.

However, upon hearing Yuan Shanchuan's question, he paused. He raised his head, blinked at him, and suddenly ran away.

"Eh..." Yuan Shanchuan was caught off guard and couldn't catch him. He could only watch as Xiao Songle ran straight into the main hall.

The child seemed to cherish the pearl very much and didn't want to tell him anything about it.

Well, if he doesn't want to say, then he won't press him.

Meanwhile, Quan Quan followed after Xiao Songle, calling out, "Wait for me."

Inside the main hall, Xiao Songle was spotted by Grandma Lu. She quickly waved her hand, "Le Le, don't run. There are many people here, be careful not to bump into anyone."

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....

Xiao Songle stopped and was soon caught up by Quan Quan.

Quan Quan looked puzzled, "Why did you run?"

He didn't know why he ran either. He just instinctively ran when someone asked about the pearl.

Because whether it was Uncle or Auntie Yu, they had all told him not to show the pearl to others or talk about where it came from.

Although he didn't know why, he knew that Uncle and Auntie Yu wouldn't harm him, so he just obeyed them.

Seeing that he was in a daze, Quan Quan bumped into him, "Le Le?"

Children have short memories. One moment he was asking him questions, and the next moment he started talking about something else on his own, "I saw a sturdy-looking branch over there. Let's go get it and play."

"Sure, sure."

The two children held hands and went outside.

Passing by, Shu Yu twitched her mouth. A branch... what's so formidable about it?

She shook her head and went inside to find the old lady.

Grandma Lu pulled her to sit beside her and asked in a low voice, "Did you finish talking with the village head?"

"Yeah."

Although the full moon banquet for Zao Zao was not grand, the village head of Shishi Village and two respected elders still came. As the Lu family's situation improved, more people from the village either worked for Lu Erbai or at Shu Yu's workshop. The village head and elders hoped to have a better relationship with them.

With the Lu family celebrating joyous occasions, they naturally received congratulations from the village head and elders.

After Shu Yu came, Village Head Fan Zhong found her to discuss some matters with her. They had been talking until now.

Zhou Qiao's second Aunt was a little worried, "What did he talk to you about? Did he ask for your help? Let me tell you, Shu Yu, if it's something trivial and doable, then go ahead and help. If not, then just decline politely, understand?"

Her voice became even lower as she leaned close to Shu Yu's ear, "Although Village Head Fan is not a downright evil person, he can't be considered kind-hearted either. Don't give him any favors just because he's the village head, you hear me?"

Seeing the old lady's serious expression, Shu Yu smiled and reassured her, "Grandmother, don't worry. Village Head Fan didn't talk about anything difficult."

 Chapter 1346: Yuan Shanchuan's Surprise

Quan Quan turned around and pointed at Zhou Qiao's second Aunt, saying, "That old lady said I'm an elder and should prepare a gift for my little niece." He looked at Xiao Song Yue and asked, "Have you prepared one?"

Xiao Songle looked completely baffled. He had no idea about preparing a gift. What should he do?

Quickly, the child lowered his head and looked into his bag. He always carried a small bag with him, which was prepared by Shu Yu, and it contained all the delicious and fun things he had. Now that he heard about preparing a gift, he wanted to see if there was anything suitable in his bag.

Yuan Shanchuan frowned upon hearing his son's words and glanced at Zhou Qiao's second Aunt

She had been watching them, but when she noticed his gaze, she immediately turned her head, pretending not to know anything.

Yuan Shanchuan coldly snorted in his heart, then turned to Quan Quan and said, "We have already prepared a gift for Zao Zao, along with your part."

Quan Quan still looked puzzled and scratched the back of his head.

Was that so?

Although he didn't quite understand, he trusted that his father's words were reasonable. Since the gift was prepared, there was no need to worry.

Relieved, Quan Quan let go of Xiao Songle hand and said, "Let's go play."

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....

With this action, the pearl in Xiao Song Yue's hand slipped and fell to the ground, rolling away.

"Ah, my pearl!"

Yuan Shanchuan helplessly gave his son a brain cramp and quickly said to the two, "Stay here and don't wander around. I'll pick it up."

With so many people in the eldest uncle's house today and everyone busy carrying plates and things, the children running around could easily cause trouble if they bumped into someone. It was not a joke.

Yuan Shanchuan told the two to stay put and then followed the rolling pearl to a corner of the courtyard. The wooden boards here were leftover from the renovation of the Lu family's main house and were stacked together.

Yuan Shanchuan squatted down and took some effort to find the pearl under one of the wooden boards.

After taking it out, the pearl was covered in rolling dust, and he couldn't give it to the child directly. Looking around, he saw a wooden basin used for washing vegetables. He used the water to clean the pearl.

After cleaning it, he felt relieved and was about to give it back to Xiao Songle.

However, unexpectedly, when he wiped the pearl with a handkerchief, Yuan Shanchuan suddenly stopped and looked at the pattern on the pearl in astonishment.

This pattern... he had seen it before.

 Chapter 1345: Full 100 Day

Thinking that way, Zhou Qiao's Aunt still went up to take a look.

Well, surprise, this little girl is indeed quite pretty. Not to mention her skin, which is the fairest Zhou Qiao's Aunt has ever seen, just her chubby appearance—can you believe she's just a one-month-old baby girl?

How much good food must she have eaten to turn into such a rich young lady?

Li Shi saw her coming and raised her chin slightly, asking, "How is she? Isn't my granddaughter adorable?"

Zhou Qiao's second Aunt felt a twinge of envy in her heart, "Well, she's just okay."

Knowing that she was jealous, Li Shi didn't bother with her and, coincidentally, Ah Ning came over.

Ah Ning had been following old doctor Zhao to travel outside for medical treatments during this time, and it had been about five or six days since her last visit.

Having not seen her in five or six days, she rushed to see little Zao Zao as soon as she entered the door.

"Aunt, I came to see my niece. Show her to me quickly."

Li Shi sat on a stool and slightly turned her body to let Ah Ning take a look.

Xiao Zao Zao blinked her eyes and stared at Ah Ning, then suddenly grinned.

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....

Ah Ning was delighted, "My niece is so cute! Oh, by the way, I prepared a gift for her."

Li Shi's eyes brightened slightly, but she still spoke with some reserve, "You're so young, how come you're already preparing gifts?"

"I'm her aunt, and as an elder, I should prepare a gift," Ah Ning replied.

As she spoke, she took out a rattle from her sleeve, "I just went to the Dong'an Prefecture with Master a few days ago, and I bought this there. It's said to be a new style that's not available here yet. Look, it has two beads on this side, and when you shake it, it sounds like multiple layers."

She demonstrated by swinging the rattle left and right.

The "dong dong dong" sound quickly caught Zao Zao's excitement, and she stared at the rattle as it moved.

Not only her, but even Quan Quan, who was playing nearby, heard it too.

Being still so young, he was naturally drawn to such little toys, so he hurriedly ran over, leaned against Ah Ning, and looked at it with eager eyes.

Ah Ning...

She whispered, "...Quan Quan, this is a gift for your little cousin on her full moon day. Next time I go to the City, I'll buy one for you too, okay?"

Quan Quan blinked, "Full moon day?"

Before Ah Ning could respond, Zhou Qiao's second Aunt suddenly interjected, "Yes, this is a gift for your little niece's full moon day. She said she's an elder, so she should give it. You're also an elder, so did you prepare a gift for your little niece?"

Quan Quan looked surprised, "Me, me..."

Li Shi furrowed her brows and turned to look at the Aunt, "What are you saying, second Sister? How can you expect a three-year-old child to prepare a gift?"

Zhou Qiao's second Aunt was dismissive, "I was just joking."

However, what she considered a joke, the three-year-old Quan Quan didn't see it that way.

He tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then ran away.

It turns out that if you want to give a gift to your little niece, you have to prepare it. Since he didn't prepare one, he could only look for his parents.

At this moment, Lu Sixing was busy inside the house, helping out, while Yuan Shanchuan stood in the yard talking to someone.

Quan Quan immediately ran towards his father, not noticing Xiao Songle following him.

Xiao Songle called out to him, and he followed him too.

Quan Quan ran to Yuan Shanchuan and looked up, asking, "Dad, where's my gift?"

Yuan Shanchuan was taken aback and hadn't reacted yet when Xiao Songle asked curiously, "What gift?"

 Chapter 1344: Meng Yunzheng Tops the County Exam

Zhao Xi, being experienced, easily understood the meaning behind Shu Yu's gaze and widened his eyes in surprise.

"What? Is my brother's fiancée being eyed by someone else?"

But then he thought it through. This brother was about to leave for the capital and wouldn't be back for a while. So, there shouldn't be any problems.

Feeling relieved, Zhao Xi went back to take care of his pregnant wife.

After seeing Xiang Weinan off, Shu Yu started preparing for the production of instant noodles. Though the workshop was not busy at the moment and had space, instant noodles couldn't be produced there due to certain reasons. She realized that she needed to build a new workshop.

Shu Yu discussed this with Lu Erbai, and he immediately agreed to provide manpower for constructing the new workshop. He had enough people under his command to spare.

However, before they even began construction, a letter from Meng Yunzheng arrived.

As expected, he was ranked first in the county exam.

He also mentioned that Shu Yu's instant noodles were perfect for the exam hall, and they were suitable for people on long journeys and traveling merchants. If possible, she could consider expanding this business.

Shu Yu had already thought of this herself.

....

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....

Meng Yunzheng said he was doing well, but after the county exam, he still had the provincial and metropolitan exams ahead of him. The provincial exam would be in June, and he wouldn't be back until at least July.

Although it had only been a month since he left Jiangyuan County, he already missed being back.

Zhao Xi, reading the letter, was quite disdainful. "Since when did he become so homesick?"

Shu Yu kept the letter away without letting Zhao Xi read it further.

Zhao Xi said, "..."

After replying to Meng Yunzheng's letter, Shu Yu continued to busy herself with the workshop.

Not long after, it was early Full Moon Day.

The little girl was one month old, and it was also the time for Zhou Qiao to finish her postnatal confinement. Da Niu and her discussed it and decided not to hold a grand celebration. However, they changed the venue to Shishi Village this time. They couldn't keep holding it here; it wouldn't be proper.

Also, it was time to bring the child back home after one month.

Fortunately, the house of the Lu family had been repaired and the yard was enlarged and cleaned up.

The combined families of the Lu and Zhou were at least five tables.

This time, Zhou Qiao's second Aunt and her husband attended, and they even brought their two sons and two daughters. They insisted on sitting in the same cart as Zhou's father, which was drawn by a mule.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have fit with such a small child.

When they arrived at the Lu family's house, Zhou Qiao's second Aunt sneakily looked at the other members of the Lu family, wanting to know if they were genuinely okay with the birth of Zhou Qiao's daughter, as Zhou's father had said.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered, they saw Li Shi holding Zhao in her arms and boasting to the village chief's wife, "My granddaughter, she changes every day. Look at her fair and tender little face. That's all thanks to me."

The village chief's wife followed up, "If Xiao Zhao looks so good, why does it become your credit?"

"If it weren't for me stewing chicken and cooking fish for Da Niu's wife every day during her postnatal confinement, how could Xiao Zhao eat so well and grow up healthily? Tell me, isn't it my credit?"

Hearing this, Zhou Qiao's second Aunt sneered secretly. She was the one who stewed chicken and cooked fish every day, but now this woman takes all the credit?

 Chapter 1343: Tang Wenqian's Request

Tang Wenqian was no longer the same person as before. He was already a successful candidate (juren) and was now going to the capital with Xiang Weinan. Anyone with a bit of insight knew that his future was boundless, and he wouldn't offend or trouble Tang Wenqian's parents.

Tang Wenqian smiled and said, "Thank you then."

He knew that his parents wouldn't encounter any major problems. However, he was worried because he would be thousands of miles away in the capital. If anything happened, there would be little he could do.

As a son, he couldn't help but worry.

Considering Shu Yu's identity, besides her, he couldn't find anyone else suitable for help.

Tang Wenqian wanted to say more, but in the end, he just smiled and said, "Then... I'll take my leave."

"Take care."

Tang Wenqian returned to his parents' side and bid them farewell.

Shu Yu glanced at them but quickly looked away. Suddenly, a voice came from beside her, "I always thought this Tang Juren had potential, and now he's about to go to the capital. Look at our Shishi Village. Besides you, who else has such achievements at such a young age? Tsk tsk, Tang Wenqian's parents are going to have a comfortable life."

Shu Yu glanced at Lu Sanzhu, "Have you finished talking to Hu Li?"

Yes, Lu Sanzhu came to send him off, and he was sending off Hu Li.

While he didn't have much contact with Xiang Weinan, he had been close to Hu Li for a long time.

This time, they were going back to the capital, and they didn't know when they would meet again. Lu Sanzhu felt a little reluctant and took half a day off to come and see them off.

....

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....

Upon hearing Shu Yu's words, Lu Sanzhu nodded and continued to look at Tang Wenqian, commenting on him.

"He's successful, but he's still not married. He's already twenty, and Tang Wenqian's parents are very anxious. But he seems to be unconcerned. You know, he might want to find a wife in the capital?"

Shu Yu rubbed her forehead, "Third Uncle, you seem to be quite concerned about Tang Wenqian's affairs."

"Of course, you know that your third aunt and Tang's family are not on good terms. When we returned to the village last time, I specifically asked about it. I heard from the village chief that people have been coming to propose marriage for the Tang family, and they're not ordinary villagers. They're girls from the town and county. Tang's parents are quite ambitious, but they haven't seen any suitable matches for Tang Juren."

Shu Yu was not interested in others' family affairs.

She was just thinking that the county exam results in Jiangyuan County were out, and she should have received a letter from Meng Yunzheng regarding his results. Shouldn't he be writing to her in a few days?

Zhao Xi, who was following behind, paused when he heard Lu Sanzhu's words and subconsciously turned his head to look at Tang Wenqian.

Tang Wenqian, who was already on his horse, also turned his head suddenly. However, he inadvertently met Shu Yu's gaze. He nodded slightly before looking away, focusing on riding away.