"We're not going. The fog on the back mountain is too thick. By the time it clears up, it will be past noon." Jiang Shuyue gently brushed her son's bangs aside with her slender fingers.

There is a maple forest halfway up the mountain, a fiery red expanse that is quite beautiful.

Jiang Shuyue was busy with the rabbit yesterday and didn't have time to appreciate it properly. By the time the fog cleared, it was too late to go back and forth.

"But Uncle Gao Mu wants to take me up the mountain to play."

Jiang Shuyue: "..."

This was a case of ulterior motives; she clearly wanted to take her son up the mountain to search for treasure.

No, she had to go check if the two of them had finished peeling the wild chestnuts.

Holding Sui Sui's hand, I went to the kitchen, where I saw Aunt Cao, Gao Mu, and Cang Yun peeling wild chestnuts.

"Miss, the method you taught is so effective. Just stir-fry it in a pan until it's slightly heated, and the cut will burst open."

Aunt Cao picked up a cracked chestnut and showed it to Jiang Shuyue.

As the saying goes, "those who live near the mountains live off the mountains," and Zhang Qiu brings home a lot of wild chestnuts every year. However, because they are difficult to peel, most of them spoil before they are even finished.

Gao Mu saw that there were still a few unpeeled chestnuts left in the winnowing basket. He chuckled and said, "Miss, they're all peeled. I'll take the young master up the mountain to have a look."

"Don't worry, Miss, we'll definitely be back before noon," Cang Yun quickly added, as if afraid Jiang Shuyue wouldn't agree.

"Mother, I want to go." Sui Sui tilted her head back, grasped Jiang Shuyue's hand, and shook it.

"Go ahead, and come back soon."

Gao Mu and Cang Yun took Sui Sui to use her lightness skill, and they should be back before noon.

Back in the courtyard, I saw Lan'er and Mei'er hanging out the clothes they had changed out of the day before.

Jiang Shuyue sat on the small couch in the hall, pondering her next move.

Qiuju brewed a pot of tea and brought it over. "Miss, in about ten days at most, Young Master Su and Nannan will arrive in the capital. I don't know if they will be able to take the imperial examination."

Jiang Shuyue counted on her fingers and realized that the scientific expedition time in previous years had already passed.

"This year's situation is special, and the scientific expedition will probably be postponed. There's no point in us staying here. We'll return to the city tomorrow, and I still need to go to the palace to inquire about the glass paste."

As the master and servant were talking, Aunt Cao led Zhang Cai's wife, Jin Hua, and son, Zhang Yaozu, to pay their respects.

"May you be blessed, Miss." Jin Hua bowed respectfully.

"I don't come here often, so I'll leave the yard to you and your son to take care of."

Jin Hua wore a slightly faded blue dress, and her hair was neatly styled and tied back with a peach wood hairpin.

He had an ordinary appearance but exuded simplicity, with clear eyes and a respectful demeanor.

"Thank you, Miss. I will clean and sweep every day. The courtyard will always be spotless whenever you come."

Jin Hua had never received a monthly allowance from her previous employer. She heard that her current employer was a woman who had given her the monthly allowance of a head maid in the capital.

She was not good with words and didn't know how to express her gratitude.

Zhang Yaozu stood timidly beside Jin Hua, his dark eyes glancing at Jiang Shuyue before quickly lowering his gaze.

Jiang Shuyue said to Qiuju, "This child is truly adorable, please give her a reward."

Qiuju took two silver ingots and put them into the child's hand, saying gently, "Young master will be back soon, and you can play together."

Seeing that her employer had given her a tip, Jin Hua bowed again to express her gratitude.

Aunt Cao pulled the child over, "Yaozu, come quickly and kowtow to the master."

"It's just a small token of my appreciation since it's the first time I've met the child. Don't frighten the child." Jiang Shuyue raised her hand slightly.

Qiuju stepped forward, took Zhang Yaozu's arm, and said with a smile, "We've already exchanged greetings. If Miss says not to kneel, then don't kneel."

"Thank you for your trust and esteem for our family, Miss. Please feel free to give any instructions, and this old servant will go to the kitchen to get things done right away."

There was still pheasant stewing in the pot. Jin Hua rarely saw important people, so after thanking them, she stood with her head bowed. Aunt Cao quickly led her daughter-in-law and grandson away.

Watching the three of them walk out of the courtyard, Qiuju smiled and said, "Zhang Cai's wife has a steady personality, unlike some women who are loud and boisterous. When I saw her enter the house, she lowered her head, which shows that she knows her manners."

“I noticed that she was dressed simply but very cleanly, so I feel at ease leaving this place to them.”

Jiang Shuyue actually quite liked this place, and she thought that once Yin Qiao and the others were able to stand on their own, she would come to the manor to stay for a while more often.

Before noon, Gao Mu and the others returned from the mountain.

Gao Mu carried a basket of wild chestnuts on his back, while Cang Yun picked a basket of wild apples.

“Miss, these apples are crisp and sweet. The young master said he wants to bring them back to the Emperor and Young Master Nangong.” Cangyun said, putting down the basket.

Jiang Shuyue couldn't possibly say that the palace lacked nothing, given her son's kind intentions.

"Put them all in the carriage; we'll return to the city tomorrow."

Under the tree outside the courtyard, Sui Sui introduced herself to Yao Zu, who was about the same height as her, saying, "My surname is Jiang, and my given name is Sui An. You can call me Sui Sui."

Zhang Yaozu pursed his lips and shook his head timidly, saying, "Grandmother said you are the young master, and Yaozu dares not overstep his bounds."

"I'm over four years old, how old are you?" Sui Sui looked at Yao Zu's height like a little adult.

"Yaozu is six years old." Yaozu's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Eat more chicken later, Mommy says eating more meat helps you grow taller."

Seeing Zhang Yaozu's shy appearance, Sui Sui said with a grin, "Your grandmother is counting on you to bring honor to the family, so you need to grow up strong and healthy."

"Young master, you know so much."

The aroma of stewed pheasant and chestnuts wafted through the air, and Yaozu quietly took a sniff.

"Young Master, can Yaozu also eat chicken?" Perhaps because he was too hungry, Yaozu mustered up his courage and asked.

"Of course you can eat it. There will be fish to eat later."

Yao Zu gave a shy smile. "Thank you, young master."

Before long, the two children became much more familiar with each other.

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