"It's done?"

Seeing that her nephew had a rosy complexion and looked radiant, Wei Shuhua guessed that her method had worked.

Wei Jingnian busied himself grinding ink and picking up his brush, saying happily, "Thank you, Aunt. You are so clever. I just mentioned it casually, and Miss Sun agreed to it."

"Jingnian, don't blame your aunt for pouring cold water on you. Don't get too excited about things too soon. What if it doesn't work out? Wouldn't you be disappointed?"

Wei Shuhua vaguely felt that this matter was not so simple. The Sun family girl was very clever. Just because Jingnian helped him get Xiao Ning back, she was willing to hand over this dyeing and weaving secret technique.

Or perhaps I underestimated Xiao Ning's importance in the Sun family's daughter's heart.

The next day, Sun Miao'er waited at the village entrance early in the morning.

"Miss, when will the other person arrive? I've already been delayed for half an hour!"

The driver, swaying a foxtail grass and wearing a straw hat tilted to one side, urged impatiently.

Sun Miao'er looked up at the blue sky. The sun was already high in the sky. The driver had urged her several times. She forced a smile and said, "Uncle, here are two coins. You've worked hard. He'll be here soon."

If only she had asked for the address of the Wang residence before leaving herself and letting Wei Jingnian figure it out herself, she would have ended up in a difficult position.

After much anticipation, Wei Jingnian finally arrived, jogging towards them.

While at Wei Shuhua's house, with no one to restrain him, Wei Jingnian opened his eyes to find it was already broad daylight. He was shocked to realize that he had missed the appointed time with Miss Sun. Without even eating a hot meal, he headed straight for the village entrance.

The journey from Fushui Village to Pingnan City involves a mountain road, and most villagers travel by oxcart, except for wealthy landowners from the city who come to collect rent, who will travel by sedan chair.

Wei Jingnian came with Wei Shuhua in the family's horse-drawn carriage. The carriage took them to Fushui Village and then returned to the Wei family home.

He planned to stay at the Liang family's house for half a month, so he didn't ask the Wei family's carriage to pick him up.

To get to Pingnan City, the only way was by oxcart from the village entrance. It was his first time riding in an oxcart, and he found it quite novel.

Seeing the driver's face growing increasingly grim, Sun Miao'er quickly waved to him, "Come here!"

Wei Jingnian, panting slightly, climbed onto the oxcart. "Miss Sun, I'm so sorry, I overslept."

With a look of shame on his face, he shifted his lower body and found a comfortable place to sit on the oxcart.

Sun Miao'er followed immediately. If they set off at this hour, they might not be able to return before dark. Fortunately, they had already informed Grandma Sun in advance.

Having learned her lesson from her last trip to the city, this time she specifically sought out a vegetable truck that had previously transported fresh produce. The memory of that swill truck from last time still filled her with a sense of being controlled.

Wei Jingnian looked around from the oxcart. "Miss Sun, this is my first time riding in an oxcart. It's much more comfortable than a horse-drawn carriage. Horse-drawn carriages are so stuffy. This is so much better, and I can even feel the breeze!"

Sun Miao'er thought to herself: How could it not be good? It's a convertible after all, it must be comfortable, you'll see in a bit.

Sure enough, after walking for only half an hour and entering the mountains, Wei Jingnian began to complain incessantly.

The mountain road is full of strange rocks. The oxcart is pulled by oxen at the front, but in reality, it is just two wheels and a wooden plank at the back. The wheels roll over the uneven rocks, and the oxen walk slowly, so every bump is magnified many times.

At first, Wei Jingnian could bear it, but after a long time of bumping around, his brows would furrow every time he went over a rock.

Not wanting to lose face in front of the girl, he could only grit his teeth in pain, try his best to balance his body, and protect his buttocks from the pain.

Sun Miao'er found his appearance truly comical, but she couldn't laugh openly. Instead, she teased, "Young Master Wei, can you still stand it?"

Wei Jingnian sighed and asked, "Miss Sun, doesn't it hurt?"

"I'm thick-skinned and used to it."

Sun Miao'er wiped the sweat from her face. Ever since she rode the swill cart last time, she had mastered the skill of riding an oxcart. Her buttocks had to be suspended in the air and her hands had to hold on firmly, otherwise she was afraid she would be in so much pain that she wouldn't be able to walk the next day.

Wei Jingnian was in unbearable pain, but since the girl could endure it, he was too embarrassed to cry out in pain again. "Uncle driver, how much further do we have to go?"

"Good morning! We've only gone halfway up the mountain road. Don't worry, young man, I promise I'll get you there before dark!"

The driver casually cracked his whip to urge the oxen on, almost falling asleep.

"ah!"

His shout came from two sources: first, they had just passed a huge boulder, and second, he felt a deep sense of despair from the driver's reply.

The man's wails echoed through the mountains.

Wei Jingnian is now kicking himself. If he had known, he would have preferred to arrive in the city a day later and have the Wei family's carriage come over. This oxcart is just too much of a hassle!

As the sun began to set, the oxcart finally came to a stop outside the Wang residence, swaying and rattling.

Wei Jingnian was starving when he left home in the morning. He had been exhausted from the journey all day and his mouth was dry, making it difficult for him to speak.

Seeing that he was exhausted and pale, Sun Miao'er asked, "Young Master Wei, would you like me to help you?"

Wei Jingnian struggled to his feet, his back nearly breaking. "Miss Sun, I'm fine."

His legs were numb from sitting, and even after getting up and walking a few steps, he was still limping. He was no longer the elegant young man he once was. He remained on the ground for a while before slowly regaining consciousness.

"Let's go, Miss Sun."

After tidying himself up, Wei Jingnian finally calmed down and went to knock on the door.

The man who came out to open the door greeted Wei Jingnian with a smile, saying, "Young Master Wei has arrived? Master has been waiting for a long time."

"Butler Wang, is Uncle Wang coming in?"

Wei Jingnian led Sun Miao'er and followed behind Steward Wang into the Wang residence.

As Sun Miao'er walked along, she carefully memorized the route. It turned out that Xiao Ning usually worked in a house like this.

The Wang family was indeed wealthy. The Wang residence was a large mansion with three courtyards. Entering through the main gate, one would find a bright front yard with two uniquely shaped bonsai landscapes, neatly trimmed, and even the flowers and plants exuding vitality.

After passing the front yard, there was a winding corridor in front of her. Sun Miao'er looked into the corridor from one end and saw that it was dark and even a little eerie.

After passing through the long corridor, the view suddenly opened up, revealing the backyard of the house.

Master Wang sat in the hall, where a table laden with delicacies was laid out on a round pear wood table.

Wei Jingnian strode forward and said, "Jingnian greets Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang."

Sun Miao'er held her breath, thinking that the person in the main seat must be the master that Xiao Ning usually served.

Master Wang stroked his beard and came down from the seat of honor to greet him. "Nephew Wei, you've come from afar, you must be tired. Please have something to eat first. These are all prepared by your aunt, she said they are all your favorite dishes!"

"Aunt Wang is so kind."

Wei Jingnian turned to look at Sun Miao'er and said, "Uncle Wang, this is the Miss Sun I mentioned to you in my letter yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang Su looked Sun Miao'er up and down carefully, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt. Then she looked away and smiled, "Let's sit down and talk."

Sun Miao'er felt uncomfortable under Wang Su's strange gaze, but bringing Xiao Ning back was the priority, and she didn't want to cause any trouble, so she simply lowered her head and sat down without saying a word.