Xu Lanting and Min Jia walked around the backyard, then went to the front hall to take a look. They also praised Manager Wu and Manager Wang Er in a serious manner, then went back to the house to play checkers.

Min Nan glanced at Min Jia for a few times and whispered to Xu Lanyin, "Madam Min is not very happy. She said that even if my eldest cousin is busy with official duties, Jia Jie'er should go back to visit the elders on behalf of my father, so that the old ancestors and she can have a taste of the sweetness of having grandchildren... The eldest lady also asked me if Jia Jie'er was too sick to get out of bed. I said that my mother and I went to visit my eldest cousin and Jia Jie'er, but my eldest cousin was too busy to go home, and Housekeeper Hao wouldn't let us see Jia Jie'er. We don't know how sick she is." She said embarrassedly, "My mother always says that I'm heartless and don't care about anything, haha."

Xu Lanyin smiled. This girl seemed innocent, but she was clever and had no ill intentions. She often interacted with the ladies of high society and was becoming increasingly adept at it.

Xu Lanyin knew that except for a few elderly people like Butler Hao and Madam Liu who had come from the Min Prefecture in the capital, the rest of the Min households in Ningzhou had purchased their homes in Jiaodong and Ningzhou. Later, learning that Madam Min was not kind, he quietly asked the old lady to transfer the immediate relatives of Butler Hao and others to a place beyond Madam Min's control. Madam Min's attempts to understand the situation here were not easy.

Min Can only let Min Nan return to Beijing and did not reveal Min Hu's family affairs. He must have chosen to join Min Hu between Min Hu and Mrs. Min.

Although Xu Lanyin has always disliked the snobbish Mincan couple, she still really likes the little girl Minnan.

After the afternoon, the guests of the teahouse gradually left, and Xu Lanyin also took her two children home.

Afterwards, Xu Lanyin became a hands-off boss and handed over the affairs of the teahouse to Manager Wu. Wang Sanni would occasionally come to Xu's house to report that business was very good.

There were so many people requesting students that sometimes two or three families would have to compete for just one student. Over time, the guests realized that the youngest student, Ding Xiaoran, was the most skilled, and that those who requested him had to arrive early.

There were ten chess students in the teahouse. Three of them were students at Ningzhou Academy and could only come on weekends. Four attended private schools and had more free time, occasionally taking time off to work at the teahouse. Except for weekends, there were usually between three and five chess students in the teahouse.

The games of tiao cheque and jun qi quickly spread throughout Ningzhou Prefecture, and then further afield. Many shops began selling them, and many teahouses introduced them, some even recruiting students. Because these two games were popularized at Xinyu Teahouse, they remained the favorite place to play. Many people enjoyed playing jun qi, including some military officers.

Because chess was relatively complex, it hadn't spread widely. Those who enjoyed it could only go to the Xinyun Teahouse, either with a student or by themselves. Zhou Shu, for example, spent every day in the teahouse before the academy opened. Chai Jun also delayed his return to Beijing for a few days, playing chess at the teahouse. With Xu Lanyin's special permission, he even bought a set each of chess, military chess, and checkers from the teahouse and brought them back to Beijing.

Xinyu Chess House's fame spread not only within Ningzhou Prefecture but also gradually spread throughout Hebei Province and even beyond. Many outsiders visiting Ningzhou Prefecture had two must-dos: shopping at the department store and enjoying tea and a game of chess at Xinyu Tea House. But that's a story for another time.

On the 20th day of the first lunar month, classes began at the academy, and Xu Lanzhou went to the Ningzhou Prefecture academy and stayed there. Zhou Shu not only found him a teacher to teach him strategy, but also helped him find a master to teach him riding, archery, and martial arts.

Qin had someone send a letter back home, saying that Xu Lanzhou had been favored by the vice president of Ningzhou Academy and had gone to practice calligraphy. They had no choice but to return to Nanping County before Xu Lanzhou's exam.

Xu Dashi's letter said that old man Xu was so happy that he went to Daxiang Temple to burn incense and add money to thank his grandson for meeting a noble person who helped him and was also a famous scholar in the provincial capital.

As the weather gets warmer, new green leaves sprout on the trees in the yard, and several red plum trees in the backyard are in full bloom.

Min Jia lived happily in the Xu family. Butler Hao, who occasionally visited Min Jia, said that Min Jia was away from Ningzhou most of the time, and even when he did come back, he seldom went home.

Xu Lanyin bought two more servants: one was a thirteen-year-old girl named Huqi, and the other was Aunt Qian, who was in her thirties. Besides helping Aunt Yang with cooking, she was also responsible for taking care of Xu Lanting and Zhao Xingchen.

On the afternoon of the 28th day of the first lunar month, the sky was a brilliant blue, and the sun was dazzlingly bright. Although it was still chilly in early spring, with a whistling wind, the sun still felt warm on the skin.

Xu Lanting, Min Jia, and Zhao Xingchen, who had just woken up from their lunch break, were full of energy. They had just finished their honey water when they heard someone shouting "Tanghulu" (candied haws) at the entrance of the alley.

Zhao Xingchen ran to Xu Lanyin and said, "Auntie, I want to eat."

Xu Lanyin smiled and took out nine cents and handed them to Minjia. Led by Qingyin, the children went to the entrance of the alley.

The old man selling candied haws was already familiar with the children and stood there to sell them. The three children each picked a string of candied haws they liked, and Min Jia handed the big bill to the old man.

Several children were eating the candied haws in their hands. Xu Lanting said something that made Min Jia giggle.

A Fujian household not far away happened to see this scene.

He had just come out of the prison after interrogating a prisoner, and after taking a bath at home, he hurried over. When he saw his daughter in such a state, he felt as if he had walked from the cold winter wind into the spring with flowers everywhere. His heart was warm, and he was extremely relieved and satisfied.

My daughter has grown taller and fatter. She is wearing a small green skirt and communicating normally with people around her. Her little face is smiling like a flower... like a bouquet of flowers in that paradise, fresh, free, dazzling and full of vitality - really, she looks like whoever takes care of her.

More than half a year ago, my daughter was like a pool of stagnant water, quiet and motionless. But everything changed after she met Miss Xu.

Xu Lanting was the first to notice him. He shouted, "Brother Min," and ran towards him.

When Min Jia and Zhao Xingchen saw this, they both ran over.

When they came to him, Xu Lanting and Zhao Xingchen didn't say anything, but looked at Min Jia together.

Min Jiaxian grinned and said, "Daddy, I miss you so much, so much."

Minhu was deeply moved, his smile as bright as the sun in the sky. He quickly said, "My dear daughter, Daddy misses you too, very much." He also praised, "Your voice is so beautiful, like a swallow. You are even more beautiful now, like a flower."

Xu Lanting's eyes widened and he said exaggeratedly, "So Brother Min's mouth is so sweet, even sweeter than candied haws. My sister also said that Brother Zhao and I are so sweet, we can't compare to you."