Xu Lanyin thought for a moment and said in surprise, "Could it be Xiaoran?"

Wang Sanni smiled and asked, "Is he weird?"

Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "Is it really him?" Then she explained, "It's not strange, but he is still a child in my eyes. Also, he is already fifteen years old this year, it's time to talk about a wife."

He thought to himself, another sister-brother romance, and another office romance. However, they were a perfect match, complementing each other's strengths. Wang Sanni was shrewd, assertive, and able to get along with everyone, making her suitable for a husband with a softer personality. Ding Xiaoran was too beautiful and shy, not good at anything besides chess. She was also suitable for a wife like Wang Sanni, who could help him handle mundane matters and ward off malicious bullying.

Ding Xiaoran probably hasn't told her parents about this yet, otherwise Ding Gu and Lu would definitely tell Chai, and Chai would tell her.

Wang Sanni asked again, "Are he and I not suitable?"

Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "No, you two are a perfect match. Congratulations." Then she asked, "When are you going to get married? What can I do for you?"

Wang Sanni smiled sweetly and said, "We've discussed this and will talk to Uncle Ding and Aunt Ding in the next few days. If they agree, we'll finalize the marriage first. Xiaoran is still young and should focus on her studies. I also want to focus more on the teahouse and wait until the year after next to get married."

The year after next, Ding Xiaoran would be seventeen, and Wang Sanni nineteen, so it would be a good age for them to get married. Furthermore, Xu Lanyin also wanted Wang Sanni to focus more on her business over the next two years.

Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "I hope you can continue to be the shopkeeper here after you get married. Don't worry, I will give you maternity leave when you give birth, and I will give you a house in the capital after you get married. If Xiaoran has greater prospects in the future, I will not hold him back."

She had vaguely heard that if Ding Xiaoran could further improve his chess skills and knowledge, Xiangshan Academy would be willing to hire him as a chess instructor. Xiangshan Academy was the second-best academy in the Daming Dynasty, after the Imperial College; the best was in Jiangnan. While teaching chess there would certainly earn less than at a chess house, the status would be much higher, and one would be respected by the world.

Wang Sanni thanked him and said, "I can't bear to leave here either. If Sister Lan Yin doesn't mind, I will definitely keep doing this."

As they were talking, Ding Xiaoran arrived. He was a much taller young man, thin, fair, handsome and elegant.

He guessed that they were talking about him, blushed, bowed to Xu Lanyin, and said with a smile, "Aunt."

Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "From now on, just call me Sister Xu. Congratulations to you two."

Ding Xiaoran's face turned even redder, as if she had put on rouge, and she bowed again and said, "Thank you, Sister Xu."

Xu Lanyin didn't return home until the afternoon. Zhao Mingxi was playing on the big mat under the corridor of the second courtyard, and Xu Lanyue was teasing him with a wave drum.

When the little guy saw his mother coming back, he stretched out his little hands for a hug and cried loudly.

Xu Lanyin picked him up and kissed him, then went into the house to feed him.

Zhao Wu and Li Luo had dinner outside before returning. They were in a secluded restaurant and invited Zhou Zijun to drink. Zhou Zijun had helped Li Luo before and had always been good friends with Zhao Wu.

The two returned home and went to the study to have a secret talk.

At the end of the night, Zhao Wucai returned to his room. Seeing Xu Lanyin still awake, he said with a smile, "What a worrywart! It's so late and you're still not asleep."

Xu Lanyin stood up and said with a smile, "Now that I've finished worrying about this matter, I'll just enjoy myself and not worry about anything else."

She personally helped Zhao Wu wash up, and after the two of them went to bed and made love, they hugged each other and talked.

"I heard from Zhou Zijun that Zhou Zimei gave birth to a daughter last month and even sent a letter to announce the good news with great fanfare. Old Master Zhou and Minister Zhou were furious. Giving birth to a child just eight months after marriage, they said it was a premature birth, but who would believe it?" Zhao Wu smiled sarcastically and added, "Gu Wangchen still doesn't know that he has a son and a daughter."

Xu Lanyin snorted coldly, "Those two people, one thought he'd found a good ladder for promotion, the other thought he'd found a good son-in-law with both talent and beauty. Of course, they want everyone to know how blissfully happy they are... Forget it, I won't talk about them anymore. It's just a dead giveaway." Then she laughed, "You'd never guess that Wang Sanni and Ding Xiaoran are a couple."

This really surprised Zhao Wu. He said, "Their personalities don't match. Xiaoran is so much younger, and Sanni is so strong. If Xiaoran marries her, he might not have a good life."

Xu Lanyin said, "You are younger than me too." She reached out and pulled her ear, which she hadn't pulled for a long time, and said, "I am also strong, but we are not living so well."

Zhao Wu shook his head and said, "How can they compare to us? We are a perfect match, talented and beautiful, with only a slight age difference. You pulled my ear, not because you were being forceful, but because you knew I liked it."

Xu Lanyin was amused and said, "Sanni is beautiful, and Xiaoran is a good chess player. They are a perfect match. You cannot understand the joy of a fish unless you are one. Maybe Xiaoran just likes Sanni's dominance, just like you like me pulling your ears."

Zhao Wu also laughed when he heard this. He added, "The three Yanshang hairpins in Taihua Silver Shop have all been sold. One buyer is the Pingnan Marquis's Mansion, one is the Minister of War's Mansion, and one is a businessman. Let's see if anyone will wear them during the Peach Blossom Banquet."

"I hope someone will wear it." Xu Lanyin said.

In fact, she wanted to wear it herself to the Peach Blossom Banquet, so she could hear Mrs. Pu's thoughts and ensure that the Pu family could see it. But Zhao Wuji and his men disagreed, fearing that she would attract the Pu family's attention and put her in danger. So she could only hope that someone else would wear it.

There are many varieties of Yanshang hairpins, varying significantly in shape, size, and gemstone inlay. The Yanshang hairpin left by Zhao Wu's mother is made of high-quality materials, has a unique shape, and is meticulously crafted, a skill not possessed by many jewelry shop masters. During the Daming Dynasty, the finest craftsmen were those of the Imperial Household Department, yet this hairpin bears no Imperial Household Department markings.

Xu Lanyin asked Zhu Zhuang to have the best craftsman at Qilin Pavilion secretly make several replicas of the same type. These replicas were much better than Su Qing's, and you had to look very closely to see the difference. Of course, the "Ying" character was missing from the special position; this was a secret that could not be shown to anyone.

The next day, Xu Lanyin took Zhao Mingxi and Xu Lanyue to Min Mansion, and accompanied by Li, she met the old lady of Min.

The old lady of Min was very enthusiastic towards Xu Lanyin, who had saved her grandson and great-granddaughter. She invited him to dinner and gave Zhao Mingxi a rare white jade lotus ornament.

After lunch, we went home. Min Jia also went home with us.

Three of the "Four Gentlemen of Plum Garden" gathered at the Zhao family. Xu Lanyin then sent someone to the Changgong Mansion to pick up Chai Zixiao, and the four gentlemen were finally together.

The yard became lively again, a bit like the Xu family in Ningzhou Prefecture two years ago.