Song Ning returned in the county magistrate's carriage, with Xie Linzhou also in the carriage.

Zheng Gaoyi's eyes darted around, and he suddenly laughed, "This car is a bit small. I'd better go out and sit with Shi Tou."

After Zheng Gaoyi left, Song Ning and Xie Linzhou in the car felt even more awkward.

She didn't want to stay in the car either.

He appeared indifferent on the surface, but inside he was already roaring with rage.

As they neared the county government office, Xie Linzhou finally moved. He took a small box from the side and handed it to Song Ning: "This is for you."

Song Ning dared not accept it: "General Xie's gift is too valuable, I dare not accept it."

Xie Linzhou's face darkened: "Just take it when I tell you to."

Song Ning didn't move; she resolutely refused.

Xie Linzhou's earlobes turned slightly red, and his tone was unnatural: "Last time...didn't I say I'd give you a hair accessory? You didn't want it last time, so this time...cough, I'll get you a new one."

Song Ning's eyelids twitched. Could it be?

The proprietress just said today that Xie Linzhou sent someone to buy hair accessories, saying it was for his beloved girl.

Could it be that one?

Song Ning took the box, opened it, and glanced inside. Tsk, just as expected.

The hair accessory she made herself has been bought and then returned. What should she say?

Xie Linzhou had been observing Song Ning's expression; he couldn't say he was happy, nor could he say he was unhappy.

Song Ning's situation is indeed complicated.

He closed the box and handed it back, saying, "I can't accept this."

Xie Linzhou immediately became unhappy and shoved the box into Song Ning's hand: "If you don't want it, just throw it away."

......

"General Xie, why do you insist on paying compensation? My hair ornament isn't worth much; it's handmade, so there's really no need to pay for it."

Or... do you have some other purpose in giving me this?

Before he could finish speaking, the box was snatched back from his hand: "What could it possibly be for? If you really don't want it, then forget it."

As he spoke, he quickly hid the box under the cushion, as if afraid that Song Ning would change her mind. His face showed displeasure mixed with embarrassment.

Anyway, just take it back.

Song Ning looked relieved, which made Xie Linzhou even angrier.

Back home, Song Ning took the medicine she had bought that day to the kitchen to brew it, adding her spring water to the medicine, and then gave the topical medicine to Yun Niang.

"These are for external application, three times a day. If I'm not around, ask my mom or my grandma to help you."

Yunniang nodded: "Okay."

Stepping out of the yard, I saw that their yard was now very nicely maintained, with a chicken coop built inside, and several chicks living there.

They also dug a well on the other side, so they no longer have to fetch water from the county government office.

Song Dahai built her another earthen oven, to keep for future use.

The yard is big enough, and there's a shed and a stove, so we can cook braised dishes and other meals in the yard during the summer.

The sun was shining warmly, and I felt incredibly happy.

Song Ning lay on a recliner in the yard, leisurely basking in the sun.

There was also a small table next to it with fruit on it.

Xiao Tao skipped in, lay down like Song Ning, and occasionally spat out grape skins.

It's so tiny, and it's imitating Song Ning's movements. It's incredibly cute.

"Small in stature but big in brains," Song Ning chuckled.

A moment later, Xiaomei also ran in. Song Ning pointed to the recliner where Xiaotao was lying opposite: "That's a good place to lie down."

There's enough room for two small children in one recliner.

Xiao Mei sat down, and Song Ning handed her a bunch of grapes.

She now occasionally pulls out some unusual gadgets, which is no longer surprising to the Song family and the two children.

Xiaomei just turned nine, and she looks quite different from last year.

She's starting to look like a grown-up; she used to cry a lot last year.

Xiao Mei glanced at Song Ning several times: "Cousin, I...I want to learn how to make hair accessories from you."

“Okay, but you’re not learning from me, you’re learning from Yunniang and your sister Luo.”

Xiaomei probably didn't expect Song Ning to agree so readily, and laughed: "Really? I can really learn?"

Song Ning nodded: "Of course, if you can grow your business in the future, we can open a jewelry shop."

Xiao Mei doesn't dare to think about running a jewelry shop now; she just wants to help her family earn money.

Xiao Tao, who was standing next to her, quickly raised her hand: "I want to learn too."

Song Ning smiled and said, "You're still young. We'll talk about it when you're older. For now, you just need to be a good boy and listen to me."

However, despite saying that, Song Ning still wanted the two sisters to go to school.

Even if they can't go to a proper school, they should at least know some characters and be able to count and do arithmetic, because they might need to look at account books in the future.

Thinking about this, Song Ning suddenly felt that Tianxiang County should have a school in the future, a school where both boys and girls could study.

I don't ask myself to read to any particular level, I just ask that I'm not completely blind.

However, Song Ning never mentioned this matter because she knew that of all the things in Tianxiang County, this was the most difficult...

As the three sisters were talking, there was a knock on the courtyard gate: "Er Ya, are you there?"

It is Zhou Ling'an.

Song Ning stepped forward to open the door, and Zhou Ling'an looked up and smiled shyly: "Er Ya, I... I have something I want to tell you."

"What's up?"

Zhou Ling'an hesitated, then looked at the two children in the courtyard.

Song Ning turned around and instructed the two little ones: "Finish what's on that plate, don't leave any."

The two left the courtyard and walked a little further away before Zhou Ling'an spoke: "Er Ya, I'm really sorry about what happened yesterday. My mother... said some unpleasant things again."

Song Ning didn't take it seriously: "Your mother has said those nasty things more than once or twice, I'm used to it, and you should get used to it too."

"No, no, I..."

"Alright, I know what you want to say. I understand that your family values ​​you, but after this happening time and time again, I really don't know what to say. From now on, you'd better pretend you don't know me when you see me."

Last time she wanted to leave some room for maneuver, but this time, she understood.

Zhou Ling'an's eyes welled up with tears. He didn't want to pretend he didn't know Er Ya.

But...but...

"Er Ya, it won't happen again, it definitely won't..."

Song Ning sighed softly: "You saw it yesterday too. I only said a few words to you, and I got called a little whore by your mother."

"I get angry when someone insults me, but I'm not going to argue with her for your sake. Do you think I would have tolerated her insults if it weren't for you and Uncle Zhou?"

"My mother... my mother will change."

"She won't change. With your mother's sharp tongue, it won't be long before I have several more charges against me. People's words are a fearsome thing. Don't you even understand this?"

Song Ning spoke bluntly: since Zhou Ling'an has such a mother, he should be prepared; since he can't control her, he should let go of other things.

"So please pretend you don't know me when you see me in the future."