Shen Mingwan smiled and said, "I heard that the hot pot restaurant was opened by several of the Wei family's aunts. The general from the Wei family has always had a good relationship with your brother. Did your brother come up with these new dishes?"

Xu Zhi smiled upon hearing Shen Mingwan's words and said, "You've guessed wrong. This dish wasn't made by my brother, but by my sister-in-law. My sister-in-law grew up in Hexi, which is close to the grasslands. People from the grasslands often come here to sell beef and mutton. My sister-in-law's beef and mutton is exceptional, and we all love to eat it."

Shen Mingwan had naturally heard of the eldest grandson's wife of the Xu family. She heard that she came from an unremarkable background, but she ended up marrying the eldest grandson of the Xu family in the capital. Not to mention that the Xu family had strict rules and was the family that many families in the capital wanted to marry their daughters to, the most important thing was that Xu Di was now the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Shen Mingwan was unusually curious about this top scholar's wife, and jokingly said to Xu Zhi, "They all say that your sister-in-law has really struck gold."

Xu Zhi smiled and said, "My sister-in-law is a very good person. I think my brother is the one who made a good deal by marrying her. Back when we were both in Hexi, my mother liked my sister-in-law very much and arranged their marriage early on. I grew up with my sister-in-law."

Thinking of the opinions of people in the capital about Xu's eldest grandson's wife, Shen Mingwan said, "Since your sister-in-law married into the family, I haven't seen her attend any gatherings much."

Xu Zhi said with a smile, "After my brother and sister-in-law got married, they went to study in Tai'an together. My sister-in-law accompanied my brother through his studies in Tai'an. The academies in Tai'an didn't allow servants to enter. While my brother was studying, my sister-in-law cooked and washed clothes for him. How could an ordinary wife endure such hardship?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingwan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Xu Zhi continued, "My brother and I only just returned from Tai'an because we were going to take the imperial examination. My brother passed with flying colors, and my sister-in-law is pregnant and staying at home to rest. Naturally, she doesn't have time to go out and attend gatherings."

Shen Mingwan had just returned from Yuezhou and was naturally unaware of Li Yuexi's pregnancy. She exclaimed in surprise, "So, you're going to be an aunt?"

Xu Zhi said proudly, "Of course, I'm not only going to be an aunt, I'm also going to be the aunt of my two nephews."

Shen Mingwan was even more envious and said, "I really envy you."

Xu Zhi thought that Shen Mingwan would neither be able to return to the Feng family nor integrate into the Shen family in the future. Now that her parents were taking care of her, everything was fine. But what if her parents couldn't take care of her in the future?

Xu Zhi smiled and said, "We're best friends, aren't we? Since you call me aunt, can't I call you aunt too?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingwan couldn't help but laugh and said to Xu Zhi, "Then I'll have to make a few nice little outfits. I can't go to see my nephews empty-handed, can I?"

Xu Zhi nodded and said, "There are many sisters in our family. My sister-in-law has already received a lot of clothes made for the baby in her belly. Sister Mingwan, babies grow quickly, so you should just do a little bit and not overwork yourself."

Granny Lin had already set out dinner. Seeing the two girls chatting happily and her young mistress with a smile on her face, she was also happy. But the food would get cold if they didn't eat it soon, so she said with a smile, "Girls, the food will get cold if we don't eat it now, shall we?"

Shen Mingwan smiled sheepishly at Xu Zhi and said, "Look at me, I forgot about the important matter as soon as I started talking. Ninth Sister, let's eat first."

Both of them were young ladies who had been carefully taught by their families since childhood. They were taught not to talk while eating. In fact, Xu Zhi would talk while eating with her parents, brothers and sisters, but she knew that other families did not do so. She would follow what others did, otherwise people would say that she had no manners.

After the meal, Shen Mingwan took out the paper she had already written on, looked at it from beginning to end, and said to Xu Zhi, "Ninth Sister, people say that the Third Master of the Xu family has somehow won the Emperor's favor and attention. After reading what you told me, I realized that if the Emperor did not value Master Xu, it would be a great loss to the Great Liang."

Xu Zhi smiled and waved her hand, saying, "It's not that exaggerated. My father always says he was just doing his duty. As an official, one should benefit the people in the region. Since he received this salary, he should be true to his conscience, right?"

Shen Mingwan sighed and said, "It's not that easy. Many people forget their purpose as they go along, and some forget their original intention as they do things. I think Lord Xu is a very remarkable person."

Rarely in a good mood, Shen Mingwan asked someone to light a few more lamps and said to Xu Zhi with a smile, "It's rare for the two of us to get along so well. We don't have anything to do tomorrow anyway, so it's okay if we talk a little late."

Seeing Shen Mingwan's cheerful demeanor, Xu Zhi worried that she might overexert herself by resting too late, but she was too embarrassed to say it. Wouldn't it spoil her mood if she said it when she was in such a good mood?

However, Lin Mama, seeing Shen Mingwan's expression, said, "Miss, let's talk for another hour. Any longer and we really can't go on like this."

Shen Mingwan said reproachfully, "Granny, I know you've worried so much about my health. I understand. But I talked so much with Ninth Sister during the day, and I feel so happy that I can't fall asleep even though I'm lying down."

Granny Lin was also heartbroken. A well-bred young lady from a respectable family, who clearly had a bright future, had been reduced to being unable to show her true self to others, let alone get along with her family, because she had encountered relatives who couldn't distinguish right from wrong.

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