Upon hearing this, He Youyou couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

This guy was so cold and indifferent yesterday, how come he's suddenly starting to chat her up today?

Was it because her medicine was effective that he saw her as someone he could exploit?

As someone in the business world, He Youyou instinctively attributes all relationships to mutual interests.

A relationship without mutual benefit is not a solid one.

Even if there are mutual interests involved, the relationship is not necessarily a stable one.

When the benefits are gone, the relationship falls apart.

Interests are the foundation of all relationships.

She adjusted her posture and shifted her legs.

"This local gazetteer is a real gem. It describes the business environment and products of Jizhou. It tells you what can make money and how to make money. It has all the details."

As He Youyou spoke, she turned to a page in the book and pointed to it, saying, "If I hadn't read this book, I wouldn't have known that there were so many booksellers in Jizhou, with more than three hundred bookstores of all sizes. Porcelain and ironware are also characteristic products of Jizhou."

Seeing her radiant appearance, Zhao Changqing couldn't help but ask, "Are you going into business?"

He Youyou raised her eyebrows: "What, is it not allowed?"

She used to be a business tycoon, able to make others nervous with just a raised eyebrow, but now her status is different, and she feels no pressure at all in front of this imposing man.

Zhao Changqing's eyes darkened as he looked at her and said, "Han Silang left you a lot of money. You could live off this wealth for several lifetimes. Why can't you just be a good wife and raise your adopted son to adulthood? Once he gets married and has children, you can enjoy your grandchildren and live a peaceful and comfortable life."

He Youyou couldn't help but frown.

He's the first person in his life to have the audacity to tell her to stay home and take care of the children.

"Does Young Master Zhao think it's a good thing to stay at home for the rest of one's life?"

"No wind, no waves, no need for toil or hardship, isn't that right?"

He Youyou was speechless: "This good thing is for you, do you want it or not? Do you want to come and stay here in this courtyard and live out your whole life peacefully?"

Trapped in this courtyard...

Zhao Changqing was stunned when he heard this.

He's not someone who's never been sleepy.

He was trapped in this courtyard for more than ten years.

Calm and uneventful, peaceful and uneventful.

But how does it feel?

Men rarely put themselves in a woman's shoes, but after He Youyou's reminder, Zhao Changqing was suddenly able to put himself in her shoes and think from her perspective.

Being trapped in this courtyard is not a pleasant feeling.

Like a puppet doll imprisoned, one's entire life can be seen through at a glance.

He guards his home and business, marries and has children, then watches his descendants grow up, marries and has children, and repeats the cycle.

“Men, if you like reading, you can take the imperial examinations; if you like doing business, you can go into commerce; if you like fighting, you can join the army; even if you don’t like anything, you can travel around and see the world. Why must women be confined to the courtyard for their whole lives?”

Zhao Changqing remained silent.

The books he read and the knowledge he acquired all taught women to stay at home.

They never leave the main gate, nor step outside the inner gate.

After a long silence, Zhao Changqing said, "Traveling abroad will bring many hardships, especially in remote rural areas where bandits often roam. Women are weak and cannot fight against them. If you travel rashly, you may put yourself in danger."

"You don't blame the political situation for being unclear, the laws for being incomplete, the world for being unstable, and the people for being uncivilized. Instead, you blame women for not being able to protect themselves?" He Youyou said disdainfully. "When you encounter a problem, instead of addressing the root cause, you blame the victim for not avoiding danger. Oh dear, Young Master Zhao is such a fair person."

Zhao Changqing was so angry after being criticized so veiledly that his face turned red.

What a sharp tongue!

Seeing that he remained silent, He Youyou continued, "One day, this world will become a place where it is safe everywhere, where there is no need to worry about bandits, and women can go out freely, travel around, and do whatever work they want."

“For thousands of years, no dynasty has ever been able to do what you say. Governing a country is not as simple as you imagine!” Zhao Changqing retorted.

He Youyou nodded: "Of course it's not simple. To achieve such a society, many people need to be sacrificed, a lot of blood needs to be shed, and many, many fearless heroes need to step forward one after another to overthrow the old order and start anew."

Zhao Changqing stood up abruptly, his face solemn: "Stop talking nonsense. If these words are heard by someone with ulterior motives, you will be charged with treason and your entire family will be executed!"

He Youyou also stood up and looked at him helplessly: "If I have the chance, I really want to show you that scene. I love how naive you all are."

Just as Zhao Changqing was about to say something, he heard the voice of a maidservant relaying a message at the door.

“Madam, the kitchen says the hot pot you ordered for dinner is ready. It’s time for dinner now, please come to the main hall for your meal.”

“Okay, I’ll go right away.” He Youyou replied, then turned to Zhao Changqing and said, “Young Master Zhao, it’s time to go out for dinner. I’ve had someone prepare hot pot for tonight.”

Zhao Changqing was somewhat surprised.

The two were just arguing fiercely, but in the blink of an eye, He Youyou was able to put on a smiling face and invite him to eat.

They can control their emotions with ease, care nothing for saving face, and changing their expression is as simple as putting on clothes.

This is something that countless people cannot learn.

In the main hall, a hot pot has already been prepared.

On the small red clay stove, the broth in the copper pot was bubbling and steaming.

Han Wenzheng had already arrived.

Seeing He Youyou approaching, he hurried to greet her.

"Mom, the hot pot smells so good today."

He Youyou laughed and said, "What? Did you come here by following the scent?"

Han Wenzheng shook his head: "I originally wanted to go to the kitchen to see what dishes I could learn, but the cook said that Mother wanted to have hot pot tonight. I asked the cook for the recipe, and I also added the charcoal to this small stove myself."

He Youyou patted his head: "You're really capable."

Upon hearing these three words, Zhao Changqing remained silent.

A bookish young man, spending all his time around the stove, didn't understand.

"You've been practicing driving all afternoon, you must be starving! Sit down and eat."

He Youyou invited everyone to sit down.

Han Wenzheng said with a smile, "I didn't feel hungry at first, but after smelling this aroma, I suddenly felt hungry."

Following He Youyou's instructions, the kitchen prepared an oil dish for each of the three people.

It contained the dipping sauce that she had prepared in the kitchen beforehand.

The aroma of mushroom broth and the rich fragrance of butter from the copper pot intertwined and permeated the entire hall, wafting straight into people's noses.

Zhao Changqing recognized the hot pot.

This is an old item that he has used for more than ten years.

Every winter when it gets cold, the kitchen often prepares a hot pot for him.

However, the hot pot he had eaten before had never tasted so tempting, so appetizing.

He Youyou first put the thinly sliced ​​mutton in.

"Young Master Zhao, would you like some mutton?"