Liu Yanjing had brought Princess Zhaoyang to Shiyuan Village specifically to show her where they were staying. There was a well in the courtyard, which made life much more convenient, as they no longer had to go to the river to fetch water.

"This house isn't shabby at all. It's much nicer than the others in the village." Liu Yanjing didn't think it was bad at all, but they were unlikely to come here again. "We're leaving soon, and this house is of no use to us anymore."

Liu Yanjing had no intention of keeping this house. Since the fourth branch had been helping to look after it, he decided to give it to them. This house wasn't much of a retreat, and the Liu family's ancestral hall wasn't located here.

If something really happens to the eldest branch of the Liu family, they may not be able to keep the house here.

Liu Yanjing thought that since such a thing wouldn't happen to the eldest branch of the Liu family for the time being, he decided to let the fourth branch take it. Liu Yanqing's wife was pregnant, and they should have more children in the future. Having another house would be great.

The two houses are next door, making it convenient to travel back and forth, so there is no need to let the children in the family squeeze together.

"We should give the house to Yanqing and his family," Liu Yanjing said. The fourth wife didn't constantly come home to ask for things, nor did she mess around outside. Liu Yanjing thought it was a good idea to give the house to the fourth wife, but he couldn't give the land to her.

They had arranged with the village head that if the land here made money, those people would send it to Beijing later. There was no need to sell the land or give it away.

Liu Yanjing couldn't let the people in the fourth room think that they would give them things casually, so as to avoid giving people bad ideas.

"Then leave it to them." Princess Zhaoyang didn't think it was a big deal. "There's a house on the farm, there's no need to use this one."

Princess Zhaoyang thought it was okay to give the useless house to the fourth house. Even if they sold the house in such a rural area, it would not fetch much money. As for giving the house to those poor people, that was unnecessary. It was just a house, and giving it to them was of no great use. They still had to have the opportunity to make money.

When Princess Zhaoyang went to Liu Yulian's farm, she saw some half-grown children. They were quite capable. Although they couldn't compare to adults, they were also very hardworking. Liu Yulian didn't drive them away, but instead made them work so that they could earn some money.

The houses in the countryside were not that big, and it would be inconvenient for those orphans to live in. If those people could make a living on the farm, that was fine, and they lived in the house on the other side of the farm.

Liu Yulian didn't rescue all the orphans, only a small number. She knew she couldn't help that many people. The prevailing environment in ancient times was like that. The most important thing was to get the people to produce more food so they wouldn't starve. If fewer people died of starvation, more food would be available at home, and fewer children would be abandoned. And if their parents didn't starve to death, their children wouldn't become orphans.

"It's not very convenient to live here." Princess Zhaoyang said.

"It's a bit inconvenient." Liu Yanjing said, "To go to town to buy things, you have to walk."

Liu Yanjing thought that if Liu Yulian hadn't figured out those things, they would have to live here forever. In that case, they wouldn't be able to go to town all the time. They should plant more crops, eat more vegetables, and eat less meat.

"It's also possible to ride in a bullock cart, but many people are reluctant to do so." Liu Yanjing recalled that when his leg was injured, his family had to prepare medicine for him and also prepare delicious food to nourish his body.

Liu Yanjing truly felt that that period was quite difficult, and it was only because his sister worked as an embroidery worker to earn money that he was able to persevere. If it weren't for his sister, he's afraid his leg wouldn't have healed.

"One penny is also very important." Liu Yanjing said, "One penny can also buy steamed buns and dumplings."

Many people would rather walk to town, unless the journey is too far. Some people ask other people in the village to help them buy things, sometimes one person goes to town, sometimes another person goes. As long as the purchase is not large, they feel comfortable asking others to help buy things.

"Yes." Princess Zhaoyang knew this. A pound of meat was only five cents. How could so many people be willing to spend money to ride an ox cart? Basically, people would only ride an ox cart when they had a lot of things.

When Liu Yanqing walked into the yard, he saw Liu Yanjing and Princess Zhaoyang next door.

"Brother, sister-in-law." Liu Yanqing hurriedly greeted Liu Yanjing and Princess Zhaoyang, "When are you going back to town? Do you want to have a meal at home?"

When Liu Yanqing went to the eldest wife's house, she rarely let him stay for dinner. Liu Yanqing did not think that the people in the eldest wife's house were bad. They had given him so many things, how could they be bad?

"I just bought some vegetables this morning." Liu Yanqing said.

"No." Liu Yanjing replied, "I'll go to town soon."

"This place is close to the town," Liu Yanqing said. "My cooking isn't good, and neither is my mother's... my aunt's."

Liu Yanqing never casually called Aunt Zhao "mother" in front of the people from the first wife's house. Even when the people from the first wife's house were not around, Liu Yanqing called Aunt Zhao "mother". Liu Yanqing knew that the first wife would not care about this, but he still wanted to do better.

"Are you going back to Beijing?" Liu Yanqing asked.

"Yes, we're going back." Liu Yanjing said, "You guys are going to stay in the northwest?"

Liu Yanjing asked a few more questions. If it was about the second and third houses, he would definitely not ask any more questions.

"Let's just stay here." Liu Yanqing scratched his head. "We don't have any special skills, so we won't run away. We still have some land here. If we go back to the capital, it will be difficult for us to earn this much money, and we won't be able to live so comfortably."

Liu Yanqing thought that even though it was so difficult for him to hide his own private money, that little money could still buy more things in the northwest. If they returned to the capital, his little money would not be able to buy so many things.

"That's fine." Liu Yanjing thought it was a good idea for Liu Yanqing to have such an idea. The land in the capital is more expensive than that in the northwest, unless it is in the countryside farther away.

If the fourth room's family returned to the capital, they would need a place to live, which would cost money and the cost of living would be high. If the fourth room's family stayed in the northwest, they wouldn't have to spend so much money.

This was something Liu Yanqing had already thought of. He didn't care whether the others followed him back to the capital or not. Anyway, he and Lin Xiaowan had no intention of returning to the capital. After they returned to the capital, there was nothing to do, and without so much land, life would definitely be difficult.

They couldn't always run to the eldest wife's house for help. Liu Yanqing thought they were fine in the northwest. If they really encountered any difficulties, they could still write to Liu Yanjing. Although the northwest was far from the capital, distant water could not quench immediate thirst, but gifts could still be sent.

Giving gifts is not a very urgent matter. Those gifts can be on the road for several months.

Anyway, Liu Yanqing didn't mind the gifts being on the way. They still had to hug the relatives from the first house.

"It's good that you guys are going back to Beijing," Liu Yanqing said. "If it weren't for the situation at home, I would have followed you to Beijing. We don't have that much money or land at home, so it's better for us to stay here. Besides, I'm going to be a father soon."

"Congratulations." Liu Yan said respectfully.

"Brother, you have to take good care of yourself. When my son grows up, if he can read and get into higher education, I may have to stay with you for a while in the future." Liu Yanqing said this deliberately. That would be a matter for a long time in the future, so it would not hurt for him to say it now.

"Sure." There was no way Liu Yanjing could say no. It was just a matter of a small courtyard, not a big deal.

"Would you like some dried fruit? We have plenty at home." Liu Yanqing said to the people in the house, "Brother and sister-in-law are here. Bring some fruit and tea."

Aunt Zhao wanted to serve tea and water, but was stopped by Lin Xiaowan. Lin Xiaowan just took out the things Aunt Zhao had put away, thinking it would be better for Aunt Zhao to stay in the room.

It wasn't that Lin Xiaowan didn't want Aunt Zhao to go out, but Aunt Zhao was a concubine, and Aunt Qing and Aunt Chai weren't very good either. Lin Xiaowan didn't want to cause any more trouble at this time, lest Liu Yanjing and Princess Zhaoyang see Aunt Zhao unhappy, so it would be better to just let Aunt Zhao stay at home.

Princess Zhaoyang and Liu Yanjing arrived at the courtyard of the fourth room and sat at the table in the courtyard.

"They are all homemade dried fruits." Lin Xiaowan put everything on the table.

"Yes, yes, yes, homemade." Liu Yanqing was in a good mood. Listen, it was because he had said it many times in Lin Xiaowan's ear that Lin Xiaowan knew to say it this way.

"Okay." Liu Yanjing picked up the dried fruit on the table.

"Sit down and rest." Princess Zhaoyang looked at Lin Xiaowan, "You're welcome."

Princess Zhaoyang saw Lin Xiaowan standing nearby and quickly asked her to sit down. She knew the woman in front of her was pregnant, so there was no way she would let her stand any longer.

"You have done a great job in managing this place." said Princess Zhaoyang.

"We just have to make a living," Lin Xiaowan replied. "We only have so much stuff at home. When we're not busy, we just tidy it up."

"It's not too few." Princess Zhaoyang glanced around. There were only a few people in the fourth room, so they could clean it up themselves.

Princess Zhaoyang looked at Liu Yanjing. When the Liu family first arrived, before their titles were restored, they must have had to take care of things on their own. They wouldn't have had so many servants. She knew that Liu's mother and the others valued Mrs. Xie because she had traveled all the way to the northwest to serve the Liu family.

Mrs. Xie was very loyal to the Liu family, so Princess Zhaoyang respected her a little.

However, there are very few people like Xie Pozi. How can there be so many people who travel thousands of miles to serve others? Most of them just change families and do other things.

He Xiyuan, the eldest of the Liu family, has returned. He didn't bring much with him. Compared to Liu Yulian, he seemed to have nothing.

"Don't you have anything else?" When Liu Yulian saw how little luggage He Xiyuan had, she felt more and more that she had too much stuff.

"That's all." He Xiyuan said, "When I first came here, I didn't bring much."

"..." Liu Yulian thought about it and it made sense. He Xiyuan was the second son of Duke Chengguo, and He Xiyuan had no shortage of those things.

"After I go back, I won't be able to live under the same roof with you for a while." After He Xiyuan returned to the capital, he had to live in his own home and could not go to live in the Liu family.

It was fine when they were in the northwest, and the people here were more open-minded. When they returned to the capital, He Xiyuan could not live in the Liu family, and at most he would go to the Liu family to find Liu Yulian.

"But it doesn't matter, it will be quick." He Xiyuan looked at Liu Yulian.

“…” Liu Yulian didn’t say anything. Time really passed quickly.

"Is there anything left unpacked?" He Xiyuan asked.

"Everything's packed," Liu Yulian said. "Those people have already brought back the books. The remaining luggage is mainly clothes and other things."

"That's good." He Xiyuan didn't even bother to help Liu Yulian tidy up her clothes. He was a man and hadn't married Liu Yulian yet, so how could he touch Liu Yulian's clothes?

In the capital, when the old lady of Chengguogong learned that He Xiyuan was coming back, she had someone clean up the house where He Xiyuan lived. Not only that, the old lady also had to prepare something for Liu Yulian.

"They haven't returned yet," Lady Chengguo said. "The letter says they're leaving in the next few days."

The Lady of the Duke of Chengguo had read the letter. He Xiyuan told them that they would not be told until they set off. It would take time for the Liu family to pack up. After all, they had lived in the northwest for nearly two years, so they still had a lot of things to sort out.

"That needs to be prepared," the old lady said. "Prepare well while there's still time. Don't just give something away casually when the time comes."

The old lady still remembered that she had almost caused He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian to break off their engagement. Even though almost two years had passed, she couldn't pretend that it had never happened. Just because she pretended it hadn't happened didn't mean others wouldn't remember it.

Therefore, the old lady planned to deal with the Liu family well and make sure that they were satisfied with the Chengguo Mansion. Liu Yulian was so amazing, and such an amazing woman should become her granddaughter-in-law.

"Prepare everything that needs to be prepared. There's no need to wait until the time comes to rush things." The old lady looked at Mrs. Mo standing aside and said, "You also have to teach some of the servants a lesson. Stop talking nonsense over there. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Mrs. Mo responded.

Mrs. Mo could sense the old lady's regard for Liu Yulian. She had felt it before, but it hadn't been as obvious as it was now. Perhaps when Princess Rongning returned, the old lady would treat Liu Yulian better.

This didn't matter. Mo thought that no matter how good the old lady was to Liu Yulian, she couldn't give the entire Duke's Mansion to Liu Yulian. Her husband was still the prince, and Mo thought that Liu Yulian was definitely not her enemy.

"My granddaughter-in-law specially ordered jewelry. I don't know if Rongning will like it." Mrs. Mo said, "I thought one set would be a bit thin, so I made two more sets to see which one she likes."

"Send her whatever set she likes." That's what the old lady meant. "Your husband's legs are more than just a few sets of jewelry can handle."

"Yes." Madam Mo understood. "Speaking of which, Rongning is in the northwest. We have either never seen her or haven't seen her for a long time. We haven't thanked her properly yet. We should thank her in person."

Mo believed that Princess Rongning could not possibly be a willful and rude person, as a willful and rude person could not possibly research so many things.

"That's right." The old lady clapped her hands. "That's right. We don't need to invite too many people when the time comes. Just a few relatives of ours will do. We should really thank Rongning. If it weren't for her, your husband's chance to become the crown prince would have been ruined."

The old lady smiled. She had always loved He Xichen very much. After He Xichen's legs were crippled, she wanted He Xiyuan to take over. Even if she valued He Xiyuan more later, it didn't mean she didn't want He Xichen to recover. He Xichen recovered, and the old lady was very happy. He Xichen became the crown prince, and the old lady was also very happy.

But the old lady wanted He Xichen and his wife to remember the contributions of He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian, and not to quarrel with each other.

"You are absolutely right." Mrs. Mo agreed.

During the time that Mo had been married into the Duke of Cheng's mansion, she had pretty much figured out the tempers of the Duke's wife and the old lady. These two rarely lost their temper unless someone truly did something wrong. Although the old lady always praised Liu Yulian and sent her many gifts, she didn't always ask them to take things out of the palace.

This also shows the old lady's temperament. The old lady just doesn't want Mo, her granddaughter-in-law, to worry about those things. Some things can be avoided, so it's better to avoid them.

At the Ouyang family, Mrs. Huo had already been in confinement after giving birth. During her confinement, she had caused some trouble, which almost embarrassed Mrs. Ouyang. The second daughter of the Ouyang family also came to see Mrs. Huo and said a few nice words.

Second Miss Ouyang didn't want to argue with a woman who was in confinement after childbirth. She had given birth before and knew that giving birth was not easy for women and that women needed to take good care of themselves. She didn't say those things to Mrs. Huo, even when she learned that Mrs. Huo didn't like the sickly baby girl very much, she didn't say anything.

The family had servants, and they could hire a wet nurse for the child, so it didn't matter whether Da Huo was a good mother or not. As long as Da Huo didn't harm the child, there would be no problem.

Mrs. Huo was reluctant to visit her daughter. She felt that she was too sickly and frail. What if the child died in infancy? She would be so heartbroken. It would be better to see the child less often, so that if the child died, she would not be so sad.

She would have to wait until the child was at least three or four years old and in good health. Then she could see the child more often.

Mrs. Huo didn't like taking care of crying children, nor did she want to see sick children. "Don't always take the children to the old lady." Mrs. Huo specifically instructed the wet nurse.

Mrs. Huo didn't want her child to be too close to the old lady, lest the child become close only to the old lady and not to her own mother.

In her previous life, Mrs. Huo's two children were particularly close to their aunt Liu Yulian, which Mrs. Huo was very dissatisfied with. In this life, Mrs. Huo didn't want her children to be too close to others, so she let the maids and wet nurses take care of them.

"Yes." The wet nurse responded.

The wet nurse felt sorry for the baby girl and thought that Mrs. Huo was not a mother who cared about her daughter. She thought that it would be worse for the baby girl not to have such a mother.

"Don't ignore my words." Mrs. Huo reminded the wet nurse, "Remember my words."

The old lady was standing outside the house. She heard Mrs. Huo's instructions to the wet nurse. Her face was very grim. Mrs. Huo hadn't given birth to a boy, but she had said that to the wet nurse. Did she want to see her sickly granddaughter more? She didn't need such a granddaughter!