The emperor wanted to host a banquet for the researchers, and naturally, the ministers had no objections. Some even jokingly said that many successful candidates in the imperial examinations were admitted to the Hanlin Academy, where the Qionglin Banquet was held. Since the researchers were so generous with their money, they might as well just call it the Qionghua Banquet.

The magnolia itself is a precious flower, so this is not an insult to those people.

No one had really discussed the name of the banquet; the emperor simply ordered preparations to begin. But word spread, and the news quickly reached Liu Yulian.

Viburnum?

Liu Yulian didn't react to this statement. The officials had always looked down on the researchers at the institute. They always felt that some of the researchers at the institute had little education. Even if the researchers had, none of them had ever passed the imperial examination.

In the beginning, there will inevitably be friction and bumps.

Liu Yulian believed that the researchers needed to be patient. Once they had discovered something, they would be able to stand up straight. Right now, many things were just beginning, and it was perfectly normal for many people to not understand those people.

At the Marquis of Jingning's Mansion, Liu Yulian also received an invitation sent by the emperor.

Liu Yulian is the director of the research institute, so of course she has to go there and cannot not go.

Princess Zhaoyang specially increased Liu Yulian's monthly allowance and asked the tailor to make several sets of clothes for Liu Yulian.

When Liu Yulian went to the research institute, she sometimes wore ordinary clothes and didn't always wear her official uniform. The researchers were the same way; official uniforms weren't suitable for research; they couldn't possibly do research in them.

"You're a girl after all, so you need to make some nice clothes," Princess Zhaoyang said. "They need to be colorful. There's no need for all of them to be solid or dark."

"It's just useful when I go to work." Liu Yulian didn't like wearing a skirt to go to the fields. Even if she didn't go to the fields, she felt that the skirt was a bit cumbersome, and sometimes she still had to wear trousers.

It’s just that women in this era all wore skirts, and Liu Yulian didn’t say that they had to wear pants.

Liu Yulian can change some things, but she can't change everything. She can ask those people in the research institute to wear more pants when they go out, but she can't ask others outside to accept it.

Some people in ordinary families did not have skirts that long, which was not a big deal. This was mainly because ordinary people had to do things, so it was unlikely that ordinary people would wear such long skirts to do things.

"You can wear it when you're at home, even when you're not working in the fields." Princess Zhaoyang said with a smile, "The soap you had made earlier was quite useful."

"As long as it works well," Liu Yulian said, "If it works well, then we can make more money."

When Princess Zhaoyang heard Liu Yulian talking about making money, she thought of the research institute's reward system. "You don't have to give away all the little gadgets you made yourself. Otherwise, you'd be better off giving them a hundred taels of silver and having someone else do the work yourself and earn more."

"It's okay." Liu Yulian didn't take out all her skills. She didn't take out the rouge and skin care products sold in her shop.

Those things are just ordinary daily necessities, so Liu Yulian certainly wouldn't think about technology transfer or anything like that.

The technologies that are important are those that can promote the development of the court. Those technologies are the most important. Other things, such as soap, are just some small things. If humans lack these small things, it will not be a big deal. They will not starve or be in danger of death.

"Just keep it in mind." Princess Zhaoyang couldn't say more. Those were Liu Yulian's things, not Princess Zhaoyang's.

At the Mei family, Mrs. Mei wanted to look for the second young master, but found out that the second young master was out.

"What, he went out?" Mrs. Mei frowned. "He went to try his best?"

"I don't know." This was the answer of the servants.

How could the servants possibly ask their masters where they were going? If their masters didn't tell them, the servants would have no idea.

"Have you gone to the farm?" asked Mrs. Mei Ershao.

Ever since the Mei family sent Jiang to the farm, the second young master Mei has always been out. His wife suspected that the second young master Mei went to see Jiang.

"I don't know." How could the servants know? Even if they knew that the Second Young Master Mei went to the manor, they couldn't just say it. If they said that the Second Young Master Mei went to the manor to look for Jiang, then the Second Young Master's wife would be unhappy.

All the servants working in the Mei family knew that the second young master Mei's wife and the second young master Mei often quarreled. These two people always had endless quarrels and they quarreled at every turn. They didn't care what other people thought.

"What use are you? When I ask you questions, you just don't know the answer to anything." Madam Mei Ershao was not satisfied. Couldn't these people know a little more?

Mrs. Mei Ershao simply walked out of the Mei family. She wanted to see where her husband had gone.

On the farm, the second young master Mei was being affectionate with Jiang.

Jiang had originally thought of finding a way to mess with Second Young Master Mei and his wife, but after much reflection, she felt that the people at Jingning Marquis's residence wouldn't be able to help her much. If she went to them and cried about her grievances, saying that she was originally Second Young Master Mei's fiancée and that he had betrayed her, she wouldn't have to become a concubine in the Mei family.

Others can refute her, but what can she say? They say that she cannot resist her family, so she can only choose to be the concubine of the second young master Mei.

Since she was given to be someone's concubine, why didn't she just stay a concubine quietly?

Jiang knew that no one could make decisions for someone like her. She had both pathetic and hateful qualities. Since she couldn't go to the Marquis of Jingning's mansion, and Madam Mei II wasn't willing to divorce, she had to wait.

"Come and eat." Jiang poured wine for the second young master Mei.

"You are still the best." Second Young Master Mei truly felt that Jiang was gentle and considerate. No matter how he treated Jiang, she was always so good to him and she loved him deeply.

Jiang looked at Second Young Master Mei's satisfied expression, and the corners of her lips curled slightly. Of course, she had to be nicer to Second Young Master Mei, so that he would come to see her more often, and then Second Young Master Mei's wife might be unhappy and make more noise.

For someone like Mrs. Mei, if you don't add fuel to the fire, her quarrels won't be fierce enough.

"I've been thinking of you," Jiang said. "From a very young age, I knew I wanted to marry you."

Jiang had once imagined how happy her life would be with Second Young Master Mei, but it all turned out to be an illusion. Second Young Master Mei seemed nice to her, but in reality, he was a completely selfish person.

"I'm sorry for wronging you." Second Young Master Mei sighed, "If the Marquis' Mansion hadn't forced me to do that, how could I have possibly married her?"

"You are the one who feels wronged." Jiang thought that it was not the Marquis' Mansion that forced the Second Young Master Mei to marry the Second Young Master's Wife Mei. The Second Young Master Mei was not that outstanding. If the Second Young Master's Wife Mei refused, then the Jingning Marquis' Mansion would definitely choose someone else for her.

"It's all unfair, it's all unfair." Second Young Master Mei said, "Eat something."

"Eat." Jiang picked up some food for the Second Young Master Mei. "I made this today. I haven't seen you these past few days, so I thought of making some dishes you'd like. For me, seeing these dishes is like seeing the Second Young Master."

When Second Young Master Mei heard this, he felt even more that Jiang was a good person. Someone like Jiang should marry him. If only Jiang had a higher status, then he wouldn't have to marry Second Young Master Mei's wife.

When Mrs. Mei rushed over, Mr. Mei and Mrs. Jiang were already in the room, working. Mrs. Mei didn't care about the servants' attempts to stop her, she just rushed in.

When Mrs. Mei saw that the second young master Mei and Jiang were inseparable, she was so angry that she rushed up and slapped Jiang twice.

"In broad daylight, you are actually... so shameless." Mrs. Mei Ershao was very angry. She originally thought she had won, but she didn't expect her husband to run to Jiang's side.

"Madam." Jiang could only sit on the corner of the bed wrapped in a quilt.

Jiang Shi was not afraid that Mrs. Mei would rush in, but she was afraid that Mrs. Mei would not dare to rush in. Anyway, Jiang Shi did not care that much about her reputation. She was just a concubine, and a concubine sent to the farm. If she did not show more, how could she get the Second Young Master Mei to come more often?

"What are you doing?" As soon as the Second Young Master Mei put on his clothes, he felt that the Second Young Master Mei's wife had gone too far.

"Why am I making a fuss?" Mrs. Mei sneered. "You guys are doing this kind of thing in broad daylight. What do you think I'm making a fuss about?"

Mrs. Mei Ershao was very angry. She wondered if her husband was upset because the Jingning Marquisate and Liu Yanbo had severed their relationship, and that he thought the Jingning Marquisate didn't care about her that much. So, the Second Young Master Mei bullied her wantonly, treating her like a rock that anyone could step on.

"Stop making trouble." Second Young Master Mei said, "If you don't like it, we'll go back now."

"What are you going back for? Just continue." Mrs. Mei Ershao said angrily.

"I just came to take a look at the farm and drank some wine," explained the second young master Mei.

Jiang looked at the Second Young Master Mei. Fortunately, the Second Young Master Mei still had some conscience and did not accuse her of seducing him. Some men also like to accuse women of seducing them, such as the Second Young Master Mei who just said that it was the Jingning Marquis's Mansion that forced him to marry the Second Young Master Mei's wife.

This Second Young Master Mei is not a good person.

"Who asked you to drink?" asked Mrs. Mei Ershao.

"I'm just in a bad mood, so I'm drinking a little." Second Young Master Mei said, "Since you're here, let's go back together."

The Second Young Master Mei didn't visit Jiang more often, as he felt bad for her being beaten. However, the Marquis of Jingning had returned to the capital, and they didn't know to what extent the Marquis of Jingning would tolerate the Second Young Master Mei's wife, nor did they know whether the Marquis of Jingning would make more decisions for her. In any case, the Second Young Master Mei didn't dare to offend her by visiting her more often.

The second young master Mei's parents had already told him to be more obedient to his wife. The second young master Mei could only do what the elders said. He didn't dare to say anything else, for fear of upsetting the elders, fearing that his father would not be transferred to an official position, and fearing that his father would not be promoted.

"What about her?" Mrs. Mei looked at Jiang.

"Let her stay here." Second Young Master Mei said, "I don't come here often, and it takes quite a while to get here from the capital."

The second young master Mei did not dare to suggest taking Jiang back home, for fear that his parents would be unhappy, and also that the Marquis of Jingning's Mansion would be unhappy.

"Then don't come here too often." Mrs. Mei was very angry, but since things had already come to this, what else could she do? She could only take the Second Young Master Mei back and not let him continue to be with Jiang.

The Second Young Master Mei had just been frightened by his wife, and he had no intention of doing that again. He just wanted to go back as soon as possible.

Jiang Shi found it quite ridiculous to see Second Young Master Mei so eager to go back with Second Young Master Mei's wife. Second Young Master Mei always said he liked her, but she knew that Second Young Master Mei didn't like her that much. Second Young Master Mei just wanted to rebel against Second Young Master Mei's wife occasionally.

"If you want a concubine, I'll arrange for you to have one today... a maidservant." Madam Mei Ershao walked to the door and said loudly, "Younger and prettier."

Mrs. Mei thought that Jiang was nothing, and Jiang had no sons and daughters to compete with her, so she could arrange other people to serve the second young master Mei.

"..." Second Young Master Mei did not expect Second Young Master Mei's wife to say this.

"What are you looking at? Let's go." Mrs. Mei Ershao said, "It's just a woman. If you want one, I'll give it to you."

Jiang heard the voice coming from outside and sneered. Mrs. Mei was a foolish woman. Mrs. Mei sent women to Mr. Mei, seemingly to share Jiang's favor with young women and to make Mr. Mei come to Jiang less.

But Mrs. Mei forgot that the Mei family needed Jiang's money. Jiang was not afraid, because the Mei family would definitely ask the second young master to come over from time to time for the money in her hands.

Jiang had never thought that the Second Young Master Mei would come over every day, nor did she think that the Second Young Master Mei would be very good to her.

In the Northwest Prefecture City, ever since Su Qiuya mentioned the divorce directly in front of Aunt Qing last time, even though Aunt Qing was dissatisfied with Su Qiuya recently, she never mentioned buying a young maid.

The most Qing Yi Niang would say a few words about Su Qiuya when she was chatting with her son alone. In order to avoid Qing Yi Niang causing trouble for Su Qiuya, Liu Yanbo did not say much about Qing Yi Niang's faults.

Su Qiuya knew that Aunt Qing's peace was only temporary, and Aunt Qing was unwilling to accept it.

If it weren't for the coincidence, if the incident at the Jingning Marquis' Mansion hadn't happened so quickly, then the stepmother would have let her own daughter marry Liu Yanbo.

Su Qiuya really didn’t think Liu Yanbo was that good. A man like this... If she hadn’t married Liu Yanbo in the first place, then she would definitely not have fallen for Liu Yanbo.

"Boss, give me a bowl of noodles." There are many repeat customers who come to eat noodles.

Su Qiuya's shop has a lot of noodles, and she always puts in plenty of ingredients, and the taste is good, so of course it can attract a lot of people. Each portion has less noodles and less ingredients, so you can make a lot of money, but some people think that a bowl of noodles is not enough to fill you up, so those people simply don't come and they may go somewhere else.

Su Qiuya is not stingy. As long as costs are controlled and profits can be made, there is no need to be too stingy. People who are too stingy will find it difficult to make money.

"Okay." Su Qiuya said.

Su Qiuya is good-looking, and some wealthy young men in the city think she is pretty.

"Madam, the boss is not here again." A young man who came to eat noodles said, "You are so tired here all day, why don't you just follow me."

"I was born to work hard." Su Qiuya couldn't take what these people said seriously. They couldn't marry her as their principal wife. At most, they would take her as a concubine. After a while, if they got tired of her, she wouldn't be able to live well.

Su Qiuya just treated these people's words as a joke, "Don't say that, my mother-in-law is still here."

"Your mother-in-law doesn't help you, she's just playing around." Someone else said, "You have to do things alone, you have to support your mother-in-law, support your husband, and will you have to support your husband's concubine in the future?"

After hearing these words, Su Qiuya just smiled. She could not let Liu Yanbo take a concubine. She absolutely could not let Liu Yanbo be with another woman. She had sacrificed so much for Liu Yanbo, and she did not want to become a joke.

"Eat your noodles." At this moment, Aunt Qing came out.

Aunt Qing also walked in front of Su Qiuya. She felt that this daughter-in-law had no intention of doing things properly. "You are selling noodles, not smiles."

"Yes." Su Qiuya certainly knew that she was not a smiley, but since they were doing business, they still had to greet people with a smile. If they always had a cold face, who would buy the food they cooked?

Businessmen not only need to be welcoming but also need to be able to speak a few words. Unless they have exceptional skills, businessmen who cannot speak well will never make any money.

"Mom, please sit down. I'll make you a bowl of noodles." Su Qiuya didn't say much to Aunt Qing, nor did she say anything else. She just made a bowl of noodles for Aunt Qing.

Su Qiuya wanted to let these people know how good she was to Aunt Qing and how good she was to Liu Yanbo. They would leave the city sooner or later, but that didn't mean these people were useless.

"Go and get busy." Aunt Qing didn't care about face. She just wanted Su Qiuya to stop flirting with these people.

A woman like Su Qiuya is not a virtuous woman, and Aunt Qing is dissatisfied with Su Qiuya in some ways.

Su Qiuya saw that Qing Yi Niang was not that happy, but she didn't think it was a big deal. If Qing Yi Niang was unhappy, then so be it. Qing Yi Niang was not her biological mother, so Su Qiuya didn't think about making Qing Yi Niang happy.

In Shiyuan Village, Liu Yanqing pressed against Lin Xiaowan's belly, wanting to see if there was any movement from the baby inside. As soon as he pressed against her, he felt a small foot kicking his cheek.

"He kicked me!" Liu Yanqing opened his eyes wide and complained to Lin Xiaowan, "He treated me like this before he was even born. When he's born, will he kick me a few more times? I'm his father."

Lin Xiaowan frowned. The baby in her belly was still so small. How could an unborn child understand so much? So what if Liu Yanqing got kicked? It didn't hurt.

"He kicked me more times." Lin Xiaowan said.

"Then wait until he comes out and I'll beat him up a few more times." Liu Yanqing said seriously, "Let's see if he dares to do it again in the future."

"..." Lin Xiaowan grabbed Liu Yanqing's ear.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Liu Yanqing said quickly, "I'm doing this for your own good, to vent your anger. Why are you pulling my ear?"

"That's my child." Lin Xiaowan said.

"I didn't say he wasn't my biological son. Okay, if you don't tell me to hit him, then I won't hit him. Just let go." Liu Yanqing felt that his status in the family had declined again.