"This... Auntie, is it really feasible?" After hearing Jiang Ling's words, Shen Congxin's eyes almost popped out of their sockets, and an expression of disbelief filled her entire face.

"Don't worry, this will definitely be fine, trust me!" Jiang Ling said to Shen Congxin.

Shen Congxin didn't say anything, but simply picked up the paper and placed it in Jiang Ling's hand.

"Congxin, I'll be right back. You stay here for a while!" Jiang Ling carefully placed the paper in her bosom, gave Shen Congxin some instructions, and then went out.

Jiang Ling had only taken a few steps when she felt something was amiss. She turned around and went into a nearby pastry shop, bought two packs of fine pastries, and secretly bought a pack of decent tea from the mall. Then, carrying these two items, she arrived at the yamen gate.

As soon as Zhao Liu saw Jiang Ling, he quickly led her inside. At that moment, Magistrate Duan was sitting on a chair outside, resting with his eyes closed.

Zhao Liu walked up to Magistrate Duan and said, "Sir, Madam Jiang has arrived!"

Upon hearing the name "Jiang Shi," Magistrate Duan abruptly opened his eyes. Seeing Jiang Shi standing behind Zhao Liu, he immediately stood up from his chair and strode to Jiang Ling, saying, "Why are you here? Come in, come in!"

As he spoke, Magistrate Duan led Jiang Ling into the inner hall. Magistrate Duan hurriedly instructed the maids to serve tea, and then asked, "What's wrong? Why did you come here at this time? Did something happen?"

Magistrate Duan's barrage of questions and concerned gaze made Jiang Ling lean back slightly. She didn't really want to trouble others, even in the past.

Jiang Ling placed the tea and tea leaves on the table and said to Magistrate Duan, "Brother, I brought you some snacks from the snack shops and tea shops I passed by on my way. Please don't mind them!"

"For me?" Magistrate Duan was very surprised to hear this. He pointed to the three items on the table and then to himself.

"Yes, my brother has helped me so much before, and I don't know how to thank him. I thought that since he is a county magistrate, he probably doesn't lack anything, so I simply bought some food and sent it over!" Jiang Ling said somewhat insincerely.

When Magistrate Duan heard that Jiang Ling had given him something, he was overjoyed. He tried hard to suppress the smile on his face and said to Jiang Ling, "Oh, it's nothing at all, sister, don't be so polite with me!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Jiang Ling quickly took out the receipt from her bosom and said to Magistrate Duan, "Brother, I really do have a favor to ask of you!"

Upon hearing Jiang Ling's words, Magistrate Duan immediately adopted a serious expression and asked, "What's wrong? Have you encountered any difficulties? Or has someone bullied you?"

Jiang Ling shook her head, placed the paper on the table, and then said, "Neither..."

Magistrate Duan visibly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his subordinate's words. He didn't rush to ask any questions but patiently waited for Jiang Ling to continue.

"It's about Shen Congxin. This piece of paper is especially important to Shen Congxin, and I hope you can keep it safe for me! I'm worried it might be lost or stolen if I leave it here!"

Jiang Ling's expression was very serious when she said this, and she didn't seem to be joking at all. When Magistrate Duan saw this, he immediately nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will keep this piece of paper safe!"

Without opening the paper, Magistrate Duan took a locked box from the shelf behind him, opened it in front of Jiang Ling, put the paper inside, locked the box, and placed the key in Jiang Ling's hand.

"Brother, what's going on?" Jiang Ling asked Magistrate Duan with some confusion.

"The key is yours. Just bring it to me whenever you need it!" Magistrate Duan said calmly.

These words deeply moved Jiang Ling. She opened her mouth to speak, but Magistrate Duan, as if reading her mind, said, "No need to thank me, helping you is what I should do!"

Seeing the burning gaze in Magistrate Duan's eyes, Jiang Ling's eyes darted away. She knew her behavior was a bit excessive, but she really didn't want to agree to Magistrate Duan's request, after all, the gap between them was not small.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ling pouted and hurriedly told Magistrate Duan, "I'm leaving now." Before Magistrate Duan could stop her, she turned and left.

When Jiang Ling returned to the shop, she saw Jiang Yaojie looking around. When he saw Jiang Ling come back, he quickly ran over. Jiang Yaojie opened his mouth and stammered in a low voice, "Mother... I... can I go out with Miss Shen for a while?"

Jiang Ling glanced at Jiang Yaojie's slightly flushed face, then looked at Shen Congxin, who was standing behind him looking a little nervous, and nodded, saying, "Alright, you guys go ahead, but be quick and come back soon. We'll be going back in half an hour!"

"Okay!" After hearing Jiang Ling's agreement, Jiang Yaojie gave Shen Congxin a look, and the two of them disappeared in a flash.

Inside Yanhuo Alley.

Shen Congxin looked at Jiang Yaojie with some curiosity and asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"Buy the hairpin, didn't I promise you before!" Jiang Yaojie said, patting the silver coins tucked in his pocket.

"You... I was just joking!" Shen Congxin didn't expect Jiang Yaojie to take it seriously, and quickly turned around to go back.

Shen Congxin's action startled Jiang Yaojie. Ignoring the crowds on the street, he quickly grabbed Shen Congxin's sleeve and said, "No...don't go back! My mother said a real man stands tall and his word is his bond. How can I go back on my promise to you!"

Shen Congxin was startled by Jiang Yaojie's actions. She quickly pulled her sleeve away from Jiang Yaojie's hand and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I...I was really just joking!"

"I don't care, I promised you anyway. Either you come with me, or I'll buy it for you!" Jiang Yaojie's stubbornness kicked in, and he shook his head as he spoke to Shen Congxin.

Seeing Jiang Yaojie's expression, Shen Congxin worried that he would be angry and said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, I promise you, let's go, let's go buy the hairpin!" Although Shen Congxin said this, she didn't really mean it. She told herself that she must secretly remember the price of the hairpin and give the money to Jiang Yaojie when her father came back. After all, Jiang Yaojie's family was much worse off than hers.

Shen Congxin arrived at the hairpin shop and looked around. The hairpins here were really ugly. In terms of both design and workmanship, they were far inferior to the ones her father had brought back from Shengjing.

Jiang Yaojie looked intently at the colorful hairpins in front of him, and finally his gaze settled on a silver hairpin inlaid with a jade hairpin with a plum blossom pattern.

He carefully picked up the silver hairpin and examined it closely.

The shopkeeper was a well-traveled and knowledgeable woman. When a young couple suddenly appeared, she quickly came out from behind the counter and greeted them with a smile, saying, "Young man, you have excellent taste! This hairpin is just like a lotus emerging from the water, perfectly complementing your wife!"

The woman's words immediately made Jiang Yaojie and Shen Congxin blush deeply. Seeing this, the woman thought she had guessed correctly and quickly continued with a smile, "Oh my, you know how to be shy? Little sister, your husband dotes on you so much, you are so lucky!"

"No... I... he's not my husband..." Shen Congxin said, her face flushed.