Fenggu County is located at the junction of the north and south. Summers are hot and long, and these days are the perfect time to eat chilled watermelon and drink sweet soup. Jinghe placed yogurt fruit tea and egg tart sweet soup on the table, and Qin Xiaozhou slowly introduced them, saying, "Please enjoy, Madam and Miss."

After saying that, he stepped back and went downstairs.

Cui Yun nodded again, "Not bad, this woman knows when to advance and retreat."

The mother and daughter were in a private room with a west-facing window that offered a view of the river behind the house, then of people busily building the embroidered tower, and further west, of a range of mountains. Today, the sky was cloudless, and the mountains and rivers were shrouded in gloom, but the view was expansive, giving one a rare feeling of being able to fly freely in the vast sky.

Zhu Xian poured fruit tea for her mother. "Mother, you should settle down in this county town and stop worrying about those people and things in the prefectural city. The Zhu family is a den of wolves and tigers."

“He is, after all, your father.” Cui Yun sighed, her brows furrowed with worry, her lips moving, but in the end she could no longer say anything to comfort her daughter. She was once a young lady from a prestigious family, and she married Zhu Huan through a family alliance. Originally, she was taught to be the matriarch of the family, and she had always done so. However, Zhu Huan took his wet nurse’s daughter as a concubine.

The two had a childhood sweetheart relationship, but the concubine was not peaceful either. Sowing discord and scheming happened every day in the back courtyard of the Zhu family. Although Zhu Huan gave face to the Cui family and did not divorce his wife, he favored his concubine too much and neglected his wife. Cui Yun had not had a single day of peace since she got married.

Some time ago, Zhu Huan's concubine became pregnant, which is why Zhu Xian suggested that Cui Yun come to the county town. The excuse was to relax, but in reality, it was to avoid the concubine and prevent her from framing her again. Five years ago, Cui Yun had fallen for this trick. The concubine was three months pregnant when she collapsed in Cui Yun's courtyard and almost miscarried. Zhu Huan wanted to divorce her without even asking what happened. If it weren't for the Cui family's intervention, Cui Yun would have been divorced long ago.

Zhu Xian took her mother's hand and said, "Mother, now that I'm in charge of the Zhu family's shipping business, there's nothing in the Zhu mansion that we should miss. We should just focus on living our own lives."

Cui Yun couldn't bear to refuse her daughter's good intentions, so she pretended not to care. She casually picked up a bamboo spoon and took a bite of the milk pudding. Her taste buds were instantly attracted, and she ate a palm-sized piece before finally stopping. Turning her head, she noticed children playing in the backyard.

Today was market day in the county town. Jingming had finished her postpartum confinement and was taking good care of her two baby girls. Wang Lan brought her precious grandson to the county town, partly to let Lu Xiaosi see Zhao Fang. The child was a year and a few months old and was at the age where he recognized people. If he didn't see her for a month or two, he might not be close to his mother, and Zhao Fang would be heartbroken.

Secondly, Wang Lan also missed them, especially Lu Yan, whom she hadn't seen for quite some time.

She had come with Zhao Yong in an oxcart. When she saw Lu Yan in the backyard, her eyes lit up, and she affectionately touched her granddaughter's face, saying, "You've gotten fairer and plumper."

With her little bun, the red ribbon tied on top, and the small silver bells hanging down, jingling with every step, she looked playful and adorable. Wearing a crimson dress, Wang Lan couldn't help but praise, "She looks like a New Year's picture doll. My granddaughter is so beautiful."

Lu Yan had been well-fed and clothed for several months, and spent her days in the shop, sheltered from the wind and sun. She had also learned to read and write, which had given her a touch of the air of a pampered young lady. She gracefully lifted her skirt and twirled around, saying, "My sister-in-law drew the design, and my mother made it for me."

Zhao Fang was overjoyed as she held her youngest son. "Mom, I also made a set for you and Xiao Si. We'll take it back later; it'll be perfect for the hot weather."

Wang Lan smiled, her eyes crinkling. Everyone said that her daughter-in-law was a bit unruly, but she was kind-hearted and filial. She liked her very much. "Alright, alright, you should also make yourself a couple of nice outfits. In this shop, it's all about the face of your granddaughter-in-law. Don't embarrass her."

“Mom, we all work in the shop and wear the same clothes. Xiaozhou bought good fabrics. Just take care of yourself and don’t get tired or fall.” Zhao Fang put the child in the cradle under the eaves. “This morning we ate braised pork with preserved mustard greens. It was soft, tender and not greasy. There’s also a big bowl that hasn’t been touched yet. Mom, take it home and eat it.”

Someone has to stay at home, so Wang Lan has to go home in the afternoon.

Wang Lan stopped her, saying, "You can keep it for yourselves. We have plenty of rice and flour at home, as well as plenty of chickens, ducks, and geese. We won't be short of meat."

Wang Lan is now willing to eat rice and noodles, but she is reluctant to eat chicken, duck and goose, as these are all good things to sell. Fortunately, white rice and noodles are excellent food for people who eat bran and wild vegetables. Lu Yu is not fond of meat, and Jing Ming is grateful to be able to eat white flour buns and rice, and dares not dream of eating meat.

Qin Xiaozhou neatly packed the meat and prepared desserts, cakes, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. "Later, I'll need to trouble my cousin to take Grandma home, and I'll also trouble my cousin to carry these things into the house."

She specifically showed Zhao Yong a package, saying, "These contain some snacks; my cousin is taking them home for his nephews and nieces."

Zhao Yong was killing a chicken in the back. He was quick and efficient, and finished cleaning a chicken in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. When he heard this, his ears turned red, and he chuckled, "Cousin's wife, you're too kind. If my parents knew I brought something back again, they would definitely scold me."

Qin Xiaozhou smiled. She didn't give them chickens and ducks every time she came to deliver them; she only gave them a little every ten days or so so that her children could take them home to satisfy their cravings.

Zhao Fang poked her nephew's head and scolded him with a laugh, "You little rascal, you always listen to Xiao Zhou."

This heartwarming scene of mutual concern left the mother and daughter upstairs stunned. The Cui family was a large clan, and as a daughter of the Cui family, she had to learn many things from a young age. Her mother always acted like the matriarch of the family and had never been so gentle. Her father was rarely seen and never cared about her. Unexpectedly, she found a trace of family affection in this inconspicuous little courtyard.

Cui Yun then thought of how she had been exhausted from dealing with concubines and managing the household over the years, and how she had never cared about her daughter. She felt a pang of guilt and said, "I have wronged you."

She lowered her eyes to hide her tears, "It's my fault for being useless. I didn't win your father's favor, and as a result, you never even got a second glance from him."

Zhu Xian scoffed, leaning back in her chair with an air of nonchalance. "Who wants to give him a second glance? He's just bad luck. I just want to stay as far away from him and that Zhu family as possible."

She now commands a fleet of ships, traveling freely to the north and south.

Cui Yun, however, was even more distressed, "You've reached the age for official marriage this year, you..."

"Mother, don't worry, I have a plan." Zhu Xian was most afraid of hearing these things. She didn't want to get married, and she didn't want to tie her fate to a man who was unrelated to her. But she couldn't say these words. Not only would Cui Shi not accept it, but the law also forbade it. She could only interrupt quickly, "The summer evening heat has subsided. I'll take you to visit the Western Hills."

Qin Xiaozhou spent two or three days sorting out the accounts and money. Before he knew it, it was the first day of June. Early in the morning, people rushed to the county government office.