Upon arriving home, Xiao An didn't rush over to call out "Second Sister" immediately. Instead, after dismounting, he had his men lead the horse to the stable before steadily walking over with Hei Jin in tow.
Song Liyun stood by the door watching the whole time.
Xiao An looked at her smiling second sister, her eyes reddened, but she held back and bowed, saying, "Second sister!"
Song Liyun walked over and took his arm: "Why are you acting so distant with your second sister?"
Xiao An pursed her lips: "Second sister, you must be tired from your journey. Please come inside and rest. Aunt Han is in charge of things at home right now, so there might not be any charcoal. I'll go and make some!"
Song Liyun couldn't help but laugh: "Xiao An, this is still my home, are you trying to kick me out?"
Xiao An's face flushed red, and her eyes reddened as well. She couldn't hold back any longer and buried her face in Song Liyun's shoulder, sobbing, "Second Sister, I miss you all so much! Eldest Brother isn't home, and neither are you!"
Hei Jin, who was originally looking around trying to rummage through Song Liyun's luggage, saw Xiao An crying and quickly came over to hug his waist and comfort him with "oh oh".
Xiao An quickly pushed it away: "I didn't cry!"
This left Song Liyun both amused and exasperated.
As soon as the two entered the courtyard, they saw Wudan and Shitou tidying up cardboard boxes, and a pretty young woman making tea, who was Han Ming's current woman, Lan Guo.
When Xiao An saw Brother Shitou and Wudan there, he immediately became happy and clamored to cook.
There was no need for him to cook. When Song Liyun returned, she had already gone to town and booked a table at a newly opened restaurant, which would be delivered soon.
Han Ming and Manager Mu are currently busy at Fu Rui Xiang, putting the cashmere, wool yarn, ox horn carvings, carpets and other goods that Song Liyun brought back into the warehouse.
During this break, the siblings talked inside the house.
"Xiao An, aren't you scared to come back to stay alone every night?" Song Liyun asked.
Xiao An raised his head proudly: "Second sister, I'm an uncle now, an adult, of course I'm not afraid. I also raise rabbits and vegetables in the backyard."
After Song Liyun got married, no one lived in Baolin Residence, so Han Ming stayed overnight in town.
But with Han Ming's young wife, Lan Guo, coming over every day to clean, Baolin Residence remained spotless.
Xiao An returned and stayed at Baolin Residence. Originally, Han Ming wanted Xiao An to live with him in town, but Xiao An refused, saying that he was already an adult and should live at his own home.
Xiao An cried for two nights after going from a lively and bustling environment to being all alone, but thankfully Hei Jin kept her company and made her feel less afraid.
Xiao An would naturally not tell such an embarrassing story.
Song Liyun already knew about Xiao An from Han Ming, and seeing that he showed no fear, she was somewhat moved.
Ah Shi and Lin Qingyuan were right; Xiao An can grow up.
In fact, Baolin Residence has always been guarded, and Han Ming knows everything Xiao An does. Seeing that he can live independently, he lets him be.
Now, Xiao An works at Tianxianglou during the day and takes Hei Jin home at night. She also grows vegetables and feeds rabbits, working until midnight. She closes the front and back doors before going to sleep.
Every other day, Han Ming would visit Baolinju and casually mention business, such as how the beef and mutton were selling and how many vendors had sold their wool yarn.
Xiao An didn't just stay in the tribe for a few months for nothing; he has some knowledge of cattle and sheep fur and can talk about it.
A person's growth often happens overnight.
After just one New Year holiday and three months apart, Xiao An seemed to have grown a year older.
When he spoke to Song Liyun at this moment, he was very serious and lacked his former childishness, which made Song Liyun both happy and sad.
Xiao An stayed in Xiaoshi Village for half a month and saw that although her brother was busy every day, he was happy and cheerful than when he was in Baolinju.
The sight of his older brother happily holding Niu Niu made him feel a sense of loss.
Realizing that you have grown up is like a foal on the prairie that must eventually leave the adult horse to find its own pasture.
Xiao An resolutely refused Song Zhenping's offer to stay and returned to Suijin Town alone.
The siblings chatted for a while, and then Han Ming, Manager Mu, and Old Master Xue Zhuangzhang all arrived, inviting Song Liyun to a banquet in town.
It was said that Commander Luo and Military Supply Officer Wang, among others, would also be coming.
The current Song Liyun is no longer a member of the Suijin Guard.
After spending two days socializing in town, Song Liyun sent a letter to the county government, requesting to meet with Jiang Feng.
Before the Lunar New Year, Song Liyun had already paid for the mountain villa that Han Ming had bought, but the land deed was withheld by the county government, and she had to go and handle it herself.
Han Ming asked worriedly, "Miss, could it be that Magistrate Jiang forbids us from buying land because you are marrying into the Di tribe?"
Although the household registration for the land purchase was in Yunniang's name, it couldn't be hidden from Jiang Feng and the others. There must be a reason why they withheld the land deed for no reason.
After a moment's thought, Song Liyun said, "The paper mill project can't be delayed. Uncle Han should start construction immediately. Every day earlier means a day's income."
"As for the land deed... last year, Tianxianglou gave the county government a share of three thousand taels of silver. This year, Zuichunlou and Jinxilou are also profitable. The county government is unlikely to make things difficult for us."
Song Liyun was certain that Jiang Feng would not make things difficult for her marriage to the Di tribe; there must be other reasons he couldn't say.
When she arrived at Magistrate Jiang Feng's place in Qili County, she indeed received an unexpected message.
Jiang Feng is about to be promoted to Prefect of Pingyang Prefecture. His promotion before the end of his three-year term in Qili County is an exception.
Song Liyun offered her congratulations, but Jiang Feng said, "I was just borrowing it, and it's normal for me to return to my post at the government office. I just hope that if the young mistress knows the reason, she won't blame me for deliberately making things difficult for her."
"Lord Jiang is overthinking it. How could I, a humble woman, dare to blame the officials of the court!"
"But, since you've used this woman as a wedding dress, Lord Jiang should give an explanation!" Song Liyun said with a faint smile.
Jiang Feng did not laugh, but quietly looked at Song Liyun, who was now dressed as a married woman, for a moment before saying, "Although you are married, you are not as foolish as other women."
She was a crystal-clear person before marriage, but she lost her mind after getting married.
She only knew how to serve her husband and in-laws wholeheartedly, and engaged in petty squabbles and power struggles with the concubines and maids, losing sight of who she truly was.
Song Liyun was extremely embarrassed.
Why does that sound so familiar? Jia Baoyu said that unmarried women are like pearls, while married women become like fish eyes.
Could it be that Jiang Feng's wife was like that too...?
A woman's shift in priorities before and after marriage is not entirely her own fault.
A man with many wives and concubines in his household, in a chaotic mess, still hopes to cultivate a pure lotus flower, unaware that the lotus flower will be uprooted and eaten.
But Jiang Feng has kept himself pure and chaste for two years here, and hasn't even taken a concubine!
etc!
Jiang Feng wasn't one to engage in casual conversation, so his words... clearly referred to Tang Qingluan and the other palace maids.
Clearly, he already knew everything that was happening in the Uda tribe.
Song Liyun's mind raced, and she realized: the Empress Dowager had people in the tribe, and the Emperor also had spies.
Jiang Feng wasn't just talking nonsense; he was simply reminding himself.
Song Liyun was taken aback for a moment, but then she understood.
Oh well, too many lice don't itch, too many debts don't worry.
Among that dowry, there were countless spies and informants; the Uda tribe had nothing left to hide.
Seeing that Song Liyun had already noticed something, Jiang Feng returned to the main topic.
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