Because of the rural relatives, according to the village's generation order, Xia Zhi had to call Tian Fuchun "Big Aunt". Xiao Heiyu was young in age but high in generation order, she and Tian Fuchun were of the same generation, so she only called Tian Fuchun "Sister".

  Tian Fuchun was very enthusiastic and polite, first talking to Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu about the village affairs, highly praising Old Man Xia's character and prestige. Then she talked about Xia Xiucái, saying that in all these years, Daxingzhuang had only produced one xiūcái (a successful candidate in the imperial examination). Tian Fuchun's brothers had also studied, but they were not cut out for studying.

  "Xia Dage has been kind and righteous since childhood, never getting into trouble with those ordinary kids. From a young age, in the whole village, many people studied, but only Xia Dage passed the imperial examination to become a Xiucai." Tian Fuchun couldn't help but feel nostalgic and moved when talking about the past in the village. According to the old folks' saying in the village, this was because the Xia family's ancestors had accumulated virtue, and their ancestral tomb was emitting auspicious smoke.

  Xia Zhi naturally also spoke a few polite words. In Daxing Village, the Tian family's life was better than that of the Xia family. However, in the eyes of many people, including Old Man Xia, the Tian family was capable but not a decent farming household. The Tian and Xia families respected each other while maintaining a certain distance.

  Then, Tian Fuchun mentioned something about Tian Laibao when he was in Daxingzhuang. "This kid has been spoiled by us. When he was in the village, he didn't cause you any less trouble. Fortunately, you brought him along, so he didn't forget all his lessons and managed to avoid a few beatings when he got back."

  When it came to this, Tian Lai Bao protested, but was immediately suppressed by Tian Fu Chun. Xia Zhi smiled and thought to herself, did Tian Fu Chun know that she had spanked Tian Lai Bao's butt? Tian Lai Bao himself would never say anything about it, but didn't Grandma Tian San, Tian Fu Gui and the others mention it either?

  "In this lifetime, one doesn't know how many people they will meet. But the most important ones are two kinds of people: noble people and petty people. Sixteen, you and Xiaolong are our noble people." Tian Fuchun spoke straightforwardly, "Originally, his father said that Qiaobao was not allowed to go out. However, as long as she's with you guys, we don't have any worries at all, so we'll let her be completely free. You're still young, and I've lived more years than your parents. If there's anything you need from us, just speak up, and we'll fully support you."

  For the matter of Xia Zhi getting a 20% profit for Tian Lai Bao in the contract, Tian Fu Chun was very grateful to Xia Zhi. Moreover, she thought more long-term, if in the future Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu wanted to do some business with Tian Lai Bao, she and Tian Chang would definitely fully support them, giving money when needed and providing people when required.

  Tian Lai Bao smiled with satisfaction at this guarantee from his mother.

  Then everyone chatted about some family matters. Tian Fuchun asked Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu when they planned to return to Daxingzhuang, and after learning that they planned to leave in the next few days, Tian Fuchun invited them to stay at her home in Jiaji Hutong for a few more days.

  "Otherwise, Bao always complains about us. He wishes he could be with you every day."

  While speaking, the serving little girl had already changed the tea water three times and also replaced the fruit and snacks twice. Xia Zhi came here today just to get to know Tian Fuchun, as they would be cooperating more in the future, they needed to understand each other better.

  She got along well with Tian Fuchun, but after all, there was still Gui Fangzhai and Xia Ershu's family. Compared to Tian Chang's cautious humility, Tian Fuchun's words were much more severe.

  "Don't mention one Gui Fang Zhai, even if there are a few more, we wouldn't care." When saying this, Tian Fu Chun's sharpness was fully exposed. She is an extremely formidable woman, otherwise she wouldn't be able to sit in the position of Gui Xiang Zhai's big madam. Xia Zhi knew some gossip about Tian Fu Chun in the village.

  After sitting for a while, Xia Zhi bid farewell. Tian Fuchun wanted to keep her for dinner, but Xia Zhi said she still had things to attend to. Since she was about to leave the prefecture, there were many things that needed to be taken care of.

  Tian Fu Chun saw Xia Zhi and said something, then she didn't force it. She accepted the fresh fruit sent by Xia Zhi, then let the little maid fill a food box with exquisite pastries and return them to Xia Zhi. As for the ready-made cloth and bangles, she didn't dare take them out.

  Courtesy demands reciprocity; in front of Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu Er, she didn't dare act like a senior.

  Back in Xishi Street, Xia Dagu and Guo Gufu welcomed Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu in the courtyard. After asking about their experiences at Tian's home, both Xia Dagu and Guo Gufu were delighted.

  Guo's uncle also told Xia Dagu: "I don't know. You should accompany Shi Liu and Xiao Long to go. You and Tian Danni are fellow townspeople, you should visit each other more often."

  Xia Dagu smiled and said: "Let's talk about it later." And thus changed the subject.

  On their way back, they passed by Guo Xi's wine shop. Xia Zhi asked Xia Dagui: "What is the Yu Huan family busy with? I see people going in and out."

  "Yu Huan's family is inviting your second uncle over for dinner today." Xia Dagu told Xia Zhi, "He just came over and told me, also asking your aunt to go over and keep him company."

  Uncle Guo was reminded by Aunt Xia, he looked at the time and quickly got up, saying he had to go next door first. Aunt Xia didn't stop him, but only instructed: "Drink less wine, you talk too much when you drink too much." Meaning to let Uncle Guo speak less.

  Uncle Guo understood and smiled as he agreed and left.

  Xia Dagu sat back on the stool and let out a soft sigh.

  "Eldest aunt, Yuhuan's family invited Second Uncle, is there something going on?" Xia Zhi asked Eldest Aunt Xia.

  "If nothing else, they can invite guests!" Xia Dagu hummed and looked around to make sure no one was listening before telling Xia Zhi, "It's all because of the wine at their house. From opening the sign this morning until now, not a single drop has been sold. This is intentional, they want your second uncle to help."

  Guo Xi's family is quite quick-witted. Xia Zhi asked Xia Dagu again, "Dagu, do you think my second uncle can help with this matter?"

  Xia Dagu thought for a moment, and then ambiguously said: "If he wants to help, there should be a way. As for Master Jian Sheng, a few jars of wine shouldn't be a big deal."

  Guo's uncle and others were not present, so Xia Dagu said a few intimate words to Xia Zhi. She pointed to the neighboring Guo Xi's house: "That courtyard is more selfish than anyone else, I have been to the Guo family for so many years, they still don't see me, just because we are country people. They can't do anything about me either... This is because your second uncle and Mr. Jian Sheng handled things, that's why they are so fawning."

  These things, Xia Dagu was unwilling to bother with.

  At noon, only Xia Dagu, Changsheng and Pearl accompanied Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu to eat. After they finished eating, it was half past noon and Guo's father had not returned yet, so Xia Dagu became worried and sent Changsheng to the next room.

  Changsheng went out for a while and then came back supporting Guo's uncle.

  Uncle Guo was drunk and stumbled back, flopping onto the kang, but his mood seemed quite good. Aunt Xia grumbled about Uncle Guo with her mouth, while personally taking care of him with her hands.

  Uncle Guo said he was fine and just needed a lie down for a while.

  "I told you so many times, but you forgot. How did you drink so much?" Xia Dagu handed a wet towel to Guo Shu and wiped his hands and face, then asked him.

  "Accompanying Second Uncle, I had a few more cups." Guo Aunt said with a smile. Because it was to ask Xia Ershu for help, and Xia Ershu was a good drinker, Guo Aunt's accompaniment was always there to keep him company, so he ended up drinking too much.

  As for Guo Xi, this elder male cousin, Uncle Guo was still quite considerate of him.

  "Has your second uncle agreed?" Xia Dagu hurriedly asked.

  "Alright," said Guo Xi happily, "his second uncle is a straightforward person. Tomorrow he'll have the wine transported away." As he spoke, he chuckled again.

  "What's so funny?" his aunt scolded him with a glare.

  Guo's uncle glanced at Xia Dagu: "You don't know. Maybe, there's another good thing about this."

  "What else is good?" Xia Dagu curiously asked Guo Shu.

  Guo's uncle lifted his body and whispered two sentences in Xia Dagu's ear, then laughed and lay back on the kang.

  "This is really an unexpected thing."

  "It's also a good thing. You should be happy to hear that, as the older sister-in-law." Guo's uncle was still smiling, and today he was really very happy.

  "This is something that can't be discussed. When the time comes, we'll do what we should do." Xia Dagu's interest was not high. Guo Gufu was drunk and didn't care, he just smiled foolishly and fell asleep.

  Xia Zhi was talking to Pearl in the western house when Guo Yuhuan came over. She had a smile on her face, and there was no sign of the anxious look from yesterday. Xia Zhi guessed that the wine shop's problem might have been resolved.

  When Zhenzhu asked her, Guo Yuhuan said that it was an adult matter and she wasn't clear about it either. She chatted with Zhenzhu while glancing at Xia Zhi's body several times.

  At the summer solstice gathering, Guo Yuhuan wanted to whisper something to Zhenzhu, so she casually found an excuse and slipped away.

  Guo Yuhuan saw Xia Zhi leave and hurriedly said to Pearl, "Second Uncle brought a message from Second Aunt, asking us to go see her. Pearl, I see your family's carriage is in the front courtyard, we just so happen to have some free time, let's go now."

  Originally, Guo Yuhuan was going to go to Yaowang Temple Alley to buy pearls.

  Zhenzhu didn't want to go. "Sister Yuhuan, you go by yourself. I've been there before, I'll wait until my mother goes and then I'll follow her."

  Guo Yuhuan then persuaded Zhenzhu to go with her: "You're idle at home anyway. Why not go and take a look at the Monitor's house, it would be great!" In the end, Zhenzhu still refused to go, so Guo Yuhuan had to tell the truth, "If you don't go, how can I go alone?"

  Pearl didn't think much and said to Guo Yuhuan, "Why don't you let your mother-in-law accompany you?"

  "If only my mother had some free time." Guo Yuhuan pouted. The wine shop was going to have a big event, and both Guo Xi and Guo Qian were busy to the point of not being able to extricate themselves. Originally, Guo Qian had said that after they got through these few days, she would take Guo Yuhuan to Huatong Medicine King Temple, but Guo Yuhuan couldn't wait any longer. It just so happened that Xia Ershu and others had all invited her to visit before, and it wasn't good for her to go alone, so she wanted Zhenzhu to accompany her together.

  Although Pearl was unwilling to go, she couldn't resist Guo Yuhuan's persuasion and eventually had a change of heart.

  "It's late today, if we're going, it'll have to be tomorrow." Pearl said.

  Finally, Pearl agreed to accompany her, and Guo Yuhuan could only nod: "Tomorrow is tomorrow, it's settled, you can't back out again." Having settled on going to Yao Wang Miao Hutong the next day, Guo Yuhuan happily left.

  Zhenzhu went to Xia Dagou's house and told her about it. Xia Dagou saw the conflict in Zhenzhu and was not very happy: "If you don't want to go, then don't go."

  "But I've already promised her." Pearl said with a pout.

  "You, why do you always pander to her!" Xia Dagu scolded Zhu Pearl. At the Medicine King Temple Hutong, she had taken Zhu Pearl there once before, and in her heart, she didn't want her daughter to go that way often. No matter what Zhang Qiao'er's future fate would be, for now, she was still Tian Muyang's concubine.

  Moreover, Xia Er Shu's temper is like that, Wu Yue and Yu Huan are also very cunning, they often bully people, Xia Da Gu worries that Zhen Zhu will suffer in silence. She thought for half a day, when Xia Zhi came over, she consulted with him.

  "Your second uncle and aunt have been here for days, but you haven't visited them even once. ... Zhenzhu and Yuhuan went together, I'm worried and it's not good to accompany them... " Xia Dagou meant to let Xia Zhi accompany Zhenzhu there.

  Xia Zhi thought for a moment and then nodded.

  Just as Shada said, no matter what, she had to go to Yaowangmiao Hutong to see Xia Ershu and Xia Erniang. In addition, she was going back to Daxingzhuang and wanted to know more about Xia Ershu's family in Yaowangmiao Hutong, so that she could tell Shalao Yezi when she returned.

  Even if Old Man Xia was angry with Xia Er Shu again, he couldn't help but care about this son in his heart.

  Xia Zhi agreed readily, and Xia Dagu was both grateful and delighted. After Xia Zhi told Xiao Hei Yu about it, Xiao Hei Yu didn't raise any objections either. Wherever Xia Zhi went or whatever he did, he would follow him anyway.

  "With me around, no one will bully Sixteen and Pearl." Little Black Fish patted his small chest to guarantee to Aunt Xia. At such a young age, he was bursting with a desire to protect.

  The next day, Xia Dagu had just finished breakfast and the table was not yet cleared when Guo Yuhuan came over, dressed up. Upon learning that Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu would also be going together, a hint of displeasure flashed across Guo Yuhuan's face, but she quickly covered it up. Then she sweetly called out to Xia Zhi as "Fourth Sister" and said she was delighted to have Xia Zhi accompany her.

  Because Guo Yuhuan dressed up so beautifully, Zhenzhu had a comparative thought and sat in front of the dressing mirror, letting Xiaohong re-style her hair. She also took out all the clothes she made this year, picking and choosing but couldn't decide which one to wear.

  Guo Yuhuan seemed to have not expected this turn of events, and she sat on the edge of the kang with some impatience. In the end, it was still Xia Dagou who came over and helped Zhenzhu choose her clothes.

  Summer is easier to go out. She first dressed up the little black fish, and she didn't apply lipstick or powder, only a big braid was neatly tied at the back of her head, and then inserted a hairpin.

  That's all the decorations for Xia Zhi. As for clothes, Xia Zhi recently made a new set, a smoke-red and yellow-edged jacket with a moon-white standing collar shirt and a goose-yellow flower-pleated skirt. When Xia Zhi put on this outfit, Guo Yuhuan's eyes immediately became unsteady.

  (。)