The old woman was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "Madam really has a Bodhisattva's heart!"

  Mrs. Li then called someone to take the renamed Xiu Zhi (formerly Yu) away.

  Yu Xiao smiled and greeted Zhang Pozi: "You must remember to water my peppers, and come visit me often!"

  Zhang Pozi's eyes flashed with a hint of sadness, and she nodded heavily.

  What happened next is nothing special.

  Several little girls answered Li's questions in a regular and orderly manner, and most of them were eloquent. Six out of the three were more outstanding. One was the first to stand up, named Geng Xianglian, who had just turned ten years old, didn't recognize characters but could do arithmetic, spoke concisely and clearly, with clear logic. Another one was called Lu Jinchun, nine years old, when answering Li's questions, took the opportunity to promote herself, saying she could cook. There was also one who, like Geng Xianglian, was ten years old, but looked like a peach blossom face and a new moon eyebrow, with an outstanding appearance, asked for her name, said it was Tao Hui.

  When Mr. Li was asking questions, Chen's wife would occasionally glance at that Geng Xianglian.

  After Li asked the question, Wang's mother pointed at Geng Xianglian and smiled: "Madam, isn't it a coincidence that she has the same name as the big servant girl from your sister-in-law's house?"

  Li smiled faintly and said, "Yes. This child is indeed not bad. Wait a bit to take her down and train her well. If she's good, leave her in the young lady's room to serve. If not, find Old Woman Zhang to come and take her away."

  Several little girls immediately became tense as soon as they heard it.

  Wang's mother gave Chen Ayi a glance.

  Aunt Chen lowered her eyelids and couldn't see any expression.

  Li called Wang's mother and Zhang's wife to hand over the silver, while Li's mother took a few newly bought little maidservants away.

  Zhang's wife's face lit up with a smile, and she finalized the deal with Wang's mother for 35 taels of silver as the selling price. She took the silver to bid farewell to Li Shi, who rewarded her with an additional 2 taels of silver and a bolt of white satin. Zhang's wife happily accepted, thanked her repeatedly, and then took her leave, leading several small maidservants who had not been chosen away.

  The morning passed like this. Shen Muqing accompanied Li Shi to eat lunch, and Wang Mama came in to report: "Madam, Fuyuan Hang sent eel and tangerines over." As she spoke, she turned around and winked at Shen Muqing, "That eel is still jumping around alive in the wooden bucket, Miss wants to go take a look!"

  Shen Mu Qing nodded and smiled: "Eel? I've never seen a live eel before!"

  Mr. Li saw her excited look and smiled: "Go! Go! Remember to come back early, we'll go to the in-laws' house later."

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and nodded in agreement, then walked out of the door with Wang's mother.

  As they walked to the hall, Mrs. Wang said in a low voice: "Mr. Liu has arrived - Miss, your foot needs to be treated as soon as possible." Her tone was filled with apology.

  Shen Muqing looked at Wang's mother with gratitude.

  The two returned to An Garden from the alley outside Chaohuidang. Mr. Liu had already been waiting in Baogelou.

  Wang's mother took out Qingfeng San.

  Mr. Liu smelled it again, picked up a bit and put it in his mouth to taste, and couldn't help but shout: "Who prescribed this formula? This isn't a malignant wound! What's with the realgar and musk... use my homemade Red Jade Ointment instead!"

  Luomei was busy fetching water for Shen Muqing to wash his feet, reapplying the red agate ointment made by Mr. Liu, and then sent Shen Muqing back to Li's place.

  In the afternoon, Shen Muqing followed her mother-in-law to learn how to make niangao. She kneaded a big basket full of rabbit and horse-shaped niangao with dough. As a result, at dinner time, all the maidservants in Chaoxitang were eating niangao.

  At night, when Shen Muqing returned home, he first looked at his foot and found that there was no obvious effect. Thinking of the slow efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, Shen Muqing could only endure the pain patiently and wait.

  The little maid came in and lit the lamp, she was barefoot and leaned against the big pillow on the kang, using the light from the lamp to embroider a handkerchief for Princess Zhen'an. She had only embroidered a few stitches when Shen Yueshuang arrived, also bringing her needlework. The two chatted and laughed as they worked on their embroidery, and it wasn't until the night grew late that Shen Yueshuang returned to Xiangyuan Garden.

  Two days passed, and Shen Zongguan came to give Shen Muqing a reply letter, saying that the letter of introduction and Shen Jian's handwritten letter had been delivered to Xiangfa Silk Fabric Store in Wuyi Hutong, Jinchengfang. He also went to pay his respects to Masters Chang and Sun.

  "Do you know who the owner of that silk fabric store is?" Shen Mu couldn't help but ask after thinking for a long time.

  Wang Da-zongguan smiled meaningfully: "It's from Shanxi Lincheng Xiao family. But that shop is actually Ye Suye's."

  Shen Mu Qing's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

  Jincheng Fang's Wu Yi Ku Hutong was a place where the Ministry of War stored armor and clothing, but Ye Su, as the Minister of Revenue, rented it out to the Xiao family to open a silk shop. It's not hard to imagine what's going on behind the scenes. No wonder even Wang Zongguan's face showed a few unusual colors.

  "Did you pass on the invitation? Was there no reaction from them?"

  "It was the shopkeeper who received it in the past. He rewarded each of the young servants with five taels of silver and said that he would come to visit the master in two days."

  Is Xiao Xiao coming over?

  Shen Mu's mind flashed with that handsome yet arrogant face.

  When visiting Shen Zhen, what kind of expression will it be... Is it a humble and proud look? Is it sharp and unrestrained? Or is it dignified and calm...

  She thought about it and found it interesting.

  But it's really strange, why didn't I think of him being nervous and shy?...

  Shen Mu Qing's arm was numb and she pinched her own chin, suddenly looking forward to Xiao Xiao's arrival.

  "Miss, shall we inform the gatekeeper," said Wang Da-zong, eyeing Shen Muqing's expression, "so as not to keep them waiting."

  "No need!" Shen Muqing already had a smile in his eyes, "This person has many methods. Don't worry about it." As he spoke, he thought of Masters Chang and Sun, and his gaze involuntarily darkened again, "How are Masters Chang and Sun arranged on the side of the escort agency?"

  "Chang Shifu had a high-ranking official as his superior, and below him were his wife and children. The government allocated twenty mu of land to him in his hometown, one horse, one large cart, and one hundred taels of silver for funeral expenses. Sun Shifu's parents had passed away early, and he was not yet married, so all the money was converted into silver and given to a nephew from his maternal family to build a tomb and set up a stele for worship." Manager Wang also felt a bit sad when talking about it.

  "Do you know where Master Chang's old home is?"

  "It's just in Cangzhou, not far from here."

  "Is there another brother at home who can help support him?"

  "He said that in his early years, he had a brother who quarreled with their parents and left home. He hasn't heard from him for almost twenty years."

  That is to say, the old are old, the young are young, twenty mu of land, facing the yellow earth and back to the sky, still need wind and rain to be just enough for a family to live on for a year. One hundred taels of silver, with no income...

  "Do you know when they will return to Cangzhou?"

  "After finishing Old Master Chang's 49-day mourning period, I'll be back."

  Shen Mu Qing let out a sigh: "Let Consort Chang's wife come and bid me farewell before she leaves!"

  Wang Zongguan nodded directly and said: "Do you want me to tell Master about it, and get some silver from the outer courtyard's account for Miss?"

  "Just spend as much as you can!" Money isn't everything, having more days is better than having more money. Although Shen Muqing had some private savings, when it was time to fill the gap, she wouldn't be polite at all.

  ******

  Xiao Xiao indeed came two days later.

  That day was Shen Zhen's rest day, they had just finished breakfast, Shen Zhen and Li Shi sat on the wooden bed by the window in the west room, Shen Yuesong and Shen Muqing sat on either side of a small stool at the bedside, Chen Niang and Wang Mama, Tian Mama stood with their hands down beside them, watching Da She standing in the middle of the house shaking her head and reciting "Three Character Classic".

  "Not bad, not bad." Shen Zhen comforted and smiled at Tian Mama, "You've taken good care of him!"

  This wet nurse was originally Chen's milk sister, growing up with Chen from a young age, as close as sisters. Her own child died when he was less than a month old, and she had a falling out with her husband's family over this, which is why she became a wet nurse for the Shen family. Hearing Shen Zhen say this, she quickly turned around, kneeled down to pay respects, and smiled: "Master is praising me too much. Speaking of it, all of this is thanks to Auntie's efforts - every night teaching big brother to recognize one character..."

  Madam Chen listened, her expression somewhat flustered as she knelt down: "Master, I had no other intention, at first it was just for fun, didn't expect Shu Ge to have a good memory, learned quickly, I saw that... and didn't have any excessive thoughts..." As she spoke, she secretly observed Shen Zhen's expression.

  Li's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he smiled: "Look at you, the old master doesn't even blame you." He said with a smile, looking at Shen Zhen, "To think about it, I was careless and didn't expect my brother to be so clever at such a young age that he can already read. However, teaching children is a big deal, it's not just about recognizing a few characters, but also learning the principles of being a person and doing things. Otherwise, I've also been studying in private schools for over a decade, and when did I dare to teach my sister even one character?"

  Shen Zhen nodded and said to Chen Yiniang: "You get up."

  Aunt Chen responded with a low "yes", and stood up somewhat timidly.

  Shen Zhen suggested to Li Shi: "I think, since Da She has this talent, why not after the New Year, invite a teacher to tutor at home and let She Ge start school early."

  Mr. Li smiled and said, "The old master has decided, what's better than that? As the saying goes, 'teach according to one's ability'. Looking at your momentum, our family is likely to produce another scholar again." After finishing speaking, he looked at Da She with a smile, "Da She, don't you think so?"

  Children are the most sensitive.

  He glanced at Chen Niang's downcast eyes, then looked at Li Shi's smiling face, and hesitated for a long time without saying a word.

  "I hope you're not just a bookworm."

  "Ah, he's still young and impressionable," said Li. "He'll follow whoever he's with and learn from them. Just find him a good teacher and he'll naturally turn out well."

  Just then, a servant came in to announce: "Ye Suhe and Xiao Sa from the Ministry of Revenue are requesting an audience with your lordship."

  Shen Zhen was bewildered, but then he heard Shen Muqing exclaim "Ah!" and suddenly remembered who Xiao Sa was.

  He gave a soft "oh" and first instructed Ouyang Hui to meet Xiao Sa - Ouyang Hui was Shen Zhen's aide for nearly thirty years.

  Shen Zhen basically won't see Xiao Xiao...

  Shen Muqing felt a bit embarrassed.

  She always forgets Shen Zhen's identity...

  The little servant responded and left. Shen Zhen turned around, his eyes swept over Shen Muqing, and he changed his mind: "Please ask them to sit in the flower hall."

  There aren't many drafts left, and it's been hard to find time to write recently... I wanted to add more updates, but couldn't make it happen... *sigh*... I can only update according to the writing progress... But I'll definitely notify everyone in advance, please forgive any inconvenience! Tomorrow at noon around 12 o'clock, there will be an additional update. The promise of adding one update for every 300 points remains unchanged... Please continue to support me with your votes, dear sisters, thank you all!