On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zi Lu took leave in advance and returned home. Zi Shou and Zi Xi did the same, as they had to send betrothal gifts to the bride's family that day, so there were more household chores to attend to. Old Master Zi, Tian Shi, Zhou Shi, Qiu Yu, and others all came over voluntarily to help out. The betrothal gifts for Zi Fu's wedding were also twenty-two sedan chairs, just like before. It was Zhou Shi's first time seeing this, as she hadn't been present at Zi Fu's wedding. Seeing the rows of things laid out, she was very surprised. She probably hadn't expected that in just a few years, the Shen family's wealth would have grown so thick. In rural areas, weddings usually only had two or three sedan chairs, and some didn't even have any, just carrying a pair of baskets to send over, which wouldn't cost more than a few taels of silver. Where did all these gold and silver jewelry and silk fabrics come from?

  "Brother and sister, you are really lucky. The children have all grown up, each one is successful, and today's life is also prosperous. In just a few years, they've accumulated such a thick family foundation. Unlike me, I've been strong-willed my whole life, but I've never gone out. The older ones don't listen to me, and the younger ones who knows what will happen in the future? Can't help but trouble these four brothers to take care of them." said Zhou Shi, pulling over her son.

  Qiu Yu listened and curled her lips, saying: "Sister-in-law finally remembered that there are still nephews, five years without seeing anyone, I thought brother and sister-in-law were going to open the door on the roof and disown us."

  Old Master heard and stopped Autumn Jade. "Less nonsense, on a happy day like today, what are you talking about? Whoever wants to gossip about the old lady in these few days, get out of here."

  Qiu Yu and Zhou Shi had to shut up, sending the betrothal gifts out the door. Shen Shi kept everyone for dinner, but Zhou Shi again showed some emotion, however Shen Shi didn't respond much.

  At night, Ziqing pulled Zilu into the study to chat, and after chatting for a while, Ziqing asked: "Second brother, you're about to get married, tell your sister, is it because of me that you hastily agreed to the engagement? Logically, with your conditions, I think you should find someone better. This has been stuck in my heart for a long time, and I wanted to ask but didn't dare to ask, second brother, do you feel wronged? I heard that Erniang's family is very poor, and she can't read or write, and her temper is also bad.

  Zi Rong stroked Zi Qing's head and said, "Qing'er is thinking too much. Since ancient times, marriage has been about parental orders and matchmaker's words. Our mother is still quite good, let us take a look at each other before the engagement. You don't have to worry, Mother has inquired clearly, although she is the eldest daughter of the family and has suffered a lot since childhood, but after all, there is only one daughter in the family, and she is also favored."

  Zi Qing thought Zi Lu was being a bit evasive, so she asked directly: "Second brother, if... I mean, if your new sister-in-law's personality is too strong-willed, you'll get tired of living with her. What will you do then?"

  "Qing Er, Second Brother said you really can't help but worry about these trivial matters. Don't worry, Second Brother understands your meaning. Just now, didn't you ask me if she had ever studied? Honestly, at first, I did have some reservations and complaints about this marriage. Although I knew Mother wouldn't harm me, after all, marriage is a lifelong matter. I also don't want to marry an illiterate village girl, who would spend every day nitpicking over trivial things like firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, just like Father and Mother. What's the use of being clever and capable? I also yearn for the kind of emotional connection you have with Kang Ping, but that requires time to accumulate. If we can't achieve that, at least we should be able to get along harmoniously like Elder Brother and Sister-in-law. Later, after the engagement was settled, Mother forced me to go deliver New Year's gifts. When I arrived at their home, I discovered that her father had some vision, unlike ordinary farmers. Although their family was poor, your sister-in-law's younger brother had attended a private school for several years but dropped out due to financial difficulties to help with farm work. Your sister-in-law secretly discussed with me the idea of selling some of the gifts we gave them and using the money to send her two younger brothers to study. Since her parents wouldn't allow it, she asked me to agree and then persuade her parents. At that moment, I gained a new understanding of her. When I went again during Dragon Boat Festival, I heard that your sister-in-law had sold some of the good fabric and unused gifts we gave them, exchanged them for silver, and sent her two younger brothers to school. She also learned some characters with her brothers, just like you did back then. Her older brother is working as a shop assistant in Anzhou City and will be 15 this year."

  "Second brother, hearing you say that, this sister-in-law is indeed someone who knows her boundaries. That day I heard my mother say she was overbearing and it scared me. I don't like those kinds of people who are too domineering and unreasonable. My second brother should find a beautiful, capable, gentle and considerate good sister-in-law." Zi Qing said with a smile.

  "After these few encounters of delivering festive gifts, I looked at her and she didn't seem like those coarse and ignorant village girls. She had a gentle and quiet demeanor, which made me think that my mother must have chosen someone suitable for me, not just anyone to get rid of me. I've also passed this test in my heart. At worst, it's just that in the future, we'll have to provide some support to her family."

  "I hear what you're saying, her parents aren't those who don't know good from bad, at least they know to get your consent before selling our family's things. And since second sister knows to send her brothers to school, she might have some thoughts in mind, wanting to bring the two families closer together. Who knows, maybe her brothers will turn out to be someone with a future too? This is much better than those who only know how to hoard money and be a miser. Second brother, don't worry, with me as your sister, you'll definitely not end up poor in the future, I mean what I say."

  "Second brother believes you. Second brother still remembers when we were young, you said you would send me to school, and you really did it. However, little sister can rest assured, the family property left by our parents is enough for us to live on. Alright, after saying so much, are you at ease now? Housekeeper." Zi Lu teased, and only then did Zi Qing remember that this nickname hadn't been used in a long time, and she started pinching Zi Lu.

  Zifou and Lin Kangping didn't arrive home until the evening of the tenth day. Zixi opened the door, overjoyed, and ran shouting: "Father, mother, elder brother and sister-in-law are back!"

  Zeng Ruixiang supported Shen Shi out, and when Zi Fu saw Shen Shi and Zeng Ruixiang, he quickly knelt down. "Father, mother, we're back."

  Liu's family quickly hugged the child and knelt down, Shen's family held Zi Fu and choked with sobs, unable to speak, while Zi Lu and Zi Qing also stood by, shedding tears.

  "Father-in-law, mother, I'm back too. Why didn't any of you see me?" Lin Kangping asked as he drove the horse carriage in from behind.

  "Alright, alright, happy days are here. Quickly help the kids get up. The ground is cool, after walking for a while, they must be both tired and hungry. First, let them wash up and have something to eat, then rest well. Whatever needs to be said can wait until tomorrow." Zeng Rui Xiang said.

  "Yes, look at me getting all excited and forgetting that the children are still kneeling on the ground, hurry up and get up." After saying this, Shen's wife first helped Liu's wife to her feet, took the child from Liu's wife's arms, and they went into the house together.

  Zi Fu took Liu Shi and went back to Fuguan to wash up, Shen Shi hugged the child and wouldn't let go, so Zi Qing had to go prepare some food, and Zi Yu lit the fire. After dinner, Zeng Rui Xiang sent everyone off to rest.

  The next day, it was almost ten o'clock when Zifou and the others came over. After eating breakfast, Zeng Ruixiang asked them to go to the old house to pay their respects first. Shen Shi stared at her son with eager eyes, but before she could say a few words, he left again. She glared at Zeng Ruixiang and said, "You take care of cleaning up the house with Zi Shou and the others, I won't bother with it anymore. I'll just be responsible for food with Zi Qing and Zi Yu."

  Zeng Ruixiang smiled and turned to instruct Zi Shou and Zi Xi: "Little Three, Little Four, haven't you heard your mother's words? Why don't you hurry up and clean the house? Are you waiting for me, your father, to do it myself?"

  Zi Shou and Zi Xi resignedly picked up the broom and mop, while Lin Kangping brought out the New Year's gifts and hurried to drive the horse carriage to Qingyuan.

  "Brother-in-law, you're a bit unfair," Zi Shou shouted. "You see us working hard and then you take off."

  Lin Kangping smiled and left a sentence, "I really have something important, I'll come back to help later." After that, he was about to leave.

  "Third brother, you're really stupid, watch this," said Zixi, holding a broom and rushing to Lin Kangping. "Brother-in-law, if you don't do it, I'll go find my sister. See if you care? Anyway, I won't be able to do so much." After finishing speaking, Zixi rushed into the house and shouted: "Sister, big sister, help your little brother out! Aren't you the one who loves me the most? Can you bear to watch your little brother struggling in deep water and fire?"

  Lin Kangping listened and had to put down his things, turned around and smiled: "Really, you have no way with you, this little thing you still want to drag your sister in, and it's so hot and fiery, I don't know if you think you're going to go up a mountain of knives and down a sea of fire? You're good enough to be embarrassed, I think your sister has spoiled you rotten."

  Lin Kangping finished speaking and helped to clean up, causing Zeng Ruixiang and Shen Shi to secretly laugh for a long time in the house. It seems that as long as Zi Qing is mentioned, Lin Kangping will unconditionally surrender.

  After dinner, everyone gathered together to chat, Shen's family pulled Zi Fu and Liu's family to sit beside them, asking in detail about the child's birth, whether it was difficult or not, whether the milk was sufficient, how many times the child woke up at night, whether they liked to cry and make a fuss, as well as other household chores for this year.

  "Xiao Er, big brother hasn't given you a gift yet. Your sister-in-law went to pick out some jewelry and fabric, and I just directly ordered silver tickets to be sent. I've decided that from now on, no matter who among the younger brothers and sisters gets married, at least one hundred taels of silver will be given as a gift. You all remember, I'm the eldest, I'll take the lead." Zi Fu said, then instructed Liu Shi to go get something.

  "Big brother, you've lost big time! My sister and I are the most suitable match. I only need to pay 100 taels and still have 300 taels left over. My sister doesn't even need to pay a single coin, but big brother has to pay 500 taels! And on top of that, he can't even get a share. What a great bargain this is, haha!" Zi Xi said with a delighted smile.

  Lin Kangping sat beside Zi Qing, secretly holding her hand. Zi Xi was leaning back in the chair behind Zi Qing, laughing loudly when he suddenly fell backwards and landed on the ground. Luckily Lin Kangping reacted quickly and pulled him back, reducing the impact of the fall, but still ended up on the ground. The whole room burst out laughing at this point, and Zi Fu added with a chuckle: "Fourth younger brother, your elder brother wants to give you money, it's too early for that now, you're already kowtowing, be careful or your knees will be bruised in the future."

  Everyone burst out laughing, even Shen's family couldn't help but laugh until tears streamed down their faces. Zi Qing was laughing so hard she was holding her stomach in pain. This feeling of a happy family reunion was truly wonderful.