The old couple and Tian's family learned that Zeng Rui-xiang was still at school, and Shen's family wasn't home either. The two didn't linger and decided to go to the school to find Zeng Rui-xiang again. They also instructed Shen's family to return to the old house. Zi Qing saw that the couple's faces were not right and asked: "Grandpa Grandma, what's the urgent matter? My mother went to help me find herbs for my cough, and it will take some time before she comes back."

  "Er Mao had his leg broken by someone and was carried back. He's being treated now. Your mother is back, let her go take a look," said Tian Shi.

  Ziying was startled, she didn't expect that Er Mao's leg was really broken. However, it seemed like Lao Yezi and Tian Shi were furious and came running over to scold someone, as if they had a grudge against their own family. What did this have to do with them? Were they going to ask them to pay the medical expenses? It was likely that Ah Po really meant to do so, but even asking for help didn't make sense. Ziying felt uneasy and her mind was preoccupied.

  Shen returned with a radish root he had dug up from who-knows-where, beaming with joy: "Now we're in business! If I can just cut it off, I'll burn incense to celebrate!"

  "Mother, where can it be so easy? It's been a long time. " Zi Qing couldn't bear to see Shen Shi Tai too disappointed, and only after Shen Shi had finished decocting the Chinese medicine did she tell them about what happened with Lao Yezi and the others. She also asked: "Er Mao was beaten and broke his leg, what does it have to do with our family? Even if Grandpa and Grandma are angry, they can't vent their anger on us, right? Didn't you see how they looked when they came over? I thought something had happened to our family again."

  "It's possible that we shouldn't have driven Er Mao away, if Er Mao hadn't left, maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe he came to borrow some money too, and it seems like we can't not lend it." said Shen Shi.

  "Borrowing money? It's better to say they want the money. I've never seen anyone so arrogant about borrowing, it's as if we owe them hundreds of taels."

  "Your aunt has always been like this, and I've figured it out. We provide for her well all year round, with new clothes every season, but she still manages to find fault. It's not that we haven't raised two and sent one away, yet they're still not satisfied. And this one is leaving of his own accord! I think even if I were to move our entire household over there, they might not be entirely satisfied. So this time, I'm definitely not going to take the lead. But not contributing at all wouldn't be right either. Never mind, I'll just bring some loose silver and see." Shen said, then went to pick up a basket of eggs, tucked away some more loose silver, instructed Zi Qing for a few moments, and left.

  Ziying really wanted to go and take a look. Unfortunately, she was bedridden with illness. Just as she was idly coaxing Ziyu, the doorbell rang again, and Ziying was delighted to see Lin Kangping arrive, hastily inviting him in.

  It turned out that this errand was still relatively smooth, Lin Kangping managed to buy over a dozen pieces of jade from the locals, who didn't know what they were, but simply thought they looked good and bought them from foreigners to put in their homes. Lin Kangping also contacted the merchant who ran that route again. Without saying it was jade, he just said it had uses, how much did he want, and planned to pick up the goods after the Spring Festival.

  "It was a close call, if I had been delayed for a few more days, I would have missed it. They were just about to pack up and leave, but fortunately, they were held back by an illness, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see them until next year. The jade stones have already been transported to the capital, and Young Master still plans to open the market in the capital. Firstly, there are many wealthy officials in the capital, so naturally there is more money to be made. Secondly, the Wen family has some influence in the capital, and Anzhou is just their old residence. Even Old Master spends most of his time in the capital every year." Lin Kangping said.

  "Oh, that's great. I was still calculating your return date and worried that you wouldn't find the right person. It's good that things went smoothly, I was afraid you had high hopes and would be greatly disappointed, but now you can finally get what you want."

  "It's okay, this time the young master said he'd help me get rid of my registration, I'll be leaving for Beijing in a few days and won't be back until after the new year. Your silver has earned 50% interest, listen to you, I went to the tea farmer directly to buy tea leaves, low price good quality, foreigners really like it, let me help them bring some over next time. This trip was tight on time, I didn't have a chance to find anything good for you, maybe next time. Here, this is something I bought from the foreigner." Lin Kangping handed Zi Qing an exquisite paper box with a joyful expression.

  Kokoro took a look and found it was a purple crystal brooch, which was really beautiful. Kokoro pinned it on her chest and asked, "Does it look good? How much is this? My mother loves purple the most."

  "This is specially sent to you, can't you not mention the silver? Just consider it as my repayment to you, because of your reminder, I also earned a small amount of money. Most importantly, I was able to get out of the household registration, you don't know how great a blessing this is for us who are at the bottom of society, if it wasn't for you, I still don't know when I would have had such an opportunity, and some people never have such a chance in their lifetime. I really can't express my joy, Qing Er, thank you."

  Ziying saw his expression, suddenly seemed to have thought of something, but he was only ten years old, still virtual age, the other side was about fifteen or sixteen years old, should not be possible. So he said: "Don't mention it, anyway my silver is still with you."

  After finishing, Zi Qing suddenly started coughing violently, dry coughing, and coughed until she couldn't breathe, her face was red and swollen, it took a long time to recover. Thinking that the medicine should be ready, she asked Lin Kangping to help her pour it out. Lin Kangping saw this and frowned, asking with concern: "What's wrong with you? You've been coughing for half a day without getting better?"

  "I used to get whooping cough a lot when I was little, every time the weather got cold I would get it, and I would get it 4 or 5 times a year. Each time I would cough so hard that I couldn't catch my breath. It's been better these past two years, and it doesn't happen as often, only once or twice a year now. My mother has looked everywhere for folk remedies, and I've drunk countless jars of medicine."

  "You still have the mood to joke around, it's better if you just give up."

  The two of them chatted, and Lin Kangping took his leave. Zi Qing said to wait for him after the New Year, when her embroidery would be finished, and she would sell it before handing over the silver to him. After that, they would hitch a ride together.

  Lin Kangping just left, Zi Qing put away the brooch, Zi Yu was already two weeks old, staring blankly, Zi Qing coaxed her with a piece of candy.

  Shen and Zeng Ruixiang returned together. It turned out that Er Mao had dropped out of school and returned home, but he refused to stay at home and behave himself. Since Yan Village was close to Anzhou, they gathered a group of idle people who loved to eat and drink, wandering around the city all day, learning how to pick pockets, becoming thieves, and whenever they got some money, they would go gamble, lose it, and then steal again. One night, while walking on the road, they encountered a ghost, were caught by someone from a wealthy family, beaten severely, and threatened that Er Mao's legs would be broken so he couldn't steal again. The doctor examined him and said that Er Mao's legs were crippled, and from now on, he could only walk with a limp.

  Chunyu hugged Ermao and cried bitterly, complaining as she wept: "It's all because of you, Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law! If my son were still studying diligently in school, how could this disaster have befallen him? You all couldn't tolerate him, one by one. My poor son, what am I to do with you? You're still so young, how will you make a living for yourself from now on?"

  The old man was furious and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense! Er Mao is leaving on his own accord, who drove him away? You two are not good at managing your child, what have you been busy with all day? Your second brother has had a hard time because of him, if the school's reputation is ruined, who will go there? You don't understand him, but instead talk nonsense here. Hurry up and go home, don't bother me. This child has never been good at studying since he was young, I've said it many times, did any of you listen? I think this is also a good thing, if he doesn't learn from his mistakes now, there will be even more trouble in the future."

  The old man got angry and wanted to drive Chunyu and the others back home. Tian Shi persuaded him for a long time, and the doctor also said it was not suitable to move, so they stayed behind. It was said that there was no need to go to Anzhou, and a village doctor from a nearby village was invited, who was particularly skilled in bone-setting. According to legend, when Zifu fell from a tree as a child, he was also treated by him.

  "Mom, Er Mao was beaten in Anzhou, why didn't he stay there for treatment? There are more doctors in Anzhou after all. Why did he come back and still want to go back to Anzhou?" Zi Qing asked.

  "It wasn't your aunt and uncle who made the good calculation, was it? In Anzhou City, they went to see a doctor without spending their own silver? Bringing the child back, aren't there you and us? Hmm, it's good that this time your grandfather spoke some reason, after all, not much money was spent, and he didn't have the nerve to ask us for it." Shen said.

  Zi Qing was completely speechless.

  After the Laba Festival, Zeng Rui Xiang's school also started its winter break, and Zi Lu returned home. Shen Shi remembered that she should go to Qiao Village to deliver the gift for the upcoming birth, so she mentioned it to Zeng Rui Xiang and then went to discuss it with Zhou Shi, as this was a matter concerning both families.

  Zhou's mood seemed good when he went to the old house, saying that he had found a family for Zi Ping and would meet them in a few days. Shen was also happy for her, but reminded her to make sure to discuss it with Zi Ping first, or else it would be awkward if something came up later.

  Shen's family and Zeng Ruixiang went together to deliver the gift, Shen's family had always been kind to Xia Yu, so they took advantage of this opportunity to prepare some more things. Knowing that her family was not short of food, they picked up some dried fruits, pastries, fabrics, shoes, and socks. Thinking that it was approaching New Year's and the weather was getting cooler, they also bought a large piece of pork and a pig's hind leg. The two didn't walk, but instead hired a carriage to take a detour through Anzhou. Tian's family wasn't at ease, so she insisted on following them to take a look.

  Zi Qing was at home when he suddenly remembered the oranges on the mountain behind, so he took Zi Lu and his tools to the mountain. As soon as they opened the entrance, Zi Lu wanted to jump in, but Zi Qing quickly grabbed him and enlarged the entrance a bit. He found some straw and fanned it into the hole, waited for a while, then inserted the straw again, and when it didn't go out, he let Zi Lu go down.

  The oranges were still in good condition, so Ziqing quickly found the small bamboo baskets that had been prepared by Zeng Ruyu earlier and packed them up, 10 per basket, for a total of just over 50 baskets. Ziqing found some red paper, cut it into strips, and asked Zilong to write "Perfect and Beautiful" and "Wishes Come True" on them. When Zhou Zhanggui came to collect the chickens, Ziqing had him take the oranges along too, saying that since there weren't many oranges this first year, they should be considered a New Year's gift for Master Dong, and next year when there were more oranges on the market, they could discuss prices then.