When Qi You returned home and heard his two younger brothers coming over, he didn't even lift an eyebrow. "It's rare that they actually remembered this year."

  Hua handed him a handkerchief and said, "Zhen is very happy."

  "This was the first time someone had gone to the trouble of celebrating her birthday, so she was naturally delighted."

  "Didn't your mother show any signs at home in previous years?"

  "You can ask Qi Zhen about this." Wiping her face, she went to wring out a towel and hang it aside. Qi You led her to sit down at one side, "Are you feeling any better?"

  Hua Ru was taken aback, only then realizing what he had asked. She turned her face away, not feeling so at ease, and said: "I'm better now, let's go out. Qi Zhen personally went to busy himself, saying he wanted to cook a dish for you to eat."

  "Uh-huh."

  A birthday banquet for three people can be considered a humble affair in a large family.

  But perhaps none of them think so.

  The rules of "not speaking while eating" were still well maintained, but the atmosphere was great, and Qi Zhen had a smile from start to finish.

  Can't help but have a greedy thought, if every birthday can be spent with brother and sister-in-law, it would be great.

  After dinner, Hua Ru Chu handed a box containing a pair of butterfly hairpins to Qi Zhen, "This is the birthday gift your brother and I got for you."

  She wanted to refuse, but Hua Ru Chus shook her head, "Elder's gift, can't decline, brother and sister-in-law gave you something, just take it."

  Seeing her brother nod slightly, Qi Zhen finally accepted it with a nervous heart and said softly: "That hand-held mirror is the best gift."

  Hua Ru Chu just smiled and changed the subject, it wasn't until night fell that Qi Zhen stood up to bid farewell.

  "Brother, can you see me off? I want to have a talk with you."

  Qī Yòu glanced at her and stood up.

  Qī Zhēn Chōng Huá rú chū zuò le ge guǐ liǎn, "sǎo sǎo, gē gē jiè wǒ yī huìr ya!"

  Translation:

  Qi Zhen made a ghostly face, "Sister-in-law, brother is borrowing me for a while!"

  "Hurry up and go, if you don't leave now I won't lend it to you."

  "Hehehe, I'll come find sister-in-law again tomorrow."

  Not until he entered Qi Zhen's courtyard did Qi You stop in his tracks and turn to his sister, "Something you want to say?"

  "Alright, Xiao Cui, go and keep watch at the door."

  "Yes."

  He swept his eyes over the courtyard and frowned, "Where are the people around you?"

  Qī Zhēn bit her lip, "ā Fèng is recovering from injury, the other maids have all been sold by Mother, only Xiǎo Cuì remains, Mother said she would find a matchmaker to buy some new ones, but before that could happen, she was summoned away by the Crown Princess."

  Qī Yòu's heart was on fire, this is still the legitimate Miss of the Qī Manor, her own biological daughter, how could she be so ruthless?

  It's also, at first, he didn't even blink when sending him away from his side, being harsh on his daughter is nothing.

  He closed his eyes and said, "Let's go inside and talk."

  Qī Zhēn personally went to brew tea, lowering his head to fiddle with the teacup, saying: "Brother, I really like sister-in-law, I don't want her to be sad."

  Qī Yòu raised his eyes and looked at her, "Who would make her sad?"

  "Brother..." Qi Zhen's eyes were teary, her face panicked. "Mother has already expressed her opinion, saying that sister-in-law lacks the air of a lady, is jealous and narrow-minded. She said that since she entered our household, you haven't visited aunt's house again. And she also said that if sister-in-law still doesn't have any news after some time, she'll send the big maid to your room. I originally intended to pretend I didn't hear it, but sister-in-law has been so good to me...I..."

  It won't be possible for a child to arrive in a short period of time. Qi You lowered his head, the corners of his mouth curled up in ridicule.

  It's only natural to interfere with his life, but it depends on whether he agrees or not.

  "Has these two days taught you anything?"

  "Brother, how can you still have time to think about this..." Qi Zhen shouted in a hurry, disregarding her demeanor. Since brother dotes on sister-in-law so much, shouldn't he be very busy?

  How can you still act like nothing's wrong?

  "This is none of your business and you can't handle it either, answer my question."

  Qī Zhēn's mouth moved slightly, his face full of discontent, but he could only retreat, "Sister-in-law didn't teach much, but it was very useful."

  "Then study hard." He glanced at his sister lightly and got up. For his younger sister, he was also willing to spend more words.

  "I don't want to ask your mother why she sold you, you're already old enough, the marriage meeting is set for these few days, don't wait until you get married and there's no one by your side who can be of use, when you arrive at your husband's house and are bullied, there won't even be anyone to send a message. Learn from your sister-in-law, see how she trains her subordinates, if the maids by your side have half the ability of Yunque, it will save you from much suffering."

  Watching her brother walk away, Qi Zhen stood there for a long time without moving. Did sister-in-law know that she couldn't even keep the people who had served her since childhood, so she would say those words to her?

  Yes, if one can't even protect his own people, how can he talk about loyalty?

  Who else would offer loyalty to someone who can't even keep them safe?

  Mother, you teach me arithmetic every day.

  But still haven't had sister-in-law's few words come to enlighten people.

  Others say that sister is too weak and good at talking, can't grasp people.

  But who really took advantage of her?

  He even doesn't dare to enter his brother's concubine's room, is this considered weak?

  She is also willing to learn from such weakness.

  "Miss, it's windy, you'd better go back inside quickly."

  Qing Zhen smiled inexplicably and walked into the house as he glanced at Xiao Cui.

  She will learn it.

  Qī Yǒu ordered someone to lock the gate as soon as he entered the courtyard.

  People walked straight under the tree and left.

  Sitting there for a while after dinner has become their habit.

  Seeing him, Hua Ru stood up, "You're back."

  Qī Yòu's footsteps paused for a moment, then he immediately replied: "En, I'm back."

  A few days later, at noon, Ma Bo sent a message saying that the purple sand pot had been finished and the house on the tea garden side was also built.

  After reporting back to the main mansion, Hua Ruochu led his men out of the compound.

  She became her little tail, Qi Zhen blinked and followed up.

  Hua Ru Chu still couldn't bear to drive her away, and after getting married, there were even more rules, so it was good for her to let her out to get some fresh air in the boudoir.

  They went to another courtyard, and several people hastily arrived in front of Ge Yunjun.

  Ge Yunjun was stunned for a long time when he heard that the young woman in front of him was his landlady.

  With a handful of mud on the back of his head, he got a whole head of mud without realizing it.

  Hua Ru was eager to see the finished product and asked directly, "Ge Shifu, have you really made it? Bring it out quickly and let me take a look?"

  Ge Yunjun didn't respond to her request, but instead asked her back, "Is what's written on that piece of paper really yours?"

  "Right, I saw it in a book, are you doing it according to that?"

  "Yes." Ge Yunjun's eyes were burning with excitement, "Boss, can you let me take a look at that book?"

  Where did I go to find it for you? Go back and wear it again?

  Hua Ru's face darkened, "Master Ge probably doesn't know, my mother's family is far away in Yangzhou, and that book was obtained many years ago over there. I don't know which corner it's been thrown into all these years. If you can wait, I'll send someone to look for it when I get back, and if they find it, I'll have it sent to you."

  Ge Yunjun couldn't help but feel disappointed, yet he could also understand. The prosperity of Yangzhou was renowned throughout the land, and one major reason for this was that Yangzhou had a large port where people from across the sea would often come to trade. As a result, there were many strange and exotic things available, and over time, even the people of Yangzhou became more open to new things than those in other places.

  If he says where the book is from, he believes it.

  "Okay, you go look."

  It doesn't matter as long as it makes sense, Hua Ru let out a sigh of relief and asked about what was said earlier.

  "You say this is called a purple sand pot? The name isn't bad, it's quite elegant." Ge Yunshu stepped aside, revealing several mud pots of varying sizes and shapes behind him.

  "Did all of these succeed?"

  "It's too early to say whether it's successful or not. I just made the pot according to what was written on that paper, and we'll only know if it's successful after firing it."

  "Then fire up the kiln."

  Ma Bo lightly coughed and reported: "The cave is still under repair, Miss, you'll have to wait another two days."

  Bai was delighted for a moment, Hua Ruochu walked over and took a look at the mud pot that didn't seem to have any special features, then left the room.

  Ge Yunjun could no longer bear it and wanted to drive people away from his territory.

  "Sister-in-law, is that for boiling water?" Qi Zhen asked softly as she walked out of the room.

  "Alright, once I've made it, sister-in-law will give you one."

  "Okay, thank you sister."

  She didn't understand what was good or bad about these things, but she knew it was her sister-in-law's intention.

  Sister-in-law is really good to her.

  A group of people went on another trip to the tea garden.

  The tools made by the bamboo craftsman have arrived one after another.

  As Hua Ruyi said, it was placed in a spacious and empty room.

  Qiu Jian and Chun Yu were teaching people how to make tea step by step. Their fingertips and fingernails had all turned dark, looking very ugly.

  At the time of tea production in Yangzhou, this was the most painful moment for Hua Ruochu.

  The color is still difficult to wash away and will slowly fade over a long period of time.

  With these two big girls around, Hua Ruochu didn't have much to worry about, so she went up Tea Mountain to take a look.

  Many unfamiliar women picking tea bowed to her one after another.

  "Miss, shall we invite more people to pick tea? There are still two hills that haven't been touched, and the buds will be wasted if they get old."

  With Yun Shu's hand in his, they arrived at the highest point of the mountain.

  These days I've been cooped up at home every day, my bones have all rusted.

  "Please, hurry up and pick some more. I want to try making new tea. It's a waste if the picked leaves aren't enough."

  Remembering the first time making tea, Miss wasted a lot of it, Yun Shu pretended not to hear anything.

  Anyway, this tea garden didn't even spend a few silver coins itself, and it's all wasted without any regret.

  "Miss, I won't interfere with outside matters anymore. From now on, I'll just follow you around. As for Autumn, she's meticulous and will be useful after being trained. She won't be inferior to me."

  "She's doing all right now, Yun Shu, always cooped up in that inner courtyard, can you stand it?"

  "The young lady is detained, and so is the maid."

  "If there were other choices, I wouldn't be willing to spend my days cooped up in the house and bickering with people over trivial matters." Hua Ru sighed, "The Qi Manor has so many secrets, originally it was thought that compared to other aristocratic families, the Qi Manor was simple, but now it doesn't feel that way anymore."

  "A family that can last for a hundred years must have its own strengths. Anyway, you're not managing the household now, and you don't have any grudges with others. We can just close our doors and live our simple lives. Let them fight among themselves. The master doesn't even go to the rooms of his concubines anymore, so it's a good opportunity for us to cultivate our feelings."

  "Don't be too happy, it's just the honeymoon phase, even if he's being extremely sweet now, it's normal. Can he really never enter the mistress' room forever? Stop having such beautiful dreams, reality is very cruel."

  "Miss, can't you think in a better direction? If you have a heart, let your husband be inseparable from you, it's not like you can't do it."

  Gazing at the surrounding low mountains, Hua Ru shook her head and smiled lightly, "In this world, the only thing I don't calculate is emotions. Emotions that are calculated, I also don't want."

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