The next day, the group went to visit the Wang Family.

The Wang Family was quite renowned in Qingshui County, but they were hardly worth a mention in the Prefecture.

Wang Jun and Wang Xiao’s father, Wang Xincheng, was an academic official at the Prefecture’s academy. However, when people mentioned the Wang Family, they didn’t first bring up the master of the house’s official titles. Instead, they would ask, "You mean the Wang Family that runs the teahouses?"

That’s right. Wang Jun and Wang Xiao’s mother, Mrs. Wang, had opened several teahouses in the Prefecture. In fact, half of all the respectable teahouses in the Prefecture were under her name.

Her business was so successful for two reasons. First, she had the strong backing of her maiden family, who operated a massive tea plantation and could supply her at the best prices. For any premium product—like Pre-Qingming Longjing Tea, for instance—while other establishments might still be eagerly awaiting their shipments, Mrs. Wang’s teahouses would already have it served to their customers.

With such an advantage, how could she possibly lack for customers?

Second, there was Mrs. Wang herself.

As the eldest legitimate daughter of her family, she had been capable and astute even as a young woman, and was thoroughly doted on by her parents. If she hadn’t fallen for Wang Xincheng at first sight, she could have easily married into a family of high-ranking officials and become a grand madam.

But that’s a story for another time. Suffice it to say that Mrs. Wang was shrewd and capable, tactful and thorough in business, and treated everyone with kindness. She was also a great philanthropist. Whenever disaster struck the Prefecture, she would be sure to set up stations in front of her teahouses to distribute congee and medicine.

She was also generous with her money to smooth things over with the right people. Over time, how could her business fail to prosper?

With Mrs. Wang’s business booming, the Wang Family’s lifestyle grew visibly more lavish. One only had to look at their residence, which took up half an alley, to know that Mrs. Wang had funneled a great deal of money into the household over the years.

Zhao Jing and the other three were led by Wang Jun and Wang Xiao to the rear courtyard to pay their respects to the family’s elders.

Not only was Mrs. Wang home today, but even Wang Xincheng, upon hearing that his sons’ friends would be visiting, had taken the day off from work. He was at home, waiting for the young men to arrive.

The couple lived in the rear courtyard. The group followed the central path for well over the time it takes to burn an incense stick before they finally met Wang Jun and Wang Xiao’s parents.

The couple’s eyes were full of warmth as they looked the four visitors over, and then over again.

They had already met Ding Shutian, who had arrived home with their sons two days prior. He was handsome and possessed great literary talent, but unfortunately, he had married young—a fact they found quite regrettable.

When her eyes landed on Zhao Jing, Mrs. Wang’s regret reached its zenith.

At that moment, Mrs. Wang even felt a little resentment toward her sons. ’Why didn’t you go to Qingshui County to take the Child Examination two years ago?’

’If you had, you might have befriended Zhao Jing and we could have intercepted him before he got married.’

’After all, we have our Third Miss at home, still unmarried.’

Then Mrs. Wang remembered that Zhao Jing’s wife was Chen De’an’s full-blooded sister.

’He and Chen De’an have been friends since childhood. He and her, they might have been childhood sweethearts.’

’Chen De’an is so handsome and distinguished; how could his sister be any less so?’ 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

’What’s more, I heard another young scholar once sought her hand in marriage, causing quite a stir in Qingshui County.’

’She must be a young woman of exceptional beauty and ability. Otherwise, she couldn’t have captivated so many talented young men.’

These thoughts flashed through Mrs. Wang’s mind in an instant. She quickly offered a few warm words of encouragement before dismissing the young men.

Once the young men were out of earshot, Wang Xincheng, who had been maintaining a prim and stern facade, finally spoke. "What a pity."

"See? You think so too, don’t you? The more I look at that Zhao Jing, the more I like him. It’s such a shame he’s already married. It seems he and our Zhen’er were not fated to be."

"I was lamenting that Chen Song didn’t attend Mother’s birthday celebration in person."

"Chen Song?" Mrs. Wang thought for a moment. "You mean Chen De’an’s father? Zhao Jing’s father-in-law?"

"The very same. They say like father, like son, and the reverse is also true. Chen De’an is quite impressive, and Zhao Jing is a dragon among men. For Chen Song to have such a son and son-in-law, he himself must be an extraordinary man. We really ought to befriend him."

"Oh, you." Mrs. Wang shot him a playful look and tossed a bright red strawberry at him. It was perfectly ripe, and Wang Xincheng fumbled to catch it, barely managing to keep the sweet juice from staining his robes.

"Hey now, my dear wife, my good lady, be gentle! These fruits are very expensive."

"Expensive? So what! I may not have much of anything else, but I have plenty of silver. With these strawberries, I can afford to eat one and toss one."

"My wife is fabulously wealthy, while I am but a poor scholar with nothing to my name. To have earned your favor and been chosen by you... it must be the good fortune I’ve accumulated over eight lifetimes..."