Bai Jinglie didn’t press the issue. After all, offering to give away the manor was merely a gesture to show his stance.

"Brother Wen Heng, you’ll be participating in next year’s provincial examinations, won’t you?"

Gu Wenheng replied, "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I plan to sit for them. Does the Young Master have plans as well?"

Bai Jinglie said, "My tutor advised me to lay low for another two years, but I don’t have that much time to wait."

"..." Gu Wenheng didn’t respond, sitting there in silence. He had no intention of prying into another’s private sorrows.

"It’s getting late. Let’s all head out." Bai Jinglie glanced at the sky. They had been here for quite a while since coming down from Yingshan Academy.

"Cousin, aren’t we going to eat?" Shan Ke’an rubbed his stomach. Although the chefs at his residence were skilled, he’d grown tired of eating their food all the time. Now that they were at a fine restaurant, a rare treat, he didn’t want to leave.

Bai Jinglie said, "Can’t you see Brother Wen Heng is champing at the bit to go home? He has a beautiful wife waiting for him. We can’t keep him."

He had invited Gu Wenheng to dine with them several times, but Gu Wenheng had politely refused on every occasion, saying he couldn’t bear to let his wife eat alone and had to go back to keep her company.

The first time they heard such a reason, everyone was stunned. ’What kind of twisted logic is that?’

Being teased again, Gu Wenheng paid it no mind. He cupped his hands in a farewell gesture to everyone present and left first with Hong Tianbao.

"I never took him for such a devoted husband. Who else dotes on his wife so much? Could it be that Brother Wen Heng is henpecked?" Shan Ke’an joked.

Lu Ping interjected, "You can’t put it that way. I heard the two of them supported each other through the hardest of times. Besides, his wife is a capable woman. Things like this bar soap and scented soap were all her creations."

"You’ve met her?"

Lu Ping said, "I met her once when I visited Brother Wen Heng’s home. She’s a gentle and kind young lady, and a remarkable cook too. Haven’t you noticed how Deng Yuanhang is always trying to find an excuse to freeload a meal at their house?"

"It’s just a shame Brother Wen Heng is too stingy. He’s probably reluctant to let his wife cook. Deng Yuanhang has complained about it several times."

Shan Ke’an said, "Then I really must try to get an invitation sometime..."

Bai Jinglie cleared his throat twice. "If you want to eat, have your own chefs make it for you. Stop thinking about causing trouble for others all day."

"Let’s go. Time to head back."

"Are we really going back?" Shan Ke’an wailed. "I’m so hungry I don’t even have the strength to walk. Let’s eat before we go."

Bai Jinglie said, "...You’re paying."

Shan Ke’an immediately jumped up. "Cousin, you just made a huge profit, yet you’re being so stingy with your own cousin. That’s just too much!"

Bai Jinglie replied, "It’s no use being envious. In any case, I’m heading back. You can do as you please."

With that, he led the way out, and Ye Yi and the others followed.

"That’s just way too cheap."

Lu Ping stood to the side, gloating. "Why don’t you say that a little louder? Your cousin hasn’t gone far."

Shan Ke’an shot him a glare. "Are you my brother or not? Why don’t you treat me to a meal here? The two of us can have a drink."

Lu Ping clutched his coin purse dramatically. "My purse is already as thin as a thread, and you have the nerve to ask? I was planning to go home and have some thin porridge just to get through the day."

"..." Shan Ke’an pointed an index finger at Lu Ping, taking a long moment before finally squeezing out a few words, "You’re the stingiest one of all."

&

Jin Qianqian was in her room, using her abacus. The accounts were getting more numerous, so she made sure to keep good records and straighten out the books every day.

"Madam, shouldn’t you take a break?" Liu Xiaohua asked softly as she came in with a tray of tea.

"Almost done," Jin Qianqian replied without stopping. The abacus in her hands made a pleasant clacking sound.

Liu Xiaohua said no more, standing quietly by to attend to her.

Only when Jin Qianqian put down her brush did she quietly go over to help put away the inkstone and writing tools.

"Have you noticed my handwriting has gotten better recently?" Jin Qianqian looked with satisfaction at the neat characters on the paper. At least they weren’t as crooked and messy as when she first started.

"Madam’s handwriting has always been beautiful. I could never learn to write like that," Liu Xiaohua said, her eyes full of envy. ’The Madam had tried to get me to practice writing and learn numbers before, but unfortunately, I was too foolish and just couldn’t grasp it, no matter how hard I tried.’

Jin Qianqian had given up on Liu Xiaohua long ago. ’Innate talent is certainly an important factor, but she doesn’t put her heart into it at all. It’s useless to try and teach her.’

"Your mouth is certainly sweet. Did you eat candy today?"

"Ever since I started serving you, Madam, I feel like every day is soaked in honey. I could never have even dreamed of a life like this." Liu Xiaohua was filled with gratitude as she spoke. ’I even have my family to thank for selling me. Otherwise, I’d still be slaving away at home without a single word of thanks.’

"It seems you didn’t just eat candy, you coated your mouth in honey too." Jin Qianqian watched the ink dry, then put away the account book, picked up her tea, and took a sip. "Have Gu Lejia and the others returned yet?"

Liu Xiaohua shook her head. "Not yet. They usually only come back around mealtime. It should be soon."

Jin Qianqian sighed. "What do you think of that Xiuxiang?"

Ever since they moved in that day, Gu Lejia had been treating the place like his own home. He never missed a single meal, appearing right on time to eat and disappearing the moment he put his bowl down.

Jin Qianqian adopted an "out of sight, out of mind" policy. Unless Gu Wenheng was home, she usually had the kitchen bring her meals to her room.

"I can’t quite say, Madam. She’s always smiling, but I don’t feel any desire to get close to her." Fearing Jin Qianqian might misunderstand, she quickly added, "But I always remember my place and have never dared to be disrespectful to them."

Even though he was just the Madam’s nephew-in-law, his status was much higher than that of servants like them. No matter what they thought of him, they had to be respectful.

Jin Qianqian reassured her, "I trust you all to do your work well. Sigh... next time they start ordering you around, you don’t have to pay them any mind."

Jin Qianqian had witnessed it several times herself. This Gu Lejia was as meek as a worm outside, but back here, his temper had grown quite a bit. He rarely showed the household servants a pleasant face.

’I look down on such a person from the bottom of my heart. If it weren’t for Gu Wenheng and me, who would even know who Gu Lejia is?’

"Why are there so few dishes tonight?" Just as she finished speaking, she heard Gu Lejia shouting outside.

"Young Master Le, the Master and Madam are having the same dishes," Mrs. Huang answered cautiously.

"My Aunt Seven is just one person, but there are two of us! How can the dishes be the same? Don’t tell me you’re deliberately shorting us, you old hag!"

"You wrong me, Young Master Le! There are only a few people in the household, so the meals are all portioned. You can go to the kitchen and see for yourself if you don’t believe me."

"But these dishes are so bland! And you know I can’t eat seafood, so why did you add it to this one?"

Gu Lejia’s eyes swept over to the pot that he used to use exclusively. Ever since Xiuxiang had come to live with them, he hadn’t cooked for himself.

"I’m getting old and forgot for a moment. This old servant will be more careful next time." Mrs. Huang was simply used to preparing dishes this way and hadn’t paid close enough attention.