"Xiao Jiu, don’t leave in a while. The estate just delivered some fresh vegetables. You should try them," Lian Manman said with a smile to Shen Qian. "If you want to eat anything special, just tell me, and I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you."

Seeing Lian Manman so considerate, Shen Qian felt both warm at heart and a bit embarrassed, as if he was being treated like a child. Meanwhile, Xiao Qi was beside them, grinning happily.

"Sis, ask the kitchen to make more pastries..." Xiao Qi interrupted before Shen Qian could speak, "Brother Xiao Jiu is staying at our house all day today and will go back after dinner."

"Alright," Lian Manman nodded with a smile and instructed Xiao Qi to keep Shen Qian company, then she went back to her room with her people.

Returning to the backyard, Lian Manman went to Lady Zhang’s room first. Lady Zhang was doing needlework with a few maidservants, and she put her work down when she saw Lian Manman.

"Brother Ninth came earlier and went to the garden with Xiao Qi right after seeing me. Did you run into him?" Lady Zhang asked Lian Manman.

"I just met him at the flower craftsman’s place," Lian Manman responded, "I asked him to stay for a meal."

"That’s only appropriate, I also asked him," Lady Zhang said. "When your father and brother return, let’s have them all dine together."

"The people who went to Sixth Master’s place and the Qin Family have come back. Sixth Master sent us two baskets of the finest Fu Shen, saying it’s the best quality. And two baskets of cantaloupes, saying they are freshly harvested... The Qin Family sent us two boxes of golden dates, some persimmon cakes, and candied fruits, all said to be from their estate back home," Lady Zhang informed Lian Manman.

The little maid brought over the return gifts from both families for Lian Manman to inspect.

"These are all good things," Lian Manman noted after looking. "Mother, let’s have them grind this Fu Shen into fine powder. Mixing it with milk for you and Dad to drink in the morning and evening would be perfect."

The mother and daughter chatted until nearly noon, when Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang returned from outside. Lian Manman then ordered lunch to be served. A fine meal was arranged in the warm pavilion at the front to entertain Shen Qian. Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang joined him.

Lian Manman herself ate in Lady Zhang’s room.

On the table were simple home-cooked dishes, but they were the ones the two of them loved to eat.

The main dishes featured green rice, crispy scallion pancakes, and small bowls of noodles topped with tender pea shoots. For cold dishes, there was fragrant sesame scallion tofu with tender white tofu and fresh green scallions, making it very appetizing. The hot dishes were mostly vegetarian, with the final dish being a clear vegetable broth with boiled burdock in it.

These dishes were all fresh and appetizing, especially rare in the winter.

Among the home-cooked dishes, they all looked familiar to Lady Zhang, except for one dish of sea cucumber, which was considered a delicacy.

Sea cucumbers from the sea near Liaodong Prefecture were quite famous, and people in the Prefecture City were fond of eating them in winter. Lian Manman’s family followed the local customs and often had this dish on the table.

"I’m tired of the rest, but these few greens are a real treat and never get old," Lady Zhang said after the meal.

The meal was so fitting that Lady Zhang had an extra half bowl of noodles.

"Indeed, you probably wouldn’t find these on any table in the entire Prefecture City," Lian Manman remarked with a smile.

"I heard from your father that besides us eating these vegetables ourselves, we plan to supply them to our restaurants, right?" Lady Zhang asked.

"Yes, that’s the plan," Lian Manman confirmed. Currently, the vegetables from the estate’s greenhouse were only enough for them, with some to share with others, leaving not much for the restaurants. However, because they’re rare, these fresh vegetables will bring more customers and business to the restaurants.

"In a few days, let’s visit the estate. Maybe we can add two more greenhouses. This way, we can have extra vegetables to sell, providing another source of income for the estate," Lian Manman added.

"You men should discuss that. I heard building greenhouses costs quite a bit," Lady Zhang remarked.

"Yes," Lian Manman nodded, indicating that the cost and the revenue must be calculated carefully before proceeding with the plan.

Indeed, Shen Qian stayed at Lian Manman’s house until evening, had dinner, and Lian Shouxin personally escorted him back.

After Shen Qian left, Xiao Qi came looking for Lian Manman. He started by praising Shen Qian extensively, then talked about how well he got along with Shen Qian.

"...With Brother Xiao Jiu around, I have someone to study with. If I don’t understand something, I ask him, and often it’s even clearer than asking the teacher..."

"In just this short while, do you know how many times you’ve mentioned Brother Xiao Jiu?" Lian Manman glanced at Xiao Qi. "Is there something you want to say directly?"

Seeing his thoughts seen through, Xiao Qi laughed sheepishly, moved closer to Lian Manman, and even poured her some fresh tea as a gesture.

Lian Manman watched Xiao Qi with amusement.

"...Brother Shen’s parents want him to stay with them, but he doesn’t want to go," Xiao Qi finally said with a smile after finishing his chores for her.

"Oh?" Lian Manman raised an eyebrow. "That’s something we can’t really interfere with."

"As long as Sixth Master says Brother Xiao Jiu shouldn’t go, there’s nothing his parents can do about it," Xiao Qi quickly added.

"Are you saying I have a say with Sixth Master?" Lian Manman forced a stern expression.

"No, no..." Xiao Qi pulled a face and scratched his head.

"Did Xiao Jiu ask you to talk to me about this?" Lian Manman asked. "Look at him, still so young, yet already knows how to pull strings. Why didn’t he come tell me himself?"