Gu Yuheng stood up, "Sister, where do you live? I’ll take you home."

Shi Niang mentioned the place she lived, and the two of them left the door one after the other.

Shi Niang walked in front, she didn’t dare to look back, but she had a feeling that he was certainly following behind.

The two walked several streets until they reached the entrance of Hua’s Tofu Shop, where Shi Niang stopped and turned around, and sure enough, saw Gu Yuheng standing not far away.

Shi Niang’s eyes were a little moist; this was the first time in her life she experienced the feeling of having someone to rely on.

Her eyes filled with tears, her lips curved in a smile, she opened the door and went in.

When Gu Yuheng returned, Yun Jiao saw the spring in his step and knew that the matter was settled.

Next, Yun Jiao didn’t need to worry about anything; her father would discuss with the matchmaker himself, and the engagement was soon finalized.

This winter, the cold came early, and by the end of November, it was snowing.

The weather was cold, and people were reluctant to go out, so the business at the shop quieted down a lot.

Yun Jiao also had some time on her hands, and she and Yang Ying baked glutinous rice cakes around the stove.

A carriage stopped at the shop’s entrance, pressing twin tracks into the thin layer of freshly fallen snow on the ground.

Yun Jiao looked up and saw a man cloaked in a large robe jump down from the carriage.

The man jumped down and rushed straight into the shop.

Yun Jiao suddenly stood up, "Xiao Chuan!"

Gu Chuan had become much darker, grown much taller, and even the lines of his face had become more defined.

Teary-eyed, Yun Jiao saw her brother truly transformed into a man, becoming an adult.

Choking back his emotions, Gu Chuan called out, "Sister—" and quickly came over to embrace her.

Yun Jiao couldn’t help but give Gu Chuan’s back a firm slap, "You finally remembered to come back, it’s been almost two years!"

When Gu Chuan passed the scholar exam, he was only fifteen or sixteen. Jiang Youzhi hadn’t let him continue to the spring exam, "Your writing is already splendidly adorned; if you take the spring exam, there’s a great chance to pass."

"But you are too young, and your understanding of human affairs and the hardships of life is still lacking. Becoming an official now wouldn’t be good."

"It’s best for you to go out and gain experience for a while, and then take the spring exam three years later."

Gu Chuan had no objections to his brother-in-law’s words; he packed his belongings and set out with just a servant.

Every place he visited, he would write a letter home, describing the local customs and conditions.

In these two years, he had traveled across half of Great Chu.

During these two years, he had seen countless injustices and gradually understood the meaning behind his brother-in-law’s advice to travel.

Ever since he was seven, he’d been running around with Yun Jiao, thinking he already knew enough about the hardships of life. Only when he went outside did he realize how much his sister had protected him.

Gu Yuheng came over and patted Gu Chuan’s shoulder, "You brat, you only see your sister and not your old dad."

Gu Chuan chuckled, then turned to embrace his father.

The family of three hugged for a while. Yang Ying brought over a few chairs and invited them to sit down, then asked Ah Tie to open the side door to let the carriage in.

She then went to the back kitchen to talk to Sister Guihua, telling her to add more dishes.

Guihua hurried upstairs and called for Yingzi, "Can you come down and help me a bit? Young Master Chuan is back, and we need to add a few dishes; I really can’t manage on my own right now."

Yingzi was sitting by the window embroidering a handkerchief and was just about to refuse when her hands suddenly paused. She didn’t know why but, after a moment of blankness, she abruptly set down the embroidery frame and got up.