Yun Jiao looked at Yingzi after she finished speaking.

Yingzi was no longer the timid girl from the first time she met her.

She had grown into a bright and charming young woman.

Yun Jiao had not seen much of Yingzi for six or seven years, and she was unsure whether today’s events were intentional or accidental on Yingzi’s part.

However, none of this was important.

Several monks entered carrying food boxes and set up a vegetarian meal on the table in the room.

After finishing the meal, Yun Jiao instructed Mrs. Chen, "We’ll wait on San Ya’s marriage. After the new year, scholars from all over will come to the capital for the exams. Then, we can choose a suitable match for her."

Mrs. Chen nodded, not saying anything.

Today’s meeting left her somewhat discouraged.

Her daughter’s appearance made it unlikely for any man to be immediately attracted to her.

With a heavy heart, Mrs. Chen returned to the mansion.

Soon it was the end of the year, and after You Er turned four, Liu Lang was about to get married.

Yun Jiao sent the steward there to assist Mrs. Chen in handling all the arrangements properly.

Mrs. Chen, perhaps because Liu Lang still bore the Jiang family name and it seemed improper not to call any uncles to oversee the wedding, sent a message back to Qingshan Village to inform the Jiang Family about Liu Lang’s marriage.

The day before Liu Lang’s wedding, Jiang Hua arrived in Xiang City with Wulang.

They found Mrs. Chen’s current residence.

They saw an imposing courtyard with green bricks, and a doorman led them inside.

The courtyard had a paved path of blue stones, and before they even reached the front hall, Liu Lang came out to meet them, bowing to the two, "Third Uncle, Brother Wulang."

Jiang Hua was somewhat emotional, not having seen Liu Lang for seven or eight years, and remembering him as a ten-year-old child.

With tears in his eyes, he patted Liu Lang’s arm, "You’ve grown up. If we met outside, Third Uncle wouldn’t have recognized you."

Liu Lang enthusiastically led the two inside. The past events had become vague in his memory, but as a man, he felt an instinctive closeness to his family and ancestral roots.

The servants served tea, and Mrs. Chen soon arrived.

Jiang Hua and Wulang stood up to greet her, and Mrs. Chen was filled with emotions.

In her heart, she always considered herself part of the Jiang Family. Wiping her tears, she asked, "Why didn’t Sister-in-law come?"

Jiang Hua smiled warmly, "She couldn’t leave home. Wulang’s wife just had a big, healthy boy, and she has to take care of the daughter-in-law and the newborn."

Mrs. Chen was sincerely happy, as if the old disputes between them never existed.

Tears glistened in Jiang Hua’s eyes, "I heard from the messenger that Liu Lang has become an official now. That’s wonderful, truly wonderful."

"When I return, I must go to the ancestral grave to pay my respects and inform our elder brother’s grave."

Mrs. Chen just smiled. In the years since returning to Xiang City, they had visited the village to pay respects, but hadn’t looked in on the Jiang Family.

Meeting them again brought back a sense of kinship.

They sat and chatted about family matters.

Only then did Mrs. Chen learn that Mrs. Zhou had another stroke last year and passed away after just a day.

Now, the second household was gone, leaving only the third household with Mr. Jiang living together.

Mrs. Chen listened attentively to Jiang Hua’s words, feeling that the Jiang Family was living well.

Years ago, Mr. Jiang took the hundred liang of pension silver brought by Jiang Youzhi and seized the opportunity to buy some more land. The family now had fifty acres. Jiang Hua, Wulang, and Qilang tended to the fields wholeheartedly.

When they couldn’t manage alone, they hired short-term workers to help.

Now the Jiang Family was considered well-off in Qingshan Village.

That night, Mrs. Chen arranged for Jiang Hua and Wulang to stay at their house.