Min, with a casual expression, smiled and said, "He must have found a place to hide."

Xing couldn’t help but laugh. Zhi had always been skilled at hiding things since he was young.

In the evening, Xiqiu asked Tiancheng and Tianjing to escort Xing and Sheng back home. Min returned to his room to do his homework. Xiqiu played with Zhi in the Warm Pavilion. She leaned against a large pillow while Zhi was dismantling the Nine Rings. Xiqiu brought out literacy cards and pointed at them, asking, "What is this?"

"A cow!" Zhi glanced quickly and replied crisply. Xiqiu nodded slightly and asked again, "Do you remember the poem I told you about cows?"

Without looking up, Zhi recited fluently and quickly, "Cooking the sheep and slaughtering the cow for a feast, must drink three hundred cups each when necessary."

Xiqiu smiled, pulled out a picture of peach blossoms, and asked, "What about this?" Zhi quickly glanced at it, his hands not stopping: "Peach blossoms! Bloom in March!" He had already dismantled half of it, his fingers moving rapidly!

He was always multitasking like this, and Xiqiu intended to correct him little by little. She waited until he finished dismantling the Nine Rings, then sat up straight and looked into his eyes, "Do you remember any story related to peach blossoms or peach groves?"

"The Oath of the Peach Garden." Zhi replied with a mischievous smile, and grabbing Xiqiu’s arm, said, "Mother, let’s make a kite?"

Xiqiu replied, "We haven’t completed today’s tasks yet. Let’s make a kite when we finish this!" Zhi pursed his lips and sighed, "Alright!" He looked earnestly at Xiqiu.

Fourth Master Xiao returned and saw the mother and son leaning on the table. Zhi held a card and recited a story to Xiqiu, with youthful and stammering speech. Suddenly noticing Fourth Master Xiao entering, Zhi grinned and was about to greet him when Xiqiu lightly coughed. Zhi was startled, withdrew his gaze, and continued the story seriously.

Fourth Master Xiao, smiling, sat down on a chair and watched Zhi until he had finished the story completely. Then Zhi beamed and happily shouted, "Father!"

Xiqiu got off the kang with a smile, saying, "Fourth Master!" Then she asked, "Did Lord Han leave?"

Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly. Zhi stood on the kang, waving his hand, "Father, let’s ride the horse, ride the horse!"

"No!" Xiqiu frowned sternly, "Father has had a tiring day, no mischief now." But Fourth Master Xiao smiled, "No matter." He went over and picked up Zhi, "Riding horse, right?"

Zhi nodded repeatedly, "Ride the horse, ride the horse!" Fourth Master Xiao laughed heartily, put his son on his neck, and ran around the room. Zhi laughed gleefully, "Oh oh..."

Xiqiu watched helplessly but couldn’t say anything to Fourth Master Xiao in front of the child. She waited until Mrs. Zhou took Zhi away to rest, then spoke to Fourth Master Xiao, "...he’s not focused, always thinking about one thing while doing another. You shouldn’t spoil him like this, Fourth Master."

"It’s not an issue." Fourth Master Xiao replied casually, "If he performs both tasks well, then multitasking isn’t a problem at all."

It was wasted saying that to him. Xiqiu glared at him, and Fourth Master Xiao laughed cheerfully. Xiqiu then asked, "What did Lord Han want when he visited?"

"Nothing much." Fourth Master Xiao spoke casually, "The official matchmaker visits him daily to propose marriages, which bothers him, so he comes here to drink and hide."

Madam Han had passed away several years ago, and Lord Han hadn’t remarried, unlike the First Master who was much younger and was in his prime. Naturally, there would be plenty of suitors.

"I see. A few days ago, Madam Huang mentioned that her niece’s engagement was delayed because the groom was always weak and unfortunately passed away last year. She hoped to ask Fourth Master to pass the word to Lord Han."

Fourth Master Xiao listened and nodded, took a sip of tea, and replied, "I see." But he likely wouldn’t act on it.

The next day at noon, after returning from the government office, Fourth Master Xiao spoke to Xiqiu, "He said to wait a bit longer!" He seemed indifferent.

Xiqiu was merely passing on Madam Huang’s message, so she nodded and said, "I understand. I will explain it to Madam Huang when I see her." In the afternoon, after Fourth Master Xiao returned to the government office, several companion rooms entered.

Having not seen each other for several years, Zhu Sancheng still appeared as simple and honest as before, but his gaze had grown sharper. Zou Bochang, on the other hand, had aged considerably, and for the past two years, he had been writing letters or sending messages back, eager to manage the farm near Laizhou that Fourth Master Xiao had given to Xiqiu. He argued that no one would be as trustworthy as family to manage it.

In fact, Fourth Master Xiao had a good eye for people, and the current steward was both meticulous and reliable. Although he didn’t personally deliver the accounts to the Capital, each year-end he sent employees to present the income and expenditure for Xiqiu’s inspection, which she reviewed carefully with clear records of profits and revenues. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

With this in mind, Xiqiu visited Su Dazhuang and his family. Su Dazhuang looked to be in his forties, with large joints that were cleaned meticulously, and his clothing appeared neat and recently worn. Though not tall, he hunched slightly, with a square face that looked honest and forthright. Behind him stood his two sons, likely eighteen or nineteen, strong, tall, and serious, facing downwards, proper and poised.

Xiqiu nodded discreetly and smiled, "Take a seat." She then told Su Dazhuang, "After three years of correspondence, today is our first meeting. Manager Su, please don’t be too reserved, take a seat."

Zou Bochang led the way to sit down while Su Dazhuang quickly glanced at Xiqiu, lowered his head, and responded, "Thank you, Madam." He followed Zou Bochang and seated himself, with his two sons standing behind him. Zhu Sancheng also took a seat.

Jin Dairui and his family had remained in the Capital, associating often with Ruan Jingliu’s family, so Xiqiu hadn’t invited them into the house.

"Did everyone rest well last night?" Just as Su Dazhuang was about to speak, Zou Bochang replied first, "Thank you, Madam, for your concern. Despite the exhaustion from the journey, knowing we’d see Madam eased the fatigue." He paused before continuing, "My wife wanted to return with me to bow and greet Madam, but knowing there’d be no one to manage the farm if we left, she stayed there."

Xiqiu nodded slightly, "Thank you for your hard work." She continued without changing her tone, then asked Zhu Sancheng, "How are the medicinal plants growing this year?"

"Madam," Zhu Sancheng replied, "I was just going to ask your opinion. The farm has thirty acres left, originally kept for the employees and tenants to grow food. However, given the good harvest and profitability of the medicinal plants, how about using those thirty acres for them as well?"