The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

After the matter was resolved, the atmosphere between the two became somewhat strange and awkward.

Zhou Zhou spoke first, "Um, Brother Shen, are you setting off in a few days?"

Shen Chen nodded, "Yes, I need to get home before the New Year, or I won't make it."

"Oh, here you go." Zhou Zhou handed him the purse in her hand and immediately ran away, afraid that he wouldn't accept her money.

She had heard from the servants that Shen Chen was a little short of money. Although his grandfather would give him some pocket money every month, she heard that he used it all to buy books, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones.

He definitely won't have money to buy any gifts for his family this time he goes home.

She heard that his family was very poor, but they still worked hard to support his studies. Now that he has finally come home, he must be short of money to buy gifts.

She took out all her pocket money, put it in her purse, and gave it to him as a way of expressing her apology.

During this time, she also got to know Shen Chen. He was a typical bookworm who would spend all day reading in his study.

I really don't know how he can sit still.

Shen Chen was a little puzzled, looking at the pink purse in his hand, his ears turning red.

What does this girl mean by giving someone a purse? Doesn't she know the significance of giving someone a purse?

Did she just run away shyly?

But why does this purse feel so heavy?

He opened it and exclaimed, "Wow!" There were nearly fifty taels of loose silver and a hundred-tael silver note.

He was the first to realize that the purse he was giving away was actually a purse filled with money.

Could it be that all of this is Miss Zhou's heartfelt sentiment?

Shouldn't he reciprocate with a generous gift?

He'll have to ask his older sister about it when he gets back.

Ever since he took Zhou Zhou's purse, their meetings have become even stranger.

He was a little embarrassed to meet her gaze.

Every time Zhou Zhou saw him, she would remind him, "Don't be stingy with money. You've come all this way home, so you should buy something for your family."

Oh dear, Zhou Zhou is so thoughtful.

When Shen Chen set off to return to Xin'an County, Zhou Zhou prepared a package and sent it to him early in the morning.

She knew Shen Chen was reluctant to spend money, but luckily she had a backup plan.

Children from poor families mature early. Shen Chen is only a few years older than her, and he came to study alone thousands of miles away from home. He secretly saved up money, probably thinking of giving it to his family so that they could improve their lives.

Looking at his thin body, Zhou Zhou cursed himself for being so stupid for speaking ill of him to outsiders without knowing the truth.

When he returns, she will instruct Aunt Li in the kitchen to add more meat dishes every day.

Shen Chen's ears turned bright red as he looked at the large bag of things.

How could Miss Zhou be so bold as to personally load the package onto the carriage with so many people watching?

She patted her own hand reluctantly, telling herself to take good care of herself.

Inside the carriage, Shen Chen touched the spot where Zhou Zhou had just touched him and grinned foolishly.

He couldn't let such a beautiful woman down.

After seeing Shen Chen off, Zhou Zhou immediately ran back to the mansion.

He finally left, and now the chestnuts he planted in his yard are all hers.

You know, she'd been eyeing it for ages, and every time she wanted to climb the tree to pick it.

But her grandfather would always come and warn her not to disturb him while he was studying.

Each time, she could only pick up a few chestnuts that had fallen from the wall in her yard.

The chestnuts she roasted were sweet, soft, and delicious.

At the city gate, Ji Lingfeng sat in the carriage, gazing intently at Shen Cao waving in the distance.

"Master, since we're already here, shouldn't we go and say hello to Miss Shen before we leave?"

He Yu looked at his master. They had set off early and were almost at the capital by now.

But who knew that the master would change course halfway and end up in Xin'an County.

He figured since he was already there, he might as well have a meal at Shen's Restaurant before leaving.

The two of them had reached the door when they suddenly realized it was closed, and several carriages were parked outside.

It turns out that Shen Yu'an and the others also left today.

The master secretly led him on horseback to wait outside the city.

Until the group left.

"No, thank you." Ji Lingfeng refused; the little guy had grown taller.

It's enough to know she's doing well.

"Let's go too." With that, he spurred his horse and galloped away.

Crane Feather got a mouthful of dust and then left.

Shen Cao looked in the direction Ji Lingfeng had left, and she felt like someone had been watching her.

The galloping horses in the distance gave her a sense of familiarity.

She shook her head, thinking that she must be hallucinating from being too tired these past few days.

She turned around, took her younger siblings' hands, and spoke with a smile.

"Your school is on holiday now, and the New Year is coming soon. If there's anything you want to eat during this time, just tell your sister."

"I'll make it for you."

"We need to start preparing for the New Year."

"And you should also buy your new clothes."

The children looked at each other, then jumped and skipped around happily.

Xiaoqiao watched from the side, her eyes filled with envy.

Shen Cao noticed her, walked up to her, and took her hand. "What are you daydreaming about? Have you decided what color clothes you'll buy for the New Year? Have you decided on the style?"

Xiaoqiao was a little excited, her eyes shining, and she seemed somewhat incredulous.

She even has new clothes.

After all these years, she actually has new clothes now!

On his way home, Shen Chen was in a hurry because of the weather, fearing that snow on the road would delay him.

He spent all his time in the carriage except when he was sleeping.

When he was halfway through his journey, he passed by a group of people on horseback.

The coachman was from Grand Tutor Zhou's mansion; we came back together, celebrated the New Year, and then went back together.

The coachman looked at the flags carried by the group with eyes full of respect.

That banner was known to everyone in the capital: the Ji Family Army.

Before he could even get a good look at the leader, the man had already sped away.

He expressed his deep regret, knowing that the man was the God of War of the Great Xia Kingdom.

"Brother, do you know that person?" Shen Chen asked curiously after hearing the coachman's sigh.

"Young Master Shen, you didn't know?"

"That's true. You've only just arrived in the capital, so it's understandable that you don't know."

“That flag belongs to the Ji family army. The Ji family army is the most elite army in our Great Xia Kingdom.”

"I wonder if the one in the lead is General Ji."

"General Ji is a legendary figure. He went to the battlefield to fight the enemy at a young age and got to where he is today step by step through his own efforts."

"I heard that he joined the army without telling his family."

"In short, General Ji is a great hero worthy of respect."

Shen Chen looked at the coachman with shining eyes, his eyes filled with admiration as he spoke of General Ji.

He couldn't help but feel a strong curiosity about General Ji.

He was a scholar, and his favorite books were those by frontier poets.

If he weren't so bad at martial arts, he would have loved to pick up a gun and defend his country.

Therefore, he felt a surge of admiration for the soldiers who defended the country.