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

A full moon hangs high in the starry sky.

The moonlight illuminated the clouds beside it, and the night was no longer lonely.

Occasionally, a breeze would blow, making the tender buds of the willow trees rustle.

Shen Yu'an stared at the letter in front of him, which depicted the design of their family heirloom jade pendant, with a silly grin, and his eyes reddened.

He never imagined he would see his family's heirloom jade pendant again in his lifetime.

And it happened right here in Shencao.

He was overjoyed at the thought that Shen Cao was actually his younger sister.

He felt like fireworks were exploding in his chest, 'bang, bang' and wouldn't stop.

After spinning around in place several times, he finally calmed down.

He couldn't wait to tell everyone the good news.

However, his mother's advice made him give up the idea.

“An’er, I’ve been reading poetry lately, and there’s a line that I don’t quite understand: ‘Where one’s feet touches the ground, one knows that dreams are not real.’ Please be sure to explain it to me when the time comes.”

—The world is full of crises, and only when you sleep do you realize that your dreams are not reality.

His mother wanted to remind him.

The hidden crisis in this matter.

*

Shifeng Village

Sun Guixiang glanced at Sun Chuang, then her gaze lingered on Dongfang Ming's handsome face.

She felt as if she were dreaming.

Dongfang Ming had long been used to Sun Guixiang's infatuated gaze.

He often saw that kind of look on the faces of young ladies from noble families when he was still a prince of the Great Qing Kingdom.

It's been so long since I've felt that kind of gaze; it's truly been a long time.

He chuckled inwardly and looked at Sun Guixiang with a gentle gaze.

"Xiang'er, I feel embarrassed to eat when you look at me like that."

After saying that, he reached out and grabbed Sun Guixiang's hand that wasn't holding the chopsticks.

A shy blush immediately appeared on Sun Guixiang's face.

"Heh, so easily amused," Dongfang Ming thought to himself.

That woman is so foolish. He didn't do anything, just agreed with her a few times and did a few insignificant things, and she was already completely devoted to him.

It's boring, it's really boring.

Thinking of the important matter at hand, he quickly picked up the wine glass beside him and stood up.

He raised his glass to Sun Chuang.

"Chen Ming was abrupt today. Sun Zhaizi not only didn't hold it against me, but also treated me to good wine and food. Chen Ming is extremely grateful."

"This cup is for Chief Sun."

He raised his glass, about to tilt his head back and drink it down.

However, Sun Chuang pressed down on the hand that was raising the wine glass.

Sun Chuang said in a feigned reproachful tone, "We're practically family now, why do you still call me Chief Sun?"

Dongfang Ming was taken aback when he heard Sun Chuang's words, then pretended to be a little shy and raised his eyebrows.

Then a smile slowly appeared in his eyes, and he slowly opened his mouth, tentatively calling out, "Uncle Sun?"

He saw Sun Chuang frown and become somewhat angry upon hearing this address.

He immediately changed his address, "Father!"

Upon hearing this address, Sun Chuang's face lit up with a smile.

"Hey--"

"By the way, what's going on with the baby in Guixiang's belly?" He frowned as he looked at Sun Guixiang's stomach, his smile vanishing.

Sun Guixiang was eating her food when she heard this and stiffened her neck.

She put down her chopsticks and took her father's hand. "Father, I'm not pregnant. I only said that because I was afraid you wouldn't agree."

Sun Chuang was startled, glancing at his daughter and then at Dongfang Ming.

Seeing Dongfang Ming nod, she spoke with a hint of reproach, "You're just being ridiculous."

"And you, she was being so unreasonable, and you didn't even stop her." She turned and scolded Dongfang Ming.

Dongfang Ming choked for a moment, then quickly apologized, "It was my oversight, I deserve to be scolded!!"

Sun Chuang sipped his drink, glancing at Dongfang Ming out of the corner of his eye.

This kid still has some sense of propriety; if he really did something like that, he'd make him pay.

"That's good. A girl should be reserved before she gets married, so that her husband's family will value her."

Dongfang Ming snorted coldly in his heart.

Sun Guixiang glanced at Dongfang Ming with a guilty conscience.

The two of them had a tacit understanding.

*

The next day.

The sky was clear and the air was filled with a fresh scent.

Shen Cao slept very soundly last night.

She'd figured it out; several days had passed since what happened before.

Ji Lingfeng went out yesterday, so he must have forgotten about it long ago, and he must be feeling much better now.

It's just taking the wrong medicine; everyone makes mistakes.

As soon as she stepped into the Herb Garden, she sensed that the atmosphere around her seemed a little strange.

Why aren't the guys working? They're all just crowding around the front desk.

"Sister Cao'er, you're here!" Wanyue came downstairs and saw Shen Cao entering the room.

Shen Cao looked in the direction of the sound and saw Ji Lingfeng next to Wan Yue, who was also looking in this direction.

The two looked at each other.

After a while, Shen Cao looked away.

It seems he's really alright now.

Wanyue turned to the side and saw Uncle Ji's bright red ears.

Haha, she knew it.

Ji Lingfeng was accompanied by an uncle in his thirties or forties.

“Perfect timing, you’re here too. Let’s go to the lobby together. I have some things to tell you,” Ji Lingfeng said to Shen Cao.

This was the first thing they said to each other after what happened.

Shen Cao could hear the meaning of parting in his words; there was a hint of reluctance in his tone.

"This is the new accountant I've hired. From now on, all matters concerning the Hundred Herbs Garden will be handled by him."

"You can ask him if you need anything in the future."

He addressed the men below.

Upon hearing this, the men below began to whisper among themselves.

I didn't hear that the accountant was leaving. He was doing a good job, why would he leave?

Ji Lingfeng glanced at Shen Cao after he finished speaking.

Shen Cao always knew he would leave, but she never expected it to be today.

I never expected that he would have arranged everything before leaving.

"Listen to him in everything. You can ask this old gentleman if you have any questions in the future."

Shen Cao nodded to Ji Lingfeng and spoke after him, confirming his words.

With Shen Cao as the head manager, the matter of replacing the accountant is a done deal.

"Hello everyone, my name is Zhang Jie, and I will be the accountant of Baicaoyuan from now on."

"Although he is an accountant, according to what Young Master Ji said, the duties of an accountant are not limited to managing accounts, so please take good care of him in the future."

After speaking, Zhang Jie began to arrange everyone's work in an orderly manner, as if he were extremely familiar with the affairs of the restaurant.

"Brother Ji, are you sure you want to leave?" Shen Cao asked from the private room on the fourth floor.

There was a hint of reluctance in her tone that she herself hadn't noticed.

Ji Lingfeng looked up at her and nodded. "Yes, I'm leaving now. I'll set off today."

"So urgent?" Shen Cao seemed to realize that her tone was a little rushed. "Um, I mean, why are you in such a hurry? Didn't you say it would take some more time?"

"The investigation into the Xin'an County matter is almost complete; the matter here will now be handed over to the subordinates."

"There's something I need to handle personally, so I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"Oh, that's how it is.

"By the way, Brother Ji, how are you feeling?"

She swore that she genuinely just wanted to care about Ji Lingfeng's health.

Ji Lingfeng was surprised that while they were talking about parting, she suddenly became concerned about his health.

His expression was somewhat unnatural. "It's all done."

"That's good."

"Here, this is for you." Ji Lingfeng handed Shen Cao a package.

Seeing that Shen Cao had taken it, he added, "I'll open it after I leave tomorrow."