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

"Is Cao'er planning to stay in the capital for a long time?" Wei Siyu didn't expect Shen Cao to ask him to help her rent a house as soon as she arrived in the capital.

"Actually, if you don't mind, you can come and stay at my house."

“You heard from my little sister that my mother will definitely like you.” Wei Siyu nodded at Wei Yuxin.

Upon receiving her brother's signal, Wei Yuxin quickly replied, "Yes, little sister Cao'er, you can stay at my house. My family consists of women, so it will be very convenient for you to stay here."

"And my mother definitely likes you."

Shen Cao waved her hand apologetically, "It's not that I don't want to stay at your house, it's just that your house is a bit far from the Grand Tutor's mansion. I came here mainly for my elder brother."

"I may not stay here long, but I would like to have a place to stay in the capital."

She did not tell Wei Siyu about her biological parents.

The main reason she wanted a place to live in the capital was that she wanted to bring her parents and younger sister to the capital when her eldest brother was taking the imperial examination.

Mr. Shen, his mother, and his younger sister haven't seen their eldest brother for half a year.

My elder brother will likely be appointed to an official position not long after the autumn imperial examination.

The Great Xia Kingdom usually sends officials to other places, unless they are among the top three or above, in which case they may stay in the capital to serve.

Once my elder brother becomes an official, the family will have less and less time to spend together.

She wanted to take advantage of her current abilities to allow her family and brother more time together before he became an official.

“Alright.” Wei Siyu understood Shen Cao’s concerns and nodded. “Do you have any requirements regarding the house?”

"As long as it's close to the Grand Tutor's Mansion, I don't have any other requirements." Shen Cao believed that the house Wei Siyu found must be the best.

After discussing the matter, Wei Siyu called the waiter to settle the bill.

"Young Master Wei, the total is five hundred and eighty-two taels. The shopkeeper said that since you are a regular customer, five hundred and eighty taels will suffice."

What? One meal cost five hundred and eighty taels, nearly six hundred taels.

That much money is enough for their family to eat for more than a year and still have some left over.

Shen Cao couldn't help but sigh, "It's really easy to make money in the capital."

This further solidified her desire to come to the capital to make money.

"I'll do it," Shen Cao said, reaching for the silver notes in her purse. Luckily, she had taken a few extra in the afternoon, otherwise it might not have been enough.

Over five hundred taels of silver—this one meal cost her almost two years' worth of profits from the Shen family's restaurant.

Fortunately, she now has another herb garden, otherwise she might not have been able to afford this meal.

The capital city is truly dazzling with its wealth; money really doesn't last long!

Wei Siyu stopped her from taking out her money. "You've come all the way to the capital. How could I let you pay? If word got out, what would become of my reputation as Young Master Wei?"

Wei Siyu stood up, picked up the pen and ink prepared by the waiter, and signed her name on the bill.

"Go to the Wei residence tomorrow to ask Steward Wei for the money."

The way he signed the document was very elegant, and the waiter was clearly used to this way of paying.

After carefully collecting the bill, I left quietly.

*

A full moon hung high in the sky, and not far from it was only one very bright star.

"By the way, Cao'er, what are you planning to do tomorrow?"

"I'm going to visit my elder brother at the Grand Tutor's mansion tomorrow." She had already sent her visiting card to the Grand Tutor's mansion before dinner today.

She was originally going to visit the Grand Tutor's mansion today, but she was afraid that a sudden visit would be abrupt, so she sent a visiting card instead.

The inn where Shen Cao and the others were staying was not far from Xiangmanlou, and the group quickly arrived at the inn's entrance.

Wei Siyu frowned as she looked at the inn. "Until we find a place to stay, you should stay at my place. I'm not comfortable with the two of you staying at the inn."

"Would it be too much trouble for you?"

"Why be so polite with me? When you were in Xin'an County, did I ever show you any politeness?"

"Alright then." Shen Cao accepted Wei Siyu's offer without hesitation.

The next morning, Shen Cao and her younger brother had just come downstairs when they saw Wei Siyu sitting in the lobby of the inn.

The shopkeeper spoke to him from the side.

Upon seeing Shen Cao, Wei Siyu quickly waved, "Cao'er, over here!"

"Brother Wei, why are you here so early?"

“You have no idea, when I got home last night, my younger sister told my mother about what you did, and my mother beat me up.”

"They said my friends had traveled thousands of miles to the capital, but I had them stay in an inn."

"That's why they kicked me out early this morning to pick you up and take you home."

"He said that if he couldn't pick you up, he wouldn't even give me breakfast."

Shen Cao, "..."

Shen Cao and the others didn't bring much luggage, and they quickly finished packing and went downstairs.

The carriage arrived at the Wei residence quickly.

Shen Cao got off the carriage and was somewhat surprised to see the gate of the Wei residence.

She imagined the Wei family mansion's gate to be very grand, at least ten feet high, with a plaque at the entrance edged in gold.

At least two very imposing stone lions should be placed at the main gate.

However, the actual gate of the Wei family mansion was very simple, with only three steps leading up to a gate less than two meters high, guarded by only one servant.

This is not the home of someone like Wei Siyu at all.

Wei Siyu noticed Shen Cao's confusion and explained, "This is the capital city, full of high-ranking officials and nobles. Our family is just rich."

"The lintel at the entrance can only be of this size."

The kind of family background that Shen Cao was thinking of could probably only be possessed by royalty or high-ranking officials.

Following Wei Siyu into the Wei residence, Shen Cao felt she had entered the right place.

It felt completely opposite to the rustic feel of the entrance.

Pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and gardens exude understated luxury.

He encountered countless servants along the way, and upon seeing Wei Siyu, they all greeted him respectfully.

It took them a full quarter of an hour to walk from the front door to the backyard.

Shen Cao and Shen Qing's luggage had already been delivered to the guest rooms prepared for them.

Upon entering the hall, Shen Cao was dazzled by the golden light.

After she composed herself, she saw the gleaming golden plaque above the main hall, which read "The Number One Canal Transport in the World".

That's right, that's more like it!

She shielded her eyes from the golden light with her hand and took a few steps inside.

Wei Siyu said somewhat shyly, "That plaque was made of pure gold by my father, who said it could be passed down through the family."

Shen Cao, "..."

She now knows who Wei Siyu got her exaggerated style from.

Before Wei Siyu could go inside, Wei's mother, having heard the commotion, came out with Wei Yuxin.

"Is it Miss Cao'er who has arrived?" Wei's mother's voice preceded her arrival.

Wei Siyu looked at Shen Cao apologetically, "That's just how my mother is, you'll get used to it."

"You brat, talking bad about your mother again!" Mother Wei glared at Wei Siyu and kicked him again.

Wei Siyu was kicked aside by her mother.

The seat next to Shen Cao became empty, and Wei Yuxin walked to where Wei Siyu had been sitting and warmly took her hand.

"Little sister Cao'er, you look so beautiful in women's clothes."

"Come here, let me introduce you. This is my mother."

Shen Cao bowed to Wei's mother, saying, "Hello, Aunt Wei."

Mother Wei looked at Shen Cao with a smile; this little girl was truly beautiful.

She has a nephew on her maternal side...

"Mother, Cao'er just arrived, don't scare her away!"

Wei Siyu saw through her mother's thoughts and spoke up.

"You brat, I know."

"Your name is Cao'er, right? You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Perfect timing, we haven't eaten either, why don't you join us for something to eat?"