Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

At the hour of You (5-7 PM), in the bamboo forest.

Jiang Di has arrived.

Xia Lanyue ran up to Jiang Di, panting, "When did you get here?!"

"Just arrived," Jiang Di said, handing her a basket. "It's a bit heavy; it contains salt and sugar."

Xia Lanyue took the basket with both hands, but didn't rush to look at it. At this moment, she was more curious about what Jiang Di was holding in his other hand. "What are you holding in your hand?"

"What?" Jiang Di asked back.

Seeing his reaction, Xia Lanyue realized she had been overthinking things and didn't press the matter further. She lowered her head to check the contents of the basket when suddenly, a bouquet of flowers appeared before her, startling her.

"Flowers?!" Xia Lanyue looked at Jiang Di, then put down the basket, took the flowers, and even brought them to her nose to smell them. They smelled quite nice. "Thanks."

"Heh," Jiang Di couldn't help but laugh out loud at her silly appearance.

Jiang Di quickly stopped smiling and said to Xia Lanyue, "You're famous now. Everyone in town knows you. They even gave you a nice name, Rice Flower Girl."

Xia Lanyue looked up in surprise, "This name is great, I like it."

Jiang Di smiled, then pointed to the basket and said to Xia Lanyue, "There are eight catties of salt, five catties of sugar, and a bag of bean cakes and candied fruit here."

What is "dou'er gao"?

"It's a fruit made from mung beans, which is refreshing and helps to cut through the greasiness of food."

Xia Lanyue was delighted. Jiang Di was quite thoughtful; knowing that the weather was hot, he sent her some things to cool her down.

"I haven't finished the candied fruit you gave me last time," Xia Lanyue said.

"This was prepared for you by Manager Wang."

"Huh? Why?" Xia Lanyue asked, puzzled.

“He wants to cooperate with you, so he asked me to ask you what you think,” Jiang Di said.

"He's going to sell rice cakes too? Isn't his shop selling candied fruit?" Xia Lanyue asked, puzzled.

“It’s not impossible. Your rice cake is a type of fruit, and he can sell it too. Besides, he’s partnered with Manager Wang, so you can make it in his shop and won’t have to carry it so far every day.”

After listening, Xia Lanyue smiled awkwardly. Her intuition told her that Jiang Di meant well, but she had just heard the same opinion from Manager Song, which made Xia Lanyue feel uncomfortable.

Jiang Di seemed to notice Xia Lanyue's hesitation and asked again, "What are you worried about?"

"Ah... I... I think his idea is pretty good, but could you give me some time? I'll think about it and then give you an answer."

Jiang Di nodded.

Xia Lanyue opened the bean cake, took a piece and tasted it. It was slightly sweet and tasted a little better than candied fruit. She handed a piece to Jiang Di, "Is this also sold in Manager Wang's shop? I didn't see it last time I went."

“This isn’t it, it’s from Song’s Fruit Shop, it’s…” Jiang Di was interrupted by Xia Lanyue before she could finish speaking.

"Ah..." Xia Lanyue looked at the fruit cake in her hand with disgust, unsure whether to eat it or not.

"Dai Xiyue, what's wrong?" Jiang Di noticed that Xia Lanyue seemed a bit off.

"It's nothing. I knew it! This cake is gritty, I don't want to eat it anymore," Xia Lanyue said, wrapping up the bean cake. Then she asked curiously, "Are you familiar with Manager Song?"

"We're fairly familiar with each other. How did you know the shopkeeper's surname is Song?"

"Ah? The Song family, huh?" Xia Lanyue didn't dare to look Jiang Di in the eye.

"Oh, right."

Xia Lanyue stopped talking, put the bean cakes into the basket, then took out a purse from her bosom, counted out three hundred coins, and gave it to Jiang Di, "This is for salt and sugar. I'll give it to you next time. I don't have enough money right now."

Jiang Di laughed upon hearing this.

"What are you laughing at? I just didn't have enough this time, I won't blame you," Xia Lanyue explained.

"That's not what I meant. I just feel that even someone who can casually take out fifty strings of cash is now short of money."

Xia Lanyue wasn't angry, and she smiled too, "Yes, when I came here, no one told me it would be like this."

"Let's go, I'll take you back," Jiang Di said, picking up the basket and walking with Xia Lanyue to the Xia family home.

The basket that Xia Lanyue struggled to lift was easily lifted by Jiang Di. Upon reaching the Xia family's door, Jiang Di handed the basket to Xia Lanyue and said, "If you've made up your mind, you can go directly to the shop and find Manager Wang."

As Jiang Di spoke, she glanced at the door behind Xia Lanyue, as if she really didn't want anyone to come out.

Xia Lanyue took the basket and said, "I understand."

Just then, the courtyard gate opened without warning.

Jiang Di was stunned for a moment, and the smile on her face immediately disappeared.

Xia Lanyue turned around and saw that it was Xia Yao who opened the door.

"I'm leaving now," Jiang Di said, and without waiting for Xia Lanyue's reply, she turned and walked towards the end of the village.

Xia Yao was seeing the students out of the courtyard. Whether it was because he saw Jiang Di or something else, he had a tense expression. After watching the students leave, Xia Yao ignored Xia Lanyue and turned back into the courtyard.

Xia Lanyue entered the courtyard behind Xia Yao.

After walking a few steps, Xia Yao turned around and his gaze fell on the flowers in Xia Lanyue's basket. "Did you pick these hollyhocks by the roadside?!"

Xia Lanyue immediately retorted, "These flowers were a gift from someone else."

"Heh," Xia Yao sneered, glancing in the direction Jiang Di had gone, and said sarcastically, "Indeed, he's very attentive to you, giving away a 'Nine-Rank One-Life' hollyhock." After saying that, he turned and went back to the west room without waiting for Xia Lanyue's reply.

Xia Lanyue didn't understand what Xia Yao said, but she could tell from his disdainful tone.

However, Xia Lanyue was used to his behavior; she was content as long as she liked the flower.

Xia Lanyue carried the basket to the kitchen, put away the salt and sugar, found a bottle in the storeroom, put the flowers in it, and placed it in her room.

Just as Xia Lanyue placed the vase, she heard Xia Huifang's voice, "Pangao, Pangao, where are you?" Her voice sounded very happy, and the only thing that could make her so happy right now was A Niu's wedding.

Xia Lanyue also wanted to know how the marriage proposal was going, so she went out of the house to find Xia Huifang.

At this moment, Xia Huifang was talking to Xia Yao in the west room with a piece of paper in her hand. When she saw Xia Lanyue come, she immediately shared the good news with her, "Ah Yue, their birth charts don't clash. Fan He is intelligent and capable of managing the household. That's really great."

"That's great, Aunt Xia. When is Ah Niu getting married?" Xia Lanyue asked.

“Hehe, there are still many steps in between,” Xia Huifang turned to Xia Yao and said, “Quickly write a draft note for A Niu and let me send it to your Aunt Wang.”

“Mother, whatever you tell me to write, I will write,” Xia Yao said.

Xia Huifang glanced at Xia Lanyue, hesitated for a moment, and then said to Xia Lanyue, "Ayue, can we have your braised noodles with green beans tonight? I had it once last time and I want to have it again."

"Ah? Oh, okay, I'll go do it then," Xia Lanyue replied and went to the kitchen.

After sending Xia Lanyue away, Xia Huifang turned to Xia Yao and said, "You write it."

Following Xia Lanyue's instructions, Xia Yao wrote down A Niu's birth date and the names and official titles of his family for three generations. However, when it came to the family property, Xia Yao was asked to write down more details.

Xia Yao hesitated for a moment, but did as instructed.

"Climbing high, when will you finally be able to send out your draft letter? Mother is so looking forward to that time," Xia Huifang couldn't help but say, watching Xia Yao writing diligently.

"That day will come, Mother."

After hearing Xia Yao's words, Xia Huifang couldn't help but turn around and look at Xia Lanyue, who was busy in the kitchen. She had noticed these days that Xia Yao's cold demeanor made it difficult for anyone to melt his heart.

Xia Yao finished writing and handed it to Xia Huifang, who promptly delivered the draft to Wang Cui's house.

Xia Yao put away the paper and pen, walked out of the west room and headed straight for the east room. He hadn't intended to pay any attention to Dai You chopping wood, but as if he remembered something, he stopped and turned back. "Although your sister hasn't been here long, people have already given her flowers. She's quite popular," he said, ignoring Dai You's surprised look, and went back to the east room.