Expelled from the Duke's mansion, the fake heiress is richer than a country.

Ji Chunhua glanced at Yu Xiaoxiang.

"You're so insensible! All you do is pester your third aunt all day long!"

He turned to his daughter and put on a smiling face. "Ranran, if you don't find this girl troublesome, why don't you take her to stay with you for a couple of days? But don't spoil her too much; let her help out with some chores."

Farm girls are different from city girls. If they don't work hard, what family will want them in the future?

With Ji Chunhua's consent, Yu Wanran ignored what her mother thought and happily brought Yu Xiaoxiang to visit her elder brother and sister-in-law again.

Zhu Xiaozhen didn't value this daughter when she was alive, but she couldn't bear to part with her when she was about to leave. Hearing from Yu Wanran that her mother-in-law had agreed, she couldn't bring herself to say the words of refusal.

With Yu Wenbin constantly giving her meaningful glances, she could only reluctantly put down the hoe, wipe her hands clean, and tidy her daughter's clothes.

"Xiao Xiang, when you go to your third aunt's, listen to her and help her with the chores, okay? If your third aunt says you're naughty, Mommy will beat you!"

Yu Wanran gave a reproachful look.

"Sister-in-law, Xiao Xiang is such a well-behaved child, how could you bear to scare her!"

He patted his little niece's head to comfort her, saying, "Once you've tidied up the estate, you can go into town and bring the child back."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaozhen realized that the distance wasn't far and picking up the child would be convenient, so her reluctance vanished instantly. She said to Yu Wanran apologetically, "Third Sister, will Xiaoxiang be troubling you these next few days?"

"No trouble at all, I'd love for Xiao Xiang to keep me company!"

"Then I'll go pack Xiao Xiang's things."

Yu Wanran quickly stopped Zhu Xiaozhen: "Sister-in-law, you go about your business, I'll help Xiaoxiang pack her luggage."

After Yu Wanran led Yu Xiaoxiang away, Yu Wenbin came over and said cheerfully, "Third sister, living alone must be too lonely, right? It would be good for Xiaoxiang to keep her third aunt company for a few days!"

Hearing this, Zhu Xiaozhen finally understood why the man had given her that look, and nodded in agreement: "It's a blessing for Xiaoxiang to be liked by her third aunt!"

Yu Wanran helped Yu Xiaoxiang pack her things, not letting her pack her clothes. In the end, Yu Xiaoxiang only took the tiger plush toy, which she hugged tightly to her arms.

At noon, we ate some whole-grain pancakes to fill our stomachs. Around 5 pm, several tenant farmers' wives cooked a simple meal so that everyone, tired from a long day, could sit down and eat.

Yu Wanran brought a large group of people, and the unprepared rooms simply couldn't accommodate them all. Ji Chunhua had no choice but to send her daughter back first. Anyway, she had three tenant households with dozens of people offering to help, so she wasn't worried about manpower.

He instructed Yu Wanran to take good care of Yu Xiaoxiang and that they could visit each other's homes once the estate had been regulated.

Seeing that she couldn't be of much help, Yu Wanran finished her meal and, with her niece and several servants, returned to her home in the county town.

Since it was late, Yu Wanran quickly helped Yu Xiaoxiang wash up and then took her niece to sleep in the same room with her. The next day, she asked Zhong Yeliu to take people to the market for a big shopping trip.

She and Yu Xiaoxiang were dressed in heavy mourning clothes, making it inconvenient for them to go shopping, but Xiaoxiang's clothes and daily necessities worn under her mourning clothes had to be prepared.

Yu Xiaoxiang followed her third aunt on a tour of the house. Although it was much smaller than their own estate, the furnishings, furniture, and flowers all exuded an air of wealth and luxury.

Moreover, there were several servants, each with their own duties, ready to provide attentive service at any time. All of this broadened Yu Xiaoxiang's horizons, filling her with immense novelty and wonder.

Yu Wanran felt a little regretful. It was a pity that Xiao Xiang could only stay at home for a few days; otherwise, she would have liked to hire a female tutor for her niece to give her a proper lesson.

Knowing that the host's niece was coming to visit, Mei Xue used all her skills early in the morning to prepare several exquisite dishes.

Dongpo pork, pan-fried pork, roasted dried anchovies, jade cabbage dumplings, and tofu and vegetable soup. Side dishes include steamed rice cake and lotus seed and white fungus soup as snacks.

Seeing that Yu Xiaoxiang was enjoying her meal, Yu Wanran was pleased with Mei Xue's thoughtfulness and rewarded her with ten coins.

In the evening, Zhong Yeliu came to report that he had bought four sets each of plain-colored clothes, shoes, socks, and hairbands for all four seasons for Yu Xiaoxiang, as well as daily necessities such as handkerchiefs, tooth powder, toothbrushes, soap, and face powder.

Even though Yu Wanran didn't say it explicitly, and Yu Xiaoxiang was in mourning, Zhong Yeliu, who understood her master's thoughts, still picked out two sets of exquisite jewelry for Xiaoxiang.

A set of kingfisher feather and gold bead flowers for all four seasons, and a silver floral crown and bracelet. I can wear them next year when I take off my mourning clothes.

It cost a total of thirty-nine taels of silver.

Yu Wanran casually flipped through the things she had bought and nodded in satisfaction. She then asked Qiu Cui to take the things to the second bedroom next to the master bedroom. From now on, this would be her niece's room.

Yu Xiaoxiang touched these things, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Her third aunt bought her so many expensive things? Her grandmother and mother would probably scold her to death when she got back! But she understood her third aunt's love for her, and her heart was warmed.

If only... she were my third aunt's child! But then again, I still feel a little reluctant to leave my parents.

I'm so conflicted.

Yu Wanran couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at her niece's expression, which showed everything she was thinking. She gently pinched her chin.

"Xiao Xiang, our family is currently in mourning, so it's not convenient for your third aunt to take you out to play. These next few days, your third aunt will teach you to read whenever you have free time."

She pointed at Zhong Yeliu.

"Also, your Aunt Zhong is a very talented woman. You can learn housekeeping from her. If you learn what Aunt Zhong teaches you, you will benefit immensely in the future!"

Zhong Yeliu felt embarrassed by her praise, and a blush crept onto her face.

"You flatter me, my niece! If she is willing to learn, I will do my best to teach her."

She could tell that her master valued his family very much. Therefore, she would serve these family members of her master with the same loyalty as she would her master.

Yu Xiaoxiang noticed her third aunt's meaningful glance and, in a flash of inspiration, stepped forward and tugged at Zhong Yeliu's sleeve, saying haltingly, "Aunt Zhong, I'm willing to learn! Please teach me?"

Zhong Yeliu showed extra patience and gentleness towards the child. She raised her hand and naturally touched Yu Xiaoxiang's head, saying gently, "Then my niece will follow me tomorrow. I will do my best to teach her everything I know."

Her accounting and housekeeping skills far surpassed Yu Wanran's. Therefore, Yu Wanran considered having her niece learn from her.

As for Zhu Xiaozhen's idea that girls should be diligent and hardworking in order to meet the expectations of their husbands' families, she did not agree with it.

With her around, how could she possibly let her niece marry a reckless and poor villager?

She will provide Xiao Xiang with a sufficient dowry; Xiao Xiang only needs to learn how to manage the household and keep accounts. Of course, it would be best if she had a strong personality like Zhong Yeliu. Otherwise, no matter how much wealth she is given in the future, she might not be able to hold onto it and could easily be controlled by her husband's family.

After Qiu Cui helped Yu Xiaoxiang wash up and go to bed, only the two of them remained in the room. Yu Wanran looked at Zhong Yeliu and said, "Yeliu, from now on, in front of others and behind their backs, you shall refer to yourself as 'I'."

If she weren't afraid of arousing suspicion, she would have returned the indenture to the other party long ago.

Knowing Zhong Yeliu's stubborn nature, he added, "You will be my steward for three years. After three years, I will return your indenture and help you cancel your slave status. Whether you stay or leave after that is up to you."

Zhong Yeliu's tears streamed down her face, and she knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Thank you, Master! Master, we are not related, why... do you treat me so well?"

"because……"

Yu Wanran pulled her up and gave her a deep look.

You deserve it!