A lucky little peasant girl is reborn and brings prosperity to her entire family.

Su Qiwei grunted in response, it was unclear whether he believed her or not.

But regardless, his nephew's statement can be considered a statement of opinion.

Whether it's true or not, it has to be true.

Su Qiwei changed the subject: "...Speaking of which, Youchang, next time you go out to eat with a young lady, don't come to a small restaurant like this. Otherwise, people will think that your Changxin Marquis's mansion is about to fall into ruin."

Xie Youchang recalled his cautiousness when ordering food earlier and said in a low voice, "...She said she only had two hundred coins on her. She was afraid that other restaurants would exceed that amount."

Su Qiwei's smile, which had been on his face, froze, and then cracked.

"Wait a minute..." Su Qiwei pressed his forehead with one hand, his voice squeezed out through clenched teeth, "Don't tell me you went out to dinner with a girl and made her pay?"

Xie Youchang nodded: "She said she wanted to apologize to me and treat me to dinner."

Su Qiwei's pupils dilated violently!

No, it's one thing for a young master from a noble family to come out to eat with a young lady and eat at such a cheap little restaurant.

Now you tell him that it was the young lady who paid for it!

Xie Youchang added, "It only cost forty coins."

"No, no, I have to ask my second sister when I get back. Is your Changxin Marquis's mansion really going to fall into ruin?" Su Qiwei muttered. "How did you raise your children! You even made that young lady pay for forty coins!"

Xie Youchang pursed her lips and remained silent.

Su Qiwei quickly took a sip of tea to calm his nerves.

The dishes were served quickly, and Su Qiwei, ignoring everything else, started eating and drinking.

Xie Youchang sat opposite him and watched for a while in a sullen mood.

Su Qiwei picked up a bean with his chopsticks and suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, I'm leaving in a couple of days. Have you prepared everything?"

"Almost done..." Xie Youchang paused, his eyes lighting up. "No, no, no, I just remembered, there are still some things we haven't prepared!"

The boy suddenly stood up, his posture upright and his face as fair as jade. He smiled and said, "Uncle, you eat first, I'll go and get some more things."

Su Qiwei waved his chopsticks slightly, signaling him to get lost.

Xie Youchang strode out.

Su Qiwei glanced at his nephew's impatient departure and clicked his tongue.

Kids are really hard to raise.

After leaving the small restaurant, Xie Youchang's pace quickened, until he started jogging towards the city gate.

Xie Youchang had a feeling, and when he passed by a small shop near the county town gate, he subconsciously glanced into the shop and saw Song Yanyan.

Song Yanyan was clearly strolling along the way as she walked out of the city.

Xie Youchang paused slightly, unable to describe his feelings at that moment.

Song Yanyan was examining a beautiful net in her hand.

"How much is this net?" Song Yanyan asked the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Miss, you have a good eye. This net is made using a popular style in the capital, and the silk thread used is of the highest quality. The jade ornaments on it are also of good quality. It's only fifty coins each."

Just fifty coins?

She could treat the young master of the Marquis's mansion to a meal for less than forty coins!

What merit does this net have?

"I just don't have a strong connection with it." Song Yanyan put down the net and turned to leave.

As soon as Song Yanyan stepped out of the shop, she saw Xie Youchang standing across the street.

Song Yanyan exclaimed "Eh!" and waved to Xie Youchang: "Official Xie, you're out for a stroll too?"

Xie Youchang remained calm and composed, giving a slight nod.

Without thinking much of it, Song Yanyan said, "What a coincidence."

Xie Youchang said nothing more, he just looked at her.

Song Yanyan waited for a while, but Xie Youchang didn't say anything. She just felt that this official Xie was really strange.

Or should she say goodbye first?

As Song Yanyan was pondering how to bring it up, Xie Youchang suddenly said, "Miss Song, I will be returning to the capital in a couple of days."

Song Yanyan nodded.

She overheard Luo Jinyu complaining to Xie Youchang earlier.

Thinking about it, it's about time. The inspector chose their small county and thoroughly investigated the corruption and bribery in the surrounding area. Now that the matter is over, it's time to return to the capital.

Xie Youchang asked dryly, "Don't you have anything to say?"

Song Yanyan thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "I wish you a safe journey and a bright future?"

Xie Youchang paused for a moment, then said dryly, "...Thank you."

The two fell into silence again.

Song Yanyan scratched her face: "Then... I'll go back?"

Xie Youchang had no more excuses.

He nodded silently.

Song Yanyan cheered up again and waved her hand, "Thank you, sir, goodbye!"

Xie Youchang wondered, "Goodbye? This should be the last time we see each other in this life. I'm afraid we'll never see each other again."

A cold wind blew by, leaving Xie Youchang feeling desolate.

He stood on the street, watching the carefree girl turn and leave.

Xie Youchang silently said goodbye in his heart.

Xie Youchang went to the small shop where Song Yanyan had stopped earlier and asked the shop assistant, "Which type of net was that girl looking at?"

The waiter then brought over the string of fifty coins again: "Sir, here it is."

He repeated the same excuse, "This is the most fashionable weaving style in the capital. Look at the jade on it..."

Xie Youchang gently stroked the tassel: "Wrap it up for me."

The shop assistant exclaimed "Hey!" and excitedly began wrapping up Xie Youchang's bag, adding a touch of sentimentality: "Sir, you really know your stuff... Are you planning to give this brocade to your sweetheart or something? If you are, don't worry, she'll definitely love it!"

Xie Youchang remained expressionless: "I won't give it away; I'll keep it for myself."

The guy got stuck for a moment.

For personal collection?

He thought only little girls would like such a girly-looking knotted cloth!

He even gossiped a bit earlier, saying that this guy came into the shop and asked about the net that the last customer had looked at. He thought this gentleman was planning to buy it as a gift for a girl.

In the end, I kept it myself!

That's really... taking an unconventional approach.

However, the shopkeeper quickly realized what was going on and laughed, "Collecting it is good too."

Xie Youchang neither agreed nor disagreed, paid the money, and left with the long wooden box containing the netting.

As luck would have it, he ran into his uncle, Su Qiwei, again.

Su Qiwei's gaze lingered on Xie Youchang's face for a moment, then on the wooden box Xie Youchang was holding.

“Youchang…”

Xie Youchang said expressionlessly, "Uncle, don't talk to me yet. I'm afraid I won't be able to resist going back to get a haircut."

Getting a haircut in the first month of the lunar calendar will bring misfortune to your maternal uncle!

Su Qiwei's eyes widened.

That kid is ruthless!

...

When Song Yanyan returned home, her sister-in-law Qi Lian was busy cooking in the kitchen. Song Yanyan quickly put down her satchel and went to help.

"Mother hasn't come back yet," Song Yanyan muttered.

Qi Lian hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

Song Yanyan quickly came over: "Sister-in-law, what's wrong? Tell me, I'm so curious!"

Qi Lian added some firewood to the stove and lowered her voice: "...Didn't Mother go to Aunt Xiuli's house to help with her mother-in-law's funeral? I heard from some people in the village that Aunt Xiuli's mother-in-law was angered to death!"

Song Yanyan gasped: "Died of anger?!"