A master of metaphysics is farming.

"What a small world!" Su's smile froze. "Long time no see, Second Sister-in-law..."

What a coincidence! I've run into Zhang Shi from my second uncle's family, whom I haven't seen for two months.

Unlike Su's awkwardness, Zhang's eyes crinkled, making her seem easy to get along with. "Why did you come here to buy bowls, sister-in-law? Did you break all the bowls at home? Why did you come all the way to the city?"

Fourth Aunt pouted, took Su's hand and patted it lightly, meeting Zhang's smiling eyes, "Oh, Second Sister, didn't you know? They've all separated the family, and now A-Ci's family has moved out. They naturally need to buy things since they don't have any odds and ends. How come you didn't tell Second Sister about such a big thing?"

Zhang's eyebrows twitched for a moment, but she quickly covered it with a smile. "Oh dear! It's been two months since we went back. We'll take the kids back tomorrow, so they won't say we don't care about the old folks."

“Indeed,” Fourth Aunt said, picking up a bowl and glancing at it casually. “If you ask me, now that the third son’s family has split up, the eldest and second son’s families should agree on how much each family will get. These things need to be discussed to avoid future disputes.”

These words were practically stirring up trouble. Madam Su didn't interrupt, but instead chimed in, "There are only three mu of land in the family. Father was fair and gave one mu to our third son's family. It seems the rest will be divided equally between your two families."

It's time to let that family worry a bit, so they don't have so much free time to bother themselves.

Aunt Si's eyes flashed with a sharp light, "I think it's a bit risky! Your eldest son's family is valued a lot, so they might get a bigger share! Look at Fusheng, he's been taking the exam for so many years, and they've been giving him money to go to school!"

The two women went back and forth, putting on a show. Zhang Shi had a plan in mind, but she didn't show it on her face. "I don't think so. After all, Father is fair. Let's not talk about this. You have a lot of groceries to buy today. I come to this store often. I'll tell your sister-in-law what to do."

"It's cheap and convenient, and it doesn't cost much."

Zhang slightly turned her head to hide the disdain in her eyes, and pointed to the bowl on the bottom shelf, "This one is the cheapest in the shop."

Su squatted down and picked out several bowls, carefully handing them to the shopkeeper. She picked out the most important ones first. Zhang saw that Su had only picked the cheapest ones, and her disdain deepened. She pouted and walked to the shopkeeper's table, putting down the bowl she had chosen.

Unintentionally glancing outside, Zhang saw a familiar figure walk by. When she recognized her, she gasped, "He'er...?"

Xiang He looked over while holding the large water vat, and immediately recognized who it was. She smiled warmly and said, "What a coincidence, Second Aunt."

Confirming she wasn't seeing things, Zhang looked surprised. "He'er, how come you're so strong?"

"She's been working, and now your second aunt is buying things?"

"Um……"

As she watched the shop assistant help her tie up the large vat and put in a wooden tray, an iron pot, and a bunch of other odds and ends, which looked like they would cost a lot of copper coins, Zhang's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly ran to Xiang He's side to look inside.

"That must have cost a lot of copper coins, right? Did they divide up silver during the family division?!"

Xiang He glanced inside and saw that Su Shi and Fourth Aunt were covering their mouths and chuckling. Xiang He immediately understood that they were trying to trick Zhang Shi.

“We three brothers’ families are not entitled to a share of the silver, but if it’s the eldest brother’s family’s, they will definitely get a share, and quite a lot of it!”

"Too……"

Zhang pondered silently. Based on Xiang Lao Si's past attitude, he would definitely give all the money in his hands to the eldest son's family. After all, Xiang Fusheng was still studying, and spending money could eventually produce a scholar who would bring glory to the family.

With this thought in mind, Zhang decided that she had to go back herself!

With her little scheme accomplished, Xiang He turned and went inside, putting all the items she needed into the vat. The shopkeeper quickly turned the abacus beside her. Although they were all the cheapest items, the total profit was considerable.

Looking at these old things, Zhang really wanted to see how much money they actually had.

The shopkeeper's fingers were sore from typing. "Ladies, that's a total of two hundred and sixty-seven coins. I'll round it down to two hundred and sixty coins."

Madam Su asked in surprise, "He'er, how many things did you take?"

Xiang He didn't care, since they would all be needed later anyway. She turned her back to Zhang Shi and took out a string of copper coins. "Mother, don't worry, they'll all be needed. You have to give to receive. I'll earn them back for you in the future!"

“He’s right. Look, your family doesn’t even have a pair of chopsticks. Are you going to eat with tree branches from now on?”

He felt a pang of heartache, but these were all necessary odds and ends, so he could only watch as Xiang He placed the copper coins on the table and counted them one by one.

Standing on tiptoe, Zhang could only see a string of copper coins in Xiang He's hand. "What big deal did he make to have a whole string of coins?"

"It wasn't a big deal. Oh, by the way, Grandpa gave us 100 coins when we divided the family property!"

Her heart skipped a beat, but Zhang casually asked, "What else did you give us?"

"Three chickens and two catties of rice are the minimum you've given us. There's still a lot of stuff at home, and Grandma has a lot of money hidden away! That's all you've given us."

If they hadn't insisted on dividing the family property, the fourth brother probably wouldn't have wanted to give it up. At least ten years later, when he passed away, the third brother's family would still have to work for the eldest brother's family.

Zhang's heart skipped a beat again upon hearing this, and her desire to rush back continued to burn. Xiang He carried the last of the odds and ends into the large vat, while Su and Fourth Aunt strolled after them.

Zhang was still standing there, lost in thought, when she turned to look at Xiang He and said, "Second Aunt, we still have some things to buy. Would you like to come along?"

"Huh? Walking, walking for a while is alright!"

The three of them were talking as Xiang He pushed a cart to look at the things that the farmers had laid out on the ground. They were all things that they grew themselves, and they were much cheaper than what the farmers in the shops had. They bought vegetable seeds and vegetables that they would need to eat in the next few days, and then went back to the pork shop and bought ten catties of pork with a wave of their hands.

Zhang's eyes were fixed on Xiang He's bulging money bag, secretly calculating how much money she had filled the entire bag!

Xiang He didn't try to hide it, but she couldn't see the silver inside. Madam Su also tried to cover it up, keeping her talking to her and trying to avoid her gaze.

Compared to yesterday, Su was more talkative and quick-witted today, showing no signs of her previous tepid and resentful demeanor.

This is what the Su family was originally like...

Xiang He happily bought the medicine powder. Seeing that everyone had gone quite a distance, she pulled Su Shi to her side, saying, "Mother and Fourth Aunt, wait for me here. I just remembered that I forgot something. I need to go back!"

Before the two could ask any more questions, Xiang He had already run far away and returned to the miscellaneous shop where they had started.

"Shopkeeper, there's something I'd like to ask you."

The shopkeeper greeted her with a friendly smile, "Please speak, young lady."

"Which house construction company in this city offers affordable prices and excellent craftsmanship?"

The shopkeeper glanced outside and narrowed his eyes. "The ones in the city are expensive. Go to Huang Village outside the city and find Huang Laoliu. He's skilled and doesn't charge much."

"Thank you, shopkeeper! I'll come back another day to buy groceries!"

The shopkeeper smiled and saw her off. Xiang He jogged back and, seeing that she had bought almost everything she needed, decided to visit He Sui'an's private school.

Upon hearing that they were going to a private school, Zhang was shocked again, "Oh? Xiao Yang and Yun'er are going to a private school too? This... tuition..."

Xiang He's lips curled into a smug smile. "My family is acquainted with Mr. He, and there were still vacancies. He agreed to let the two of them go to school, so they'll be sitting with my older brother from now on!"

Zhang found the smug look on his face irritating, but her contempt for the third son's family remained deep.

She smiled insincerely, "That's wonderful. Fusheng has been studying for so many years, and finally he has a brother. Unlike my Kaixi, who passed the preliminary examination early and is studying in the prefectural government."

Xiang He's lips twitched. Wasn't this just her showing off her Xiang Kaixi...?

Okay, let's climb up the pole.

"That's true, my second brother is much smarter than my eldest brother."

"Oh dear! You can't say that, you absolutely can't say it at home, your parents will be unhappy."

Look how happy she is! She can't wait to show it off to everyone. How could she possibly keep it a secret?

Fourth Aunt had the utmost contempt for people like that. With a sneer, she said, "Hurry up and go see the master. It will be too late if we go back."