After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

As the snowstorm subsided, the Xue family's convoy finally picked up some speed.

Madam Xue's anxiety eased somewhat, but the closer they got to the capital, the more uneasy she became.

Are the Chiang family members really as easy to get along with as Ah-hsu described in his letter?

Without a man in charge, will the Jiang family look down on themselves?

Actually, Madam Xue's problem stemmed from her inferiority complex. If the Jiang family truly looked down on the Xue family, why would the elders of the Jiang family have agreed to this marriage?

Concern leads to confusion; Madam Xue valued the other party too much, which is why she underestimated her own side.

His face, not exactly young, was etched with frown lines, making him look even more weathered.

"Mother, we are now very close to the capital, what is troubling you?"

"Hey, do you think the things we prepared were a bit too rough?"

Due to the limited time, we only managed to gather the necessary items, and the quantity was still a bit insufficient.

Do you think the Jiang family feels that our Xue family doesn't value Miss Jiang the Third?

Xue Yu was speechless for a moment. Was it rough? Was it lacking? Was it neglected?

"Is Mother too nervous? We checked everything before she left, and she didn't need anything."

We added anything good we encountered along the way, as appropriate.

Before we set out, there were seven or eight carriages; now, as we approach the capital, the number has increased to more than a dozen.

After hearing Xue Yu's words, Madam Xue's agitated state of mind calmed down temporarily.

"Yes, yes, Yu'er, you're right. I'm getting senile."

I bought quite a few things along the way, but I forgot about them for a moment.

"What are you saying, Mother? You're not old at all! Stop frowning! You're still the beauty that was once famous throughout Puyang!"

Xue Yu didn't want Madam Xue to be troubled, so she tried to find ways to cheer her up.

"Haha, you little rascal, do you have honey on your lips?"

"What famous beauty of Puyang? How old is she? Why bring up those outdated and worthless names..."

Aunt Li chimed in, "Yu'er is right. Our lady is as charming as ever. She should smile more often."

"Alright, we've depended on each other for so many years, you two are good at coaxing me, each one more eloquent than the other."

The two exchanged a smile, neither denying it. What's wrong with comforting their mistress?!

It's not shameful!

Which concubines and illegitimate daughters could live as carefree and comfortable a life as these two?

Although I would sometimes be bullied and humiliated in the clan, that was not the norm.

Just stay home and minimize contact with others, isn't that enough?

Behind closed doors, the matriarch is the head of the household. If she serves the eldest son well, their lives are more comfortable than those of many legitimate wives and daughters of noble families.

Both of them are sensible and can live comfortably, so why would they deliberately make themselves unhappy?

Besides, the male head of the household is gone, so what are the orphaned mother and child fighting over?

It would be better to unite and face external threats together!

Protecting the property, land, and shops left by the master is the only way to secure one's future!

Therefore, when they went to the capital this time, Madam Xue decided to take all the cash with her, and the two of them wholeheartedly agreed.

If we don't take them with us, are we going to let the wolves and tigers of this cheap tribe escape us?!

Without a head of the household, people from the clan would take advantage of their age to cause trouble and act unreasonably, making it very difficult for those in charge to manage the affairs.

Besides, the meat was already rotting in the pot. From Aunt Li's perspective, this was money for her own son to get a wife, so of course she felt the more the better.

The Chiang family was no ordinary family; being in a weak position, they naturally had to rely on external resources to make up for their shortcomings.

As for Xue Yu, she naturally wouldn't be jealous that her brother spent a lot of money on his wedding; men and women are inherently different.

Moreover, this was the kind of education she received. Unlike the other young ladies of the Jiang family, she learned the proper precepts and rules for women.

Moreover, the brother and sister had a harmonious and close relationship, and Xue Yu felt that she could only rely on her brother if he was doing well.

He also extended his affection to his future sister-in-law, thinking that once he arrived in Beijing, he must get along well with her.

I will never be that annoying, awful sister-in-law!

The carriage procession entered Tongzhou in a grand procession, while the capital was shrouded in white.

"I didn't expect the snow on the roads to stop, but it's snowing in the capital!"

Aunt Li lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, peeked out, and then immediately retreated back into the carriage.

"Mother, have we arrived in the capital? This is the capital city?"

Xue Yu was a little disappointed; the capital city didn't seem as grand as their Puyang...

Tongzhou is not a very prosperous area, and with the freezing weather, there are almost no vendors or stalls.

There were few pedestrians on the street, with only the occasional person dressed in bulky clothes hurrying by.

"I guess so, but this is just the first stop on the way to Beijing. Most people will rest here."

"Shall we rest here as well?"

"No, it's still early. If we hurry, we can definitely reach the inner city before dark!"

We've already done 860 prostrations, what's one more tremor?

The sooner I see the Jiang family, the sooner I can finally put my mind at ease.

Fearing that her good daughter-in-law might run away because of her laziness, Madam Xue only replenished her hot water and dry food at the Tongzhou Inn before continuing her journey toward the inner city without stopping.

The Chiang family was already dressed in red and green, creating a festive atmosphere.

The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Although the Jiang family has decorated the house with great fanfare, the courtyards remain quiet.

Despite the approaching New Year, the scholars showed no signs of relaxation, remaining immersed in their studies and engrossed in their studies.

Jiang Xiaoqi secretly inspected the area and was quite satisfied.

Roll it up! Roll it up a bit, that's good!