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

Three days later.

Li Mo had already prepared the car well in advance.

Fuling neatly arranged the gifts her young master had prepared on the carriage, and then placed cushions on top to prevent them from bumping into things.

"drive!"

Lin Yueniang and Jiang Xiaoqi settled into the carriage, and Lin Mo cracked the whip, causing the wheels to roll.

Cui Mansion —

"Sir, Mr. Ouyang's student has arrived!"

"Quick! Please!"

Master Cui strode to the front hall and instructed the servants to prepare tea and snacks.

Lin Yueniang and Jiang Xiaoqi entered the hall one after the other, led by the steward. The Cui family, the master and his wife, got up to greet them.

"Junior Jiang Mingfei/Lin Yueniang pays respects to Grandpa Cui/Uncle Cui. I apologize for the intrusion and may cause you trouble."

"Oh dear, why be so polite!"

Jiang Xiaoqi gestured for Li Mo and Fuling to present the gifts, which were then personally accepted by the Cui family's steward.

“My master is far away in Yunqing Mountain. When he was in the mountains, he mentioned his good friend in Chunyi City more than once.”

"By chance, I have come here to study and visit Grandpa Cui on behalf of my teacher, to comfort him who is thinking of me."

"Good, good, good child!"

As expected of a disciple of Shan Chu, his words are righteous and his observations are extraordinary.

Well, to put it simply, this kid has a nice voice and is good-looking too~

Madam Cui got up and pulled Lin Yueniang to sit down. She had been secretly observing the Jiang family mother and son for a long time, and they were truly stunning beauties.

The same eyebrows and eyes, but due to differences in age and gender, they exude completely different charms. Who says that beauties are all the same?

That's utter nonsense. Today, she saw a completely different charm in the same eyes and brows.

One is as clear and sharp as a mountain spring, the other as warm and gentle as a spring breeze.

Well, at least that's how it seems on the surface...

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Master Cui asked about the last thing he cared about: how his friend had been doing all these years.

Jiang Xiaoqi recounted the years from when he first arrived at Yunqing Mountain until he left, focusing, of course, on his master.

"Sigh, I knew it. The problem in the North was resolved so quickly, Shan Chu must have been behind it. I should have thought of it sooner."

However, this Marshal Mu is unreasonable, actually using Junior Brother Shan Chu's life as a bargaining chip. Hmph, what a lack of martial ethics!

Jiang Xiaoqi didn't respond. As an elder and friend, Cui Yuanwai could criticize the Grand Marshal, but as a junior, he couldn't say such things out loud.

No, no, I'll just keep my complaints to myself.

"Alright, sir, they've come to visit you, not to listen to your complaints. I've already instructed the head kitchen to make sure our guests have a good taste of Chunyi's specialties today."

"Yes, yes, yes, Chunyi may not have much else, but it never lacks lush green fruits and vegetables all year round, unlike those grown in hot spring resorts in the capital."

Yichun's fruits and vegetables are available year-round, and they grow very robustly!

"Then, I shall respectfully comply and, thanks to the master and his wife, enjoy the freshness of this spring delicacy."

The saying "Don't talk while eating or sleeping" applies to people you don't know well; it doesn't apply to family or close friends.

Madam Cui prepared a table of delicious dishes. Because there were few people and a large age gap, the Cui couple and Jiang Xiaoqi and Lin Yueniang did not sit at separate tables for men and women.

There are only four people in total, so it would be a bit strange to have them sit at separate tables.

"This is a fruit wine made from berries. You can drink a little bit. It's smooth and won't give you a headache."

Madam Cui enthusiastically promoted the drink, personally pouring a cup for Lin Yueniang and then one for herself.

"Okay, let me try it."

It's sweet and sour, with the alcohol flavor well hidden within the fruity aroma.

However, the more potent the liquor is, the less alcohol it tastes like, and the more deceptive it is.

Just like the Island Iced Tea of ​​later generations, many girls with no bar-hopping experience were knocked out by this stuff.

(P.S.: Drinking alcohol is harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation! Girls should take good care of themselves when they are out and about, and boys should take even better care of themselves!)

"It tastes really good. Is this berry wine only available in Chun Yi? We've been to many places along the way, and this is the first time we've ever had this."

"It's not unique to Chunyi, but Chunyi has the most of this fruit, and the quality is also the best."

The other counties in Yuanzhou also have them, and the taste is... unique to each one.

Madam Cui tilted her head back and drank another cup, showing that she was a great lover of wine.

"So that's how it is. Chunyi is indeed a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. It was worth the months we spent getting here."

Lin Yueniang decided that when she left Chunyi in the future, she would buy a few jars of berry wine to take with her.

Although it's not unique to Chunyi, it's definitely unique to Yuanzhou. Once you miss this village, you won't find this wine anymore.

"I wonder how long you and your son will stay in Chunyi. Chunyi is as its name suggests, with spring-like weather all year round. It is worth staying here."

The Cui family is not native to Chunyi. They moved their whole family to a place that wasn't too cold, but they never expected to find such a warm and pleasant place.

“We plan to stay in Chunyi for a while. Mingfei will take the provincial examination the year after next. Before that, we will travel around Dazhou.”

"Then you still have plenty of time! In that case, why don't you stay at our residence for now? The inn is rather simple."

Madam Cui said exactly what Master Cui wanted to say. Master Cui nodded, "Yes, the day Mingfei handed over his visiting card, I had someone prepare the guest courtyard."

"Hey~ don't refuse. From Shan Chu's perspective, you're all my juniors. Just listen to your elders!"

Jiang Xiaoqi and Lin Yueniang exchanged a glance and went along with it, saying, "Then we'll have to trouble Uncle Cui and Madam Cui."

They just wanted to say that they didn't intend to refuse, but since they weren't allowed to speak, they decided not to.

That night, the mother and son checked into the largest and most luxurious guest house in the Cui family. Li Mo and Fu Ling drove back to retrieve their luggage from the inn.

The guest room arranged for the two by the Cui family was exquisite in every detail, from the furniture to the teacups.

Madam Cui drank two extra cups at noon and only sobered up slightly in the evening.

As usual, the housekeeper had the mistress personally put the gifts from the Jiang family that day into the storeroom. Madam Cui glanced at the smoked ham tied with a big red flower and had it sent directly to the kitchen.

Opening the two large food boxes revealed them overflowing with various kinds of flower cakes, not only exquisitely presented but also subtly exuding a rich floral fragrance.

It was so tempting, yet one couldn't bear to spoil its beauty. Nevertheless, Madam Cui picked up a piece and tasted it.

"good to eat!"

"Send some to the second branch of the family, some to the eldest son, and some to the old master and madam. Twelve pieces to each branch."

These two large boxes contained at least a hundred flower cakes, and Madam Cui reluctantly gave up thirty-six of them.

"Send the brush, ink, paper and inkstone to the master's study. This paper is as white as snow, which is extremely rare. The master can use it for calligraphy and painting."

The steward noted everything down, then had a maid take the smoked ham to the kitchen, and had someone bring over several mini food boxes to divide the flower cakes into three portions.

Madam Cui opened the next, and smallest, brocade box.

"This! This is far too precious! Sigh~ It's a good thing we invited them to stay as guests, otherwise we would really feel unworthy of it."

Madam Cui knew immediately upon touching the brocade box that the pearls and gems inside were priceless, far superior in quality to those in her current jewelry box.

These beads are perfect for making a pair of pearl earrings, and these colored gemstones are great for making rings or even better for hairpins!

"Steward, arrange a few more servants to attend to our distinguished guests. We didn't have enough people before, which might be disrespectful to our honored guests!"

"Ah? Oh! Yes, madam!"