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

East Courtyard

"Third sister, what's wrong?" Fourth sister Jiang Lan'er asked when she saw her older sister staring blankly at the beaded flower.

"It's alright. Look, what beautiful beaded flowers! We've never seen anything like them before. Do you think our eldest and second eldest sisters have any?"

"Third sister, that's a really silly question. The question isn't whether eldest and second sisters exist, but how many there are."

"Hey, I was overthinking it. I was wondering why they weren't wearing them if they had them. They were still wearing last year's styles."

"Perhaps he's afraid we'll be jealous, but I won't. There's a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children. It's already very kind of my brother to take care of me out of our sibling relationship."

"Yes, it's a rare opportunity. I just don't know if my brother will really take us to the prefectural city."

Look at my eldest and second eldest sisters, they seem completely different since they came back this time, though I can't quite put my finger on why.

"It's probably because my younger brother hired a governess or a female tutor. We'll definitely be able to learn some skills from her in the future."

"When has my brother ever failed to keep his word?" Jiang Lan'er said confidently.

Jiang Lian'er nodded and carefully placed the hairpin into the jewelry box, where the red coral earrings she had just taken off lay.

Her jewelry box wasn't even as exquisite as the brocade box her younger brother had casually given her today; it was already showing signs of paint chipping.

The fourth sister decisively abandoned the old lacquered wooden box and moved all her treasured items into a new brocade box and locked it up.

Once the holidays are over, time flies by like water.

Jiang Wenqing's buttocks had long since healed, but he still couldn't bear to get out of bed.

Several groups of doctors came to his house during the holidays. At first, he thought his father had invited them because he felt sorry for his son.

Unexpectedly, the doctors all passed by his door without entering, and instead went to see his son, Jiang Mingfei.

Only then did he realize that his son had been poisoned and had been bedridden for quite some time.

He did want to go see his son, show him some care, and fulfill his duties as a father.

Unfortunately, his own father wouldn't give him the chance, only saying that Fei needed to recuperate and that no one else was allowed to see him.

When did his biological father become an "unrelated person"?

He was angry and decided to give up, refusing to let his son see him, and he even stopped leaving the house altogether.

Landlord Jiang didn't tolerate it; if he didn't come out, he'd just eat different kinds of "folded baskets" sent by his servants every day.

This time, we won't be picking out leftovers like we do during holidays; we'll just eat whatever's left at home!

As doctors from all directions came and went during the holidays, news spread like wildfire that the only grandson of Landlord Jiang had been poisoned and was in a coma.

Lin Yueniang's family members were the first to come to visit. Her three uncles and aunts, along with the elderly couple from the Lin family, rushed over by car.

Uncle Lin also brought an old ginseng that he had acquired by chance a while ago. This ginseng was at least seventy years old, if not a hundred years old.

Having received a hundred taels of silver, Lin Dajiu could at least double the price if he resold it. Without a moment's hesitation, he brought the ginseng with him.

Landlord Jiang was deeply moved by his in-laws' generous gesture.

However, only he and his two grandson's servants knew the truth, so the charade had to continue.

"Oh dear, in-laws, this is not right. Putting aside the fact that the items are precious, the main problem is that Mingfei is too weak to take such nourishing food right now, so he really doesn't need them."

At the opportune moment, Landlord Jiang shed two turbid tears, which, combined with his somewhat loose hair and wrinkled clothes, made the old man appear even more forlorn and pitiful.

Uncle Lin hadn't expected his nephew's situation to be so serious, and his nose suddenly stung with tears.

"My dear brother-in-law, don't tell your in-laws about this. They're getting old and might not be able to handle it!"

"Yes, yes, I certainly wouldn't dare tell you everything, but what did the doctors say? Is the child... is... really beyond saving?"

"Sigh... do your best and leave the rest to fate."

Uncle Lin choked, finding it hard to accept; this was his sister's only son!

"Uncle, have you gone outside the city to ask the Taoist priest at the temple for help? I heard that the abbot of Lingxu Temple has some supernatural powers. Maybe he can save Mingfei!"

“Well, that’s one way. I’ll have Steward Wen make a trip to the outer city.”

If you're going to put on a show, you might as well go all the way. What if the people watching your own group haven't completely left yet?

It's good that the whole family from the in-laws came; with more performers, the audience's trust in the opera will be stronger...

Wenbin and Li Mo kept their mouths shut. Apart from the old man and the two of them, they didn't reveal a single thing to their own parents and grandparents.

This caused the entire Wen family, except for Wen Bin, to develop mouth ulcers from worrying so much about the young master.

The Li family only learned of their young master's illness after the New Year, though they knew much earlier than Jiang Wenqing.

After pressing Li Mo with questions, all that could be said was: poisoning!

Wenbin & Li Mo: There's nothing we can do. The young master gave a strict order, so we can only try our best to keep everyone calm. The young master is still being rescued!

Lin Yueniang and the others, including Old Madam Jiang, all thought it was just a minor cold, as Landlord Jiang had said. But wouldn't a cold take half a month or a month to get better?

After all, Jiang Wenqing, who had been spanked, was still lively and energetic.

Seeing that he could no longer hide it, Landlord Jiang settled his in-laws and then gathered his own family together.

"I didn't want you to be so apprehensive, after all, Mingfei is still fine, but the residual poison hasn't been cleared, and he's been sleeping for longer periods each day."

Yes, my grandson is really dedicated. He sleeps for ten hours every day as if his life depends on it, and he's only awake when he's eating or going to the toilet.

Sleeping like this would certainly make the poisoning seem more real, but it would also undeniably waste the crucial period before the county exam. Sigh...

I don't know if he can pass the county exam this time. Fortunately, my grandson is still young, so we can treat this year as practice.

Jiang Xiaoqi, who was struggling to keep up with the exam in the study space: ...

“Father-in-law, let’s listen to my elder brother and go to the temple to beg Abbot Lingxu. If we keep sleeping like this, even a good person will get sick.”

"Yes, yes, old man, you shouldn't have kept Mingfei's situation a secret from the family. If there were more people around, there would be something to discuss!"

Madam Jiang rubbed back her tears and turned to comfort her daughter-in-law.

"Don't be afraid, Yue Niang. Ming Fei is a lucky person and has divine protection. More than a dozen doctors have examined him and said that his life is not in danger for the time being."

"Yes, that's what they say. Alas, it's a pity that Doctor Wang and his apprentice from the county town went north. Otherwise, there would have been another opportunity."

Lin Yueniang firmly believed what her son had once said and always regarded Doctor Wang as a descendant of the imperial physicians of the previous dynasty.

I feel very disappointed to learn that he went to the border town before the New Year.

"Butler Wen has already left the city. If all goes well, he should be back by evening."

“Father-in-law, all reclusive masters are somewhat arrogant. We should go in person to show our sincerity!”

"Oh! My daughter-in-law is right. Then, let's prepare a few more carriages and go, the whole family will go! Let's hurry forward and catch up with Wenqi and the others!"

Landlord Jiang made a decisive move, deciding to make the spectacle even grander to ensure that the "spectators" were satisfied.