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

Entering through the side gate, the first thing you pass is the kitchen, where things are bustling about as lunch is prepared.

After the family prospered, the kitchen also gained more staff. In addition to Li Shan's family, two more kitchen helpers were hired.

However, it was still Li Shan's family who were in charge of cooking, since their skills were good and the family had gotten used to the taste.

"Madam and Miss, please watch your step. Now that there are more people eating at home, the kitchen starts getting busy earlier, and things outside are piled up in a bit of a mess."

"Yes, my father-in-law brought quite a few people with him, so the kitchen needs to be staffed more."

"We've already added two more, but the servants and guards practice martial arts every day, so their appetites are indeed a bit larger."

"Yes, if you don't have enough manpower, just tell Butler Wen and he will make arrangements."

"Yes, these past two days, Father has also been thinking of adding another skilled cook to the kitchen, but he hasn't found one he likes yet, so we'll have to trouble Madam Li for a few more days."

As she spoke, Sister-in-law Wen led the way, passing through the courtyards of the kitchen and small storerooms before arriving at the front yard.

The front yard was quiet. The servants walked by, their footsteps very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Lin Yueniang unconsciously lowered her voice as she asked, "Is everyone afraid of disturbing Ming Fei's studies?"

"Hehe, yes and no."

"Oh? What does this mean?"

"Young Master is indeed working hard, but not by himself. You'll see when you go over there."

Without saying much, Sister-in-law Wen led the person to the study in the front yard and then went back to the side gate to go out and buy some things.

Lin Yueniang and her two daughters exchanged a glance, then raised her hand and knocked on the study door.

He knocked three times, but he didn't control his strength well and knocked the closed door open with too much force.

"Ouch, ouch, my hair!"

Jiang Changqing's scalp ached from being pulled so hard. He regretted agreeing to his son's suggestion to hang himself by his hair and prick his thigh with an awl; it was too shameful!

With his dark circles under his eyes and messy hair, if it weren't for his relatively neat clothes, he wouldn't look like a student at all; he'd look more like a refugee.

Landlord Jiang, on the other hand, was much calmer. As expected of someone who had seen many storms, he calmly untied the rope tied to his head and shook out the wrinkles in his clothes.

However, the bloodshot eyes revealed his exhaustion.

"Mother? Eldest sister, second sister, you're back!"

Jiang Xiaoqi put down his pen, and then proceeded with the same efficiency as before, without any signs of studying hard or pricking his thigh with an awl.

He was in great spirits and showed no signs of the dejection that comes with being tormented.

"Mingfei!"

"Little brother! I'm so glad you're alright!"

"You don't know how worried we were when we saw the door was locked. I'm so glad you're okay."

The mother and her two daughters naturally focused their attention on Jiang Xiaoqi, who had already rushed out the door.

Lin Yueniang bowed and greeted her father-in-law in the study from outside the door, but Landlord Jiang waved his hand awkwardly.

"Ahem, you must be tired from your journey. Have the servants settle you in, and you and your daughter can go back to the backyard to rest for a while."

"Yes, Granny Zhou led people to the inn first. My daughter-in-law just sent Wen Er's wife to the inn to deliver a letter."

"Sigh, I didn't receive your letter, otherwise I would have arranged for someone to leave the door open."

"It's alright, Father-in-law. We were just in a hurry, which is why our letter arrived earlier than the letter itself."

"Yes, that's right."

"Are father-in-law and husband... helping Mingfei study? Actually, Mingfei has his own plans, there's no need to urge him to improve in this way."

Lin Yueniang still indirectly asked about her doubts.

This scene doesn't look like someone accompanying a child to study; it looks more like someone diligently studying, resorting to extreme measures like hanging their head from the rafters and pricking their thigh with an awl—even those preparing for the imperial examinations don't use such elaborate props!

“Uh…” Landlord Jiang blushed. He thought that even if his daughter-in-law was curious, she wouldn’t actually ask.

I didn't expect my daughter-in-law's personality to have changed so much in just two months. I could only laugh it off.

"Ah~, well~, we also felt that Mingfei was too lonely to come in at such a young age, so we brought Wenqing along to support the child."

"Oh? I see. Father-in-law and husband are so thoughtful to go to such lengths for Mingfei."

Mingfei, you must learn a lot from your grandfather and father; they are your predecessors on the path of the imperial examination.

Now, for your sake and for the sake of our Chiang family, you are working tirelessly. You must take your grandfather and father as role models and not slacken your efforts.

Lin Yueniang followed her father-in-law's words and did not expose him.

"Yes, Mother, I will heed the teachings of my grandfather and father, study diligently, and one day be on the list of successful candidates in the imperial examination!"

Jiang Xiaoqi answered cooperatively, a slight smile playing on his lips, secretly chuckling to himself. When did his mother become so mischievous?

Jiang Wenqing finally untied the rope hanging from the roof beam, tidied his messy hair, and came out as well.

"Moon Maiden, you've arrived?"

"Yes, my husband has worked hard too. You two keep up the good work. We'll go downstairs and settle in now."

After saying this, the mother and her two daughters bid farewell to Landlord Jiang and returned to the backyard.

"Sigh~ I haven't even finished speaking yet, I've already expressed my efforts, and you're still ignoring me..."

"Father, what are you saying?"

Jiang Xiaoqi heard him clearly; she just wanted to tease Jiang Wenqing. After studying together for more than two months, the two had become quite familiar with each other.

Well, they're not exactly like a fake father and son anymore; they're more like brothers or classmates now? Cough cough, anyway, they still don't look like father and son.

"Ah, it's nothing, it's nothing. I was saying we still need to keep striving. The college entrance exam is just around the corner, we must seize every minute and not slack off in the slightest. Let's go back to studying, Mingfei!"

"Oh? Did you just say such a long string of words?" Jiang Xiaoqi asked deliberately.

"Oh dear, don't worry about such trivial matters. Scholars should focus on the Four Books and Five Classics, national affairs, and essential texts. A true man should have something to do..."

"Okay, okay, I won't ask anymore. Let's go back and look at the documents!"

Jiang Wenqing: Phew, thankfully my son is still young and easy to fool. He'll be harder to fool in a few years when he's older.

Jiang Xiaoqi and Jiang Wenqing sat down again, one picked up a pen, and the other consciously tied the rope on the beam to his hair.

Across from him, Landlord Jiang was reading a book silently, his eyes closed and head swaying.

This method of endorsement seems quite trendy, but Jiang Xiaoqi can't keep up with this trend, since he gets dizzy after a few shakes.

Jiang Wenqing didn't shake his head either, because shaking it a few times would make him sleepy.

The three continued their seclusion. When Lin Yueniang returned to the backyard, she found that there were many more weapons in the training ground.

Swords, forks, spears, axes, halberds, hooks, and forks—the eighteen kinds of weapons—are neatly arranged and divided into two groups, standing on the left and right sides of the training ground.

"Mother, we've added so many treasures to the backyard!"

"Yes, it should have been added by Master Zhao and Master Lin. As Wen Er's wife just said, everyone is practicing martial arts in the backyard on this auspicious day."

"But now that we're here, the servants will probably have to find somewhere else. The maids, on the other hand, can continue learning their skills from Master Zhao, and so can we!"

"Mother, my double swordsmanship is still not good enough. I was just thinking of asking Master Zhao for advice! I have to follow the rules in Longevity Village, which is really frustrating!"

"That's right, even my nine-section whip is about to rust!"

The two daughters complained, and Lin Yueniang also felt that she had become rusty and needed to quickly resume her daily practice.

“But your father and grandfather are still here, so it might be a bit difficult to avoid them.”

"Mother, you'll have to let my younger brother handle this."

“Mother, Grandfather and Father are studying with my younger brother, so they probably won’t come to the backyard during the day. Besides, Grandfather definitely lives in the front yard. Why don’t we find a reason to let Father live in the front yard as well?”

That way, once the gate is closed, the backyard is still our women's territory!

Jiang Xiwen's eyes sparkled, like a little lion that had been holding back for a long time.

"Alright, I'll talk to him when your little brother isn't busy anymore!"