Fan Changyu’s temples twitched as she listened, then she pushed the door open and entered. “Ning-niang.”

“Ah… A-jie.” The previously high-spirited Changning instantly turned guilty, switching to a meek expression—her round grape-like eyes darting everywhere, not daring to look at Fan Changyu.

Xie Zheng followed her into the room, a faint curve on his lips. When his gaze landed on the boy in the satin jacket, his eyes paused slightly, and he asked, “Whose child is this?”

The boy’s face still carried baby fat, appearing no more than five or six years old. His eyes were large and round, the ends slightly drooping like a puppy’s. His clothes were embroidered with gold thread, and his little belt was inlaid with gemstones.

Standing beside Changning, he looked honest and simple—just like a foolish son from a rich household.

After Xie Zheng spoke, the boy puffed out his small chest and declared, “All these houses are mine.”

Fan Changyu remembered that Chef Li had once told her that Yu Qianqian had a child. Now that this child was saying these houses were his, could he be Yu Qianqian’s son?

She had just formed this suspicion when a matron’s voice called from outside the courtyard: “Young Master, where have you gone hiding?”

The child replied toward the door, “Fang Momo, I’m here.”

The matron quickly followed the sound and found him. “Young Master, why did you hide here? You made this old woman search high and low…”

Seeing Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng as well, she looked slightly apologetic. “The young master is still little and wandered into your quarters by mistake. This old woman apologizes to both of you.”

Fan Changyu said it was fine, then asked, “Is this the shopkeeper Yu’s child?”

The matron smiled and replied yes.

From her, Fan Changyu learned that the boy’s name was Yu Bao’er, and everyone in the building called him Brother Bao.

In Fan Changyu’s impression, families who were even moderately well-off would always give their children cultured names. Yu Qianqian’s child being simply called “Bao’er” truly surprised her.

But thinking of Yu Qianqian’s temperament, she suddenly found it perfectly reasonable.

They all headed together toward the main hall of Yixiang Tower. On the way, Changning regained her courage and started bickering with Yu Bao’er now and then. Xie Zheng walked at the rear, his brows furrowing as he watched Yu Bao’er’s back, his gaze dark and unreadable.

· ─ ·✶· ─ · 

In the main hall, Yu Qianqian was both exasperated and amused when she learned that Yu Bao’er had hidden himself in Fan Changyu’s room while playing hide-and-seek.

When she asked about Bao’er’s lessons and caught sight of Changning, she casually asked Fan Changyu, “Has Ning-niang begun her studies yet? If not, you can send her here. I’ve already hired a tutor for Bao’er. Teaching one or a few makes no difference. The servants in the building also send their children here to study together. We don’t expect them to become top scholars in the future—learning a few characters is already good.”

Fan Changyu’s admiration for Yu Qianqian deepened further. Though tempted, she knew the journey from the town to the county was not short, and Changning was still young. If she were to study here, someone would need to escort her to and fro daily. Moreover, she wasn’t one of Yixiang Tower’s workers and had already benefited much from Yu Qianqian’s kindness—she couldn’t continue to accept it without thought.

She said, “Thank you for your kind offer, Shopkeeper. She’s learned a few characters from her brother-in-law, though it can’t yet be called proper schooling. She’s still young and fears studying. Perhaps when she’s older.”

Changning immediately chimed in, “Ning-niang can write her own name!”

As she spoke, she traced in the air with her chopsticks, “Wood, yao, wood, da—Fan.”

Yu Qianqian laughed heartily, praising, “Ning-niang is so clever.”

Then her gaze shifted to Fan Changyu, carrying a hint of teasing. “Ah, I forgot—you have such a talented husband at home. Why would Ning-niang need anyone else to teach her?”

Fan Changyu had only said those words to politely decline Yu Qianqian’s offer. Now being teased, she simply smiled and said nothing.

Xie Zheng glanced at her but said nothing.

Yu Qianqian changed the topic and began chatting with Fan Changyu about other matters. “The shopfront outside my restaurant can be rented to you long-term. If you find yourself too busy, I can have some of the restaurant’s staff help you sell the braised meat. The other tenants either pay a year’s rent in advance or give me a twenty-percent share of their profits. If you’re interested, I can lower the rent for you.”

Fan Changyu had seen for herself today just how prosperous the business outside Yixiang Tower was.

She said, “Shopkeeper, you’re treating me far too well.”

Her words made all the restaurant staff laugh aloud.

The bookkeeper said, “Our shopkeeper has a heart of gold—she treats everyone here well. Madam Fan, no need to stand on ceremony.”

Yu Qianqian added, “I’m a person who makes friends by instinct. From the first moment I saw you, I liked your temperament. Don’t be so modest—just tell me, will you join my Yixiang Tower or not?”

Fan Changyu replied, “I’m willing. There’s no need to reduce the rent, but I truly can’t oversee the shop myself. If I may borrow the shopkeeper’s people to help, I’ll pay extra wages separately.”

Yu Qianqian laughed and turned to the staff. “You all heard that. Anyone who wants to earn an extra wage can step forward now and let Boss Fan see your face.”

Hearing herself called “Boss Fan,” Fan Changyu blushed with embarrassment but also felt a curious sense of novelty.

Unlike the townsfolk who called her simply “Changyu,” this title gave her a new identity—like a small boat, still modest in size, yet capable of carrying her toward a farther shore.

After some murmuring among the staff, a capable-looking young woman spoke up. “I’m willing to go to the front shop to sell braised meat.”

Fan Changyu recognized her. She seemed to be the one who usually received female customers—organized, quick-witted, and sweet-tongued.

Yu Qianqian said to her, “This girl’s name is Fuling. When she was young, she was sold as a servant. Later, she saved up money to buy her freedom, and when I was hiring for the restaurant, she came to work here. She’s a capable one—what do you think?”

Fan Changyu nodded. “She’ll do.”

Fuling was a smart girl. She immediately spoke with practiced charm, “Thank you, Shopkeeper. From now on, I’ll be relying on Boss Fan’s care.”

Yu Qianqian pointed at her and laughed with Fan Changyu. “See? What a glib tongue.”

Fan Changyu couldn’t help but laugh as well.

After the meal, she took her leave from Yu Qianqian. The shop in the best part of the county had been rented—she would now need to supply braised meat regularly. She had to go back and think things through: whether to hire a cart or simply buy an ox cart, and she also needed to deliver the cured meat to the fat shopkeeper at the county school later that afternoon.

Yu Bao’er followed his mother to see Fan Changyu and her group to the restaurant door. While the adults spoke among themselves, the children had their own conversation.

Yu Bao’er said to Changning, “Next time you come, I’ll take you to see my study. There are so many books, and clay figurines, and wood carvings, and coral ornaments—they’re beautiful!”

Changning clutched tightly at Fan Changyu’s sleeve, pursing her lips as her little head worked hard to come up with something to brag about. Finally, she brightened. “When you come to my house, I’ll take you to see my sister’s pig-killing knives—more than ten of them, all different sizes! If you’re lucky, I can even show you my sister killing a pig! Have you ever seen that before?”

Yu Bao’er shook his head, eyes full of envy.

Changning gestured with both hands. “My sister can knock a pig out cold with just one slap!”

Fan Changyu: “……”

Facing the shocked gazes of Yu Qianqian and her son, she quickly cleared her throat. “Ning-niang, let’s go.”

Only then did Changning take her tiny steps toward the door—head held high and chest puffed out like a triumphant rooster.

Fan Changyu tried to keep her face composed, but her ears flushed red, as though she wished she could crawl into a hole in the ground.

From the corner of his eye, Xie Zheng caught sight of the two sisters; the corner of his mouth curved with a barely noticeable smile.

When the three of them rode the ox cart back to the town, Fan Changyu still couldn’t help sighing over how good-hearted Yu Qianqian was.

Xie Zheng merely let out a short, derisive snort.

Fan Changyu frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”

Xie Zheng lifted his gaze, calm and indifferent. “You could be sold off, and you’d still rush to count the money for the one selling you.”

Unhappy, Fan Changyu retorted, “Shopkeeper Yu is a truly good person. Why must you slander her?”

Xie Zheng replied without mercy, “Don’t forget—she’s a businesswoman. You’ve made deals with her, but you haven’t gained much in return. Yet you’re full of gratitude and devotion.”

His eyes cooled, the tone cutting sharp. “This way of winning hearts—something like that, you’ll never learn in your life.”

Fan Changyu liked Yu Qianqian deeply. Hearing him speak of her in that tone, she grew displeased. “Why do you always think the worst of people? Shopkeeper Yu really has helped me a lot…”

Xie Zheng cut her off. “And how exactly has she helped you?”

Meeting his sharp gaze, Fan Changyu faltered, momentarily speechless. Then she said, “I only just started selling braised meat. If not for Shopkeeper Yu giving me the chance, I wouldn’t have been able to do business with Yixiang Tower so quickly.”