Yang Haiyan woke up to find the bed beside her empty and already cold.

She knew Qin Fang had a habit of rising early and rarely lingered in bed, only doing so occasionally to keep her company. “Granny Lian…” she called.

Granny Lian, as usual, was waiting outside the door.

If she had no tasks, she would busy herself with small chores, while Aunt Yu guarded the courtyard entrance.

Yang Haiyan had grown accustomed to having both of them stationed outside.

Hearing her call, Granny Lian entered the room. “Madam, you’re awake.”

With a slightly groggy voice from just waking up, Yang Haiyan replied, “Yes, I’m awake. The more I sleep, the more tired I feel. Where is the master?”

Lian Nanny answered, “The master took the private guards hunting. He said we should expect to eat meat tonight.”

Yang Haiyan laughed at that. “He just can’t stay idle, can he? Well, we’ll wait for the meat tonight. If he doesn’t bring anything back, he’ll lose face.”

She sat down at the copper mirror, signaling Granny Lian to help her with her hair.

Once her hair was done, Aunt Yu had already prepared hot water and stood nearby.

After washing up, Yang Haiyan began her skincare routine in front of the copper mirror while chatting with Granny Lian. “Have Siya and Shoucheng woken up yet?”

Lian Nanny replied, “Miss Siya and Young Master Shoucheng woke up early. They’ve already had breakfast and are playing outside. A few of the private guards’ wives came by earlier, but I told them you hadn’t gotten up yet, so they should return in the afternoon.”

Yang Haiyan nodded. “Handle it as you see fit.”

Once her hair was finished, Aunt Yu brought over a bowl of sweet fermented rice dumplings, and the fragrant aroma made Yang Haiyan’s stomach rumble.

Granny Lian, sitting beside her, said, “Madam, while you were back in your hometown, Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Han came looking for you. Mrs. Lu mentioned that there will be a market in the county at the beginning of April. But before that, there will be a smaller market in our town starting at the end of March, though it won’t be as lively as the one in the county.”

Curious, Yang Haiyan asked, “A market?”

Granny Lian explained, “I went to inquire about it. The market is an annual event where merchants from various tribes and countries come to Yongzhou to trade. It only happens once a year, and it’s always at the beginning of April. However, some merchants arrive early, which is why our town’s market starts at the end of March.”

Yang Haiyan understood immediately and remembered a few things.

March and April were the time of spring awakening, the start of the farming season.

If the market began at the end of the month and merchants brought goods from various places, she could use this as an opportunity to introduce new types of fruit and vegetable seeds, claiming they were bought from the merchants at the market.

This thought excited her, as the variety of vegetables in this world was too limited.

Granny Lian, always observant, noticed Yang Haiyan’s good mood and teased, “Madam, are you thinking of something exciting?”

Yang Haiyan smiled. “I’ve never been to a market before. Even in the capital, on market days, we weren’t allowed to go out, afraid that something might happen to the young lady. I never thought that after marrying and moving to the border, I’d finally have a chance to see one. I wonder what fun and delicious things the merchants will bring. I’m quite eager to find out.”

Lian Nanny chuckled, “Today is already the 25th, so in just two or three days, the market will start. You only need to wait a little longer, and you’ll get to see it.”

Yang Haiyan nodded. “That’s true. Oh, by the way, we brought back some food from the hometown—dried bamboo shoots, dried wood ear mushrooms, dried shiitake mushrooms, and dried vegetables. Have Aunt Fan prepare two portions and send them to Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Han. Also, ask Uncle Hong to come by this afternoon.”

Granny Lian stood up, “Yes, I’ll go tell her right away.”

After finishing her sweet fermented rice dumplings, Yang Haiyan got up to take a walk outside.

In the courtyard, she saw Qin Siya and Qin Shoucheng sitting and enjoying some snacks.

When they saw her, Qin Siya ran over excitedly, “Big sister-in-law!”

Qin Shoucheng followed suit, standing up and greeting her, “Big sister-in-law!”

Yang Haiyan noticed that the children had changed into new clothes and that Qin Siya’s hair was neatly combed.

These clothes were bought while they traveled through different counties or towns, and as for her hair: “Siya, your hair looks lovely today. Who helped you comb it?”

Qin Siya touched her hair happily and said, “It was Granny Lian who did it. Granny Lian is so skillful! I want to learn to do my hair just as beautifully in the future.”

Yang Haiyan smiled, “Granny Lian is indeed very skilled. She also did my hair today. If you want to learn, you can ask her to teach you.”

Then, she turned to Qin Shoucheng, “Shoucheng, since you just returned today, take some time to rest. Tomorrow, your elder brother will take you to report to the private school.”

Qin Shoucheng replied, “Thank you, sister-in-law. But… but am I too old to start school?”

Although he had some basic education, he had only studied for a year, so he might need to start from the beginning in private school.

He felt a bit embarrassed.

Yang Haiyan understood that even children have their pride.

A twelve-year-old boy sitting with six or seven-year-olds could indeed feel uncomfortable.

She said, “Shoucheng, do you know the phrase ‘learning has no end’?”

“Learning has no end” is a simple concept that anyone who has read a little can understand.

Qin Shoucheng nodded, “Yes, it means that there is no end to learning and one should strive to keep improving.”

Yang Haiyan smiled, “Exactly. Since learning has no end, it means that no matter how old you are, you should keep studying. Don’t you think? Whether you are six, seven, or twelve years old, you should keep learning. Even your elder brother, who is twenty, still needs to study.”

Qin Shoucheng nodded thoughtfully, “Sister-in-law, I understand now. You’re saying that learning is a lifelong journey, and it has nothing to do with age.”

Yang Haiyan looked at him with approval, “Shoucheng, you’re very smart. Last year, when I had just married your brother, he barely knew more characters than you do now. But he told me that he wanted to study with me and asked me to teach him. So, if your brother, a grown man, didn’t feel embarrassed to learn, there’s no reason for you, as a young boy, to feel ashamed. Remember, having ambition and the drive to improve is always a good thing.”

Qin Shoucheng, unused to such praise, blushed.

He had never been complimented like this before.

In most families, it was rare for parents to praise their children. “Yes, sister-in-law, I understand.”

Yang Haiyan sat with them, noticing the small cookies and cakes on the table.

She guessed that Aunt Fan had prepared them.

Soon, Aunt Fan arrived after organizing the dried bamboo shoots as Yang Haiyan had instructed. “Madam, I’ve prepared portions for both Madam Lu and Madam Han, as you requested. Please have a look.”

Yang Haiyan glanced at them; the portions were appropriate, enough for two meals. “Go ahead and send them over. Also, buy some pork ribs later. Bamboo shoots with roasted ribs are delicious.”

Aunt Fan nodded, “Yes, Madam.”

After Aunt Fan left, Yang Haiyan began talking to Qin Siya about her name.

Because “Siyah” and “Siya” (the pronunciation of her name) sound similar, Qin Siya had mistakenly thought that when Yang Haiyan introduced her as “Siyah,” she was referring to “Siya.” Now that Yang Haiyan had explained the meaning of her new name, Qin Siyu finally understood.

Having a proper name made a big difference.

Even at her young age, Qin Siya knew the importance of a real name.

Now that she had one, she started pestering Qin Shoucheng to teach her how to write it.

Qin Shoucheng could only use a tree branch to trace the characters of Qin Siya’s name on the ground.

For lunch, Yang Haiyan had bamboo shoots with roasted ribs.

Since Qin Fang and the personal guards were out hunting, she ate with Qin Siyu and Qin Shoucheng.

In the Servants’ Quarters

There were two rows of houses in the servants’ quarters, each row having five small courtyards.

They housed five personal guards, Uncle Hong, Aunt Fan, and there were still three empty courtyards.

By noon, when the meal hadn’t arrived, Meng Ping’s wife kept glancing toward the door, muttering, “Why hasn’t the food arrived yet? They usually deliver it by now.”

Meng Ping’s younger sister, Meng An, was a quiet and introverted girl.

Hearing her sister-in-law’s complaints, she thought for a moment and said, “Sister-in-law, didn’t Aunt Fan from the kitchen say that the food the manor provides is just for big brother? Since he’s gone hunting with the lord today, maybe the kitchen won’t send food over at noon.”

Meng Ping’s wife was taken aback, having not considered this. “Could that be the case?” But thinking it over, she realized it was quite possible. “Should I go ask?”

Meng An quickly replied, “Sister-in-law, I think it’s better not to. Let’s make something simple to eat for now. If we didn’t receive food, the neighbors likely didn’t either. If you go and ask, it might seem inappropriate.”

After hearing this, Meng Ping’s wife agreed, “Alright then, let’s make some porridge. Meng An, can you make the porridge? I’ll check on the neighbors.”

Meng An responded, “Sure.”

She felt a bit guilty, knowing that her presence had been a burden on her brother and sister-in-law.

Back in their hometown, people always gossiped about her situation.

Her brother and sister-in-law had kindly brought her here, but now she felt she was just adding to their troubles.

There wasn’t any land to work here, and the food they ate was their own.

She wished she could find a job to ease the burden.

Over the past few days, Meng An had gone out to look for work and had some ideas, but she was still undecided, thinking she’d wait until the madam returned to see if there were any opportunities.

Meng Ping’s wife left and went to the neighboring Huang Huzi household.

Since their arrival, the two families had become familiar. “Is anyone home, Huang family sister?”

As soon as Meng Ping’s wife entered the courtyard, she could smell the aroma of food.

Huang Huzi’s wife was about to get up, but Meng Ping’s wife had already entered and saw her eating. “Huang family sister, you’re eating?”

Huang Huzi’s wife replied, “Yes, I’m having a meal. Is there something you need?”

She didn’t ask if Meng Ping’s wife had eaten, as she had no intention of inviting anyone to join her meal, so it was better not to ask.

Meng Ping’s wife looked around, seeing no one else, and asked quietly, “Huang family sister, did the kitchen not deliver food today?”