Qin Shoucheng returned from the martial arts training ground and saw Qin Siya pacing at the entrance of the courtyard.

He wiped his sweaty forehead and asked, “Siya, what are you doing?”

Qin Siya cheerfully replied, “Third Brother, come and have some snacks!”

She stepped forward and pulled Qin Shoucheng into the house. “Look, I remembered twenty-three characters today! Sister-in-law rewarded me with snacks. Do you want a little cake or a cookies?”

Seeing his sister so happy, Qin Shoucheng couldn’t help but smile: “I won’t eat any; I just got back and I’m a bit tired, so I don’t have much of an appetite. You can enjoy them yourself.” How could he eat his sister’s treats?

Qin Siya, of course, didn’t know her third brother’s thoughts.

She picked up a little cake and handed it to Qin Shoucheng: “You should eat it. In a few days, when sister-in-law tests me again, if I remember more characters, there will be more snacks. Also, look…”

She took out two wen from her pocket, “This is also a reward from sister-in-law today. It’s a pity I only remembered twenty-three characters and didn’t remember all thirty.”

Qin Shoucheng smiled and took a bite of the little cake.

It was sweet, delightful enough to warm his heart: “Then you should work harder next time.”

He remembered how, thanks to sister-in-law, they could eat meat every day, so he wanted to study harder.

Not to mention repaying them, he at least didn’t want to be a burden to his older brother and sister-in-law, nor let their parents down.

Qin Siya held the two wen, thought for a moment, then reluctantly handed them to Qin Shoucheng: “Third Brother, take this for your studies.”

Qin Shoucheng was taken aback.

Qin Siya said, “Didn’t you say before that our family doesn’t have money to support your studies? Now I’m giving you this. Next time I’ll try to remember thirty characters, and then sister-in-law will reward me with three wen. But Third Brother, when you earn money in the future, you have to buy me a bracelet, like the one Hua Ling has, with lots of beautiful beads on it.”

Looking at the two wen his sister gave him, Qin Shoucheng suddenly felt their weight.

He didn’t take it but instead comforted Qin Siyu: “No, you should keep it. I’ve already thought of a way to earn money.”

Qin Siya exclaimed, “Huh? What way? Tell me!”

Qin Shoucheng explained, “I heard from some older classmates that if your writing is good, you can copy books in a study, and that pays. But my writing is just average right now. Once it improves, I’ll go copy books to earn money, and then I’ll buy you a bracelet.”

Qin Siyu wasn’t focused on the bracelet but widened her eyes: “Really? Can writing well actually earn money by copying books?”

If she improved her writing, could she also earn money by copying books?

It seemed like she had found a way to make money, and she felt very motivated.

Qin Shoucheng replied, “I’ll ask at the study tomorrow.”

Qin Siya said, “Okay.”

From the next day, Yang Haiyan noticed that Qin Siya was much more serious about recognizing and writing characters.

Every morning, she would finish an hour of study, and she would take extra time to practice writing characters on the ground.

Even during the afternoon sewing class, she was very focused.

Yang Haiyan wasn’t aware of this but didn’t think much of it; it was a good thing for the child to be serious.

In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of April.

Early in the morning, Qin Fang took the military lion to the camp.

In April, he would be on duty during the day.

Today was the first day of the county town market, and Yang Haiyan naturally wanted to experience it, going with Sister Lu.

Uncle Hong had recently been running to the countryside; the walls of the five acres had already been built, the courtyard was also finished, and the pigpen, chicken coop, and duck pen had not only been completed but they had also started raising piglets, chicks, and ducklings.

The money spent on buying land, building the courtyard wall, and purchasing the animals, along with the workers’ wages, had totaled to one hundred taels of silver over the past month.

Coupled with the money left at the Old Qin family, she had spent two hundred taels in March; the money really did go quickly.

However, the feeling of waiting for the harvest was also quite good.

Uncle Hong felt a lot of pressure, as he was responsible for all the matters concerning the countryside.

If something went wrong, he felt it was his fault; if it went well, everyone was happy.

So, he went to the countryside almost every day.

Thus, today’s carriage to the county town was driven by Chen Dashi.

Early in the morning, Sister Lu arrived.

She and Yang Haiyan had agreed to go to the county town together in the Qin family’s carriage, and Aunt Fan was also accompanying them.

When the carriage reached the town gate, Sister Lu spotted Mrs. Yang waiting by a donkey cart and said, “I see Mrs. Yang!”

Mrs. Yang also wanted to go to the county town but didn’t have a carriage, so she could only take a donkey cart from the town.

Hearing Sister Lu’s words, Yang Haiyan looked outside and indeed saw Mrs. Yang: “Stop for a moment.”

Chen Dashi stopped the carriage.

At this moment, the carriage had already passed by Mrs. Yang a few steps. Yang Haiyan said to Aunt Fan, “Aunt Fan, could you ask Mrs. Yang if she wants to go to the county town with us?”

Aunt Fan replied, “Yes.”

Aunt Fan got off the carriage and walked to the donkey cart.

Mrs. Yang recognized Aunt Fan as a servant from the Qin family, so she looked at Aunt Fan.

Aunt Fan greeted her, saying, “Mrs. Yang, my lady is in the carriage. We’re coincidentally heading to the county town, would you like to come along?”

When Mrs.Yang heard this, she was naturally pleased, “That would be wonderful.”

She then told the women who were waiting nearby, “Ladies, I’ll be leaving a bit earlier.”

One lady asked, “Which family’s servant are you? Is there still room in your carriage?” This lady did not recognize Aunt Fan, but it was normal not to know her.

Aunt Fan smiled and replied, “I am a servant of the Qin family, from Captain Qin.”

As for whether there was room, she did not answer and just followed Mrs. Yang back to the carriage.

Mrs.Yang saw that Sister Lu was also inside the carriage and warmly said, “Mrs.Qin, Sister Lu.” Since Sister Lu’s husband was older than her own, she addressed her as “sister.”

Yang Haiyan said, “Come in quickly; it was Sister Lu who spotted you, I didn’t even notice.”

Mrs.Yang said, “I really owe you one; otherwise, we would have to wait a while. Are you going to the county town for the market?”

Sister Lu replied, “Of course, I wonder what goods will be available in the county town this year.”

At that moment, a voice came from outside: “Mrs. Qin, could you take us along? We’re also going to the county town.”

A few women blocked the carriage, bypassing Aunt Fan, and directly came to the carriage to ask.

They even lifted the curtain of the carriage to peek inside.

Yang Haiyan looked at the unfamiliar faces and asked, “Who are you?”

One woman replied, “I’m from the family of Master Qi; my husband also serves under General Ao.”

Another woman added, “I’m also here! I’m from the family of Master Feng. Mrs. Qin, please take me along.”

Yang Haiyan did not recognize either of these two women, and behind them, there were other women talking as well.

In a normal situation, Yang Haiyan would not have taken the initiative to invite them, but since they were already at the door and claimed their husbands were under General Ao, it would be impolite to refuse.

A trace of displeasure flashed in her eyes, but she still smiled and said, “There’s only room for one person in the carriage.”

The lady at the front, Mrs. Qi, said, “I’ll come up.”

Saying this, she directly climbed in, “Thank you, Mrs. Qin.”

Just as Yang Haiyan was about to call Aunt Fan, Mrs. Feng said, “Mrs. Qin, I can sit outside; just take me along.”

Yang Haiyan frowned and said, “I’m really sorry; my servant hasn’t gotten in yet. Aunt Fan, come up.”

Aunt Fan hurriedly climbed onto the carriage, leaving no room inside, so she sat outside.

Mrs. Feng’s expression darkened, and she could only step aside.

“Go…” Chen Dashi hurriedly urged the horse to leave.

Watching the carriage move away, Mrs. Feng spat, “What a piece of work; isn’t she just a wasteful woman?”

Although she said this lightly, Yang Haiyan couldn’t hear it.

However, the women next to her caught it.

The atmosphere in the carriage was a bit awkward; Mrs. Qi kept her head down and said nothing, pretending she didn’t exist.

Mrs.Yang was also somewhat reserved, as this incident was caused by her.

If Yang Haiyan hadn’t invited her, this wouldn’t have happened.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Mrs.Yang found a topic and asked, “Mrs.Qin, are you taking pastries to sell in the county town today?”

A basket of snacks sat to one side, weighing twenty pounds, so it was hard to ignore.

Moreover, the milky aroma of the pastries was wafting through the air.

Mrs.Yang was also a regular customer at the pastry shop, as she had children at home.

She would buy a few coins’ worth every few days to treat the kids. Even a few coins’ worth could last the children several days if they saved it.

Yang Haiyan replied, “No, a pastry shop in the county town ordered from my shop a few days ago. I’m delivering the order.”

There was nothing to hide about this, and this explanation clarified why she hadn’t shared any pastries with the others.

Mrs. Yang said, “I see, then I’ll congratulate you in advance, Mrs. Qin.”

Yang Haiyan said, “I’m indeed quite happy. There are limited customers for pastries in the town, so being able to expand to the county town is excellent. After all, there are many people at home, and everyone needs to eat and spend. If we don’t make money, we won’t even be able to pay the monthly allowances for the servants.”

Her comment was playful, and everyone could understand that.

Mrs. Qi asked, “Are you delivering such a large basket every day or just once every few days?”

Yang Haiyan looked at her and said, “That depends on how well the sales go in the county town; I can’t say for sure right now.”

Mrs. Qi didn’t know if she had picked up on the meaning behind Yang Haiyan’s words.

She continued, “Mrs. Qin, you’re really impressive, opening a shop in the town and now expanding to the county. No wonder the people in the family are envious and jealous, saying things that sound sour.”

Sister Lu’s heart stirred as she recalled some things she had heard a few days ago and was contemplating whether to tell Yang Haiyan.

If she told her, she was afraid it would stir up trouble and make her own life difficult.

But if she didn’t tell her, considering her good relationship with Yang Haiyan, she felt uneasy.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Qi brought it up first.

Sister Lu immediately looked at Yang Haiyan.

Yang Haiyan raised her eyebrows, curious, and asked, “But what did they say that sounded sour?”

Since Mrs. Qi dared to directly broach this topic, she naturally felt bold enough to ask.