Mu Er Pang blushed slightly at Zhou Shi’s words and scratched the back of his head.

His gesture was just like when he was a child, which instantly made Zhou Shi see the familiar boy she had watched grow up.

Shen Cui couldn’t help but smile and squinted her eyes, saying, “He’s fine like this now. If he were as chubby as before, it wouldn’t be good.”

With Mu Er Pang’s arrival, the previously quiet inn lobby suddenly became crowded with people.

Realizing the situation, Shen Cui suggested that Zhou Shi accompany her upstairs to their room.

Zhou Shi obediently took Shen Cui’s arm and helped her upstairs.

Along the way, she remarked, “Mother, you seem to have lost weight too?”

Mu Er Pang was about to explain that Shen Cui had recently been ill when Shen Cui shot him a glance, and he immediately understood, swallowing his words.

As they entered the room, Zhou Shi immediately caught a whiff of medicinal scent.

Shen Cui had hurriedly gone out earlier, and the bowl used for her medicine was still on the table.

Zhou Shi, being sensitive, quickly picked up on the situation.

Unable to hide it any longer, Shen Cui sighed and explained, “I’ve been unwell, but I’m feeling better today. That’s why I didn’t send anyone to inform you. If I had, you would have come straight to check on me… I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.”

Zhou Shi nodded, understandingly. “I thought I was mistaken when I faintly smelled medicine on you. I should have realized something was wrong.”

Although the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law now looked like sisters, Shen Cui’s age was indeed not considered young in this era.

Zhou Shi carefully consulted the doctor, who examined Shen Cui and prescribed medicine for several days.

After observing Shen Cui’s complexion for a while, Zhou Shi finally felt relieved.

Just as they settled in the room, Zhou Shi’s two maidservants entered.

Each maidservant carried a large package on her arm, having just fetched it.

Shen Cui raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Are you planning to move in with me?”

Zhou Shi chuckled, “If you don’t mind me crowding you, I’ll tidy up and move in for a while. But for now, these aren’t my belongings; they’re things I’ve brought for you and Er Pang.”

With that, Zhou Shi stood up and helped the maidservants place the package on the table and unpack it.

Inside were clothes and shoes for Shen Cui and Mu Erpang, similar to what Zhou Shi had privately prepared when she left Qingzhou Prefecture years ago.

Of course, Zhou Shi, now not only a government official’s wife but also running her own successful small business and was more affluent, so the quality of the clothes she prepared had improved significantly.

She first took out a green robe and skirt and gestured to Shen Cui, “In the past, I only knew how to cut clothes but not embroider. The clothes I made for you were too plain. Fortunately, I’ve learned a little over the past three years and embroidered orchids on your clothes. Wearing them will make you look younger.”

Later on, she picked up Mu Er Pang’s robe and said with some difficulty, “Er Pang’s estimate seems to be off. Although Mother said in her letter, I didn’t realize you had lost so much weight.”

Mu Er Pang said it was okay, “Wearing loose clothes is more comfortable.”

Zhou Shi said that wouldn’t do, “Now that you’ve become a jinshi (successful candidate in the imperial examination), isn’t it inappropriate to wear ill-fitting clothes? In this capital city, many people judge you by your appearance before they judge your character.”

“Should I ask the servant for needle and thread then?”

Zhou Shi smiled and said, “I’ll do it for you right now.”

The maid offered to do it, but Mu Er Pang preferred to do things himself and declined, saying he’d do it on his own.

As he left, Zhou Shi urged Shen Cui to change into her new clothes and take off the robe that smelled of medicine.

After Shen Cui went behind the screen, Zhou Shi didn’t let the maid attend to her but followed her and personally helped her take off her outer garment and then helped her tie the new dress.

For some people, the longer they’re apart, the more their feelings fade. But for others, separation makes them cherish their time together even more.

Mrs. Zhou was obviously the latter.

Especially in these three years, having interacted with people of various classes and backgrounds, she had become better at discerning good from bad.

She understood the care Shen Cui had taken to raise her like a daughter.

Moreover, although she no longer had to be separated from Mu Yunchuan after coming to the capital, he still left early and came back late.

They only had a short time together in the morning and evening.

Fortunately, she remembered the advice Shen Cui gave her about finding things to do, and Mu Yunchuan didn’t interfere with her freedom in this regard.

So when he was busy, she also kept herself occupied.

They had breakfast together in the morning, then went out separately, and returned around the same time before nightfall to have dinner together and talk for a while.

Although it wasn’t exceptionally sweet, their relationship was respectful.

Zhou Shi didn’t ask for much and was very content with this kind of life.

Looking at others, like the person who ranked second in the imperial examination with Mu Yunchuan, who became colleagues with him in the Hanlin Academy.

That person was a few years older than Mu Yunchuan and was nearing his thirties.

His wife was also someone he married when he was just starting out, and her background was even better than Zhou Shi’s, coming from a slightly wealthier family.

But she was just an ordinary woman who stayed in the backyard, always suspecting her husband of having affairs outside while she cried and her health declined.

Actually, if she just thought about it, although there’s an old saying that “unfaithfulness is common among scholars,” scholars value their reputation the most.

Even if they did have other thoughts, it’s unlikely they would do such things right after gaining power, abandoning their original wives.

And give up their official reputation?

People like them, who spent half their lives studying, valued this aspect the most.

Zhou Shi occasionally met that lady, and she advised her like this.

Since the lady chose to marry him when he was just a low-ranking scholar, she must have had some thoughts and insight.

Zhou Shi gently pointed this out to her, waking her up.

After being awakened, she regarded Zhou Shi as a benefactor and said to her, “I lost my mother at a young age, and no one taught me many things. I have to rely on Sister to guide me. I’m really ashamed.”

In response to her profuse thanks, Zhou Shi told her not to be so polite, but in her heart, she was thankful that it wasn’t for Shen Cui’s guidance in the past, she might have been as anxious as this lady.

As Zhou Shi reminisced, she helped Shen Cui dress neatly.

She accompanied Shen Cui to the mirror, and Shen Cui looked at the reflection of the two of them in the mirror and said, “You said Er Pang is thin, then you said I’m thin too. Why do you look thin to me as well?”

Zhou Shi’s smile didn’t change, “I’ve never been plump, and Mother knows that. Besides, I’m busy with my little business every day.”

Shen Cui thought about it and realized it was true, so she didn’t ask anymore.

After a while, when Mu Er Pang brought the needle and thread, Mrs. Zhou immediately altered the robe on the spot and then asked Mu Er Pang to go back to his room to try it on.

Seeing the mother and son both dressed in new clothes, Zhou Shi became even happier.

She linked arms with Shen Cui and said, “It’s a pity that it’s already late in the day. I just came back from outside and need to rest properly. Otherwise, I wanted to take you to my shop today. It’s just a small place, not very big, but I’ve been building it up little by little over these three years.”

Shen Cui smiled, “That sounds great! I’ll go have a look later, and anything I like, I’ll take directly.”

“Take? Take them all! Emptying out my little shop won’t be a problem!” Zhou Shi laughed as she swiftly took out a small golden hairpin from her sleeve and placed it neatly on Shen Cui’s bun.

By the time Shen Cui reacted, the hairpin had already settled securely on her head, and she could only vaguely feel that it was in the shape of a small flower.

“It’s an orchid, a Cuiwei orchid. I had it specially made.” Mrs. Zhou smiled and winked at her, then added, “I earned the silver for this myself.”

Meaning, the money she earned over the years, not Mu Yunchuan’s money, was used for this, so Shen Cui shouldn’t refuse.

Shen Cui smiled helplessly, “As they say, ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder.’ After being apart for three years, you just said you almost didn’t recognize Er Pang, and I’m almost not recognizing you either.”

The Zhou Shi in front of her, is sharp and smiling, had changed a lot compared to three years ago.

She was far from the vague and dull character in the original book.

“I’m so happy today. Usually, I’m much more reserved,” Zhou Shi said, glancing at the maid.

The maid chimed in, “Old Madam is indeed usually very reserved at home. It’s only seeing you and Master Er pang today that she’s a bit more relaxed.”

The maid’s reply was proper, but when the ‘old madam’ in her late twenties and the ‘Master Er’ who had just turned fifteen, with still some childishness on his face, heard it, their expressions turned strange.

Zhou Shi couldn’t help but purse her lips, gesturing for the maid not to say anything more.

She quietly explained to Shen Cui, “This is a maid my husband bought for me from outside after he entered the Hanlin Academy. Originally, I didn’t want someone to serve us. After all, there are only the two of us in the house, and our courtyard isn’t big. I could manage by myself when I had time. But we couldn’t find anyone to hire, and there were people trying to push someone into our house in various ways. To put a stop to their plans, we had to buy someone from the pawnshop. They also come from poor families, so sometimes their actions and words are a bit inappropriate.”

The maid appeared to be about fourteen or fifteen years old, and Shen Cui naturally wouldn’t argue with someone of that age. She nodded and said, “You can tell she’s sincere.”

The people selected by Mu Yunchuan, if they spoke and acted inappropriately, were deliberately chosen for their sincerity.

If they were the kind of clever maids who were meticulous in their speech and actions, one would worry that they might become too smart and disregard Zhou Shi, who came from a humble background.

Earlier, when Mu Yunchuan returned to Qingzhou Prefecture, he carefully observed Zhou Shi for a while and confirmed that Shen Cui had taken excellent care of Zhou Shi and Mu Er Pang.

His attitude towards Shen Cui had softened somewhat.

The same was true today.

Seeing that Mu Yunchuan hadn’t mistreated Zhou Shi after returning from his studies, Shen Cui also felt a bit more favorable towards him.

She said to Zhou Shi, “When you go back, tell Yunchuan that everything is fine here. Once things are settled, he can come over.”

Mu Yunchuan was still observant of filial piety in public to avoid any loss of reputation, and Shen Cui also had to entertain him.

So she took the initiative to suggest that he shouldn’t come over, which wouldn’t tarnish his reputation and would save them both from being busy.

After changing clothes and altering garments, and after chatting for a while, the sun was already setting outside.

It would soon be time to close the city gates, so despite Zhou Shi’s reluctance, she had to leave.

Shen Cui escorted her to the door.

Seeing her slow pace, she comforted her, “Regardless of what happens in the future, I’ll be here for the next six months. Whenever you have time, you can come see me.”

Zhou Shi obediently nodded.

Just as she was about to leave the house, she suddenly remembered something, “I forgot to give this to you. I earned it myself.”

She took out a bulging purse from her sleeve.

Needless to say, it contained her own savings from these years.

Shen Cui refused to take it, saying she had enough money with her, and she pressed down on Zhou Shi’s wrist under her sleeve.

With this press, Shen Cui’s face changed. “Why have you lost so much weight?”

Zhou Shi hurriedly tried to retract her hand, but Shen Cui didn’t let go.

She pulled up Zhou Shi’s sleeve a bit and saw Zhou Shi’s thin wrist.

She was really thin, skinny to the point of being bony.

Shen Cui pinched her shoulder blades and confirmed that Zhou Shi was even thinner than before, despite previously being underfed and poorly clothed while doing all the sewing, mending, and washing at home.

Zhou Shi stammered without answering, so Shen Cui looked at the maid beside her.

The maid was indeed sincere, with red eyes as she replied, “In response to Old Madam’s inquiry, Madam has inexplicably lost a lot of weight in the past six months. Master has called many doctors to see her, including the famous Doctor Huang from the capital… The doctors all said that Madam’s health was fine, and there was nothing wrong with her pulse. But she just…”

Shen Cui gritted her teeth.

If the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong, and yet the person inexplicably lost so much weight, was there even a need to ask? It was definitely that damned rule again!