Fan Changyu’s temples twitched as she listened. Pushing the door open, she called out sharply, “Ningniang.”

“A-Ah… Elder Sister.”

The little girl who had been proudly boasting moments ago instantly turned obedient, though her grape-like eyes darted everywhere except toward Fan Changyu.

Xie Zheng entered behind her, the corners of his lips carrying the faintest trace of amusement. When he saw the boy in the satin jacket inside the room, his gaze paused briefly.

“Whose child is this?”

The boy still had baby fat on his cheeks and looked no older than five or six. His large round eyes drooped slightly at the corners like a puppy’s. Golden embroidery decorated his padded jacket, and gemstones were set into the small belt around his waist.

Standing beside Changning, he looked honest and simpleminded—the perfect image of a wealthy household’s foolish young master.

Only after Xie Zheng spoke did the boy puff out his chest proudly.

“All these houses belong to my family!”

Fan Changyu recalled Chef Li once mentioning that Yu Qianqian had a son. If this child claimed the houses were his family’s, then perhaps…

Before she could finish the thought, the steward woman’s voice sounded anxiously from outside the courtyard.

“Young Master! Where have you hidden yourself?”

The child immediately shouted back, “Granny Fang, I’m here!”

The steward woman hurried over after hearing him.

“So this is where you hid yourself. This old woman’s been searching everywhere…”

Seeing Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng there as well, she apologized awkwardly.

“The young master wandered into your room by mistake. Please forgive the disturbance.”

Fan Changyu said it was no matter and asked, “Is he Shopkeeper Yu’s child?”

The steward woman smiled and nodded.

Through her, Fan Changyu learned the boy’s name was Yu Bao’er, though everyone in the restaurant called him Bao-ge’er.

In Fan Changyu’s impression, families with even a little wealth usually gave their children elegant scholarly names. For Yu Qianqian’s son to simply be called “Bao’er” genuinely surprised her.

Then she remembered Yu Qianqian’s personality and suddenly felt it suited her perfectly.

The group walked together toward the main hall of Yixiang Tower.

Along the way, Changning’s courage returned, and she resumed bickering with Yu Bao’er every few steps.

Xie Zheng followed behind them silently. As he watched Yu Bao’er’s back, his brows gradually furrowed, his expression unreadable.

—

When they reached the hall, Yu Qianqian learned her son had hidden during a game of hide-and-seek inside Fan Changyu’s room and couldn’t help laughing helplessly.

While questioning Yu Bao’er about his studies, she noticed Changning and casually asked Fan Changyu:

“Has Ningniang begun her studies yet? If not, you can send her here. I hired a tutor for Bao’er anyway. Teaching one child or several makes little difference. The workers in the restaurant with children have all sent them to study together too. No need for them to become top scholars—being able to recognize a few characters is already enough.”

Fan Changyu’s admiration for Yu Qianqian deepened yet again.

She was tempted.

But Lin’an Town was still quite far from the county city, and Changning was still young. If she were to study here, someone would need to escort her back and forth daily. Besides, Fan Changyu wasn’t even one of Yixiang Tower’s workers. She had already accepted too many favors from Yu Qianqian to shamelessly accept another.

“Thank you for your kindness,” she replied. “Her brother-in-law has taught her a few characters already, though it hardly counts as proper schooling. She’s still young and rather afraid of studying. We’ll wait until she’s older.”

Changning immediately interrupted proudly:

“Ningniang can already write her own name!”

She grabbed a pair of chopsticks and began drawing in the air.

“Wood, yao, wood, big—Fan!”

Yu Qianqian laughed outright.

“Ningniang is so clever.”

Then she looked teasingly toward Fan Changyu.

“I nearly forgot—you already have a talented husband at home. Why would Ningniang need someone else to teach her?”

Fan Changyu had only said those things to politely decline the offer, so now she merely smiled without answering.

Xie Zheng glanced at her but also said nothing.

Yu Qianqian then changed the subject.

“That storefront outside my restaurant can be rented to you long-term. If you’re too busy to manage it yourself, I can also let my restaurant workers help sell the braised meat. Other tenants either pay yearly rent or give me twenty percent of their profits. If you’re interested, I can even lower your rent a little.”

Fan Changyu had already witnessed today just how prosperous the storefronts outside Yixiang Tower were.

“You treat me far too kindly, Shopkeeper Yu.”

Her words made everyone in the restaurant laugh.

The accountant chimed in, “Our shopkeeper has the heart of a bodhisattva. She treats all the workers well too. Madam Fan shouldn’t stand on ceremony.”

Yu Qianqian also smiled.

“I make friends based on first impressions. I liked your temperament the moment I met you. Stop acting shy with me now. Just tell me plainly whether you want the storefront or not.”

Fan Changyu answered decisively:

“I do. No need to reduce the rent. But I truly won’t have time to manage the shop myself. If I borrow your workers, I’ll pay extra wages separately.”

Yu Qianqian immediately turned toward the workers.

“You all heard that. Anyone interested in earning extra wages can step forward now and let Boss Fan recognize your face.”

Hearing herself called “Boss Fan” made Fan Changyu blush.

Yet at the same time, the title felt strangely new and exciting.

People back in town simply called her Changyu.

But now it felt as though she had gained another identity entirely.

That identity was like a tiny boat—still small for now, yet capable of carrying her farther someday.

The workers whispered among themselves briefly before a capable-looking young woman stepped forward.

“I’m willing to help at the storefront.”

Fan Changyu recognized her. She had likely been responsible for receiving female guests earlier. She handled matters efficiently and spoke sweetly.

Yu Qianqian introduced her:

“This girl is called Fuling. She was sold as a servant when she was young. After saving enough money to redeem herself, she came to work here when my restaurant started hiring. She’s very capable. What do you think?”

Fan Changyu nodded immediately.

“She’ll do.”

Fuling clearly knew how to ingratiate herself.

“Thank you, Shopkeeper. Boss Fan, please take care of me in the future.”

Yu Qianqian pointed at her and laughed.

“See how glib she is?”

Fan Changyu couldn’t help laughing too.

—

After the meal, Fan Changyu bid farewell to Yu Qianqian.

Now that she had rented a storefront in the best part of the county city, she would need to provide braised meat there long-term. She had to consider whether to hire transport regularly or simply buy an ox cart outright. There was also the cured meat promised to the county school shopkeeper that still needed delivering later.

Yu Bao’er followed his mother to the entrance to see them off.

While the adults spoke among themselves, the children naturally had their own conversation.

Yu Bao’er proudly told Changning:

“Next time you come, I’ll show you my study! There are so many books inside, plus clay figurines, wood carvings, coral decorations—they’re really beautiful!”

Changning gripped Fan Changyu’s sleeve tightly and thought hard for a moment before finally producing something she could brag about.

“If you come to my house, I’ll show you my elder sister’s pig-killing knives! There are more than ten of them, big and small! If you’re lucky, you might even see my elder sister slaughter a pig! Have you ever seen pig slaughtering before?”

Yu Bao’er shook his head immediately, envy filling his eyes.

Changning spread both hands dramatically.

“My sister can knock out a whole pig with one slap!”

Fan Changyu: “……”

Under the shocked gazes of both mother and son, she hurriedly coughed.

“Ningniang. Time to go.”

Only then did Changning trot after her proudly, chest puffed out like a victorious little rooster.

Fan Changyu tried desperately to maintain a calm expression, but her ears had already turned bright red, as though she wished a crack in the ground would swallow her whole.

Behind them, Xie Zheng caught sight of the sisters from the corner of his eye, and the faintest smile curved at his lips.

—

On the ox cart ride back to town, Fan Changyu continued sighing emotionally over how kind Yu Qianqian was.

Xie Zheng merely let out a quiet scoff.

Fan Changyu frowned.

“Did I say something wrong?”

Xie Zheng lifted his eyes lazily.

“If someone sold you off someday, you’d probably help count the money for them too.”

Her expression darkened immediately.

“Shopkeeper Yu is a genuinely good person. Why must you always slander her?”

Xie Zheng replied mercilessly:

“Then don’t forget she’s a merchant. You didn’t even gain that much from doing business with her, yet now you’re endlessly grateful to her.”

His gaze cooled slightly.

“You’ll probably never learn her methods of winning people over.”

Fan Changyu instantly grew unhappy hearing him speak that way about someone she liked.

“You always assume the worst of people. Shopkeeper Yu really did help me a great deal…”

Xie Zheng interrupted her.

“What exactly did she help you with?”

Meeting his sharp gaze, Fan Changyu faltered briefly before answering:

“When I first started selling braised meat, if Shopkeeper Yu hadn’t given me the opportunity, I could never have partnered with Yixiang Tower so quickly.”

Xie Zheng asked calmly:

“There’s more than one braised meat seller in Qingping County. Why do you think she chose you?”

“Chef Li recommended me…”

As Xie Zheng simply stared at her silently, her voice gradually weakened.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

“Yes, that chef recommended you. But if your product had been poor, nobody would’ve chosen you anyway. Merchants never select inferior goods because of personal feelings. At most, they do favors among equally good options.”

Fan Changyu clasped her hands tighter together.

“Today, Shopkeeper Yu originally didn’t even want any share of the money from the braised meat sales. Only after I insisted repeatedly did she accept the cost price.”

Xie Zheng replied flatly:

“How much did you even earn? It probably wasn’t worth as much as a single one of her banquet tables.”

Fan Changyu pressed her lips together.

“That’s not the point. It was her kindness.”

Xie Zheng frowned.

“I’m not telling you to take her kindness for granted. I’m telling you the favor she granted you and the gratitude you feel toward her are not equal. You can remember her kindness, but there’s no need to lower yourself constantly because of it.”

Then he added:

“Besides, today both of you were simply taking what you needed from each other. She supported you because she wanted to suppress Wang Ji.”

Fan Changyu fell silent.

Xie Zheng knew her nature was too soft-hearted. If someone treated her well even once, she would wish to repay them tenfold.

After a pause, he softened slightly.

“I’m not saying this to slander that shopkeeper. Only once you understand everything clearly might you truly become her friend someday. If all you remember is gratitude and favors, then you’re no different from the obedient workers beneath her.”

No one had ever taught Fan Changyu such things before.

After her parents died, aside from occasional help from Aunt Zhao’s family, she had carried everything alone. Yu Qianqian’s sudden warmth had felt like a fire to someone freezing in winter—something she instinctively wanted to move closer toward.

After a long silence, she finally muttered softly:

“Thank you.”

Her voice sounded subdued, though not defeated.

She knew she still had a long road ahead and countless things left to learn. Understanding these truths only now was not too late.

When she looked at Xie Zheng again, her eyes were full of eager curiosity.

“Yan Zheng, teach me more. Someday, I want to become someone as impressive as Shopkeeper Yu too.”

Xie Zheng let out a faint laugh.

“You becoming a merchant? Forget it. I already told you—her greatest strength lies in how she uses people.”

Fan Changyu immediately straightened up to listen attentively.

Though he clearly hadn’t wanted to continue, Xie Zheng still explained:

“Like today. Lending you one of her female workers made you deeply grateful. But in reality, she merely gave you exactly what you needed at the right moment.”

“If you strip away emotions, you owe her nothing. You paid rent for the storefront. You paid wages for the worker.”

He paused, eyes darkening slightly.

“In fact, using her own worker to manage your rented shop benefits her far more than it benefits you.”

Then he added quietly:

“If she ever wanted to know your sales accounts, it would only take a single question.”

Fan Changyu answered instinctively:

“I believe Shopkeeper Yu isn’t that kind of person.”

Yet inwardly she felt shaken numb.

At first she had only thought Yu Qianqian was kind.

Now she realized Yu Qianqian was also extraordinarily clever.

And strangely enough, she admired this version of Yu Qianqian even more.

Only now did she truly understand how a lone woman could build two massive restaurants within just a few years.

Xie Zheng continued mercilessly:

“And that’s only her way of managing subordinates. As for how she deals with merchants and officials’ wives? You probably couldn’t learn those skills even in a lifetime.”

Although she’d been thoroughly criticized again, Fan Changyu surprisingly didn’t argue back this time.

Instead, she suddenly said:

“Yan Zheng, teach me to study.”

Xie Zheng looked at the woman before him.

She rested her chin in both hands, looking like a little lioness who had just stepped into the world and suffered her first setback—pitiful, yet stubborn to the bone.

Just as he had promised her before, he answered quietly:

“Alright.”

—

When the ox cart reached town, Xie Zheng stopped by the bookstore and purchased paper, ink, and five books.

Fan Changyu stared in shock.

“So many?”

Xie Zheng handed four thick books to her and gave a thinner one to Changning.

“The Three Character Classic is for your sister. The Four Books are for you.”

Fan Changyu flipped through them and discovered that although he’d previously claimed he wouldn’t teach her the Analects or Great Learning, he had still bought them anyway.

Unable to help herself, she grinned broadly.

Sure enough, this man’s mouth was simply poisonous most of the time.

Clutching the books excitedly, she declared:

“I’ll begin studying diligently tonight!”

Meanwhile, Changning hugged her Three Character Classic miserably, clearly wanting to protest against studying but swallowing the complaint after seeing her sister’s enthusiasm.

When they arrived home, Fan Changyu unlocked the gate.

Changning insisted on being the first one through the door and immediately began shouting joyfully:

“Falcon! Falcon’s back!”

The Haidongqing eagle had flown around all day and only returned after nightfall.

Instead of finding a bowl of chopped meat waiting for it, however, it had found the courtyard gate tightly locked.

Now, seeing the finally-returned trio through the broken bamboo basket, it poked out its head, several soft feathers sticking up messily.

Changning threw herself forward and hugged the bird’s neck.

“Brother-in-law didn’t lie! Falcon really came back!”

Even Fan Changyu looked surprised. She had originally assumed Yan Zheng had only been comforting the child that day.

She turned toward him.

“You’re actually that good at training birds?”

Xie Zheng calmly shifted the blame.

“Or perhaps… you simply feed it too well?”

Fan Changyu’s apricot eyes widened.

“…That works too?”

She turned to look at the Haidongqing.

The eagle allowed Changning to rub and hug it while staring directly at Fan Changyu with its little bean-like eyes—as though asking when dinner would be served.

Still unconvinced, Fan Changyu headed toward the main room.

The eagle pecked lightly at the ground before leisurely following behind her…

…and immediately stationed itself beside the large bowl normally used for its meat scraps.

Fan Changyu: “……”

Seeing this scene, Xie Zheng turned slightly away, the corners of his lips lifting almost imperceptibly.