Jiang Shiyao held Fu'er in her arms as she peered through the carriage window.
Outside a row of warehouses converted from residential houses, numerous wheelbarrows were parked.
These were all manual laborers transporting goods from the warehouses to various shops.
He Mama reminded her, "Niangzi, look at the osmanthus tree over there."
Beside the osmanthus tree, outside the warehouse, two laborers could be seen carrying goods inside.
He Dayou had shed his gardener's short attire, now wearing a cotton robe, and actually looked somewhat like a manager.
He Mama's smile grew wider. Since her husband had become busy recently, he had stopped visiting gambling dens.
Back in the Duke's residence, during idle times when there were no new flowers to cultivate, he would frequent gambling dens every day.
If this could help her husband quit gambling, it might not be such a bad thing.
Jiang Shiyao lowered the carriage curtain. "On our way here, I remember there was a wonton stall ahead. Let's go eat there later."
The wonton stall wasn't too crowded, with short tables wiped exceptionally clean.
"What would the madam and young miss like to eat?"
The stall was run by a married couple, the fine wrinkles at the corners of their eyes mingled with the earthy charm of common life.
The wife had a kindly face, promptly pulling a white cloth from her waist to wipe the table once more.
Fu'er had never been to such a place before, blinking her round eyes as she curiously looked around.
"Mother, it smells so good here!"
Jiang Shiyao patted her daughter's head. "One bowl of wontons each."
Fu'er repeated her mother's words with curved, smiling eyes, "One bowl of wontons each!"
Then she patted her little belly, "Lots and lots!"
The stall owner's wife was amused, "Alright, lots and lots."
The wontons were served.
Clear broth, plump snow-white wontons, topped with a layer of vibrant green scallions.
Jiang Shiyao took another porcelain bowl, scooped out two wontons, carefully separated them with a spoon, and placed them before her daughter.
"Fu'er has grown up now and needs to eat by herself. He Mama is hungry too, she also needs to eat by herself."
He Mama was startled, as serving the young miss was her duty.
"Niangzi, this servant doesn't…"
Jiang Shiyao said, "You can't keep feeding her until she gets married."
After leaving the capital, Fu'er was no longer a young lady from a noble household.
She didn't expect her daughter to learn everything, but she needed to master the simplest tasks like dressing and eating by herself.
"Okay!" Fu'er responded brightly, then grabbed her spoon and began eating on her own.
Watching her daughter's chubby cheeks puff out, Jiang Shiyao stirred the wontons in her bowl while calculating their current finances.
The silver from the bamboo grove, plus what came from Zhou Congxian and that gullible rich man, totaled nearly seven thousand taels, all gradually exchanged for grain.
The grain was estimated to yield a profit of three to four thousand taels. Splitting with He Dayou, she could still get five to six thousand taels.
She still had a pearl worth over three thousand taels, waiting for the right day to pawn it.
With nearly ten thousand taels, she and Fu'er could live very comfortably in a safe, warm small town.
But with just the two of them, for safety's sake, she needed to purchase new household registrations, settle in a home with a courtyard, and hire martial arts instructors to guard the residence.
All of this required money.
She needed to earn more money!
The image of the Yu Bao Tower shopkeeper's wife flashed through Jiang Shiyao's mind.
The shopkeeper's wife had appreciated her embroidery, but it was more of a merchant's appreciation for the value of a commodity.
Perhaps she could find another way to earn a bit more.
"Niangzi Jiang."
Jiang Shiyao's thoughts were abruptly recalled as a tall figure settled into the seat opposite her.
Shuangjiang at the neighboring table immediately stood up.
She nodded to Shuangjiang, "It's alright. This is a close friend of my elder brother from our hometown."
Liu Minghan came straight to the point, "Brother Jiang will arrive in the capital in three months."
Jiang Shiyao froze. Three months—if all went smoothly, she and Fu'er would have already left the capital by then.
But in her previous life, her brother never came to the capital!
"What… what is he coming to the capital for?"
Liu Minghan's gaze turned probing, "Niangzi Jiang doesn't even know why your esteemed brother is coming to the capital?"
Jiang Shiyao didn't know. It had been a long time since she last received any letters from her brother.
Liu Minghan's eyes cooled, "Brother Jiang missed the imperial examinations four years ago because he was busy earning money."
"This time, he's coming to the capital for the Autumn Examination."
A carriage passed by.
Inside, Song Jiyun's expression was extremely grim, with Zisu kneeling pale-faced at her feet.
Suddenly, the carriage curtain was blown open by the wind.
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a familiar figure.
Song Jiyun immediately lifted the curtain.
There was a man sitting opposite Jiang Shiyao!
As the carriage moved past, she saw the man's profile and recognized him instantly.
Liu Minghan—the censor who had led the search of her residence several months ago!
Shocked, Song Jiyun sank back into her seat. A moment later, a faint smile touched her lips.
"Back to the residence! Quickly!"
Jiang Shiyao's fingertips gripping the soup spoon turned white.
Four years ago, she had received a letter from her brother. He wrote that a merchant caravan was willing to take him north to seek his fortune. In just one year, he would earn enough to buy his freedom!
But at that time, she was heavy with child.
She didn't know how to tell her brother.
Was she doing well? It seemed not really.
Was she doing poorly? Not exactly either—at least she didn't lack food or clothing.
Gradually, she cooled their correspondence, until eventually she only received letters without replying.
Let him think her an ungrateful wretch, so he could focus wholeheartedly on his studies thereafter.
Jiang Shiyao lowered her eyes and took a pouch from her sleeve, pushing it toward Liu Minghan.
"I beg Lord Liu to look after him when possible."
Liu Minghan weighed the money bag in his hand, "As expected of the Duke of Ying's Residence. The moment Niangzi Jiang offers something, it's equivalent to half a year of my official salary!"
He tossed the money bag back onto the table, "Brother Jiang is my sworn brother. As long as I have food to eat, he won't go hungry."
"Niangzi Jiang should keep this money for yourself."
He stood up, "Since Niangzi Jiang wishes to avoid meeting, this official will act as if we never crossed paths."
His final self-reference had shifted to "this official."
Jiang Shiyao lifted her gaze, her lips trembling slightly, "This humble woman wishes Lord Liu a brilliant future."
"And may my brother succeed in the examinations."
Liu Minghan, "May Niangzi Jiang also achieve all her heart desires."
Liu Minghan left.
The bowl of wontons before Jiang Shiyao sat gradually cooling, untouched.
During their impoverished childhood, her brother would copy books to earn extra money for the household.
He would save one copper coin to buy her half a bowl of wontons.
Over time, the street vendor came to know them, eventually nicknaming her brother "Jiang Half-Bowl."
Now she had a full bowl of wontons, but she couldn't speak the truth to her brother.
"Mother."
Fu'er was perceptive. Whenever Jiang Shiyao showed even slight emotion, she would grow uneasy.
Jiang Shiyao stroked her daughter's small face, "Mother is fine. I just feel I can't finish so many wontons. What a waste it would be."
Fu'er held her mother's hand and pointed toward a pair of beggar brothers on the street corner.
"Mother can give it to them. Then it won't be wasted."
Jiang Shiyao's gaze fell upon the pair of young beggars. The older one appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen, while the younger looked merely five or six years old.
"Shuangjiang."
Jiang Shiyao took two pieces of broken silver from her money bag. "Exchange this for copper coins, then have the vendor cook a bowl of wontons—make it a generous portion."
"Take it to those young brothers. Tell them to hide the money carefully and not let anyone steal it."
Silver was too conspicuous; the two brothers wouldn't be able to protect it and might even lose their lives because of it.
As Jiang Shiyao and her companions returned to the carriage, several beggars lurking by the roadside immediately rushed forward and snatched the wontons from the brothers once they saw the noble party had departed.
"Hey!"
Jiang Shiyao wanted to get off the carriage but was stopped by He Mama.
"Niangzi, don't go. We can protect them momentarily, but not forever."
"Once we leave, not only will they be beaten, but someone might also discover the money Shuangjiang secretly slipped to them earlier."
Jiang Shiyao looked out the window. The two beggars had their wontons stolen. Though the older brother grumbled, he subtly touched his stomach—likely where he had hidden the money.
Sensing the gaze from the carriage, he noticed it was the noble lady who had given him money. He gave a slight nod before quickly leading his younger brother away.
"Let's go, back to the estate."
Jiang Shiyao's thoughts raced. Even with her utmost efforts, she could barely support herself and Fu'er.
She had already saved enough for Old Madam's birthday gift.
Now there was still Zhao Shi's to consider.
The Empress Dowager's birthday was still over half a month away. She needed to act quickly.
In a couple of days, she would have to find time to visit Yu Bao Tower.
By the time they returned to the estate, Fu'er had already fallen asleep.
The little girl had enjoyed herself thoroughly today and slept like a log, not even waking when the carriage jolted during disembarkation.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the mother and daughter pair.
Just as they reached the entrance of their small courtyard, they spotted a figure standing with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the withered pear tree by the wall.
He Mama glanced at Zhou Congxian's back, then took Fu'er from Niangzi Jiang's arms.
As she left, she gave a subtle push.
Only if Niangzi Jiang prospered would those serving under her fare well.
Zhou Congxian turned around, and the kite in Shuangjiang's hastily departing hands struck his heart like a heavy hammer.
"Flying kites?"
Jiang Shiyao curtsied. "Yes, Fu'er has been asking for a long time. The weather was fine today, so I took her."
Zhou Congxian looked at the woman standing before him with downcast eyes, his hands tightening behind his back.
"This Young Lord thought I made myself quite clear before paying respects to Grandmother."
Jiang Shiyao glanced up at him.
She found him somewhat ridiculous.
While flirting with his fiancée, he still expected his beautiful concubine to serve him wholeheartedly.
Jiang Shiyao's expression remained neutral, though her brows furrowed slightly.
"Earlier at Old Madam's residence, this concubine acted impulsively and caused an unpleasant scene. I am ashamed to face you, Young Lord, and dare not meet your eyes."
"This concubine thought the Young Lord should be accompanying Miss Song… and I didn't dare entertain presumptuous hopes, which is why I took Fu'er out by myself."
Zhou Congxian watched her bowed head and tearful appearance, and the anger in his heart instantly dissipated.
He let out a slow sigh. "What's past is past. Just don't be so impulsive next time."
"If I hadn't been there and Miss Song had made trouble, would Grandmother have protected you?"
Jiang Shiyao recalled that night when Zhou Congxian had said Song Jiyun was a kind person who would treat her and Fu'er well.
She wanted to ask if he still believed that now.
After a moment's reflection, she wondered—what difference would asking make anyway?
Meaningless matters were not something she could afford to dwell on now.
Her top priority: making money!
With this thought, Jiang Shiyao pretended to lower her gaze in sorrow and let out a brief sigh.
"Young Lord's reprimand is justified. I acknowledge my fault."
"Only today have I come to understand the vast difference between us."
Zhou Congxian didn't understand.
Jiang Shiyao looked up. "Miss Song falsely accused… misunderstood me over a single pearl, all because of my humble origins."
"And Fu'er came from my womb—she's a daughter born of a concubine. Everything is predetermined."
"Today I can make her happy with a paper kite, but that doesn't guarantee she'll find joy in a paper kite in the future."
Zhou Congxian's gaze fell upon Jiang Shiyao's attire and appearance.
She had always dressed plainly, and Fu'er was the same.
He had assumed it was personal preference, never considering it might be because they had nothing else.
He recalled seeing a colleague's daughter last month—a girl just two years older than Fu'er, dressed adorably and charmingly.
Fu'er's hair was always tied with nothing but a red ribbon.
After a moment's contemplation, he said, "I've been inconsiderate. Tomorrow I'll have the madam from Yu Bao Tower bring some jewelry for you to choose from properly."
Jiang Shiyao immediately beamed, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "Thank you, Young Lord."
This was exactly how it should be—spending his money!
And just like that, the opportunity to make money had arrived.