Lang Jiuchuan cleared Ou Miaolan’s meridians with gold needles to aid future recovery, then left a treatment prescription, and departed accompanied by the second young master of the Ou Family.

“When the little one turns a month old, we will certainly be sending an invitation to Miss.” Ou Pou, his face covered in a rough stubble, bowed his hands to Lang Jiuchuan in respectful gratitude. “Many thanks for saving both mother and child.”

Lang Jiuchuan said, “Our household is currently in mourning. I only went out today because the matter truly required it. I would not be in a position to attend a banquet — please understand.”

Ou Pou looked apologetic. “The oversight was mine.”

“No matter. I shall take my leave.” Lang Jiuchuan boarded the carriage with Jian Lan.

Jian Lan said, “Miss, are we returning to the residence now?”

“Not yet. First go to Xunxiang Lane in the Western District.” Lang Jiuchuan sat cross-legged in the carriage and formed hand seals to regulate her breathing.

Jian Lan, seeing her like this, knew she was about to practice her major and minor celestial circuits, and said no more. She quietly tended to the small stove inside the carriage, stoking the silver charcoal and setting the teapot on to heat.

Over at Xunxiang Lane, Zhuang Quanhai had already taken down the shop’s signboard and was looking at the shop’s layout, about to be completely transformed and renewed, with a touch of wistfulness.

“Old Zhuang.”

Zhuang Quanhai looked up to see a figure in a fur-lined robe approaching him. He was mildly surprised. “Brother Ding.”

This was Ding Mangu — a wealthy merchant well-known in Jiangnan, whose rice and grain business was operated from within the same Western District, on Wanlong Lane.

“I hear you’re returning to your hometown. Is the shop already settled? When do you plan to set off? I’ll organize a gathering — invite Brother Luo and the others to see you off?”

Zhuang Quanhai welcomed him into the shop and smiled. “No rush. I plan to leave after the Lantern Festival, or even after the first month is over. You’re thoughtful, Brother Ding.” He noticed the haggard look on Ding Mangu’s face and asked, “What is it? Your color doesn’t look well — has something happened? If there’s anything I can help with, just say the word.”

“It’s nothing. Just the matter of the child Luoer — her mother misses her and wanted to bring her back to her parents’ home for a short stay. But the Zhuo Family doesn’t like that, saying there is no precedent for a Zhuo Family daughter-in-law to stay at her maternal home. We said we wished to visit her in person, but they brought up Zhuo Family rules again. Now her mother is so furious she’s fallen ill.”

Zhuang Quanhai frowned. “The Zhuo Family is nothing but humble origins. If Zhuo Yu hadn’t passed the Imperial Grace Examination as a Jinshi, the whole family would still be peasants digging in the dirt. Now that he’s been a minor official for a couple of years, they’re citing family rules? Hmm.” He snorted. “If not for your support, Brother Ding, how would he have afforded to come to the capital to sit the Imperial Grace Examination? And that official post he holds now — do you know how many connections you had to grease and how much silver you had to pour in to make it happen? The honest truth is, his entire year’s salary wouldn’t amount to a ten-thousandth of what you’ve spent on him. Not to mention all that Luoer brought into the marriage to help manage his social relationships.”

Zhuang Quanhai was quite indignant. The genuine gold and silver that Ding Mangu had poured in could have supported any number of young scholars.

Yet the Zhuo Family — one man achieved prominence and the whole household rose with him. Once they reinvented themselves and changed their standing, the man still hadn’t achieved any great heights, but his arrogance was already towering.

“Here in Wu Jing, nobility and power fill the streets. The Zhuo Family has nothing but a seventh-rank Jinshi official — and now they look down on their wife’s family? Have they all forgotten who helped him pass the Imperial Examination, who helped them live in a five-courtyard great residence in Wu Jing with servants all around? Could Zhuo Yu’s salary alone cover those expenses?” He grew more agitated as he spoke. “You only want to visit your daughter, and they invoke family rules. Ha — that threshold has become harder to cross than the Chancellor’s mansion.”

Ding Mangu too was somewhat bitter. “Say no more of it. As long as Luoer lives well, that is enough. I won’t say more to you — I still need to go to Hundred Herb Hall and ask Dr. Du to come see your sister-in-law.”

“Mm.” Zhuang Quanhai saw him to the door — and just then happened upon Lang Jiuchuan and her maidservant. He immediately broke away from Ding Mangu and strode quickly forward. “Miss, you’ve come.”

He used the word “您” — a respectful form of address.

Ding Mangu was somewhat curious. He had heard that old Zhuang’s shop was under the name of a noble Hou residence — was this the proprietress?

Ding Mangu studied Lang Jiuchuan. She glanced at him briefly, then cast her eyes downward indifferently, and said to Zhuang Quanhai, “I came to see how the shop’s renovation is progressing.”

Zhuang Quanhai immediately said, “There are still a few finishing touches and some lacquering left to be done. Now that you’re here, Miss, you can take a look — if there’s anything you’d like changed, I’ll have the workers adjust it.”

“Mm.”

Ding Mangu waved a goodbye to Zhuang Quanhai and quietly departed.

Zhuang Quanhai accompanied Lang Jiuchuan inside and they went through the entire shop, inside and out. As they went, he explained, “I personally inspected all the timber — everything is solid wood, treated against insects and moisture. You can rest assured, Miss.”

“Good.” Lang Jiuchuan looked at the shop, which had been renovated to a decent standard, and said, “Then keep an eye out for me — leave a piece of fine willow wood. I’ll use it to make a signboard.”

“Yes, absolutely.” Zhuang Quanhai rubbed his hands together. “Miss, I wanted to thank you again for your guidance earlier. My daughter-in-law at home is with child, and if we had set off on the road carelessly, I don’t know what misfortune might have come of it.”

As he said this, he bowed deeply and respectfully to Lang Jiuchuan.

Lang Jiuchuan, seeing how conscientiously he had attended to the shop, gave it some thought and asked, “Who was that just now?”

“Ah, that is an old friend of mine — he also does a grain business in the Western District. He is the proprietor of Fengxing Grain and Oil, a man named Ding Mangu. My business has gotten to where it is today in no small part thanks to his support.” Zhuang Quanhai said with some regret, “It’s a pity I didn’t have the fortune to grow it bigger.”

“Food wealth is fixed by one’s allotted destiny. If you lack it, your descendants may not. For now, contentment with modest prosperity is fine. Raise your children and grandchildren well, cultivate goodness and the courage to take responsibility, accumulate merit through good deeds — good days will come in time.”

Zhuang Quanhai recognized this as guidance and quickly said, “Many thanks for your words, Miss. To be honest — we as parents only hope for our children’s wellbeing. If they fare well, then our old age will be peaceful too, won’t it? Unlike my old friend there — even wanting to visit his own daughter is difficult, all because of rank and family standing… Ah, I don’t mean to look down on people of high station — please don’t take offense, Miss!”

“Visit his daughter?” Lang Jiuchuan’s brow creased.

“Yes. My old friend picked well when choosing a son-in-law — invested in an Imperial Examination candidate who turned out to be a Jinshi. Pity that this candidate is a bit…” Zhuang Quanhai gave a scornful little sound, then felt it somewhat inappropriate to speak ill of someone behind their back and changed the subject. “Miss, if you’re not in a rush, it’s nearly midday — would you not stay for a meal at my humble home?”

“There’s no need — I have somewhere else to go.” Lang Jiuchuan was silent for a moment, then said, “Your old friend — you had better offer him a word of warning. He may be about to become entangled in a legal case.”

“What?” Zhuang Quanhai was startled.

“Because his daughter is already dead.” She had just observed the man’s face — the Children Palace on his right side was sunken and darkened with a harmful discoloration, indicating the loss of a daughter. His brows carried a red flame, his cheekbones had turned bluish, and the Hall of Career on his forehead was darkening — he would soon be caught up in a legal entanglement. Looking at it now, it likely had some connection to his daughter’s death.

Zhuang Quanhai: “!”

What did you say? I’m getting on in years and my hearing isn’t what it was. Did you say someone was dead?

Jian Lan held her breath, the tips of her fingers trembling slightly.

The Miss’s words have divine accuracy again.