According to Yanbei customs, on the second day after moving to a new residence, one would host a banquet inviting some relatives and friends to the new home, which was considered adding some human warmth to the new dwelling.

However, the Ren family had not divided the household, so Ren Shimin’s branch strictly speaking could not be considered a housewarming celebration, thus Ren Shimin had not instructed Li Shi to arrange a banquet. Instead, some teachers from Yunyang Academy who were familiar with Ren Shimin got the news and sent their household members to deliver some food or small gifts.

Li Shi then suggested that Ren Shimin invite his friends from Yunyang Academy over and set up a few tables in the outer courtyard. Ren Shimin thought about it and agreed, as those teachers at the academy shared similar interests with Ren Shimin, and Third Master Ren did not dislike this kind of socializing.

Ren Yaoqi observed this and felt happy in her heart. Their household now needed some interpersonal relationships unrelated to the Ren family, so that even if one day they fell out with the Ren family, they would not find themselves in the embarrassing situation of being completely isolated.

Ren Yaoqi also discussed with Li Shi and Ren Yaohua that, after some time, when everything at home was properly arranged, they should find an excuse to invite the wives and daughters of Ren Shimin’s friends at the academy to their home, so they could interact with each other in the future.

Li Shi had also received a prestigious family education and naturally understood that for Ren Shimin, who had just entered Yunyang Academy with still shallow qualifications, these interactions among the inner courtyard women would be beneficial and harmless to him. So Li Shi cheerfully agreed, and even began discussing with the two sisters the dishes they would need and what preparations should be made in advance. For Li Shi, being the hostess and entertaining guests would be her first time since getting married.

However, what Li Shi and her daughters had not expected was that before their invitations were sent out, the invitation from Headmaster Xu’s wife, Madam Ouyang, arrived first.

Madam Xu invited Li Shi and her daughters to go to White Dragon Temple together to worship Buddha, listen to Buddhist teachings, and eat vegetarian food. Madam Xu had not only invited their mother and daughters, but also the wives and daughters of several other teachers at Yunyang Academy.

Madam Xu’s gesture was like offering a pillow when one was sleepy – it was very kind and thoughtful. Ren Yaoqi was just worrying about how to help Li Shi socialize with other madams, so she couldn’t help but be delighted upon receiving the invitation.

With Madam Xu as the intermediary, it would be much easier for Li Shi to enter the small circle of madams at Yunyang Academy.

Therefore, Ren Yaoqi immediately had Li Shi send word back to Madam Xu that they would attend.

On the day arranged with Madam Xu and the others, Li Shi got up early to dress herself. She was not trying to dress herself up flamboyantly. On the contrary, her attire was very low-key and simple, but Li Shi attached great importance to this outing, so she put some thought into it, making herself look both elegant and not disgraceful to Ren Shimin’s reputation.

When Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua went to the main house to find Li Shi and saw her dress and accessories, they both nodded in approval.

Just before leaving, Ren Yaoying’s maid came running over, saying that the Ninth Young Miss was feeling somewhat unwell and would not be going to White Dragon Temple with them today.

Li Shi knew this concubine’s daughter had many scheming thoughts. She did not expect to get along harmoniously with her; only hoping she would be obedient and not cause trouble would be satisfying enough. Although Ren Yaoying’s words were just an excuse for not wanting to go, Li Shi said nothing. She had Xi’er go check on her, asked whether they needed to call in a physician to examine Ren Yaoying, and did not force her to go out.

Ren Yaoying’s not going did not affect Li Shi and her daughters’ mood for their outing. Seeing that it was about time, Li Shi took Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua and left.

Not long after Li Shi and the others left, Ren Yaoying, who had been lying in bed pretending to be sick, got up. She instructed her maid, “Go to the Zhou family and tell Miss Zhou to send a carriage to pick me up for an outing.”

That maid had followed Ren Yaoying later and had been won over by Concubine Fang with silver money, so she was quite loyal to her. After receiving the instruction and reward money, she immediately went out.

Ren Yaoying sneered, “I won’t follow you out just to be decoration!”

Later, the Zhou family indeed sent a carriage to pick someone up. Because the Zhou family said they were following Madam Zhou’s orders to pick up Ren Yaoying to meet Miss Zhou at the Zhou residence, and also said that Madam Zhou and Concubine Fang’s sister-in-law from her maternal family were close friends, and that the Zhou family had already sent someone to White Dragon Temple to inform Li Shi, the steward Li Shi had left behind could not very well stop the Zhou family’s people. Ren Yaoying dressed herself up nicely and took the Zhou family’s carriage out.

Li Shi and the others had arranged to meet Madam Xu outside the city gate. When the Ren family’s carriage exited Yunyang City’s gate, they indeed saw several carriages. They had not arrived late, but two madams had already arrived first.

The first to arrive were Madam Liu and Madam Chen. Both were about the same age as Li Shi, considered relatively young among the madams at Yunyang Academy. Madam Liu brought her second daughter, Liu Menghan, as her eldest daughter had already married last year. Madam Chen brought her eldest daughter Chen Zhiyi and a three-year-old son.

Both Madam Liu and Madam Chen were very friendly toward Li Shi, actively coming over to greet her. They should normally be gentle, kind, and easy to get along with people. Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi were both about the same age as Ren Yaoqi, and both had gentle and demure temperaments.

Because their respective husbands all taught at Yunyang Academy, Li Shi, Madam Liu, and Madam Chen quickly found common topics to chat about. All three were well-educated ladies from prestigious families who spoke softly and gently, with graceful gestures, so they all had very good first impressions of each other.

At this moment, Ren Yaoqi had to thank Madam Xu’s thoughtfulness once again. With Madam Liu and Madam Chen, whose temperaments were similar to Li Shi’s, it would be even easier for Li Shi to enter this circle in the future. Many times, interpersonal interactions need someone to extend the olive branch first, and Madam Liu and Madam Chen, arranged by Madam Xu, were exactly such people extending olive branches.

Several more madams arrived one after another, and from their speech and mannerisms, all appeared to have excellent upbringings. Madam Xu was the last to arrive. Although she had not been late, she still apologized to everyone who had been waiting for her.

When she saw Ren Yaoqi, Madam Xu appeared very affectionate, beckoning Ren Yaoqi over, taking her hand and saying kindly, “How do you look even thinner than last time? Have you been properly practicing piano and painting at home recently? Today, you should ride in my carriage with me. I want to test whether you’ve been slacking off.”

Speaking thus, Madam Xu also joked with Li Shi, “I’m just borrowing your daughter to talk in my carriage. You don’t mind, do you?”

Li Shi felt Madam Xu’s goodwill and smiled while shaking her head, “It’s her honor that you think so highly of her.”

The other madams nearby also laughed and made a few jokes. Madam Liu smiled and said, “I heard before that you had taken on a new little disciple. Menghan has been clamoring at home to meet her, and unexpectedly, today we have this opportunity to see her. She looks like a clever and blessed good child.”

Madam Xu smiled, “They are all good children.” Then Madam Xu said to Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi, and the others, “I was thinking before that your temperaments should get along well, and just now in the carriage, I indeed saw you chatting very happily. Excellent! You should interact more with each other in the future. After all, you live close by, so it’s convenient to visit each other.”

Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi and the others all respected Madam Xu very much, and upon hearing this, they all nodded in agreement.

After everyone had exchanged enough pleasantries, Madam Xu took the lead in boarding her carriage, and the various madams and young ladies also boarded their carriages. Ren Yaoqi got into Madam Xu’s carriage.

When the carriage started moving, Ren Yaoqi said gratefully, “Thank you very much, Madam.”

Madam Xu looked at her with a gentle smile and said, “It’s just a small matter. Speaking of which, you’re still my lifesaver. What does it matter if I give you a helping hand? You don’t need to thank me. Just live your own life well in the future. The madams and young ladies who came today all have very good temperaments. If you interact more with them regularly, it will never be wrong.”

Ren Yaoqi quickly agreed.

Madam Xu was a person of profound learning, but Ren Yaoqi could also be considered an excellent student under famous teachers, having read extensively. So along the way, chatting with Madam Xu, the two of them could find common topics and even had a very pleasant conversation.

Ren Yaoqi’s insights surprised Madam Xu and made her appreciate her even more. After all, at Ren Yaoqi’s age, there would not be too many people in this world who could keep up with Madam Xu’s thoughts and conversation.

The carriage soon arrived at White Dragon Temple, and Ren Yaoqi personally helped Madam Xu down from the carriage.

White Dragon Temple was not unfamiliar to Ren Yaoqi, and these madams and young ladies also seemed to be regular visitors here. The group was familiar with the way throughout their journey.

Madam Xu led the various madams to offer incense and donate incense money, then took them to listen to the master’s Buddhist teachings. Madam Xu had an open-minded nature and did not make Ren Yaoqi and these young ladies follow along, sending them off to play on their own.

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua then went off with Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi, and the others.

Several young ladies walked around White Dragon Temple, chatting about local customs and culture along the way. These young ladies might not all have been born into great families, but because of their scholarly family backgrounds, their conversation was all very elegant. Even Ren Yaohua found their talk interesting rather than boring.

Later, when they got tired from walking, they had the temple’s guest monk arrange a small courtyard for them, where they drank tea, chatted, and played chess, which was quite leisurely and comfortable.

After Ren Yaoqi won a game against Liu Menghan, she got up to give her seat to Chen Zhiyi, but discovered that Ren Yaohua, who had originally been sitting behind her, was no longer there.

Ren Yaoqi asked Pingguo, “Where is Third Sister?”

Pingguo replied, “Third Young Miss needed to use the facilities, so she took Sister Xiangqin and the others out. Since you were playing chess at the time, Miss, Third Young Miss didn’t want to disturb you.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi nodded and said nothing more.

Ren Yaohua had indeed gone out because she had drunk too much tea and needed to use the facilities, but she had not expected that on her way back, she would encounter Zeng Kui halfway.