Taohua turned back, acknowledged with a sound, and bounced over to Shen Zaiye, blinking her eyes as she asked, “What’s for dinner today?”

Ever since discovering that Shen Zaiye was an excellent cook, they started taking turns preparing meals. Today was Shen Zaiye’s turn.

“Do I need to think about how to please you?” Shen Zaiye glanced at her and said, “It’s all meat.”

Delighted, Taohua stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek before following him out.

With the new arrivals in the residence, whom Shen Zaiye didn’t seem to like, and after hearing the specifics, Taohua didn’t plan to force Shen Zaiye to forgive them. She instructed Qingtai to send some food to them in the west wing and then left them be.

At the dining table, Shen Zaiye’s face showed no emotion. While eating meat, Taohua asked him, “Should we send them somewhere else?”

“Whatever,” Shen Zaiye replied. “They’re all strangers to me anyway.”

He was used to being cold-blooded. What did blood relations matter? They had abandoned and cursed him, obstructed him. Now that the dust had settled, they came talking about blood being thicker than water. He didn’t want to acknowledge it.

Noticing his tightly pressed lips, Taohua smiled and reached out to squeeze his hand.

“There’s a nice house in the town below the mountain. Little Hu’s mother said the owner has been selling it at a low price recently. Why don’t we buy it for them to live in? It’s far enough from the mountain that you won’t have to see them if you don’t want to, but close enough that it’s only half an hour away if you do want to meet.”

Shen Zaiye paused, looked at her, and nodded. “Alright.”

When young, everyone might feel that family isn’t important. He had things he couldn’t let go of, and Taohua didn’t want to force him. But she feared he might regret it, that he might miss his family when he was old, so this arrangement was the most suitable.

After lunch, Taohua took Qingtai and some silver to speak with Shen’s father and the others. She explained the situation, to which Shen’s father snorted lightly, “Do we look like we can’t afford food and came to find him?”

Taohua indeed looked carefully. Their clothes were certainly luxurious and they didn’t look disheveled, but the garments were somewhat old, probably worn for a long time. The Shen family must have once been a prestigious clan; even without official positions, they wouldn’t starve.

However, their glory days were surely numbered.

“This decision isn’t out of pity,” Taohua said. “It’s because the mountain and water here are nice, and you should be comfortable. My husband and I enjoy the quiet on the mountain and can endure the cold, but you and these children can’t. You need to be in a warmer, livelier town. There are many things in town, and those of you with free time could even open a small shop to experience the joys of common life.”

“In the end, it means he still refuses to return to his ancestral roots,” Shen’s father frowned. “As his wife, don’t you know how to persuade him?”

Taohua smiled politely. “As you said, I’m his wife, not anyone else’s. Of course, I’ll support him. I never force him to do things he doesn’t want to do, nor do I constrain him with grand principles. If it weren’t for the fact that you gave him life, allowing me the chance to meet him, I wouldn’t be speaking to you so politely now.”

Thinking she was a meek and easily manipulated young wife, the old man was displeased to find her so difficult. “If he doesn’t enter the family records, you won’t be in the Shen family genealogy either. You won’t be recognized by the Shen ancestors. Is that alright with you?”

“It’s fine,” Taohua said. “As long as I can be buried with him when I die, that’s enough. The family records aren’t that important. If he doesn’t want to be in them, I don’t either.”

“You…” the old man angrily slapped the armrest. “Where did he find a woman so similar to himself!”

“We met by fate,” Taohua grinned. “Don’t get too angry, old sir. Go down the mountain to cool off and think about why you came here and what you should do. My lord is tough on the outside but soft on the inside, but if others’ sincerity isn’t enough, his heart won’t soften either.”

Stunned, the old man looked at her with a complex expression, thought for a moment, and then went down the mountain.

The Shen family had brought over twenty people. The house at the foot of the mountain could barely accommodate them. While saying she didn’t want to care for them, Taohua was busy arranging everything. Fortunately, the Shen family’s young masters weren’t lazy and could manage the two shops diligently. After observing for a while, Taohua felt this family wasn’t too bad; at least they were a proper scholarly family who did things methodically.

They just liked to preach about grand principles and righteousness, going on endlessly. Taohua thought it was no wonder Shen Zaiye couldn’t stand it; even she found it hard to bear.

However, Shen’s father was indeed sincere in wanting Shen Zaiye to return to the family. Once they settled in, they often sent things up the mountain – sometimes cured meat, sometimes game. They would make soup and have his younger brothers bring it up, which left Shen Zaiye silent.

Taohua noticed that he always refused to eat these things, but when she left, peeking through the door crack, she saw him reluctantly and disdainfully taste a few bites.

Food made by family still tastes different, doesn’t it?

One day, as Taohua was habitually about to run down the mountain, Shen Zaiye grabbed her.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he frowned. “Let that group of people go as far away as possible.”

“Why?” Taohua was surprised.

“You’re always running out,” Shen Zaiye said unhappily. “Can’t you just quietly keep me company and read for a while?”

Her eyes rolled quickly, and Taohua smiled knowingly. She immediately jumped onto him and hung there, smiling sweetly. “Then why don’t you come down the mountain with me? The mountain path has been difficult lately. I even sprained my ankle yesterday!”

“Where did you sprain it?” Shen Zaiye was startled, reaching out to touch her ankle. Taohua quickly dodged and clung to him, whining, “Never mind that. Today I just want you to come down with me!”

Helplessly amused, Shen Zaiye held her. “Can you stop using this trick? It’s been so long, it’s getting old!”

“Old tricks aren’t afraid of being used as long as they work!” Taohua blinked. “Shall we go?”

No one in this world understood Shen Zaiye better than her. This man had an incredibly gentle heart, and warming it was truly a simple matter.

As the sun set, they stood together at the gate of the Shen family residence. The door opened, and Shen’s father was stunned. He pressed his lips together, silent for a long time, before speaking in a hoarse voice, “You’re back? Your sister-in-law has prepared hot dishes. Come in, wash your hands, and eat.”

His eyes flickered slightly. Shen Zaiye responded softly, put his arm around Taohua’s waist, and stepped inside.

(End of Chapter)