Shen Mu Qing's words had just fallen when several people's faces changed color.

  "Is it one hundred taels? Does the young lady want to spend one hundred taels of silver to marry Zhu Yu?"

  "Alright, let's set aside 50 taels for her as a dowry, and use the rest to buy things for her - don't use my old stuff anymore. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, it should be done with some fanfare." He got up and opened a trunk, taking out two 50-tael bars of silver ingots and handing them to Ying Fen: "The money is in your hands now, you keep track of the accounts."

  Lu Meizhong and the others were all moved, Yingfen even wiped away a tear, laughing: "I'm not worth it at all, Miss clearly knew I was going to comb my own hair, but still gave me this private silver as a sendoff. Clearly she just wanted to swindle that share from me."

  Shen Muqing knew that Ying Fen was feeling sad about the atmosphere in the house, so she deliberately made a joke to cheer her up. She naturally cooperated with Ying Fen and said: "Yes, if you really want to be self-sufficient, don't say I won't give you this hundred taels of silver. The child's three-month-old birthday gift, the tuition fees for school, the red envelopes for the children's weddings in the future... all can be exempted... You just calculate this account carefully for me."

  "Alright, let's get on with it! Miss, why don't you divide up this silver now?"

  Luo Mei and Ming Xia both burst out laughing.

  Only Jing Bi looked at Shen Mu Qing with a serious expression and said: "Miss, can we really take care of ourselves?"

  Everyone looked at Jingbi with sympathy.

  Shen Mu Qing let out a sigh and said seriously, "Alright, it's fine. Don't mention this again. Life is long, we should have confidence to live until 80 years old. If there isn't a suitable one, you can stay by my side. If there is, then get married. You all can rest assured that I won't casually marry you off."

  Luomei, Yingfen and Ningbi all nodded in agreement. But Mingxia's eyes turned red as she lowered her eyelids.

  "Mingxia, you go take a look at Jingxiu tomorrow."

  She wants to be beside Mr. Min. The most important thing is to take good care of herself. Otherwise, even if I have the opportunity to send her over, would I still let Mr. Min take care of her?

  Ming Xia's eyes lit up and she choked out a cry of "Young lady".

  "Some things I can help you with. But you also need to put in some effort yourselves."

  "Don't worry, Miss. Zhu will be fine." Mingxia hastily assured Shen Muqing.

  Luo Mei and Ming Xia also showed a relieved smile.

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but secretly sigh in her heart.

  At first when they just entered Shen's house, unfamiliar with the surroundings, Zhuji who was quiet yet gentle gave them selfless care, this might be the foundation of their friendship. But on life's journey, there are too many temptations... hoping that the deep feelings between them can continue to last...

  She shook her head and put these thoughts aside for the time being. Laughing, "Alright, let's not digress anymore - today is about discussing Zhu Di's matter!" Everyone burst out laughing at this.

  Ying Feng urged Jing Bi: "Quickly tell us what we should buy for Zhu Ji's sister?"

  After all, they are all young girls, and the Zhu Ji who came out to get married like sisters also rejoiced for her, and the joy naturally flowed in their words and deeds.

  "Two small boxes, one large and one small, a set of washbasins, a pair of oil lamps, two sets of tea utensils, two sets of 36-piece bowls, a nine-grid or twelve-grid storage box, plus vases, teapots, tea canisters, fruit boxes, oil boxes, spittoons, mirror stands, large and small scissors, red and green feather dusters..."

  "Stop, stop, stop!" Shen Muqing hastily waved his hand, "Make a list, make a list!"

  The young lady smiled and said: "You have to make a list for everything."

  This is a habit formed after work.

  "Follow me and learn from me, yet you still have so many complaints!"

  Jing Bi was very nervous as she stared at Shen Mu Qing, seeing the smile in her eyes, and Ying Fen, Luo Mei and Ming Xia were not afraid at all, only then did she realize that Shen Mu Qing was playing a trick on Ying Fen.

  She couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

  Since she arrived at the Shen residence, she had meat to eat every day, and not only did she start growing taller, but her previously irregular periods also became regular. The rough-serving mothers in the girls' quarters even reported this specifically to Wang Mama... She was scared to death. Wang Mama thought she was frightened by the changes in her own body, so she comforted her, gave her a packet of brown sugar, and told her what to do... At that time, she felt guilty towards the Shen family. So when she saw the young lady in difficulty, she couldn't help but say a few more words. Unexpectedly, the young lady was also a clever person, and immediately discovered that something was wrong with her... She almost implicated Yunfen, who had always been serious about teaching them etiquette... Fortunately, the young lady was kind-hearted, and several sisters pleaded for her, or else she really wouldn't have known what to do in the future.

  Now seeing Ying Fen and several others chatting and laughing with Shen Muqing like sisters, Jing Bi couldn't help but feel envious.

  Treat girls with sincerity, treat sisters with sincerity, one day, we can also have a good laugh together!

  Thinking of this, Jingbi revealed a long-lost smile.

  Ying Fen and Ming Xia smiled at Shen Mu Qing with a "heh heh".

  Luo Mei, however, had her own concerns. She advised Shen Muqing: "Miss, you still have to go pay your respects to the madam early tomorrow morning, so let Yingfen and the others draft the list here, why don't you get some rest instead?"

  Shen Mu Qing thought for a moment. Indeed, the draft is ready, and it's time to start purchasing. Tomorrow will likely be even busier. She nodded and said: "Luomei, you stay with me, and let Yingfen and the others work on the drafts. Once we've reviewed them with Madam, we can begin buying things."

  Several people nodded in agreement and Lu Mei went to serve Shen Mu Qing who had gone to rest.

  Ying Fen then pulled Qin: "You'd better be careful not to miss anything, this bill is for the madam's review."

  Ming Xia came up with an idea: "Why don't I secretly find Li Mama... she used to be in charge of this matter..."

  "Ah, you're in cahoots with her now," she said with a snort. "Aunt Chen has taken to using that little Xianglian every day, keeping an eye on us all the time. Don't think you can fool me."

  The next morning, Shen Muqing sent the three panda-eyed men to sleep and went with Luo Mei to Li's place with the list they had drafted.

  Shen Muqing took out the list after greeting Li's family.

  "......one porcelain statue of Fu Lu Shou with colored glaze; a pair of tin wax; a tin oil lamp frame; a pair of potted landscapes with glass covers; a pair of large ceramic dustpans, each inserted with red and green chicken feather dusters..."

  Li said with a snort of laughter: "Even the color of the chicken feather duster has been written down?"

  The maid in the house also accompanied Li's smile.

  Shen Mu Qing said with a hint of grievance: "Can't this feather duster be bought with money? I used my own money, and it should be out in the open!"

  "You little money grubber," Li said, tapping her forehead, "who does this resemble?"

  Shen Mu Qing chuckled and sat down beside Li Shi.

  Wang's mother said on the side: "Of course she looks like a lady!"

  Li raised an eyebrow, and Wang's mother had already handed her the list: "Take a look, take a look. For one night, what to buy and what not to buy are all clearly written down. You're used to being in charge at home, I think even if you were to handle this yourself, it wouldn't be as efficient as the young lady." After finishing speaking, she couldn't help but glance at Chen Yiniang standing behind Li.

  Li's mouth corners rose in a smile, apparently very much in agreement with Wang Mama's words.

  Dai Dashuai came to pay his respects and had breakfast. Li Shi kept Shen Muqing behind for a conversation.

  "...Luo Mei and Zhu Ji, they've all been with you for many years. But as the tree grows bigger, its branches spread apart; as people grow older, families branch out too. They can't stay by your side forever. Now that Zhu Ji is married to Bai Mu, she can still continue serving you, but some people may not have this good fortune, it's just fate..."

  Shen Mu Qing listened to these words as if they had a hidden meaning, and his heart skipped a beat.

  Does Madam Li want to marry off someone around her? Yesterday, she was helped by Zhou Guan Shi to support Madam Li's intention. If she still supports Madam Li today, she might be thought by some people that the mother and daughter are not harmonious... Thinking of these, she felt a little anxious in her heart, and smiled to probe Madam Li: "In the future, can't we just marry off all the girls like Luo Mei to people within our family?"

  "It's naturally good to marry someone from a good family. But if there's someone even better, we can't stop you, right?"

  "Who does Madam want to marry off to someone outside?"

  "Master said that Mr. Qin's place is short of a servant," Li said with a smile. "I think Jinzhu has a gentle temperament and is good at needlework, so I thought of sending her over..."

  It was this matter after all!

  It seems that Old Master had already talked Li into it last night.

  Shen Mu Qing let out a big sigh of relief, feeling that the weight on her heart had been reduced by another block. She smiled and said: "Madam scared me to death! I thought you were going to marry off Luo Mei or Ying Fen to someone outside the family! Going to Mr. Min's place is no different from being at home!"

  Li saw Shen Muqing speaking with a naive tone, hesitated for a moment, and said seriously: "Muqing, Jinxiu is going to be Mistress Min's concubine."

  Shen Mu Qing was taken aback: "Mr. Min, did he agree?"

  Li smiled and said: "Although it hasn't been said yet, such a beauty is given to him, he can't disagree!"

  In the flash of insight, Shen Mu Qing suddenly understood.

  Mr. Min and Shen are actually interdependent. Shen needs the support of the Min family's children who have made a name for themselves, while Mr. Min needs Shen Zhen to help him go further in his official career. Sending brocade is no longer a matter of being beautiful or not, liking or not liking, but an attitude...

  "She couldn't help but say: 'Then, Mrs. Min...'"

  "We still understand this rule," said Li with a smile. "It's not the time to send it over yet. The old master will first write a letter to ask about the Min family's intentions. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Jinzhu also needs to learn some rules. Even if we go back, it would be next spring... Mr. Min's honors should have been obtained by then..."

  Although Shen Zhen sent the brocade for his own sake, it can also be said that he favored himself by choosing the brocade. As for Jin Zhu, having such an ending is also a case of seeking benevolence and getting benevolence, seeking righteousness and getting righteousness.

  Shen Mu sighed quietly in the darkness.