Years later, the snowflakes still floated gently down from the sky, but they were no longer as bold and expansive as before. It seemed that they too had been worn out by the excessive labor of the New Year's celebrations, and now appeared more delicate and slender. Jiang Wan made her first quiet exit through the back door of the Jiang family after the New Year, walking along with the crowd without any covering on her head. She listened to people talking about their happy experiences during the holidays, smiling silently whenever she heard something joyful. Whenever she came across unhappy conversations, she quickened her pace and left those who were still enthusiastically chatting.

  She walked while looking and listening to people talking, gradually arriving at East Street, following the crowd, and walking to Chayi Yipin. She saw from afar the shop assistant Xiao Er's sincere smile, standing at the door, welcoming guests from all directions. When Jiang Wanru arrived in front of the store, Xiao Er looked at her and, as usual, used hand gestures to ask for numbers, then smiled and greeted her saying: "Miss, you haven't come for some days, was there a lot going on at home during the New Year?"

  Jiang Wanruo had been meeting with Chu Xiao and his wife at the Tea House No. 1 for two or three years. The shop assistant, Xiao Er, was always enthusiastic about serving customers, and his words of welcome were always just a few sentences, but they could touch people's hearts. Jiang Wanruo was moved by this, and when she occasionally heard that Tea House No. 1 was recruiting staff, her heart skipped a beat. She thought that Fang Zheng was a sensitive person who understood how to read people's expressions, and if she could come to Tea House No. 1, after some time, she would definitely be able to help out greatly.

  Jiang Wanru was taken aback for a moment when she heard Xiao Er's words, which were not the usual polite phrases. She smiled and nodded, saying: "During the New Year, there are many guests at home, I couldn't go out casually. Xiao Er Ge, now that we've met, let me wish you a busy every day and may you always be in the good graces of your master." As she spoke, she handed him a few copper coins. Her eyes caught sight of the shoes on his feet, which were clearly made by Ji Yan.

  The shopkeeper took the copper basin from her and said in a low voice, "Tell Manager Zhang to prepare for another few days, and have Xiaoshi go upstairs to attend to the noble guest." After finishing speaking, he smiled at Jiang Wanru and then greeted the guests behind her, saying, "Third Master, it's freezing outside, come in quickly and warm up." Jiang Wanru had already walked into the shop, and she saw Fang Zheng in the main hall with a smile on his face as he listened to the guest speak. She went upstairs, and when she turned back, she saw Fang Zheng turning around with a smiling face to greet the approaching guests.

  When Jiang Wanru entered the private room, Chu Xiao and Chu Yang were talking. Seeing her come in, Chu Yang enthusiastically stretched out his hand to shake hers, but Jiang Wanru dodged and said: "Sister-in-law, I just came from outside and my hands are still frozen, I don't want to freeze you." Chu Xiao looked at them with a smile and said to Chu Yang: "This is Xiaolan's excuse. She doesn't like physical contact with people too much." Jiang Wanru heard this and raised her eyebrows, saying: "Big brother, sister-in-law is not an outsider, I am very happy to be close to her."

  Chu Yang nodded in extreme agreement: "Your elder brother and you both make sense. You don't mind getting close to me, but that also requires sitting together for a while. Only after you understand that I am your sister-in-law can you naturally get close to me." Jiang Wanyu listened to the couple's words and thought about how she had rarely been close to Jiyan over the years.

  Jiang Wan's eyes were somewhat disheartened, these years Jiang family's indifference and lack of concern towards her had affected her, making her personality more subdued and cold. In her past life, she was a famous person who got along well with friends of the same sex, often hugging when they were excited. With friends of the opposite sex, when they talked enthusiastically, she would pat them on the shoulder to show affection. But in this life, she had no family, not many friends, and among the few people close to her in the Jiang family, there was a master-slave relationship, with more respect than intimacy.

  She glanced at Chu Xiao and Chu Yang, regardless of the reason why Chu Xiao recognized herself as a sworn brother that day. Over the years, he and Chu Yang have become almost like her family members. Chu Xiao often pays attention to his own studies, while Chu Yang pays attention to etiquette, sometimes pointing out actions that are not up to standard, which makes Chu Xiao shake his head and say: "You're too worried, Xiaoye's home is definitely going to let her enter an ordinary person's home, you don't need to teach her so many extra things."

  Chu Yang often smiled and nodded in agreement, but afterwards she would carefully point out her mistakes. Behind Chu Xiao's back, she said: "Little lazy one, men don't understand. No matter what kind of family background you have, when you marry into a new family, you're always an outsider at first. After marriage, no matter how your husband's family treats you, pay attention to etiquette and be careful in your actions. If you do this, even if your husband's family can't find any major faults with you, they'll think of your thoughtfulness when things happen in the future and will tolerate you a little more."

  Jiang Wanruo didn't have time to understand these things in her past life. In this life, she wasn't old enough to comprehend them, and there was no one around her who would teach her. She listened to Chu Yang's words and knew that he had thought deeply for her own sake, and she felt a deep gratitude in her heart. The disappointment in Jiang Wanruo's eyes couldn't be hidden from the two people in front of her. Chu Xiao smiled and glanced at her, saying: "Little Lazy, do you know what the most widely spread phrase is in the capital city recently?"

  Jiang Wanru's words attracted Chu Xiao's attention, and he immediately looked at Chu Yangshi with a smile, hoping to get her hint. Chu Yangshi smiled at her without saying anything, and she smiled back at Chu Xiao. Jiang Wanru could only think carefully, recalling the conversations they had along the way, and then shook her head and said: "Brother, why don't you just tell me? The capital is so big, and there are so many people. If I keep guessing like this, I'm afraid I won't get an answer even by tomorrow."

  Chu Xiao said with some annoyance, "Xiao Lan, your name suits you well. You were born to be a lazy person." Chu Yangzi glanced at Jiang Wanyan's speechless face and smiled at Chu Xiao, saying, "Husband, you can't attack someone based on their name. If the name is wrong, it's the fault of Xiao Lan's parents. What kind of name is 'Lazy Person'?"

  Jiang Wanru was left speechless, this name was her parents from her past life, a cherished expression. When Chu Xiao asked for her name, she blurted out: "My name is Jiang Xiaolan. The river that flows endlessly is the 'jiang', and 'xiao lan' means a little lazy, because I have a bit of laziness in me." Only after saying her name did Jiang Wanru realize how deeply she missed her parents from her past life, but they had long been separated, never to meet again.

  Chu Yang looked at Jiang Wanru with a furrowed brow and smiled, reminding her: "What your brother said isn't new news, it's been circulating since last year. It's not surprising that Xiaolan didn't think of going anywhere." Chu Xiao glanced at Chu Yang, who had exposed the truth, and smiled, saying: "Your sister-in-law is right, it's not a new thing. Xiaolan, we even mentioned to you twice last year about the marriage between Wangfu and Jiang's foolish daughter. This year during Chinese New Year, we heard some new news. Alas, poor Jiang's foolish daughter, she's already foolish, and yet her family sold her out."

  Jiang Wanru heard this and accepted the way Jiang's family used her with a sense of resignation. She thought about the various rumors on the streets about this matter, thinking that only these two people in front of her would be able to give her a good explanation for the doubts she had buried deep in her heart. Jiang Wanru leaned forward, speaking in a low voice: "I heard that it's because the young prince of the Wang Manor has an illness, so he couldn't help but marry the foolish Miss as his official wife, and use this to cover up the matter."

  Chu Xiao spat out a mouthful of tea, which sprayed directly at Jiang Wanru. Jiang Wanru immediately jumped down from her stool and dodged the incoming "tea rain". Chu Xiao pointed at Jiang Wanru with one hand, taking a long time to say: "You also believe in this matter." Then she loudly said to someone outside: "Zhù, instruct someone to come in and clean up the table, and bring new tea as well." Chu Yang's wife covered her mouth and bent over laughing so hard that she couldn't lift her head. Chu Xiao started smiling, then shook her head after a while and said to Jiang Wanru who was standing beside the table: "You used to dress up as a young servant for too long, you've heard all sorts of dirty talk with your ears, now you can even ask this kind of question."

  Chu Yang led the shop assistant in, quickly tidying up the table, replacing the tea set with new ones and refilling the teacups. After the door closed, Chu Yang raised her head and said: "Xiao Lan, show me the etiquette I taught you." Jiang Wanru followed her cue, performing the etiquette movements correctly. Chu Xiao and Chu Yang looked on, nodding in satisfaction at each other.

  After Jiang Wanru sat down again, Chu Yang said: "As for etiquette, I can teach you everything. As for managing the household, every family is different, and this cannot be taught to you. I'm afraid that if I lead you astray, it will affect you later on. Your sworn brother said that you already know how to calculate accounts and read ledgers. In managing the household, the most important thing is accounting, which you understand. As for other things, you can slowly figure them out as you go along. Some things can be done according to the old rules of your husband's family, and they won't be wrong. If you really don't understand something that isn't important, just put it off for a few days, and we'll discuss it together later."

  Jiang Wanmu nodded and smiled at Chu Yangshi, saying: "Thank you, sister-in-law, for your trouble." She turned to Chu Xiao and said: "Sorry, brother, about the matter you mentioned last time, I was delayed for a while and only now finished it. Brother, tomorrow you personally go to Youjian Bookstore to get the letter from the owner. I told the owner about your appearance, so only you can pick it up in person."

  Chu Xiao looked at Jiang Wanru in surprise and said, "Xiao Lan, last time I just casually mentioned it as a request, I knew it was difficult to achieve, so I've already given up on it. This time, I was thinking of telling you not to waste your efforts trying to ask people for us. But now that I hear the tone of your voice, it seems like you have an especially good relationship with him. People say that except for the owner of Jiangu Shu, no one knows who he is. You've managed to get his handwritten letters multiple times, so he must trust you a lot. Xiao Lan, if there's an opportunity, introduce me to him and let's become friends. I won't reveal his identity either."

  Jiang Wanmu looked up at Chu Xiao and said, "Alright. When she feels safe, I'll make sure she meets you and sister-in-law." Chu Yang heard Jiang Wanmu's tone and examined her expression, asking, "Is he a man? How old is he? Is he married?" Jiang Wanmu smiled wryly and looked at her, saying, "Sister-in-law, you're thinking too much. However, I implore brother and sister-in-law to keep this secret for my safety, no matter what."

  Chu Xiao gave Chu Yang a glance and said, "Women are just too anxious." He cautiously told Jiang Wanru, "Don't worry, I and your sister-in-law aren't people who speak carelessly." Chu Yang's face slightly flushed with redness as she said, "Xiao Lan, pretend you didn't hear that. Fortunately, there are no outsiders here. Xiao Lan has always been proper in his actions."

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  Hard study