Chapter 168: Shopping Can Relieve Stress

Look at what you said, before the family's business was helped by Ru'er I still had time to go out; now it's just me, the lord is an official and can't meddle in business, I'm so busy I have no time?

Zihan comforted her, "Mother, you still have a son; the son helps you manage together."

This time everyone realized that Zihan was truly getting better, and, delighted, they all looked at Qiao Mai.

The medicine you gave really works!

I'm not a Daifu; someone told me about this medicine's effect when they gave it to me, so I let him try it—if it works, that's fine. After he finishes that bottle, I'll ask that person to buy another.

I'll have 20% of the Wang Family's business profits delivered to you each year, — Wang Zongsheng said sincerely.

No need, I don't seek anything from you, and I'm not short of money.

That's precisely why we treat you as kin of the Wang clan; you must accept it—20% to Shun Prince's Residence, 30%.

You aren't giving it to the Main Family?

When this was mentioned, the Wang family's faces darkened, "We won't give it! Even if we were to give them a token amount, we won't; it's too oppressive."

To put it bluntly, she never regarded the Wang family in Weicheng as home; she took Jixiang Yuan as her own home long ago.

Looking back, indeed, aside from some items they could make themselves, things like the imported fruits and vegetables were all sold out.

Jiaru pursed her little mouth and glared at him, "Who told you to like me? If you didn't like me, I'd still be carefree in Weicheng, hm!"

We walked slowly on the road; otherwise we could still see him. No rush—he'll be back by the end of the month anyway.

In Tianshui Town, it's not only the Qiao family busy; every household is occupied. In the golden autumn, some people, following the Qiao family, also began stockpiling goods.

Uncle, will the Little Prince be back by the end of September?

How does it feel like I'm the one being picked up, while Qiao Niang is actually their biological child?

Quickly put up a sign at the shop entrance, collect firewood and charcoal, and make sure the charcoal is good.

She cried loudly, and Qiao Mai gave her a good rebuke.

She hurriedly sent someone to the annex in her courtyard to move fruit, basket after basket, beautifully named, which seemed to be brought from outside but were actually harvested from a space she had pre‑taken and stored there.

Qiao Mai led the way onto the carriage; the children who came also said goodbye to Jiaru.

Wang Zongsheng and his wife felt helpless; as they passed the house gate, even their own parents didn't linger, and they directly ordered the driver to push the carriage forward without looking back, following Qiao Mai.

Yes, Master!

Qiao Mai's mouth twitched, "Alright, then I'll accept it. When shall we set off home?"

The next day, Qiao Mai had Yuehong and Yuexia tidy up; she went to South City, saw another group of disaster victims arriving, but their number was small.

Honestly, she has a space and a shopping platform; she really doesn't fancy these ancient things.

Alright, Master.

On the morning of departure, Jiaru and Little Prince came to see them off; Ru'er hugged this one reluctantly, hugged that one reluctantly.

Sure enough, shopping relieves stress; no wonder women shop when they're happy or sad—it's truly satisfying!

Master, everything at home has been fine this month; after the Yuan Family and Qiao Family caused a commotion once, they haven't returned.

But after going to the capital, we must bring back some gifts for everyone.

Shopkeeper Niu finished cataloguing all the goods and reported the month's household situation to Qiao Mai.

Qiao Mai got up, left the shop, checked the Poultry House, saw nothing amiss, then returned to rest.

Having been away for over a month, the shop's stock was certainly depleted and needed replenishing.

So obedient!

This time Wang Zongsheng went back together, and many guards joined the journey.

Qiao Mai divided the brought gifts into several portions and sent people to the Lu Family, Qian Family, and Qin Family.

What's different? You're in Weicheng, I'm in Tianshui; you haven't come to my house in half a year, yet we're still fine, right? No need to be sad, let's go; if you think of something just write a letter, let's go, go.

Don't think Bichun Garden is the old lady's home; she never considered this place her home at all.

What are they making a fuss about?

When we learned you were taking your family out, they tried to take advantage of the gap; I had people drive them out. They tried to accuse us to the authorities; after the officials arrived and understood the situation, they left. My subordinate decided, giving each official ten taels of silver, and the matter was settled.

After Qiao Mai finished arranging, she settled all the hired carriage accounts, walked around the house, and began making preparations.

Both times she went for relief under the old lady's name.

She hired two carriages, which finally brought everything back home; the old lady was stunned, realizing that having money means not caring about anything.

She felt that as long as she's with the Qiao family, she eats well, sleeps well, and has enthusiasm for everything.

She also prepared two small gift packs, sent them to Liu Ye and Liu Hai, and asked them to bring them home.

Really, stop crying. In the future, when you're in the capital, I'll have more chances to visit; if you're not here, where would I go? Besides, when we're in Weicheng, you can spot chances to return, making our comings and goings interesting.

The day after tomorrow, then. You've also been out for a while; the house has a pile of matters waiting for you. The sooner you return, the sooner you'll be at ease; the children have fallen behind on their studies, so go back and catch up quickly.

Then, irritated, she got onto the carriage, and Little Prince just liked her that way, finding it cute.

The Wang party left the capital on September 21 and arrived home on October 3.

With her return, everyone instantly had a pillar of support.

Upon arriving home, everyone felt completely relaxed, each lying on the kang and doing nothing but sleeping.

When they came, there were five carriages; when they left, there were eight, because the Wang family had also received many gifts they were preparing to take back.

At the mention of returning, everyone except Mrs. Wang felt a yearning to go home, eager to get back and comfortably rest for two days.

So the disaster victims only knew the First‑Rank Imperial Mandate's Lady Pang, not Qiao Mai.

Alright, then tomorrow we'll pack.

Auntie, don't cry; my mother is capable. When you want something to eat, write a letter and my mother will get it for you and deliver.

That's different.

Yes, Master!

Hmm, if they come again, remember, these two families and the Tian family of Taohua Village—no matter who shows up, if they cause trouble we'll beat them, I'll take care of breaking arms and legs.

One by one they said goodbye to her and got on the carriage, watching the carriage go far away, Jiaru couldn't bear to turn around and go back.

"Ru'er, shall we go home?"

There was no time to dispatch more food, so the family gave out twenty‑five Taels of Silver, letting them figure out how to go into the city to buy grain; the disaster victims in North City were arranged the same way, presumably they heard of a benefactor's relief and came for that.

Shopkeeper Niu shook his head, "They all think it's too expensive."

"They've returned, stayed at home for two days, helping with a lot of chores each day; the household servants all say uncle is excellent."

It's October, the autumn harvest is approaching, and our own Strawberry should be seeded and the soil prepared.

The next day, everyone resumed their usual routine.

They also got on the carriage, coaxing along the way, and only then did the two finally get along.

"Why hasn't anyone asked about those few shops in our Nantian?"

"Oh, then we won't rent them; whoever comes we'll say they've been rented out."

Afterwards she went to various famous shops in Jingcheng—food, drink, clothing, goods, entertainment—and as long as there was money in her pocket she kept buying, spending with great pleasure.

Before winter arrived, she needed to purchase large amounts of firewood and charcoal, stockpiling as much as possible; she had to arrange all of that.

Making Persimmon Cake is a task you can pick up at a glance; every household that collected persimmons was making cakes.

This year the Qiao Family didn't make them; they only harvested a lot of peanuts, Corn, chestnuts, and also many sweet potatoes, storing everything in the Qiao Family's empty small courtyard.

For some reason, it was only mid‑October, and people had just brought the field crops home.

Early in the morning a frost fell, the temperature dropped sharply, and the cold was unbearable.

(End of chapter)