Chapter 283: Not Just a Good Mouth

"Mother, if we open a shop in Jingcheng, will the goods sell well?"

"As long as our family's goods are good, they'll definitely sell well, and they'll fetch higher prices than what's sold here."

"Hehe, then the daughter's dowry will be arranged by the daughter herself, right?"

"Yo, you're that young and already thinking about marriage?"

"Anyway, when the age comes, she'll marry; preparing early saves trouble."

"Haha, the New Year is coming and my baby is already twelve, hmm, not a child anymore."

"Mother, I'm leaving; that uncle won't be watching me anymore, right?"

"He, still staring at you?"

"Yes!"

Qiao Mai looked seriously at Ling'er and asked, "Have you ever thought about finding your biological parents?"

Upon entering the Keting, the Steward began ordering the servants to serve tea, then instructed the kitchen to prepare meals, to welcome the Master and freshen up.

At the same time, Jixiang Yuan was also bustling; the kitchen added two more cooks, both nearly thirty, who only now began to prepare.

"I hope you won't just say it."

The duke's wife, who had been nagging, finally fell silent when she heard the in‑laws had sent New Year goods.

"Is there no time to be happy?"

Yuan Jiaqi smiled sweetly as he talked with her, his expression showing the sincerity of his words.

Now the Guogong Fu is still not her domain.

"Understood, Mother."

Even if she didn't say it, Yuan Jiaqi also reminded Fengyun that in the Imperial Court there are scheming and intrigue, and colleagues' conspiracies are hard to guard against, so they shouldn't attend social gatherings; after official business, they should return home.

Not long after, Yuan Jiaqi and his brother Fengyun returned one after another; they never socialized with drinks outside because Qiao Mai had told them that official matters should be discussed publicly, with no need for private talks—once private dealings begin, it's almost like forming a secret faction, and the old emperor is very suspicious.

The two brothers were very obedient; as soon as they finished their duties they went home, and just as Qiao Mai stepped into the doorway, they returned.

Qiao Mai raised her hand, and Ling'er's small hand slapped it, the mother and daughter thus clapped hands as a vow.

But this duke's wife, while eating cheerfully, didn't utter a single kind word.

"Yes, but did the husband freeze them all back?"

Mu Guniang tasted the long‑missed food and was overjoyed; the duke's wife kept glancing at her, while everyone else ate happily, the Old Duke, the Zhen Guogong, and the children all raised their cups.

Jin Mama watched with teary eyes, almost shedding tears; there are many loving mothers in the world, but a progressive mother like Qiao Niang is rare, especially a progressive adoptive mother.

"Mother, I swear, whether I can find my biological parents or not, I will be filial to you, respect you, and never make you angry again."

"Not only do you have a good mouth, but you also show with actions, dear, that in this lifetime I am yours alone, no one can ever replace you."

"Really?"

The Zhen Guogong glared at her, then rushed out to look; he truly loves Qiao Family's food, unable to put any of it down.

Even so, this is still a feudal society; the father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law are her elders, and if she dares to defy even once, they can hold a shrine ceremony to expel her.

Moreover, on his side it's also the woman's side; they must wait for the groom's family to send gifts before returning gifts, otherwise it's considered impolite; prominent families all observe this.

And Yun'er, he's now very eye‑catching; many families admire him and want to marry their daughters to him as a primary wife.

Especially Feng'er, at the critical moment of the grand wedding, must not encounter any mishap.

From icy snow to bone‑chilling dampness, they endured it all.

Qiao Mai settled the bill with the coachmen, tipped them, and then led Ling'er and Jin Mama inside.

But there was no hurry; most things were ready, just a bit of arranging and a few simple motions were enough.

When the Qiao Family's gifts arrived, the Zhen Guogong Fu set a table at noon, filled entirely with food made by the Qiao Family.

Ten freight carts followed them, forming a long line; they arrived in the afternoon.

"I have thought about it, but not too much, because I realized that even if I met my biological parents, I could never find anyone as good to me as you, Mother, so I decided not to think of them; this is fine as it is."

At this moment, one must choose carefully; never bring a troublemaker into the family, otherwise there will be no peace.

When she saw this mansion, her jaw dropped; this residence is one of the top in Jingcheng, and for Qiao Mai to purchase it requires immense wealth.

Yuan Jiaqi, seeing there were no outsiders, reached out and pulled Qiao Mai.

Finally, they arrived in Jingcheng; Ling'er seemed younger the last time she came, and upon seeing again, her little mouth was stretched like a melon blossom.

Indeed, the South is inferior to the North when it comes to making dumplings; it's especially inconvenient.

The old lady, watching Yuan Jiaqi's gaze on Qiao Mai, sat for a moment and then left with the old master; the three Feng Yunchuan brothers also took the hint and ran off.

The two didn't hold back their anger, but the Old Duke and Old Lady Defender Duke glared at their daughter‑in‑law, and she dared not act any further.

"Mother, Jingcheng is so grand, so magnificent, so huge!"

The old master, the old lady, and Chuan'er, upon hearing they had returned, all ran out to welcome them.

"Indeed, I keep a stern face, as if they owe me money; do you think they'll continue?"

The next day, on the twenty‑seventh day of the twelfth month, Qiao Mai instructed the Steward to take five of the ten carts of goods that had been unloaded yesterday and deliver them to the Zhen Guogong Fu.

Watching Yuan Jiaqi speak earnestly, she nodded, thinking to herself that time is the best medicine, whether it's a good or a poisonous one.

"I can heat a bath for my dear, so that I, your husband, can feel the affection of an ordinary couple; you and I are both passionate, an experience many men never enjoy."

The carriage moved slowly along the road; Jingcheng is not the far south, but lies in the central region of the Ming Emperor's realm, so news from all directions can be promptly delivered.

Having received the in‑laws' gifts, the Zhen Guogong Fu's gifts were already prepared, and they hurriedly sent people to deliver them.

"Dear, you've worked hard; return and I'll heat some water for you to wash, then rest early?"

"Haha, even if your face is frozen, it's still gentle."

"Indeed."

Qiao Mai sat beside him, looking at him, and asked, "Is it a grievance for you to serve me a bath?"

When they arrived at Jixiang Yuan, the main gate swung open; people inside came and went, well‑trained, and upon seeing Qiao Mai and Ling'er, they began unloading the carriage.

She's grown this big and has never seen anyone treat adopted sons and daughters so well.

"Never mind, anyway, I don't want anyone else as my husband; I only want my wife. If the wife doesn't want to be my husband, then I'll castrate myself, never give any woman a chance, and never let my wife be disappointed."

"Hmm, from now on you'll live here. Remember, when dealing with people here, you must keep a few wits about you; the people here are all shrewd."

People don't know, but Jin Mama is very familiar with Jingcheng.

Gourmet food and fine wine are truly a divine enjoyment; there's no better in‑law than this.

The couple hand‑in‑hand returned to Yuexian Pavilion; the Main Courtyard still had no outsiders. Yuan Jiaqi, this first‑rank official, personally went to Xiaochufang to boil water.

"In the month plus I was away, did anyone throw themselves into my arms?"

After the meal, Jin Mama took Ling'er back to Xian Yue Ge; even the Young Master was exhausted from the long trek.

"Fine."

When Qiao Mai heard that, her lips curled, "Hehe, don't just have a pretty mouth."

The family sat together, chatting and laughing, while the bustle outside continued.

Fortunately Qiao Mai has means; both warehouses were turned into Ice Kilns, the wrapped dumplings all frozen inside, ready to eat and cook at any time, just like in Tianshui Town.

Whenever the cooks have any difficulty, Qiao Mai resolves it immediately.

As a matriarch, the first priority is to ensure the family eats and drinks well; everything else is secondary.

Celebrating the New Year in Jingcheng for the first time naturally calls for richer preparations; it's fine if the five carts brought aren't enough—she has a Platform, whatever's missing she can buy, there's nothing you can't imagine, nothing you can't eat, nothing you can't drink.

She, having higher cultivation, naturally has greater daring; she brings out something rare, and besides her own family's consumption, she isn't afraid.