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Nanny Jin became more pleased with this young apprentice. She picked Ling’er up directly. The first day without classes was over.

Realizing this, Qiao Mai couldn’t help but laugh. She believed it wouldn’t be long before Nanny Jin became a foodie under Ling’er’s guidance.

Qiao’s Small Eatery had dozens of varieties, so there was no way to taste them all at once; they had just started.

Regarding teaching, Qiao Mai never interfered or questioned. Everything was up to Nanny Jin. She only cared about the results.

Nanny Jin arrived late, and the steward hadn’t prepared any New Year’s clothing for her.

Qiao Mai took note of her measurements and ordered two sets of new clothes with matching boots, which she had delivered to her by Yue Hong.

In two days of being with the Qiao family, Nanni Jin felt the warmth and extraordinary nature of its members.

It went without saying about Old Mistress Wang, who not only took Qiao Mai as a granddaughter but treated her so well, which was even more unusual.

With her household running smoothly, the servants actively took on tasks. There was a great sense of unity, making this a truly rare household.

She felt that her choice was right; this family was not ordinary from top to bottom. And so, Nanny Jin’s heart was settled.

As the New Year approached, she didn’t start teaching Ling’er.

She had made a pact with Ling’er to wait until after the New Year before starting her education. For now, she would spend time with Ling’er, getting to know each other better and making their future lessons more convenient.

Yuan Jiaqi returned on the morning of the 29th. He arranged matters at the court and the official residence before hurrying home.

Upon arriving home and changing his clothes, he paid respects to Old Master and Mistress Wang.

When he saw only Old Mistress Wang present, he was puzzled. Upon inquiring, he found that Old Mistress Wang, despite her age, had run back from the city within just a few days due to Qiao Mai’s affairs.

Yuan Jiaqi was delighted to hear that Ling’er had found a teacher, but he had not met Nanny Jin because he was a man.

At noon, Qiao Mai had the kitchen prepare a sumptuous meal for two reasons:

to welcome Yuan Jiaqi, to welcome Jinmama, and to celebrate Ling’er having found a teacher.

The twin brothers and Chuan’er arrived at this time to pay their respects to Nanny Jin and brought her gifts. They all hoped Ling’er’s teacher would treat her well and pass on all their knowledge to her.

Even Qiao Mai, Yuan Jiaqi, and Old Mistress Wang did not come empty-handed. They also brought many gifts for her.

In this family, Nanny Jin felt the strongest sense of warmth.

The warmth was not only in the house but also in the hearts of the people. Their words and actions exuded warmth.

On the thirtieth, all households hung up couplets and set off firecrackers to welcome the New Year.

The old couple from the Qiao family came over to Lucky Garden again, but this time, they knelt at the gate, crying their hearts out. Their cries attracted the local onlookers and the old Yuan couple.

The old Yuan couple had come to see if there were any leftovers they could get a piece of. Seeing the Qiao couple, they felt they might be able to get something.

So, these four elderly knelt at the front gate, hoping their children would soften their hearts upon seeing them kneel and maybe give them a few taels of silver for the New Year.

The Yuan family wasn’t short of money or food, but the Qiao family was. This year, they hadn’t faced any disasters or hardships. Yet when the New Year approached, they felt financially strained.

Looking at how their daughter’s family was eating well and living comfortably, even giving away good food to others, the Qiao couple couldn’t stand it

anymore.

They didn’t knock on the door; they knelt in front of the gate. If their daughter’s family didn’t acknowledge them, then they, as parents, would kneel and let them decide.

This was a stubborn matter. Without Qiao Mai intervening, Mayor Qian sent guards to arrest all four of them and immediately brought them to county court, throwing them into the prison.

Inside the prison, they didn’t lack food and drink; they could manage and save some resources for their family. It was a bit worse than being at home, especially during the winter, but the food was still edible and didn’t go rotten.

Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi didn’t care about their reputations. If they did, they would have compromised a long time ago during all the previous troubles.

However, Nanny Jin felt something was amiss when she heard about this incident. She didn’t discuss it with others but raised it with Old Mistress Wang.

Old Mistress Wang thought that if Nanny Jin was to live in the Qiao family for her whole life, some matters needed to be clarified to avoid misunderstandings. She then revealed the background of both sides.

Nanny Jin was shocked after hearing it. “Goodness, someone who could haggle over silver, mistreat their son, torment their daughter-in-law to death, and then sell their son to make money, they’re truly ruthless!”

“Yes, even so, Jiaqi was not unkind to them. When he cut ties with them, he gave them a hundred taels of silver. You know, the old-age relief fund in the village is just a bit over a tael per year. With that hundred taels of silver, they could have lived comfortably for the rest of their lives. Moreover, the Yuan family has two elders and four sons, which means they received over a hundred taels after dividing it among themselves. There was no need to cause trouble. It serves them right.”

“Madam Qiao has it hard. Her parents can’t dictate her marriage after she married and left her parents’ home.”

“Yes, the first time they sold her, it gave the Qiao family a hundred catties of grain. She didn’t owe the Qiao family anything anymore. The second time, she had just escaped from the Tian family and owed a lot of money to Shopkeeper Lu, and her health hadn’t even recovered. Yet her parents wanted to sell her again. She gritted her teeth and borrowed money from Shopkeeper Lu to cut ties with them. Her parents took the money without a second thought and signed the papers. It didn’t take long for them to return and make trouble for her again.”

“These two are unlucky to have parents like that.”

“Indeed, that’s why you shouldn’t get involved in her family’s matters. Don’t talk about it with others either. Just focus on teaching Ling’er well.”

“You are right. I was meddling too much.”

“Even the officials find it hard to decide family affairs. Legally speaking, once you’ve cut ties, that’s it. But in reality, they’re still their parents. Which parents don’t want their child to do well? They’re like that, always coming to make trouble, one for their own sake and the other for their two sons.’

“Women have it hard. They’ll stop bothering her only when they die. Otherwise, it will never end.”

Old Mistress Wang looked at her, noticing the profound sadness in her eyes.

“Did you encounter unpleasant things after returning home from the palace?” Nanny Jin nodded and wiped her red eyes with a handkerchief.

“I stayed in the palace for several decades and saved some money. When I returned home, my parents were no longer in this world, and my three brothers had already started their families.”

“So, who did you live with?”

“I felt that living with anyone was inconvenient. I wanted to buy my house and live alone, but my sisters-in-law were insistent. They persuaded me to stay with them, but I wouldn’t have refused if they were sincere. I spent so many years in the palace; I can easily see through people, and they were only after the money I had.”

“Ah, you’ve had it quite tough.”

“My three brothers looked at me with no familial affection at all. How could I get along with such relatives? So, I inquired at the broker center if there were any good families. I’d rather teach someone else’s child than return home and see their faces.’

“Yes. You’ve come to the right place here; just stay comfortably.”

“I’ve noticed that Madam Qiao is a capable person. If I follow her, I’m sure I won’t go wrong.”

“That’s right. She looks at Ling’er like the apple of her eye. The fact that she entrusts Ling’er to you means she values you. You should teach her well.”

“I like that girl too. She’s exceptionally clever. I heard the kids in the house aren’t her biological children?”

“Yes, that’s true. But she treats them like they’re her own. If you show her genuine care and affection, she’ll treat you like family.”

“Thank you for your advice, Old Mistress Wang.”

However, the governor of County Yi was startled when he heard about this matter.

“Good heavens, County Governor Yuan is ruthless; he actually sent his parents to the prison. Haha! This is going to be the talk of the town.”

His mentor muttered something in his ear, and County Governor Zhu rolled his eyes..