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In the blink of an eye, May arrived. The weather in the north was dry and hot.

The two drinks at Qiao’s Small Eatery, Passion Fruit Ice Juice and Yogurt Ice with Fruit Bits, sold like hotcakes.

Customers who came to the shop to enjoy these two beverages were a constant stream, and selling a cup of yogurt was more profitable than selling several pounds of fruit. Gradually, yogurt became synonymous with Qiao’s Small Eatery.

When one mentioned Qiao’s Small Eatery, people naturally thought of these drinks.

When one mentioned these drinks, everyone thought of Qiao’s Small Eatery.

Since entering May, the daily turnover at the snack shop was consistently over a few hundred taels of silver. Many affluent families’ sons and daughters rushed in carriages for a cup or two.

Thanks to these drinks, Qiao’s Small Eatery gained a reputation in Wei City.

It used to have some fame, but now it has a lot.

Every time Yuan Jiaqi returned, passing by the snack shop, he felt that his wife was excellent at doing business. Their snack shop’s earnings could rival those of several dozen other businesses.

This time, he returned home and would stay for a few days, letting the official messengers take the tree seedlings back first.

In the evening, the couple talked about Chuan’er’s relatives after their exercise.

“A few days ago, Feng’er and Yun’er’s relatives came to visit. What about Chuan’er’s?”

“They’re gone. They only had one daughter, who married into our family. After she died from childbirth complications, they fell ill and passed away.”

Qiao Mai breathed a sigh of relief, “It’s good that no one from your side is looking for us.”

“A few of my brothers went to the county to find me, wanting a job.’

“You gave it to them?”

“Yes, but I set a condition. They are not allowed to mention any relationship with me. Otherwise, I’ll fire them. And your two brothers also came to see me.” “You hired them too?”

“They just want to earn a living with their hands. As long as they don’t try to benefit from our reputation without working, why can’t we help them?”

Qiao Mai didn’t grumble further, hoping that Yuan Jiaqi’s good deeds would be rewarded, as not everyone was grateful.

“Don’t buy more wasteland in the future,” she said after a pause.

“I won’t. We already have a lot of uncultivated land.”

“Too much is hard to manage.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve divided the land among laborers. They’re all nearby, so it will be easy to manage.”

“How long does it take to grow the crops?”

“By the end of June, it should be about done.”

Yuan Jiaqi looked at her belly. “Did you take contraceptive measures? Why haven’t there been any signs yet?”

“No, it should be because of the complications during my premature birth.

Maybe I won’t be able to have children anymore.”

Yuan Jiaqi thought about how she would never have a biological child. He hugged her, feeling sorry for her.

“It’s okay. Even if we don’t have children, I will always be devoted to you, just like now, and treat you well for a lifetime.”

“Having children is just a way to prepare for old age. We have a few children in the family; that’s enough. When we have them is fate. We can’t force it.”

“Yes, yes.”

Although Yuan Jiaqi felt a little regretful, having no children together had its advantages.

At least she wouldn’t have to endure the pain of a ten-month pregnancy, the agony of childbirth, and the troubles of raising children.

The children were growing up.

Thinking of the brothers, Yuan Jiaqi said, “They are growing up so fast. Feng’er and Yun’er are both fourteen now. In our village, isn’t it time for them to get engaged?”

“For boys, it’s not urgent. Let them establish their careers before getting married. We can choose a good partner for them when the time comes.”

“Chuan’er is eleven, and Ling’er is seven. Time flies. In a few years, we’ll be in-laws.”

Listening to this, Qiao Mai couldn’t help but think about the trouble that would come with matchmaking, betrothal, and the dynamics between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Just thinking about it made her feel overwhelmed.

She closed her eyes and said, “Let’s get some rest.”

The next day, the couple had some free time and decided to go for a walk.

As soon as they stepped out of the house, they saw firecrackers being set off in front of Mayor Qian’s house, with red wedding banners hanging at the entrance. “What’s this?”

Coincidentally, Liu Hai came out to serve noodles to guests and saw Qiao Mai. “Cousin, cousin-in-law, good morning!”

“Good morning. What’s happening at Mayor Qian’s house?”

Liu Hai whispered, “It’s for Lu Ruxin’s wedding. She’s marrying into a prominent family from City Shuang down south. The groom is an accomplished scholar, and their relationship with the Qian family is good. Moreover, he’s a Tribute Scholar. His wife just passed away not long ago, so…”

“I see.”

Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi went hand in hand to sit in front of their shop and were served two cups of yogurt by the staff.

Yuan Jiaqi had a taste and liked it.

They sat, watching the groom’s wedding procession approaching. They took away Lu Ruxin, and her dowry consisted of more than ten carts.

Lu Sanniang had just gotten married at the end of March, not even a year ago, and now Lu Ruxin was leaving the Qian family. It felt like a dream.

When Mayor Qian and his wife came out to send her off, Lu Sanniang cried uncontrollably. But when she saw Qiao Mai, she immediately wiped away her tears and walked over with her husband.

“Sister, I’m sorry. I didn’t have anyone invite you for this. I was afraid you wouldn’t be pleased.”

“I understand. How’s the man she’s marrying this time?”

Mayor Qian chuckled, “He’s good. Although he lost his wife, he’s a good-looking man with an education, a good family background, and a good character. He’s also a scholar, and our relationship with his family is excellent.”

“That should ease Sister Lu’s mind. Have you two taken the medication as instructed?”

“We have. We’re following your instructions.”

“Why didn’t you host a banquet for your daughter’s wedding?”

“We decided not to. I’m getting old, and Sanniang is not that young anymore. We didn’t want the hassle. Spending more on her dowry is better than anything else.”

“Are you really that open-minded?”

“Of course. Why not? How about you two? Any developments?” Yuan Jiaqi blushed. “Let’s just go with the flow.”

“Have a few more children; your family can afford it anyway.”

Qiao Mai gave them a sidelong glance, “Don’t be smug. I’ll still have more children than you.”

“Hmph!”

Just then, Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang were called away by their servants. They had a few guests at home. Not having anyone for the wedding was a bit embarrassing.

A muffled thunderclap rang through the sky, and raindrops started to fall.

The rainy season in Tianshui Town was approaching, and the crops in the fields were already well-grown. This rain was timely, saving the commoners from having to water them again.

Pedestrians on the road hurriedly ran for shelter, but the rain was not too heavy. It was a fitting day for Lu Ruxin’s wedding.

In the row of shops where Qiao’s Small Eatery was located and inside the school’s cool pavilion, many people sought refuge from the rain.

Thinking about the Chen family in the capital, Qiao Mai couldn’t help but remember the Qu family in County She.

“Is Miss Qu okay?” she casually asked.

Yuan Jiaqi was momentarily surprised. “I don’t know. I’m not concerned about her. There are so many things to do every day. By the way, there’s something important I need to talk to you about this time.”

“What is it?”

“There may be a war in the north. Supplies have been sent to County She in the middle of the night.’

“A war?”

“The canal has just been dug to our side, and if a war breaks out, the court will prioritize the canal. If the north falls, County She will be in danger. The commoners have just started to have a slightly better life.”

“Don’t worry. With me around, I’ll go to the enemy camp and bring back the enemy leader’s head. You won’t be in any danger.”

Yuan Jiaqi thought she was comforting him. After all, all military officers were top-notch fighters, and even though his wife had good martial arts skills, she was not the best in the world.

“What I mean is that this year, the price of grain may rise, and grain taxes will follow suit. The court will increase troops at the northern border and will pass through this official road. Please tell your people in the shop to be cautious.”

“What do you mean?”

“Although I am an official of the court, I dare not say that all the soldiers in the army are good. Wife, you should understand.”

“I understand. With me here, you can rest assured.”

“This war will be a protracted one. The court’s treasury is not full to begin with. ”

Qiao Mai patted his shoulder, “Just do your best as a county governor. You’re neither a military general nor a strategist. As long as your people are safe, you don’t have to worry about the enemy troops getting out of control.”

“Comforted by what my wife said, I feel so much at ease!”