After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Xiong Feng carefully memorized everything Su Tai said, then rose again and bowed deeply.

"I have benefited greatly from your words, Auntie. I will always reflect on myself when I get back and live up to your teachings."

From the moment she entered, Madam Niu looked bitter and resentful, her expression tense and silent. She had expected Su Tai to make things difficult for Xiong Feng, and she was prepared to exchange insults with Su Tai.

She was completely bewildered from the moment she sat down.

She could understand some of what Su Tai said at first; it was just reminding her grandson how to behave. But what was she talking about later? What did that "jackal, wolf, tiger, leopard" thing mean? And why was Su Tai helping her grandson? Shouldn't she be bringing up old grievances?

Unable to understand, Niu was deeply conflicted and unsure how to even begin to speak.

Seeing that Madam Niu hadn't said anything, Shen Xi took the initiative to run up to Su Tai and act coquettishly, "Auntie, can you help my brother, the county magistrate, find a wife?"

"Cough cough cough," Xiong Feng choked on Shen Xi's shocking words, coughing several times, his handsome face gradually turning red. "Xi'er, don't talk nonsense."

Shen Xi looked aggrieved. "I wasn't lying. Grandma asked us to help."

Xiong Feng sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

Su Tai took a sip of tea, concealing her smile, and asked leisurely, "Do you have a woman you admire in your heart?"

Niu was startled; in her anxiety, she forgot to ask.

No, that's not right. It wasn't that she forgot to ask, but rather that she instinctively didn't want Xiong Feng to choose his own wife. Back then, she let her son have his way in everything, and he even changed his mind about the marriage on a whim. And what was the result? What kind of jerk did he end up marrying?!

If only my son hadn't broken off the engagement.
Niu's gaze fell on Su Tai. Even though she didn't like Su Tai, she had to admit that this woman was not simple. She just sat there without saying a word, but no one dared to ignore her. She spoke in a series of sentences that Niu couldn't understand. The rise of the Shen family was largely due to this woman.

Niu took a deep breath and shook her head secretly. She couldn't think about it anymore; the more she thought about it, the more upset she would become.

Xiong Feng paused, thought for a moment, and then bowed again, "Yes!"

Everyone looked at Xiong Feng.

Mrs. Niu pressed on incredulously, "Who? How come I didn't know you had a girl you liked?"

She was with her grandson before he took the imperial examination, and she could guarantee that he didn't fancy any girl at that time. Could it be that he met her in the capital?
Xiong Feng pursed his lips. "It's Miss Ke Mingyue from the Ke family."

Su Tai's pupils dilated, and she abruptly looked up. "You've taken a fancy to Mingyue?"

Ke Mingyue is Ye Chunhua's daughter and also her cousin. The Ke family has been doing well on the ice plains for years, so Ke Dasong was determined to marry his granddaughter to them. Two years ago, he even brought several of his grandchildren over and asked Su Tai to send them to Ke Yunyun's side.

Su Tai naturally didn't refuse the favor, and once she knew the children had safely reached the capital, she stopped worrying about it.

Xiong Feng nodded emphatically, "When I was in the capital, I ate and lived with Cong Rong and Yong Zhang. I went wherever they went. I saw Sister Mingyue a few times at Lord Tang's residence. Her birthday is in autumn, and Madam Tang will arrange her marriage after her birthday." Su Tai understood, glanced at the bewildered Niu Shi, and slowly lowered her eyes, "Since you are so interested, you should write to ask her yourself. I will put in a good word for you when I go to the capital. I can't guarantee whether it will work out or not."

Xiong Feng was overjoyed and thanked him again.

After Su Tai handed him the things, he took his leave with Niu Shi, not daring to disturb her any further.

It wasn't until they were in the carriage that Madam Niu spoke up unhappily, "Why are you so respectful to that woman? I've never seen you treat any elder with such deference, let alone your mother."

Although she disliked Mo Chunxiang, she felt uncomfortable seeing Xiong Feng's completely opposite attitudes towards Su Tai and Mo Chunxiang.

Xiong Feng lowered his eyelids and laughed mockingly, "Grandma, do you think my mother deserves my respect? You know how she has treated me all these years. If it weren't for the fact that I am her son, she would probably have ended up in the same situation as Xi'er."

My parents have wronged Uncle Shen and Aunt Shen, but they have not held a grudge against me. Over the years, I have been alone in the capital. They know that I am with Cong Rong and Yong Zhang, and they always include me in the things they send to the capital.

The value of the gifts is secondary; the important thing is the sentiment. From clothing, food, and shelter to gifts for social interactions, Aunt Shen was just giving me advice on how to establish myself in Zhaohua County—to exchange sincerity for sincerity. Isn't it only natural that I respect Aunt Shen?

These words left Niu speechless. Before Niu could speak, Xiong Feng murmured, "Sometimes I really envy Congrong. He has a mother who loves him so much and considers him so thoughtfully. As for my mother... let's not even talk about her."

For more than a month, Mo Chunxiang also lived in the back hall of the county government office, but he never took the initiative to visit her.

Mo Chunxiang made a fuss every day, wanting to see him and asking for this and that. She was also very rude to the servants. Fortunately, Niu Shi kept her in check. Whenever she made a fuss, Niu Shi would rush over and either whip her or slap her, trying her best to make Mo Chunxiang behave.

Mo Chunxiang was quite unruly. She became obedient after being disciplined, but within two days she reverted to her old ways. If Niu Shi didn't intervene, she would become even more outrageous and seek out self-torture.

Because of Mo Chunxiang's antics, he didn't like going back to the back hall of the county government office. Except for going to the back hall to accompany Niu Shi for three meals a day, he spent the rest of his time in the government office.

Hearing her grandson's words, Niu felt even more heartbroken. Her nose tingled and her eyes immediately reddened. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't spoiled your father so much, he wouldn't have broken off the engagement and married such a troublemaker as your mother. Not to mention Su Tai, any woman in our village is better than your mother!"

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Feng'er, what's the deal with that Ke family girl you just mentioned? What's she like? Let me tell you, you can't judge a girl by her looks alone. Your father was blinded by your mother's face back then; you should learn from that."

Xiong Feng looked helpless. "Grandma, don't worry! Although the Ke family sent people to the Tang family, they never intended to take advantage of the Tang family. They bought a small house in the capital, next to the Tang family, and also set up a small estate in the suburbs to raise cattle and sheep."

Whenever she had free time, Miss Ke and her siblings would go to the Tang family to learn about human relationships and how to manage household affairs from Madam Tang. Occasionally, they would accompany Madam Tang on outings, but the rest of the time they would work on the estate.

I heard from Cong Rong that Miss Ke and her family earned quite a bit just by selling cattle and sheep, and supporting themselves was not a problem.

My admiration for Miss Ke stems from her independence and self-reliance. Furthermore, she is intelligent, kind-hearted, and true to herself.

He remembered the first time Ke Mingyue came to the Yong'an Marquis's residence. The young girl was clearly unsophisticated; she was stunned by the mansion's wealth and grandeur as soon as she entered, her eyes darting around, unsure of where to look. (End of Chapter)