The life swap begins with Consort Hua becoming Lady Qin.

That evening, Wang Rucheng returned from outside, carrying a letter in his sleeve.

A letter from the eldest son's wife.

The first thing to talk about was the ancestral worship ceremony for parents this year. Although they were in the Northwest, the ancestral worship and the sacrifice of the fields could not be neglected. Wang Rucheng was instructed to take care of it as usual.

Then she asked the third aunt a couple more questions, saying that the child had been sent to Sichuan for some time now, and wondered how he was doing, whether he was eating well, and whether he was sleeping soundly.

Zhou Wanru was making clothes for Langhua. The child's height was like a willow branch in spring; she had grown taller in no time. The few small clothes she had brought with her were either too short in sleeves or too tight around the waist.

But she loved to run around wildly with her two mischievous boys, and even the best fabric couldn't withstand her constant teasing.

She left the outer garments to the maids to make, but she felt more at ease making the inner garments herself. Children's skin is the most delicate, especially young ladies' skin, so she had to use the softest material and carefully hide the stitches.

Both the eldest and second sons were like this from childhood, so naturally the third daughter would be no exception.

Hearing her husband's words, she paused in her actions.

"That's it?"

"That's all."

She looked up at her husband, then asked, "Did your sister-in-law send me any letters privately?"

Wang Rucheng shook his head.

Zhou Wanru patiently asked again, "Was there anything else that came with the letter?"

"Regular holiday gifts, and some for my parents..."

He didn't say anything more, because he saw that his wife's face had completely fallen.

He even gave a cold laugh.

"You have nothing? You're just worrying about whether Third Sister is eating well or sleeping well, with an empty mouth? What if I say she's not eating well or sleeping well?"

Wang Rucheng quickly tried to cover for his elder brother and sister-in-law: "Elder brother and sister-in-law have only been in the Northwest for a short time, and things are still unsettled. It's understandable that they might have made a mistake."

"A momentary oversight?" Zhou Wanru immediately exploded: "Are all the housekeepers and maids around her just sitting around doing nothing? Her own flesh and blood is being fostered thousands of miles away, and someone even went out of their way to deliver a message, yet she didn't even have time to send a couple of things? Even a packet of candy, a pair of silk flowers, or a rattle drum would be a mother's gesture, letting the child know that she also has parents who care about her!"

She grew angrier and angrier, throwing the scissors angrily to the ground: "No matter what you say, she just doesn't love Chong San Niang!"

Wang Rucheng was speechless for a moment, then coughed lightly and said, "Let's not talk about my sister-in-law. Look at this letter, I can see that my brother still cares about Third Sister after all."

Zhou Wanru let out another cold laugh: "Of course. What man wouldn't care about his own flesh and blood?"

"No matter how much you care, it's still the same. After all, they weren't born from your wombs after ten months of pregnancy. When they're young, you ask them how they are doing, when they grow up, you help your sons find a good path for themselves, prepare a decent dowry for your daughters, and if you live a long life, so that your daughters can rely on their husbands' families for a few more years, that's enough.

Wang Rucheng neither responded nor dared to.

Zhou Wanru didn't want to say anything more; some things, if said too bluntly, could hurt people.

I simply picked up the half-cut garment and shook it.

"Look at her, Third Sister has only been here for less than half a year, and she's already changed her clothes twice. I've already used up all the fabric she brought with her, and every piece she made after that was one we added ourselves. If her mother cared even a little, she would have known to bring some new fabric for the child, even if it was just for show, I would respect her for her thoughtfulness. But she's really just abandoned the child completely."

Thinking of this, Zhou Wanru felt angry again and said bluntly, "You don't need to mention these things in your reply. Don't make it seem like we can't afford to support a Third Sister. Just tell Big Brother that Third Sister is eating well, sleeping soundly, and is very happy here with us. She no longer complains about wanting her parents."

"But young ladies will eventually grow up and choose their own husbands, so it's time to start thinking about finding a female tutor."

"No matter what the children are like, as their own parents, we must do our best and exert all our efforts."

Wang Rucheng nodded repeatedly.

"That's only right," he said. "We have to let Third Sister know that her biological father... still cares about her after all."

Zhou Wanru raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, clearly indicating her disbelief, but she didn't refute it further.

How can one not think of it? Blood is thicker than water; how can one distinguish right from wrong?

However, even these thoughts vary in importance.

Some of them, when they think about it, wish they could tear their hearts out;

Some people remember it, but only when they have free time; they might ask a question, and when they're busy, they forget about it.

……

Langhua was unaware of the conversation taking place inside the room.

She was under the eaves at the time, watching her two cousins ​​argue heatedly over a bamboo dragonfly, and she watched with great interest.

The wind in Sichuan is lively; if it blows for a long time, it can really make people forget some of their past troubles.

But life always goes on.

Spring goes and autumn comes, the pomegranate tree bears fruit and sheds its leaves.

Langhua turned six and it was time for her to begin her formal education.

The female tutor was never found, and Zhou Wanru felt that her limited knowledge might lead her niece astray.

Wang Rucheng was busy with the family business and couldn't spare the time.

After much deliberation, they asked the old scholar who had taught Wang Shinian and Wang Shi'an to teach San Niang as well.

This, however, marked the beginning of a tumultuous chapter in the lives of the two brothers, Wang Shinian and Wang Shi'an.

The two of them dreaded the sight of books; holding a pen felt like holding a hoe, and reciting texts felt like going to the execution ground.

On the first day Langhua arrived, she sat to the side and, after listening to the words only once, was able to memorize most of their shapes.

The old scholar would casually mention a classical allusion, and she would remember it the next day, even asking a couple of unexpected questions.

When it came time to actually pick up a pen and practice calligraphy, Langhua waved her small hand, and the old scholar was stunned on the spot.

He turned around and went to find Wang Rucheng.

In the evening, Wang Rucheng, carrying a page of large characters newly written by Lang Hua, chased after Zhou Wanru to the backyard, his face beaming with joy.

"My wife, come and see!"

Zhou Wanru, who was carrying two dried chili peppers, turned around upon hearing this and said irritably, "What is it now?"

"Look at this." Wang Rucheng handed over the paper, his tone brimming with pride: "Our Third Sister is truly a hidden talent."

Zhou Wanru took it and was stunned.

Although the characters on the paper are childish, they are quite well-formed, with all the parts intact, without missing any parts or being separated!

Not to mention the naughtiest Erlang, he is far better than Dalang, who has been in school for five years!

She stared at the paper for a long time before finally saying, "...Did Third Sister really write this?"

"It's definitely not the eldest son and the second son!"

"She's only been there for one day!"

Zhou Wanru exclaimed in shock.

"It's not surprising." Wang Rucheng wasn't flustered at all. When it came to this, he knew more about it than his wife: "My eldest brother was like that back then. When he entered school, he shocked the teacher. The teacher insisted that my parents had given him early education, and it took a lot of persuasion to explain it to him."

Wang Rucheng's voice abruptly stopped.

The couple looked at each other, unsure whether to be happy or worried.

The eldest brother, Wang Ruli, was the most successful person in the family for generations. He entered officialdom through the imperial examination and was a meritorious official who changed the status of the Wang family in one dynasty.

After him, everyone in the clan hoped that another scholar would emerge, even if his talent was not as outstanding as his elder brother's, it would still be good if he could pass the imperial examination.

Once someone can enter the imperial court and become an official, the Wang family will truly rise to power.

Unfortunately, neither his elder brother's eldest son, Wang Shiping, nor his own two brats could be considered mediocre.

It's just a pile of mud!

The couple were lamenting last night, wondering why their eldest brother's brilliant mind hadn't been passed down even a fraction of it.

Only now do we realize that it has fallen on the youngest, the third sister!

But how could a mere young woman like Third Sister take the imperial examinations and become an official?

The couple sighed deeply.

From then on, she became extremely strict with her two sons!

In the past, if you couldn't concentrate on your studies, that was fine. But now, you're not even allowed to leave the house, you can't even stroll around the yard, and you even have to memorize a book before you can eat any meat.

The two brothers felt utterly miserable.

Wang Shinian, with a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, squatted in the corner and sighed deeply: "I just don't understand, where do all these books come from to learn? Even sages are too well-fed. If only they were starving and could grow crops in the fields, they would be doing good deeds by writing fewer books."

Wang Shi'an also looked worried: "How did my sister's brain develop? Did she secretly grow two extra brain lobes at night?"