Sold immediately after wearing it? I took my family and fled the famine.

The New Year is over, and it's time for Xiao Niu to go to school in the prefectural city.

When Jiang Xing bought that small courtyard in the prefectural city before the New Year, Zhang Shi was still complaining that this girl was getting more and more extravagant, spending several hundred taels of silver in just one trip.

But now that Xiao Niu is really going to study in the prefectural city, that courtyard has become the most reassuring thing.

As Zhang tidied the calf's clothes, she said, "Luckily, there's that yard, so you'll have a place to stay when you get there. I was just worried that you wouldn't eat or sleep well alone outside."

Little Niu neatly arranged the books in the bookcase, then looked up and said, "Grandma, aren't Uncle Qian and Madam Song coming with me? With them taking care of me, what are you worried about?"

Madam Zhang sighed, "Grandma is getting old and just likes to worry unnecessarily. Did you pack enough food for Xing'er's journey?"

Early that morning, Old Sun drove the carriage to the gate of the courtyard, and Xiao Fang and Qing Ye unloaded the prepared items onto the carriage one by one.

Just then, Madam Hu leaned out from next door, holding a red paper packet in her hand, and walked over with a big smile: "Jiang girl, Xiao Niu is going to the prefectural city today. Could Su Mei ride with you to the county town? She also has some errands to run. Don't worry, I won't ride for free. Here's the fare." As she spoke, she stuffed the red paper packet into Jiang Xing's hand.

Jiang Xing didn't take it, only saying, "It's on my way, no need to pay for the ride. Let her get ready and come over."

Mrs. Hu smiled so hard her eyes narrowed into slits, and said repeatedly, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." As she said this, she naturally put the red paper packet back into her sleeve.

She turned and called out to Su Mei in the courtyard, then hurriedly ran back to urge her on.

Not long after, Chen Sumei came out. She was dressed carefully today, wearing the new light red dress given to her by the Xu family, with a light-colored cloak over it. Her hair was neatly combed, and her silver earrings swayed gently in the morning light.

She called out to Jiang Xing in a soft, gentle voice, and then nodded to the little calf.

"Sister Sumei," Xiao Niu returned the greeting respectfully.

Jiang Xing didn't say much, only instructing Lao Sun to put the luggage away properly.

Chen Sumei lifted her skirt and got into the car, followed by Xiao Niu. They waved to Zhang Shi and her third uncle. Zhang Shi stood at the door, her eyes reddening again, and was persuaded by her third uncle to go inside first.

The carriage moved at a leisurely pace. Xiao Niu was reading a book, Jiang Xing was leaning against the carriage wall to rest, and Chen Sumei sat quietly to the side, clutching a handkerchief in her hand, occasionally lifting the curtain slightly to look outside.

Upon arriving in the county town, Chen Sumei got off the car at the town gate, thanked Jiang Xing, and then walked towards the jewelry shops, lifting her skirt.

She first went to the largest jewelry shop in town. As soon as the shop assistant saw her clothes, his smile was brighter than a flower. He bent down to welcome her in and hurriedly brought out jewelry boxes: "Miss, look at this silver bracelet with inlaid silk. The quality is so good." He then pointed to the pearl earrings next to it, saying, "These are newly arrived pearls from the East."

Chen Sumei sat on a high stool and slowly looked at each item one by one. She looked at the silver bracelet, then the jade hairpin, and finally pointed to a pair of earrings inlaid with red agate and asked.

The shop assistant quoted a price, but she didn't say whether she would buy it or not. She just asked him to wrap it up and said to write it down so someone else could pay later.

The shop assistant hesitated, so Chen Sumei smiled and said, "The jewelry is still in your shop. I'll bring some people to pay for it before I take it away. It's not like it'll run away."

Hearing Chen Sumei say this, the shop assistant muttered to himself for a moment before going to wrap up the jewelry.

After leaving the jewelry shop, she went into a fabric store, picked out several bolts of brightly colored fabric, and told the shopkeeper to wrap them up first. Seeing her demeanor, the shopkeeper knew she was a wealthy woman and didn't dare to neglect her.

Chen Sumei browsed through several shops, her eyes glazed over from all the choices, before her legs started to ache. She then went into a teahouse and sat down by the window.

The teahouse was filled with the faint scent of osmanthus blossoms, and the waiters diligently served hot tea and snacks. Chen Sumei sat for a while, then felt a little sleepy, so she rested her chin on her hand and watched people come and go outside the window.

After waiting for half an hour, Xu Yun still hadn't arrived. She was getting a little tired and was about to get up and leave when a clear, cheerful voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Several young students walked in together, all wearing blue robes from the Fucheng Academy and student badges hanging from their waists, chatting and laughing as they walked up to the second floor.

Chen Sumei had already stood up, and her gaze swept casually across the area, but she seemed to be nailed to the spot.

The person walking at the front was wearing a moon-white robe and holding a folding fan. He was talking to the person next to him and had a gentle smile.

She remembered those features so clearly—the chance encounter at the Lantern Festival.

Chen Sumei's heart suddenly started racing, and she unconsciously tightened her cloak before slowly sitting back down.

She watched as Su Yan and several students went upstairs, their laughter and chatter faintly drifting over, but all she could hear was her own heart pounding.

Now he has walked away alive. Chen Sumei felt her face burning and her throat dry.

Clutching her handkerchief, she hesitated whether to go up and greet them, but then thought that now that she was betrothed to the Xu family, it seemed inappropriate to talk to other men.

But her legs seemed rooted to the spot, and she couldn't move them no matter what. She slowly sat back down in her chair, picked up the now-cold tea, and took a sip.

The tea tasted a little bitter, but her heart felt as if it were burning.

A breeze blew outside the window, and the streets were bustling with voices. She suddenly felt that her trip to the county today was different from before. Some things she thought she had suppressed resurfaced with just a glance.

She lowered her head, her fingertips twisting repeatedly on her sleeve, her mind a jumbled mess.

Xu Yun treated her so well, indulging her every whim, but just seeing that person's back made her incredibly uneasy. She didn't know what was wrong with her. Suddenly, she felt the osmanthus fragrance in the teahouse was too strong. So strong it made her dizzy.