Shuse Jinjia

After seeing Xie Yan off, Xie Zhaotang went inside and began writing the regulations for the paper mill.

As she was writing, Dong'er ran in: "Fourth Miss, Miss Li and Madam Pei have arrived. They say they want to visit Aunt Shen. They're already at the door."

Upon hearing that someone had arrived, Xie Zhaotang quickly tidied his clothes and went out to greet them.

Outside the door, Li Qin and Xue Jintong accompanied Old Madam Pei, while Granny Zhao and two maids brought in many gifts.

"Fourth daughter, I've come to visit your aunt without sending you an invitation beforehand, please don't mind!"

When Madam Pei saw Xie Zhaotang, she smiled and said...

You can't hit someone who's smiling!

Even if Xie Zhaotang doesn't like Madam Xu, she was very loyal to her when she asked Madam Pei for help for Xue Jintong's sake.

Xie Zhaotang couldn't bring himself to hold a grudge against her, so he went up to her with a smile and said, "Madam, how can I accept this? The Fourth and Fifth Misses have already come to visit, and now you've come again. Isn't this making me feel too guilty?"

Granny Zhao chuckled from the side, "They are them, and the old lady is the old lady. It just so happens that Miss Li is visiting the manor today, and the old lady thought it had been a long time since she had come to the estate, so she came along to visit as well."

Xie Zhaotang smiled and quickly gestured for them to come inside: "Let's talk inside!"

Madam Pei took her hand and said guiltily, "Fourth girl, my foolish daughter actually allowed the servants to do such a thing to your aunt. I have no face to see you..."

"I've already reprimanded her, and I will never let her make things difficult for you again! Fourth Miss, if you suffer any injustice in the future, don't keep it to yourself; just come to me, and I'll stand up for you..."

"Thank you, Madam!"

Xie Zhaotang listened and then let it go. When she was forced to withdraw the lawsuit, she had already thought about seeking justice herself. Granny Qiao had already made arrangements, and she would also give a big gift to the culprit, Madam Qiao.

Aunt Shen had already been informed and came out to greet them.

When Madam Pei saw that her sleeves were bulging, clearly still bandaged, she pulled Aunt Shen aside and apologized to her again.

Like Xie Zhaotang, Aunt Shen was unwilling to discuss the matter further. After some pleasantries, Old Madam Pei took her leave, and she smiled.

"Let your aunt rest. We'll go to the Huo family's estate for tea... Fourth Miss, you should come too. Madam Tao just sent someone to invite you to dinner. We can go together."

Xie Zhaotang smiled and nodded, letting Old Madam Pei go first, and she would go over after arranging things at home.

Xue Jintong and Granny Zhao helped Old Madam Pei out first.

Li Qin lagged behind and quietly said to Xie Zhaotang, "I went to see Madam Pei this morning. She said that since Sister Jintong's voice can be cured, we should proceed as planned. She came here specifically to take Sister Jintong to the Huo family for a consultation."

"Madam Pei said she's already discussed this with the Old Madam, but hasn't told the young master yet. We haven't mentioned it to Sister Jintong either. Let's wait until we get to the Huo family and see how the two get along before making a decision!"

Xie Zhaotang was not interested. She really didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing, but she couldn't avoid it, so she had no choice but to go.

She changed into an elegant dress and went out with Li Qin.

Madam Pei's carriage was waiting for them. The two got into the carriage and headed towards the Huo family's estate.

The Huo family's estate was very large, located on the other side of Baohua Village. Xie Zhaotang passed by it during a walk and saw a horse farm and a martial arts training ground, but he never went near it.

Upon receiving the news, Madam Tao and the Old Madam came out to greet them.

The old lady smiled and said to Madam Pei, "Aqing, you've come at the right time. Beiyu and Chengyu have gone hunting. They'll catch some pheasants or something, and we'll make a pot of pheasant soup for you to try..."

Madam Pei smiled and said, "And get me some wild vegetables from the fields too. I'm craving those more than pheasant soup..."

The two old sisters chatted and laughed, and Xie Zhaotang and the other two couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Li Qin said enviously, "Tangtang, we should be friends for life, and even when we're old, we can still have the same deep sisterly bond as them."

Xie Zhaotang smiled and nodded. It was indeed a lucky thing to have a friend to accompany you for a lifetime.

"Ladies, please don't be shy at our estate. Make yourselves at ease!"

Tao Niangzi smiled and said, "If you feel uncomfortable, you can walk around. You don't have to stay with me all the time."

Hearing this, the old lady turned her head and said, "Yes, yes, we sisters can talk forever. You don't need to be so reserved. Go and wander around. Tao Niangzi, go and see if Huo Lan and the others have finished their homework. If they have, let them come and play with the three young ladies."

Tao Niangzi said, "They should all be at the training grounds right now, right? Are the three of you interested? If so, I'll take you there to play."

Madam Pei said, "Go ahead, there are many things to do at the training ground. You can ride horses and shoot arrows. Just be careful."

The three exchanged a glance and nodded. The training ground was much more interesting than the awkward conversation with the two old men.

Tao Niangzi then escorted the three of them over.

Upon arrival, they saw several children riding horses. Huo Dong, whom Xie Zhaotang had saved, was riding a small pony, running alongside his older brothers and sisters.

Huo Dong was only seven years old, but he rode the horse with the skill and steadiness of a novice.

He rode over here, saw Xie Zhaotang, and his eyes lit up immediately. He reined in his horse and called out, "Fourth Sister, you've come to my house as a guest?"

"Would you like to learn to ride a horse? If so, I'll teach you..."

Xie Zhaotang quickly waved his hand: "We just came to take a look. You ride, don't worry about me!"

Huo Lan, who was running ahead, was Huo Dong's older sister. She heard her brother's conversation with Xie Zhaotang, turned her horse around, and rode over as well.

"Fourth Sister, you've arrived? Come over to the main gate that way, I'll teach you how to ride a horse..."

Huo Lan had been instructed by Huo Beiyu to take her jewelry to express gratitude last time, but she had always felt resentful, thinking that her eldest cousin was wrong to treat Huo Dong, Huo's savior, in this way.

However, the younger generation of the Huo family all listened to Huo Beiyu, and Huo Lan dared not disobey.

After seeing that Huo Dong and Huo Han took good care of Xie Tiantian, Huo Beiyu didn't say anything, and she also became close to Xie Tiantian.

Furthermore, Xie Zhaotang later had Huo Dong return all her jewelry, which made her feel even more that Xie Zhaotang was someone she could befriend.

The two men vied to teach Xie Zhaotang how to ride a horse, and Huo Han, who was leading several children on horseback, also rode over.

"Fourth sister, I'm the best horseman among us, so if anyone should teach you, it should be me. Come in, I'll find you a gentle horse that won't scare you!"

Huo Han said warmly.

Li Qin and Xue Jintong were unaware that Xie Zhaotang had saved Huo Dong, and they were stunned to see that the Huo family children all seemed to know Xie Zhaotang very well.

"Maybe next time, it's inconvenient for me to wear a skirt."

Xie Zhaotang remembered that he had come to help Xue Jintong find a match for Huo Beiyu, and did not want to overshadow the host, so he said...

"These are two more older sisters. Let me introduce you. This is Xue Jintong, Sister Xue, and this is Li Qin, Sister Li!"

Huo Lan smiled and said, "We know both of you sisters. Sister Xue writes very well and even helped us with our studies last time! My grandmother said that if Sister Xue recovers and is willing to stay in the village, we will ask her to be our tutor."

Xie Zhaotang glanced at Li Qin, inwardly mocking herself. She and Li Qin had been hoping to help bring the two together, but little did they know that Xue Jintong had already won the favor of the Huo family's matriarch...