Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

Shen Qing walked to her mother's courtyard.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Song Wenqian's pitiful and tearful voice rang out:

"Auntie, I chopped firewood all night last night. I wanted to come back and get some rest, but that old Chen locked me out. He's just a gatekeeper, he's really ungrateful."

"I know, this definitely wasn't Qing'er's idea. It must have been that gatekeeper who took matters into his own hands. Aunt, we need to carefully screen the servants in this house. If you don't have any good ones, I can help you find a few."

While crying and complaining, Song Wenqian was also thinking about placing his own people in the house.

With his own people around, at least he doesn't have to climb through dog holes anymore.

"Old Chen is an honest and kind man. There must be some misunderstanding. Qing'er and I prefer quiet and don't need so many servants. Besides, these four servants were personally selected by Qing'er. I think they are all good. We don't need any more servants for the time being."

Madam Shen did not go along with Song Wenqian's suggestion. After all, Shen Qing was in charge of everything inside and outside the house. Moreover, she genuinely thought the four servants were quite good and there was no need to replace them.

Song Wenqian gritted his teeth, about to continue persuading him.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded, and Shen Qing entered.

"Daughter, you're back!" Mother Shen quickly stood up, her face beaming with smiles.

Shen Qing smiled and said, "Mother, please sit down. We've sold out of today's braised pork ribs."

"Alright, alright!" said Madam Shen, then added, "Wenqian said he was stopped at the door this morning when he delivered firewood. Is there some misunderstanding?"

Upon hearing this, Song Wenqian immediately put on a wronged expression: "Qing'er, I trekked through mountains and rivers, chopped firewood all night, and even broke my nose. You don't know how dark it is on the mountain, and there are wild animals everywhere."

"But after all the trouble I went through to get back, that gatekeeper actually locked me out. Qing'er, you must punish that gatekeeper properly."

punish??

It was her decision to prevent Song Wenqian from entering the house, so why would she punish Old Chen?

Old Chen did a good job, so she should reward him.

Shen Qing had this plan in mind, but said aloud, "Oh, Old Chen told me about this."

"You looked like a beggar on the street this morning, all ragged and half-dead. Old Chen didn't recognize you and thought you were begging for food, so he chased you away."

"He was just doing his job."

Upon hearing this, Song Wenqian nearly ground his back teeth to powder.

"Diligently performing one's duties"? What does "diligently performing one's duties" even mean? It's clearly that servant looking down on people!

He has studied the classics for so many years, and he naturally possesses the integrity of a scholar. How could he be like a beggar?

This is an absolute insult to him!

"I told you it was a misunderstanding. Old Chen is a kind and honest man, a very good person," Shen's mother added from the side, her words seeming to deliver a fatal blow.

Song Wenqian gritted his teeth. He had no choice but to rely on Shen Qing and her daughter. When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.

"It's all a misunderstanding. I thought Old Chen was doing it on purpose."

"Qing'er, you must be tired after a long day. Sit down, sit down and have a good meal..."

He then adopted a deeply affectionate demeanor, striving to maximize his charm.

Shen Qing felt like vomiting just looking at him, and coldly interrupted Song Wenqian, "I need your help tonight too."

"What kind of help? I'll definitely..." Song Wenqian paused, "Go ahead, you go first."

Shen Qing smiled and said, "You've already developed a psychological trauma after just one night of chopping firewood?"

She has many ways of causing trouble for people.

"The herbal tea I made today tasted a little lacking. After thinking about it, I realized it must be the water. Only by using mountain spring water that is illuminated by moonlight and mixing it with morning dew can the best herbal tea be made."

"Could you make another trip up this mountain?"

Shen Qing said this with a smile.

But Song Wenqian inexplicably felt that Shen Qing's smile was somewhat creepy.

He couldn't help but shudder, and was thinking of an excuse to refuse.

Shen's mother spoke up, "Qing'er has it tough. Running a stall is hard work for her. Wenqian, if you can help her, please do so, so she won't have to worry about these things."

Ultimately, Shen's mother still sided with Shen Qing.

She knew in her heart that Shen Qing was a perfectionist when it came to food, and she had no doubt about his intentions.

This time, Song Wenqian had no chance to refuse, after all, he was now playing the role of a deeply affectionate man.

Naturally, he had to do whatever Shen Qing needed.

Song Wenqian gritted his teeth, secretly clenched his fist, and after a long while said, "Fine, I'll go! I'll go up the mountain!"

"It's not completely dark yet. If you go now, it will probably be dark by the time you get outside the city. Then climb up the mountain to find the spirit spring, and you'll have moonlight. After you collect the spring water, collect the dew in the early morning. Thank you."

Shen Qing spoke at length, but his only purpose was to get Song Wenqian to leave.

She didn't want to keep looking at Song Wenqian's disgusting appearance.

"Qing'er is right, Wenqian, you should go quickly, don't delay." Mother Shen urged from the side, she was really anxious.

Song Wenqian's forehead veins throbbed a few times. He hadn't even eaten a few bites of this huge table of food, and now he had to go up the mountain to suffer again.

What bad luck, so incredibly bad luck.

If he had found the dog hole earlier, he could have rested here properly and had a good meal.

Unfortunately, he spent a long time looking for the dog hole...

"I'll go, I'll go right now!" he said through gritted teeth.

After taking two steps forward, I couldn't help but turn back and ask, "Won't the doorman lock me out again?"

"No." Shen Qing shook her head.

"I'm relieved to hear you say that, Qing'er. Take good care of yourself at home, and I will definitely bring back what you asked for."

A hint of feigned affection resurfaced in Song Wenqian's eyes, as if he were trying to appear deeply in love.

"Hmm." Shen Qing simply replied with a faint "hmm."

Reassured, Song Wenqian strode out of the courtyard gate.

That's great, he felt that Shen Qing no longer harbored much resentment towards him.

It must be because he's too charming. Besides, a woman would definitely feel uneasy if there was no man at home.

After collecting spring water and dew tomorrow, he will definitely push his relationship with Shen Qing forward.

......

After exchanging a few words with his mother, Shen Qing returned to his own courtyard.

Trouble with Song Wenqian was just a side effect; she didn't want to waste her energy and attention on him.

After getting ready, she lay on the bed, preparing to comfortably open the system and take a look.

If nothing unexpected happens, her braised pork rib task will be completed after today's settlement.