Whenever Wen Ningmo saw him frown and stare, he seemed to get along quite well with Dabao. As Lin He was pondering this, Wen Ningmo ran over to his mother and asked, "Mother, may I go play at Dabao's house for a few days?"

What? Lin He wondered if she had misheard. This young master wanted to stay at her humble home, a place in the countryside, when he was so accustomed to luxury. What could possibly be fun there, especially since this young master was known to be difficult? Lin He glanced at Dabao, who offered her a helpless smile.

"No, if you go to someone else's house, you'll only trouble them," Madam Wen said.

"Mother, I want to go! Dabao invited me. He said their Laba Festival is so much fun, and they have so many delicious things to eat. He even promised to take me to eat roasted sweet potatoes and sausages," the young master pleaded with his mother.

Uncle Wen, standing nearby, remained silent, his gaze fixed on Lin He. Lin He knew that if she didn't say something now, it would be a great slight to Uncle Wen. So, she smiled and said, "Uncle Wen, it's no trouble at all. We would be delighted to have the young master visit. It’s just that our place is in the countryside, so we hope the young master can adjust. A few days of visiting is no issue at all."

"I can adjust! I want to go!" Wen Ningxuan truly behaved like an eight-year-old in front of his mother, even pouting slightly.

"Very well, then. But you must not cause trouble for Dabao, He'er, or their family. You will return in three days, and take one of your attendants with you." Madam Wen, unable to dissuade him, finally relented.

"He'er, I apologize for the imposition. I will have his attendant pack some things for him, and he can trouble you for a few days," Madam Wen said to Lin He.

Lin He and Dabao waited together at the shop for a while until the young master's attendant finally arrived, driving a carriage. Lin He wondered if the young master was truly this delicate—didn't his own family own a carriage?—yet he insisted on using theirs. Just as she was thinking this, Uncle Wen spoke up, "He'er, the carriage is filled with gifts for your festival celebration. Take them all back with you and have someone unload them onto your cart later."

People were already busy unloading things on the other side. Lin He saw several attendants make multiple trips, stacking a large pile onto the cart. She said, feeling a bit embarrassed, "Uncle Wen, why are you being so polite? Giving us so many things."

Uncle Wen smiled. After everything was loaded, Lin He and the others boarded the carriage to return. On the road, the young master was unusually excited. Lin He felt his excitement wasn't just about visiting their home, but more about the feeling of growing up and being able to step away from his parents.

The young master peppered Dabao with questions in the carriage: "Dabao, where is your house? How much farther? Is it really as fun as you said it is back home? Are there really that many good things to eat? Did she make them all?" He pointed toward He'er as he spoke.

"You should call me 'Sister.' I'm a few months older than you," Lin He teased him deliberately.

"Why should I call you Sister? You’re only a tiny bit older!" the young master retorted indignantly.

"Hmm, but those roasted sweet potatoes and sausages Dabao talked about were made by me. If you don't call me Sister, I won't make them for you. Ask Dabao if you don't believe me," Lin He said.

The young master looked at Dabao, who nodded his assent. After thinking for a long moment, the young master spoke again, "How about this: I won't call you 'stinky girl' anymore. I'll call you He'er, just like my parents do. You always make my father scold me, so I won't blame you anymore. Is that okay?"

Lin He thought that getting this little fellow to back down this far was quite an achievement, so she nodded. In truth, she was only teasing him and never truly expected him to call her Sister. After the carriage traveled for half an hour, they arrived at the entrance of Lin He's courtyard. As soon as they reached the gate, Chen'er and Xiaobao rushed out, followed by Ziqing and Ziyu. They had previously worked at the Wen residence and naturally recognized the young master. Seeing him in the carriage, they offered their formal bows. When He'er and Dabao accompanied the young master as he alighted, Xiaobao asked, "Sister, who are these two people? Why are they at our house, carrying bundles?"

He'er smiled and patted his head, "This is the Young Master. You must call him Little Mo Gege (Older Brother Mo). These two brothers are staying at our house for a few days; they are guests. Xiaobao needs to help Brother Mo and Sister take good care of them, do you understand?"

Xiaobao obediently nodded. Madam Huang, inside the house, had heard Lin He speaking and walked out, accompanied by a maid. She asked, "He'er, is this truly Boss Wen's young master?"

Lin He nodded. Madam Huang immediately became flustered and scolded, "Dabao, He'er, you two are really something! The young master is here and you didn't even give a heads-up? We haven't prepared anything in the house! What are we going to do? Ziqing, quickly call the master back; tell him Young Master Wen has arrived."

Wen Ningmo was very polite. He stepped down from the carriage and stood quietly. Now seeing Madam Huang, and after confirming with Dabao that she was Dabao’s mother, he spoke up, "Auntie, I've come to stay and play for a few days. I hope I haven't disturbed you."

Madam Huang nodded repeatedly, thinking how polite the young master from such a grand family was. She quickly ushered Wen Ningmo into the house. The young master’s attendant followed them inside, carrying a bundle. As Wen Ningmo entered Lin He’s courtyard, he found everything novel, looking around as if everything was new. Lin He smiled and said, "Young Master, our house is only this small. Are you finding it hard to get used to?"

To Lin He's surprise, the young master’s reply was unexpected: "This house is very nice. Look, it’s one courtyard, and everyone in the family can play together. Our house has many courtyards, but few people—it’s too cold and desolate."

Lin He felt that even though this young master had a difficult temper and could be troublesome, he showed no airs whatsoever. For a child so young to speak such words suggested he had no concept of class barriers, nor did he judge the essence of things based on the size of a house or wealth.

"It’s good that the Young Master can settle in comfortably," Madam Huang said with a smile, clearly very pleased by Wen Ningmo’s words.

In truth, everyone felt this way: no matter how simple or poor their own home was, they disliked having it looked down upon, no matter who the observer was. This unintentional remark from the young master would keep Madam Huang happy for a long time.

"Ziqing, Ziyu, go and tidy up Xiaobao’s room. The young master will stay in that room tonight. As for the young master’s attendant, take him to Dabao’s room for the night; Dabao can squeeze in with her grandmother," Madam Huang instructed.

"No need, Madam Lin. I can just make a pallet right here on the floor. I need to serve the young master at night, so I can't be too far away," Wen Ningxuan's attendant said.

"Yes, I can sleep in the same room as him," Wen Ningmo agreed.

Lin He thought that would work too. Since the young master was new here, if anything happened during the night, he needed someone to attend to him. She told Ziqing and Ziyu to prepare extra bedding. They had made a small bamboo bed by Uncle Li’s place during the summer, which they would move in so the attendant could sleep there—sleeping on the cold floor in this weather was out of the question.