The histories of these young maids were all pitiful; naturally, each one carried her own story. Though the people of this era did not dote on their children as they did in the previous life, treating them like treasures held in the palm of one’s hand, they were still their own flesh and blood. If the family wasn't utterly destitute, who would willingly sell their child into servitude? Not only was life as a maid difficult, but if one encountered a harsh master, scolding and beatings for any mistake were common occurrences—sometimes, the parents wouldn't even know if their daughter had been beaten to death.

Lin He thought for a moment, then instructed Ziyu, "I entrust these two maids to your care. They are both quite young, so don't be too severe with them. As long as they work diligently, I will not mistreat them. They are to be treated the same as the maids in our own household—they must not speak carelessly outside, or I will show no mercy."

Ziyu nodded and withdrew. Ziyu had some experience managing maids; the maids in their own household had all been trained by the two sisters, and every one of them was obedient and compliant. Ziyu arrived at the kitchen where the two new maids were tending the fire and cooking. Seeing Ziyu approach, they immediately stopped their work, lowered their heads, and stood before her. Ziyu smiled and said, "My name is Ziyu. I am a few years older than you. From now on, just call me Sister Ziyu. Our young mistress is a very kind master; you don't need to be so afraid. Just focus on doing your own duties."

The two maids exchanged glances and nodded, then returned to their tasks. Ziyu stayed in the kitchen, instructing the two maids on Lin He’s routines regarding food, clothing, and daily necessities, pointing out what needed attention, while also guiding them in preparing the midday meal.

Lin He, finding herself alone in the courtyard, felt a bit bored and began to look around. The courtyard was quite simple; one could see everything at a single glance. The entrance to the courtyard was a small archway opening onto a cobbled path. Lin He stood on the path and observed a larger courtyard to the left, separated from this one by some distance, and further divided by two sets of doors—one here, and one in the other yard. She surmised that the larger courtyard was where Wen Ningxuan resided, presuming that propriety dictated a clear separation between male and female quarters.

After examining the outside, Lin He walked back into the rooms. The small courtyard contained five rooms in total. To the left was the kitchen, with a small dining area attached outside. To the right was a small room, which at the moment seemed to be for the two new maids; Lin He saw a bed inside and some clothing. The center held three rooms; two of them were interconnected, presumably the sleeping quarters prepared for her. All the furnishings were period-appropriate, the furniture antique in style, and the decorations distinctly feminine. Everything necessary had been prepared. Her own luggage had already been moved in and neatly placed to one side by the two maids. Outside was a small side room containing a small bed, a small table, and a small cabinet—likely for Ziyu. Next door was another room which Lin He also inspected; it appeared to be a study, equipped with a simple couch-bed, a writing desk, and so forth. The bookshelves were filled with many volumes. Lin He flipped through them; most were light reading like travelogues. Lin He smiled, thinking Wen Ningxuan must have arranged all this; he was quite thoughtful, considering even these details.

Lin He opened the window in the study and looked out. Behind the window, many flowers, herbs, and hardy trees had been planted. Opening the window filled the air with fragrance. The more Lin He looked, the more she grew fond of this small courtyard. Although small, it felt intimate and cozy, with a simple household size—it reminded her of vacationing in her own little villa. Money was certainly good; she could buy a house wherever she pleased, furnished exactly as she liked.

In truth, Lin He herself preferred such small courtyards. She disliked living with too many people or having a house that was too large, which made her feel empty. Conversely, this kind of small, intimate dwelling felt warm, was easy to manage, and helped avoid unnecessary waste.

Thinking that it would take Ziyu and the two maids some time to prepare the meal, Lin He took a book from the study and sat at the stone table in the courtyard to read. After only a few pages, she heard Wen Ningxuan’s voice from behind her, "The air is getting a little cool. Why are you still sitting on the stone bench reading? You might catch a chill."

Lin He looked up and offered Wen Ningxuan a radiant smile. "It's fine. The weather is still pleasant right now; sitting here is the most comfortable. I really like this place."

Whether it was Lin He’s smile that affected Wen Ningxuan or her words that touched him, Wen Ningxuan felt a sudden completeness in his heart, and the fatigue of his journey seemed to vanish instantly. He sat down beside Lin He with a faint smile, gazing at her tenderly, and asked softly, "You like it here? Then whenever you wish to visit in the future, come stay here for a while. This place belongs to you; no one can enter without your permission."

"You too?" Lin He teased him playfully.

"You decide," Wen Ningxuan returned with a light smile.

Lin He looked at Wen Ningxuan, smiled, and said, "Ziyu and the others have gone to cook. Shall we eat lunch here together? Do you have anything planned for the afternoon?"

Wen Ningxuan nodded. "Good. I have some accounts to review this afternoon. Since I haven't been here for so long, a backlog of ledgers has accumulated; it might take me a few days to get through them. For the next few days, I'll have Ling Xiao and the others check out the locations, and they can notify us when they find something worth seeing. If you plan to go out, just have Ziyu tell me, and I will arrange for someone to accompany you."

"Reviewing account books? How can a few months' worth of ledgers take days to look through? How much accounting is there?" Lin He inquired.

"Quite a bit. The daily transactions at the Cai Die Xuan are frequent, and Ling Xiang has been overseeing things here. However, I still need to review the physical ledgers myself to stay clear on the shop's overall direction," Wen Ningxuan explained.

"Then I will help you look at them this afternoon; I can share some of the burden," Lin He offered.

"You know how to read ledgers?" Wen Ningxuan asked, but quickly added, "Oh, yes. I recall my father mentioning that you managed the accounts for both the He Cai Dollery and Cai Die Xuan yourself. I had forgotten. But if you are willing to share the burden, I would certainly welcome it."

Lin He nodded. They hadn't been seated long before Ziyu announced that the meal was ready. The two walked to the small dining area. The two young maids served the dishes and then withdrew. Ziyu remained nearby to attend them, saying, "Mistress, Second Young Master, as we just arrived, we didn't have time to purchase more ingredients. Today's meal is rather simple; please make do for now. I will take them out to buy more this afternoon."

"No need. Someone will deliver food daily. You only need to manage the cooking. I will also come to dine here every evening," Wen Ningxuan interjected.

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