The moment Chen'er mentioned it, Lin He finally remembered that she hadn't seen Xiao Mo for a long time; it seemed he hadn't appeared before her since he visited her home in the first lunar month. Lin He had been to town several times but hadn't seen him either. Lin He supposed it was because of the things Xiao Mo had said to her earlier. Even if Lin He pretended nothing had happened, a distance had grown between them.

Otherwise, Xiao Mo wouldn't have avoided visiting her home for so long. However, Lin He felt helpless; she genuinely didn't know how to resolve the matter. Besides, Xiao Mo was growing up, and naturally, some things were different from when he was a child. Lin He remained silent.

Wen Ningxuan smiled and said, "Xiao Mo has been quite busy lately. He's getting older, and his father has become stricter. I will speak to him when I return and ask him to come visit you both if he has time." Chen'er nodded, then lowered her head to continue eating. After the meal, Wen Ningxuan did not leave immediately.

He went to the pavilion and spoke to Lin He about the factory on the other side. He mentioned that the construction there was entirely finished, and the people Lin He had previously purchased from that area had been brought back. Now, they were just waiting for Lin He to arrange for personnel to go over and start work. Lin He had already made arrangements for the household staff.

She planned to send Zi Qing to lead the group, along with perhaps seven or eight maids, in addition to a few footmen if needed; Zi Qing would handle the specifics of the personnel. Wen Ningxuan said, "He'er, if your arrangements are settled, take some time today to return home and organize things. They should depart tomorrow; we can't delay this any further. Sending them off sooner will help supply the shops waiting for goods over there." Lin He nodded, acknowledging the point; the factory construction had indeed taken quite some time.

She agreed to go back immediately. Lin He noticed the faint dark circles beneath Wen Ningxuan's eyes and was certain he had been traveling constantly without proper rest. She quickly urged him to return and rest early, assuring him that she would handle the arrangements here and arrange for someone to pick up the workers tomorrow. After Wen Ningxuan left, Lin He instructed Da Bao to arrange a carriage to take her and Zi Yu back home.

Upon arriving, Madam Huang seemed surprised to see Lin He return so quickly: "He'er, what happened? Weren't you supposed to stay over there for a while? Why are you back so soon?" "Ningxuan returned; the factory over there is built and Zi Qing and the others need to leave. I'll send Zi Qing and the others over shortly and will be back first thing tomorrow morning.

Since Zi Qing is leaving, someone needs to supervise the ointment workshop here." As Lin He spoke, she asked Zi Yu to call for Zi Qing. Lin He gave Zi Qing detailed instructions on what to watch out for at the new location, leaving the specifics of management to Zi Qing once she was there, though Zi Qing needed to finalize the staff selection herself. Zi Qing seemed unconcerned, saying she had long been prepared, and the maids from the ointment workshop were all ready to go with her. Zi Qing was always reliable, so Lin He wasn't overly worried.

She just urged Zi Qing to quickly gather the selected maids and pack their things, intending to send them to town that very night so that the welcoming party could meet them first thing the next morning. Zi Qing instructed a few maids, who hastily packed their belongings and followed Lin He to town. The group consisted of about a dozen people, too many for one carriage. In addition to the carriage that brought her from town, Lin He asked Chang Geng to bring another carriage along.

In one of the carriages headed toward town, Lin He sat with Zi Qing and Zi Yu. Zi Qing looked at Lin He, her voice thick with tears, and said, "Miss, once I go, I won't be able to return right away. While I'm gone, you must take good care of yourself and not worry about everything. When you marry next year, you must let me come back; I want to be your dowry maid.

Even after you marry into the Second Young Master's household, I still want to look after you. Don't keep me from returning." Lin He's eyes also grew red. Although Zi Qing didn't follow her everywhere like Zi Yu did, the girl was meticulous. As long as Lin He was at home, Zi Qing managed all her food, clothing, and daily needs without ever making a mistake.

Sending her away for this long journey made Lin He very reluctant to part with her. But life was like this; there were always unavoidable partings. Lin He smiled and said, "You girl, you usually appear so composed and graceful, why are you saying such childish things? I'm only sending you away for a period; you'll be back before you know it, certainly by the New Year at the latest.

However, your task there isn't just to oversee the factory; the most crucial thing is to train a few capable managers. Otherwise, you really might not be able to return." Zi Yu, sitting beside them, watched her sister and the Miss converse, tears already gathering in her eyes. Seeing her sister like this, she managed to hold back her tears and tried to comfort her: "That's right, older sister. It's only for a few months.

Once there are people in charge, you'll return. It's still a long way until the Miss's wedding; there's almost a whole year left." Zi Qing wiped the tears from her face upon hearing her sister’s words and instructed, "When I leave, you must take good care of the Miss. Don't break the rules, and keep an eye on the home ointment workshop. Use your head when working, and be diligent; don't just get by.

If you mess up my ointment workshop while I'm gone, I'll ask the Miss not to let you be my dowry maid when I return. Do you hear me?" "I know, older sister, you're so nagging. You keep repeating these same phrases like an incantation. Ever since you knew you were leaving, you've been saying this; I could recite it in my sleep!

Just go and focus on your own business. Don't worry about home; I guarantee it will look exactly the same when you return as it does now. And I will take excellent care of the Miss; I promise not a single hair on her head will go missing," Zi Yu grumbled softly beside Zi Qing. "You girl, I tell you something and you talk back.

Do you think you're so capable? Who cleans up your messes at home every time? And you dare make such a grand claim! You're so old already, why do you act like a child who never grows up?

I think the Miss has spoiled you too much," Zi Yu said to her younger sister with a tone of fond exasperation. Zi Yu stuck out her tongue, stopping her retort, and listened humbly to her sister's ensuing lecture. Lin He watched the two sisters and remembered how she sounded when speaking to Chen'er and Xiao Bao. She imagined that in their eyes, she was probably just as nagging an older sister.

In truth, Zi Qing and Lin He were cut from the same cloth—the type who worried excessively. Once they became accustomed to worrying, they found it impossible to trust others with things, resigning themselves to a lifetime of anxiety. Lin He admitted that she sometimes wished she could be the kind of woman who didn't have to think so much—just eat what was available and wear what was offered, knowing that if she didn't manage things, someone else certainly would. How easy life would be for such a woman!

Aside from pursuing what she loved, she wouldn't have to concern herself with other matters or worry about others. But deep down, Lin He knew she could never be that person; if forced to be, she probably wouldn't want to be. Lin He preferred to maintain complete control over her own affairs, unwilling to depend on others. This was why, in both her past life and this one, she couldn't be such a woman.

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