Yun Qi sat in the pavilion for a short while before saying she was a bit tired and needed to return to her room to rest. After bidding Lin He and the others farewell, she headed back.

Chen Er, who had been quiet beside them, spoke up as soon as Yun Qi left. “Sister, is Big Sister-in-law unhappy? Is Big Brother not treating her well? I always thought they seemed fine; Big Brother often buys things for her, gives her money to spend, and they never argue.”

Lin He glanced at Chen Er, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. “Chen Er, do you think that marrying a husband is enough as long as you don’t fight and you have money and things bought for you?”

“Is there anything else?” Chen Er looked at Lin He, puzzled.

Actually, Lin He herself couldn’t quite articulate what constituted a good husband. If a man loved you deeply, was gentle, considerate, and meticulous in every way, but couldn't provide the most basic source of income for the household, was he a good husband? Probably not.

Conversely, if a man had immense wealth, enough to guarantee you a lifetime free of worry over food and clothing, where you could spend as you pleased, but he simply didn't love you, was such a husband any better? He certainly wouldn't qualify.

Moreover, from a woman’s perspective, women were inherently grasping. When a man had no money and nothing, a woman might deem him useless and wish he would hustle out and build his own career, even if it meant seeing him less, just so life could improve financially.

But once the man amassed wealth and needed extensive time attending to business engagements, the woman would complain, feeling as if she had a husband in name only. She’d rather have less money if it meant he could spend more time with her. It was truly a tangled issue that defied simple explanation.

So, Lin He didn't know how to explain it to Chen Er. Perhaps, simply put, being in love was sufficient. Of course, "being in love" encompassed much, such as being of one heart and mind, and having synchronized values on how to view matters—that was the very minimum requirement.

In the end, Lin He merely patted Chen Er’s head. “You are still young, and these things are difficult to explain clearly to you now. But remember this: when you marry in the future, it must be because you willingly agree to it yourself.”

Chen Er looked at Lin He with a dazed expression, nodded, and returned to the embroidery work in her hands.

August passed quickly. The pastry shop’s business returned to normal, and the ointment workshop had stabilized. Lin He only visited occasionally; most of the time, Zi Yu managed things there. When she was free, Lin He devoted herself to embroidery at home.

She had been so busy lately that her needlework had fallen far behind. A simple screen was still incomplete. Finishing all her required pieces before her coming-of-age ceremony next year seemed somewhat challenging. During this period, Lin He barely went out, spending every day focused on these meticulous stitches.

One day, after finishing their embroidery work together, Lin He watched Chen Er practicing her arithmetic. Chen Er had been learning from Lin He for quite some time and was basically proficient with simple characters and reading ledgers.

Watching Chen Er, Lin He felt genuinely happy. The girl was finally showing some maturity. Since moving to town, she couldn't run around as she did at home, and Chen Er’s temperament had quieted considerably. Sometimes she could sit and embroider for an entire morning or afternoon without complaining of boredom. She was starting to look quite like the daughter of a well-to-do family.

As Lin He observed Chen Er writing on paper beside her, a young maidservant came into the courtyard to report that the Third Young Master had arrived. Lin He was startled. Third Young Master? Xiao Mo was here? She hadn't seen Xiao Mo since after the New Year. Even after she moved to town, he hadn't visited. She had only heard from Wen Ning Xuan that Xiao Mo had matured considerably this year, spending his days either studying with his tutor or practicing martial arts with the master, rarely going out. He truly seemed to be cultivating himself.

Chen Er, sitting nearby, jumped up immediately upon hearing Xiao Mo was there and hurried toward the courtyard. Soon, laughter drifted from the yard. Lin He also smiled faintly; Xiao Mo truly had a wonderful disposition, capable of bringing joy wherever he went.

Moments later, Chen Er and Xiao Mo walked toward the pavilion. From a distance, Lin He noted that Xiao Mo had changed significantly. He had shot up in height, probably a head taller than her now. Dressed in a suit of azure robes, his face radiated a happy smile as he spoke with Chen Er, making him look perfectly sunny and handsome.

When Xiao Mo approached, Lin He said with a smile, “Xiao Mo, why haven't you come to see us in so long? What have you been doing at home? You didn't even visit when we moved to town.”

“Well, here I am now,” Xiao Mo replied simply.

“Brother Xiao Mo, you haven’t visited our home for so long; Xiao Bao has mentioned it several times! Stay for dinner at our place today; Xiao Bao finishes his lessons this afternoon,” Chen Er pouted playfully beside Xiao Mo.

“Xiao Bao is studying in town? When did that happen? I thought Second Brother was still looking for a school for him when you moved?”

“Xiao Bao has been studying in town for several months now. Didn’t Brother Xuan tell you?” Chen Er asked.

“I’ve been quite busy recently and haven’t seen Second Brother much,” Xiao Mo said as he sat down.

“What keeps you so busy, Brother Xiao Mo?”

“I have to go to the Capital next month; there are some matters that require preparation.”

“You’re going to the Capital? Are you going to study?” Lin He asked, slightly surprised.

“Yes, much like Second Brother did at that age; I’ll be gone for a period of time,” Xiao Mo replied, looking at Lin He.

Lin He knew this. Wen Ning Xuan had gone to the Capital for advanced studies around the same age and had stayed for several years before returning. It seemed that the descendants of the Wen family all followed this pattern: reaching a certain age, they had to venture out—for broadening their horizons or for formal study; it was always considered beneficial.

“When will you return?” Lin He followed up.

“I don’t know. It will probably be several years,” Xiao Mo answered, gazing directly into Lin He’s eyes.

Chen Er, beside them, exclaimed, “Ah? Brother Xiao Mo, you’re going so far away to the Capital? Does that mean you won’t be able to come back for the New Year? We won’t see you for ages then?”

Xiao Mo had always treated Chen Er like a younger sister. Hearing her words, he smiled. “I’ll come back to see you all when I have time. By then, I expect to see great improvement in your embroidery, Chen Er.”

“I’ve already improved a lot! Shall I go get it for you to see?” Chen Er blinked her eyes and asked.

Xiao Mo smiled and nodded, and Chen Er immediately hurried inside to fetch her work.

The courtyard was left only with Xiao Mo and Lin He. This was their first time alone together since Xiao Mo had spoken those words to her. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Xiao Mo stared at Lin He for a moment, then pulled a box from his sleeve. “I probably won't have been home when you and Second Brother married. This is the wedding gift I intended for you; I'm giving it to you now.”