The weather had turned cooler. Yang Shi followed Wang Youfu’s earlier suggestion and filled a cloth sack with the newly harvested wheat, then strapped it on her back. With Caiyun in tow, she headed to the mill to grind flour. The thought of being able to eat white bread regularly brought her joy.

At the mill, they found long lines snaking through the courtyard. The business was evidently thriving. A sudden realization struck Yang Shi—her second son’s idea about opening a private mill might not have been so far-fetched after all. But with no spare funds, such a venture remained beyond their means for now.

With many patrons ahead of them in line, Yang Shi set the sack down and led Caiyun to wait by the entrance. The girl had rarely visited town before; she behaved impeccably on this rare outing, afraid any misbehavior might cost her future chances to come.

Caiyun’s eyes darted around with childish curiosity until they locked onto a candy-stall outside the workshop. She remembered the tangy-sweet burst of sugar-coated hawthorns from years ago when Hongying's father had bought one for his daughter. That memory now made her heart race.

Yang Shi noticed her daughter's distracted posture and followed Caiyun’s gaze to the stall. The child's fascination was understandable—those crimson skewers were irresistible temptations. Recalling how seldom their family indulged in such luxuries, Yang Shi resolutely decided to treat the girl later.

"Once we're done here, I'll buy you one," she murmured, ruffling Caiyun’s hair.

Caiyun looked up anxiously: "Mother, they cost a lot. It's fine if we don't..."

"A few coppers won’t hurt," Yang Shi smiled, touched by her daughter’s frugality. The girl had always been considerate, even when she’d asked for red ribbons earlier only because all the other children already wore them.

By the time their turn came, they'd waited nearly an hour. After paying ten coins for twenty catties of wheat, Yang Shi agreed to return in two days to collect the flour. As promised, she bought a skewer of candied haws for three coins immediately afterward.

Caiyun’s eyes sparkled as she accepted her treat—first nibbling one herself then insisting her mother try one too. She resolved to savor the rest slowly at home, remembering how Hongying had shared with her before. This time, though, it was hers to share freely.

Next stop was Brocade Workshop where Yang Shi sold some of her embroidered goods for twenty-five coins and bought cloth for new garments. While selecting fabric for her husband and sons, she paused when thinking about Caiyun—who hadn’t worn a proper new dress since birth.

Peasant families rarely made new clothes for children due to rapid growth rates, instead repurposing adult clothing. Boys might get exceptions in traditional society favoring male offspring, but girls often went their entire childhoods without a single original garment.

Caiyun's current outfit was one of Yang Shi’s old dresses reworked into smaller sizes. Now with better circumstances, she decided to treat the girl properly this time. After choosing pastel fabrics and marking them against Caiyun’s body:

"Which color do you like best?"

The sudden proposal left Caiyun breathless. She’d longed for new clothes but never dared dream of owning one. Spontaneously pointing at a soft lavender: "This one, Mother!"

Satisfied with the choice, Yang Shi added matching thread and secured a discount from her regular clerk, paying 350 coins in total.

When noticing Yang Shi hadn’t bought anything for herself, Caiyun fretted: "Mother, why didn't you get any fabric?"

"I have enough clothing now," Yang Shi replied gently.

Meanwhile in the capital, Xue Baoshang was debating whether to visit Qingshan Town. The seasonal demand from elite circles for exotic flora remained high despite competition—especially after a rival merchant had recently stolen business by leveraging political connections.

His newly cultivated hybrids were on the verge of success when they suddenly began wilting. Desperate, he decided to consult Wang Qingchen about possible remedies.

Unaware of Xue’s impending arrival, Wang Qingchen was currently consumed with studying. Even his usually oblivious brother Wang Qingtong had noticed the change in him. Though pleased by her son’s diligence, Yang Shi worried about overwork and fell silent after being scolded by Wang Youfu for expressing concerns.

Her next preoccupation shifted to arranging Wang Qinghua's marriage prospects. After learning of He Shi and Auntie Wang Guifang's temple pilgrimage, she joined them at the monastery where they first prayed before the Bodhisattva of Children. Watching He Shi’s fervent worship stirred painful memories in Yang Shi—how her own lost child might have thrived had it lived.

Later consulting with a monk about auspicious dates for next spring's wedding, Yang Shi chose April and June options to discuss further with Wang Youfu and the Luo family.

While Auntie Wang Guifang prayed fervently for her daughter’s well-being at Se Family, receiving an excellent omen she wept with gratitude, adding alms to the monastery from her embroidery earnings—Yang Shi understood such maternal anxieties intimately.

On their return journey, all three women felt lighter-hearted as required tasks were accomplished. For He Shi, the prayer had rekindled hope after years of fruitless longing; for Auntie Wang Guifang, the favorable sign dissolved lingering fears about her daughter’s future.

At school, Wang Qingchen was about to continue studying when summoned by gatekeepers at midday. Spotting Xue Baoshang waiting outside caused him to quicken his steps—had something gone wrong back home?