Liu Song, having been struck, had no idea about the extent of his opponent's strength and thus kept to his home for a considerable period, daring not to step outside casually.

A few days later, people from the Shen estate came again to fetch Wang Guifang. On the way, Wang Guifang sat in the carriage wondering if she should tell her daughter about the current state of the Liu family. Yet, one moment she worried that hearing the news would distress her daughter, and the next she recalled that Liu Song was, after all, her daughter’s father. She reached no decision even upon arriving at the Shen estate.

Wang Guifang arrived at her daughter’s small courtyard and began recounting some recent family matters.

Although Wang Guifang tried hard to conceal the conflict churning inside her, her daughter noticed it immediately. “Mother, is something troubling you?”

Wang Guifang looked at her daughter, then sighed, and recounted the situation of the Liu family to her.

Liu Qian'er fell silent after listening. Logically, having been sold by the Liu family for money, she should have harbored hatred towards them. However, the thought that they were still her kin softened her heart. Especially upon hearing the tragic state of the Liu family from her mother, she found herself unable to hate them; instead, she pitied them.

Seeing her daughter’s silence, Wang Guifang knew her daughter still cared about the Liu family. But she said nothing, after all, they were still her daughter’s relatives, weren't they?

Liu Qian'er pondered for a moment, then looked at her mother with guilt. “Mother…”

Wang Guifang took Liu Qian'er’s hand and patted it. “I know what you are about to say. It’s alright, do as you think best!”

Liu Qian'er nodded. “I just feel that I should resent them for how they treated you back then, but now that I hear they are living so poorly, I just feel sorry for them.”

“I know, they are your family after all, aren't they? It’s fine, do whatever you wish to do!” Wang Guifang consoled her.

“Mmm, I understand, Mother!” Liu Qian'er let out a breath of relief.

Afterward, Liu Qian'er asked her mother to take twenty taels of silver to the Liu family. If the Liu family managed it carefully, this sum could last them quite a while. However, Liu Qian'er also instructed Wang Guifang to tell the Liu family that she would not provide any more money in the future, to prevent them from pestering her later.

After Wang Guifang returned, considering it improper for her, as the divorced wife, to visit the Liu household, she instead asked Wang Qingyun, who was at home, to make the trip. She also told Wang Qingyun to convey to the Liu family that this was the entirety of the money and that Liu Qian'er would not concern herself with the Liu family’s affairs anymore.

Wang Qingyun arrived at the Liu house and directly handed the twenty taels of silver to the elderly Liu couple, which made Liu Song glare. However, thinking that the money came from his daughter, he figured he could still demand more from the Shen estate later. But just as Liu Song had this thought, he heard the words Wang Guifang had instructed Wang Qingyun to deliver, and he immediately jumped up in anger: “She wishes! I am her own father, she can’t just shake me off!”

Old Man Liu and Old Woman Liu shared the same sentiment as Liu Song. Since their granddaughter had money, how could she not support them? After all, Qian'er was their granddaughter from the Liu family. As long as she was a Liu, they were obliged to provide for them. The old couple were overjoyed seeing the twenty taels their granddaughter sent over. Finally, they wouldn’t have to live that miserable life anymore. With money in hand, their family wouldn't be far from how they lived before!

Wang Qingyun looked at the Liu family’s demeanor and doubted whether his aunt’s instructions would be effective. But then he thought that these were not things he could control; at most, he would just report back to his aunt.

Wang Qingyun left the Liu residence after completing his errand.

Liu Song watched Wang Qingyun walk away, then turned to Old Man Liu and Old Woman Liu and asked, “Father, Mother, how much money did that girl Qian'er send back?”

Old Woman Liu replied happily, “A full twenty taels! Now we finally don't have to live that hard life anymore. Ai, our granddaughter Liu really is something!”

Liu Song scoffed upon hearing this. “Hmph, only twenty taels? What good is that? Really, she latches onto some rich master in the city, and all she brings back is twenty taels. She’s as useless as her mother!”

Old Woman Liu tried to placate him. “Son, twenty taels isn't a small amount. Think about it, if she sends twenty taels this time, sending it a few more times, the money will add up, right?”

Liu Song snorted in response. “Next time, it ought to be at least fifty taels. Twenty taels isn't even enough to stuff between our teeth! Mother, let’s get some good wine and meat today. It’s been so long since we ate anything decent, my mouth is practically tasting blandness.”

“Ah, fine, we’ll have a good feast today.” With that, Old Woman Liu bustled off happily.

After Old Woman Liu left, Liu Song looked at his father, Old Man Liu, and said, “Father, you should let me keep the silver!”

Old Man Liu quickly clutched the money pouch. “No need. I’ll keep it with me. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease.”

Seeing that Old Man Liu refused to hand it over, Liu Song’s face immediately soured. “What’s this? This money came from my daughter, why should you keep it all!”

Liu Song argued with Old Man Liu for a while, but Old Man Liu ultimately lost the dispute and could only hand over half of the silver to his son. Liu Song happily took the money, secretly thinking that he finally had capital; this time, he was determined to recoup his losses.

After finishing a rich meal, Liu Song happily tucked the money away and headed to the gambling den in town. Old Man Liu watched his son’s retreating figure and sighed, “Don't cause any more trouble this time!”

Meanwhile, at Wang Youfu's house, Luo Qing looked at the flower sprouts that had grown from the seeds Wang Qingchen had given her. “They’re forming buds!”

Beside her, Old Madam Yang came over, looked at the tiny flower bud, and also grew happy. “They really are! When Qingchen returns, let’s ask him if we should sell these.”

Luo Qing looked puzzled. “Mother, shouldn't we wait for the flowers to bloom? Wouldn't we get more money then?”

Facing Luo Qing’s confusion, Old Madam Yang sighed. “I know what you’re saying, but think about it, we owe our entire modest fortune to Boss Xue and his people. Boss Xue is benevolent; we can sell each seedling for twenty taels of silver, and even once they bloom, for forty taels. But we can never truly repay the kindness Boss Xue has shown our family. So, let’s not wait for these flowers to bloom; we should forgo that extra twenty taels we could earn, considering it a small repayment to Boss Xue and the others!”

Regardless of what Luo Qing thought internally, she nodded outwardly as if having learned a valuable lesson.

When Wang Qingchen returned from his studies, Old Madam Yang told him about the matter. Wang Qingchen felt it was inconsequential; if earning twenty fewer taels of silver would bring peace of mind to his family, it was worth it.

Therefore, Wang Qingchen said, “Alright, I’ll go ask Steward Xu tomorrow. And I should also ask the Li Yuntai family if they want to sell! Mother, you will need to ask Uncle Big and Third Uncle’s families.”

Seeing that Wang Qingchen agreed, Old Madam Yang nodded with great relief.

The next day at the academy, Wang Qingchen asked Li Yuntai about selling the flowers. Li Yuntai was initially slow to react, having been preoccupied with the County Examination and Prefecture Examination, he had nearly forgotten about those flowers. But since Wang Qingchen was asking, it must be time to sell. He nodded. “Deal. I’ll talk to my mother and the others when I get back. Just let me know when you’re sending them to Steward Xu, and that will be fine.”

Wang Qingchen nodded, and after school, he went to Steward Xu’s place.

Steward Xu looked at Wang Qingchen, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, and smiled. “Aiya, it’s only been a short time, and you are already a Tongsheng! Truly remarkable! I had considered coming to offer congratulations earlier, but then I thought, since you passed the Prefecture Examination, you must have even more things to attend to, so I didn't want to disturb you. Now that you are here, I must offer something to mark the occasion!”

With that, Steward Xu brought out an inkstone. “Consider this my congratulatory gift, Uncle Xu. Please don’t think too little of it!”

Wang Qingchen hadn't expected Steward Xu to prepare a specific gift for him and felt a bit awkward. “Uh, this... Uncle Xu, I dare not accept such a generous gift. Please take it back quickly!”

Steward Xu was slightly displeased when Wang Qingchen refused. “This is just a token of my goodwill; you must accept it. Besides, this inkstone was a gift from a friend of mine, but I often calculate accounts and rarely use a brush, so this inkstone never saw much use. Giving it to you now is putting it to good use! Please take it!”

Seeing Steward Xu insist, Wang Qingchen felt too embarrassed not to accept. Only then did Wang Qingchen explain the purpose of his visit.

Steward Xu was delighted to hear that the flower seeds given to Wang Qingchen last time had grown into seedlings, and many were quite large, with some even showing buds. Steward Xu was especially pleased that the Wang family hadn't rushed to sell them before they bloomed, which showed the Wang family's simple honesty. This made Steward Xu feel that a long-term cooperative relationship with the Wang family was possible.

Steward Xu considered the matter and decided it was better not to trouble the Wang family further. He said, “There’s no need for you to send the flowers over. I’ll come to your house tomorrow to collect them!”

Wang Qingchen heartily agreed, finding it excellent that he wouldn't have to burden his own family with the delivery.

Wang Qingchen thought for a moment, then added, “You need to exchange the flowerpots, but there are quite a few flowers this time, and I can’t carry all the pots by myself.”

Steward Xu waved this off dismissively. “You don't need to worry about that. I'll have someone send you home later, and they can bring the flowerpots along, how about that?”

Wang Qingchen had no reason to refuse—it saved him the trouble of walking! So, Wang Qingchen nodded. “That would be excellent!”

Afterward, Steward Xu did indeed have his coachman take Wang Qingchen home, and along with him, several nice flowerpots were delivered to the Wang residence.