Wang Qingchen settled into the county seat and decided not to return home until the Lunar New Year, dedicating himself entirely to his studies in the meantime.

At the County School, besides Liu Hao and Li Yuntai, Wang Qingchen had also befriended Zhao Cheng and another scholar who, like them, had passed the Xiu Cai examination with a respectable ranking. Shortly thereafter, Wang Qingchen spotted Qi Jintang, whom he hadn't seen in a long while. Qi Jintang had also performed well in last year's Prefectural Examination, securing his entry into the County School. Seeing each other there, a drink was clearly in order.

Qi Jintang had already made up his mind to cultivate a friendship with Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai. Their presence at the County School confirmed their strong academic standing, reinforcing his initial decision and solidifying his resolve to connect with them.

Consequently, Qi Jintang invited the pair to the Drunken Immortal Tower in the county town, planning for the three of them to catch up properly.

"It’s been since you last came to ask me about the County Examination that we’ve met! Fortunately, now that you are both here at the County School, meeting up will be much more convenient in the future. Come, a toast to all of us being at the County School!" Qi Jintang began.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

After taking a drink and setting down his cup, Wang Qingchen admitted, "It’s quite embarrassing; we've been here at the County School for days and hadn't thought to look for you sooner. Otherwise, we would have paid you a visit immediately."

"Ah, you mustn't say that. You've just arrived, everything is new and confusing—I should have been the one to seek you out. It's only today that I learned you were here; I should be the one offering an apology. I’ll finish this drink now as my apology to you both." Before Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai could protest, Qi Jintang downed another cup.

Since the toast had been made, Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai wisely let the matter drop and shifted the conversation to other topics with Qi Jintang.

Knowing they were new arrivals, Qi Jintang shared his own experiences since entering the County School, offering them as guidance so they wouldn't be completely lost.

Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai were deeply grateful for his consideration, listening intently. Afterward, they gained significant insight into the workings of the County School: the eccentricities of the various tutors, which students were genuinely diligent and worth associating with, and which ones had influential family backgrounds and were best avoided.

The three parted late into the night. Qi Jintang returned directly to the County School where he resided, while Wang Qingchen and Li Yuntai headed back to their rented dwelling.

Upon their return, Granny Xu had already prepared hot water, ready for them to wash up before settling in for the night, making both men exclaim that hiring staff had indeed been the right decision.

Days turned into weeks, and in Wang Family Village, the wedding day for Wang Guifang and Li Wu soon arrived.

In the old family home, the Old Madam, unable to overrule her daughter, secretly added the thirty taels of silver betrothal money given by Li Wu to her daughter's dowry, ensuring Wang Guifang could take it back to the Li household for purchasing land or starting a small business later.

Wang Guifang remained completely unaware of this. At this moment, her heart was a mixture of joy at remarrying and apprehension about the future.

The Old Madam did not personally assist with the dressing and adornment as she had for the daughter’s first wedding. At her age, her hands were unsteady, and she feared causing a disruption on the joyous day. Instead, she tasked her three daughters-in-law with overseeing the preparations.

Madam Tian, realizing she wouldn't get any part of Wang Guifang's dowry once she married out, was reluctant to assist personally. After announcing she needed to go out and receive guests, she swiftly departed for the front yard.

Madam Tian's exit brought immediate relief to Madam Yang and Madam Zhang. Truthfully, they would have felt constrained had Madam Tian been present. With her gone, they felt much more at ease—a sentiment shared by the bride, Wang Guifang herself. She knew Madam Tian held little affection for her and preferred her absence. Thus, Madam Tian’s departure brought a sense of comfort to all four women involved.

Soon, Li Wu arrived with several close friends to escort the bride. This time, the Old Madam was not weeping inconsolably as she had during the first wedding. Instead, she spoke to her daughter with deep satisfaction: "Li Wu is a decent man; you won’t be wronged marrying him. Of course, if you ever do suffer any slight, just come straight home. Since you’re in the same village, coming back is easy. It’s the blessing of marrying within the same village; your mother and I can see each other often. However, after you marry, you must quickly bear a child to secure your standing in the Li family, understand?"

Wang Guifang nodded, "Yes, Mother, your daughter understands. Once I marry into the Li family, you must take good care of your health at home. Your daughter will visit often too."

The Old Madam nodded contentedly. "Good. Come, go speak with your father one last time. Your father worried a great deal over your marriage."

Afterward, Wang Guifang exchanged a few words with the Old Master. Looking at his daughter, the Old Master expressed his relief, "Seeing you find such a good match now eases my heart considerably. When you go to the Li family, live well, do you hear?"

Wang Guifang smiled and nodded, then bid farewell to her brothers, sisters-in-law, and nephews and nieces before being carried to the bridal sedan chair by Wang Youfu.

There was a reason Wang Youfu carried her. Since the last blow he suffered, Wang Youliang had acquired a new pastime: drinking. His health was already fragile before, and now, soaking himself in alcohol daily, the result was predictable. Thus, the Old Master, mindful of his condition, specifically instructed Wang Youfu to carry his sister to the sedan.

Wang Guifang was married off once more, and the Wang family was genuinely happy for her. Furthermore, her remarriage was seen as a positive development for the other unmarried daughters in the Wang family. Consequently, everyone in the Wang family—except for Madam Tian and the currently befuddled Wang Youliang—welcomed her second marriage.

Since Wang Guifang married within the same village, any news about the couple would quickly reach the Wang family. This was wonderful news for the Old Master and Old Madam. The Old Madam was already regretting marrying her daughter far away years ago; had she considered marrying her locally from the start, her daughter wouldn't have endured so much suffering.

With Wang Guifang married off, a major issue at the old residence was resolved. Following this event, another matter required the family's attention: Wang Youliang’s eatery.

Wang Youliang had previously run the food shop in town with great success. However, after his affair with Madam Huang was exposed, Madam Huang’s departure from Qingshan Town, and a series of related incidents, Wang Youliang had completely lost the will to manage the eatery. Previously, the shop staff could maintain operations, but problems arose when the owner rarely appeared; how could one expect the employees to serve him wholeheartedly? The shop had descended into chaos. The purchasing manager was pocketing funds, buying only inferior ingredients, making it impossible for the cooks to produce quality food. Many scholars noticed this decline, and business gradually dwindled. Wang Youliang ignored all these accumulating problems.

The Old Master had anticipated issues with Wang Youliang’s eatery. However, they had been too busy with Wang Guifang’s wedding arrangements and Wang Youliang’s emotional distress to address it. Now that Wang Guifang was married and Wang Youliang seemed utterly defeated, the Old Master finally had the capacity to intervene.

Therefore, one day, the Old Master gathered the entire extended family at the old residence to discuss the problems plaguing the food shop.

The Old Master first sought Wang Youliang’s opinion. After a long, hazy period of thought, Wang Youliang finally grasped the subject, but with a grand wave of his hand, he delegated the entire matter of the eatery to the Old Master, declaring flatly that he would never manage the shop again.

Hearing this, the Old Master felt an urge to seize a stick and beat Wang Youliang soundly, wondering when he would ever sober up. All because of that widow, he was now willing to abandon his business, content to remain perpetually drunk? The Old Master had hoped that while Wang Youliang’s grief was understandable, he would eventually process it, recover, and regain his vigor. But the reality before him was stark: since the widow left, Wang Youliang had become utterly dispirited, showing not the slightest inclination to recover—how could this not infuriate the Old Master?

Yet, the Old Master knew that forcing Wang Youliang to act would be futile; his heart wasn't in it, and he would only make the shop worse.

So, after some deliberation, the Old Master decided to entrust the management of the shop to another family member. But to whom? Currently, only Wang Qingtong among the households at the old residence owned a shop. Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingyun had none! Although Wang Qingshan had officially separated his household, he was still the eldest grandson, wasn't he? Allowing him to manage it seemed possible. However, this arrangement would surely displease Qingyun and his wife. If the separated branch could run a shop, why couldn't the branch still living under the same roof? The Old Master was now caught in a difficult dilemma.