After leaving the He family, Madam Zhang paid another visit to Wang Guifang, sharing the news of her daughter's engagement.

Wang Guifang was naturally delighted upon hearing the news and repeatedly assured Zhang that she would certainly attend. Wang Guifang and Zhang had always gotten along well, and Zhang had often shown her kindness. Therefore, with Zhang's daughter getting engaged, she certainly had to show up to support the occasion. However...

"Third Sister-in-law, is it appropriate for me to come? After all, I was once divorced," Wang Guifang said with some uncertainty.

"Oh, what does that matter? I was just worried about your health at the time..." Zhang hesitated slightly. After all, she had heard that Wang Guifang had been unwell, and coupled with her pregnancy, she had been confined to the kang the entire time.

Hearing Zhang's concerns, Wang Guifang smiled, "It's fine, Third Sister-in-law. The doctor said I can get off the kang now; it's just that Wuzi is overly cautious and insists I lie down for a while longer."

"The doctor gave the all-clear? That's wonderful news! I was worried about you and feared you wouldn't be able to come!" Zhang exclaimed happily.

"I absolutely must attend my niece's engagement banquet. I missed Caixia's last time; I cannot miss Caidie's this time," Wang Guifang chuckled.

"Good, then it's settled!" Zhang was also very pleased that Wang Guifang could make it.

When the day of Caidie's engagement banquet arrived, not only did many people from the Wang family attend, but the Zhou family also sent a considerable contingent. The Zhou family held this engagement banquet in high regard and prepared substantial betrothal gifts, which brought considerable honor to Wang Youtian's household. Wang Caidie was delighted to see this, as it clearly indicated how much her future in-laws valued her.

Relatives from the Zhou side looked at Wang Caidie and nodded in satisfaction; Lingzi had chosen a good wife. Zhou Ling's elder sister was also very pleased with her future sister-in-law. She hadn't expected that her brother, who had always resisted marriage discussions, would ultimately find someone so excellent, and she had teased him about it many times since.

Zhou Ling watched Wang Caidie enter to serve tea and felt quite satisfied himself. His future wife was not only attractive but also conducted herself with such grace and poise that she was beyond reproach. Furthermore, he had heard from his sister that she was very capable in managing household affairs and needlework, which only increased Zhou Ling's contentment. At this moment, Zhou Ling felt grateful to his parents and sister; if they hadn't insisted, he would never have found such a fine wife.

As for Wang Caidie, looking at Zhou Ling, she couldn't quite articulate her feelings. Having been competitive since childhood, she had always aimed to match her prospective in-laws with those of her elder sister. Thus, Zhou Ling's family did not quite meet the standards she had set for herself. But despite her long insistence on high standards, circumstances proved stronger than her will. Given her family's standing, she couldn't secure a match as prominent as her sister's in-laws. After considerable internal struggle, she lowered her expectations, and her mother finally arranged the match with the Zhou family.

Still, while the Zhou family's financial foundation might not quite compare to her sister's in-laws, Wang Caidie reasoned that if the Zhou family treated her well in the future, she could settle down contentedly.

A short while later, Wang Caixia arrived with Zhao Jing. It was her sister's engagement banquet, and she had resolved to return for the occasion. This visit would also give her a chance to see her parents, as once married, one couldn't return home as often as before.

Zhao Jing was now a xiucai (scholar), exuding an air of refinement that caused many of the attendees to unconsciously adopt a more cautious demeanor around him. This wasn't born of fear, but rather an innate recognition of the gap between them, simple farming folk, and a man of letters. Every movement he made seemed naturally pleasing to the eye, unlike their own boisterous and perhaps crude mannerisms.

Zhao Jing naturally sensed the shift in attitude toward him, but he didn't pay it much mind. His main objective for the outing was simply to relax; he had been cooped up studying for so long and rarely ventured out. If others kept their distance, it suited him perfectly.

Upon seeing Zhao Jing approach, and then looking at Zhou Ling, her fiancé, Wang Caidie felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. There was indeed a gap. Her sister's husband was a xiucai, but what about hers? She had heard he was merely engaged in small trade. Thinking of this, Wang Caidie began to doubt her decision to agree to the engagement. What if she regretted it later?

Nevertheless, while Wang Caidie wrestled with the rightness of her engagement, the banquet proceeded as planned.

Once the engagement celebration concluded, setting aside Wang Caidie’s lingering disappointment, Zhao Jing was preparing to depart for the provincial capital.

Wang Caixia considered that since her husband was going to the provincial capital, and her cousin Wang Qingchen had been there for some time and would surely be familiar with the area, she should make arrangements. After informing her family of her intentions, she returned to Wangjia Village and visited Wang Youfu’s home to inquire about Wang Qingchen’s address in the provincial capital, planning to have Zhao Jing seek him out upon arrival.

As Zhao Jing was Wang Caixia’s husband, he was naturally considered family, and Wang Youfu’s household was happy to assist. Madam Yang found an old letter, called for Caiyun, and asked her to look through it for any mention of Wang Qingchen’s residence. If Wang Qinghua had been home, he surely would have handled this task, but since he was still at the mill, Caiyun had to step in.

After Caiyun located the address mentioned by her second elder brother in the letter, she took a small piece of paper she occasionally used for practicing calligraphy, carefully copied the address onto it, and gave it to Wang Caixia.

Wang Caixia was deeply grateful, but Madam Yang wasn't overly concerned, viewing mutual support among family as simply the natural order of things.

Wang Caixia returned and gave the address to her husband, Zhao Jing, instructing him to find Wang Qingchen once he reached the provincial capital. Zhao Jing accepted the paper and agreed. The couple then began preparing the necessary provisions for their trip.

Meanwhile, when Wang Qinghua returned home that evening, he heard from Madam Yang and the others about Wang Caixia’s visit to obtain Wang Qingchen’s address. He then retired to his room to write a letter to Wang Qingchen. The letter first updated him on recent domestic affairs—how the crops were growing well and promising a large harvest this year; how Wang Caidie was now engaged, and Wang Qingtong was also discussing marriage—and concluded by mentioning that Zhao Jing would be coming to the provincial capital to seek him out, asking him to look after their relative a little.

The next morning, Wang Qinghua dispatched the letter written the previous night. Several days after the letter was sent, Zhao Jing finally set off for the provincial capital.

When Wang Qingchen received the letter, he decided it would be best to have Zhao Jing stay with them, saving him the trouble of finding lodging. Of course, he would need to charge him some rent for the room. However, he felt he should discuss this with the others first.

When the others heard Wang Qingchen’s suggestion about Zhao Jing potentially staying with them, they didn't react strongly. Wang Qingchen had explained that Zhao Jing was a relative, and he would pay rent once he arrived. Since there were vacant rooms in the residence, letting a relative occupy an empty space wasn't a major issue.

"I have no objection, as long as he doesn't disturb my studies," said Liu Hao. In his view, having one more person made little difference, provided everyone remained quiet and focused on their reading; even two more wouldn't matter.

Li Yuntai and Qi Jintang also had no objections. In fact, Qi Jintang and Zhao Jing were schoolmates! However, Qi Jintang later went to the county school, while Zhao Jing remained in town. The story went that his parents and wife were reluctant for him to leave for the county school, and by that time, Zhao Jing already had a son, so he stayed.

As for Zhao Cheng and Madam Huang, they were even less opposed; on the contrary, they thought it might even be beneficial for Zhao Jing to live with them, as it would slightly reduce the rent each person had to cover.

Seeing that no one objected, Wang Qingchen finalized the arrangement.

When Zhao Jing finally arrived in the provincial capital, Wang Qingchen had already arranged a room for him. Zhao Jing, who had been contemplating where to find lodging, was immensely grateful upon seeing this. After promptly paying the required rent, Zhao Jing became another tenant of the residence.

After settling in, Zhao Jing immediately sent a letter home to report his safe arrival. When the Zhao family received the letter and had someone literate read it aloud, they learned that their son had reached the provincial capital safely and smoothly, and that Wang Qingchen had already helped arrange his accommodation, offering considerable assistance. The letter assured them that everything was settled and they need not worry.

Hearing the contents, the Zhao family breathed a sigh of relief and felt deeply indebted to Wang Qingchen. However, Wang Qingchen was not in Qingshan Town at that moment, so the Zhao family decided to prepare a gift and deliver it personally to Wang Youfu’s home.

When the Zhao family arrived at Wang Youfu’s, Madam Yang was busy overseeing the grain collection and received them.

Madam Yang was initially puzzled by their visit at such a busy time, but upon hearing their expression of thanks, she understood.

"Oh, you are too kind. We are family; helping one another is only right, isn't it?" Madam Yang said with a smile.

"Well, one cannot say that. Qingchen helped our Jing'er so much; we are deeply grateful, so you must accept this token of our appreciation," the Zhao family insisted.

Madam Yang politely declined a few times but could not dissuade them. Finally, unable to resist their insistence, she accepted the gifts brought by the Zhao family for the time being.