Secondly, Jingzhe is coming back from the Government City for the Dragon Boat Festival.

Don’t say, it’s been nearly two months since Jingzhe went to the Government City, and Tong Huaqiong misses her youngest son quite a bit. Upon hearing he’s coming back, like all old mothers, she’s busy killing chickens and ducks, preparing dishes that Jingzhe loves.

As usual before the Dragon Boat Festival, there were visits exchanged, gifts sent to families like the Huang Family, Liu Family, and Zhao Family, but the focus was on the Lu Family in the Government City. This year, the Lu Family is related by marriage, so the gift must be significant. Tong Huaqiong carefully prepared a gift box for Gu Dahuan to take to Gu Dashu in the Government City, where they found Jingzhe at Wanliu Academy, and the three brothers together delivered the gifts to the Lu Family.

It’s also Jingzhe’s first time delivering gifts to the Yue Family since the engagement was set.

The Government City had a three-day holiday for the Dragon Boat Festival, and Jingzhe returned to Qinghe Bay on the first day of the festival.

Lu Zhaozhao returned with Jingzhe.

Tong Huaqiong sighed, Mr. Lu is indeed more open-minded, willing to let Lu Zhaozhao spend the holiday at her future mother-in-law’s house with her fiancé.

Lu Zhaozhao enjoys celebrating at Tong Huaqiong’s home, as the Lu Family has few people, and she longs for the lively gatherings the Gu Family enjoys.

In her past life, Lu Zhaozhao was too fond of this warmth, satisfying all unreasonable demands from Tong Dajiao and others.

But in this life, Tong Huaqiong is her mother-in-law, and the Gu Family gives her only warmth and liveliness, without any harshness or coldness.

Lu Zhaozhao jumped off the carriage and called for Aunt Tong, and Tong Huaqiong stepped forward, holding the bright young girl’s hand.

In the countryside, gossip spreads quickly, and as soon as Jingzhe’s carriage entered the village, people were rushing to tell that Jingzhe returned from the Government City with his fiancée.

Within moments, Tong Huaqiong’s doorstep was packed tight.

Just like matchmaking in later generations.

"Jingzhe, is this your wife? She’s really beautiful. Girls from the Government City are fairer than our village girls."

Lu Zhaozhao had visited Qinghe Bay twice before, so many villagers were familiar with her, and whoever asked this was deliberately trying to see Jingzhe’s reaction.

Jingzhe, usually calm, felt embarrassed to answer.

"Of course, people should look at their family background. They are Imperial Merchants, understand? They are big traders supplying goods to the emperor. With pearl powder used by palace ladies, how could they not be fair?"

Countryside folks speak directly, without avoiding anything, saying what’s on their mind.

They stared at Lu Zhaozhao’s glowing fair face, clicking their tongues in praise.

Amidst everyone’s unreserved chatter, Lu Zhaozhao’s fair face flushed red.

"Jingzhe is really lucky, finding a wife so beautiful, and with a Champion Scholar brother-in-law." Someone sighed.

"But Jingzhe is not bad either, he topped the exam and might be a Champion Scholar in the future." Someone praised Jingzhe.

Jingzhe and Lu Zhaozhao were surrounded, unable to move a step.

Tong Huaqiong worried Lu Zhaozhao might feel shy and tried to shoo people away, but the villagers were too excited to leave.

At this moment, Lu Zhaozhao smiled and asked her maid Ruo Xue to bring out candies, melon seeds, and pastries from the carriage to share with the old ladies and young wives watching.

Lu Zhaozhao personally grabbed candies to scatter among the children around them.

This generous gesture by Lu Zhaozhao made people feel they shouldn’t continue teasing, and they not only cleared a path but also started praising Lu Zhaozhao’s magnanimity.

Tong Huaqiong and Lu Zhaozhao exchanged a smile.

Lu Zhaozhao was already chosen by Mr. Lu as the heir to the commercial empire, and has been doing business outside recently, making today’s crowd seem small.

Tong Huaqiong held Lu Zhaozhao’s hand and led her into the main room.

"Are you tired? Quickly rest." Tong Huaqiong said.

From the Government City to Qinghe Bay, although there was a carriage, the roads of this era were dirt roads which made the carriage bumpy, along with the hot weather, making the ride quite tiresome.

"It’s okay, not too tired." Lu Zhaozhao said.

Lu Zhaozhao’s maid Ruo Xue offered a towel for Lu Zhaozhao to wipe her sweat.

Tong Pandi brought a plate of washed cherries and placed it before Lu Zhaozhao.

"Thank you, cousin."

Lu Zhaozhao knew from Jingzhe about Tong Pandi’s affairs, and she felt empathy and admiration for her bringing up two children and separating.

Tong Huaqiong noticed the complex emotions in Tong Pandi’s eyes as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, filled with gratitude, relief, joy, and sorrow.

She guessed that as a person who had lived again, Tong Pandi must have seen Lu Zhaozhao in the previous life.

After all, in the previous life, Tong Dajiao was proud of marrying a white and rich daughter-in-law; after Lu Zhaozhao and Jingzhe got married, she took Lu Zhaozhao to her natal Black Dragon Pond for a grand banquet.

At that time, Tong Pandi, like Tong Dajiao, was a part of her natal family, and as her aunt hosted, she had to attend.

It would’ve been hard not to see Lu Zhaozhao.

"Cousin, these are gifts for your children."

Lu Zhaozhao asked Ruo Xue to bring two boxes and a bundle, opening two boxes which contained longevity locks adorned with jade golden necklaces.

They looked expensive at first glance.

Then she opened the bundle, revealing a bolt of lake blue satin glimmering with silver light, saying, "This is for you, cousin."

Tong Pandi choked up.

Lu Zhaozhao remains as kind-hearted and enthusiastic as she remembered.

Especially the jade-inlaid golden necklace, a gift Lu Zhaozhao had given to Duo’er in the previous life.

However, it later ended up in Wu Musheng’s heir’s hands.

Tong Pandi said, "This is too precious."

Lu Zhaozhao smiled and said, "These are all items from my family’s shop. I didn’t spend money on them. If you don’t accept, it means you find the gift inadequate."

Tong Pandi wiped away a tear and promptly said, "No, no, I don’t mean that."

Then she looked at her aunt Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Zhaozhao is sincere, since she’s giving them to you and your children, you should accept."

Tong Pandi accepted the gifts.

"Zhaozhao, what would you like to eat? I’ll cook for you." Tong Pandi asked Lu Zhaozhao.

Lu Zhaozhao thought for a moment and said, "I’m not too hungry; anything is fine."

After speaking, she asked Ruo Xue to help Tong Pandi in the kitchen to prepare vegetables.

Tong Huaqiong watched Ruo Xue’s silhouette, suddenly thinking about whether she should hire a maid or servant to handle cooking.

Since Tong Pandi came to the home, she’s taken on a lot of housework.

He Chao had hired a cooking woman and a maid for Mrs. Hong, and Mrs. Hong advised Tong Huaqiong to employ some people.

Tong Huaqiong disagreed.

The reason being, having been exposed to modern civilization, Tong Huaqiong feels that maids and servants in this era are no different from slaves.

But now she’s considering hiring someone to do housework.

Housekeeping is one aspect; she should also hire a maid to care for Taohua.

After all, Taohua often runs outside, so someone should take care of her intimately.

This is akin to having a secretary in later generations.

Attitudes should also change; as long as she doesn’t treat maids or servants as slaves, they aren’t slaves.

Lu Zhaozhao saw Tong Huaqiong looking at Ruo Xue and nervously asked, "Aunt Tong, should I not have brought my maid here?"

In her previous two visits to Qinghe Bay, Lu Zhaozhao hadn’t brought any maids, feeling that rural families didn’t follow such customs.

Since Tong Huaqiong’s house did not have servants, she went with the local customs and didn’t bring maids along.

This time, due to the engagement, Mr. Lu insisted she bring Ruo Xue.

Now she worried Aunt Tong might think bringing her maid was a sign of her being pampered.

Tong Huaqiong knew Lu Zhaozhao was overthinking and quickly said, "No, I was impressed by Ruo Xue’s quick work and loyalty to you, which made me want to hire a maid for the house."

Hearing Tong Huaqiong say this, Lu Zhaozhao breathed a sigh of relief.

"I heard you went to Su and Hang with Grandpa recently."

Soon, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law began discussing business.

Lu Zhaozhao, excited by Tong Huaqiong’s question about visiting Su and Hang, shared her experiences there with her.