This day's visit, broke through the highest realm of thick skin in a day. From the beginning of blushing and embarrassment to later smiling naturally and dealing with people, socializing, thinking of all ways to see the master of the house for herself, made her feel that she was one step closer to being a successful woman.

  The first family with the surname Tian was a Shangshu Left Censor of the fourth rank, and also the highest-ranking official among the people in their village. When the servant presented his name card, the gatekeeper of the other family was still somewhat polite, but after taking a closer look and asking a question, he immediately turned hostile and said that their lady wasn't someone who could be seen by just anyone. Yuhe saw that the situation was not good and immediately stepped forward to apologize and speak kindly, also presenting a small silk purse, before the other family would even deign to use their nose to tell her that she could go ask for the person in charge to come out.

  He was just a small official, but as soon as he saw Peony, his eyes couldn't help but roll up and down, and his words were all over the place. He even dragged her to death, making Madame Feng so angry that she wanted to die. Peony was also furious several times and wanted to leave in anger, but she still endured it, forcing herself to show him around for a while, putting on a thick face, and after half an hour of coaxing, scaring, and grinding, he finally reported to the big official.

  She was lucky, and the big manager happened to be free, so she bumped into him. The more polite you are, the less likely you are to blame others. The big manager turned out to be much more reasonable than the small manager, and he also had a broader vision and was more mature. Although he was still surprised by Peony's appearance, he quickly suppressed his surprise. After Peony assured him that she had no other intentions, he finally agreed to pass on the gifts and apologies to the mistress of the house. He also said a few considerate words: "You're too polite, it's not a big deal, the river originally belonged to that village, if you want to repair it, just go ahead and repair it, no need to worry."

  The peony made a delighted expression, on the one hand asking the name of the big manager, and on the other hand indicating that his own family's jewelry store and spice store would provide him with the best goods and the most favorable price if he needed them in the future. Then, she signaled to Yu He to present a small porcelain box of dragon brain incense, euphemistically saying it was for him to try the fragrance.

  The application range of fragrances is too broad, especially the dragon brain fragrance. Ordinary people can't use it often, but Guan Zhen was moved and reported his surname as Jiang. He also said that he actually knew the He family's fragrance shop and boasted that Si Lang was generous and righteous, good at making friends. The fragrances in the shop were not fake, and the price was fair.

  After a couple of sentences, they hit it off and the conversation became easier. Peony tactfully mentioned that as a woman who wants to support herself, buying land and building a garden is not easy, and expressed her hope for peaceful coexistence with her neighbors. Jiang Guanshi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Wait a minute, I'll go ask Madam if she's available to see you." He then turned his gaze to the gift Peony had brought and asked with a smile, "May I ask what gift you've brought?"

  Mu Dan Dao said: "I heard that Tian Zuocheng loves writing poetry and painting. This is Shu paper."

  Jiang Guanshi burst out laughing: "You're a clever and elegant little girl. Wait for my news." After finishing speaking, he ordered someone to carry the gift away to the back.

  Yu He looked at Peony with excitement, and Peony gave her a radiant and confident smile. Everything starts from scratch, she is now like those who run sales, wanting to live better, wanting to get more, must put aside shyness and modesty, will interact with all kinds of people, will be bullied, will be relieved, the more people you know, the more means you have.

  When officials look down on ordinary people, it's a fact that they also look down on businesspeople. However, people are not stones and have their likes and dislikes. As long as you find the right direction, you can always say a few words. Moreover, she doesn't want to make friends with anyone or discuss life and ideals; it's just a supply and demand relationship. If you put your identity in order and adjust your mindset, there won't be so much resentment and injustice. Over time, people will come to know her character and understand that dealing with her won't lead to losses, and this supply and demand relationship will naturally take shape.

  Before long, the housekeeper led out a dignified maid in her 40s wearing a blue skirt. She said apologetically: "Our mistress is just about to go out and can't see you now. However, she heard that you still want to visit the other two households and is worried that you won't know the way, so she asked Zheng Nian's maid to take you there."

  The peony didn't have much hope, just thinking that if she could see it, it would be a surprise, and if not, it would be normal. But when she heard that the other two families were willing to introduce her, she felt that this was the most unexpected surprise. The king of hell is easy to meet, but the little ghost is difficult to invite. She had spent almost an hour trying to get into the Tian family's house, and several times she had challenged her patience and self-respect. She wasn't afraid of those two families making things difficult for her, but what she was afraid of was that after making things difficult for her, they would still accept her gifts, but not deliver the message to the master of the house, and instead, it would be privately swallowed by the slaves below. With Zheng's help, the doors of those two families would be easy to enter.

  And without saying whether Mrs. Tian was really humble and considerate, there must be some credit to Jiang Guan's efforts. Peony sincerely thanked Jiang Guan and politely asked Zheng Nian's help, and couldn't help but let Yuhe secretly make a move and get close to Zheng Nian.

  After making the rounds, although only one household with the surname Chen, the wife of General Wu Youji, saw Peony, all the other households were met by the butler who accepted Peony's gift and told her not to worry about it, just focus on doing her job. As a result, Peony's identity as the new neighbor was confirmed, and the possibility of this household causing trouble with that steward Deng is basically zero.

  Although Peony was tired and hungry, she felt extremely relaxed and had a sense of accomplishment. Seeing that it was already late, she couldn't help but invite Zheng to eat and drink with her. Once you're familiar with someone, the second time is even more so; since the opportunity has arisen, she must grasp it firmly, who knows when she'll have to ask for their help again? She always believed in a principle: making an effort doesn't necessarily yield returns, but not making an effort definitely yields no returns.

  That Zheng aunt originally looked down on the kind of people like Mu Dan who took the initiative to find her and recognize her neighbors, and maybe she was still a merchant's daughter who wanted to cling to her. But seeing that Mu Dan was born beautiful, elegant in demeanor, straightforward and generous in character, and also understood the rules very well, without any behavior or words that shouldn't be had, gradually put away her arrogance and accepted Mu Dan's invitation to dinner.

  Peony didn't want these people to think that he was a wealthy and easy-to-bully fool, so the wine house he chose only emphasized taste and quiet environment, and the dishes he ordered were just suitable. However, his attitude was indeed very enthusiastic and thoughtful. He had pleased Zheng's mother-in-law greatly, and after getting drunk and full, Peony personally sent her back home. Additionally, he added two of the wine house's signature desserts to be delivered to Jiang's steward through Zheng's mother-in-law.

  After the big deal was done, several people stood under the shade of a pagoda tree on the street, each with a tired look on their face. Only Peony was spirited and energetic, shaking the reins: "Let's go, we're going to Fashou Temple to see Master Fuyuan."

  One of the servants looked up at the scorching sun, wiped his sweat with his sleeve, and relying on being a trusted person of He Zhizhong, also thinking that Peony was gentle and considerate, advised Peony: "You are weak in body, you should rest. Why don't you go home and rest first, it doesn't matter if you come again tomorrow."

  He thought going out was to enjoy himself? Peony sneered and glanced at Mrs. Feng. Mrs. Feng turned her head, looked at the two lackluster family servants following behind, and scolded: "What's wrong with you, can't even eat your fill of meat and wine? Can't walk anymore? You're more pampered than the master! Next time don't follow us then."

  "Peony sneered, 'It's not a matter of whether to follow or not, but since you've taken on the task, you must do it well. Otherwise, anyone can say they can't do it and leave, and then no one will be willing to do this job. What's the point of keeping you around?' With that, he whipped his horse and galloped off without looking at the two house servants' faces."

  Those two family servants had no choice, so they also hurried to follow. Fang Dainiang smiled and whispered to Yuhe: "The nature is indeed much harder than before. If it were in the past, we would have to comfort people, slowly return home, or take out money and things to reward them, and say a few good words, which would make people even more arrogant. This is good, do what you should do, don't do it if you don't want to!"

  Yu He Xin smiled confidently and said: "Dan Niang has changed a lot these days. I always feel that she will have great prospects in the future."

  Feng Danni sighed: "You follow her, be smart, don't always be so stupid."

  Seeing her mother look down on herself, Yuhe said: "How could I be so stupid? Dan Niang often praises me for being capable."

  Feng Danni glanced at her and said: "You're very capable? How come I didn't notice?"

  "Ah, sister-in-law," Peony smiled and said, "Rain Lotus is indeed very capable."

  Yu He, who had been praised, finally couldn't help but make a face at Feng Dama, who glared at her fiercely before also bursting out laughing.

  The peony had gone at an inopportune moment, and Master Fuyuan was playing chess with someone. She didn't dare disturb them, so she sat down in the bamboo grove outside the thatched hut to cool off, chatting idly with the little novice monk who had eaten too many of her vegetarian pastries.

  At the age of nine, Ruman ate more of the vegetarian dishes and fruits that Mudan had brought. He was very enthusiastic towards Mudan, showing his two big white teeth like a rabbit and said: "Lady donor, on such a hot day, you must be thirsty, right? My master will play chess for at least an hour. Today, that guest sent some good tea, let me go brew it for you to drink."

  "Since it's a fine tea given to your master, it must be precious. How dare you brew it for me to drink?"

  Man smiled and said: "My master is very engrossed in playing chess, you just wait and drink tea, I will have a way. And he will not be able to find my weak point."

  The peony poked its head out from the bamboo forest, but saw that Fuyuan, the monk in the grass hut, was still in the same position as when he came in, motionless and expressionless. The guest opposite him had their upper body hidden by a screen of grass, so it wasn't clear if they were equally stunned. With a playful heart rising, (the peony) laughed and said: "You go, you go! If I really get to drink it tomorrow, I'll send you ten peaches."

  Sneaking into the thatched cottage, he saw both Monk Fuyuan and the guest in blue robes deep in thought, their full attention on the chessboard. He pretended to say, "Master, this tea has gone cold, I'll brew another pot for you."

  Fuyuan monk indeed didn't even glance at him sideways, and in a daze-like manner said: "You arrange it yourself."

  As soon as the guest in the green robe brought out the white rattan tea basket, he took out a delicate tea cake and began to move with ease and composure. After a brief moment, the tea was ready, and he first poured some into a pair of Xingzhou white porcelain tea cups for Master Fuyuan and the guest. Then, he poured some more into a single Yuezhou porcelain tea cup and quietly took it out to Peony.

  Fuyuan monk didn't notice, his whole attention was on the chessboard, but the green-robed guest had seen it, and quietly pressed down a piece to end the game: "I lost." Fuyuan monk, an outsider, had long since looked at winning and losing lightly, and smiled calmly, just about to speak when the man pointed outside and whispered with a smile: "Your little disciple has come to visit the guest, and the tea cup he gave is even better than the one used by you, Master."

  "Cheng Feng, I think you're jealous that it's better than yours?" Fuyuan monk didn't get angry either, and he stood up lightly with him, looking out from behind the grass curtain. He saw Ruman holding that tea cup, quickly entering the bamboo forest, and soon, a clear and crisp laughter came from the bamboo forest, as well as Ruman's proud boasting voice.

  The guest smiled and looked at Fuyuan: "It seems that it's a female guest after all."

  Fuyuan monk looked at him with a sly smile and said, "Ruman, where did you put my tea cup?"

  A moment of silence, then a response came, as if reluctantly, and from the bamboo forest emerged a figure with hands hanging down, followed by Peony carrying a tea tray.

  Peony's eyes widened as she saw the person standing next to Master Fuyuan, and she couldn't help but stare for a moment. How could it be that Jiang Changyang was here again? She immediately broke into a sweet smile, which served as a greeting. Before Ruman could apologize, Peony quickly paid her respects to Master Fuyuan, saying: "Master, I tricked Master Ruman into giving me good tea to drink."

  Fuyuan saw that it was Mudan and couldn't help but smile slightly: "Mudan, when did you arrive?" He also gave a sideways glance at Ruman who was shrinking his head and body, "And didn't even know to report your arrival, and snuck in a cup of tea as if I wouldn't give it to guests."

  The peony was slightly surprised at the monk's sudden jump, and automatically guessed that it was because he had won the chess game, so he smiled and said: "It's been almost half a time. I didn't dare to disturb you with mundane things when I saw Master playing chess."

  Fuyuan monk then introduced the peony to his friend beside him: "He Shi asked me to help her with gardening, and it so happens that her villa is adjacent to yours, you are neighbors."

  Peony smiled and stepped forward to greet Jiang Changyang: "Mr. Jiang, it's been a long time." She didn't expect that Jiang Changyang also knew Fuyuan monk.

  Jiang Changyang smiled and said: "He Niang, you're back safe and sound, I've kept you waiting."

  "Where is it? It's I who disturbed your elegant gathering."

  Fuyuan monk said: "Nü Tan Yue came today, is there something wrong with the drawings of that garden?"

  The peony originally wanted to invite him to take a walk in the next few days, so as to ask him to be a witness, in case of need. But seeing Jiang Changyang here, he felt it was not good to open his mouth. He was afraid that Jiang Changyang had previously said something there, but she didn't understand, and her way of running around everywhere, arranging and seeking other solutions made him feel disgusted, thinking she was not respectful. So he decided not to mention this matter in front of Fuyuan monk again, and casually changed the subject: "It's not that the garden's drawings have any problem, but I want to ask Master about a question regarding strange rocks."

  Fuyuan monk smiled and said: "Please speak."

  The peony blinked and smiled: "Last time you told me that for garden stone, Lingbi stone is the best, and Ying stone is slightly inferior. But these days I've been asking around, how come I couldn't find any good big ones? Even if I did encounter some, they were all small. Do you know where to buy large good ones?"

  Foyuan was amused by her: "These two kinds of stones are precious and hard to come by, especially the tall ones. Even a few feet high is considered rare. You won't be able to find them in such a short period of time. It's better to use lake rocks instead."

  Peony had long known it would be this way, so she pretended to be enlightened and said: "I know, I'll go back and ask someone to buy lake stones." Since Jiang Changyang didn't show any signs of leaving, there was no point in her staying any longer, so she stood up and bid farewell.

  Waiting for her to walk far away, Jiang Changyang smiled and said: "I think she's looking for you because of something else, but it's just that I'm not good at opening my mouth here."

  Fuyuan monk asked back: "Since you know, why don't you leave?"

  Jiang Changyang said, "Everything has its order, my business is not yet done, so I won't leave. Moreover, what she wants to ask you must be less important than my business, will you answer or not?"

  Fuyuan monk frowned: "You're not her, how do you know that her things are more important than yours? What if I don't agree?"

  "She's asking for nothing but that garden. Jiang Changyang smiled slightly and sat down on the grass mat: 'If you don't agree, I won't leave. Wait until you're willing to talk again.'"

  "It doesn't show that you still have a bit of rascal's demeanor." Fuyuan monk was slightly annoyed, waving his sleeve: "You go and take your demon monk, be your hero, why must you drag me into this?"

  "Can't I just shave my head and sneak in? Even if I shaved my head to sneak in, how would you have me discuss Buddhist scriptures with them?"

  Fuyuan monk's face sank, and he said lightly: "If you don't want to go, then don't go. If you want to sit here, then sit here. Don't blame me for not giving you food to eat."

  Jiang Changyang seemed to have not seen his displeasure, and went straight to his bookshelf to flip through the books. When he came back with a full tray of vegetarian food, he didn't wait for Fuyuan Monk to speak, and snatched the food from him to start eating.

  Fuyuan monk was out of breath, snatching the chopsticks and bowl from Ruman's hands, and competing with him for the salty vegetables. Jiang Changyang didn't even lift his head, moving his chopsticks as if flying, not caring where Fuyuan monk picked, he only cared about picking what he wanted. Before Fuyuan monk could finish half a bowl of rice, he had already swept away all the other dishes, and with satisfaction, he raised his eyes to look at Fuyuan monk and smiled: "The vegetarian meal tastes good."

  Fuyuan monk was so angry that he almost died, saying: "How can you be like this?" Others all thought this person was a good person, but he knew how thick this person's skin was when it came up. Today he also counted as a failure.

  Jiang Changyang said in surprise: "Don't you know that one thing I've always insisted on is to eat my fill no matter what?"

  The two of them bickered here, but Ruman suddenly burst into tears. Fuyuan Shang hurriedly said: "Ruman, what's wrong?"

  "I'm hungry, I haven't eaten."

  Jiang Changyang couldn't help but burst out laughing, and Fuyuan monk sighed and said: "Stop crying, go back to the kitchen and let them redo some. Just say I told you."

  Ru Man immediately wiped away her tears, tidied up the bowls and chopsticks of the two of them, and skipped out. Fu Yuan asked with a sigh, "Is this matter very important to you?"

  "It's very important."

  Fuyuan monk sighed and stopped speaking.

  The sunset's afterglow spilled in through the gaps in the grass curtain, casting a thin layer of golden light on the simple furnishings inside. Ruman, who had gone to the kitchen on orders, came running back: "Master, there is a Mr. Jiang outside who wants to see Master Jiang."

  Fuyuan raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Changyang: "Ah, you've arrived. Are you going to see him or not?"

  Jiang Changyang said calmly: "Since you've come, why don't I see you?"

  A moment later, a young man with a pale complexion and slender sleeves, about seventeen or eighteen years old, came in. He saw Jiang Changyang and exaggeratedly revealed a brilliant smile, gave him a big bow, and sat down in front of him, saying: "Big brother, I heard about that thing. Why don't you just not go? Whatever you want, Father will give it to you, we have no complaints, as long as you speak up, everything is yours, so why risk your life?"

  Jiang Changyang looked at him quietly: "Did you bring what I asked for?"

  Jiang didn't expect that after hearing his own words, he wouldn't have any reaction at all. He was somewhat taken aback and reflexively said: "Yes."

  Jiang Changyang said: "Alright, I understand. You can leave now. This is a quiet place for Buddhist cultivation, don't disturb the master."

  "Are you still going? Are you resentful of us? I..."

  Jiang Changyang suddenly smiled and stopped him with his hand: "You are all wrong, I don't resent you. I have many things to do, and there are still many ideals and ambitions that have not been realized, how can I have time to resent you? I'm busy, and I don't have the leisure to do so." If one were to say whether he really resented anyone, of course there was, after all, he was also an ordinary person. However, compared to doing what he wanted to do, resentment was not worth mentioning.

  Chiang Gong was somewhat stunned, does resenting people also require time and a clear mind?

  Jiang Changyang grasped a handful of chess pieces in his hand and said calmly, "You can go back now. Tell her that over the years, we actually didn't have time to hate anyone. This time I came, it's just to sort out some of my mother's property, and then do something I want to do. It has nothing to do with you all, so you can rest assured."

  Jiang Gong heard the tone of Jiang Changyang's words, which was not perfunctory or pretentious, but rather a serious and disapproving attitude. He felt belittled and forgot the reminders from his family members before he came. With a sharp tone, he said: "Since you look down on these things and don't resent them in your heart, why do you still want to stir up trouble everywhere under the banner of Zhu Guogong's mansion? Causing trouble for our family?"