In the following journey, Mr. Lin no longer looked for trouble, Mrs. Tao cooled down, and Lin Jingrong no longer deliberately asked people to ask about Wu Xiang's food and clothing, as well as what he needed. If there was a need, they would do their best to fulfill it, and if not, they wouldn't force it. At first, the servants felt that the atmosphere was a bit strange, but later on, they got used to it and didn't mind anymore. Wu Xiang was even more delighted to be free and at ease, so everyone arrived in Qingzhou peacefully.

  Far, far away, he saw the city wall of Qingzhou. Tao Shi, who had not returned home to visit his relatives for many years, was so excited that his eyes were moist. Lin Shen was even more excited, leaning on the window and shouting: "Is this Uncle's house? Is this Big Brother's house?"

  "Yes." Tao's family pulled his little cloak tightly around him and affectionately stroked his small face: "You must remember, your uncle treats you well, and in the future, you should come often to visit him and your aunt."

  "There's also Third Sister and Big Brother-in-law."

  Tao smiled proudly and turned back to look at Lin Jingrong with a smile: "Look at our little Seventh, so sensible."

  Wu Xiang rode his horse over and leaned down to ask Lin Shen: "Little Seventh Brother, want to ride a horse? I'll take you ahead first."

  "Third Brother had been waiting for him long before."

  Lin Shen was eager to try, stealing a glance at Tao Shi's face. Tao Shi smiled warmly and declined on his behalf: "Forget it, he caught a chill last night from blowing the cool wind, not good to blow cold air again. Why don't you thank Wu Er Ge instead?"

  Lin Shen's bright black eyes suddenly dimmed, and he thanked him in a dull tone: "Thanks Wu Er Ge, you go first, we'll come later."

  It's been a few days, and Lin Shenzhi hasn't taken the initiative to come find him to play. The other members of the Lin family have also consciously kept their distance from him... He wasn't targeting them, it was just that he disliked Old Master Lin asking this and that, so if he had to hold his breath, it didn't matter. Wu Xiang looked at Tao Shi, then at Lin Shenzhi, and slightly... urged his horse forward: "Then I'll go ahead and scout the road." Having spoken, he galloped off in a cloud of dust.

  "Mother, I want to ride a horse." Lin Chen was lying on the windowsill, staring at Wu Xiang's back with a look of grievance on his face.

  Taoshi sighed and patted his head, saying softly: "Wait until we get to Qingzhou, then let your eldest brother take you for a ride. Don't bother outsiders now."

  Lin Shen didn't want to give up, his eyes rolled and saw Lin Shiquan beside him, so he patted his hand and laughed: "No trouble Wu Erge, I'll find Quange, he won't think I'm a nuisance."

  Lin Jinyong smiled: "Seventh brother, just now Wu Erge wanted to take you horseback riding, but Mother refused him, saying you had caught a chill. Now you want Quan Gege to take you horseback riding instead, do you think that's good?"

  This won't work either, and that won't work either. Lin Shen's eyes turned red: "But I clearly didn't catch a cold, it was Mother who lied."

  Tao's face suddenly turned stern, but he didn't know how to explain his behavior to Lin Shenzhi, so he coldly shouted: "I said no, and that's final! Don't even think about crying, or I'll send you to sit with your father!"

  Lin Shenzhi endured it, but turned his back to face the car wall, refusing to look at Tao Shi. Lin Jingrong leaned over and winked at him: "Hey, got angry?"

  Lin Shen zhi pouted and ignored him, while Lin Jin Rong drew closer, laughing: "Let me see, you're going to cry over such a small matter? Are you really my brave little seventh brother?"

  Lin Shen thought he wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, feeling both ashamed and embarrassed. He stretched out one hand to push Lin Jian Rong's face away, gritting his teeth as he said: "Don't look at me!" As soon as he spoke, tears began to flow down.

  Lin Jinyong hastily handed him a handkerchief to gently wipe away his tears, and then hugged him into her arms, softly laughing: "What's the big deal, worth crying about? Come, I'll tell you why your mother said that." Just scolding without explaining the reason won't do.

  "I won't listen." Lin Shenzhi covered his face.

  "Didn't you hear?" Lin Jianrong didn't care about him and whispered: "Mother doesn't let you ride horses with Wu Ergou because she's worried about you, and also really afraid of troubling Wu Ergou. The reason for not saying it directly is to make everyone's face look better. Do you know why Father wants to get angry with Wu Ergou?"

  Lin Chen didn't say a word, but he also stopped crying. He knew that "he wasn't a kid anymore."

  Lin Jianrong continued: "It's because Wu Ergou didn't give face to Father. This person, giving each other face is mutual. It's best to leave some room for maneuver, to give people a few points of emotional face, so that they can meet again in the future."

  "This isn't a withdrawal, it's a tactful refusal. Do you understand?" After thinking for a moment, she solemnly added: "Of course, there are also exceptions, some things can be done with consideration, but when it comes to matters of principle, one must do what is right, and not lose their integrity." She had suffered enough from not making distinctions and only taking the blame, Lin Shenzhi couldn't afford to suffer this loss again.

  Lin Shen slowly let go, picked at the flower pattern on the cushion, and after a long time said: "Why does Wu Erge want to do this? Why doesn't he give Father some face like Mother did?"

  Lin Jinyong sighed and smiled: "He is different from us."

  Lin Shen thought for a long time and said: "How is it different? His family has more money than mine, is he more capable than us?"

  "It can be said that." Lin Jinyong said in a low voice: "Shen Zhi, you must remember that only by being a good person, doing good things, and having ability will you naturally gain respect from others. Gaining respect from others is something that cannot be forced no matter what."

  Tao's hand pressed down on Lin Shen's shoulder, and he said in a deep voice: "...you must study hard, for the sake of your mother and two sisters."

  Lin Jinrong also hoped that Lin Shen would read good books, but felt that being a good person was more important. She didn't say this in front of the Tao family, but instead took Lin Shen's hand behind their backs and smiled warmly at him: "Just do your best with reading, but you must be a good person."

  Someone outside shouted: "Madam, our young master has come to pick us up!"

  Mrs. Tao hastily lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw that Tao Fengtang and Wu Xiang were riding side by side, with several attendants following behind them, smiling brightly as they hurried towards their own carriages. She quickly called for someone to stop the horse-drawn carriage and greeted Tao Fengtang: "Fengtang!"

  "Aunt, was the journey smooth?" Tao Fengtang jumped off his horse and hurriedly ran towards the Tao family's carriage to pay his respects. He couldn't help but sneak a peek inside the carriage, still holding onto hope despite knowing that Lin Jinyan wouldn't be there.

  Lin Jian Rong knew who he was looking for and couldn't help but let out a soft laugh: "Big Brother is well."

  Tao Fengtang took a clear look and saw that there were only Lin Jiren, Lin Shen, and the three Tao family members inside. There was no one else he had been thinking of, which made him feel a little disappointed. He forced a smile: "My parents are at home sweeping and waiting for guests. They've been talking about you since yesterday." Tao smiled: "I've also been missing them."

  Mr. Lin coughed loudly in the carriage behind, Tao Fengtang smiled and said: "I'll go ask Uncle for peace." Then he walked to Mr. Lin's carriage and made a deep bow, asking about his well-being.

  Mr. Lin's wounded heart finally got some comfort, and he warmly pulled him into the car to talk, Tao Fengtang didn't decline either, apologized, and indeed got on Mr. Lin's car, answering every question asked.

  Then, Old Master Lin deliberately pulled him close to show affection, ignoring Wu Xiang, as if this could salvage something.

  Wu Xiang was so clever, he understood the situation at a glance, but didn't take it to heart. He'd rather be with Lin Shiquan than with Old Master Lin San. He cast a sly smile at Tao Fengtang and winked, Tao Fengtang knew his temperament and could only force a laugh.

  Tao's family saw it in their eyes, couldn't help but secretly sigh, after all, their own nephew was considerate and knew how to give face, so they loved Tao Fengtang a little more.

  Lin Jinrong was not the first time to come to Qingzhou, but when he came before, he was too young, and the years were long gone, and he had already forgotten the prosperity of Qingzhou. Sitting in the car, he only heard the hustle and bustle on the streets, the vendors' voices ringing out in unison. The road was crowded, and the horse carriage moved extremely slowly. He wanted to take a sneak peek, but was afraid that the servants of the Tao family would see him and look down on his own family, so he could only force himself to be patient and comfort himself, "Don't worry, don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities."

  The horse carriage easily drove into the Tao family's side gate, and everyone got off the carriage. Tao Shunqin, Wu Shi, and their two daughters and youngest son stood at the entrance of the hanging hall to welcome them. Before they could even speak, Madam Tao was already tearful and emotionally shouted: "Brother, sister-in-law."

  Then she stared at Wu for a couple of seconds, pouting her mouth and saying: "How come you've lost even more weight?"

  "It's okay, it's okay." Mrs. Wu hastily consoled her: "Let's put aside our worries and show the kids some jokes." With a smile, she shifted Tao's attention away and said with a chuckle: "The children haven't come to pay their respects to you yet, have they?" Everyone then came forward to pay their respects, while Wu Xiang quietly stood by, waiting until Lin Jianrong, Lin Shen, and the Tao family's cousins had finished paying their respects before she stepped forward to greet Mrs. Wu.

  Madam Wu was delighted to see her talented nephew, and couldn't help but pull him aside for a good chat, asking him all about his life. However, she didn't neglect the others, including Madam Tao, and lightly patted her youngest son Fengji's shoulder, saying "Take your little seventh brother out to play." As they walked further in, the conversation turned to various topics that everyone was interested in, and soon the atmosphere became lively and joyful.

  Lin Jinyong watched with a sigh of admiration, his aunt was doing these things, always making people feel like spring breeze, not letting anyone feel neglected, this is what a qualified hostess should be.

  Just then, the two Tao sisters, Fengqing and Fengxiang, one on each side, grasped her arm and pinched her cheeks, saying affectionately: "Little sister has grown up again." Lin Jiran looked at her two cousins, feeling indescribably happy, and turned to pinch their cheeks in return: "You two are not shy at all, after a few years of not seeing each other, you come and pinch my face as soon as you arrive."

  Tao Fengqing was about the same age as Lin Jinyan, and she was also waiting for Tao Fengtang to get married before leaving. She had been following Wu Shi to learn how to be a lady, and was very straightforward and bold. With one hand grasping Lin Jinyan's hand, she laughed and said: "What's with the formality, little girl? Even after decades, you'll still be a little girl, and I can still pinch your face."

  "But you can't pinch my face."

  The three girls laughed and pressed down Lin Jian Rong's other hand, continuing to pinch her face: "I'm the same, pinching you, you can't pinch me."

  Lin Jinyong originally still wanted to pretend to be dignified, but at this moment she couldn't pretend anymore. She laughed and joked with them: "Just wait for my sister to pinch your two faces!"

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