The main venue for today's activities is on the mountain.

  The girls just followed to join in the fun, while the boys, having learned from yesterday's experience, not only brought grain and a sieve net, but also had Li Gang find two local tenant farmers as guides. They ran over two hills and caught a total of twenty or so large speckled pigeons, seven rabbits, and two mountain chickens.

  The next day, the ice on the river had frozen to a thickness of about an inch. Pang Sheng took a hoe and smashed open a hole in the ice, then let his brothers use small scoops to scoop up fish. In the steaming hot water below, two or three-inch-long carp were piled together. If you dared to stretch your arm further, you could even scoop up foot-long grass carp and crucian carp.

  Xie Wei and Xie Qi sat by the river, elegantly fishing with a hand warmer. Xie Wan was in charge of guarding the fish basket, but she also wanted to go see the fishing, unfortunately, there were too many fish in the basket, she and Yu Xue Yu Fang couldn't even lift it, Wu Xing Luo Ju wanted to help Xie Yun's group, not even a helper to carry the fish.

  Later, Luo Ju saw her stretching her neck and looking around constantly, so she picked a few willow branches from the shore, threaded the fish through their gills one by one, dividing them into strings of three to five, then wove the willow branches into a long rope, allowing them to drag the fish as they walked on the ice.

  Today is another day of returning with a full load.

  Xie Tong and Xie Yun were having a great time, but Ren Yu always seemed to have a few points of listlessness, and he also had some fatigue in responding to Xie Qi's various coquettish behaviors.

  They played for three or four days, and the snow had stopped. Xie Yun still wanted to stay for a couple more days, but Ren Shuai couldn't muster up the energy, and Xie Wei said it was time to go home as they had been away for too long. Moreover, Xie Wan was also secretly worried about things at home, so after lunch, everyone started packing their bags, and in the afternoon, they hitched up their carriage and returned to the county town.

  This time the game brought back was all sent to the large kitchen, Xie Qigong listened to his brothers' vivid descriptions of the process, stroking his beard and laughing very happily.

  Xie Wan followed everyone to Shang Fang to bid farewell and then flew back to Yi Feng Yuan.

  Xie Lang rushed into the backyard upon hearing the news, pulling her around to examine her from head to toe. Seeing that every strand of her hair was intact, he finally put his mind at ease by stroking his chest. Afraid that she might not have eaten well in the past few days, he urged Chun Hua to simmer some chicken soup for her to nourish herself.

  Wu's mother was also excited, pulling her and asking questions, and scolding Wu Xing to see if he had made any mistakes. Wu Xing naturally didn't dare mention the part where Li Ershun blocked the car, so he mumbled a couple of sentences and slipped away. Wu's mother was furious and cursed his back.

  Wu Xing was only sixteen or seventeen years old, and his jumping around wasn't a big deal, but Wu Mama's behavior made people feel unexpected, as if Xie Wan's trip this time was about to get into some kind of danger, when in fact she hadn't been like that before leaving the house.

  "But what's going on at home?" Xie Wan changed her clothes and climbed onto the kang, holding the chicken soup that Chun Hui had simmered, and asked.

  Madam Wu was sewing nearby and, upon hearing the mention, spoke up like pouring beans from a bamboo tube: "Not long after Miss left the house that day, Steward Luo returned. I heard that Luo Ju had followed Miss to Wutou Village and became anxious. I don't know what happened, but Steward Luo refused to say anything. I was afraid that Luo Ju might have done something improper and wanted to find someone to remind Miss at Wutou Village, but couldn't find anyone."

  "Later, I mentioned it to the second young master, and he found Luo Guan Shi to ask about it. Luo Guan Shi said that this person's character is not bad, but what exactly is wrong with him, he still won't say. These past few days, I've been worried that something unexpected would happen. It wasn't until I saw the young lady return safely that I felt at ease again!"

  Xie Wan smiled and said, "Looking at people is indeed decent."

  It's not good to discuss one's plans with her in detail, so I turned to ask about things at the mansion instead.

  "...... Master Hong went out again today, reportedly with Pang Xin to the southern tea garden to settle accounts. It's likely he won't be back until the end of the year. Yesterday, Rong San also sent a message saying that he will set off on the 28th and should arrive in Qinghe by the morning of the 29th. Third Granny is also feeling better, yesterday she even went to the upper house to discuss New Year's arrangements with Madame for half a day."

  Xie Wan said: "Third Uncle is coming back for New Year?"

  In my impression, the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday only lasts for three days. Government officials in the capital generally would not choose to return home during this time. Qinghe is only 300 miles away from the capital, but a round trip takes two or three days. Moreover, Xie Rong had already returned once in September, so why did he have to come back again this time?

  "Wu's mother bit off the thread, picked up the small embroidered pouch in her hand and took a look, saying: "I also heard it from Autumn Eyebrow, not necessarily accurate." As she said this, she covered the pouch over Xie Zhu's back and carefully compared them, laughing: "Miss's skin is as white as snow, really looks good in any color!"

  Xie Wan also smiled.

  After dinner, I found Luo Ju and took a look at the origins of those women in Huangshi Town. Luo Sheng came back.

  Seeing Luo Ji standing beside Xie Wan, a spark seemed to burst out of Luo's eyes.

  Xie Wan smiled and asked: "Does Luo Guan Shi have some opinions about Luo Ju?"

  Luō Shēng slightly paused and said in a low voice: "I don't have any opinion."

  "That's why Madam Wu said you didn't want him to follow me to Wutou Village?" Xie Wan looked at him and said, "Luo Guan's loyalty is plain for all to see. If you think he's not suitable to follow me, it must be that you have some doubts about him. Why don't you just speak plainly? What does he need to pay attention to? Saying it out loud will also help him improve."

  The words are full of maintaining meaning, but can't hear like want to weigh and use again.

  "Miss, you don't know this Luo Ju, he is actually a son of a dog..."

  Luo Ji is Luo Sheng's son? Xie Wan stared at Luo Sheng.

  Luojin wiped the sweat and continued: "It's like this, he followed his second uncle to study, I wanted him to take the imperial examination too, but he thought reading was useless and it's better to learn some practical skills. So I confined him at home and didn't let him out. Coincidentally, one of the two partners that my wife found suddenly fell ill, and Luojin took the initiative to replace him and come over. By the time I received the letter, he had already followed the girl to Wutou Village."

  Xie Wan quietly turned her body and looked at Luo Ju who was standing with his head bowed.

  Luojiguai bowed his head very low, paused for a moment, and then walked over and knelt down in front of her.

  Luo Sheng took out his handkerchief and wiped away the sweat again.

  Xie Wan picked up a pen from the table and played with it for a while, saying: "Luo Ju, is what Luo Guan said really true?"

  Luo Ju was silent for a moment before saying, "It's ninety percent true."

  Luō Shēng almost raised his fist.

  Xie Wan looked at him and asked again: "There is still a kind of emptiness, what emptiness?"

  Luojizhao said: "To answer the young lady's question, I don't think reading books is useless, but rather that in the end it's all about becoming an official. I don't want to read dead books, even if I had the fate of passing the imperial examination, I couldn't become an official. I just want to learn some real skills and do what I want to do."

  "So you're taking someone's place and coming here to be a partner with me, is that what you want?" Xie Wan's voice was somewhat airy.

  Luojie looked up at her and said, "To be honest with you, miss, when I first took his place, I was thinking of using this opportunity to get rid of my father's control. But now, I really want to stay."

  "Why?"

  "One is that the young lady has discerning eyes, and she can decide to let Xiao follow her on a trip after just seeing one side of him. I think this is not something anyone can do. Secondly, when we were fighting Li Ershun in Huangshi Town, I was very impressed by the young lady's decisiveness. When Li Ershun splashed dirty water on Second Master, regardless of whether what he said was true or not, he shouldn't have done that. The two whips the young lady used at that time were perfectly accurate! With her age and possessing these two qualities, it is already enough to convince me, so I am willing to serve the young lady!"

  He spoke as if he was doing Xie Wan a great favor by staying behind!

  Xie Wan smiled. Unexpectedly, the conservative Luo Sheng would have such an arrogant son! She wasn't afraid of people having a proud air, she wasn't an emperor, didn't need to follow absolute etiquette, as long as the people following her were loyal and talented, being a bit wild and arrogant in front of her, what was there to fear?! If she didn't have the ability to control the arrogant ones, how could she talk about recruiting talents to destroy the Xie Manor?

  Conservative Luo Sheng has the advantage of being steady and reliable in doing things, while bold and daring Luo Ju also has his own advantages of being young and hot-blooded and brave enough to venture out.

  Since he can see through these two points, at least it shows that he has enough carefulness besides his arrogance. A careful person will not make big mistakes, Xie Wan is willing to try and see.

  She picked up the bowl and took a sip of ginger date tea, saying: "I not only have the ability to identify people, but also have the ability to make decisions, and I also reward and punish clearly! You don't need to go to the shop, from today on you will follow me and assist with matters. If you can't live up to the word 'assistant', I'll kick you out at any time! Do you dare to agree?"

  Luojizhuang's eyes lit up, and he immediately knocked his head: "If the young lady dares to use it, I dare to respond! If I can't bear its power, there's no need for the young lady to speak, I will definitely roll up my bedding and leave!"

  Following the master's side to manage affairs, it is equivalent to being a capable person like Pong Fu in front of him. Although the second house still can't compare with the entire Xie Mansion, just like all the big masters finding a shopkeeper, the master is willing to cultivate from scratch, and the employed person is not willing to jump ship easily. The mutual trust between the master and servant is the most critical point in the stability of the relationship between the two parties. If you make up your mind to take this path, who would not be willing to start from the beginning and accompany the master's career to solidify their own position?

  If this were in the imperial court, it would be a founding elder statesman.

  Although Xie Wan in front of him was young, being young also had its advantages. She wouldn't be bound by conventional rules and her stubbornness was limited. He could freely express his opinions to her, suggesting what he thought would be beneficial. If it were those worldly old men instead, they might not even bother to listen!

  "Miss, this——"

  Luò Shēng clearly instructed his son, speaking out to stop him, but Xiè Wǎn had already waved her hand and said to Luò Jǔ: "You go down first, we'll sign a document later." After he walked out the door, she smiled at Luò Shēng again: "Whether it's a mule or a horse, it should be taken out for a walk. If he really isn't suitable for this path, when Manager Luo arrives, there will be reason to advise him to turn back, right?"

  Lu Sheng opened his mouth, but found himself speechless.