Zhang's Tofu Shop has become Qin Miao's most frequent destination over the past few days. Almost every day, she would go there under the pretext of wanting to eat the freshest tofu.

  This made Zhang Jia's wife feel honored and surprised. She had thought that the Hou Ye's wife was just joking, but it turned out that she almost came every day.

  After several days of getting along, the Zhang family found her to be open-minded and quite talkative, and slowly warmed up to her. Even Mrs. Zhang, who was initially very cautious, showed signs of relaxation.

  They arrived at Qingfeng Town on this day, and it was almost time for lunch. The Zhang family did not expect Qin Miao to come so coincidentally today, but there was nothing good to eat at home to entertain her.

  "Ah, never mind. It's my fault for coming so suddenly, I've caused you trouble." Qin Miao felt a bit awkward as she met the gaze of Zhang Jia's wife, who was having difficulty speaking up. In her heart, she scolded Xie Yun again, it was all his fault for being worse than an animal, and also because she hadn't gotten up early that morning.

  "What you usually eat is what it is, don't worry about me." He turned around and instructed Zi Xuan: "You go to the town and take a look, find some good restaurants and have them send over some dishes. Oh, and also buy some wine while you're at it."

  She smiled and said to Zhang Jia's wife, "I love drinking and eating, if you don't mind, would the two of you be willing to join me for a few dishes?"

  Mrs. Zhang hastily said, "I don't dare: 'Madam, you're taking such good care of my family's business, and I and Quan'er's mother are grateful but can't even begin to repay you. It's just that we still have to let you spend your own money, it's really embarrassing.'" As she spoke, she glanced around the empty walls of her home and smiled helplessly.

  Qin Miao also smiled and said to Zhang Quan, who was becoming increasingly familiar with her: "Quan'er, what characters did you learn today? Let Auntie take a look."

  The little guy was delighted to see someone wanting to read his words, and he flipped out a sheet from a stack of yellowed papers, compared it with several others, felt relieved, and then handed it over to Qin Miao.

  "Yes, I'm practicing writing characters today." Quan Er explained very seriously to Qin Miao. His round eyes, which were similar to his mother's, were shining with moisture, and he eagerly wanted to get praise from the person in front of him.

  The little boy's heart was as straightforward as his brother Xun, and Qin Miao couldn't help but smile when she saw him. She immediately praised him, saying: "Quan'er's bean character is written very well." After speaking, she stroked his little head. The child indeed loved sweet words, and upon hearing them, his eyebrows and eyes lit up with delight, shining brightly like jewels.

  She suddenly remembered something and turned around to ask Zhang's wife: "I wonder who usually teaches Quan'er to read?"

  Zhang's wife blushed and whispered: "It was me."

  This surprised Qin Miao, who then smiled and said: "I didn't expect it, but Zhang's wife not only has good craftsmanship, but also has a talent for writing. This is indeed rare, at this age, in a small family like ours, it's already difficult to make a living, let alone a woman learning literature and writing."

  "I don't dare." Zhang's wife lowered her head and stared at her own pair of worn-out cloth shoes.

  At this time, Quan Er's courage had increased a bit, and he proactively reached out to pull Qin Miao's hem, raising his head with a somewhat proud tone and saying: "Auntie, Mom's room has so many good books. They were all left for me by my dad when he went away! My dad is really awesome! He..."

  "Zhang Quan!" The usually taciturn Zhang's wife suddenly stood up and scolded her son. But the next moment, Qin Miao caught a glimpse of a flash of pain in her eyes, accompanied by a low growl, filling her eyes, but was forcibly swallowed back down.

  Luckily, Zhang's wife happened to come out of the kitchen and saw Zhang's daughter scolding Quan'er, so she hurriedly came out to mediate. "Quan'er, Auntie fried some crispy rice cakes, come help Auntie see if they are crispy or not."

  Xiao Zhang's mouth was tightly closed, and his eyes and heart felt a bit sour. Father had indeed left many books, why didn't Mother let him speak? He hadn't said anything wrong... But the clever boy just sniffled and followed Mrs. Zhang to the kitchen.

  Qin Miao was still observing Zhang's wife, knowing that the timing might be right, so she pretended to be unaware and said: "Quan'er is diligent and talented. I have a young nephew at home who is about the same age as him, and it's just the right time for him to start school. I thought maybe Quan'er could study with my little nephew together, that way he'll have a companion."

  She deliberately paused, waiting for Zhang's reaction. Sure enough, when Zhang heard this, she looked up at her with a bewildered expression, her eyes filled with uncontrollable surprise. But the next moment, it dimmed again.

  "Alas... how can we compare with the young master of the Marquis's household? Moreover, we don't have that kind of wealth..." As she spoke, her nose turned red.

  "Your husband, the young master, must also be a scholar, otherwise why would he collect so many books. You and your husband discuss it among yourselves, if it's possible, then consider it as me finding a companion for my nephew, Xun Ge. The expenses for inviting the teacher will all be covered by the Hou Manor."

  Husband? She no longer has a husband... nor anyone to discuss things with her in a soft and gentle tone.

  Zhang's wife lowered her head again, trying to hold back her emotions. She had hidden for so many years, endured for so many years, but never thought that Qin Miao would say something like that. The sorrowful place was like a sudden collapse of the universe, and she gradually began to sob.

  Seeing her shoulders trembling and her body shaking slightly, Qin Miao really couldn't bear it. Intentionally bringing up people's painful past wasn't kind to begin with. Moreover, this Zhang wife was obviously used to enduring hardships, if not for the pain being touched upon by her, she definitely wouldn't have been so rude.

  She comforted with some unease: "Daughter, why are you so sad? Didn't I say something?"

  Zhang's wife just hung her head and wept, shaking her head without speaking. The sound of crying was like the oriole's lament, and no matter how you listened to it, it was a few points melodious. Qin Miao very objectively evaluated in his heart, and it was no wonder that he could enter the eyes of that lewd Zhang.

  "Isn't it that your husband is no longer in this world?" Qin Miao decided to boldly guess, directly expressing the doubts that had been on her mind for the past few days.

  As expected, Zhang's wife suddenly raised her head, and with tears in her eyes, she seemed to deliberately ignore the scars on her face, perhaps revealing a stunning beauty that could topple cities. Looking at Little Zhang's face, he was young, with clear and elegant eyebrows and eyes, and his features were finely carved, truly more handsome than ordinary people. It is said that sons take after their mothers, so it can be imagined how extraordinary Zhang's wife's original appearance must have been.

  "Actually, I've been very curious these past few days. The old scars on your face, the books that Old Man Chen left behind, and why you look so heartbroken today. And I heard from Big Sister-in-law that originally, all of you lived in Jiangdu City, so why did you move away three years ago?"

  Qin Miao got straight to the point: "Is there something you can't bring yourself to say, or some grievance?"

  Resentment? Ah... it's been three years already. Time flies, but the resentment in my heart has never faded away, and instead, it grows stronger with each passing day.

  Zhang's wife did not dare to look back on the past, nor did she dare to think about those terrible days. Even in the still of night, she did not dare to dream of her husband.

  Her husband? Zhang's wife was despondent, why did heaven bestow this fate upon her, not a blessing, but a calamity.

  Qin Miao could see that the woman in front of her, Zhang's wife, was full of resentment and injustice. As a fellow woman, at this moment, she suddenly felt a strange emotion.

  I want to help her, no matter what!