Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

Jin Huihuang was so angry that his face turned red, his chest heaved violently, and the veins on his forehead bulged. His former noble air was completely gone, leaving only the irritability and arrogance of a spoiled brat. His hand pointing at Tang Chengyu was trembling slightly, and the anger in his voice was almost scorching.

In the past, Tang Chengyu, being proud and stubborn, would have stormed off, refusing to tolerate such unreasonable behavior.

But today, he took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, pursed his lips, and slowly bowed. His tone was calm and composed as he patiently explained, "Brother Jin, you've misunderstood. I no longer care about what happened before, and I had no intention of making things difficult for you all. Even if Chongwen Hall hadn't expelled me, I would still find it difficult to continue studying at the school—my family is poor and I don't have enough money to support my studies. Recently, I've decided to teach in the village to raise enough money for the trip to Fuzhou to take the imperial examination. I hope that next year, I can join you all in taking the exam and show our mettle, so that our ten years of hard study won't be in vain."

These words were spoken sincerely, without a trace of affectation; every word came from the bottom of his heart.

Jin Huihuang's anger subsided as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.

Although he had long known that Tang Chengyu's family was poor, he never imagined that they were so poor that they couldn't even afford to continue their studies.

Recalling his earlier outburst and aggressiveness, and looking at Tang Chengyu's upright and composed demeanor despite his tattered clothes, he felt a pang of sympathy. The ferocity on his face faded, and he no longer deliberately made things difficult for her. He simply nodded silently, tacitly acknowledging her statement.

The tense atmosphere gradually eased.

Just then, Tang Susu stepped forward with a bowl of freshly brewed iced tea, smiling as she smoothed things over, her tone gentle: "Gentlemen, please sit down and have some tea. Don't just stand there; the tea will get cold and lose its original flavor."

As she spoke, she turned to Tang Chengyu, trying to smooth things over. Her tone was gentle and sincere: "Yu'er is a reserved and stubborn child. He is not good with words and speaks very bluntly. He may have unintentionally offended you all. I hope you will forgive him and not hold it against him. He is kind-hearted and pure at heart. It's just that his personality makes him not know how to get along with others. He will definitely improve in the future and learn to be more tactful."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhifeng quickly cupped his hands in response, addressing Tang Susu as "Madam Yang" with a respectful tone: "Thank you for helping us out, Madam Yang. We were too hasty, it was not Brother Tang's fault, how could we hold it against Brother Tang?"

"Oh, please don't call me Mrs. Yang." Tang Susu quickly waved her hand, correcting her with a smile, her tone friendly, "I'm not Mrs. Yang at all, I'm just your elder. Just call me Auntie, like Lu Hao does, it sounds more friendly. Auntie has been so busy lately, and the family has been busy harvesting grain, so there hasn't been much decent food. Otherwise, I would definitely treat everyone to a good meal and treat you all well."

"Thank you, Auntie." Everyone responded in unison, changing their address to "Auntie." Their respectful tone remained, but it was now more intimate, no longer as distant as before.

Song Zhifeng picked up the herbal tea on the table, took a small sip, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. Then, an approving expression appeared on his face, and he sincerely praised, "Auntie, this herbal tea tastes wonderful. It's refreshing and sweet, like a mountain spring, cleansing the soul. After drinking it, all the heat and fatigue in my body dissipated. It has an unforgettable aftertaste and is truly a rare delicacy."

Jin Huihuang initially remained somewhat disdainful, but when his gaze fell upon the rough porcelain bowl in his hand, he was instantly captivated—the bottom of the bowl was engraved with beautiful cloud patterns, the lines were delicate and smooth, and the workmanship was exquisite. He reached out and gently stroked the bowl's surface, feeling the warm touch on his fingertips. He knew at a glance that this was no ordinary rough porcelain bowl, but rather a fine piece of porcelain.

He couldn't resist taking another sip of the herbal tea. The cool and sweet taste spread across his tongue, dispelling the heat in his heart and the lingering dissatisfaction. He nodded slowly, his tone much gentler, reluctantly but honestly acknowledging, "Hmm, it's pretty good. Much better than those herbal teas sold on the street."

Tang Susu smiled modestly, waved her hand gently, and said in a calm tone, "You flatter me. It's nothing special. It's just common herbs that I usually pick in the mountains. I boil them in water to cool off and quench my thirst. My kids like to drink it, so I boiled a lot. It's nothing special."

Just then, a student dressed in a blue robe stepped forward quickly, his face showing a mixture of doubt and urgency. He asked softly, "Auntie, I have a question for you. Was that woman selling cold noodles at the entrance of Chongwen Hall you?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Susu smiled and nodded, readily admitting, "That's right, it's me. A few days ago, during the off-season for farming, I made some cold noodles and sold them outside the school to earn some pocket money to supplement the family income. So, gentlemen, have you ever tried my cold noodles?"

"We've eaten, we've eaten!" The students nodded enthusiastically.

Song Zhifeng smiled and echoed, his tone full of praise: "Auntie's jelly is refreshing and cooling, with a smooth texture and an excellent taste. Eating a bowl of it on a hot summer day makes you feel completely comfortable. It's the favorite summer treat for us students of Chongwen Hall. But I'm a little puzzled as to why Auntie hasn't been selling it at the school lately?"

Hearing everyone's praise, Tang Susu's smile deepened, and she continued, "It's just that we've been busy with farm work lately. The grains are ripe, and the whole family has been busy harvesting them. We simply haven't had the time, so we've temporarily stopped selling. But don't worry, once all the grains are harvested and we have some free time, I'll be launching some new delicacies. I hope you gentlemen will come and support me and try them."

"Okay, okay!" the students echoed enthusiastically. "Don't worry, Auntie, we'll definitely be the first to support you and the first to try it!"

"Yes, Auntie, your cold noodles are always so delicious, your new dishes must be just as good! We're all looking forward to it!"

"Auntie, when you launch your new delicacies, you must sell them in front of Chongwentang! We'll buy them every day!"

In an instant, the atmosphere in the courtyard became cheerful and harmonious. The previous stalemate and unpleasantness had long since vanished. Everyone sat together, chatting animatedly about the cold noodles and the new delicacies that were about to be launched. Laughter echoed throughout the courtyard.

Tang Chengyu stood quietly under the eaves, watching the scene before him, deeply shocked and filled with disbelief.

He never imagined that his eldest sister, Tang Susu, could get along so well with these spoiled brats who used to make things difficult for him and ostracize him.

In his eyes, these people were always eccentric, arrogant, and unpredictable. He had suffered a lot of injustice at their hands and could only retreat silently, never daring to speak to them or interact with them openly.

But at this moment, watching Tang Susu talk to them calmly and politely, her tone friendly and her manners appropriate, she resolved all the awkwardness and unpleasantness with just a few words, creating such a harmonious atmosphere, Tang Chengyu was deeply moved.

He watched Tang Susu's figure intently, observing her calm demeanor and gentle yet measured manner. He couldn't help but reflect on his own way of dealing with people—was he too stubborn, too aloof, and inflexible, which was why he kept running into obstacles and couldn't get along with these people?

My older sister's words may indeed be true. One should not be too honest and should learn to be outwardly harmonious and adaptable.

The group chatted lively for about half an hour. As the sun began to set, Song Zhifeng stood up, bowed slightly to Tang Susu and Tang Chengyu, and said respectfully, "Auntie, Brother Tang, it's getting late, and we should take our leave. Thank you for your hospitality with the cold tea. We'll come to visit you again another day when we have time."

"Okay, okay." Tang Susu nodded with a smile, her tone friendly. "Take care on the road, and be careful. Come visit me often when you have time. I'll definitely invite you to try my new dishes next time."

The students also stood up, bowed to Tang Susu and Tang Chengyu to say goodbye, and then followed Song Zhifeng and Jin Huihuang out of the courtyard, boarded the carriage, and gradually drove away.

Watching the carriage disappear in the direction of the village entrance, Tang Susu slowly breathed a sigh of relief. The smile on her face faded a little, and a trace of fatigue flashed in her eyes. She sighed to herself: In her previous life, she was always free and easy when negotiating business with clients in the modern world.

In this era, class distinctions are clear and the powerful and wealthy are supreme. When dealing with these upper-class youths, every word must be carefully considered and every action must be taken with utmost caution, for fear of saying or doing the wrong thing and causing unnecessary trouble.

Fortunately, these people were just teenagers in their early teens, with simple minds, not too many hidden agendas, and not too snobbish. Getting along with them wasn't too difficult. If they were adults with deep minds, they probably wouldn't be so easy to deal with.

Tang Susu looked up, her gaze inadvertently sweeping across the eaves, and saw Tang Chengyu still standing there, looking dazed, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes vacant, seemingly lost in thought, surrounded by a faint air of loneliness and contemplation.

She didn't go up to disturb him, knowing that Tang Chengyu must be reflecting on his way of dealing with people at this moment. Some truths can only be understood by himself slowly, and it is useless for others to say more.

Tang Susu gently shook her head, turned around, and silently walked towards the kitchen, preparing to brew some more herbal tea to deliver to the people working in the yard.

In the kitchen, Tang Susu took out a few hard-boiled eggs that she had casually cooked while making herbal tea, rinsed them in cold water, and waited for them to cool completely before drying them off. She then quickly walked out of the kitchen and headed towards Lu Hao.

Lu Hao was squatting in the corner of the yard, fiddling with the grains on the ground, looking bored. When he saw Tang Susu coming over, he immediately stood up and looked at her with bright eyes.

Tang Susu smiled and placed the boiled egg in Lu Hao's hand, her tone gentle and approving: "You did a great job today. Not only did you complete your double task, but you also knew how to ask for help to solve the problem of threshing the eggs at home. This egg is a reward for you. Eat it."

Lu Hao held the warm boiled egg in his hands, his face filled with disbelief, his eyes wide. He stood there stunned for a long while before he came to his senses. He quickly wiped his hands repeatedly on his patched clothes, carefully took the egg, and gently stroked the shell with his fingertips. He asked urgently and incredulously, "Aunt Yang, this...this egg, is it really a reward for me? Just...just because I completed the task?"

In his eyes, eggs were nothing special, but from childhood to adulthood, no one had ever rewarded him for doing something right, let alone a warm boiled egg.

Seeing the shocked yet cherished look on his face, Tang Susu couldn't help but laugh. She nodded gently and added, "Of course it's true. If you work hard and the stone roller is brought back, and you help the family efficiently husk the grain, you'll get an even bigger reward—a big chicken leg, how about that?"

"Really?!" Lu Hao was overjoyed, grinning broadly. He held the eggs even more carefully, as if they were some rare treasure. "That's wonderful! Aunt Yang, I'll definitely work hard, I'll definitely get the stone roller done well, and I'll definitely get the big chicken leg!"

Tang Susu smiled and ruffled his hair, her voice gentle: "Okay, Auntie believes you. I'll go back to the fields to work for a while longer. You guys shouldn't overwork yourselves. Take a break if you're tired, and be careful to avoid heatstroke."

As she spoke, she picked up the carrying pole from the corner of the wall, put on the bamboo hat, gave Miao Yulan and Agui a few instructions, then turned and went out into the fields to continue her work of harvesting grain.

After Tang Susu left, Lu Hao held the boiled egg in his hands and stood there grinning foolishly for a long time. His mouth stretched from ear to ear, his face full of joy and cherishment. He would bring the egg to his nose to smell it, and then gently touch it with his fingertips, reluctant to take a bite.

A-Gui, standing to the side, looked at the boiled egg in Lu Hao's hand, covered his face tightly with his hands, swallowed hard, and his eyes were full of anticipation.

He remembered that his young master had always hated eating eggs. In the past, whenever he saw eggs at the county magistrate's table, he would frown and order him to eat them, refusing to touch them at all.

Seeing how much Lu Hao cherished the egg, A Gui secretly hoped that the young master would, as usual, throw the egg to him with disgust and make him eat it.

But after waiting for a long time, he did not receive any instructions from Lu Hao. Instead, he saw Lu Hao carefully put the eggs into his pocket, hide them close to his body, and gently press them down with his hand, as if afraid that the eggs would be broken. His expression was serious and precious, and he did not have any intention of sharing them with him.

As A-Gui watched his actions, the expectation in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only deep disappointment. He silently lowered his head, picked up the flail again, and swung it weakly, muttering to himself: "Young master is really acting strangely today, treating an egg like a treasure."

Little did A-Gui know that this seemingly ordinary boiled egg held a different meaning in Lu Hao's heart.

Lu Hao stroked the warm egg in his arms, his heart filled with emotion and joy. From childhood to adulthood, whether at home or in Chongwen Hall, everyone scolded him for being stubborn, mischievous, and hopeless. Even his father often reprimanded him for being useless. No one had ever sincerely praised him or recognized his worth.

Although his grandmother loved and doted on him, she only indulged him and never praised his intelligence or thought he was capable.

This was the first time he had been genuinely praised and compared to a strategist with brilliant ideas; it was also the first time he had received a reward for doing something right.

He made up his mind that he wouldn't eat the egg; he would treasure it and show it to his father when his father came to pick him up next time. He wanted his father to see that he wasn't a good-for-nothing, that he could do good deeds, that he could gain recognition from others, and that he could become a smart and capable person.

Just as Lu Hao was immersed in his joy, a clear, girlish voice suddenly came from the courtyard gate, tinged with shyness and urgency: "Young Master Yu, is Young Master Yu here?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Hao immediately raised his head and looked towards the courtyard gate. He saw a young girl wearing a light blue blouse with pink chrysanthemums standing at the gate. She had her hair in two buns, her face flushed, and her clothes were neat and pretty. She had delicate features and fair skin. She was the most pleasing girl he had ever seen since he came to Yangqu Village.

But the girl's gaze never fell on him; from beginning to end, she kept her eyes fixed on Tang Chengyu under the eaves, her eyes filled with shyness and admiration.

Lu Hao raised an eyebrow, secretly guessing: This girl, judging from the looks of it, is most likely Tang Chengyu's fiancée. Otherwise, why would she be so shy and come to find him?

At this moment, Tang Chengyu also came back to his senses. Hearing the girl's voice, he frowned slightly and showed a bit of impatience on his face, but he still took a step and walked towards the courtyard gate.

At the entrance of the courtyard, Luo Cuiju carried an exquisite bamboo basket containing a bowl of warm rice porridge and a few pieces of pastry.

She had arrived earlier, but seeing that Tang Susu was at home and there were still many people in the yard, she stood outside the gate and didn't dare to come in. It wasn't until she saw Tang Susu go out to the fields that she dared to go up and call out to Tang Chengyu.

Seeing Tang Chengyu approach, Luo Cuiju's cheeks flushed even redder. She quickly stepped forward, a shy smile on her face, and reached out to take the pitchfork from Tang Chengyu's hand to help him with the work: "Uncle Tang, I heard you've been working in the fields all day and must be exhausted. I'll do this kind of hard work for you. You're a student preparing for the imperial examinations; you shouldn't be doing such rough work and hurting your hands."

"No need." Tang Chengyu's tone was icy. He slightly turned his body to avoid her hand, his face expressionless. "I can do my own work. Miss Luo, don't trouble yourself."

Just then, Miao Yulan quickly put down her work, stepped forward, and stood in front of Tang Chengyu. She looked at Luo Cuiju with a cold gaze and spoke with a hint of detachment, gently advising, "Miss Luo, it is the busy farming season now. Every household in the village is busy harvesting grain. Your family must be very busy too. Since you have finished your work, go back home and get back to work. Don't delay Yu-di's work here."

Luo Cuiju's smile froze instantly. Her cheeks were still flushed, but she still tried to remain calm and said softly, "I... I've finished all my work. I specially cooked some new rice porridge and came to see Young Master Yu. Young Master Yu, please have a bite and try it. It's still warm."

As she spoke, she opened the bamboo basket in her hand, took out the bowl of warm rice porridge, and handed it to Tang Chengyu, her eyes full of anticipation.

Tang Chengyu didn't even glance at her. He slightly turned away, avoiding the rice porridge she offered. His tone remained cold, carrying a hint of aloofness and impatience, as he sternly refused, "Miss Luo, please have some self-respect. I am not your uncle, and I cannot accept your kindness. Stop calling me that and stop doing this pointless work. Go back now."

Luo Cuiju's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. The shyness and anticipation on her face gradually faded, leaving only a deep sense of grievance. But she didn't give up. Her cheeks remained flushed as she looked up at Tang Chengyu cautiously, her voice soft and pleading: "Then... then how should I address you? If I don't call you Uncle, I'll call you Brother Tang, okay?"

Seeing Luo Cuiju's straightforward and bold manner, Miao Yulan sighed inwardly and shook her head gently.

When she was in love with Tang Lifu, she was always shy and reserved, never so direct or proactive. This Miss Luo in front of her, however, is quite bold.

Left with no other choice, Miao Yulan could only compose herself, turn around, pick up a broom from the corner of the wall, and say to Luo Cuiju in a firmer tone, "Miss Luo, please step aside, I need to sweep the yard, don't block my way."

As she spoke, she took a broom and gently pushed Luo Cuiju, urging her little by little towards the gate of the courtyard.

Luo Cuiju was both ashamed and angry, yet helpless. Looking at Tang Chengyu's still indifferent profile, she knew that no matter how much she pestered him today, she would not win his favor. She could only glare at Miao Yulan and squeeze out a low complaint through gritted teeth: "What a boring bookworm..."

After saying that, she covered her flushed cheeks, turned around, and walked quickly towards the courtyard gate, looking disheveled and unwilling.

But she had only taken a few steps and was about to leave when she looked up and inadvertently saw Lu Hao sitting on a low stool in the courtyard.

She stopped abruptly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes. Then, she remembered what her aunt had told her yesterday—a distinguished guest had come to Yang Gousheng's house, the son of County Magistrate Lu of Dongtai Town, a man of noble status.

Looking at Lu Hao, although he was wearing patched old clothes, he still couldn't hide his noble air. He crossed his legs, his expression was arrogant, and his eyebrows and eyes carried an innate arrogance. Even though he was covered in some rice dust, he still had a strong presence and was completely different from the ordinary boys in the village.

Luo Cuiju instantly concluded that the young man before her must be the son of Magistrate Lu, Young Master Lu.

Just then, Lu Hao also happened to look at her. Their eyes met, and Lu Hao raised an eyebrow, a playful smile playing on his lips. He beckoned to her with a casual yet slightly arrogant tone: "Come here."

Upon hearing this, Luo Cuiju was overjoyed. The grievance and resentment in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by joy and excitement.

She was secretly overjoyed. Luckily, she had specially worn her most beautiful clothes today, and sure enough, Young Master Lu had taken a liking to her!

What does it matter if Tang Chengyu doesn't like me? Tang Chengyu is just a down-on-his-luck student. Even if he passes the imperial examination in the future, who knows when that will be?

But Young Master Lu is different. He is the son of the county magistrate, and his status is noble. If she can win his favor and marry into the county magistrate's mansion, she can rise to the top in one step and realize her dream of "turning a sparrow into a phoenix". She will no longer have to stay in this remote village and live a life of toiling in the fields.

Thinking of this, Luo Cuiju quickly straightened her clothes, smoothed out the wrinkles at the hem, and gently tidied her double buns. A shy yet deliberately ingratiating smile appeared on her face. She took small steps and walked into the courtyard again, heading straight towards Lu Hao.

Miao Yulan watched as she turned and walked back in, one hand on her waist and the other gently resting on her abdomen. She was both angry and amused, her voice tinged with helplessness as she softly questioned, "Miss Luo, why are you back again? Didn't I already tell you to go back?"

Luo Cuiju stopped, raised her head, and with a smug look on her face, replied righteously, "I didn't come back on my own; Young Master Lu asked me to come. It has nothing to do with you."

As she spoke, she deliberately raised her chin, her eyes full of pride, as if being stopped by Young Master Lu was a great honor.

Miao Yulan followed her gaze and looked at Lu Hao, who was sitting with his legs crossed, arms over his chest, scrutinizing Luo Cuiju from head to toe with a playful look in his eyes. He didn't say anything, which meant that what Luo Cuiju said was true.

She fell silent, pondering to herself: her older sister had specifically instructed her to pay close attention to Tang Chengyu's affairs and not let unrelated people disturb Tang Chengyu's work and exam preparation.

But Lu Hao's affairs were none of her business. Lu Hao was the son of the county magistrate and had an arrogant personality. She had no need or right to stop them, so she could only let them do as they pleased.

Thinking of this, Miao Yulan stopped talking, picked up the broom, turned around, and silently swept the other side of the yard. However, she would still glance at Lu Hao and Luo Cuiju from time to time, secretly watching their actions.