I bring bad luck to my husband, you bring bad luck to your wife.

Xiangxi was delighted to see Yang Tongchuan return with his men; it was truly a rare sight.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Officer Wang—no, we should call him Brother Wang now.

Brother Wang was wearing a dark blue coarse silk robe with a round neck and tight sleeves today. He looked much better than when he was a constable.

"Brother Xiang, take this two taels of silver and go to a restaurant to order a table of food and drinks. Tell them to deliver it as soon as possible and that you have important guests at home. They know how to prepare the food."

This was also what Yang's mother taught Xiangxi: when distinguished guests come to the house, it is a sign of respect to book a table of food. If you don't know how to order, just give them more money, and the restaurant will arrange the food according to the amount of money and deliver it to your home.

You don't need to cook for yourself.

That evening, Brother Wang and Yang Tongchuan ate and drank in the main hall, while Xiangxi and Xuebao ate in the east wing. Xiangge prepared a simple meal for them.

After the meal, there was no sign of it ending in the main hall. Xiangxi wasn't in a hurry and told Xiangge to keep an eye on things so that if they ran out of drinks, he could come to him for money to buy more.

The meal lasted a long time. After seeing Brother Wang off, Yang Tongchuan went to the east wing, where Xiangxi was helping Xuebao draw. The ink had turned the little girl's hands black.

"Why did he suddenly come here?" Xiangxi found Xuebao an old calligraphy brush for him to use as a paintbrush.

"He wouldn't come to the temple without a reason. His escort team brought back a batch of spices from outside, but the owner at the dock said the goods didn't match the description and refused to pay. He wants me to help coordinate." Yang Tongchuan casually tossed a twenty-tael silver note onto the table. It was given to him by Brother Wang before he left.

"Didn't the seller send anyone to accompany the delivery? This is a matter between the buyer and seller, what does it have to do with the deliverymen?"

"Of course there were accompanying caravans, but the problem is that recently, large quantities of spices from outside the pass have been entering the market, and the wholesale price is dropping day by day. When their caravan returned, they encountered a sandstorm, which delayed them for a few days. Now, the market price of this batch of spices is no longer what it used to be."

"You mean, the buyer is deliberately causing trouble to try and drive down the price?"

"It's true that the delivery team delayed the delivery time and affected the transaction price. As for the product quality issue, we can't just listen to one side's opinion. It just so happens that the person who received the goods had previously attended our housewarming party. I'll go to the dock tomorrow to see if I can mediate and get everyone to compromise."

"How did he think of contacting you about this?" Xiangxi didn't understand how they had managed to find Yang Tongchuan.

"Because that's what he did when he was a constable. Dragging this out won't benefit any of the three parties. Finding a mediator who can speak for both sides is the only way to minimize the losses as quickly as possible." Yang Tongchuan picked up Xuebao to wash his hands, but Xuebao hadn't finished drawing and wouldn't let him hold him, struggling fiercely.

"If you don't wash your hands, and you eat all this black stuff, you'll be in for a stomachache," Yang Tongchuan deliberately threatened Xuebao.

Xuebao understood, and patted her stomach, as if to tell Yang Tongchuan that her stomach didn't hurt.

Before going to bed that night, Xiangxi put the silver note into the money box.

"Is it alright for us to accept this money?"

"It's alright, we didn't steal or rob, just consider it payment for tea. Go to sleep." Yang Tongchuan coaxed Xiangxi and Xuebao to sleep, but he couldn't sleep himself. On one hand, he was thinking about how to coordinate this matter tomorrow, and on the other hand, he was wondering what the deeper meaning was in the strange words that the newly arrived County Magistrate Du had said to him today.

The next morning, before leaving home, Yang Tongchuan told Xiangxi that he might not be coming home for dinner that night and that he shouldn't wait for him.

"Okay, drink less alcohol." After seeing Yang Tongchuan off with Xuebao in his arms, Xiangxi thought that since there was nothing else to do today, he took Xuebao and Xiangge back to the Yang family home.

We received many nice gifts at the last housewarming party. Xiangxi picked out two bolts of fabric suitable for spring to take back and make spring clothes for everyone. She also chose an exquisite tea set, which I think my father-in-law will like.

When they entered, Rui was sweeping the yard. As soon as he saw Xiang and Xiangxi return, he hurriedly went to greet them.

Ming Le, who was in the east room, came out after hearing the commotion.

"People are so fickle. I just told my mom at breakfast that the weather was nice today and I wanted to come and talk to you, and then you came back." Mingle stepped forward and took Xuebao.

When Xuebao saw Xiangxiang's aunt, she kicked her little legs excitedly.

"My Xuebao has gotten heavier again. Your father is taking such good care of her. I wish your little brother Yan'er was half as heavy." Ming Le's fondness for Xuebao did not diminish because of Yan'er's birth. After all, Xuebao had grown up in Ming Le's arms since birth.

Rui helped Xiang carry the things to the main hall, where Yang's parents happened to be home.

Grandma got one bolt of fabric, and Mingyue got one bolt. Grandpa really liked the tea set, so he took it straight into the house without having to put it in the storeroom.

"Look at him, his eyes are practically sparkling with excitement," the mother-in-law teased, watching her father-in-law's retreating figure.

We had lunch at the Yang family's house. After lunch, Yang's mother told Xiangxi to rest in the west wing for a while before going back.

The house is reserved for them.

"No need, Mother. I'm going to buy something in a bit, and then I'll go back."

Xiangxi now works at Shuanghua Pavilion during the day, and like the other employees, he takes turns resting.

After Qingzhu got married, Duan Ziqiu hired two more girls to sell goods on the first floor, while Xiangxi was still mainly in charge of the second floor.

Having finally gotten a day off, I naturally went to the market to get everything that was missing from my home.

"If you need anything, I'll bring it to you from home, so you don't need to buy anything."

"No need, Mother. I'm just going to get some firewood and buy some vegetables while I'm at it."

After leaving the Yang family's house, Xiang Ge carried Xue Bao, while Xiang Xi walked ahead. The group went to the market and sat for a while at Xiang Qiang's stall.

She asked her sister-in-law how Bao'er and Gui'er were doing, and even took out the pastries and gifts she had bought for the children.

"Don't worry, everything's fine. We're already looking for a private school to send Bao'er to for her early education, so she can learn more characters." The older sister-in-law seems like a completely different person now, getting younger and younger. She always has a smile on her face.

Xiang Qiang earned a pretty good amount last year, and in another year, he will be able to pay back the money he borrowed to buy a new house ahead of schedule.

The burden on the couple's shoulders was then lightened.

When the constables patrolling the market saw that Constable Yang's husband was there with their child and servants, they all came over to greet him, and for a time, Xiang Qiang's stall became exceptionally lively.

Xiangxi has gotten used to it now, and she no longer acts coy or awkward in her interactions with others; instead, she greets everyone generously.

When he left, Xiang insisted on stuffing a dozen sesame cakes into Xiang Ge's arms.

"I know you don't lack these things now, but if you don't accept them, then you're not appreciating my small token of appreciation." Xiang Qiang sensed that Xiang Xi was truly different now, a change from the inside out.

"Who said I don't want it anymore? I'll come every day from now on, and you have to make me flatbread every day, brother." Xiangxi hugged Xuebao, while Xiangge carried the things.

"Stop joking around and hurry home. The sun won't be strong enough for a while, and the wind will pick up. Don't let the child get cold." Xiang Qiang watched Xiang Xi disappear around the corner before turning back to continue working.

"How about it? This one's better than that one, right?" My sister-in-law said casually as she made wontons.

"Let's not talk about the past," Xiang Qiang interrupted his wife. He knew she was about to bring up the butcher's family that Xiang Xi had previously ordered from.

"Okay, I won't mention it anymore." The sister-in-law wasn't annoyed and continued with her work.