Divorced by her husband's family and rejected by her own! She defiantly turned her life around

Xu Jingxi stood up and bowed to Liu Siyue with a scholar's salute, "I will certainly live up to my aunt's expectations and make sure I pass the provincial examination this year."

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, just do your best."

Here's also a set of calligraphy supplies, the Four Treasures of the Study, which is a gift for you.

"Alright, the gift is done, and Auntie has accepted it. Now let's go to the shop and see how Master Yao is doing."

"Okay, Aunt, I'll put the things back first. I'd also like to go to the shop with you. I've been feeling a bit dizzy from studying these days."

"Reading should be balanced with rest. When you can't concentrate on reading, go out and explore the world."

"Thank you for your advice, Aunt. I will definitely pay attention to balancing work and rest."

"Sister Liu, I have a feeling this rascal is going to be kidnapped by you!"

"Why would I kidnap him? I can't even support my own Yao'er, how could I have time to support him?"

The Xu family brought out two carriages; Liu Siyue and Ruxue rode in one, while Liu Siyue and her son rode in the other.

"Mother, didn't you tell me before that Aunt was a countrywoman? How could she have such a treasure?"

Wang Zhilan said with a smug look on her face, "This is nothing, your aunt is the real treasure."

Let me tell you, you must keep the treasure your aunt gave you safe, and never let your father take it away.

"If he takes it and gives it away in the capital, how will you explain it to your aunt?"

"Mother, I know. When I went to the prefectural city, I took him to my maternal grandparents' house."

"Xi'er, after you finish your imperial examination, I plan to arrange a marriage for you. We'll settle the marriage first, and then get married a year or two later. That will be just right."

"Mother, I want to choose the person I like. This is my happiness for the rest of my life, and I don't want to act hastily."

"Your mother also hopes that you can meet someone who truly loves you and spend your life with them."

Before we even entered the pastry shop, the aroma of cakes wafted out.

A crowd had gathered outside the shop, and Daqing was calling out to customers buying pastries. "Hey buddy, what's this? It smells so good!"

"Our shop is currently developing a new pastry, which we expect to launch in the next couple of days. Please come and support us!"

"I haven't even eaten it yet, but the smell alone makes my mouth water. Why don't you sell smiley face cake anymore? The food we ate during the Lunar New Year was so greasy, I just want to eat some smiley face cake to cleanse my palate and whet my appetite."

"Smiling face cakes are only available in autumn. These are seasonal pastries; they won't be available after that season."

When Wang Zhilan and the others arrived at the kitchen, they found that Chef Yao had already prepared quite a lot.

"Madam, Madam Liu, young master, you've arrived. This is what I made this morning. I baked three batches in total. Please try them and see how they taste. They're all plain."

Our shop has mung bean, jujube paste, and chestnut flavors. I plan to make those flavors too. Right now, the jujube paste flavor is baking in the oven, and it'll be ready soon.

Liu Siyue tasted each batch one by one and found that they all tasted exactly the same. She couldn't help but give Master Yao a thumbs up, "Master Yao, your pastry-making skills are really amazing! These three batches taste exactly the same. I'll make them like this from now on."

"Mmm, this cake is really delicious. It's fragrant, soft, and has a milky flavor. There's no cake this good in the capital city," Xu Jingxi praised.

"If Mother and Aunt could sell this cake in the capital, the business would definitely be better, and then I could eat this delicious pastry every day."

"Your aunt and I have discussed it. Once the business here is stable, we'll go to the prefectural city. You'll still have plenty to eat."

"I haven't been to the prefectural city yet either. Next time I'll go with you and see how prosperous it is."

"Okay, I'll take my aunt to explore the city properly then. There are quite a few fun places to visit in the city."

"It's not your place to fawn over me, you brat. I'm a native of this city, and I know it better than you do."

"Mother, why are you trying to take it from me? Your son just wants to be filial to you and Aunt."

"You don't need to worry about us. Focus on your exams. When you pass with flying colors, your mother and I will throw a banquet to celebrate."

They sat in the shop and watched Master Yao work. Ru Xue went up to help Master Yao.

"The jujube cake, mung bean cake, and chestnut cake are all baked. Everyone, hurry up and try them and see if there's anything wrong with them."

"Great, it tastes delicious. Now we have four different flavors of cake."

"Master Yao, you're amazing! Keep it up! Sister Wang, you're the boss, you should give Master Yao a bonus!"

"Once our cake is released, let's celebrate and give out rewards together."

"Making a cake is no easy task, Sister Wang. You'll need to find two more reliable people."

"That's easy. I'll buy two more people from the brokerage firm and have them assist Master Yao."

"Oh, I'm so full. I don't need to eat lunch today."

"Master Yao, please pack up a portion of these pastries for me. I'll take them back for the people staying at home to eat."

"Yes, we'll take these cakes back and share them with the people in the manor. You can also take the rest back to your families. We can't let such good food go to waste."

"Madam, the weather is cool now, so this stuff can be stored and won't go to waste. It's soft and sweet, and it's best eaten for breakfast."

Liu Siyue and the others took the packaged snacks and went back.

As soon as they stepped out of the pastry shop, they saw Qingwu standing there. "Master, we're back."

"Okay, let's go home."

Back at the house, Liu Siyue shared the cake with everyone, saying, "Everyone, come and try it! This is a new pastry from Shiweizhai, and it tastes really good."

"Ningxiang, take these down and give two pieces to everyone."

Liu Siyue took the child, pinched off a piece of pastry and put it in the child's mouth. The child's mouth moved for a while, then swallowed it, ah, ah, wanting more.

Yun Chenxin picked up a piece of cake and tasted it in small bites. "Mmm, it tastes really good. It's mung bean flavored, and it's better than any pastry I've ever had."

"Qingwu, is everything alright at home?"

"I was carrying some things yesterday and walked slowly on the road, so I didn't make it back in time last night."

The people on the estate received the cloth from their master and were extremely grateful to him.

The 26 people have been settled in. Yesterday, we bought them clothes and bedding in town. But that wasn't enough? So the lady brought out bedding from her house for them to use.

They all lived in those empty houses; even if they squeezed in, there were enough people to sleep in.

This morning, I had them go with their maternal uncle to build the house. The master went to the estate, and I arranged for someone to accompany him.

"You did a great job."

"Miss January asked you when you're going back. She said you must remember her wedding and not miss it."

"Okay, we'll head back on the fifteenth."

"My lord, the government has posted a notice saying that this year's Lantern Festival will be a lively three days, with no curfew and no city gates closed."

The government office told all businesses to prepare for the event and to make it lively. The county magistrate said that the atmosphere in the county town was too oppressive and that the people should relax and not always be so tense.

The county magistrate even hired a lion dance troupe and a dragon dance troupe to add to the festivities.

"After Qingye and I came back, we took a walk around the streets and found that all the businesses were preparing. Two restaurants were going to hold poetry gatherings."

Suddenly, Liu Siyue didn't want to go back; she wanted to join in the fun.

"Qingwu, you rushed back early this morning, you shouldn't miss the wedding in August, right?"

"No, we'll leave as soon as it's light, and by the time we get home, our family will probably just be getting up."

"Okay, then it's decided."

She told Liu Ruxue about her idea, and Liu Ruxue was also very happy. She also wanted to see how lively the Lantern Festival was in the county town.