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

Liu Ruxue returned to her room, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. When she closed her eyes, Xu Jingxi's handsome face appeared before her, smiling brightly.

She pounded her head with her fist. "Liu Ruxue, Liu Ruxue, what are you thinking? You're older than him, and he's a scholar. You're just a peasant girl. It's impossible. Wake up!"

As April had said, most heartless people are scholars, and she couldn't be fooled by his sweet talk. The more she tried to stop herself from thinking about Xu Jingxi, the clearer his image became in her mind. She was going to die, what should she do?

After tossing and turning for a while, I don't know when I finally fell asleep.

The next morning, Qingye escorted Liu Ruxue to the shop and noticed that she had dark circles under her eyes and didn't seem to be in good spirits. "Second Miss, are you feeling unwell? Do you need to see a doctor?"

"I'm fine, is there anything wrong with me?"

"The young lady has dark circles under her eyes and is not in good spirits."

"Oh, I didn't sleep well last night, it's alright, let's go." Qingye dropped the person off and then came back. Master Yao even brought back a lot of cakes for her to make breakfast.

Today is the Lantern Festival. Ningxiang and the cook took two people out early in the morning to buy groceries. With their mistress here, the meal must be plentiful and delicious.

After they returned from shopping, the kitchen was bustling with activity. The master said that there would be no dinner that night, as he was going to take everyone to the lantern festival, so this meal had to be prepared in the morning.

Making glutinous rice balls, slaughtering chickens and ducks, scaling fish...

The people in the kitchen were busy as bees. Ningxiang and Xiangchun Xiangye started making various pastries to take back to their master tomorrow.

Liu Siyue got up, stretched, and after washing and tidying herself and her daughter, she came out of the room. Qingwu Qingye quickly greeted her, "Good morning, Master!"

"Good morning!"

"Qingye, you hold the young master first, I will help the master wash up."

"No need, we've already washed them."

Where are the others in the courtyard?

"Everyone's busy in the kitchen. Manager Ning brought a lot of things back today and is preparing a big meal."

"Okay, it's a holiday, so it should be celebrated. You don't need to wait on me. Go have fun, and remember to come back for dinner."

"Master, let's go for a stroll in the streets and see if we can find out any useful information."

The two left the house together and went to the street. On the way, Qingye couldn't help but say, "Sister Qingwu, I feel that my kung fu has improved a lot recently. When can we have a spar? You can give me some pointers."

"Great! I feel like my skills have improved too. Do you think the water Master gave us is some kind of magic water? Ever since we drank the water Master gave us, our training has become twice as effective."

"Yes, I feel the same way. I haven't finished my water yet. I'm reluctant to drink it, so I'll wait until the last minute."

"Haha, you think the same way I do."

Once on the street, stalls lined both sides, their calls filling the air: freshly steamed sugar cakes, piping hot; thin-skinned, generously filled pork wontons, so delicious they'd leave a lingering fragrance in your mouth—want a bowl?; and crispy fried cakes, guaranteed to crumble in your mouth with every bite...

"Qingye, that pastry looks delicious. We haven't had breakfast yet, would you like to try some?"

"Okay, you buy a flaky pastry, and I'll buy a sticky rice lotus root, so we can both try them."

The two of them divided the food they bought in half, and thought it tasted very good. After eating, they went to the two restaurants where the poetry gathering was to be held.

The entrance to Shili Xiang Restaurant was already crowded with people, mostly scholars, watching as the waiter hung a couplet on either side of the restaurant's entrance. The characters were vigorous and powerful, seemingly perfectly formed.

"Have you heard? Shili Xiang has invited the county magistrate to oversee things tonight. I heard the magistrate also has a prize to be won."

"Of course I know, but Zuixianlou invited the headmaster and several teachers from Songtao Academy. I heard they even invited a great scholar from the prefectural city. They're really making a big show of themselves, determined to compete with Shilixiang."

"Haha, tonight's going to be interesting. I wonder which place everyone will go to."

......

As Qingwu listened to everyone's discussion, she went to Zuixianlou, which was also crowded with people. Zuixianlou was decorated very luxuriously inside and out.

The staff were busy running around, constantly promoting that Liuxianju had invited a great scholar from the prefectural city, the headmaster and teacher of Songtao Academy, to help out, hoping that all the scholars would come and support them, and perhaps they could get some inspiration from it and pass the imperial examinations to become a scholar or a provincial graduate.

For scholars, this statement is undoubtedly the most valuable. They study to pass the imperial examinations and bring glory to their families. What is a county magistrate anyway? He's said to be a clueless bum who knows nothing. Attending a poetry gathering attended by such a person would be a disgrace to scholars.

She strolled around the streets for a while, then went back home.

Upon hearing Liu Siyue's voice, Yun Chenxin took a walk in the courtyard for a while before inviting Liu Siyue to her room. "Siyue, take a look. This is a newly modified design. Try it on."

Liu Siyue put the child on the bed and carefully looked at the modified underwear. She had to admit that Yun Chenxin was quite talented in this area. She tried it on herself and found that it fit her well. She especially liked the embroidered flowers on it.

"Chenxin, you're amazing! These three bras are really great. They're perfect for summer, lightweight and breathable. Do you have any plans to open a shop?"

"I don't have enough resources right now. If there are suitable shops in the county, I'll buy them first and take it one step at a time."

In April, I'm thinking of buying a house. Whether we live there or not, at least we'll have our own home, which will give us peace of mind. You can also bring your family to live with us in the county town anytime, which will be very convenient.

"Don't you feel safe living here?"

"April, that's not what I meant. I'll never forget how good you've been to me. I can't rely on you forever. You've helped me so much, I could never repay you in several lifetimes."

"I don't blame you, and I understand how you feel. Do what you want to do."

"In April, I have another purpose for buying this house: I want to use it as a workshop. I plan to buy some people and train a group of embroiderers. When the time is right, we can open the workshop immediately. What do you think of my idea?"

"The idea is great, you have your own people involved, and it's easy to use. I support you."

"Then, my sisters and I will join forces and open shops in every corner of Dasheng."

"He's got quite the ambition, isn't he?"

"I learned all of this from you. You have to be bold and decisive, and you might just achieve it."

"Then you'd better keep trying! If you're short on money, just let me know."

"If I'm broke, who else can I turn to if not you?"

In April, I want to buy a personal maid, like Qingwu. If the two of them leave with you one day, I'll have no one to use. I want Qingwu to take me to the brokerage to buy someone.

"Go ahead, wait for her to come back, and let her take you. They say environment changes people, who would have thought you were the same Zhou Xiangxing from before!"

When Qingwu and the others returned to the mansion, they told them the news they had heard on the street. "Master, there should be some excitement tonight. Shili Xiang and Zuixianlou are going to have a competition. You said those scholars went back to their respective homes?"

"If it were me, if I hadn't passed the preliminary examination, I would go to Shili Xiang to make a name for myself in front of the county magistrate. If I had already passed the preliminary examination, I would go to Zuixianlou. If I could get some guidance from a great scholar, or if I could catch the eye of a great scholar, it would definitely be of great benefit to my future career in the imperial examinations."

This Magistrate Fang is a complete incompetent; he's not very useful.

"Master, you guessed right, that's exactly what those scholars said."