Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

Zhang Yiniang distributed the bowls to the children, one small bowl for each of them, and the small celadon jar was soon empty. "This bayberry paste is made once a year in May and stored in the ground. It's just right to take it out now."

Xi Mei held the small bowl, looked down at it, scooped up a small spoonful and put it in her mouth. Her cheeks slowly puffed out and then slowly deflated. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

Lin Xiuer had already drunk more than half a bowl, her lips still stained with pale red juice, and she licked the spoon, unwilling to put it down. Ayun took a sip, looked down at the ice crystals floating in the bowl, and couldn't bear to drink any more.

Lin Qiao'er held the bowl, taking small sips and smacking her lips with each sip.

Sister Mei stood to the side and smiled, "This bayberry paste and candied cherries were all made by the landlady herself. The osmanthus honey was also made by her; she spent half a month selecting that one tree of osmanthus from the south of the city."

Zhang Yiniang walked up to Zhang Sanlang with a bowl in her hand. "Would you like to try some, Third Master?"

Zhang Sanlang didn't stand on ceremony. He took the bowl, took a sip, and the ice cubes clinked against the rim. He found it very refreshing, so he tilted his head back and gulped it down. When he put the bowl down, it was empty. "Not bad."

He stood up, brushed the crumbs of pastry off his clothes, and said, "Let's go. We're all tired after a long day of shopping."

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Ce picked up his umbrella, and Lü Sanbao stood up and walked to the door. Lu Qiucheng turned around and waited for everyone to leave.

Xi Mei'er stepped down from the bench, still holding the bowl of bayberry drink in her hand, and said to Zhang Yiniang, "Thank you, Zhang Yiniang, this is really delicious!"

Zhang Yiniang smiled gently, "I'm going home too, so I can travel with you all the way."

Zhang Sanlang shook his head and walked away first.

Zhang Yiniang and Ximei walked together, their voices soft, but they still reached Zhang Sanlang's ears from time to time.

"Your name is A-Yun?"

"I'll teach you how to make a drink that's refreshing during the hottest days of summer, and you don't even need to light a fire."

"Take three dried plums, two slices of licorice root, and a small pinch of dried tangerine peel. Add two bowls of water and boil. Let it cool and let it steep in a well. Add a spoonful of honey when you drink it. It's cleaner than the sour plum drinks you buy outside."

Lin Xiuer, walking at the back, suddenly called out, "Zhang Niangzi, could you make some for us to try?"

Zhang Yiniang turned around and smiled at her, "Of course! Come to my house another day, and I'll make you some drinks..."

As Zhang Sanlang walked ahead, he felt as if hundreds of ducks were following behind him, and he couldn't help but shake his head.

Before long, Zhang Yiniang suddenly quickened her pace and caught up with him, walking side by side. Her gaze fell on the alleyway ahead. "Does Third Master still remember what happened on the Dragon Boat Festival?"

Zhang Sanlang glanced at her but didn't reply.

"Third Master, I did indeed calculate it correctly that day."

Zhang Yiniang lowered her voice, "I've been waiting for the opportunity to leave my registered residence. That day, Prefect Wang was there, and there were also a whole hall full of officials and gentry present. If I hadn't spoken up, I would never have had another chance in my life."

Zhang Sanlang continued walking, "I already said, this matter is over. Why does Madam Zhang need to bring it up again?"

Zhang Yiniang glanced at him sideways. "You say it's over, but you're still holding a grudge. I owe Third Master a huge favor; how can I feel at ease if I don't repay it?"

As Zhang Sanlang approached Jinshi Lane, he suddenly stopped. "Young Master Zhang, is that your younger brother?"

Zhang Yiniang stopped in her tracks, unsurprised, and smiled slightly. "Third Master, you guessed it?"

"Last night he came to my yard to freeload a meal. He talked for a long time about Chengwu County, doing peony business, his sister being sold by his uncle, and being bullied by the clan. He made up a whole story, but he didn't mention that the person was you."

Zhang Yiniang stood at the alley entrance, offering no explanation, only a smile. "He's afraid that if he mentions me, the Third Master won't accept his documents."

Zhang Sanlang glanced back at her, then turned into the alley. "As long as the document is genuine, that's fine."

Zhang Yiniang watched the group walk ahead, and only after the Zhang family's courtyard gate was tightly closed did she turn around and walk towards the neighboring house.

Wan Qing pushed the door open, still holding the silver stick in her hand. She stepped aside, and after Wan Qing went inside, she glanced at the other side before closing the door.

After resting for a while and having dinner at the Zhang family residence, it was already late afternoon.

Zhang Sanlang glanced into the side room, where happy Mei'er and A Yun were sitting on the veranda playing cat's cradle, while the two Lin sisters squatted beside them watching. The bowls and chopsticks on the stone table in the courtyard hadn't been cleared away yet, and Wang Yue'e was carrying a wooden basin to the well to fetch water.

He suddenly remembered something, put down his toothpick, went through the small door, and entered the courtyard of the Sun family next door.

Sun Jizu was sitting on the porch sharpening his spearhead when he heard footsteps. He looked up, called out to them, and then lowered his head to continue sharpening. A yellow dog was lying on the porch; it wagged its tail when it saw Zhang Sanlang enter.

Qingge and Sun Ce were squatting by the pillar, each holding a twig, having a great time playing together.

Zhang Sanlang walked over, grabbed Qingge'er by the back of his collar, and lifted him up. Qingge'er's feet were dangling in the air, his hand still clutching the tree branch. "Father, Father, put me down!"

Zhang Sanlang tucked him under his arm and called out to Sun Jizu, "Brother Sun, this brat's here again, trying to freeload? Don't save any for him next time; your food is too good, he's getting fatter and fatter!"

Sun Jizu didn't even raise his head, his left hand still gripping the gun barrel and pushing it back and forth on the millstone. "You only come to arrest him once every three times, and you still have the nerve to criticize me?"

Old Sun, who was sitting nearby drinking tea, laughed heartily when he heard this. "It's good that he's a little chubby. Qing-ge'er is growing taller right now, so he should eat more. Sanlang, don't be too restrictive with him."

Knowing he couldn't reason with Old Sun, Zhang Sanlang grabbed Qingge'er and headed towards the side door. "Uncle Sun, Brother Sun, come over for drinks tomorrow night. Madam Huangfu said she's going to the dock to buy a sea bass to steam and a plate of braised beef. She's bringing Ce'er along."

"Okay," Sun Jizu replied, and the millstone began to grind again.

Zhang Sanlang carried Qingge'er out the small gate and back to his own courtyard before putting him down. As soon as Qingge'er's feet touched the ground, he ran towards the main room, but Zhang Sanlang grabbed him by the back of the collar.

"You brat, you're always running to your Uncle Sun's house for meals, how dare you?"

Qingge'er was twirled around by the back of his collar, looking up at him. "Uncle Sun himself said I could go wherever I wanted. Grandpa Sun also invited me to stay, how could I refuse?"

"That's just them being polite. It's fine if you go once or twice occasionally, but why are you going every single day?"

"Aunt Liu's cooking is delicious!" Qingge said confidently. "Aunt Wang only puts salt in her stir-fries, no oil. Last time, the eggplant she cooked was so salty that I had to drink two bowls of water."

Wang Yue'e happened to be carrying a wooden basin from the kitchen when she heard this. She placed the basin on the stone table and said, "Little darling, you licked the plate clean of the eggplant with salted egg yolk I cooked last time, and now you're saying it's too salty?"

When Qing-ge'er realized he'd been caught red-handed, his face flushed, and his eyes darted around. "That...that's because eggplant with salted egg yolk is delicious! You usually don't put it in!"

Wang Yue'e couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, alright! I'll go buy some more salted eggs tomorrow, and when I get back I'll stir-fry a pot of eggplant with salted egg yolks. You can't leave the table until you finish it!"