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Xu Songnian relaxed and gratefully said, “Thankyou, Auntie Li.”

Xu Wenlin, eyeing the eggs, was reminded of the surplus of uneaten salted duck egg whites at home. She hesitantly tugged at Chu Qingzhi’s sleeve, “Fifth Cousin, I have a question for you.”

Chu Qingzhi turned to her, “What’s the question? Go ahead and ask.”

Xu Wenlin blinked hopefully, “Besides frying, what else can we do with salted duck egg whites?”

After Chu Qingzhi heard this, she understood what the young lady was troubled with. Xu Wenlin’s family provided salted duck egg yolk for making rice dumplings. There would be a lot of salted duck egg white left. There was so much that they wouldn’t be able to finish it even if they ate it. It had been so long. She was probably tired of eating it and it would be a pity to throw it away, so she came to ask Chu Qingzhi.

“There are many ways to use salted duck egg whites. You can make salted egg white pancakes, salted egg white buns, stew tofu with salted egg white, stir-fry salted egg white with chili, or even use it in porridge…”

Xu Wenlin’s eyes sparkled with stars, “Fifth Cousin, you know so much.”

Chu Qingzhi thought of a method to utilize a large amount of salted egg whites, which required some experimentation, “Wenlin, bring some salted egg whites from home tomorrow. I have a plan for them.”

Xu Wenlin nodded, “Okay.”

Li Qingyu’s voice called out, “Qingzhi, the fermented black beans and bean curd are ready. Come and check.”

Almost forgetting about it, Chu Qingzhi set aside the lotus seeds and lifted two jars from below the chopping board, opening their lids.

She took a whiff. They were all fragrant and very successful.

Li Qingyu asked Chu Qingzhi, “How is it?”

“I’ll make something delicious for dinner tonight.” Chu Qingzhi fetched a bowl and spoon, scooping some of the fermented black beans and bean curd…

Li Qingyu, concerned for Chu Qingzhi, said, “Let me cook dinner tonight. You rest.”

Chu Qingzhi replied, “I’ve already rested enough. It’s fine.”

Unable to persuade Chu Qingzhi otherwise, Li Qingyu agreed, “Then you can prepare these two dishes. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Okay.”

Chirping sounds filled the yard, followed by Da Bai entering the kitchen, tugging at Chu Qingzhi’s clothes, leading her outside.

At the entrance, four newborn wolf cubs crawled shakily and squeaked. When the three big wolves saw that the wolf cubs had crawled far away, they hurriedly ran over and grabbed their heads to stop them from crawling. They looked weak and helpless.

Chu Qingzhi couldn’t help but laugh. She picked up the four cubs and placed them in a chicken coop, then fetched goat milk from a neighbor to feed them.

When they were drinking milk, Chu Qingzhi injected some spiritual power into their bodies to make them smarter.

Xu Songnian, following closely, asked in confusion, “Fifth Cousin, why did you bring more wolf cubs?”

Chu Qingzhi explained, “These are for someone else.”

Xu Songnian did not ask further. He did not know his fifth cousin’s friend. If he asked too much, it would be annoying. He knew his limits.

He saw Chu Qingzhi squatting on the ground and watching the wolf cubs drink milk. He hurriedly ran back to the house and brought over a chair. “Fifth Cousin, sit.”

Chu Qingzhi was pleasantly surprised by Songnian’s thoughtfulness, “I heard you’ve been learning to read with Ruyue. How’s that going?”

Songnian modestly shook his head, “I can’t say how well I’m doing, but I’ve been listening attentively, and I’ll keep trying.”

Chu Qingzhi patted his shoulder encouragingly, “Effort always pays off. Believe in yourself.”

Xu Songnian nodded heavily.

A servant delivered a letter to Chu Qingzhi.

The letter was from Xing Jindong, who had previously paid one hundred taels of silver to learn how to draw Q-Style paintings from Chu Qingzhi, but the lessons were interrupted when she had to go to the capital.

In the letter, Xing Jindong mentioned he had to urgently return to the eastern border and would seek further instruction upon his next visit, thanking Chu Qingzhi for the lessons he had received so far.

Chu Qingzhi put the letter away, telling the servant, “Inform your young master that I can continue teaching him when he visits Shuiyun County again, for up to a month.”

“Yes, Miss Chu.” The servant bowed and left.

Turning to head home, Chu Qingzhi heard a faint voice behind her, “Sister Qingzhi?”

Chu Qingzhi turned around. “Chu Lan’er?”

The little girl looked thinner, her hair unkempt, her face pallid, and her clothes patched, clearly indicating extreme poverty.

Chu Lan’er smiled. When she returned to the village, she found out that Chu Qingzhi was the most powerful person in the village. Seeing that Chu Qingzhi recognized her, she was very happy. “I’m Chu Lan’er. I want to ask when Sister Qingyue will be back.”

“She won’t be back for a while. You can tell me if you need anything.” The girl looked too pitiable for Chu Qingzhi to ignore.

Chu Lan’er was very disappointed. Herbright eyes quickly dimmed. “I, I…”

Chu Qingzhi softly encouraged, “It’s okay, you can tell me.”

Chu Lan’er fumbled with her hands, tears falling, “The new manager at the shop won’t let me sell handkerchiefs anymore, 1,1…”

The shop and paper mill, under temporary management by someone Ning Yuting appointed, had forgotten to make special arrangements for Lan’er, leading the new manager to bar her from selling handkerchiefs.

Chu Qingzhi handed Lan’er a handkerchief, “Don’t cry. Would you like to work in the workshop? Are you interested?”

Lan’er was stunned, her tears forgotten, “Really?”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Truly. We’re planting wheat soon. You could have your father help us. How about that?”

Lan’er felt as if pies were falling from the sky, overjoyed, “I’ll work hard, and so will my dad.”

Chu Rong, returning from the fields and seeing Lan’er’s disheveled state, went home to fetch some rice and flour for her, “Take this home to eat.”

Lan’er stepped back, refusing, “Thankyou, Uncle Chu Rong, but you’ve already helped us a lot. I can’t accept more from you.”

Chu Rong insisted, pushing the basket forward, “Take it.”

“I can’t.” Lan’er turned and ran off swiftly.

Chu Rong was speechless.

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Dad, I’ve offered Lan’er work in our workshop. Could you get two sets of small work clothes from Ruyue for her, and ask her to see Ruyue first thing tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Chu Rong went to the workshop area to get the clothes from Shen Ruyue and then headed to Lan’er’s home.

Xu Songnian watched Lan’er’s departing figure, feeling a deep empathy. His family had once been in a similar situation.

Chu Qingzhi’s gaze fell on Xu Songnian, pausing before calling the three wolves over, “You three figure out who will go with Songnian.”

The wolves exchanged glances, puzzled about going to Xu Songnian’s home.

Chu Qingzhi added, “If you haven’t decided by dinner, Songnian will choose himself. Discuss it well.”

With that, she went inside, leaving the wolves in silent contemplation.