She held Fan Zehao's hand, feeling reluctant to part but understanding the importance of the bigger picture.
"You should go back. After you've hosted the Crown Prince and Princess of Wei, you can rejoin us!"
Fan Zehao lifted her chin, looking at the crestfallen woman. "Aren't you worried about that princess bullying me?"
"Will you let her?"
He shook his head firmly. "No!"
And that settled it.
Besides, if a man wanted to be unfaithful, she couldn't stop him. There was no point in tying him to her apron strings. It was better to let him go and make his own decisions.
Fan Zehao was speechless. Faced with this situation, he had hoped his wife would show some jealousy, but it seemed that day would never come.
He returned to the capital, and the three children clamored to go with him. This surprised not only him but also Zhao Jiaqi.
The three daughters from Pintang's family, seeing their older siblings leaving, insisted on returning to the capital as well. Pintang had no choice but to have Fan Er take the children back with his elder brother, ensuring they could look out for each other.
Once they were gone, the two sisters-in-law shared a room, with endless topics of conversation every night.
As December arrived, Zhao Jiaqi paid the hundred or so people who had come to learn farming and sent them home for the New Year, asking them to return after the Lantern Festival.
As for the villagers, Zhao Jiaqi didn't give them a holiday. Instead, she went to the fields at a fixed time each day, indirectly helping them.
With their improved living conditions and more money in hand, their hearts felt more secure.
Only then could they truly settle down to learn farming.
As winter set in, everyone stayed indoors, not venturing out unless necessary. Those with close relationships would gather to do needlework and chat idly.
The village head's wife learned that Fan Daniangzi's husband and children were away, and fearing she might be lonely, she brought her daughter and several other village women of similar age to visit.
Firstly, it was to keep her company.
Secondly, it was on Qiao Chuan's instructions to encourage more communication between the women. Li Yan understood the unspoken intentions behind this without Qiao Chuan needing to elaborate.
"Is Fan Daniangzi at home?" Li Yan called out as she approached the courtyard.
Chunfen came out of the house, saw it was the village head's wife, and smiled in greeting. "Madam is at home. Madam Li and all the ladies, please come in!"
The women addressed as "madams" beamed, feeling pleased. It was the first time in their lives anyone had called them that.
"You're too kind, miss. You can just call us sisters-in-law."
"Yes, yes, Madam is too grand a title!"
The women were quite self-aware and replied with sincere humility.
Chunfen smiled, nodded at them, acknowledging their words, and led them into the house.
A wave of warmth washed over them, a welcome comfort in the deep winter.
"Qiao Saozi, Li Saozi, Wang Saozi, Jin'er is here! Come, sit here by the warm wall."
The women handed the baskets they were carrying to Chunfen before sitting by the fire wall.
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the baskets filled with eggs, duck eggs, and goose eggs. She smiled at them. "It's enough that you came. Why did you bring things? Your families aren't wealthy. Take these back for your children to supplement their health!"
"Fan Daniangzi, these weren't bought with money. They're fresh eggs from our own fowl. We brought them so you could taste them. After all, you're leading our entire village to prosperity. Without you, we couldn't even afford to raise a chicken, let alone eat eggs. This is just a small token of our gratitude. If you refuse, how can we have the nerve to visit again!"
Li Saozi's words were sweet and fluent. She expressed their gratitude then and there, and the others echoed her sentiments.
Seeing this, Zhao Jiaqi couldn't refuse their kindness. She instructed Chunfen to give each of them a few of their own cured sausages to take home as a reciprocal gift.
The women in the room didn't understand what sausages were, nor had they eaten them. They assumed it was some kind of preserved vegetable.
They chatted happily, with Zhao Jiaqi and Pintang also enjoying the conversation, learning about the trivial matters of their lives.
However, as the conversation progressed, it took a turn.
Li Yan shared news she had heard from town the day before. "Recently, I've heard there are many child abductions, especially in the neighboring Yongdie City. They steal both boys and girls. Some people have even seen them snatching children on the street. What brazen people!"
Child abductions?
Regardless of gender?
Pintang, quicker than Zhao Jiaqi, curiously asked Li Yan, "Qiao Saozi, were the people who snatched children on the street caught?"
"They were caught, but then released. What's more, I heard the person who reported it was beaten, accused of making false reports and slandering good people."
Hearing this, Li Saozi's anger flared. "They snatched them on the street, and it's a false report? I say, these child abductors are no different from the officials!"
Wang Saozi agreed, nodding repeatedly. "Officials and bandits are one and the same. What are common people worth in this day and age!"
"It's just that it's so far from the capital. The Emperor can't reach here. Otherwise, with the Emperor's love for his people, he would have dealt with those people long ago!"
Li Yan spoke through gritted teeth.
It was heartbreaking to think of children, who had finally grown a bit and could help their families, being stolen.
The women were so engrossed in their conversation that they forgot Fan Da Gongzi was an official. By the time they realized, the words had already been spoken.
Li Yan gave Zhao Jiaqi an awkward smile and explained, "Fan Daniangzi, we weren't talking about your husband. Please don't misunderstand. We're just careless with our words. Don't take it to heart!"
"Oh, my husband isn't an official. You speak your minds. We won't take it to heart. Rest assured!"
Pintang nodded earnestly. Indeed, as her elder sister-in-law had said, her elder brother wasn't just an official; he was the Emperor.
With Zhao Jiaqi's reassurance, they dropped the subject and changed the topic to matters of the fields. As dusk approached, the women finally departed.
Carrying their baskets filled with sausages, the women realized at this moment that Fan Daniangzi's return gift was a meat product. They felt even more embarrassed.
Their eggs and duck eggs were not worth much. The items they received were solid pork, a significant profit.
When Li Yan returned home, she steamed a plate of sausages that evening. Her son, Qiao Min, was astonished. He had seen these before; a plate of them cost one tael of silver.
This large plate his mother had steamed would cost at least two taels of silver in a restaurant.
"Mother, this is something only wealthy families can afford. A small plate in a restaurant costs one tael, and you bought this today! Has our family become rich?"
Li Yan paused her serving of food upon hearing "one tael of silver." "What? A small plate costs one tael of silver?"