Su Xiaoqi had no mind to dwell on Shen Yun's thoughts.
She was playing with the carved lotus silver hairpin from the redwood jewelry box, beckoned Shen Xiaomei over, and placed it on her hair bun.
"This is for you." This was prepared by Madam Yu, who knew she had many younger sisters-in-law, specifically for her to give away.
Shen Xiaomei and Zhao Xiaozhu each received two silver hairpins, elegant and understated.
Zhao Shi and Old Madam Yu, the two elders, also received gifts: exquisite brocade headbands.
Even the little brat Shen Erdan received something. Knowing he was studying, she sent him a set of stationery.
All of this demonstrated Madam Yu's meticulous planning.
It also showed her regard and affection for Su Xiaoqi.
She had thought of everything, even what Su Xiaoqi couldn't have imagined.
Moved, Su Xiaoqi also began to look through the medical books she had newly purchased.
Unfortunately, in this era, medical skills, like some other crafts, were passed down within families.
Unless they were family, people generally had no opportunity to learn.
Su Xiaoqi could only sigh, but there was nothing she could do.
She had to rely on her memories of the medical books she was guided to memorize as a child by her family.
She checked if there was anything that could help with Madam Yu's condition.
However, it was a pity that after her research, she couldn't figure anything out.
After all, she wasn't omnipotent.
Sniffing the powder again, Su Xiaoqi had a guess in her heart but dared not confirm it without evidence.
She put it away, planning to verify it after further investigation.
Seeing Su Xiaoqi lost in thought and sighing over the jewelry box, Shen Yun suddenly said, "My wife is biased."
Su Xiaoqi was confused, raising her eyebrows slightly.
"Even Erdan and the others received gifts. Why not your husband?"
Su Xiaoqi tilted her head and looked at him, holding back a giggle before bursting into laughter, "Of course, you have one, but the teacher said it will be given to you after you pass the exam and the results are announced."
Given Madam Yu's meticulousness, she would never forget Shen Yun.
In fact, his gift was the most valuable.
It was a rare copy of an old book on the study of calligraphy and painting by Wang Huansheng of the previous dynasty, which he had desired for a long time.
This was a treasure collected by Teacher Gu, who was initially reluctant to part with it. It was Madam Yu who insisted.
Shen Yun felt wronged, saying that everyone else had received their gifts now, so why did he have to wait.
Su Xiaoqi thought his point was valid, so she casually picked out a jade pendant from her own jewelry box and gave it to him.
He refused, saying he would only accept the one Teacher Gu gave, or a gift prepared by him personally.
This truly put Su Xiaoqi in a difficult position.
Because this rare copy of "A Thorough Study of Calligraphy and Painting" was something Teacher Gu had specifically instructed her about.
It was to be given only after Shen Yun passed his exams, as a way to save on a gift.
This was because Shen Yun's taste was too refined, and he was completely uninterested in other gold, stone, or jade items.
He specifically coveted those rare manuscripts and rubbings in his study. Giving one made him feel as if his heart was bleeding, and he was certainly unwilling to give another.
Su Xiaoqi was helpless, spreading her hands and saying that she only had these things with her now, and there was truly nothing she could do, even if she bought something new, it would be too late.
Since they were going to the prefectural city tomorrow, a larger place, she would go out and look around then, and buy him something nice.
Shen Yun smiled without saying anything.
He wasn't actually asking Su Xiaoqi for a gift.
He just saw that she was distracted and worried she might overthink things and decide not to go.
So, he deliberately found something to distract her, so she wouldn't dwell on that.
On the fifth day of the eighth lunar month, Shen Yun, along with Su Xiaoqi, bid farewell to their family and boarded the carriage sent by the Gu family to pick them up, and headed into the city.
Following Madam Yu's suggestion, they first went to the Gu residence, collected the new clothes and provisions that Madam Yu had specially made for them, and then set off with Du Yiyi, who was traveling with them.
She had been out long enough, and it was time to go home.
Otherwise, she would have to worry about not being able to leave by the end of the month.
Yizhou Prefecture was not far from Mianzhou City, about a hundred li away. It took half a day's travel by carriage along the official road to reach it.
Su Xiaoqi had never traveled in a carriage for so long. She was fine when she first got in and found it quite novel.
With Du Yiyi and her young maid, Hebao, talking and amusing her, she laughed all the way.
But after entering Huangxu County, her head began to feel a little dizzy, her mind heated, and her vision blurred.
She could only close her eyes, and when she opened them, she felt like throwing up.
Du Yiyi was someone who traveled frequently. Seeing her in this state, she immediately asked Hebao to prepare a thick cushion for her to lie down on.
She said that this condition was actually quite good, at least she wasn't directly vomiting.
She recalled that the first time she traveled by carriage from the capital to the south, she vomited incessantly.
Du Yiyi's tone was particularly exaggerated, and Su Xiaoqi managed a smile, but finally couldn't hold on any longer, leaning back against the cushion and falling asleep.
Shen Yun, sitting on the carriage shaft outside, heard the movement and asked about it through the carriage curtain.
Learning that Su Xiaoqi was carsick, and not hearing her voice, he was a little worried, but hearing that she had fallen asleep, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was good that she could sleep, which meant there were no major problems.
They set off at the hour of the Chen (7-9 AM), and after a bumpy journey, they managed to enter the city before the gates of Yizhou Prefecture were closed.
As soon as they entered the city, it became Du Yiyi's territory.
She told Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi not to stay at an inn, but to come and stay at her home.
This was naturally impossible.
Upon arriving at the Tongfu Inn, Shen Yun politely refused her, thanking her for her kindness.
Just as Su Xiaoqi woke up, she said goodbye to Du Yiyi.
"Oh, Sister Xiaoqi, let Big Brother Shen stay at the inn by himself. You should still stay with me."
Su Xiaoqi had come with Shen Yun and bore an important responsibility, so she could not abandon him at this crucial moment.
She thanked Du Yiyi at that moment, gently refusing with a shake of her head.
Du Yiyi was helpless, truly unable to do anything about this couple.
She had no choice but to make an appointment with her, telling her to find her at her shop in Erbing Hutong after Shen Yun's exam.
Su Xiaoqi agreed, remembering the specific address she gave, and rubbed her eyes as she looked at the bustling street in front of her.
As expected of a prefectural city, the streets were incredibly lively.
Flags fluttered all around, shops were lined up, and the clothing of the people was on a different level from that of Mianzhou City.
But amidst the crowd of wealthy people wearing silk and satin, there were some poor citizens in rags.
Su Xiaoqi's gaze sharpened, and she stared intently.
Du Yiyi told her they were refugees from Tongchuan.
Su Xiaoqi said, "It's not a time of famine now, why are there still refugees?"
"Ah, I've heard that their county magistrate was black-hearted and colluded with a merchant to swap the government-issued good grain seeds with problematic ones and sold them to the people.
After planting them, they only grew stalks but no ears of rice. So this..."
Su Xiaoqi frowned slightly.
This was simply treating people as less than human.
"So many people have fled to the prefectural city, what do they eat, where do they live?"
Fortunately, it was late summer and early autumn, not too cold, otherwise they would freeze to death.
"Look, there are porridge stalls. It must be my mother who is personally donating money to feed them. It's truly pitiful."
Du Yiyi said with some sympathy, but it was only sympathy. At most, she would take out some of her private savings and contribute it to her mother so that she could continue to distribute porridge for a few more days.
That was all, she couldn't do any more.
Su Xiaoqi said that distributing porridge every day like this was not a solution. They had left their homes, and the most important thing was to be able to grow crops in the fields.
Otherwise, they couldn't just live by relying on others to distribute porridge.
"Who says not, but I heard from my father's teacher that it's already past the planting season. Even if we give them rice and flour, they might not be able to grow anything."
Su Xiaoqi said, "Perhaps they could try potatoes and corn." This statement immediately struck Du Yiyi, and she suddenly realized.
She wondered why she had forgotten about the two most popular items in Mianzhou City recently.
Let alone anything else, Su Xiaoqi had given her a hundred catties of each in her carriage.
She heard that those two types of seeds could be planted now, and their yield was quite high.
She happily grabbed Su Xiaoqi's hand and hugged her, thanking her for coming up with a good idea. She would immediately go back and take credit from her father.
Seeing that she had put aside her earlier reluctance and was now completely at ease, Su Xiaoqi covered her mouth and chuckled.
Shen Yun, however, let out a long sigh of relief. He had finally sent her away. Otherwise, he didn't know how long she would monopolize his wife.
Thinking this, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and a terrible thought rushed into his mind.