hairpin in her hair appeared. She clearly recognized Ruan Mingzi, for she blinked in surprise before calling back into the courtyard.

“Mother, it’s the Ruan girl.”

The beaded curtain inside lifted, revealing the pleasantly surprised face of a young man. He pushed the curtain aside and came out quickly.

“Mingzi, did you come looking for me because...”

Before he could finish, his eyes caught the familiar bundle in her hand. The handsome young man froze mid-sentence, his expression faltering.

From inside came a calm female voice. “Ah, it’s the Ruan girl, is it? Su Xin, invite her in for a cup of tea.”

The woman with the silver hairpin smiled warmly. “Mingzi, is it? Come, my mother-in-law invites you in for tea.”

Ruan Mingzi hesitated. It wouldn’t be polite to shove the bundle back into their hands and walk off immediately. Still, she had always been straightforward and unashamed. After a brief thought, she carried the bundle in with her.

She had to admit, the Jian courtyard really was different. Instead of rows of vegetables and a few scraggly chickens, it held several flowering trees in full bloom. The petals drifted down with the breeze, scattering across the stones—quite a beautiful sight.

A stone table and stools sat beneath the trees, a set of fine white porcelain teacups laid neatly upon it. Clearly, the family often sat here for tea.

Ruan Mingzi gave the scene a quick glance before following Su Xin into the main house.

Jian Xiuping lingered in the courtyard, wanting to speak but holding back. The woman laughed.

“Uncle, the guest’s already gone in—what are you still standing there for?” Looking slightly embarrassed, Jian Xiuping followed them inside.

In the main hall stood two eight-immortal chairs, and on one of them sat a middle-aged woman—clearly Jian Xiuping’s mother. Madam Jian looked Ruan Mingzi up and down with a gentle smile.

“You’re the Ruan girl, aren’t you? I’ve heard Ping’er mention you from time to time.” A timid girl might have blushed to hear that. But Ruan Mingzi had always been calm and self-possessed. She simply replied with ease,

“Perhaps because we played together a few times as children.”

Indeed, in the original memories, she and Jian Xiuping had barely interacted beyond that. Xiuping’s mother raised her brows slightly, surprised. This girl... she’d deliberately said “as children,” making it clear they hadn’t been close since growing up?

Madam Jian hid her reaction well, her tone unhurried. “That’s true. Our Ping’er has been studying under Master Gao for the past few years, rarely coming back to the village. So, what brings you here today, Ruan girl?”

Her eyes were probing, guarded.

Ruan Mingzi drew a deep breath.

The mother’s wariness was palpable—clearly, she feared Ruan Mingzi might have designs on her son. Forget it. Ruan Mingzi decided not to hold it against her.

Just as she was about to set the bundle on the table, Madam Jian suddenly spoke again. “Oh, I heard you’ve been living on your own with your little sister lately. That must be difficult.”

Just as she was about to set the bundle down, Jian’s mother spoke again. “Ah, I heard today that you’ve moved out with your little sister. Times must be hard for you.” She paused, then called, “Su Xin, bring a red envelope for the Ruan girl.”

Ruan Mingzi froze.

So did Jian Xiuping—his face went white, then red, then white again, finally settling on pure mortification. “Mother!” he hissed.

He truly only pitied Ruan Mingzi. There was nothing more to it. But what was his mother trying to do? Was she trying to make sure he’d never be able to face her again? Madam Jian ignored him.

Su Xin quickly returned with a red envelope. Smiling sweetly, Madam Jian gestured for her to hand it over. “Here, this is two taels of silver. Take it—use it to get by.”

Two taels of silver! Ruan Mingzi couldn’t help but laugh—coldly.

That was two hundred copper coins. More than the original owner’s parents had managed to save in years of backbreaking work.

The son offered her several catties of white flour, the mother followed with two taels of silver— Truly, what a generous family.

And what, exactly, did they take her for?

“No need.” Ruan Mingzi spoke evenly as she lifted the bundle she’d been holding and placed it on the table.

Madam Jian instinctively looked over. When she recognized the fabric, her breath caught, and her hands clenched under her sleeves.

That wrapping cloth.... wasn’t it Ping-er’s?

Had she really been careless enough to let things go so far, to the point of exchanging personal belongings? Her composure was slipping fast.

Before she could burst out, Ruan Mingzi spoke calmly: “I know Brother Xiuping values the friendship we shared as children, and I’m grateful for his kindness. But I can’t accept gifts I haven’t earned. I have hands and feet—I can take care of myself and my sister. This gift is far too generous. I came only to return it, nothing more. Please don’t worry.”

She finished speaking in an even tone, stood up, and without so much as another glance, turned and walked out.

Jian Xiuping took a step after her, but Madam Jian’s warning voice cut through the air.

“Ping’er!”

Ruan Mingzi ignored the commotion behind her. She lifted the door curtain, stepped outside, and drew a long, steadying breath.

Finally—she felt free.

Her mood lighter, Ruan Mingzi left the Jian household. As she passed through the front gate, she caught faint voices drifting from within:

“That kind of mud-legged peasant girl isn’t even fit to carry your shoes.”

“You’ve no interest in her, what if she clings to you and ruins your reputation?”

…

Ruan Mingzi smiled softly, utterly unbothered, and walked down the narrow path toward the Lu family’s place.

Judging by the time, the crossbow she’d commissioned was probably finished by now. But as she turned from the Jian family’s mountain path back onto the village road, something unexpected happened.

A furious young girl suddenly sprang out from the side, pointing toward the direction Ruan Mingzi had come from. Her sharp voice pierced the air like a needle.

“You came from Brother Xiuping’s house, didn’t you?!” It was Ruan Yuchun.

Ruan Chengzhang’s older sister, and Madam Mao’s eldest daughter.

At that moment, Ruan Mingzi couldn’t decide whether to sigh at how precocious ancient children were—or at how small the world could be.

It was because of this very girl that Ruan Chengzhang had pushed the original host down the mountain because she and Ruan Yuchun had quarreled over Jian Xiuping. Naturally, Ruan Chengzhang had sided with his sister, and Ruan Yuchun had gleefully clapped her hands as the original tumbled down the slope.