"Miss, someone is looking for you outside."
Wet nurse Mrs. Wu knocked on the door of the pharmacy: "It seems to be someone from the Zhou Trading Company at the docks."
"Alright, I’ll be right there."
Upon hearing it was someone from the Zhou Trading Company, Chun Nuan quickly set aside her work and strode out.
"Hello, you are?"
The visitor wasn’t the manager or staff she usually dealt with, but a boy about twelve or thirteen years old.
"Hello, may I ask if you are Miss Xiao Chunnuan?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then it’s right, this is a letter that Sixth Brother Tang asked me to pass on to you."
Tang Liu, the assistant running the errands to the Capital.
"And where is Sixth Brother Tang?"
"Sixth Brother Tang is guarding the merchandise; he won’t arrive for another half month."
"Thank you very much."
Instinctively, Chun Nuan wanted to give a reward, then she remembered that the Xiao family was also poor now. Although they were poor, the boy had gone out of his way to deliver the family letter, so in the end, she still fished out a few coins to give him.
"You’ve worked hard, take this to have some tea."
"Thank you, Miss Xiao."
The boy was naturally overjoyed; he hadn’t expected to receive an unexpected reward just for delivering a letter.
"Next time there’s a letter for you, I’ll deliver it again."
"Alright."
Watching the boy happily run off, Chun Nuan also smiled. Yes, who doesn’t like a pleasant surprise?
A few coins weren’t that important for her family now; it was worth it to make him happy and have him run faster next time.
Chun Nuan knew this was a letter from her eldest sister.
Once she was inside the study, Chun Nuan opened the letter to read it.
As expected, in the letter, Chunyu wrote, as usual, that they were doing well. Panpan was babbling, her small round face rosy and lovely like an apple, and her big eyes sparkled like grapes...
The eldest sister truly deserved to be the legitimate eldest granddaughter of the family, her calligraphy flowing with tenderness, fully expressing her love for her little daughter.
Chunyu also wrote about Qiu Yan’s troubles, as Mrs. Qiu kept introducing suitors, but she never found anyone satisfactory.
The tone then shifted, asking Chun Nuan about her plans, whether she intended to engage in Shu City after the mourning period or was preparing to marry far in the Capital.
If a match in the Capital was intended, as the eldest sister, she must pay attention and ensure to select an excellent man for her.
Reading about her eldest sister worrying over every little thing, Chun Nuan felt a pang in her heart. Look, she never mentioned her own hardships or wounds, always bringing hope to the family.
Oh yes, the eldest sister also mentioned having the trading company help send back some New Year’s gifts.
Detailed instructions on how each New Year’s gift was to be distributed were clearly written.
Seeing that the eldest sister even included gifts for paying respects within the clan made her feel helpless.
Fortunately, she had the letter delivered to her first, or it would be a great loss if sent directly to the Xiao clan lineage.
Therefore, she had to guard these gifts closely to distribute them, ensuring not even the smallest amount leaked to the Xiao clan lineage. They didn’t deserve it!
Half a month later, Tang Liu returned, bringing Chun Nuan an entire cartload of New Year’s gifts.
"So much?"
"Yes, your family’s eldest girl is quite capable, always considering you. She specially selected this many New Year’s gifts, bringing food, clothing, and necessities." Tang Liu was also very tired, "I used an entire cart this time, and your family’s goods were the most. The crucial thing is, Master Zhou Qi said that in the future, whatever your family needs to send, it’s fine, no need to report to him. Miss Xiao, how did you manage this?"
It’s truly amazing. Master Zhou Qi actually didn’t make things difficult for Miss Xiao and willingly offered help. This was definitely not in line with Master Zhou Qi’s usual character. He had always said he ran the trading company to make money, not charity work, so how could he not charge?
However, for Xiao Chunnuan’s family, it was an exception.
"Because I have a kind heart."
She cured his beloved Miss Liu’s "pretentious" ailment!
Tang Liu loved gossiping; it was an unchangeable nature. Seeing no one around, he softly said to Chun Nuan, "Miss Xiao, you might not know, but the aunt who offended you last time has been ignored by Master Zhou Qi and is no longer favored."
This... was truly not her doing.
"Moreover, Master Zhou Qi used to frequently visit the Liu Xiang Garden in your town, but hasn’t been there even once in the past half month. Do you know why?"
"I don’t know."
Chun Nuan laughed inwardly. Master Zhou Qi wasn’t foolish. He saw what he needed to see and heard what he needed to hear. How could a grown man be manipulated by a woman? Cherished, you are a treasure in her palm; neglected, you are nothing but grass.
For men like Master Zhou Qi, who had never lacked women, controlling him was indeed not easy.
You needed to strike a balance; feigning illness and causing him to panic and seek desperate remedies, even threatening someone like her, without a foundation.