Siheyuan: Starting with one acre and three fen of land

At this time, in Suzhou, thousands of miles away, in the Chen family mansion.

As night falls, a few lanterns in the courtyard emit a hazy glow, and the scattered scenery in the courtyard can be vaguely seen.

The light from the residence penetrated the window lattice and shone into the courtyard. The warm atmosphere in the house was tinged with solemnity.

"Bo Ting, what do you think about Xiaoru?" Su Wan's voice was soft, with a barely perceptible hint of urgency.

Her eyes moved around, full of concern and expectation for her daughter, and she waited quietly for a reply.

Hearing this, Chen Boting's eyes fell gently on his wife Su Wan, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Wan'er, the seal on the letter Xiaoru gave me a few years ago is undoubtedly from Mr. Zhang."

When Su Wan heard this, a hint of joy suddenly flashed in her eyes. It seemed that Xiaoru's marriage had taken a turn for the better.

A few years ago, she saw that Chen Xueru had changed her attitude towards her family. Although she felt strange, she did not ask rashly.

She summoned Feng Liping privately and asked her in detail about Chen Xueru's experience in the old city for more than half a year.

From Feng Liping's narration, Su Wan learned some information about He Yuzhu, and then she went to talk to Chen Xueru.

No one knows a girl better than her mother. Su Wan could read the feelings in Chen Xueru's expression.

Su Wan also hopes that her daughter can find the person she likes and not be bound by the shackles of family interests.

"So are you planning to reject the Hou family's proposal?" Su Wan held Chen Boting's hand, her tone full of anticipation.

Chen Boting shook his head gently and patted the back of her hand: "Of course not, I just gave him a chance for Mr. Zhang's sake."

Having said that, he was thinking something else.

He planned to take this opportunity to repay Zhang Baishu's favor and to test He Yuzhu's character.

If he himself failed, Chen Xueru's relationship with her family would also ease.

As for whether He Yuzhu would succeed? Chen Boting did not think it was possible. Now that Chen Xueru was left in Suzhou and one was still in Sijiu City, they would meet less often.

Hou Jiacheng was close to the water, but he was defeated by a cook who studied medicine. It was not the Chen family's intention that they failed to become relatives with the Hou family.

Chen Boting tapped the table with his fingers, and he made up his mind with a firm look in his eyes: "Wan'er, tell Xiaoru tomorrow not to return to Sijiu City for the time being."

"Ah? Is this okay? Xueru probably won't agree." Su Wan's voice was full of worry.

Chen Boting held her hands with both hands and comforted her, "Wan'er, ask her to send a telegram to that boy surnamed He and invite him to come to your house to see you.

This is not only a test for him, but also an opportunity for Xiaoru to re-examine her feelings."

Su Wan had some concerns when she heard this, but she felt that what Chen Boting said made sense.

She nodded and decided to follow her husband's advice. "Okay, I'll go and persuade Xiaoru tomorrow."

When Chen Boting saw that she agreed, he was secretly happy. This time he finally won his wife Su Wan over.

"Wan'er, it's late, let's go to bed."

After a while, the lights in the room went out, leaving only the lanterns in the courtyard swaying in the cold wind.

It was past noon and the sunlight shone through the window, casting a shadow on Chen Xueru's busy figure.

She was carefully folding clothes and preparing her luggage to return to Sijiu City. The corners of her mouth rose unconsciously and her heart was filled with joy.

In the outer room, Feng Liping was moving back and forth, deftly organizing the gifts she brought with her.

There was a sound of footsteps outside the door. Feng Liping looked up at the door and saw Su Wan walking in.

She stopped what she was doing, walked up quickly, and said with a smile on her face: "Madam, you are here!"

Su Wan looked at Feng Liping, took her hand, and said softly, "A Ping, don't rush to pack up. I'll go talk to Xiao Ru first."

"Ah? Okay, ma'am." Feng Liping sensed something unusual in Su Wan's words, and her smile faded a little, with her brows slightly furrowed.

Seeing her expression change, Su Wan patted her hand gently and said, "A Ping, don't worry. I won't watch Xiao Ru suffer."

"Madam, you're too kind. I'll go make tea first." Feng Liping responded and stepped back. When she turned around, her eyes revealed her concern for Chen Xueru.

Su Wan nodded and waved, “Well, go ahead.”

She watched Feng Liping walk out of the room and walk lightly towards the bedroom where Chen Xueru was.

Arriving at the door, Su Wan knocked lightly a few times, pushed it open and walked in.

Chen Xueru was packing her luggage. When she heard a knock on the door, she thought it was Feng Liping coming in. She didn't even turn her head and said, "Auntie Feng, are you done packing?"

"Xiaoru, it's me!" Su Wan's gentle voice made Chen Xueru raise her head suddenly, with a hint of surprise in her eyes.

She quickly put down the clothes in her hands, walked quickly towards Su Wan, hugged her, and spoke affectionately.

"Mom, why are you here?"

Su Wan returned the hug, gently stroking her daughter's hair, her eyes full of doting: "Why? Can't I come to my daughter's room? Xiaoru, you haven't married yet."

"Mom, that's not what I meant." Chen Xueru saw her mother's teasing and said coquettishly with her arm around her.

The mother and daughter smiled at each other. Su Wan pulled Chen Xueru to sit down beside the bed, and her expression became serious: "Xiaoru, I have something to tell you."

Chen Xueru followed Su Wan and sat down next to her, thinking that it was a reluctance before leaving: "Mom, what do you want to say? This is not me who just went to Sijiu City. I will take good care of myself."

Su Wan held her hand and shook her head at her: "I know you can take care of yourself. I came here today to talk about other things."

"Ah? What's that?" Chen Xueru asked with confusion in her tone.

Su Wan looked at Chen Xueru tenderly and said softly, "Your father asked me to come and talk to you about Mr. Zhang's apprentice."

Chen Xueru frowned and her expression changed. She wondered if Chen Boting disagreed or still wanted her to marry Lai Pi Hou.

Su Wan saw her expression change and knew what she was thinking: "You are still so impatient. Listen to what mom has to say."

"Hmph, Mom, you have to help me. I won't agree to the Hou family's decision anyway." Chen Xueru heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that and said coquettishly.

Su Wan hugged her daughter who was acting like a spoiled child in her arms and stroked her hair gently: "Your father told you to stay in Suzhou first and wait for Xiao He to come home to test your relationship. This is not too much, right?"

"Ah, why didn't you say so earlier? School is about to start in Yu Shui, so we have to wait for several months." Chen Xueru straightened up suddenly, her tone a little angry and her eyes flickering with anxiety.

Su Wan chuckled and stretched out her hand to pinch her cheek: "Your father finally gave in this time. Don't you trust Xiao He? It's only a few months."

Chen Xueru thought about it and realized that it was true. She still cared about getting Chen Boting's approval. Her eyes glowed again and the corners of her mouth turned up.

"In the past few months, I have just handed over my shop to you and you can help manage it. I feel relieved now." Su Wan looked at her daughter who was smiling again, her eyes full of love.

Chen Xueru's eyes lit up and she nodded repeatedly.