Ever since Song made those irreverent comments, Wu Han Shi had been sitting coldly on the side, indifferent to her daughter’s pain and to Song’s anxiety. She remained unmoved, even when her daughter, who had just managed to recover slightly with the doctor’s treatment, began to worsen again. Wu Han’s gaze remained cold. “Now you cry, but for whom? Why didn’t you think about the consequences properly when you were about to do something so foolish? I’ve always thought you were smart, sensible, and steady, but when you act impulsively, you go directly for life and death. I didn’t realize you were that capable.”

“Mother…” Wu Yaru’s voice was mournful.

“Go ahead, keep crying, and keep shouting. With the child gone, let’s see how you manage to bounce back.”

Wu Yaru had been overwhelmed before, but with Wu Han’s reminder, she suddenly realized the crux of the issue. Yes, the child was her only chance to recover. If she lost the child, she might be finished for good. As long as the child remained, she could plan slowly for the future. She worked hard to control her emotions, trying to calm down. In this, Wu Yaru was quite skilled. After all, if she hadn’t mastered controlling her emotions, she would have already made a misstep with Han long ago.

Wu Han Shi’s gaze softened slightly. She hadn’t liked this daughter when she was born, but once she realized her daughter’s potential value, she knew the good days she had long awaited were finally coming —and she held on to that firmly.

For over a decade, everything had gone smoothly. Were it not for any unexpected incidents, things might have continued to go well, even better in fact, because Wenren Tai’s prospects as Wu Yaru’s brother-in-law had been extremely promising. But now, there was a setback— something Wu Han thought would never happen had occurred.

A child who had been lost since birth— with no information for over a decade— had suddenly returned. What exactly was going on? Was it some unspoken conspiracy, or could it really be the hand of fate?

In Wu Han’s view, it wasn’t too serious. After all those years of careful management, emotions were involved. Wenren Han wouldn’t suddenly cut ties without reason. The only issue was that both her daughter and she herself had become too greedy. There was also the worry— what if Wenren Han really didn’t behave according to common sense? And on top of that, Wenren Ying’s personality was too easy to take advantage of. Doing nothing would almost feel like a loss.

But they had overplayed their hand!

A servant informed Han Shi of the situation at an appropriate time.

Wenren Han Shi responded with a simple, “I know,” sounding as though she wasn’t concerned about it at all.

“Madam, are you just going to let it slide? Wu Yaru insisted on coming today regardless of the child’s condition. Who would believe she had no hidden agenda? Luckily, Fourth Miss was sharp and immediately saw through her situation. Who knows what might have happened otherwise?” said an indignant maidservant by Wenren Han Shi’s side.

“Let it go if she stays in line. We’ll treat it as honoring the emotional ties of the past decade.”

“Madam, your kindness really knows no bounds.”

“Kindness?” Wenren Han Shi smiled slightly. “The problem is that Wu Yaru can’t stay in line. She’s greedy by nature— do you really think she can suppress that for long? The moment she reaches for more, I’ll be there to cut off her hand.” A flash of cruelty shone in her eyes.

The maid said no more, recognizing her lady’s character. She had grown up with the lady, eventually becoming part of her dowry, and had served her for decades. How could she not know the kind of woman her mistress was? Han Shi was kind, yes, but only as long as she wasn’t crossed.

Wenren Ying also took some time to probe into the matter. With just a few words, she got a fairly clear understanding of the situation.

A genuine smile spread across Wenren Ying’s face as she gazed at Xiao Cao from afar. She thought to herself, this Fourth Sister really is a lucky star. No matter what happens, everything seems to turn out in her favor. I definitely need to build a good relationship with her.

Learning some medical skills was certainly useful, as long as it didn’t involve crossing into the territory of “female doctor.” No one seemed to have a problem with it; instead, people found it quite valuable. After all, not every woman had a servant who was thoroughly knowledgeable about medicinal herbs. Even if they had medical knowledge, it was a whole other matter to know how to treat illnesses. Who wouldn’t want to maintain a healthy body? Moreover, for young girls, there were some issues that were difficult to express. But if discussed under the guise of “sharing little secrets with peers,” the results were entirely different.

At that moment, Xiao Cao’s gentle and warm demeanor made her surprisingly approachable. Or rather, she became exceedingly patient whenever she encountered someone willing to acknowledge their issues.

Through this process, Xiao Cao became well-acquainted with many people. Initially, there had been concerns about her integrating into this social circle, but it turned out those worries were unnecessary. The only difference was the approach to engaging, but what did that matter? The end result was what mattered, and the outcome was positive— that was enough.

After the feast, Xiao Cao stayed to help see the guests off. Many people were noticeably warmer now compared to before, no longer only making superficial pleasantries.

The ones who stayed until the end were naturally the families most closely connected, like the Han family.

Wenren Ying had always been very charming among the elders, and now she was walking arm-in-arm with Old Madam Han on her left, while Xiao Cao held onto her right arm. Old Madam Han beamed with joy as she repeatedly urged Xiao Cao to visit them at the Han household, clearly fond of this granddaughter.

Xiao Cao smiled and nodded, “I’ll make myself at home with you at the Han residence— you’d better not get tired of me, grandmother.”

Old Madam Han burst into even greater laughter, “Tired of you? How could that be? I’d be overjoyed! Why don’t you come back with me now, and I’ll make sure you’re well cared for, fat and happy.”

“Mother, she just came back. You’re already trying to snatch her away— I won’t allow it,” Han Shi teased, feigning anger.

“Ah, I knew this would happen! Get out of my way, you’re just being a nuisance,” Old Madam Han mockingly scolded, while continuing to chat with Xiao Cao for a good while longer. Only then did she reluctantly allow her to leave, turning back to give Wenren Ying a fond kiss on the cheek before departing, saying goodbye with some regret.

After seeing the Han family off, there were no more guests. Xiao Cao felt utterly exhausted, but Han Shi and the others seemed fine, making Xiao Cao think of her memories from her previous life. She recalled women clomping around in high heels for hours while shopping. Perhaps her mother belonged to the same breed as those relentless shoppers.

Han Shi smiled at Xiao Cao and said, “If you’re tired, go rest early. Didn’t you notice your brothers and younger siblings disappeared long ago? And yet here you are, still sticking around like a good girl. — By the way, I’ll have today’s gifts sorted later. We’ll pick the best ones and add them to your personal collection.”

“Mother, that’s not necessary…”

Han Shi cut her off with a wave of her hand. “Your brothers and sisters have always had treated it this way. Whatever is given to you, you should keep it.”

Reasoning with someone so wealthy seemed futile, so Xiao Cao grudgingly shut her mouth.

“Need any help with that?”

“No need. I have plenty of people at my disposal. They’re all used to this work and very efficient, so you go and get some rest.”

“Well, I’ll just check in on Grandmother and Second Aunt first, then I’ll rest. Everything was pretty hectic today. I’ll feel more at ease after visiting them.”