Brother Cheng’s face darkened upon hearing this: "It’s definitely not an issue for Brother to be among the top three in the Imperial Examination, but earning merits that would make the Emperor decree a marriage—that’s really tough."

Probably an entire lifetime wouldn’t suffice for such a great achievement, and then Brother would remain a bachelor for life?

Gu Jinli: "So, this isn’t something we can help with, and based on Brother’s personality, he wouldn’t want us to interfere."

Brother originally just wanted to secretly admire Third Miss’s affections, but we guessed his intentions, and he’s already quite frustrated; if we dared to do something, Brother would definitely explode in anger.

"However, as Brother’s siblings, we can’t just do nothing; we should indeed help Brother out."

Brother Cheng listened with delight and asked, "How can we help? Second Sister, please tell."

Gu Jinli looked at the cake in her hand and said, "Naturally, start small, first establish a good rapport with Third Sister, and once we have built a good relationship with her, Brother and Third Sister will naturally have more opportunities to interact."

She stood up and said, "Come on, let’s go to the kitchen to make cakes. Tomorrow, you bring them to Third Sister and say we tried the cake she made, found it excellent, and made a few for her to taste."

"This is what Second Sister means by starting small? I get it; I’ll go help Second Sister." Brother Cheng rolled up his sleeves and followed Gu Jinli into the kitchen. They worked for two hours, and when the sky was completely dark, they carried several trays of cakes back to the courtyard.

Lights were already lit in the courtyard, and Gu Jinxiu was waiting for them. Seeing their return, she said, "Are these cakes for Third Miss?"

Brother Cheng was surprised: "Big Sister, you knew?"

Gu Jinli’s mouth twitched; whatever, Brother, just don’t hide your crush anymore; your sister, brother, and younger brother all know it.

Gu Jinxiu nodded: "With such a big fuss, it’s hard for me not to notice."

Also, being twins with Good Brother An, she knows his temperament very well; any slight change, she notices, and while she’s happy, she’s also saddened that Good Brother An finally likes a girl, but there’s an eighty percent chance he won’t marry her.

"I heard Third Sister practices martial arts; girls handling swords can hurt their hands. I made a pair of hand guards for her. You accompany the cakes and send them altogether." Gu Jinxiu handed the hand guards to Brother Cheng: "It’s better to have two pairs for replacement, so once I finish the other pair later, you send them to Third Sister again."

Big Sister, you have a backup plan; that’s great, give more embroidery gifts and maintain the relationship.

Brother Cheng laughed, took the hand guards in the silk bag, and said, "Don’t worry, Big Sister, I’ll definitely deliver the hand guards."

Gu Jinli took out some pretty boxes, packed the cakes she made, one portion for Third Miss and one for Master Ouyang.

As for Miss Wu, who is she? No idea, no gift. Now that ingredients are expensive and her family is poor, they need to save.

"Alright, when you go to school tomorrow, bring these to the Ouyang Family for Third Sister." After putting everything together, Gu Jinli added four bottles of mixed new wine and handed them to Brother Cheng.

She instructed further: "I know you care about Brother and want to help him, but remember, Third Sister has her own thoughts; we cannot out of concern for Brother do anything too overt, causing trouble for her. Do some small things, and let the rest depend on Brother and Third Sister’s fate."

Simply put, they can care for Brother, help Brother, but cannot force Third Sister or overdo it, causing trouble for her.

Brother Cheng nodded heavily: "Understand, I won’t overstep."

Brother has said that the world doesn’t always give us what we want; liking someone is personal, and we can’t force others to like us back.

After Brother Cheng spoke, he carried the big bags himself and left.

Now it’s dark, and Da Tuan and Xiao Tuan can’t enter the inner house, so only he can carry the items; however, he doesn’t feel tired, is quite happy, and hopes these will help Brother.

...

The next morning, Brother Cheng got up early and went enthusiastically to class. Upon reaching the Ouyang Family, he presented the gifts to Master Ouyang: "Teacher, the cake Third Sister made yesterday was very delicious, my family really liked it, and Second Sister thought we shouldn’t eat Third Sister’s things for free, so she made cakes for me to bring here for her, and you also have a portion."

Master Ouyang was delighted to hear he had a portion, happily accepted it, and asked the maid to send the other portion to Ouyang Ming.

Ouyang Ming was somewhat surprised upon receiving the Gu Family sisters’ gifts: "The Gu Family sisters are really too courteous; they even return the favor."

Don’t praise them; the sisters have ulterior motives!

Ouyang Ming picked up the silk bag with the hand guards, opened it, and was surprised again: "Only know Miss Gu is marvelous at embroidery; never expected such thoughtfulness?"

The hand guards were embroidered with a triumphant battle scene; one army defeated, the other waving flags victoriously, plus eagles soaring and the drumbeats, immersing one in the battlefield, making a person feel fervent all over.

"Miss Gu has never seen a battlefield yet can embroider such a masterpiece; this embroidery is surely at the embroidery master’s level." Ouyang Ming likes things related to battles, and this embroidery is right up her alley.

Plus, Gu Er’s new wine, one sip makes her feel like the triumphant General herself.

Ouyang Ming originally didn’t intend to return gifts to the Gu Family, avoiding endless exchanges, but due to the embroidery and wine, she reciprocated.

With such back-and-forth, within five days, they exchanged gifts twice.

On the fifth day, when Gu Jin’an came home after returning the contract, he saw the invitation Ouyang Ming sent to Gu Jinli and Gu Jinxiu.

He was shocked, asking himself what did Xiao Yu and the others do for Third Sister to personally invite them as guests?

Noble families have their norms, usually not associating with farm girls; hence, even with good relations between his family and Master Ouyang, Third Sister has been around for quite a while without being invited by the Ouyang Family as guests.

Gu Jin’an worried that during his absence, Gu Jinli might have done something inappropriate, calling them together for "interrogation."

Gu Jinli recounted the act of sending gifts to Third Sister and how Third Sister reciprocated: "Brother, we really didn’t do anything else; your intentions are known only to us, and all of it is just fate."

Fate my foot, relying on gifts to secure friendship with Third Sister, becoming friends, such contrived fate, how can you still say it with a straight face?

Nonetheless, Gu Jin’an was pleased, touched, and after a moment of silence, he simply said, "Thank you."

Gu Jinli listened with a grin, pretending, while internally thrilled.

True, Gu Jin’an was indeed internally ecstatic, even though busy running around and sleep-deprived, almost collapsing; at this moment, his spirits soared. After eating, he joyfully took two white cabbages as gifts for his fiancés, happily leaving for the county.

Just arriving at the new bank, startling news spread.

Problems arose due to tax issues in Zhili, Central State, Jianghuai, and even Jiangnan.