Li Gengtian chuckled happily as he watched his younger son. He felt that not studying and going into business wasn’t so bad. Look, in just a few months, his son had become so much more mature.

Mrs. Fang was also persuaded by what Li Changyu said. She said hesitantly, "I haven’t thought of anything else, but about those bamboo shoots... I feel like last time I stewed them until they were a little dry, and they tasted pretty good. If we don’t use oil, but instead braise them in a marinade and then sun-dry them, they could be sold as a snack."

Li Gengtian hurriedly said, "I remember, I remember. Those dried bamboo shoots you made that time were delicious. You used the broth from braising the pork offal, didn’t you?"

Mrs. Fang nodded. "I couldn’t bear to throw out that broth, so I used it to cook the bamboo shoots without adding anything else. Once all the liquid cooked off, I thought the shoots smelled exceptionally fragrant."

Li Changyu said to her with great impatience, "Mother, you should just try making them, then! You should experiment with these things often, and don’t use expensive ingredients—that would make the cost too high. As long as the flavor is novel and it can be stored for a long time, it will work. Once you’ve made a good batch, your son will help you sell it. I’ll help you save up some money to spoil your future grandchildren with."

Everyone burst into laughter when they heard that.

Seeing his eagerness, Mrs. Fang pursed her lips into a smile. "Alright, your mother will put her mind and hands to work."

Now even Li Gengtian was pleased. He was sure his wife could create something delicious.

Just then, a clear cry of "Grandpa!" came from the courtyard. Li Jinxiang immediately ran inside, cupping her hands to her mouth to blow warm air on them.

Li Mingrui’s old eyes crinkled with a wide smile as he called out, "Jinxiang, why didn’t you come sooner? Your Eldest Aunt made so many dishes. It would have been wonderful if you’d come earlier for dinner."

Li Gengtian, however, glanced toward the courtyard. Seeing no one else there, he chided her, "Did you come alone? Why didn’t you have Changyun come with you? It’s already dark out. You’re far too daring for a young girl."

Mrs. Fang also gave Jinxiang a disapproving look.

Li Jinxiang hurried over to her grandfather and tucked her hands into his to warm them, then said to her uncle, "Changyun walked me to the courtyard gate. He had to go find Zhang Yang about something."

Only then did Li Gengtian relax and fall silent.

Jinxiang, however, put on an exaggeratedly shocked expression and called out to the brothers, "Brother Changfeng, Changyu, you came back and didn’t even visit me? Hmph! Don’t tell me you didn’t bring me anything! And after I even made shoes for you."

Li Changyu’s face lit up in a wide grin when he saw her. "Cousin Jinxiang, when have I ever forgotten to bring you something? I just had some business today and was planning to visit Second Uncle’s place tomorrow. Where are the shoes? And what about that little pouch I asked you to make for me? Did you do it?"

Li Jinxiang immediately started bickering with him, pointing out that she hadn’t seen a shadow of what he’d brought for her, yet here he was, asking her for things.

Li Gengtian and his wife watched their niece and son bicker endlessly, just smiling from the side—it was a scene that played out every time their son returned home.

Li Changfeng went into another room and came out with two delicate boxes. He handed them to Jinxiang with a smile. "This one is a gift from our aunt. Inside this other one is a pair of silver earrings that I bought for you. I’m not earning my own money yet and still rely on my family for support, so I can’t afford anything too nice. But I won a prize of ten taels of Silver in a poetry competition at the county school, so I used it to buy some things for everyone. Changyu has been in business for a few months and earned a bit of money. I’m sure he has something good for you."

Jinxiang accepted the boxes gleefully, shooting a sidelong glance at Li Changyu. Her expression clearly said, ’You’ve got something good, so hurry up and bring it out.’

Seeing how his brother had thrown him under the bus, Li Changyu shot him a long-suffering look and sighed, then went into his room to get her gift.

He went into his room and found the bolt of light lilac fabric he had bought for Jinxiang. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was certainly eye-catching for a rural village. After a moment’s thought, he also took out the piece of embroidered brocade he had tucked away and brought both items out.

As expected, when Jinxiang saw the fabric, she grinned so widely she couldn’t close her mouth. ’If I made clothes out of this, everyone would be green with envy!’

Then she saw the piece of embroidered brocade and exclaimed, "This is gorgeous! But... it’s too... too valuable. What would I even do with it?"

Li Changyu said awkwardly, "You could use it to decorate a small screen as an ornament. Wouldn’t that be a perfect addition to your dowry?"

’I’m so stupid,’ he cursed himself inwardly. ’Even Jinxiang says it’s useless, and I actually wanted to give it to Juhua.’

Mrs. Fang and Li Gengtian agreed that using it for a screen was a good idea. The pattern was exquisite, and it would be a waste of such fine material to use it for anything else.

Jinxiang shot Changyu a quick glare and hastily gathered her gifts. The idea of using it for a screen was a good one; she really should start putting together her dowry. Her face flushed red at the thought.

She quickly turned to Mrs. Fang to change the subject. "Auntie, I need to discuss something with you. Juhua wants each of us to come up with a food item to sell. I’ve made a few things, but none of them keep for long. You’re such a wonderful cook, could you help me come up with an idea?"