Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 2313: Qiao Xuan Listened With Interest

After the issue was resolved, Lu Min and his companions went to the government office to pay their respects. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lu and the others headed to the backyard of the yamen to pay their respects to Qiao Xuan.

Traveling from Nanyue to Zhejiang and finally reaching Hangzhou City, Lu Min and his group were struck by the wealth and prosperity of Jiangnan.

Their visit coincided with the most beautiful part of early spring. The smoky willows were green, the blue water resembled silk, and the branches of peach, apricot, and magnolia trees were in full bloom. The breathtaking scenery captivated them, making it hard to look away.

Their journey put them in high spirits.

Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan, both in the backyard of the government office, were delighted to hear of their arrival.

Shao Yunduan went to the study to meet with Lu Min and his companions, while Qiao Xuan warmly welcomed Mrs. Lu and the others.

Meeting Qiao Xuan for the first time, Mrs. Lu and her group felt a bit nervous. They worried about making a poor impression and potentially affecting their husbands’ careers.

Lord Shao and Madam Shao were a loving couple, and Madam Shao had a say in many matters.

However, when they met her, they found Qiao Xuan to be different from what they had expected, which put them at ease.

Qiao Xuan, intrigued by the local customs of Nanyue, asked a few questions after the initial greetings. Mrs. Lu and the others, seeing her interest, eagerly shared their experiences and observations from Nanyue.

Qiao Xuan listened with great interest.

With this engaging topic, they grew closer and their initial discomfort vanished.

After a long conversation, Mrs. Lu and the others left with gifts from Qiao Xuan, feeling very happy and satisfied. They had developed a newfound respect for her.

After Shao Yunduan saw Lu Min off, he returned to the backyard.

Shao Yunduan preferred not to have an extended discussion with Lu Min alone, so he arranged another time for his manservant to speak with Qingyan instead.

Shao Yunduan learned a lot from Qingyan.

When he saw Qiao Xuan, he had to share the information with her.

Qiao Xuan suddenly realized what was going on and exclaimed, “Oh, so they are here too! I had a feeling I was forgetting something, but I just couldn’t recall it! Now it makes sense! You shouldn’t have forgotten about it; why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Qiao Xuan was referring to her estranged father, Officer Qiao.

Coincidentally, he had also gone to Fujian to serve as an official at that time.

Shao Yunduan took her in his arms and said with a smile, “I only recalled his name when I invited all the County Magistrates. I didn’t need to tell you right away; it might have dampened the mood of the gathering.”

Qiao Xuan pursed her lips slightly. It did affect her a little, like a grain of sand in a shoe—constantly irritating but not overwhelming.

Fortunately, she was Qiao Xuan and not her original self, who might have been more emotionally affected.

Her discomfort now stemmed primarily from a practical perspective.

Things had changed. Matters she had previously disregarded, such as reputation, now held importance.

She could not allow anyone to question her or Shao Yunduan’s character because of this connection.

What seemed insignificant could become significant under intense scrutiny. A minor issue could escalate, causing unexpected chain reactions. This was why even a small change could have widespread effects.