A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 194 Once Master and Servant Met

When the group met, Ning Wanwan looked at Xiang He's cheek with heartache, "How...how did you get such a deep scar..."

Xiang He smiled faintly: "I hurt myself by accident."

"That's too deep!" Ning Wanwan turned to her mother. "Mother, don't we have some ointment? Can we give some to our daughter?"

"No need, I don't care much about my face, it's just sitting there anyway."

Ning Wanwan wanted to say something, but Madam Ning grabbed her hand, "Since Miss Xiang doesn't need it, we can't force it on her, can we?"

She smiled and said, "Miss Xiang, when will you have time for me to treat you to a meal? I haven't properly thanked you for what you did last time, and I still feel bad about it."

Xiang He waved his hand, "Madam has already given it to me, I really don't need it."

"That won't do. The master was a bit harsh last time, so he should apologize properly."

"No need."

Madam Ning always wanted to get close to Xiang He, and Xiang He could tell from this behavior that she probably wanted to become more familiar with her family so that they would pay more attention to each other's affairs in the future.

Xiang He just wanted to leave quickly, while Su Shi was hiding in the back, not wanting to see anyone.

But things always go wrong. Aunt Si was looking at some meat and vegetables when she called out, "Aci, come and look at this meat, it's so fresh!"

Madam Su hurriedly agreed and rushed over to stop him. Just as she left behind Xiang Dayong, Madam Ning glanced at her casually, her expression slightly surprised, "Hmm? This lady..."

As Xiang Dayong turned around, his back stiffened. Su's tightly clenched hands tightened and loosened. Just as Xiang He was about to separate the two of them, Su exhaled a light breath and walked out.

He straightened his back and pressed his hands down at his sides, saying, "It's been many years, Madam."

Such a proper bow only deepened Madam Ning's surprise. "I... I was wondering why you looked so familiar. You are... Su Ci?"

“It’s me,” Madam Su said calmly, pulling Xiang Dayong towards her. “This is my husband, Xiang Dayong.”

Surprise followed one after another. Madam Ning carefully examined her husband, "You...you are..."

"Back then, I was favored by Madam Ning, who allowed me to return to my hometown. After many twists and turns, I got married."

Madam Ning unconsciously frowned and looked closely at Dayong, "Xiang..." Her gaze then fell on Xiang He, "Miss Xiang is...your daughter?"

"Exactly."

Compared to Su Ci's composure, Madam Ning's eyes showed increasing surprise as she looked back and forth between Xiang Dayong and his wife and Xiang He's face.

Without a smile, she simply nodded. "You have such a wonderful daughter..." Her gaze flickered, and seeing Xiang He with her index finger to her lips, she suddenly changed the subject, "I never imagined that after so many years, your daughter would be so grown up..."

Aunt Si and the others were behind them, unaware of Xiang He's subtle actions.

She didn't want to expose things here; this Madam Ning was a perceptive woman.

“Yes, Miss Ning is all grown up now.” Madam Su turned to Dayong. “Go and take a look with Fourth Sister and the others.”

Xiang Dayong tightened his grip on her wrist, saw the calm in her eyes, and smiled, "Okay."

The fourth aunt's family behind her knew Su Ci's former identity, but the younger generation did not. Xiang Huiying pulled her grandmother aside and asked her in detail, only to find out that Su Ci was originally a maid in a wealthy family, which explained why she could write and recite poetry.

Madam Ning seemed to have a lot to say to Su Ci, and pulled her aside. "You have no idea, since you left, the people around me have become useless. I regretted letting you go; but I also felt that you should get married and shouldn't have kept you by my side."

“Then I am truly grateful that you let me go, Madam. Now I have both a son and a daughter, and I am deeply grateful for your kindness.”

Madam Ning seemed very happy, and seeing an old friend made her feel a little more at ease. "It's not all because of my goodness. You've raised such a good daughter; you're much more capable than me."

“I didn’t teach her any of it; she learned it all on her own.”

“That’s all thanks to you, they all came from your belly,” Madam Ning laughed a few times. “By the way, how old is your daughter? She looks about the same age as my Wanwan.”

Upon hearing this, Su Ci's expression remained unchanged. "She was only fifteen. After leaving the Ning family, she married my Dayong in just two months. She has had a hard life raising children."

With her smile undiminished, Madam Ning thought to herself, "Even if those were tough times, they're over now, aren't they? Your girl is quite capable; she just saved my Chong'er not long ago."

"She did mention this before, but I never imagined it was from the Madam's family."

"Can't others know about your daughter's affairs? She seemed quite cautious just now..."

Su Ci nodded, "Yes, no one in the village knows. Thank you for helping to keep it a secret, Madam."

"It's nothing."

The two were having a private conversation. Su Ci spoke without missing a beat, and Madam Ning tried to probe him repeatedly, but couldn't get any other meaning out of him.

She would occasionally glance at the Xiang family members; Xiang Dayong's appearance seemed quite different from Xiang He's.

Upon seeing Su Ci, the first thing that came to her mind was the events of that year. One of her personal maids had died, and the other was Su Ci. Not long after, Su Ci said she wanted to leave the Su family. Madam Ning was also very annoyed at the time and released her without much thought.

When I see old friends again, I always feel uneasy.

The two talked for a while. Xiang He was a little worried, so she pulled Xiang Yun aside and whispered, "Call your mother over to pick out some hair ornaments for you. We still have a lot of places to go. Yun girl, you want to go soon, don't you?"

Although Xiang Yun was young, she understood her older sister's meaning: she didn't want her mother to talk to that lady for too long.

She nodded hurriedly and ran to Madam Su's side, gently tugging at her sleeve, "Mother, go help me choose a hair accessory, I'm overwhelmed by all the choices!"

Seeing Su Ci's daughter calling for help, Madam Ning could no longer keep her. She bent down to look at her face, reached out and patted Xiang Yun's head, "This girl is also very clever and quick-witted. You are really blessed."

Madam Ning smiled and straightened up, pulling Ning Wanwan aside. "Alright, I won't disturb your family's fun any longer. I'll come find you another time to talk." As she was about to turn around, she suddenly remembered something. "Where are you staying now?"

Su Ci paused for a moment, "I will be returning to the village in a couple of days. It is truly a pity that I cannot reunite with my wife."

Suddenly anxious, Madam Ning asked urgently, "What about your eldest maid? Is Miss Xiang also leaving the capital?"

Pressed so hard, Su Ci could only answer truthfully, "She...she should still stay in the capital."

"That's wonderful! Where does Miss Xiang live now? I didn't have a chance to ask her last time before she left. I was thinking of giving her some nice gifts!"

"He'er said she doesn't need it, so Madam, please don't send it..."

"Aniang~"

With Xiang Yun urging her on, Su Ci reluctantly bid farewell to Madam Ning, saying, "Take care, Madam."

Watching the two of them walk away, Madam Ning simply smiled and waved her hand. When she turned around with Ning Wanwan in her arms, that smile vanished without a trace.

Seeing her mother in such a state, Ning Wanwan couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Mother...?"

"Let's talk about it when we get back."