A dispatcher, however, was a highly respected position.

After all, taking a vehicle out meant making money. And the dispatcher was the one who decided who got to take a vehicle out to earn money each day and who didn’t.

Wouldn’t all the drivers in the transport team have to kiss up to them?

So, the dispatcher role was perfect. It came with some status, but not so much power that it could disrupt normal operations.

A position like this was perfect for Third Uncle’s two sons-in-law.

They could flex a little authority, but they couldn’t cause too much trouble.

Third Uncle wasn’t like Second Uncle, after all. Second Uncle was a skilled cook.

Lu Yuan could help him out in that specific area.

Third Uncle’s family didn’t have any particular skills, so this was the only way.

When Third Uncle’s family heard Lu Yuan’s words, they were overjoyed and quickly bowed in thanks.

Initially, they hadn’t expected to get such a good post. They had really just come hoping to get a tricycle cart.

They had heard all the stories in the village about so-and-so’s family earning a ton of money each day pedaling a cart, and their hearts itched with envy.

But they never expected to land such a great job.

Of course, happy as he was, Third Uncle was still a bit... well, you know.

Everyone in Su Liyan’s family was the type to avoid troubling others if at all possible.

This time, it was probably his two daughters and two sons-in-law who had talked him into it from all sides, making him finally swallow his pride and come.

Otherwise, Third Uncle would never have come.

Lu Yuan naturally saw this and looked at Third Uncle, saying,

"Third Uncle, we’re family. Don’t overthink it.

This matter is mainly our fault.

I originally said I’d arrange something for you, but then one thing after another came up, as you know.

Things just got delayed."

Third Uncle, his face full of emotion, wanted to say something, but Lu Yuan just grinned and continued,

"So that’s settled. Don’t be in a rush to head back to the village. Stay in the city and have some fun for a few days.

Tonight, let’s call over Second Uncle, Chang Yu, and Changliang.

We’ll have Chang Yu cook us a meal and see if his skills have improved."

After Lu Yuan finished speaking, Third Uncle nodded repeatedly.

「By evening.」

The central courtyard was bustling with excitement.

Everyone had come except for Lu Yuan’s father-in-law and mother-in-law. It was just like the New Year celebration.

The children from Second Uncle’s and Third Uncle’s families ran all over the courtyard.

The adults sat in the main hall, chatting.

Su Changyu was busy in the kitchen, with Su Changliang helping him out.

By the time all the dishes were served and the two brothers returned to eat, Lu Yuan and the others had already had two or three rounds of drinks.

Lu Yuan didn’t say much about Chang Yu’s cooking, but Second Uncle, sitting to the side, began his critique.

It was either this dish wasn’t right, or that one was off.

The rest of them, being amateurs, couldn’t really tell the difference, but they all felt it tasted much better than the food during the New Year.

It just goes to show, no matter what you do, you have to practice.

Before, Chang Yu had just been learning from Second Uncle. Later, when he went to the restaurant in town, he was just an assistant cook and didn’t have many chances to practice.

But now, at the factory, he was the head chef. He was in charge of the wok every day, so his skills were naturally skyrocketing.

"Brother-in-law, a toast to you.

And congratulations, Brother-in-law, on becoming the County Magistrate of Taiping City."

As everyone was talking, Su Changliang, who had just sat down, raised his wine cup and smiled at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan looked at Su Changliang with an amused expression.

"Well now, where did you learn all these pleasantries?"

Su Changliang never used to know how to make a toast.

Let alone offer such smooth, flattering words.

Su Changliang grinned and said,

"I learned from the captain."

Sitting next to Lu Yuan, Su Liyan couldn’t help but roll her eyes and mutter,

"You never learn the good things."

But hearing his wife’s comment, Lu Yuan took her little hand and chuckled.

"It’s not a bad thing. There’s no harm in learning a bit of this."

Lu Yuan had plans for Su Changliang.

’Once I become the County Magistrate... there will be so much to do. Can I really spend all day at the Government Office, managing this and that? Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll have to deal with cross-breeding, and I have to study *Medical Heart*. I’m a busy man. Where would I find the time to worry about all that? So I need to find someone to help me manage things. And who else could that person be but Su Changliang?’

Su Changliang had been a constable for nearly half a year. He was more familiar with the workings of the Government Office than Lu Yuan was.

’If he studies hard, I can just let Su Changliang handle the day-to-day affairs.’

That way, Lu Yuan could live just like before.

Eat what he wants, drink what he wants, and not even have to go to the Government Office.

Since that was the plan, there were some things Su Changliang had to learn.

It was better than him being like a block of wood, right?

Once he learned these things, he wouldn’t seem timid when dealing with others.

Hearing Lu Yuan say this, Su Changliang perked up and looked at his sister smugly.

"See? My brother-in-law wants me to learn."

Su Liyan shot Su Changliang a look, not bothering to reply.

However, since her man had said so, Su Liyan naturally wouldn’t say any more.

After all, listening to her man was never the wrong choice.

The meal lasted until after ten at night.

Originally, Lu Yuan had wanted the whole family to stay the night at the Zhao Family’s residence.

But Second Uncle insisted that his younger brother had to go see his new home and his shop.

Lu Yuan and Su Liyan walked the large family to the main gate and watched them board the horse-drawn carriage.

Only then did Lu Yuan take Su Liyan’s small hand and head back.

When they returned to the East Wing of the central courtyard, the curtains in the north room were already drawn.

Before Lu Yuan could figure out what was going on, Su Liyan let go of his hand and scurried inside.

Lu Yuan came back to his senses, and just as he was about to say something, Su Liyan poked her head back out, her face flushed, and said to him,

"Honey~ Aunt Song can’t take it as rough as Aunt Zhao, so be gentle, okay~"

Before Lu Yuan could say anything in response,

a coy cry came from the north room from Zhao Qiao’Er,

"Liyan~

What are you saying~"

But Su Liyan just giggled and turned to look behind her.

"Aunt Zhao said it herself~

That she’s a big she-donkey, and no matter how rough you are..."

Before she could finish, a blushing Zhao Qiao’Er covered Su Liyan’s mouth and pulled her back onto the bed.

Then, the lights in the north room went out.

Lu Yuan blinked and glanced toward the south room.

Finally, he turned off the light in the main hall and walked in with a wicked grin.

...

「Midnight.」

In the north room, Su Liyan and Zhao Qiao’Er lay in the same bed, wide awake.

Their eyes were open, and their ears were pricked, listening for any sounds.

They couldn’t sleep at all.

"How come Aunt Song’s moans are so pleasant to listen to? It’s like she’s singing."

Su Liyan gazed in the direction of the south room and couldn’t help but sigh.

Zhao Qiao’Er had also been listening for a while. She pursed her lips and couldn’t help but complain coquettishly,

"Look how pleased that old widow is. She sure can whimper."

"That little rascal. How come he always goes at us so hard?"

Beside her, Su Liyan narrowed her eyes and couldn’t help but snicker.

"Isn’t it because Aunt Zhao is so tall and sturdy?"

Zhao Qiao’Er couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

"Just because I’m tall and sturdy means he has to wear me out completely?~"

But Su Liyan just said with a grin,

"But didn’t Aunt Zhao say it herself? ’If you’re too gentle, Auntie can’t get into it~’"

Hearing Su Liyan’s teasing, especially her imitation of the nonsense she herself spouted while moaning in pleasure at night, made Zhao Qiao’Er unbearably bashful.

Instantly, Zhao Qiao’Er pulled Su Liyan into her arms, tickling her and scolding with a laugh,

"Alright, Liyan, making fun of your auntie, are we?~"

......

「Winter passed and spring arrived.」

Time flew by in the blink of an eye.

In a flash, more than a month had passed.

It was now the end of March, almost April.

Although spring had arrived, the chill had not yet receded, and one still needed to wear an extra layer of clothing.

「This morning.」

Zhao Qiao’Er sat in the main hall of the East Wing, leaning against a table with a teacup in hand, her legs crossed.

Her alluring, jade-like feet, hooked into a pair of slippers, swung back and forth leisurely.

Just then, a RUSTLING sound came from the south room. A moment later, Song Meiqin walked out, her face rosy.

Zhao Qiao’Er glanced up at Song Meiqin and couldn’t resist teasing her.

"An old widow crying out in pleasure like an oriole... that’s a first for me."

Song Meiqin had never been one to back down from Zhao Qiao’Er’s verbal spars.

She immediately raised an eyebrow and retorted with a playful smile,

"The other night, someone was braying like a big she-donkey. That was a first for me, too~"

As the two were engaged in their daily banter, the old steward hurried over and stood at the entrance of the East Wing.

"Madams, the master’s letter of appointment has arrived."

Hearing the old steward’s words, the women in the room froze for a moment, then their faces lit up with joy.

’My little man is now County Magistrate Lu~’