The Dragon Boat Festival had arrived.
Madam Ding's grandmother sent someone to invite Emily back to the ancestral home to celebrate.
But Emily declined. She told the messenger, "It's too hot. I've been feeling lightheaded and sluggish. I wouldn't want to trouble Grandmother."
Left with no choice, the servant placed a basket of beautifully wrapped dumplings—tied with colorful threads—on the table before returning to the ancestral residence with the message.
The moment the person was out of sight, the young girl who had been lying lethargically on her daybed sprang to her feet and called out toward the study, "Miss Clara, let's go visit the estate's fields!"
Clara closed the book in her hand and stepped out. As Emily's bodyguard, of course she'd have to accompany her.
Nanny Qiao, still worried about Emily's supposed illness, was taken aback by the girl's sudden energy. Realizing she had been lied to, she could only shake her head helplessly. "If the Old Madam finds out, she'll surely be upset."
"What's she got to be upset about?" Emily scoffed while Bea helped her change into lighter clothes for the outing. "She dotes on my cousin, not me. They only invited me to keep up appearances. If I really went, they'd be the ones annoyed. I'd rather enjoy myself here."
Clara returned to her room and picked up her bow and arrows—already prepared to head out.
Just as the group was about to leave, Butler Hugh arrived. He saluted Emily, then motioned to Clara from outside the door—it seemed he was looking for her.
"Butler, something wrong?" Clara asked, puzzled.
Emily also looked over with curiosity.
Seeing their outing preparations, Butler Hugh hesitated briefly, then decided it was better to tell her now.
"Miss Clara, your husband and the children are here to see you. They're waiting under the tree just outside the gate. Would you like to meet them?"
"They came?" Clara blinked in disbelief, though a touch of surprise and joy flickered across her face.
It was a holiday, after all, and her thoughts had wandered to her family just earlier—wondering how they'd celebrate. She hadn't expected them to come all the way to town to find her.
But seeing Butler Hugh's nod of confirmation, her heart gave a little thump. Hopefully, they'd just come to see her—and not bring any mess for her to clean up.
Having delivered the message, Butler Hugh took his leave.
Clara turned to Emily, who had clearly overheard the conversation and was eyeing her with interest.
Before Clara could speak, Emily asked, "Your family came to see you?"
Clara nodded. "Miss, why don't you and Nanny Qiao go ahead with the guards? I'll catch up in a bit."
"No need. I'll come with you," Emily said breezily. After all, she had nothing better to do.
She'd heard from her brother that Clara was a second wife—meaning those visiting today were all stepchildren. She was rather curious to see what that kind of family dynamic looked like.
Clara, eager to head out, didn't argue. She led the way, stepping through the courtyard gate first.
Sure enough, under the roadside tree stood five figures—neatly arranged in a row.
"Deb!" Clara called out with a smile.
All five turned at once, their expressions lighting up with excitement.
"Mom!" Chad and Deb rushed forward. Clara caught one in each arm, holding them close with joy. She laughed as she asked, "What brings you here? Weren't you celebrating at home?"
Adam and Ben also stepped forward. Adam scratched his head, a bit sheepish. "Chad and Deb insisted on seeing you. Dad couldn't talk them down. And since today was market day in town, we caught a ride on the village chief's ox cart."
"Cost us five copper coins!" Ben added, frowning. "We could've walked, but Dad insisted we ride. Said he didn't want us getting tired."
Lester Liew snorted, "What do you mean, 'I insisted'? Oh, so you didn't want the cart? Why didn't you just walk, then?"
Ben was instantly silenced, unable to win the argument. He could only glare at his father in frustration.
Clara couldn't help but laugh. She set the twins down and glanced at the man leaning awkwardly against the tree. Dressed in a plain blue robe, trying his best to look respectable but clearly unsure of himself.
"I still have work to do. Can't take leave. Why don't you take the kids around town for a stroll?" she suggested, a hint of regret in her tone.
Lester looked a little put out. "Not even a festival gets you a break?"
Clara raised an amused brow. "What, you want me to go sightseeing with you?"
"You wish!" he rolled his eyes.
Still, he couldn't deny it—after getting used to her scolding three times a day, things felt strangely dull now. Work didn't even feel right.
The thought startled him. He gave a full-body shiver despite the summer heat. Had that fierce woman put some kind of spell on him?
Clara patted the four kids on their little heads and smiled mysteriously. "Wait here. I've got something for you."
Their eyes lit up immediately and they nodded eagerly.
Clara returned to the Ding estate, heading straight for her room. She brought out the Enlightenment Illustrations she'd traded a squirrel for, along with two blank notebooks she had made from scrap paper.
Lester's eyes widened. "Where'd you get that book?" It looked like a printed edition—not a hand-copied one.
Clara raised an eyebrow proudly. "Let's just say I have my ways. It's just a book. I can manage that much."
She handed the book to Adam. "It's a picture-based primer. Take good care of it and study it together, all four of you. If you don't understand something, ask your father."
Under their siblings' eager urging, Adam carefully opened the book. His movements turned gentle.
The illustrations and text were crisp. Each character was paired with a small image—an axe, wind, thunder, lightning. There were even fruits he'd never seen before, like persimmons, pears, and bananas.
"Auntie, isn't this book expensive?" Ben asked hesitantly.
Clara nodded. Lester flipped through it and was startled too. A book like this would go for more than one tael in the bookstore—and even then, you might not get this quality of paper and print.
Clara handed the two notebooks to Lester. "Take these. Let the kids use them for writing practice."
Then she pulled out three silver coins from her pocket and pressed them into his hand. "Buy ink, brushes, paper, and an inkstone. And you—start reading again. Practice your writing."
Lester's eyes gleamed at the sight of silver. Who would've thought coming to town would get him extra money? He happily pocketed it—though whether he actually listened to her advice remained to be seen.
The children, however, were paying close attention.
They were thrilled. And confused.
Why was their stepmother suddenly spending so much on them? Poor kids like them had never even imagined they'd get to study.
Being able to recognize a few words already felt like a miracle. Anything more had always seemed out of reach.
But today, seeing her like this—it was clear she genuinely wanted them to study properly.
Ben, ever money-conscious, started calculating with his fingers. He couldn't make the numbers add up. If all four of them studied, the expenses would be astronomical…
(End of Chapter)
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