"From now on, your birthdays will be celebrated on the day you first came to this home, the nineteenth of August each year."
These simple words struck Shen Tan and the others like heavy blows, bringing tears to their eyes. They had never imagined they would not only live stable lives with food and shelter, but also have their own birthdays. Even more, they hadn't expected their mistress, as their superior, to remember the day they arrived. In that moment, the seven of them became even more determined to pledge their loyalty to Li Yue Shu.
Li Yue Shu, unaware of the children's thoughts, turned and smiled faintly. "And A Lian and Ling Er, I'll make cakes for your birthdays too!" This was the first birthday celebration for anyone since they had all been together for a few months. Everyone was happy, and Old Man Liu even got a little too drunk.
...
At night, Li Yue Shu helped the children with their baths, while Shen Wei returned to his room beforehand. He towel-dried his damp hair, the foolishness from earlier completely gone from his expression. Suddenly, he noticed something placed beside his usual pillow. Shen Wei walked over and found a jade hair crown. The style looked familiar. With his excellent memory, he quickly recalled that a long time ago, Li Yue Shu had shown him a drawing of an identical one and asked if he liked it. So, she had designed it herself and prepared it in advance? Shen Wei's eyes flickered. He had received countless birthday gifts, each more valuable than this hair crown, yet seeing this present, he inexplicably felt as if something in his heart had been filled.
When Li Yue Shu entered, she saw him staring blankly at the hair crown. She smiled softly and, pulling Shen Zhi Yu along, said, "This is your birthday gift from me. Do you like it?" Shen Wei paused slightly. With his profound internal energy, he hadn't sensed her entrance for a moment. But after that brief instant, he resumed his傻气, innocent expression. "This is from A Shu?" Li Yue Shu smiled and nodded. "Do you like it?" Shen Wei, for the first time, allowed himself to show a look of joy on his face. Seeing her handmade gift bring such happiness, Li Yue Shu couldn't help but laugh. She suddenly felt a sense of anticipation, wishing that life could continue like this forever.
...
The next morning, Li Yue Shu helped Shen Wei put on the hair crown. The design was simple and elegant. Although the material was ordinary, when Shen Wei wore it and remained silent, he exuded an air of a gentle scholar. While Mother Mo prepared breakfast, Li Yue Shu took some fodder to feed the horses. As she approached the stable, she saw a huddled figure leaning against the carriage wheel. Li Yue Shu looked for a long time before recognizing Shen Can, who was supposed to have left yesterday. Startled, she went forward to wake her. Shen Can groggily opened her eyes, and upon seeing Li Yue Shu, she instantly became alert. "Sister-in-law, you're up... are you going to the restaurant? I'll go with you!" She scrambled to her feet, ignoring her dishevelled state, and looked cautiously at Li Yue Shu.
Li Yue Shu frowned slightly. "Did you sleep here last night?" Shen Can nodded, a little nervously. "You saved me, so from now on, I'm your servant. I'll follow you wherever you go." She knew she had angered Li Yue Shu by bringing people from the Li mansion last night, but when Mother Shen learned she had offended the Li mansion, she refused to let her in. Shen Can had nowhere else to go.
Clever Li Yue Shu instantly guessed the situation from Shen Can's embarrassed expression. However, she was not one to be overcome by sentimentality. She glanced at Shen Can's shriveled bundle in her hand and then coldly withdrew her gaze. "I disciplined those people yesterday because they spoke ill of others, not to save you," she paused and added, "If it weren't for you, those people wouldn't have found our home." Shen Can's body stiffened. She had spent the entire night worrying that Li Yue Shu would blame her for this. Shen Can took a deep breath. "I know it was my fault, but I truly had no other choice. I risked everything to seize this opportunity."
Li Yue Shu dropped the fodder, her expression indifferent. "When you brought those people to my home, did you consider that they might harm me or the children?" Shen Can was speechless. What she had gambled on yesterday indeed included the safety of Li Yue Shu and the children. But she truly had no other options. Shen Can lowered her head. "I'm sorry..." Li Yue Shu said nothing and turned to leave.
However, she didn't expect that after breakfast, as she was preparing to drive the carriage to inspect the new restaurant, she would see Shen Can still standing there. Shen Zhi Yu immediately hugged Li Yue Shu, looking at Shen Can fearfully. "Mother, she... she's here again." Clearly, Shen Can bringing people from the Li mansion to their home yesterday had frightened the little one. Shen Can had prepared a lengthy apology, but upon hearing Shen Zhi Yu's words, she couldn't utter a single syllable.
Li Yue Shu bent down and picked up the little one. "A Yu, don't be afraid. Mother will carry you onto the carriage. A Min, A Wen, help lead your father a bit." When she had bought the carriage, she had calculated that it would be just right for the four children to sit inside and for her and Shen Wei to sit outside. From beginning to end, Li Yue Shu paid Shen Can no attention.
"Giddy up!" With a flick of the whip, the carriage gradually moved away. Seeing this, Shen Can gritted her teeth and followed directly behind. Li Yue Shu was aware of the tail following them, but she ignored it and continued to crack the whip. The journey to the neighboring town, even by carriage, took nearly two hours. Shen Can, with nothing but her own legs, managed to keep up. By the time they reached the restaurant, Shen Can's legs were trembling, and she collapsed by the entrance. Li Yue Shu glanced at her but quickly averted her gaze.
Shen Can, looking up, happened to catch her glance and paused her leg-massaging motion. She wasn't foolish. Having walked this distance, she had clearly sensed that Li Yue Shu had deliberately slowed down the carriage. While her words were cruel and heartless, her actions were consistently soft-hearted. This realization gave Shen Can a glimmer of hope. After resting for a short while and regaining her strength, she walked directly into the restaurant.