Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

The chapter centers around the Young Master's departure from the Wang residence to spend time with his parents in the palace during the New Year. Although he is reluctant to leave, he promises to bring pastries for his friends, Gou Ya Er and Xiao Zhu, who express mixed feelings about them. Gou Ya Er's character develops as he learns to consider others' feelings, receiving praise from his father, Wang Ning An, who promises a reward in the form of a feast. Su Ba Niang, the Young Master’s second mother, returns from Youzhou, where she played a crucial role in restoring the local economy, particularly in the woolen textile industry. As the family enjoys a reunion dinner prepared by Su Ba Niang, tensions rise when she learns that their family is being labeled as poor. Wang Ning An and Su Ba Niang discuss the Qian family's ambitions in the cotton industry, with Su Ba Niang eager to take action against them. The couple shares moments of affection, and Wang Ning An expresses the importance of having children. The chapter also touches on the political landscape, with discussions in the morning court about cotton cultivation and the Qian family's proposal to supply cotton fabric to the palace. Ou Yang Xiu challenges the intentions behind the proposal, suggesting it may be a guise for land seizure.

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