156 – Home

Qin Mian and Lei Tie first asked Manager Sun to take care of Yuanyuan and Manman before they went to Eating Savory Restaurant and the drinks shop to show their faces and ask about the recent developments.

Afterward, they went back to Double Xiang House. Once they had lunch in Double Xiang House, they asked a waiter to drive their family back to Green Mountain Village.

Yuanyuan and Manman saw familiar scenery outside from the window and said with understanding, “We’re back.”

Qin Mian chuckled and asked, “Sons, are you happy playing outside for so long these days?”

“Happy!” Yuanyuan raised his little face as he asked, “Dad, can we still go out to play in the future?”

“Of course.” Qin Mian nodded with affirmative, “As long as Yuanyuan and Manman are obediently listening to Dad and Old Dad’s words, whenever there is a chance, we will take you out to play.”

“Alright!” Manman incessantly nodded.

“Golden Fur!” Yuanyuan pointed to the outside.

Not far from the village road, a huge golden figure was running up their way.

Yuanyuan and Manman happily yelled, “Golden Fur, Golden Fur!”

It was not far from the village. Qin Mian asked the staff to stop the carriage. They got out of the carriage and planned to walk back. The staff then drove the empty carriage back to town.

White Spot ran the fastest and touched noses with Golden Fur as a greeting.

Yuanyuan and Manman ran to Golden Fur with their short legs and giggled as they wound their arms around Golden Fur’s legs.

Golden Fur carefully rubbed its head against the children’s small chests.

Yuanyuan stretched out his two small arms toward Lei Tie, “Old Dad, I want to ride on Golden Fur’s back.”

Lei Tie lifted the two brothers and put them on Golden Fur’s back. He and Qin Mian protected them at the right and left sides.

Golden Fur took steady steps, walking safely and securely. The two little boys grabbed on Golden Fur’s fur. They were so happy that they laughed heartily while making a “jya-jya“¹ sound from time to time.

The villagers who were planting paddy seedlings in the field took the initiative to greet their family of four.

Aunt Xiulan stood in the paddy field and called out, “Tie-zi’s wife, did your Fifth Brother and brother-in-law passed the exam? Why didn’t they come back with you?”

Qin Mian also raised his voice, “We came back first. They will come back a few days later.”

On behalf of all the curious people, Aunt Xiulan asked the most concerned question, “Did they pass the exam?”

He couldn’t make it clear to explain to them what Gongshi and Jinshi were in a few words. Qin Mian only said, “I’m not sure. When we came back, they hadn’t taken part in the palace examination.”

Grandpa Jiang’s eyes brightened, “Palace examination? It’s said that if one takes part in the palace examination, one can see the Emperor.”

“Yes. When they come back, we can properly ask them.” Outwardly, Qin Mian smiled but inwardly, he felt cocky. Could he say that he has met the Emperor?

While chatting with different villagers, the family of four and two beasts walked slowly through the village road and across the village. All the children in the village looked at Yuanyuan and Manman with envy.

Yuanyuan and Manman raised their heads high proudly, an appearance of showing off that overwhelmed people with laughter.

Not a while later, Uncle Fu opened the gate. When he saw them, he loudly exclaimed with excitement, “Eldest Master, Little Master, Eldest Young Master, and Little Young Master are all back!”

“Uncle Fu, how’s home?” Qin Mian raised his hand to excuse Uncle Fu from saluting.

“All is well, all is well.” Uncle Fu said incoherently, “I’m going to tell people to heat water.”

Qin Mian walked through the countless rich fruit trees and saw the red agates under the cherry trees. The two children clamored about wanting to pick cherries. Lei Tie went back to get the baskets. He and Qin Mian each held up a child and let them pick enough. After having enough fun, they went home. The hot water was ready. The family of four took a hot bath and cleaned up until they were fresh and cool.

A servant came to report, “Eldest Master and Little Master, the Third-gongzi and Fifth-gongzi’s wives are here.”

“Invite them in.”

When Li Shi heard that Qin Mian and Lei Tie were back, she called Qian Shi to accompany her to Leisurely Farmhouse to ask about Lei Xiangzhi.

Li Shi was born in a scholarly family and knew about the imperial examination. Except for Lei Xiangzhi’s poisoning, Qin Mian talked about the rest in detail.

Li Shi was overjoyed to learn that both Lei Xiangzhi and Huo Sirui were on the examination result list.

Qian Shi was still a little at a loss. After Li Shi explained it to her, she was also very happy. “That is to say, even if Fifth Brother can’t get the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua, he is still a Jinshi?”

Li Shi said with a smile, “Yes, most of the Jinshi(s) are Hanlin Officers². In anyhow, they live in the Capital. Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law, I also know how much you have taken care of my husband along the way, which has caused you trouble. When my husband returns, we will come together to extend our gratitude to Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law.”

Qin Mian said with a light smile, “You don’t have to regard us as outsiders.”³

Li Shi pulled Qian Shi to leave in a hurry with a smile on her face and told Qian Shi in a low voice not to disclose this news first.

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Footnotes