Xiaoguo spent so much time and effort in making shoes for Qin Anming that Zhuang Zhuang was starting to feel jealous.

“Mother has not been spending time with me for the past two days!”

Zhuang Zhuang’s small eyes darted around—looking like he was up to something.

Xiaoguo was completely engrossed in her sewing. She had just learnt how to make shoes. How she wished to make shoes for all the animals in the house.

Zhuang Zhuang tried his best to attract Xiaoguo’s attention but to no avail. However, it wouldn’t be right to say that she was not paying attention at all. Occasionally, she would lower her head and give Zhuang Zhuang a kiss, and before Zhuang Zhuang could kiss her back, Xiaoguo had already buried her head in her sewing.

It took her three days to finish making a pair of shoes. She had taken a day longer than expected. In the middle portion of the shoe, there was a spot that had been sewn wrongly, so Xiaoguo had to unpick that portion and stitch it up again.

“Zhuang Zhuang, shall we send the shoes to Uncle tomorrow?”

Xiaoguo said to Zhuang Zhuang as she cut off the remaining thread after she made the final stitch. She placed the completed pair of shoes on the table and looked at the boy who was sitting by her side.

“Yes, yes, sure!”

Seeing that Xiaoguo was finally putting down the shoes, Zhuang Zhuang jumped up in joy. His mother had finally finished making the shoes!

With Zhuang Zhuang’s approval, Xiaoguo happily got ready for bed.

The next morning, Xiaoguo did not set off right after eating. The weather was getting colder now. Xiaoguo was more averse to cold weather, so she chose to go at noon, when the temperature was higher. At that hour, the sun rays would provide her with some warmth, and she wouldn’t have to worry about Zhuang Zhuang catching a cold.

Xiaoguo prepared lunch in advance. The sooner they finished eating, the earlier they could set off. She was planning to get home before the sun sets.

Zhuang Zhuang stood guard by Xiaoguo’s side as she started the fire. Xiaoguo was chopping vegetables on the chopping board and the clanging sounds drowned out the knocking on the door. At first, Xiaoguo didn’t hear it. Zhuang Zhuang was standing near the kitchen door, so he heard the knocking out at the front.

Zhuang Zhuang reached out and tugged at Xiaoguo’s clothes, urging her to stop.

Xiaoguo felt Zhuang Zhuang’s tugging, so she put down the kitchen knife and looked at Zhuang Zhuang, motioning for him to speak.

“Mother, there’s someone here.”

Zhuang Zhuang pointed to the front door. At that moment, another knock sounded on the door.

With Xiaoguo’s consent, Zhuang Zhuang quickly ran out to open the door. Xiaoguo followed closely behind.

Zhuang Zhuang was quite cautious. He opened the door slightly and looked out. Seeing that it was someone he didn’t know, Zhuang Zhuang didn’t open the door. He moved aside to make way for Xiaoguo.

Xiaoguo looked at Zhuang Zhuang’s expression and found it a little strange. This kid was not shy. Was it a stranger at the door? Who could it be?

With those thoughts in mind, Xiaoguo walked over and opened the front door.

“Ey?” Xiaoguo looked at the visitor behind the door. It wasn’t a stranger—she had met her once before. It was the village chief’s wife who had come previously to give her the title deed.

“Auntie?”

Curious as to why she was here, Xiaoguo pushed the doors open to let her in.

The village chief’s wife waved her hand to indicate that she wasn’t going in. “Xiaoguo, are you free now? I have something to tell you.”

Xiaoguo nodded. “I’m free.”

The chief’s wife asked Xiaoguo to make a trip to her house.

“Why am I going to your house?”

Xiaoguo was a little puzzled by how anxious she seemed. The two families didn’t usually keep in touch. Why was she being so mysterious today?

“There’s no time for details. Someone is coming from the capital. Come with me quickly. I’ll tell you more on the way.”

The chief’s wife attempted to drag Xiaoguo out of the house. She was worried about the few officials in her house. They might get impatient after waiting for too long.

Of course, Xiaoguo couldn’t go with her. The stove was still lit with fire.

“No, Auntie. I still have something cooking in the pot. I can’t leave. What’s the matter?”

The chief’s wife saw the look on her face that was saying, “If you don’t explain yourself clearly, I won’t leave with you.” Left with no choice, the chief’s wife had to give her a brief explanation. It was also her fault for being too anxious.

“It’s like this. Your parents-in-law used to live in the capital when they were alive. At some point in time, they were wronged and ended up settling in the village. They were banned from entering the capital. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he overturned the case for the Jiang family and restored their reputation. They are allowed to enter the capital now. The emperor has sent someone to bring your parents-in-law’s graves back to the capital for burial.”

The village chief’s wife explained the whole story in one breath. Xiaoguo was stunned when she heard it. She seemed to have heard Mrs. Jiang mention this before. At that time, Xiaoguo had just given birth to Zhuang Zhuang. Mrs. Jiang looked at the child in bed and sighed. “If we were still in the capital, you would have been born with a golden spoon in your mouth.” That seemed to be what Mrs. Jiang said.

At that time, Xiaoguo was still in confinement and did not pay much attention to it. Now that the chief’s wife had mentioned it, she could recall some of it.

“What was the background of the Jiang family? To think that the emperor would get involved in this?”

Xiaoguo thought that it was odd. She only knew that the Jiang family used to be quite rich, but she wasn’t sure about their exact occupation.

“Let’s go, Xiaoguo. The officials have been waiting for a long time.”

The chief’s wife was a little anxious. Seeing that Xiaoguo was still not moving, she was on the verge of dragging her.

“Okay, I understand. I’ll let Zhuang Zhuang know.”

Xiaoguo didn’t plan to bring Zhuang Zhuang along. She could tell that the chief’s wife was very anxious and she kept mentioning about some officials. Xiaoguo didn’t quite understand the situation, so she decided to go and check things out first.

“Alright, hurry up.”

Xiaoguo led Zhuang Zhuang to the kitchen. “Zhuang Zhuang, I’m going out for a while. Stay at home, stop the fire and leave the water alone. Lock the door from the inside and don’t open the door for anyone other than me. Do you understand?”

Xiaoguo really didn’t know what was going on. There hadn’t been any news during this whole time. To think that this matter had just suddenly come out of nowhere.

After getting Zhuang Zhuang to acknowledge her instructions, and seeing him lock the door with her own eyes, she followed the village chief’s wife to her house.

Along the way, the chief’s wife provided Xiaoguo with more details. Xiaoguo listened attentively and finally understood the whole story.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he had rectified the injustice that had been done to the Jiang family. The person who received the order was the Minister of Revenue from the capital. Together with the county magistrate of Yonghai County, they were waiting for Xiaoguo at the village chief’s house.

Xiaoguo completely understood after hearing it. She was still wondering why the chief’s wife was in such a hurry. So that was the reason. Indeed, how could she not be anxious? In the eyes of a small village chief from a small county, the other two officials were dozens of times more powerful than him. How could he not be afraid?

At the thought of this, Xiaoguo felt a little conflicted. Would she have to kneel down and pay her respects if she went over? Would she have to do it on one leg or on both legs? Would she have to lower her head or crouch on the ground? What words would she have to say? She only remembered that in the imperial palace, there were concubines and servants. How did ordinary villagers pay their respects? She felt so lost.

Xiaoguo followed the village chief’s wife to her house.

Before they went in, Xiaoguo was shocked by the sheer number of carriages and soldiers guarding the door.

This was the first time she had seen a real soldier. She had only seen such a scene on television.

As the village chief was staying near the entrance of the village, the large entourage was lined up from his door all the way to the river outside the village.

Xiaoguo took a closer look at the carriage parked at the entrance. If there were any brands for ancient carriages, this must be a modern BMW. She thought of her own little donkey cart in comparison.

Forget it… Comparisons are odious…