Jiang Nian and Qi Heng had just arrived at the entrance of Yong’an Village when Jiang Ya, Jiang Dou, and Jiang Li came bouncing over to greet them.
“Nian Nian Jie Jie is back!”
After being helped down from the carriage by Qi Heng, Jiang Nian smiled at her younger siblings.
“Ya Ya, Dou Dou, Little Mi Li, did you miss me?”
“Yes!” The three children rushed toward her.
Jiang Nian crouched down and hugged them. “I brought lots of delicious treats for you.”
“Yay! Nian Jie Jie is the best!”
Jiang Nian walked and chatted with her younger siblings, while Qi Heng followed silently behind. Villagers passing by greeted Jiang Nian with smiles.
“Nian Nian is back.”
“Aunt Yao.” Jiang Nian replied with a smile.
The villagers teased playfully. “Nian Nian is dressed so beautifully, like a fairy descending to earth. Second Young Master Qi has taken the prettiest girl from our village—you must treat her well.”
“Naturally.” Qi Heng’s tone was earnest and sincere, making Jiang Nian blush.
“Hey, that person looks familiar. Is she from our village too?” One villager noticed Qiao Qin’er behind the carriage. Qiao Qin’er had changed so much since childhood that the villagers couldn’t immediately recall who she was.
Qiao Qin’er covered her face and got into the carriage. “Let’s leave this place quickly.”
Just as the coachman turned the carriage around, a frantic voice called out. “Qin’er, it’s you, Qin’er!”
“Qin’er.” Qiao Qin’er’s adoptive mother clung to the carriage, refusing to let go. “Have you come to see me?”
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else.” Qiao Qin’er remained inside the carriage and ordered the coachman to leave immediately, but her adoptive mother lay across the carriage, preventing it from moving.
“You heartless child! I raised you for twelve years, and after you left, you never once came back to see me. Is your heart made of stone?”
The villagers suddenly understood. “So it’s Qiao Qin’er. She really has become a wealthy young lady, different from us villagers.”
Jiang Nian looked back and remembered. She had heard that seventeen years ago, the County Magistrate’s wife passed through Yong’an Village and suddenly went into labor. Both mother and daughter stayed in the village, and coincidentally, the family hosting them had also just given birth to a daughter. Somehow, the two babies were switched, and they were swapped back after the mistake was discovered.
Jiang Nian recalled that the daughter who was returned later drowned herself in the river. She had only heard her family mention it briefly and never paid much attention to the details.
Qiao Qin’er grew furious at her adoptive mother. “If you hadn’t switched me with your own daughter, I wouldn’t have suffered here for twelve years while your daughter enjoyed twelve years of luxury in my place.”
Her adoptive mother was shocked. “I didn’t switch you! It was truly an accident!”
Qiao Qin’er ignored her and ordered the carriage to leave immediately.
Qi Heng lifted the three children into the carriage and then helped Jiang Nian up. “Grandfather is waiting for us at home. Let’s not delay.”
“Oh, alright.”
Jiang Nian and her younger siblings sat obediently in a row. The three children, riding in such a beautiful carriage for the first time, were so excited they swayed left and right. But the moment Qi Heng sat down, they froze, sitting properly as if their third brother-in-law was even stricter than their teacher.
At the entrance of the Jiang Family home, Jiang Lao San’s wife, Jiang Sui, and Jiang Xiaomai stood by the gate, gazing toward the village entrance.
“Is that Nian Nian in the carriage?” Jiang Sui exclaimed happily.
“Probably.” Jiang Xiaomai replied uncertainly.
When the carriage stopped at the gate, the three of them confirmed it was indeed Jiang Nian. Lin Chengfeng and two maids jumped down from the carriage and lifted the curtain. The three children hopped out cheerfully.
“Xiao Mai Jie Jie, Sui Jie Jie.”
"How did these little ones get onto the carriage?" Jiang Xiaomai laughed as she stepped forward to take them in her arms.
Jiang Nian also jumped down. "I'm back!"
"Nian Nian!" Jiang Sui rushed to hug her. "I've missed you so much!"
Qi Heng was the last to descend from the carriage. He approached his mother-in-law with a cupped-hand salute. "Greetings, Mother-in-law."
"No need for such formality, Second Young Master. Please come inside." Jiang Lao San's wife felt somewhat restrained around this son-in-law and politely invited him into the house.
Qi Heng bowed again. "Mother-in-law may call me A Heng, as all the elders in my family do."
"Very well, A Heng." Jiang Lao San's wife smiled as she addressed him.
The women of the Jiang Family were busy in the kitchen tending the fire and preparing meals, while the men entertained Qi Heng with wine and conversation in the main hall.
Upon Jiang Nian's return, she received warm welcomes from all her aunts.
"Nian Nian, are you accustomed to living at the Prefectural Governor's Residence?"
"It's quite comfortable."
"How does your mother-in-law treat you?"
"Quite well." No matter what they asked, Jiang Nian gave the same reply. Seeing her rosy complexion, the family felt reassured.
At noon, the meal was exceptionally lavish. Qi Heng found it hard to decline their hospitality and drank considerable wine. The Jiang family remembered his dietary restrictions, so no fish or meat appeared on the table.
Once again, Jiang Nian squeezed in to eat with her sisters. Amid the noisy chatter, the meal passed merrily.
Jiang Nǎinai remarked, "The fieldwork will soon be finished. In three days, Xiao Mai will be married."
"Grandmother, I'll definitely return for that," Jiang Nian promised.
"Won't it be inconvenient?" Jiang Lao San's wife asked. "Noble families have many rules. Don't break any protocols because of this."
"It won't be a problem," Jiang Nian insisted. "I'll certainly return for Sister Xiao Mai's wedding."
In her previous life, she had been overly concerned about various rules and missed her own sister's wedding. This time, she was determined to witness Xiao Mai's marriage.
Jiang Sui carelessly laughed, "With both of you married off, I'll be sleeping alone in this room. No one will fight with me over blankets or bed space anymore."
Jiang Lao Er's Wife said, "You won't be staying home much longer either. I've asked a matchmaker to find you a reliable husband."
Jiang Nian quickly added, "Do inform me if there are suitable candidates. I'd like to help evaluate them."
She couldn't let her marry into the same family as in their previous life.
"Agreed," Jiang Lao Er's Wife responded. Having a sister from a noble family to support Jiang Sui would prevent any future husband's family from mistreating her.
The women and children finished their meal early. After cleaning up, they brought stools into the courtyard to chat while basking in the sunlight. Jiang Nian distributed the pastries and Sugar Crisp she had brought, with two maids attending to everyone.
Jiang Lao Da's Wife remarked, "These two young girls must be tired. Please sit down. We country folk aren't accustomed to being served."
Shanzhu replied, "Thank you, Da Furen, but we're not tired."
The address "Da Furen" made Jiang Lao Da's Wife extremely uncomfortable. "What Da Furen? Please don't call me that – it feels so awkward."
Fifth Daughter-in-law of the Jiang Family nibbled a pastry. "Eldest sister-in-law just isn't destined for a life of luxury. Everyone in noble families is addressed as Furen."
She glanced at Jiang Nian. "Our Nian Nian has become Second Young Mistress, unlike eldest sister-in-law who's fated for hard labor."
Jiang Nian quietly ate her pastry, ignoring the petty squabbles between the sisters-in-law.
Craning her neck to peer into the main hall, Jiang Nian saw the men still drinking. Qi Heng's earlobes had turned red from alcohol, and Jiang Yu, Jiang Mi, and other young men were still urging him to drink more. Setting down her pastry, Jiang Nian hurried over.
"He can't drink any more." Jiang Nian stood behind Qi Heng. "If he drinks too much, I'll be the one dealing with the trouble. You're all my dear brothers, don't cause me any trouble."
Jiang Feng laughed: "Don't worry, Nian Nian. I'll stop them from making A Heng drink any more."
Jiang Nian raised an eyebrow. He had been politely addressing him as Second Young Master earlier, but now he was calling him A Heng repeatedly. She lowered her head to look at Qi Heng, who tilted his head and gave her an obedient smile.
Was he drunk? Jiang Nian observed him uncertainly.