During dinner, Jiang Old Grandfather prepared a separate meal for Prefect Qi and brought it to his room. Prefect Qi repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
After the meal, Jiang Old Grandfather gathered his sons together.
"This man has suffered a knife wound, so his identity must be unusual. No one is to speak of this matter to outsiders, lest we invite unnecessary trouble. Take good care of him, and once he recovers from his injuries, send him away as soon as possible."
Jiang Lao Si felt a sense of fear. "We won't be silenced, will we?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Jiang Lao Da scolded him.
Jiang Lao Si remained afraid. "He has a knife wound, which means he must have enemies. What if they track him down to our home? Then we'd all be finished."
Jiang Lao San patted him on the shoulder. "Don't scare yourself. Nothing will happen."
In the east wing room, Jiang Nian couldn't sleep, while Jiang Xiaomai and Jiang Sui slept soundly beside her, their breathing soft and even.
Jiang Nian recalled the past again. Prefect Qi had been a fair and upright father-in-law who never looked down on her because of her peasant background. When she was bullied, her father-in-law would speak up for her and defend her.
However, her father-in-law was too busy—busy raising an army to rebel—and spent very little time at home. Most of the time, she was with her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. Those women…
Jiang Nian rubbed her forehead in frustration. In this lifetime, she never wanted to see them again.
The next day, as the morning light began to brighten, Prefect Qi woke up and opened the door to find Jiang Old Grandfather sitting by the doorway, weaving a bamboo basket.
"Old sir, you're up quite early."
"When you're old, you don't sleep much," Jiang Old Grandfather replied, looking up with a smile as he continued weaving.
Prefect Qi brought a small stool and sat beside him, watching him weave. The two chatted idly, like elderly men at the village entrance.
The men of the Jiang family had risen early to work in the fields, while the women were up preparing breakfast. Only the children were still asleep.
Prefect Qi smiled and said, "Old sir, you are truly blessed. Your sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters are all filial and sensible."
Jiang Old Grandfather continued weaving without pause.
"That's how it is for rural families. When a family pulls together and works as one, there's no worry about not living well. Only when a family is harmonious can all endeavors prosper."
Prefect Qi was taken aback for a moment, then stood up and bowed respectfully to the old man. "Old sir, I have learned from your wisdom."
Jiang Old Grandfather hurriedly stood up to support him. "This is too much, too much!"
"Old sir, your family saved my life and took me in to recover from my injuries. By reason and sentiment, I should bow to you. Rest assured, I will repay you generously in the future."
Prefect Qi insisted on bowing.
Jiang Nian came out of the room and teased, "Our family saved your life. If you want to thank us, why not give us a hundred taels of silver? Consider it payment for saving your life, and then we'll be even."
"Nian Nian!" Jiang Old Grandfather's face darkened. "We help people without expecting anything in return."
Jiang Old Grandfather looked apologetically at Prefect Qi. "This child has been spoiled by the family. Please don't mind her."
Prefect Qi laughed heartily. "This young lady is right. If I went to a clinic for treatment, I would have to pay. There's no reason not to pay you, especially since you've let me stay here for free, eating and sleeping. Giving silver is only proper."
He smiled at Jiang Nian and said, "But are you sure a hundred taels isn't too little?"
"It's enough," Jiang Nian replied. She wasn't after his silver but simply wanted to settle the debt of gratitude quickly. "A hundred taels can support a rural family for several years. Once you give the silver, you can think of this place as a clinic and feel no sense of obligation."
Prefect Qi smiled and shook his head. Country folk truly had limited perspective—settling this debt of gratitude with merely a hundred taels. Had it been someone shrewd, they would have made long-term plans to cling to his Prefectural Residence for life, which would have been truly troublesome.
Old Grandfather Jiang was deeply surprised. This granddaughter had always been obedient and sensible—how could she have taken the initiative to ask others for money in such an impolite manner?
By chenshi (7-9 AM), the men had returned from the fields and the children had risen. The large family gathered noisily for breakfast again, with Prefect Qi seated beside the old grandfather.
"Old sir, your family has even more members than ours."
"Country folk may lack many things, but we never lack people," replied Old Grandfather Jiang, unwilling to discuss family matters further as he urged him to eat.
During breakfast, a group of people burst into the house. "Father!"
"Master, we've finally found you!"
Jiang Nian turned to look and nearly panicked. The arrivals were Prefect Qi's eldest son Qi Ji, second son Qi Heng, along with Prefect Qi's trusted subordinates.
Qi Heng—the man Jiang Nian had married in her previous life. At this time, Qi Heng was merely nineteen, a dewy-eyed handsome youth.
His jet-black hair was tied with a jade crown, his features exquisitely handsome. Prominent brow bones arched like ink-wash landscape paintings, slanting sharply toward his temples. His eyes were deep as lacquer, nose bridge high and straight, thin lips pressed slightly together. Draped in moon-white brocade robes, his figure stood tall and erect.
Jiang Nian turned back with an expressionless face. In this lifetime, she would never have any further entanglement with him.
As father and sons reunited with their servants, Old Grandfather Jiang waved to his family members. The Jiang family each took their bowls back to their rooms to eat, leaving only the Qi father and sons in the courtyard.
"Father, are you unharmed?" Qi Ji supported Prefect Qi.
Prefect Qi laughed. "I'm fine, no need to worry."
He then asked, "Has anything happened at the residence?"
"Nothing," Qi Ji shook his head. "Everyone was very worried about you. Mother was so anxious she didn't sleep all night."
Qi Heng's gaze swept indifferently around the small farmyard—clean and tidy. Prefect Qi coughed twice.
"Did you bring any silver with you?"
Qi Ji and Qi Heng each produced a pouch of broken silver from their robes. "We left in too much haste—didn't bring much."
"Go back and get some!" Prefect Qi said calmly. "This family saved your old man's life. No amount of silver would be too much to give them."
"Understood. Is a thousand taels sufficient?" Qi Heng asked.
"What? Is your father's life only worth a thousand taels?" Prefect Qi retorted.
Qi Heng silently closed his mouth.
"Bring five thousand taels," Prefect Qi instructed his second son. "Deliver it personally."
"Yes," Qi Heng nodded with his usual detached expression.
Prefect Qi went to knock on Old Grandfather Jiang's door. "Old sir, my sons have come for me. I must take my leave."
Old Grandfather Jiang opened the door. "Very well. Travel safely."
After the Qi family departed, the Jiang family collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
"Finally saw them off. With that man in our house, I didn't even dare breathe loudly," Jiang Xiaomai muttered.
The Jiang family members all laughed—they felt the same. Having an outsider present had made them quite uncomfortable.
Jiang Nian couldn't shake the feeling that matters wouldn't remain calm. In her previous life, Prefect Qi had returned unexpectedly half a month after leaving to propose marriage. Something must have happened during those two weeks—otherwise, why would Prefect Qi ever allow his son to marry a mere farm girl like her?
She decided she would finalize her marriage plans within this half-month period—find a man within a three-li radius and marry quickly.
When Jiang Nian shared her thoughts with her mother, Jiang San Niang said:
"Why are you in such a hurry? Even if we're talking about marriage, your cousin Xiaomai should marry first. I heard from your aunt that she's taken a liking to the son of Doctor Yan from neighboring Tanghua Village, named Yan Ruyu – a fair-skinned, handsome young man. The two families are already discussing engagement arrangements."
Yan Ruyu. Jiang Nian gently bit her lower lip. This man had indeed married Cousin Xiaomai in her previous life, but he only married her to continue his family line. He was actually a homosexual.
After Jiang Xiaomai married him, she didn't dare speak out, suffering in silence while living as a neglected wife. She still had to bear him a son and serve his parents dutifully.
It was only later that Jiang Nian learned how Jiang Xiaomai had been beaten half to death by Yan Ruyu. When the Jiang family brought her back home, they finally discovered what bitter hardships she had been enduring.
Ugh! What a disgusting creature! In this lifetime, she would never let Jiang Xiaomai marry into that family again.