Qin Fang had settled down in Yunxiang County, so he sent Huang Huzi to deliver a letter to his family.

Huang Huzi arrived in Baili Village, inquired with locals, and eventually found the Qin family.

As Huang Huzi led his horse to the entrance of the Qin household, Grandma Qin, who was picking green beans in the courtyard, heard the sound of hooves.

She looked up and saw the young man standing at the gate with his horse, which was laden with various items.

She couldn’t quite determine Huang Huzi’s identity, but given that he had arrived on horseback, she greeted him courteously, “Who are you looking for?”

She wondered if he might be someone her grandson had sent.

Huang Huzi looked at the elderly woman, unsure of her identity, and asked, “Is this the home of General Qin Fang?”

Grandma Qin only caught her grandson’s name, ignoring the “General” title.

Hearing Qin Fang’s name, she assumed the visitor must be a friend of her grandson or perhaps a soldier who served with him.

Enthusiastically, she replied, “Yes, yes, yes, this is Qin Fang’s home. Qin Fang is my eldest grandson, and I’m his grandmother. Young man, you must be tired—come inside, and I’ll pour you some tea.”

Upon hearing she was the grandmother of General Qin, Huang Huzi quickly responded, “Madam, thank you, but there’s no need to go to any trouble. I’m Qin Fang’s subordinate, Huang Huzi.”

“Oh, so you’re Huang Huzi!” Grandma Qin started to say, but then paused, processing his words. “Wait, did you say General Qin?”

This time, she heard him clearly.

She had always known her eldest grandson was capable.

He had even married a good wife who contributed ten taels of silver to the household each year.

The silver was intended to help the family as well as support her younger grandsons in the future.

Qin Fang’s wife had never objected to this, so Grandma Qin was very satisfied with her granddaughter-in-law, Yang Haiyan.

Moreover, Yang Haiyan had taken care of Qin Shoucheng and Qin Siya.

In other families, it would be rare for someone to care for their brother-in-law and sister-in-law while their in-laws were still alive.

To Grandma Qin, the family was divided, but her eldest grandson’s success brought joy to her life.

The past year had been good to her, and she felt rejuvenated.

However, she now wondered—could it be that the “General Qin” this young man mentioned was her very own Qin Fang?

Slowly, Huang Huzi began to explain, worried that she might not understand. “Madam, General Qin is indeed your grandson, Qin Fang. In March of this year, he was promoted from his previous position as a Captain to the rank of general. Afterward, he was reassigned to Yunxiang County. Now that Yunxiang County has stabilized, he sent me here to deliver this news and share a few things with the family.”

Grandma Qin couldn’t absorb everything he was saying, but she understood one thing—her grandson had been promoted.

She wondered, “Previously, he held a position similar to that of the county magistrate. Now that he’s been promoted, does this mean he outranks the magistrate?”

She knew that being a general was impressive, but she didn’t fully grasp the extent of his rank.

In her mind, the county magistrate was already a high-ranking official.

Now that her grandson had become a general, did that mean he was more important than the county magistrate?

It seemed as though their ancestors were watching over the family.

Huang Huzi smiled.

As a country boy himself, he understood the respect rural folk held for the county magistrate.

With a smile, he replied, “Yes, ma’am, your grandson’s position is indeed higher than that of the county magistrate.”

Grandma Qin was stunned.

A rank higher than the county magistrate was beyond her imagination.

However, her joy quickly turned to concern. With red-rimmed eyes, she anxiously asked, “Is our Qin Fang all right? I’ve heard that when military officers get promoted, they often have to earn it through dangerous battles. Such battles are perilous—has he been hurt?”

Tears began to flow as she thought about her eldest grandson, who held a special place in her heart.

He was even more precious to her than her own sons.

Though she had many grandchildren now, he had always been her first, and she had cared for him since birth.

When her daughter-in-law needed help with farm work, she had been the one to raise him.

She worried deeply that his promotion had come at a great cost and that he may have been injured in the process.

Huang Huzi was startled by Grandma Qin and quickly explained, “Old Madam, don’t worry. General Qin is fine. The border is peaceful, and there is no war. He earned a merit through his strategy, and now he has been transferred to guard the city as a general. There’s no need for him to fight anymore.”

When Grandma Qin heard this, she let out a long sigh of relief. “No more fighting?”

Huang Huzi firmly reassured her, “No more fighting.”

Grandma Qin wiped her tears, “That’s wonderful news, no more fighting.”

In the other room, Er Ya and San Ya were working on their embroidery.

Hearing visitors arrive, they had been eavesdropping.

When Grandma Qin started crying, the two girls were frightened and quickly came out. “Grandma, are you alright?”

“Grandma, don’t cry. Big Brother will be fine.”

The Qin family lived in harmony.

Other than the occasional jealousy from the second daughter-in-law, everything was perfect.

Though she sometimes got jealous, the second daughter-in-law was not someone who caused too much trouble, so Grandma Qin felt that, in Baili Village, she was the happiest old woman.

Seeing her two granddaughters’ concern, she smiled with red eyes and said, “Grandma is fine, don’t worry.”

“Nai… Nai…” Just then, Niu Dan came running in from outside. “Grandma, I heard from my friends that we have a guest who came on horseback. Is Big Brother back?”

Grandma Qin looked at her youngest grandson, who spent his days running around the mountains, and helplessly replied, “Go to your big brother’s house and check. If your aunt is there, ask her to come over and tell her that your big brother sent someone home.”

Niu Dan dashed off, “Got it.”

Grandma Qin then turned to Er Ya and San Ya, “You two go to the fields and call everyone home.”

Er Ya and San Ya replied, “Understood.”

Since the family had already split up their land, some fields were shared, while others were separate.

Er Ya and San Ya each went to their respective fields to call people home.

Before long, Mother Qin arrived.

Before even stepping inside, she shouted, “Mother, did Ah Fang and Yan Yan send a letter back?” Her voice carried as she entered the courtyard.

She noticed a horse tied to a wooden post, which was installed last year by Father Qin specifically for Qin Fang to tie his horse when he returned.

Then, she saw a young man standing in the courtyard.

Huang Huzi, seeing a middle-aged woman rushing in and hearing her call out the general and his wife’s names so affectionately, figured she must be the general’s mother.

He respectfully cupped his hands and asked, “Are you General Qin Fang’s mother?”

Mother Qin, like Grandma Qin at first, didn’t pay attention to the title “General.”

She simply nodded, “Yes, yes, I’m Qin Fang’s mother. Here, we call mothers ‘Ah Mu.’ Young man, are you Ah Fang’s friend? How are Ah Fang and his wife doing? Are they living well?”

Last year, they had sent a letter along with a ten-tael silver note.

Mother Qin was both happy and worried, fearing that her eldest son and his wife weren’t doing well.

At the same time, she worried her son might be using his wife’s dowry.

The saying goes, “A man who can spend his wife’s dowry is capable,” but Mother Qin hoped her son would make something of himself and not rely on his wife’s money, which could lead to disrespect.

Huang Huzi respectfully replied, “Madam, I am a subordinate of General Qin Fang, not a friend.”

Mother Qin was puzzled by this.

Grandma Qin came out of the kitchen and couldn’t help but explain, “Daughter-in-law, Ah Fang has been promoted. He’s a general now, a position even higher than the county magistrate.”

Mother Qin was stunned, “What?”

Then came a sharp cry, “Ah Fang got promoted? He’s a general now? Is this true?”

The only one who could be this excited was Second Aunt Qin.

Grandma Qin glanced at her, feeling embarrassed.

With her shout, Father Qin, Uncle Qin, and others also arrived.

Grandpa Qin asked, “What’s going on? San Ya said Ah Fang sent someone back with a message?”

Since Grandpa Qin and Grandma Qin lived with the eldest son’s family, Grandpa Qin was working in the fields with Father Qin.

These days weren’t like before, when working the fields was necessary for survival.

Now, Qin Fang sent ten taels of silver every year, so the family wasn’t short of money.

Farming now wasn’t a burden but a habit.

Thus, the eldest son’s family never let Grandpa Qin overwork himself.

Qin Shouye, the second son, originally planned to find work in town, having studied for a year.

But now, with his elder brother away and his third brother preparing for the imperial exams, he, as the eldest at home, stayed to take care of his parents and grandparents, and made up his mind to help with the farming.

Grandma Qin originally planned to hold back the news, but she was too happy and couldn’t contain herself.

When Grandpa Qin asked, she burst out, “Old man, our Ah Fang has made something of himself, something big!”

Grandpa Qin was confused.

Hadn’t Ah Fang already succeeded last year when he became an official, equal to the county magistrate?

Why was the old lady saying this now?

Mother Qin couldn’t hold back either, “Father, husband, Ah Fang got promoted. He’s now a general, a rank even higher than the county magistrate. Look, this young man is called Huang Huzi, one of Ah Fang’s men, and Ah Fang sent him back with a letter.”

The entire Qin family, who hadn’t known, were stunned.

They stared at Huang Huzi, mouths agape, their minds unable to process the news.

Huang Huzi stepped forward and saluted Grandpa Qin and Father Qin, “Greetings, Old Master, Master. I am Huang Huzi, a private soldier under General Qin Fang. On the general’s orders, I’ve brought back some things and a letter. The general said that he has made arrangements for the family, and the details are in the letter. He asks that his grandfather and father take charge of these matters.”

In other words, only they could read the letter for now.