As soon as it was time to get off work, Qin Fang couldn’t wait to go home.

He was eager and excited, wanting to share his joy with Yang Haiyan immediately.

However, after leaving the military camp with Commander Wu, his initial excitement gradually calmed down.

The warm spring breeze felt gentle and comforting, making him suddenly reluctant to leave this place.

This was his seventh year here; he originally thought he would spend his whole life here.

Even if it wasn’t for a lifetime, it would be for at least half of it.

When he reached middle age, he would return home with his wife to care for his parents.

But fate had arranged a different path for him.

Suddenly, Commander Wu stopped.

Qin Fang looked at the sunset in the distance, a sunset he had watched for six years.

The thought that he would no longer see it in the future left him feeling somewhat lost.

Although he could see sunsets in other places, he always felt that the sunset here was different from those elsewhere.

“General?” Kun Shi caught up to Qin Fang and, seeing him stop, ran up beside him.

With Qin Fang’s promotion, Kun Shi, as his personal guard and leader of the personal guards, was undoubtedly the second happiest person, even more so than Qin Fang himself.

Qin Fang said, “In half a month, we will be leaving. Don’t you feel that the things we didn’t carefully observe before suddenly seem so memorable now?”

Kun Shi followed Qin Fang’s gaze towards the sunset and chuckled, “I’m just a simple man; I don’t understand what it means to feel nostalgic. But after living here for so long, I’ve become accustomed to the grass and trees here. It is indeed a bit unsettling to suddenly leave. However, with the general around, I feel very reassured.”

This is probably what pursuit and faith are about.

As a personal guard, he didn’t have to think about anything; wherever his master went, he followed.

Hearing this, Qin Fang smiled too.

But in his smile, there was an understanding of the responsibility he had just realized, which he derived from Kunshi’s words.

Indeed, the personal guards could rely on him, the officers could rely on him, and even the thousand soldiers chosen to defend the city could depend on him.

However, he couldn’t rely on others; he had to carry the weight himself.

He had to give them a sense of security, and he also had to provide that security for his wife and future children.

From this moment on, Qin Fang felt that the weight of his responsibilities had increased.

But this added burden didn’t suffocate him; instead, it made him more confident and powerful.

“Let’s go… Commander Wu, we’re going home,” he said.

Commander Wu called out and immediately sped up.

Kunshi tightened the reins and quickly followed.

The sunset was left behind as they rode, feeling increasingly distant.

However, when Qin Fang looked back, he could still see it, as if it had never changed.

When they arrived home, the front gate was open, and Uncle Hong was on guard.

Uncle Hong had been guarding their door for a year and a half, handling the gate and running errands in the countryside.

Later, when the personal guards were established, they took over the horse-drawn carts.

Before that, Uncle Hong had taken care of everything and was quite busy.

Yet, Uncle Hong was busy with joy.

He remembered the kindness of Yang Haiyan in taking in Aunt Hong and knew Aunt Hong had less work, so he wanted to make up for her tasks.

From being a student’s son to a hunter and then selling himself, Uncle Hong’s life had its ups and downs, but the current life gave him a great sense of fulfillment.

Perhaps people only feel satisfied when they are busy.

While guarding the door, Uncle Hong could also take his son with him.

Hong Datou was three years old this year, although he was only two by the lunar calendar.

However, Hong Datou was much taller than the typical two or three-year-old because he was raised on goat’s milk.

The snack shop already had four goats, but goat milk wasn’t abundant.

At least Centurion Lu Bai’s son had already stopped receiving it.

Originally, it was given for free, but since the milk was scarce and they had moved over here, it naturally came to an end.

Now, only Qin Siya, Qin Shoucheng, Kun Daying, and Hong Datou were still drinking goat milk.

Of course, if Qin Fang stayed at home overnight, she would have her share in the morning.

As for Yang Haiyan, she secretly drank milk from the platform.

Uncle Hong paid his respects, saying, “The master has returned.”

Qin Fang replied with a hum, rare for him to say, “Uncle Hong, you’ve worked hard.”

Kunshi added from behind, “Uncle Hong will have to change how he addresses you; he’ll have to call you General now.”

Uncle Hong was puzzled, “General?”

Kunshi happily explained, “Our master has been promoted! He was previously a Seventh-Rank Captain, and now he is a Fifth-Rank General!”

Uncle Hong was stunned, then loudly exclaimed, “Congratulations, General! Cheers to the General!”

Hong Datou, who had been playing with mud, was startled by Uncle Hong’s loud voice.

When he saw his father kneeling on the ground, he foolishly knelt down as well and called out, “The master has returned.”

Most of the time, Uncle Hong was the one taking care of him, and he often played in the Captain now General’s residence, so he frequently heard his father say the master has returned.

Over time, he memorized this and would sometimes shout it out.

Qin Fang handed the reins to Uncle Hong and walked over to Hong Datou, ruffling his hair and praising, “Datou has grown taller again today.”

Datou’s head was actually small, which is why he was given the name “Datou,” hoping his head would grow a bit larger.

Hong Datou beamed with delight.

There were no children of this age in the residence.

Occasionally, when Qin Shoucheng and Kun Daying were around, Hong Datou would follow them, like a little tail.

But mostly, during the afternoons when Qin Shoucheng practiced martial arts, Hong Datou would squat down next to them.

Although his stance looked awkward, children have their own kind of fun.

Since there were no ponds, rockeries, or other dangerous places in the residence, even if Hong Datou played by himself, there wouldn’t be any accidents.

However, Uncle Hong rarely let him play alone; he mostly took care of him himself.

Hong Datou happily stood up and touched his head, saying, “I’ve grown up.”

Now, when Qin Fang saw children, he liked them.

Perhaps it was because he and his wife had already consummated their marriage, and they would soon have children, stirring feelings of fatherly love within him, making every child he saw seem incredibly adorable.

The servant courtyard was closest to the entrance.

Uncle Hong’s voice was loud, so the people in the servant courtyard all heard him.

They all rushed out of the house to look toward the entrance.

The commotion hadn’t yet reached the main courtyard, but the main courtyard also heard Uncle Hong’s loud voice, though they couldn’t quite make out what he was shouting.

By the time Qin Fang entered the main courtyard, they were serving dishes.

The master’s return must mean it was time to serve food.

However, it was strange; ordinarily, the master would be on night duty in March and wouldn’t return at this hour.

Why was he back?

Yang Haiyan stood at the entrance, watching Qin Fang come in.

Unlike his usual stern expression, he greeted her today with a beaming smile.

Yang Haiyan couldn’t help but be curious: “Seeing my husband so happy today, is there some good news?”

For some reason, she felt that Qin Fang looked particularly radiant today.

Qin Fang, with a mysterious expression, asked, “Did you hear what Uncle Hong just said?”

In front of outsiders, he was a composed Qianfu Chief, but in front of her, sometimes he acted like a twenty-something young man.

Yang Haiyan shook her head: “I heard Uncle Hong’s voice, but I didn’t catch the details. It seemed like he was congratulating someone.”

Qin Fang stared at her for a moment, feeling a bit disappointed.

He had hoped she would call him General. But it was just a fleeting thought. Then he took out the imperial decree from his bosom and said, “Here, look.”

Yang Haiyan hadn’t yet taken it, but she saw it when Qin Fang pulled it out.

It was a bright yellow silk fabric made from the finest silk, a color that represented the display and symbol of imperial power. Moreover, it was mounted on a black cow horn handle.

The original owner didn’t understand these things, but Yang Haiyan did.

Over the past two years, she had almost read all the relevant books about the Qi State during her spare time, and among them were discussions about the imperial decree.

The imperial decree was a document issued by the emperor, but different ranks had different distinctions in their handles. For example: First-Rank was a jade handle, Second-Rank was a black rhino horn handle, Third-Rank was a gilded handle, and Fourth and Fifth Ranks were black cow horn handles.

The decree in Qin Fang’s hand had a black cow horn handle, so…

Yang Haiyan smiled slightly: “Has my husband been promoted? Fifth-Rank General?”

Since the decree was in Qin Fang’s hand, it must be intended for him, and looking at the handle, it was for a Fourth or Fifth Rank official.

The chances of Qin Fang, originally a Seventh-Rank military general, being promoted to Fourth Rank were slim.

Moreover, the Five General above Captain just happened to be Fourth Rank, so Yang Haiyan speculated that Qin Fang had been promoted to Fifth-Rank General.

From a normal perspective, Yang Haiyan’s deduction was correct.

Therefore, Qin Fang was curious: “Yanyan, how did you guess?”

Yang Haiyan took the imperial decree and shared her knowledge about it: “So, husband, you should take the time to read all those books in the study.”

Over the past two years, he had first learned to read, then studied military strategy.

He hadn’t read other books; the history and laws of the Qi State were explained to him by Yang Haiyan during their time together.

But that was no substitute for having read them himself and retaining the information.

Qin Fang suddenly understood: “So that’s it. Yanyan, you’re really amazing.”

He had always thought his wife was impressive, but after hearing her analysis, he realized her talents were not limited to just that.

Yang Haiyan heard his acknowledgment, took a few steps back, and bowed to him: “Congratulations, General Qin! Cheers to General Qin!”

Seeing this, Qin Fang couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

He stepped forward to help her up: “Qin Yiren, let’s celebrate together.”

As he spoke, he took out another imperial decree, “Yanyan, this is for you.”

This was the first time Yang Haiyan had seen him smile so freely; his beaming smile softened the sternness of his face, leaving her momentarily dazed.

It turned out that this man could smile like this too.

Usually, he was silent, making people think he had a cold personality.

But actually, that wasn’t entirely true.

Seeing her looking at him like that, Qin Fang couldn’t help but lower his head and peck her on the lips, like a bird.

Then, in a low voice, he said, “Don’t look at me like that.”