The day was not yet dark.
The roadside lanterns were lit.
The lanterns of the Qingfeng Restaurant were especially bright.
Standing beneath the lantern, the County Magistrate's official robes looked exceptionally appealing.
Jiang Changtian's family arrived, accompanied by escorts.
The County Magistrate unconsciously displayed a welcoming smile.
But upon seeing who had arrived, the County Magistrate's smile froze.
Who could have imagined that he, a prestigious County Magistrate, would bow to greet someone who was once merely a temporary worker under his command?
His back was almost unable to bend.
As a father and mother official, how could he bow to such an unfilial and undutiful person?
The world had gone awry!
At that moment, Gong Qichi came rushing down the stairs.
He hurried over to greet them.
"Changtian, you've come! We've been waiting for you. Brother and sister, please come in." Gong Qichi extended his hand and grasped Jiang Changtian's hand.
His hand was warm, while Jiang Changtian's was slightly cool.
Jiang Changtian smiled, "Brother Qichi, I didn't expect to meet you again so soon. You truly are hasty. Upon receiving the invitation, I brought my whole family immediately. This is my eldest son, Jiang Feng, and this is my younger daughter Jiang Yu. You've met my youngest daughter Mianmian before."
Jiang Feng and Jiang Yu respectfully bowed and addressed him as "Uncle Gong."
Little Jiang Mianmian followed, calling out, "Uncle!"
Gong Qichi was pleased that Jiang Changtian had brought his entire family, including the young child, and that none of them were carrying weapons.
He had acquired many things that day and casually handed out gifts – a jade pendant for Jiang Mianmian, a gold bracelet for Jiang Yu, and a gold medal for Jiang Feng, who thought to himself, "Rebelling is truly rewarding, with so much money."
They were all delighted.
Jiang Changtian seemed to have just noticed the County Magistrate bowing low nearby. He looked surprised and said, "My Lord, why are you here?"
The County Magistrate smiled wryly, "I came out specially to welcome you. Please, come in."
Upstairs, everyone was eagerly awaiting their arrival.
They were curious to see who the rebel leader had personally rushed down to greet.
Gong Qichi had visited Jiang Changtian in the morning and then came to the county town.
The county town was much more chaotic than Kan'er Village.
Even before they arrived, the county government officials had begun fighting among themselves.
Some even took the opportunity to loot from wealthy households.
The County Magistrate had prepared to flee but was hesitant.
It was a laughable sight to behold.
Compared to this, Jiang Changtian's demeanor stood out.
In ancient times, travel was inconvenient and distances were vast, so people rarely ventured out and had a limited circle of acquaintances.
The ancients had more abundant emotions; once they recognized someone as a kindred spirit, they cherished and confided in them wholeheartedly, willing to sacrifice themselves for each other.
Not only was transportation slow, but life expectancy was also short.
In their brief lives, gaining a kindred spirit was something to be treasured dearly.
Gong Qichi personally welcomed and led Jiang Changtian's family, escorting them upstairs to the reserved main seats.
Everyone first looked at their robes, then at the people themselves.
Seeing that the newcomers' attire was plain, even inferior to what the rebels wore, they became even more curious about who they were to receive such an honored welcome from the rebels.
Zi Ganjiang, the adopted son of the late Zi, had not gone to visit Jiang Changtian that morning. As a military commander, he preferred action over idle talk and had no interest in visiting some scholar.
However, his adoptive father had only asked him to assist Gong Qichi, so he had no authority to make decisions.
The arrivals were an entire family, even carrying an infant.
Everyone was even more curious.
When they saw Jiang Changtian's face, someone in the crowd gasped in surprise.
From the sound of it, it was a woman.
Did their county have such a stunningly handsome man?
In that instant, everyone forgot about the clothes and focused solely on his face.
The ladies from wealthy households, who rarely ventured out, turned red in the face, completely forgetting that they had come to attend a rebel's banquet and instead behaving as if they were attending a matchmaking event.
However, upon noticing the wife and children accompanying him, some of the ladies regained a sliver of rationality.
This was the first time Jiang Changtian revealed his true appearance to others.
Among the crowd, Jiang Huaisheng did not initially recognize that the man was his younger brother Jiang Changtian.
It was only when he saw Jiang Feng that he realized the truth.
He had previously encountered Jiang Feng and, displeased with his dissolute behavior, had reprimanded him as if disciplining his own son.
He still remembered the resentful look in Jiang Feng's eyes.
Jiang Huaisheng felt no remorse, for he had only acted because Jiang Feng was his nephew. Had it been someone else, he wouldn't have given them a second glance.
Now that he recognized his younger brother Changtian, he became angry.
If not for the inappropriate setting, he would have disciplined him himself.
What was he dressed like? This was not how he used to look; Jiang Huaisheng hadn't even recognized him.
In this chaotic world where life was as fragile as grass, what was he trying to do by going out looking like that?
As for Old Lady Jiang, upon seeing the newcomers, her pupils dilated, and she felt her blood freeze, her body trembling slightly.
She gripped her string of beads tightly.
Yao had helped her restring the necklace, but now she was clutching it so forcefully that the top bead seemed to be coming loose again.
Jiang Wan had been sitting beside her grandmother, attending to her. Her grandmother had been sitting upright, exuding an air of calm and dignity that surpassed everyone else present.
Now, her grandmother suddenly grabbed Jiang Wan's hand with great force, causing her pain.
She also looked towards the newcomers.
Was that her second uncle?
How strange, she had never seen him before, not even in her dreams.
She saw Jiang Yu.
Plainly dressed, but with an innocent, guileless smile on her face.
She saw Jiang Feng, who had been bound by her brother.
Even more plainly dressed, his sleeves shorter than his hands, yet with a dashing appearance that outshone even Zi Ganjiang's adopted son.
She saw the child cradled in the tall woman's arms.
Not long ago, she had seen her again.
The last time, she was in the hands of the peddler couple, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Jiang Wan.
Now, she was looking at Jiang Wan in the flesh, and Jiang Wan's hand trembled slightly.
...
