Yun Jinhe was the first to jump off the carriage, take down the lantern, and go to the steps to illuminate the plaque above the door...
The four characters 'Yao Men Zhi Jia' were exceptionally conspicuous under the dim yellow light. Yun Jinhe was filled with joy upon seeing them, so excited he couldn't speak.
Murong Qing leaned over and looked up, "I didn't expect your family to have received such an honor. Looking at this plaque, it must have been bestowed by a great figure, right?"
Yun Jinhe puffed out his chest and said with immense pride, "It was bestowed by the current Emperor upon my little aunt!"
How about that, impressive, huh?
When my little aunt was just a baby, she could lead the entire village to build waterwheels and resist rat plagues. Not to mention children her age, even quick-witted adults couldn't compare to her...
Seeing the joy and pride in Jinhe's eyes, Murong Qing also started to smile.
It seemed that young girl was indeed extraordinary.
Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu also came over, gathering at the main gate and looking around.
"Oh my, Jinhe, your village is way too cold, it's like falling into an ice cave!" Yao Jinsheng shoved his hands into his sleeves, sneezed, and urged Yun Jinhe, "What are you still standing here for? Hurry up and knock on the door, my feet are already numb from the cold!"
Murong Qing: "..."
Are your feet numb from the cold?
They're clearly numb from eating and sleeping, and sleeping and eating.
Xue Ling heard the commotion outside and trotted to the main gate, lifting its head and barking twice...
Yun Jinhe's face lit up, and he shouted, "Xue Ling, it's me, Jinhe!"
After not being home for so long, even a dog's bark felt so familiar and warm.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Little Aunt, I'm back, knock, knock, knock..."
In the main hall of the house, Old Man Yun was being pestered by Xiao Xinling to make roast meat. Suddenly, he heard the shouts from outside the main gate. Old Man Yun quickly pushed Xiao Xinling away and widened his eyes, "Old, old woman, did you hear that? It sounds like Jinhe is back!"
Oh my, the family had been waiting for Jinhe like they waited for the stars and the moon, and finally, he was back...
Gu Shi smiled and said, "Hurry and open the door. It's so cold outside, and dark. Jinhe must be frozen!"
"Okay, okay!" Old Man Yun responded, put on his sheepskin jacket, and ran outside.
Who knew that as soon as he reached the courtyard, he saw Yun Daman and Zhao Guihua ahead of him, rushing to the main gate and pushing open the courtyard gate...
This couple seemed to have a premonition that their son would definitely come back today, so they sat on the heated brick bed and waited.
They didn't expect to actually wait for their son.
After not seeing him for some time, Yun Jinhe seemed to have grown taller again. Thanks to Murong Qing's care, he looked even more refined and handsome. The graceful young man was like a spring breeze in March, exuding a strong scholarly aura just by standing there...
Murong Qing was skilled in cooking and provided Yun Jinhe with three meals a day, a balanced diet of meat and vegetables, which made him look even more prosperous.
"Dad, Mom, I'm back!" Yun Jinhe said with a smile.
Before Yun Daman could step forward to dote on his son, Zhao Guihua rushed over with a cry and hugged Yun Jinhe tightly, "Wuwu, my good son, Mom missed you so much! You heartless boy, why didn't you write a letter after being away for so long? Do you know how worried Mom was about you?"
Yun Jinhe heard this, patted Zhao Guihua's back, and said with a wry smile, "Mom, it's been snowing non-stop in the academy area since winter began, and the postmen aren't delivering mail anymore..."
"Then, then you should have come back earlier!" Zhao Guihua released Jinhe and wiped the tears from her face, "You are Mom's darling now. After being away for so long, Mom's hair has turned white from missing you. Believe me, look!"
Zhao Guihua leaned closer to Yun Jinhe, letting him see her hair...
"Oh, Mom!" Yun Jinhe smiled helplessly, "Your son is back, isn't he? I promise, from now on, when I return to the academy, I'll write you a letter every three days, okay?"
Zhao Guihua felt much better upon hearing this, "That's more like it, you rascal. Even if you get married in the future, Mom will still cling to you and won't let go!"
Yun Jinhe: "..."
Yun Daman: "..."
What kind of talk is that? Their son is already married, why would she cling to him?
Yun Daman looked at Murong Qing standing by the side and asked with a smile, "This must be Miss Murong, right?"
He had already heard from his sister about what happened on the road earlier.
Miss Murong was willing to be Jinhe's study companion, to serve his meals and daily life at Bocai Academy, and she asked for no payment. Such a good girl is hard to find even with a lantern...
"Uncle Yun, Aunt Yun, hello!" Murong Qing stepped forward and bowed.
"Yes, yes, good!" Yun Daman's face bloomed like a flower, and he rubbed his hands, saying, "Guihua, look at this girl, how beautiful she is, fair and clean, she looks so much like our Jinhe as a couple, haha!"
Zhao Guihua: "..."
Are your eyes bubbling?
How do they look like a couple?
Zhao Guihua looked Murong Qing up and down, completely dissatisfied in her heart.
Her son was destined to become a high official in the capital in the future. How could he casually marry a village girl as his wife?
As if sensing Zhao Guihua's hostility, Murong Qing turned her head and looked at Old Man Yun in the courtyard...
"Jinhe is back, don't stand here, hurry inside!" Old Man Yun walked over and said.
After speaking, he glanced outside the main gate, wondering where the fourth one had gone.
Actually, Yun Siman had gotten off the carriage as soon as they reached the village entrance. He vaguely felt that there were many hidden experts around Dashui Village, and that powerful aura enveloped the entire Dashui Village, so Yun Siman had to investigate it thoroughly...
"Grandpa, these two are my classmates. They've come specifically to our home for the New Year this time!" Yun Jinhe introduced Yao Jinsheng and Sun Tianxiu to Old Man Yun respectively.
"Good, good, it's too cold outside, let's go inside and talk!" Old Man Yun said with a beaming smile, ushering everyone into the main hall.
The happy events in the family were one after another. Jingde and Xiaoran got engaged during the day, and Jinhe returned in the evening. The excited Yun family members didn't sleep either, and they all came to the main hall to chat with Yun Jinhe...
Little Xi Tian also sat on a high stool, swinging her short legs, and smiling at her eldest nephew.
Suddenly, a gaze swept over her. Little Xi Tian's expression froze. Following the gaze, she saw Murong Qing looking at her with a smile.
Although the two had met once on the road before, they hadn't had much in-depth contact and didn't know each other very well.
But the moment their eyes met, Little Xi Tian clearly felt a flash of extraordinary wisdom in her mind.
It was as if Murong Qing's appearance had unblocked a long-dormant nerve within her...