Chapter 165 It’s getting late, let’s set off early

At the end, she did not forget to mention: "Mrs. Ruan saved my family's life, and I will remember it forever. I have one more thing I want to ask."

"I wonder if Madam Ruan is married? If not, I would like to offer a generous betrothal gift to both you and your parents..."

Before he finished speaking, Xie Huaian stepped forward, clasped his fists and saluted with a smile: "Sir, it is really unfortunate that I am Madam Ruan's son-in-law."

Eji was shocked, and after she came to her senses, she took back her words amid the laughter of others.

"In that case, I am sorry for being rude. This gentleman is truly blessed."

Ruan Mian was embarrassed and quickly stopped Xie Huaian from flattering her!

"It's getting late, we should leave early!"

On the way, Ruan Mian finally couldn't stand Xie Huaian's gaze staring at her all the way, and asked with a helpless smile.

"My Lord, it seems you have something to say to me. You've been staring at me all the way, and I've felt a chill down my spine."

Xie Huaian said directly: "I was just thinking, Mianmian rejected me before. If I return to Kyoto one day, and you marry someone else in Wuheng, what should I do?"

I just went there to treat an illness, but I could also attract romantic interests.

"I think that scholar named Eji is a gentleman, from a good family, and handsome. He should be liked by you ladies."

"If I leave and he still insists on asking for my hand in marriage, I'll be so angry I'll die in Kyoto!"

Ruan Mian was amused by him: "Sir, please stop teasing me. I have already declined such a nice person like you, so why would I agree to anyone else?"

"Oh? How good am I to you?"

Ruan Mian skipped his question and spoke seriously.

"I still say the same thing. Matters between men and women are not important to me at all. On the contrary, I feel that they are a burden. I just want to live for myself."

Xie Huaian smiled, lowered his head, took off the gourd tied around his waist, and handed it to Ruan Mian.

"What do you mean, sir?"

Ruan Mian was puzzled, and Xie Huaian just said: "Leave me a thought, I want to come find you after I have resolved the matter in Kyoto."

"But you don't have to think of this as a burden. Just think of it as... a promise between friends to meet again. When we each go our separate ways, you should also allow each other a way out, right?"

"If you encounter difficulties in Wu Heng, just go to General Huo, he will always protect you."

When Ruan Mian saw him tie the gourd carefully around his wrist, he was moved and couldn't help asking.

"I have General Huo protecting me here, but what about you, my lord? If you return to Kyoto and have no one to protect you, what will you do if you encounter difficulties?"

However, Xie Huaian did not answer his question.

Ruan Mian thought about it and simply handed him the dagger he was carrying.

"I don't have anything special to give you in return. Since you want to leave a token of my gratitude, I'll give you this dagger that I always carry with me."

"I hope you can overcome all dangers, complete your great cause in Kyoto, and return to your official position. If my business is successful in Kyoto, I hope you can take good care of me."

Xie Huaian stared at the exquisite dagger, and finally took only the small jade stone embedded in the scabbard.

"This is your protective item. It cannot be given away casually. With this jade stone, I can be safe."

Ruan Mian smiled and said, "Alright, whatever your Excellency wishes. But your Excellency will not return to Kyoto immediately. If someone doesn't know what we are doing, they might think you are leaving today."

Xie Huaian curled his lips and smiled, thinking that it was not wrong to order some snacks in advance.

When they returned to the house with a lot of supplies, they found a group of people coming into the house.

After asking, I found out that it was Huo Zong who brought people here.

Cuizhu was so excited that she shed tears when she saw the girl who had disappeared for a long time come back.

He ran over, held her arm tightly and looked around.

"Miss, are you okay?! Auntie said you had something to take care of and told us not to worry, but you've been gone for over half a month, and the whole family is worried sick!"

"The eldest son has been looking for you in Guancheng for a long time. If it weren't for my aunt stopping him, I'm afraid he would have turned the entire Wuheng and Guancheng upside down!"

Ruan Mian knew that they were worried about him, so he did not tell them when he left that he was going to Lanqiang to treat people.

It's hard for my aunt to bear such great pressure.

As they were talking, Huo Zong and Zhang came out of the house. Seeing them coming back, they quickly took them back into the house and asked about the situation.

Some things were difficult to talk about at the moment, so Ruan Mian just brushed them off with a few words and only asked about the key points of the matter.

"General Huo, did you come here with good news?"

Huo Zong nodded. "That's right. The fighting between the two sides has stopped, and I've temporarily sent the Xuanjia Army away. However, I haven't found any direct evidence that they have ulterior motives, so I can't do anything to them."

"But at least we didn't let them use us, and we were able to defend Wuheng. Your family won't have to crowd into the heart of the valley anymore. You can return to Wuheng City one day."

"This time, your family has done a favor for our military camp. I can write a letter to register you as a resident. You will no longer have to endure the same hard labor as other exiles."

When they heard that they could be registered, Zhang and her family were very excited.

"Is what the General said true? Does that mean we are no longer exiles?!"

The major general beside Huo Zong was also happy for them: "Of course, the governor of Wu Heng has fled for fear of punishment, and the court has not yet dispatched a new governor to take office. The affairs of Wu Heng will be handled by the general for the time being."

"So the general said you can be registered, so there must be no problem."

“That’s great!”

Zhang felt that their family had finally reaped the rewards of their hard work. Now that they were registered as residents, Rui'er and his family would be able to go to school and even have no problem taking the imperial examinations.

The most important thing is that their family no longer has to work and can finally live a stable life.

Even in this uneasy place of Wuheng, it is better than being a fugitive.

Ruan Mian thought for a moment and asked, "General, do we have to go back to Wu Heng?"

Now the valley has been well developed by them. The houses are complete and next to the stream, the wasteland has also been reclaimed, and every household grows wheat, corn and other crops.

Even the road leading to Guancheng has been built. This place is even more suitable for living than the original Wuheng Village.

Huo Zong also thought of this.

"This is also part of Longchang Mountain. If you don't want to return to Wuheng Town, it's fine for you to stay here. However, we need to register here, and everyone who lives here will have to register their household registration."

"I see there are some people from the Jinsha clan among you. If you can discuss with them and build a Jinsha village here together, when I register it, I can register it as a small village under the name of the Jinsha clan's residence. That would be in accordance with the rules."

Wu Jie happened to be present, and she agreed without hesitation: "Of course, this is no problem. We have received a favor from Lady Ruan, and registering a village in the name of our clan is just a small matter."