Jian Ning took little Chuntian to play outside the yamen for a while, and from time to time she glanced at the street in the direction of the east gate of the county town. Whenever she heard the sound of a carriage, she would pick up Chuntian and go to the street to take a look.

In recent years, although Ma Fuquan would send her photos every month or so, she had not been back to the capital for several years. When she heard Ma Fuquan tell her that he would bring his whole family, except Ma Xiaomai, back to his hometown to stay for a few days, and would also bring Dabao and Da Niu, she was so happy that she was counting the days on her fingers all day long.

"Aunt, will big brother and big sister really come today?" Xiao Chuntian asked with a smile, touching the hairpin on her head.

The little guy, who is less than two years old, speaks very clearly.

"I figured it's about time to arrive today." Jian Ning put his face against hers and said with a smile, "Even if he doesn't come today, he will definitely come tomorrow."

"Will the big brothers and big sisters like me?" the little guy asked again.

"Yes. You are the apple of my aunt's eye, and your brothers and sisters will definitely like you as much as my aunt does!" Jian Ning pinched her nose and waited with her for a while. When Ma Fuquan and the others didn't show up, she picked her up and went back to the backyard in disappointment.

She had just brought Chuntian to the backyard and handed her to the wet nurse when two carriages entered the city from the east gate and drove towards the county government office. Ma Fuquan and Yuechan each drove a carriage. Tian and their youngest son Ma Xiaobing and Da Niu sat in the front carriage, while Dabao, Ma Xiaomi, Ma Xiaodou and Ma Xiaolu sat in the back carriage.

Ma Xiaodou was still as noisy as before, and the whole carriage was filled with his voice. Dabao was already a young man of almost fifteen years old, looking more mature and steady than before. His appearance was the most outstanding among the few people, and he almost combined all the advantages of his parents.

In the yamen, Ding Youtian was escorting a squire from the county out. When he reached the door, he heard the sound of horse hooves on the street outside. He bowed to the squire, picked up his robe with one hand, walked down the steps, looked towards the street on the left, and a look of joy appeared on his face.

"Goodbye, I won't see you off." He turned around, clasped his fists and bowed to the squire, then walked happily towards the backyard.

"Madam, I'm here!" After shouting, he didn't wait for Jian Ning and hurried out to greet her.

"Uncle!" Ma Xiaodou had already jumped off the carriage and ran towards the yamen gate. Seeing Ding Youtian coming out with a happy face, he shouted "Uncle" and rushed over.

"Haha, you little brat!" Ding Youtian caught him, spun him around, and then left him. "Go find your aunt."

"Brother Tian!" Ma Fuquan drove the carriage over and shouted. Then Tian's voice came from the carriage, "Are we there? Stop the car! Stop the car!"

"Sister Tian!" Jian Ning had heard Tian's voice and was about to lead Ma Xiaodou to the carriage, but Ma Xiaodou broke free from her hand and ran towards the government office, shouting, "I'm going to find Sanniu."

"You little brat, you're still thinking about Sanniu." Ma Fuquan stopped the horse, got off the carriage, opened the curtain, took the stepping stone and put it under the carriage, "Let Da Niu get off first, your parents are here to meet you."

Ding Youtian and Jian Ning came over at this time. Jian Ning helped to open the curtain on the other side of the car, "Mom, Dad, I can see you now."

The girl was holding up her skirt and bending over to get out of the car. When she saw the two of them, her eyes suddenly turned red. Jane Ning quickly reached out and carried her down.

"Sister Tian, ​​long time no see." Jian Ning greeted Tian, ​​then held Da Niu's face and kissed her forehead, making Da Niu blush with embarrassment.

Although she felt sweet inside, wasn't her mother's welcome a bit too unrestrained? Jane would rather ignore it, grabbing her hands and saying with a smile: "My Shu'er has grown up, come and let me take a good look at her."

The twelve-year-old girl had already grown into a graceful young lady, with features that looked just like Jian Ning. She wanted to kneel down to greet Jian Ning and Ding Youtian, but Ding Youtian waved his hand, "Don't bother with your own parents."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dabao came over, lifted his robe, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists and said, "Son greets father and mother."

"Hurry up and get up." Jian Ning pulled him up. "Oh, my son is so handsome, ten thousand times more handsome than your father!"

"Hey, I can't stand it anymore. Who would praise their son in public like that?" Ma Fuquan said, laughing and punching Ding Youtian on the shoulder. "But you really are outshined by your son!"

Ding Youtian touched his nose and smiled, "You've had a hard time on the way here. Please come in. I'll leave the car here so they can rush to the backyard."

Xu Dali and Erlangzi had already come out, and they went to hold the horse reins one in front and one behind.

Dabao stood there without moving. He called out "Mom" to Jian Ning and tapped his forehead with his hand. Jian Ning was stunned for a moment, then reacted and smiled as he held his face and tapped his forehead.

"You little brat!" Ding Youtian turned around and called out to Tian to follow him. Glancing at this scene, he smiled and gave him a fake kick.

"Sister, you are getting younger and younger. Your face looks even more tender than before. You even put on some flowers and love to be coquettish. I think you will charm Brother Tian to death!" Tian held Ma Xiaobing's hand with one hand and poked Jian Ning's forehead with the other.

"Stop teasing me. My children are all grown up, so how can I not age? But you, you've given birth to five children, and now I think you look younger than before. Is it because of drinking my ginkgo paste?"

"Really?" Tian stopped, smiling as she pulled Jian Ning aside a few steps to let Ding Youtian, Ma Fuquan, and the others pass. Then she lowered her voice and said with a beaming expression, "To be honest, I actually drink your ointment every day. I heard that the Empress drinks it every day, and my husband Ma also said that I've become more handsome."

"Oh, why did you change your name? This is really fresh." Jian Ning said deliberately.

"Aunt." Ma Xiaolu shook Jian Ning's hand and looked up at her, saying, "My father used to call my mother Xiaotian, and sometimes Comrade Xiaotian."

"Auntie, what is comrade?"

Tian smiled and glared at Ma Xiaolu, "How would your aunt know? Ask your father!" Turning to Jian Ning, Tian added, "I don't know where he got this new word from, but I actually like hearing him call me that."

"My eldest brother is such a show-off. You're a mother of five and you're still a small-timer. I didn't know he was so good at coaxing people."

Tian clapped her hands on Jian Ning's shoulders, glaring at her and saying, "Don't talk about my old Ma like that. Even if he's a showoff, I'd still be happy."

"Yes, I won't say anything. My elder brother is good in everything, okay?" Jian Ning smiled and glanced at Tian's face again, "My elder brother is right, you really have become more handsome."

Jian Ning's words were not all flattery. Perhaps it was because she was living a comfortable life, Ma Fuquan treated her well, and her living standards had improved. Moreover, Tian had learned to put on some makeup, and she really looked younger and more beautiful than before.

The two chatted and laughed, each holding a child as they walked towards the backyard. Ma Xiaodou ran over and said, "Auntie, where is Sanniu's school? I'm going to pick her up after school."

"Bullshit!" Tian was dressed differently from before, but her temperament hadn't changed at all. She raised her hand and smacked Ma Xiaodou on the head. "Be quiet! Dabao and your second brother should pick them up. What do you have to do with it? Get out of here."

"Martin! You hit me on the head again. Daddy said, 'Men have heads and women have waists.' I told you not to hit me on the head, but you hit me again. You've made me stupid and I can't even read. I'm going to tell Daddy!"

He ran towards the flower hall in the backyard.