As soon as the remaining Laba porridge in the pot was served, Nie Fantian's seven or eight followers also entered the room.

One of them was from Xujia Village and had already gone back to find his relatives and uncles.

In front of everyone, Nie Fantian simply shared his experiences with them.

After fleeing to Yuzhou Prefecture, they joined the army and fought continuously. This time, they were returning to Jincheng Prefecture to escort grain supplies and would not stop in Xujia Village.

Even if he doesn't say it, everyone knows why.

Nie Fantian's return caused an instant sensation in Xujia Village.

Just as Xiaomanye sat down and began to recount in detail how Xu Xiaogu brought the child back, Xu Changming, Qin Shi, and Liu Shi all came over.

Other villagers also gathered around Sishuitang, pointing and whispering about the people Nie Fantian had brought.

But Xu Changming and his group couldn't even get inside before they were stopped by several guards standing watch outside. He cried out anxiously, "You ungrateful child from the Nie family, you're the one who raised you..."

Before he could finish speaking, a knife was held to his neck.

Xu Changming and the others had no choice but to turn around and leave to find the nephew who had come back with Nie Fantian, and to inquire about the current situation of the other members of the Xu family.

Especially those like Da Yong and Da Jiang who followed Nie Fantian into the army, did they also become officials?

In the Sishui Hall, Nie Fantian's face was ashen: "My aunt says that Nie Shi is my biological mother, but do you have any proof?"

Since things had already come to this point, he still called Jiang Zhi his aunt, and Jiang Zhi didn't object. It was up to the male protagonist to decide what to call her.

Although the original owner hated and cursed him, she still raised him as her nephew in her heart.

Jiang Zhi took out a small wooden box containing a quilt cover embroidered with a hundred children pattern: "Your aunt told me that this quilt cover was thrown away by Xu Yuxian, and it has needlework embroidered by Xu Yuxian herself. It was only after seeing this that I confirmed that Xu Yuxian, you, and the owner of this quilt cover are related."

In order to find out news about Xujia Village, Xu Yuxian deliberately led Wang Xiaoju and her husband to a dilapidated house to fluff up discarded bedding. However, she didn't get much information out of them, which aroused the suspicion of the clever Wang Xiaoju.

Before leaving, Wang Xiaoju took the quilt cover she had taken off with her, which Liu confirmed was that the lady in question was Xu Xiaogu.

This led Jiang Zhi to bring people to Xiao Man's door and cause a huge disturbance, almost resulting in Xiao Man's death.

Afterwards, Jiang Zhi studied the quilt cover for a long time. In the future, when Nie Fantian wanted to recognize his relatives, this would be a certificate. However, with her eyesight, she couldn't see anything special about it.

She then consulted the wife of a scholar who was most skilled in embroidery.

The scholar's wife said that the fabric was very ordinary, the weaving method was the diagonal herringbone pattern that the barbarians in the mountains were accustomed to, and the embroidery was also very ordinary. It was just a piece of fabric used by ordinary mountain people.

Jiang Zhi was completely confused. The Nie family owned a cloth shop, so why would they use such ordinary cloth for Nie Shi's wedding?

However, the scholar's wife noticed something special: the two embroidered patterns were created at different times. The former depicted lively and adorable children, some chasing chickens, others carrying baskets and working – all scenes of rural life.

The little doll embroidered in the latter piece was forcibly crammed into the "Hundred Children" pattern, and although it was holding a gold ingot, it looked awkward in every way.

Jiang Zhi broke out in a cold sweat when she heard that.

Xu Yuxian was deliberately scheming in every way, even stepping on the bedsheets, wishing she could replace the original wife, Nie.

Nie Fantian touched the faded and tattered quilt cover, his voice as cold as ice: "I'll trouble you, Aunt, to come with me to Jincheng Prefecture to clean up the Xu family's mess!"

He had already seen the scar on Xiaoman's waist.

That wound would be fatal even on the battlefield; a knife wound would be certain death. It was clearly the killer's intention to kill, and the person who sent the assassin was undoubtedly his own "biological father."

And then there was that phrase that several people heard: "A worthless life that should have died long ago, but it's a blessing to live another eighteen years..."

Nie Fantian always believed that he was born to Xu's aunt and that it was only natural for him to be loved by his maternal grandparents. Therefore, he harbored resentment when his aunt did not tolerate him.

Upon learning in the military camp that he was not of the Xu family bloodline, that his birth mother might be someone else, and that her family was wealthy, Nie Fantian was determined to unravel the mystery of his origins and immediately led his men back to his hometown.

He wanted to find that despicable couple and get to the bottom of all the suffering he had endured over the years and everything the Xu family had sacrificed.

Jiang Zhi was not very willing to go to Jincheng Prefecture by Nie Fantian. It's always better to stay at home than to go out, and it's already December.

Although heavy snow is rare in Bavaria, the freezing rain can make people huddle together in the cold, making travel at such times a real ordeal.

Moreover, although Nie Fantian still looks like an innocent young man at this time, Jiang Zhi can't forget his sinister appearance with black mist swirling around him outside the door.

If I leave Xu Family Village and Nie Fantian's protagonist aura takes over, will I suffer the same fate?

As if sensing Jiang Zhi's worries, Nie Fantian said, "Today is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. If Aunt is worried, you can have your cousin go to Jincheng Prefecture with you. Go quickly and come back quickly. If we can handle things smoothly, we won't be late to come back for the New Year."

Xiaoman chimed in, "I'll go with my aunt. Errui will stay home to take care of Sister-in-law Qiaoyun. I can't let that knife wound go unpunished; I need to get an explanation."

Xiaoman was going to Jincheng to avenge himself, and Jiangzhi had no choice but to agree to go to Jincheng Prefecture with him, leaving Errui behind to take care of the two families.

Nie Fantian said he would go and come back soon, but he was actually going to leave immediately. Qiaoyun and Tanshi hurriedly prepared thick clothes for Jiangzhi to wear when she went out.

Nie Fantian and his group hurried back along the official road without reporting to the local authorities. It was only then that Zhang Juntou and Song Tingzhang, who were in charge of security, received the news and led people into the village to check the situation!

But after seeing the escort order that Nie Fantian produced, the two left immediately.

Soon, Liu and Qin also learned that Jiang Zhi wanted Jincheng Prefecture to clean house, and they hurriedly wanted to go with her.

Liu said, "I'm too old to walk that far, so let Xiaoju go with you. She's smart and young, and she can handle the hardship."

Wang Xiaoju nodded vigorously beside her. She had urged her mother-in-law to come along when she heard that her aunt was going to Jincheng Prefecture.

Qin retorted, "I've never lost a fight. If it's about slapping, it's more convenient for me, as the sister-in-law."

Being older has its advantages; as Xu Xiaogu's sister-in-law, her status gives her an edge.

The two began competing for the job.

Jiang Zhi felt that it was indeed necessary to bring her own people when going out, so that she would have help if she really quarreled with that woman in the inner quarters.

After thinking for a moment, she said to Qin, "The road is difficult to travel, so don't complain about getting wet in the rain and freezing!"

Qin said happily, "Your honest friend made me a thick coat but I haven't worn it yet. I'm not afraid of the cold."

Jiang Zhi knew that Li Laoshi's wallet had been completely emptied.

Serves them right; this is the price of not being able to control their lower body.

The male magistrate was decisive and efficient; Jiang Zhi was ready to depart in just two hours.

Nie Fantian used his identity token to call an official carriage at the post station for Jiang Zhi to ride in.

Qin and Li Laoshi also got into the car, leaving Jiang Zhi squeezed in a corner and rolling her eyes.

The two of them were now inseparable, like duck feet stuck together. If Qin was going, Li Laoshi would naturally follow.

Xiaoman followed Nie Fantian to learn how to ride a horse. He had only ridden a mule before and had never had the chance to ride a real warhorse.

Jiang Zhi instructed Qiaoyun and Errui, who had come to see her off, to take good care of Xiaoman's grandparents and prepare well for the New Year.

Sigh, following the male lead will definitely bring bad luck. I hope that I, the farming heroine, will continue to be blessed with good fortune and luck.