The wharf in Changle, Huzhou, is exceptionally lively today.

Mr. Xu, dressed in new clothes, paced back and forth in the courtyard. He looked at the waiting yamen runners and said, "Women are such a hassle. Please wait a little longer."

After saying that, he urged towards the house, "Old woman, are you done yet? The family is waiting for you."

"Coming, coming, don't rush me."

Xu's mother, dressed in a new outfit, carefully walked out.

"Hurry up, the army is almost at the dock, why are you so slow?"

"I was just worried about getting my new clothes dirty."

Xu's mother was somewhat annoyed by Xu's father's urging. Yesterday, that old man got up in the middle of the night, dressed in new clothes, and sat on the bed waiting for dawn.

As a result, she didn't sleep well either, and her head was a little dizzy, making her movements a bit clumsy today.

Looking at the couple, the constables smiled kindly and said, "Sirs, no rush, no rush, take your time."

"Lord Xu's ship probably won't dock until noon. We're just going there now to have breakfast and grab a bite."

"The lunch banquet is the real meal, gentlemen, there's no need to rush."

Seeing the former yamen runners now fawning over him like this, Xu's father felt somewhat uncomfortable.

He was still somewhat afraid of these government officials.

However, thinking of his promising son, Mr. Xu felt proud again.

Xu's father was an outsider; his ancestors had moved to Caijiazhuang and were among the few people with different surnames in the village.

The village ancestral hall only enshrines the ancestors of the Cai family, which means that the ancestors of the Xu family cannot enjoy the incense offerings from their descendants.

When the prefect learned of this, he arranged for people to rebuild the Xu family ancestral hall in the village the next day to worship the ancestors of the Xu family and to thank them for raising a descendant like Xu Kun.

Not only that, the prefect also specially arranged for someone to rewrite a family genealogy for the Xu family.

The first page of the family genealogy lists Xu Kun's name, and the second page lists Xu's father and mother.

The thought that the Xu family could prosper again under his leadership filled Mr. Xu with pride.

He looked up at the sky and it was as if he saw the ancestors of the Xu family looking at him.

"Father, Mother, Grandpa, did you see that?"

“Your descendant has made something of himself; he has made more of himself than all of us.”

As Xu's father was expressing his feelings, Xia Yan also came over with his family.

Behind him, Xia Hua, dressed in a red robe, looked somewhat nervous.

Today is the first time she has met her future husband. She wonders if Xu Kun will look down on her now that he knows she married in place of her sister.

Xia Shu stood beside her, her face looking rather grim.

After learning that Xu Kun had become a sixth-rank official, she regretted her decision and wanted to renegotiate the marriage and marry into the Xu family.

As a result, Mr. and Mrs. Xu firmly disagreed, and they decided to support their younger sister.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, she even sent the dowry to the Xia family overnight, fearing that something might go wrong.

The thought of her younger sister marrying a sixth-rank official filled Xia Shu with unbearable jealousy.

What upset her even more was that this sixth-rank official was someone she had personally pushed out.

You should know that the highest-ranking official among the sons and daughters of wealthy families she knew was only a sixth-rank official.

Xu Kun became a sixth-rank official at a young age, and he also had a relationship with a prince.

Every time Xia Shu thinks about these things, she feels like slapping herself twice.

What a wonderful husband! How could she give him to her own sister?

"Haha, father-in-law, indeed, clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha."

"You've changed into a new outfit, you look completely different."

Xia Yanren's laughter preceded his entrance.

Fortunately, his youngest daughter preserved the marriage with the Xu family; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to secure his position as the magistrate of Changle County so quickly.

The prefect of Huzhou went to the Xu family in the morning, and the appointment letter arrived at the Xia family in the afternoon. Xia Yan, who was originally a substitute county magistrate, became a real county magistrate.

Having enjoyed his time as a county magistrate for a few days, he was truly reluctant to give up the power he held.

Therefore, when he sees Xu's father now, he is extremely enthusiastic.

"Greetings, Magistrate Xia!"

When the yamen runners saw Xia Yan approaching, they all bowed and greeted him.

Mr. and Mrs. Xu bowed as well, but were stopped: "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, we are family, there is no need to be so formal."

“If you act like this, you’re not treating my daughter, Xia’s daughter, as your daughter-in-law.”

"Not at all, not at all. My wife and I think Xia Shu is wonderful. Let alone being her daughter-in-law, if Xia Shu were to marry into our family, we would treat her like our own daughter."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xu's father and Xia Yan followed the yamen runners out of the house.

They walked all the way to the official road before they saw the carriage arranged by the prefect.

"Big brother, you've arrived."

"Uncle!"

Behind the horse-drawn carriage followed several oxcarts. Some of Xu's relatives stood by the oxcarts, waiting. They were also preparing to go to the dock to welcome the victorious army back.

To welcome the army, the prefect of Huzhou held a grand banquet for all the people. Anyone who went to the dock to greet the army could enjoy a free meal.

For this banquet, almost everyone from Caijiazhuang went to the dock.

Because of Xu's father, Xu's relatives were allowed to travel with him to the banquet in the carriage.

Among these relatives, the one closest to Xu's father was Xu Lao Er.

"Uncle, Aunt, that's my sister-in-law."

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