The training camp began, and An Moxue returned to the camp with a belly full of questions. She felt that time was even more pressing. Having risen to the level of the An family patriarch and the Nalan family patriarch, with enemies spanning several countries, all of them powerful families, and still being remembered decades after their deaths, she, a lone wolf, had no choice but to admire and submit to them.

But how could a lone commander like myself possibly fight against so many families? For the sake of my life, I must rise up!

And so, An Moxue began this grueling training camp, which also inspired all the trainees at the base – they had no choice but to learn!

Jiudu studied like crazy, let alone them. Because of this, Captain Xu Qingfeng was in a good mood every day.

When a person is immersed in something, time seems to fly by. In the blink of an eye, this training camp ended, and An Moxue was once again far ahead in first place.

Standing at the crossroads of Ankou Town, An Moxue really wanted to say to Xu Qingfeng, "Captain, is it really that much of a distance you need? Could you take me to the village entrance?"

It was the dead of winter! Unfortunately, Xu Qingfeng didn't hear her shouts.

An Moxue carried her luggage and avoided the crowd to Old Ma's house. When Aunt Ma saw her, her eyes widened and she asked, "Did you just get back?"

An Moxue nodded and said, "Aunt Ma, I've missed you and Uncle Ma so much." Then, she hugged her tightly.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!" Aunt Ma patted her on the back and said, "You naughty child, you're squeezing me, be gentle!"

An Moxue released Aunt Ma, and the two women looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Quick, get on the kang (heated brick bed), warm up a bit, let me see, have you lost weight?"

An Moxue took off her coat, hat, and scarf, turned around on the ground, and asked, "Auntie, where's Uncle Ma? Why isn't he home weaving baskets today?"

"He went to a meeting at the Armed Forces Department. This year's border unrest is even more serious than last year's, and we've all been affected. I don't know why those Russians aren't bothered by the cold. Tell me, in the middle of winter, they can't stop causing trouble. Hmm, not bad, you haven't lost weight, and you look pretty good."

"Oh dear, poor old man, so old, it must be so cold in the middle of winter. Auntie, I'll leave my things here and not go home yet. I want to go back to Kyoto before everyone knows I'm back, to fill in my parents' graves and pay my respects. I want to take the train tonight."

As An Moxue spoke, she went to get her coat, but Aunt Ma stopped her, saying, "It won't make a difference if you wait a little longer. I'll go cook for you. You can warm up first and have something hot before you go. There's still time. Besides, the village chief has gone too. You have to wait for her to come back! Pour yourself a cup of hot water and drink it first."

As Aunt Ma spoke, she got off the kang (a heated brick bed), went to the kitchen, and began to busy herself.

An Moxue poured herself a cup of hot water in the room to warm her hands while drinking it.

A little while later, Aunt Ma made rice porridge, heated up some vegetable buns, chopped a small plate of pickled vegetables, and fried a plate of eggs.

As An Moxue ate, she said, "Auntie, I just miss your pickled vegetables. Home-cooked meals are still the best."

Aunt Ma looked at her with a smile on her face, her wrinkles even appearing lighter, and asked, "Can you spend the New Year at home?"

After asking the question, he looked at An Moxue earnestly. An Moxue replied, "Yes, you wait. After I return from Kyoto, I will go to the mountains to get you some wild game."

"It's terribly cold outside. When you get back, just stay home and behave yourself!"

An Moxue smiled, took a sip of rice porridge, and then picked up a steamed bun to eat.

After finishing the meal, An Moxue felt warm all over.

"Auntie, what time will my uncle and the others be back?" An Moxue asked anxiously.

"There's really no set time for this. If you can't leave today, then leave tomorrow! Accountant Chen went too. If the two of them don't come back, who will give you a letter of introduction?" Aunt Ma advised.

“Hmm, Auntie, it’s alright. Come here, let me take your pulse and see how you’ve been these past few months,” An Moxue said, moving next to Aunt Ma, taking her hand, and placing it on her wrist.

After a while, An Moxue said with a smile, "Auntie, that's great! If you keep taking it for another six months, you can stop taking the medicine. Just be careful in your daily life."

"Really! I feel better every day these past few months. This winter, I even occasionally visit neighbors and chat, and I haven't gotten sick once." Aunt Ma said happily, "Over the years, this year has been my best year in terms of health. When I'm healthy, I feel relaxed, and my mood is especially good."

"That's great." Just as the mother and daughter were talking happily, Old Ma returned.

"Hey! Did I hear that right? Who's back?" Old Ma's voice came through the door before he even entered the house.

"Uncle Ma, I'm back!" An Moxue's words were full of ease and joy.

Old Ma entered the house and asked, "Can you spend the New Year at home?"

An Moxue burst out laughing. Old Ma looked at her and asked, "What are you grinning about? Have you gone crazy from being exhausted these past few months?"

“I’m very clever! I was just laughing at you and Aunt Ma for both asking me if we could spend the New Year at home. You two are really in sync.”

"Uncle Ma, has Uncle Guo gone home or is he still at the brigade headquarters?" An Moxue asked.

"What do you need?" Old Ma asked.

"Yes, I'd like to ask for leave to go back to Kyoto, preferably tonight."

"You're leaving so soon after you just got back? Do you need to come tomorrow?" Uncle Ma asked, trying to make it clear.

"There's still time. Let's do it today, while everyone is still unaware that I'm back. When I return, some people will think I just came back, which will reduce the trouble."

“Alright, then I’ll give you the letters from the past few months, so you don’t miss any information.” Old Ma said, taking a stack of letters out of the cabinet and handing them to An Moxue.

An Moxue took the clothes, put on her hat and scarf, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and left Old Ma's house.

After she left the courtyard, Aunt Ma said, "A young girl like her, toiling away year after year, who knows when it will end."

Old Ma said, "The capable are never idle. If you're born into a family like this and do nothing, you won't even be able to keep your life. Do you think about that?"

Aunt Ma didn't say anything more, and her good mood from when An Moxue was there was gone. Old Ma took out his pipe, lit it, and puffed away.

An Moxue got a letter of introduction from Village Chief Guo, then left the village. There was no one around. She took out her sled, started paddling, and disappeared into the undulating mountain road in the blink of an eye.

An Moxue returned quietly, and then left quietly again.

After arriving in the county town, I bought a train ticket and had a meal at a state-run restaurant. It was almost time for the train to arrive at the station.

As An Moxue sat on the cold train, thinking about how she had been rushing all day, she hated the current mode of transportation, which was both dilapidated and slow.

She gazed at the scenery outside the window, pondering her plans for this trip—Head of the Tang family, are you ready? I'm coming. I hope you won't disappoint me!