However, he still asked, "Auntie, was it the day you came back, when you said you needed to talk to Amu, around that time?"

Chi Yu nodded firmly: "Yes! You all say he's capable and a competent person."

That's why I was thinking of going to him.

Chi Ye was completely relieved this time, and upon hearing her aunt's words, she replied in agreement:

"Yes, Amu is a capable man. Back in the Northern Frontier Army camp, he rose to the rank of commander of a thousand men in just five years thanks to his ruthless and daring spirit."

At that time, he was only eighteen years old, a statement that Ikeno did not make.

Chi Yu may not know much else, but having read many novels, he knows what rank a commander of a thousand men in the military camp is.

Immediately, her voice rose, and she asked in disbelief:

"A commander of a thousand? Are you sure? Ah Ye, a commander of a thousand is a fifth-rank military officer, which is equivalent to a general."

Having reached this level, how could he possibly return to Anping County, and be all alone?

Furthermore, how dare the people of Anping County speak ill of him behind his back?

Ikeno is very easygoing when making friends, and doesn't care about the other person's identity at all.

He felt that if he got along well with the other person, he would interact with them more.

If you can't get along with someone, then minimize contact.

Therefore, he knew that Qin Mu had served as a commander of a thousand men in the army, but he never took it to heart.

Later, when Qin Mu returned to Anping County, he assumed the other person was a retired soldier returning home, and the events in the military became a thing of the past.

Now, listening to my aunt's words, I realize that he's a high-ranking official, at least higher than the county magistrate of Anping County.

Even if someone like that wanted to leave the military, it wouldn't be as simple as just quitting, would it?

However, he couldn't see anything special about Qin Mu.

Could it be that he misremembered, and that Amu wasn't actually a commander of a thousand households before?

Seeing that his eldest nephew was deep in thought, Chi Yu didn't ask any further questions.

Now that she knows Qin Mu is a truly capable person, she can finally rest assured.

Unbeknownst to the people of Chijia'ao, Qin Mu was making arrangements for his trip to Chijia'ao in Anping County the following day.

Shen Kai is also in his early twenties this year. He is Qin Mu's good friend and the person who helps him handle matters big and small.

At this moment, while personally carrying sacks of grain onto the cart wrapped in oilcloth, he said with a hint of gossip:

"Brother Mu, you're already twenty-three this year, and you'll be twenty-four next year."

The imperial court had a rule that if a man was not married by the age of twenty-five, the government would force him into marriage.

Right now, you said that Ah Ye's aunt is divorced?

She even said she's unaffected by your misfortune. In my opinion, why don't you marry her?

Qin Mu was in the main room, writing with paper and pen, about what he should bring up to Chijia'ao when he set off early tomorrow morning.

Upon hearing this, he paused, pen in hand, then turned to look at Chen Kai and said coldly:

"Kai, do you think this is something to joke about?"

Shen Kai, who was still moving grain, felt a chill run down his spine when he heard his voice.

However, for his friend's sake, he still gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Mu, I'm not joking."

You can't possibly be alone for the rest of your life just because of bad luck, can you?

Even if the government arranges a marriage for you, if you bring that person home and can't withstand the evil aura, it'll all be for nothing.

Upon hearing this, Qin Mu replied, "My situation is recorded by the government, and they won't arrange a wife for me."

Unless, of course, the government wants someone dead!

Upon hearing this, Shen Kai remained silent for a moment, not responding, and could only continue speaking to himself:

"Brother Mu, although I have never met Aye's aunt, she must have been quite beautiful to have been able to marry a scholar."

Since the divorce was the fault of the scholar in front, it means that the young lady herself was not at fault.