Three months later—

As mining progressed, corresponding workshops were also built one after another.

The recruitment drive is in full swing, boosting employment for residents of Yunshui County.

The fiscal and tax reports showed increasingly soaring figures, and the grain and silver in the granaries grew ever more abundant.

It happened to be snowing heavily, and the weather was extremely cold.

The marriage between the Gu and Chen families was a grand affair, lasting three days and three nights.

After attending the wedding banquet, Jiang Yue handed over all the affairs of the county to the officials and the township head, and then, with her daughter, bid farewell to her maternal grandparents and embarked on her journey home.

Aunt Ge naturally went with her back to her hometown for the New Year.

Uncle Yongfa and Aunt Qin will come to pick them up and take them back to their hometown after they have a day off.

I forgot to mention that this year, Youyin still failed the imperial examination and became a Juren. Through her recommendation, she came to the yamen to work as a registrar.

Although it wasn't a high-ranking official position, it was still a good way out.

In Yunshui County, with an adopted son to take charge, there's not much to worry about.

Due to the slippery roads caused by the snow, the carriage, escorted by a hundred guards, traveled slowly and stopped frequently, delaying them for two days. On the ninth day, they finally returned to the drastically changed Wujiaji.

"Finally home."

Qingyao pushed open a corner of the car window and saw the familiar yet unfamiliar village entrance, and sighed from the bottom of her heart.

Now she finally understood why her second brother used to tell her how wonderful their hometown was after returning home from Nanjing, and how much she missed it when she was away.

She feels the same way now; everything in her hometown seems so familiar and comforting.

"Third brother's wife, Yao Yao, is that you back?"

In the distance, an elderly man wearing a blue headscarf sat in a teahouse, slowly approaching.

Upon seeing this, the guards became alert and disarmed themselves.

They can distinguish between goodwill and malice, and between those who possess martial arts skills and those who do not.

Presumably, they are relatives of the princess?

"Grandma? It's Grandma! Mom, I'm going downstairs now~"

Qingyao exclaimed in surprise, and then jumped down without Xia Hua's help.

I couldn't wait to run towards my grandma, and I almost slipped and fell on the snow.

"Oh my goodness, slow down! The milk won't run away~"

Old Mrs. Zhou removed her thick scarf, revealing a kind smile.

She's her granddaughter, the third son's wife.

Grandma, I miss you so much~

Qingyao ran over and jumped into her grandmother's arms, only to find that her grandmother was sitting on a chair with two wheels.

"Do you miss your grandma, or do you miss the chicken soup she used to make?"

Old Mrs. Zhou couldn't help but laugh and tease her granddaughter.

Unwittingly, she revealed her silver teeth, which were quite dazzling.

"Huh? Grandma, your teeth..."

Qingyao felt that her grandmother had changed a lot; even her teeth had changed color.

Old Mrs. Zhou nodded, pursed her lips shyly, and then explained in a low voice:

"Grandma got old and lost her teeth. A few months ago, your eldest brother, your uncles, and your grandfather took me to the clinic to get them fixed. And let me tell you, it's much easier for her to eat now!"

"Alright, it's cold outside, Yao Yao, you and your mother go home first. Grandma will close the tea stall and go home to make chicken soup for you two."

"Mmm, thank you, Grandma~"

"Thank you, Mother~"

Jiang Yue also got off the carriage. The mother and daughter escorted the old lady to the tea stall, said goodbye to their sisters-in-law, and then returned to the carriage to continue their journey into the village…

Everyone knows that Jikou is not a place to talk; it's too conspicuous.

Plus, it was cold outside, not as warm as inside, so we quickly closed the tea stall and said goodbye.

Most of the business owners in the market were not from the village, so they did not recognize the legendary Princess Jiang.

After hearing about it from the villagers later, he immediately regretted not having gone to deliver something and become more familiar with the place.

......

After returning home, Aunt Ge took care of all the chores.

The servants and maids in the house all cooperated actively and worked extremely efficiently.

The guards' private rooms were furnished with mattresses, blankets, and pillows on each bunk bed.

If you put five bunk beds in one room, ten rooms will be enough.

The guards always lived like this during training, so they weren't uncomfortable with it at all; on the contrary, they found it quite welcoming.

"Grandma~"

"Milk~"

"Mother~"

"Hey girl~"

"Sister-in-law~"

"Big brother~"

"Oh my, my little darling~"

As soon as I entered the house, there was a burst of cheers and excitement from everyone, big and small.

Greetings poured in, and they crowded around the main room.

Fire buckets, hot water bottles, hand warmers.

Hot water, hot tea, dried fruit, and snacks are all available.

Family reunion is more important than anything else.

"Mother, I thought the snow was so heavy that you and my sister would be delayed on the road for a few days. I didn't expect you to be back today. There are still so many things that haven't been prepared."

Qingshan sat in a chair, chatting casually with his mother, showing concern for her well-being.

"Mother, have some ginger tea to warm your stomach and get rid of the cold."

Da Xue proactively served tea and water, and then squatted down to take off her mother-in-law's wet cotton shoes and put on cotton-padded cloth shoes that she had made.

There were also hot water bottles and fire buckets. Only after serving her mother-in-law well did she step back a few steps and treat her sister-in-law in the same way.

"Sister-in-law, I can do it myself."

Qingyao is all grown up now, so she's too embarrassed to ask her sister-in-law to do everything for her.

She tried to refuse, but her sister-in-law's hospitality was too much to bear, and before she knew it, she was enveloped in warmth.

It's true, besides mothers, there are also sisters-in-law in this world!

"Don't stand, come sit over here and warm yourself by the fire. Look how cold your hands are."

Jiang Yue is not a bad mother-in-law. Her daughter-in-law treats her well, and she treats her well in return.

With both arms around her grandchildren nestled in her embrace, she couldn't free her hands to pull her daughter-in-law.

It is indeed a sweet burden.

"Mother, I'm not cold. You've worked so hard. I'll go to the kitchen right away and cook some food and chicken soup for you and my sister to welcome you back."

Da Xue shook her head. It was a rare occasion for her mother-in-law to come home, and if she didn't show her filial piety, how could she face her mother-in-law?

“Mother, you go ahead and work in the snow. You and my sister haven’t been back for a long time, and she misses you. She’ll feel good if she can do some work for you and my sister.”

Seeing this, Qingshan spoke up for his wife, also telling his mother that his wife was being filial and that she shouldn't stop her.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yue glared at her son reproachfully and said disapprovingly:

“You married Daxue, not to make her do chores. You have to treat Daxue well, or I won’t let you off the hook.”

Hearing his mother's words, Qingshan smiled bitterly, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yue's heart skipped a beat. Could this brat have done something to betray his daughter-in-law?

"Yaoyao, take Wan'er and Xuan'er to your room. Didn't you sell the wooden horse? Teach them how to play with it."

Hearing her mother's words and recalling her older brother's expression just now, Qingyao knew that her mother and older brother had something to say, and it was not appropriate for a child to be present.

So he nodded, smiled, and picked up the two little ones, one in each arm, and led them towards his house...