He hasn't changed at all in the past few years, still looking like he's in his forties. He's become even more gentle, often stroking his goatee. "Hey, I'm just a shameless guy. I'm getting old, and I just love to join in the fun."

Zhao Fang also disliked living in the county town more and more.

Unlike seven or eight years ago, she now wants to be among people, but no one in the county town talks to her about everyday matters every day.

"I enjoy lively gatherings nowadays too."

Two years from now, when Lu Xiao turns forty, she will return to the village to live. Every day she will plant vegetables, take clothes to the river to wash, and gossip with people. That would be a wonderful thing.

Unfortunately, Lu Yan did not return on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

I didn't receive the letter until March, when spring had just begun, and I returned to my parents' home on the twelfth of March.

That morning, Lu Yunxing and his younger siblings waited at the dock until dawn, and finally found the two of them among seven or eight boats near noon.

Lu Yan wore a peach-colored brocade dress, her hair styled in an elaborate bun, adorned with pearl hairpins.

She hadn't seen him for only half a year, but she was even more beautiful and radiant than before. Standing next to Cui Yanqing, they actually looked like a perfect couple.

"Sister-in-law!" Lu Yan came up and grabbed Qin Xiaozhou. "Why are you standing in the sun? Let's go back quickly."

Cui Yanqing maintained his refined and gentle demeanor as a young nobleman, addressing his elder brother and sister-in-law as "elder brother and sister-in-law."

Qin Xiaozhou nodded, looking Lu Yan up and down. She was indeed different after getting married compared to when she was a girl.

And her demeanor truly has the air of a matriarch of a wealthy family.

She couldn't help but praise, "Great, let's go home and let your mother-in-law and the others see you."

Lu Yan returned to her parents' home in grand style, carrying the items she brought back one by one up the steps of the Qin residence.

Lu Xiaosi ran into the room holding Lu Shiyan's hand, "Your Majesty, Third Sister and Brother-in-law are back."

Zhao Fang rushed over from the backyard kitchen, wiping her hands. She took Lu Yan's hand, looked around, and her eyes were slightly red. "You're back. Come inside quickly. Are you hungry? Mom made your favorite braised pork hock."

Cui Yanqing greeted the elders and was then invited to the main room by the Lu brothers to talk, while the women went to the flower hall.

Once out of the way, Zhao Fang asked anxiously, "How are things in Qinghe County? How is your husband treating you?"

Lu Yan explained in detail: "Our wedding boat arrived at the Cui family in Qinghe in mid-October, where we paid homage to our ancestors, met our relatives, and were included in the family genealogy."

We just returned from Qinghe this spring, and we'll be living in Wanzhou Prefecture from now on, only going to Qinghe County during holidays.

He was very kind to me. Last early autumn, the Cui family had another marriage proposal—it was said that the eldest son of the Cui family was marrying the eldest daughter of the Lu family. All the relatives in the family focused their attention on the eldest son, and I was just there for a formality; they didn't make things difficult for me.

Lu Yan sipped jasmine tea, a beverage Qin Xiaozhou often made for her when her family was poor many years ago, and it was also her favorite tea.

Her eyes welled up with tears. "I just miss you all."