The carriage soon arrived at Linxi Village.

Jing Li lifted the car curtain and saw the scene outside, and was stunned.

The small open space at the entrance of the village was crowded with people, and faces, familiar or unfamiliar, were looking at them with the same eagerness in their eyes.

"What's wrong?" Seeing Jing Li didn't move, Qin Zhao asked from inside the car.

"No, nothing..." Jing Li opened the curtain of the carriage and helped Qin Zhao out.

Qin Zhao paused for a moment when he saw the scene before him, then got off the carriage with the help of Jing Li and the coachman.

They walked towards the crowd, with the village chief standing in front.

Qin Zhao said: "I just want the village chief to find a few people to help me move my things. What are you doing..."

"You've helped the village so much, everyone wants to come and see you." The village chief smiled and turned around to order, "What are you standing there for? Hurry and move your things."

Everyone responded, and several farmers jumped onto the cart, each carrying a stack of books, and quickly unloaded all the medical books from the cart.

Qin Zhao took a quick look and saw the Chen family, the Lin family, the Li family, and even Li Hongyu, who was helping out with one arm hanging.

He retracted his gaze and asked, "Has the village chief recovered?"

"I took your medicine and that minor ailment has long been healed." The village chief waved his hand and said, "As for you, I see you don't look well. Have you been overworked lately?"

Qin Zhao: "Not bad."

"You're just being stubborn, kid." The village chief sighed and added, "Ever since I heard the county magistrate left you in the county town, I've been worried. I wanted to go see you, but the village needs help with the riverbank construction, and I just finished all the work these past two days."

They walked along the road at the entrance of the village and saw from afar that the original embankment had been raised a lot and the waterproof ditches beside the fields had all been dug.

"...I will keep an eye on this project day and night, and do everything according to your instructions. You can rest assured." said the village chief.

Qin Zhao nodded, and suddenly someone pulled his sleeve.

A little boy, only as tall as Qin Zhao's waist, stood before him, holding a basket of eggs and looking up at him. "Uncle Qin Zhao, thank you for having the officials build the embankment. My fields are at the lowest point in the village, and they used to get flooded every year. My mother asked me to give these to you, thank you."

The boy had tanned skin but bright eyes.

Qin Zhao's expression faltered for a moment, and he said softly, "Take the things back. No need to thank me. This is what I should do."

"This is also a small token of our gratitude, so please accept it," the village chief said. "Not only his family, but many other villagers have also sent us gifts. Some are still with me, and I'll send them to you later."

"Yes, just take it."

"You've helped the village so much, we can't go without showing our appreciation."

"Don't be polite, take them all!"

Everyone was talking at once, and Qin Zhao couldn't refuse, so he was a little hesitant.

Someone beside him reached out and took the things from him: "Why are you being so polite to such a big guy? Come, I'll help you hold it."

It’s Li Dali.

Li Dali said, "We're all neighbors. There's no reason to ask you for help for nothing. We'd feel bad if you didn't accept it. Don't you agree?"

Everyone responded in unison.

Qin Zhao had no choice but to nod in agreement.

The boy in front of him hadn't left yet and tugged at Qin Zhao's clothes again: "Uncle Qin, I'm going to town to study in elementary school next year too."

Qin Zhao's eyes moved slightly.

Linxi Village rarely sends children out to study. Before this, only Chen Yanan had gone to school in town.

"It's not just him," the village chief said. "After this incident, many people in the village want to send their children to school to learn to read. Even if it's not for the purpose of passing the imperial examinations, knowing a few more characters is beneficial."

The village chief paused and sighed, "Years ago, I advocated in the village that all young children should be sent to school, but no one was willing. This time, you have fulfilled my wish."

Qin Zhao: "That's great."

"Alright, Village Chief, let's talk about this another day," Li Dali said. "Everyone, go away and don't get stuck here. Mr. Qin has been traveling all day, let him go back and rest."

The village chief nodded and helped send everyone away.

Only Li Dali was left to send Qin Zhao home.

Along the way, they received many gifts from villagers, which were nothing more than daily necessities such as fruits, vegetables, bedding and cotton.

Jing Li and Li Dali moved the things back home together.

Several farmers who were helping to move the books had already arrived at his yard.

Fortunately, the bookcase Fang Tianying had given him was big enough, and most of the space was still unfilled, enough to store the medical books Qin Zhao had brought back.

Everyone put down their things and didn't stay long. Only one person drank a bowl of water and left.