“Please invite this wicked man in and have him sit down,” a kind old woman with white hair said. “When he was little, I cooked porridge for him a lot. Now he has truly become a benefactor to our village.”
The wicked husband, along with Erniu and Chun Ning, took their seats at the head of the table, receiving much care and attention from the elders. Immediately, everyone rushed to offer them their own simple, coarse-clothed dishes, and some even brought out items the wicked husband had left behind in the village years ago, reminiscing about the past.
"You were so naughty back then, running off to play at a dilapidated temple in the middle of the night, and you even broke your arm..."
"This child has been extraordinary since he was a child. Seeing how successful he is now, it's truly a blessing from heaven!"
Erniu and Chuning helped ladle soup and add vegetables, and soon the meal was served. The meat smelled delicious, and the wicked husband raised his bowl and chopsticks, first offering them to the village head and elders, full of gratitude.
The village head took a sip of wine, his eyes immediately reddening, his voice choked with emotion: "We never imagined in our lives that a Grand Commandant would emerge from our village, and that we would receive such favor from the imperial court!"
Upon hearing this, the wicked man felt a pang of sadness and said softly, "I owe my success today entirely to the villagers who did not abandon me back then."
The atmosphere at the gathering was harmonious and joyful.
Some generous people sang on the spot, and although they sang a country folk song, it made everyone laugh loudly; others repeatedly exclaimed, "The peaceful life we enjoy today is all thanks to the laws of the Great Qin Dynasty," and then toasted the wicked man.
After several rounds of drinks, everyone, young and old, had a hint of drunkenness on their faces, yet they seemed to be having an even greater time.
"I'll go up the mountain again tomorrow to look for a wild boar and bring you some meat back!" an uncle laughed loudly. "Don't be picky."
As night fell, several bonfires were lit in the village. Children jumped and danced around the fires, and the distant crackling of bamboo tubes sounded like firecrackers, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The wicked man leaned against the threshold, looking at this heartwarming scene, and seemed to feel as if he had returned to the past, still that penniless boy, sharing joys and sorrows with the villagers.
Now that he is a Grand Commandant, he can truly give back to the villagers and has no regrets.
The village elders urged him to stay a few more days, pointing to the distant mountains and saying, "If the snow continues, the roads will be difficult to travel. You might as well rest for a couple of days."
Erniu proudly exclaimed, "Big brother, everyone says they want to take you to tour the newly built mountain road and see how the hunting grounds have changed too."
Chun Ning agreed, a smile on her face: "It's definitely worth the trip."
After a moment's hesitation, the wicked man readily agreed: "Then let's stay a couple more days. It's a rare opportunity to reunite with everyone, and besides, I'd like to see how my hometown has changed over the years."
After saying this, he stood up and bowed to each of the villagers: "If you have any needs in the future, please come to Xianyang and let me know. I will do my best to help you."
Everyone thanked them in unison, their expressions filled with gratitude.
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