Fang Qing has been back for over a month now, and she has been spending all her time with Fang Daniu and Zhao Shi. After what happened last time, Fang Daniu wanted to keep Fang Qing within his sight at all times, fearing that something might happen to her.
To protect his home, Fang Daniu bought two big yellow dogs and one big black dog from the market, and tied them to the front door and back yard respectively. They looked majestic and would bark at the slightest disturbance.
That evening, Fang Daniu carefully checked the doors and windows, fed the three dogs, and then urged Fang Qing, who was looking at the account books, to go to sleep.
"There are over a year's worth of ledgers piled up, and it's not something you can finish looking through in a short time. Go to bed early, don't strain your eyes."
"Okay, Dad, you should go to sleep too. I'll go to sleep after I finish this page."
Fang Daniu looked at her for a moment, wanted to say something but didn't know how to start, sighed softly and left.
Back in the house, he couldn't help but complain to Zhao.
"She hasn't mentioned marriage once since she came back, and she came back alone again this time. Do you think she and Shi'an have had a fight?"
"It doesn't look like it to me. Didn't you clean Shi'an's house just a couple of days ago?"
“What’s the point of cleaning the house? He’s an official in the capital and might not come back for years. Do you think it’s possible that Shi’an has become a high-ranking official and then looks down on us Douya?”
Zhao kicked him from inside the quilt.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Our Bean Sprout is smart and beautiful. Is there any woman in this world better than our Bean Sprout?"
"You're just praising your own wares. Our Bean Sprout is good, but she doesn't have good parents or a good background. If the daughters of those noble families in the capital take a fancy to Shi'an, do you think Shi'an wouldn't like her?"
"Don't overthink it. I don't think Shi'an is that kind of person. Besides, Douya isn't worried about getting married."
Fang Daniu wanted to say something, but Zhao turned her back.
"I'm so sleepy. If you don't go to sleep, you'll have to guard the gate."
"I'm not just worried, it's about how girls the same age as Douya already have children..."
Fang Daniu's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, and he sighed with considerable annoyance before turning his back to go to sleep.
The family of three had just fallen asleep when suddenly the sound of dogs barking came from the village entrance. Those who had already gone to bed got up to investigate and saw a group of people riding tall horses entering the village.
They had just heard about the war in the southwest, and seeing such a group of people in the middle of the night terrified every household, who shut their doors tightly.
Before long, everyone heard the barking of dogs converging in the northwest direction of the village.
Everyone realized something was wrong; that was Fang Qing's house.
Fang Qing had just returned from the capital. If this group of people were here to cause her trouble, that would be bad.
Fang Qing was everyone's benefactor, and no one could stand by and watch her fall into misfortune. Those with men in their households all grabbed their weapons and went out.
With perfect teamwork, the villagers gathered together and rushed towards Fang Qing's house, surrounding a group of men in black riding tall horses.
Zhao Shi'an was about to knock on the door when he saw the large commotion. Before he could react, Xiao Liu and the others had already drawn their weapons.
"You audacious thief, get out of here right now, or we'll make things difficult for you!"
"If you dare to touch Fang Qing's family, we'll never let you off the hook."
Zhao Shi'an understood what it meant.
Amidst the flickering flames, he looked at each of the villagers one by one, and in that instant, he suddenly felt that the despicable faces from his previous life were slowly fading away from him.
The person who changed all of this was Fang Qing.
What Fang Qing did for this village and even for this country was worthwhile.
With such a commotion outside, Fang Daniu's family had already woken up. He grabbed an axe and came to open the door, and was stunned for a moment when he saw the scene outside.
When he saw Zhao Shi'an's face, he was so shocked that he called out Zhao Shi'an's name.
"Shi'an, why are you back?"
The villagers then realized that the person who had entered the village late at night was none other than Zhao Shi'an, who had passed the imperial examination with top honors and was now a high-ranking official in the capital.
"Oh, it was a misunderstanding. It turns out that Shi'an is back."
"We were so blind."
"They didn't even give us any advance notice, so we could have prepared a grand welcome."
Zhao Shi'an was already exhausted from the journey, and especially late at night when his hands and feet were cold, he just wanted to talk to Fang Qing.
"It's late, everyone should go home."
After saying that, he greeted Fang Daniu and went inside.
Fang Daniu exchanged a few pleasantries with everyone, and then recognized Xiao Liu, who had saved them back then.
Xiao Liu and his dozen or so companions were each assigned to stay at the homes of several villagers nearby.
After Fang Daniu closed the door and went home, he didn't see Zhao Shi'an.
Zhao stood in the living room, wearing a coat, and gestured with her chin toward Fang Qing's room.
"This, this isn't appropriate. It's already late; they should all go back to their rooms to rest."
When they were little, Fang Qing and Zhao Shi'an often slept in the same room. The adults didn't think anything of it, but now that the two children are grown up, their close relationship might cause gossip.
Fang Daniu was about to say something when Zhao pulled his arm.
"Alright, can you really make decisions for either of them?"
Fang Daniu was still worried, so he went to Fang Qing's room and knocked.
"Bean Sprout, it's getting late. Don't keep talking to your brother. The rooms next door are all tidied up. You should all go to sleep."
Fang Qing's voice came from inside the room.
Fang Daniu then returned to his room.
Once she could no longer hear any noise outside, Fang Qing turned her gaze back to Zhao Shi'an's face.
Fang Qing knew that Zhao Shi'an's sudden return meant that the matter in the capital must have been mostly resolved.
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