Chapter 7: Returning Home

The next day was sunny.

For many days, heavy snow had been falling, and even when the snow stopped, the sky remained overcast, like a brooding, snow-laden sky, ready to unleash a storm at any moment.

But today was a rare warm winter day, with a clear, transparent blue sky, which lifted people's spirits.

Luo Jinyan was dressed in a lake-blue padded satin jacket, a deep blue cotton skirt, and a half-new, half-old dark green cloak, which was carried down from the mule cart by Xia Zhi. Several well-dressed old women were waiting outside. When they saw her, they quickly knelt down and greeted her, saying, "This must be our young lady. It's been a few years, and she's even more beautiful."

Luo Jinyan smiled and nodded at them, then looked at Xia Zhi.

Xia Zhi took out a red envelope from his arms and handed it to the old women, saying, "Mothers, you've worked hard. This is a reward from the young lady."

The old women were both surprised and delighted. The news they had received in the past few days was that the master valued this young lady who had lost her mother since childhood. Whether in Jiangxi or in Beizhili, anyone who served the young lady well received generous treatment. This young lady was not only young but also disabled. If they could take good care of her, they might be able to ask for the master's favor and secure a good future for their own sons. Although Longxi was remote, if it could secure a good future for their sons, it didn't matter how far away it was.

With such thoughts in mind, the old women were even more careful in their service to Luo Jinyan as they escorted her into the manor, completely ignoring the military officer and the rough men who had accompanied her.

Luo Jinyan smiled at Xia Zhi and gave him a nod. Xia Zhi then said, "Mothers, the young lady is tired from the journey and needs to freshen up and change before paying her respects to the master. On the way back to the capital, thanks to the escort of the military officer and several righteous men, if Lin, the steward, is not available, please ask someone suitable to receive the master. After a brief rest, I believe the master will want to express his gratitude in person."

The old women looked at each other. This girl was only twelve or thirteen years old, but the way she spoke was reminiscent of the tone of the senior maids who had served by the old lady's side in the past. With such a person by the young lady's side, how could anyone else have a say?

Their exaggerated expressions softened, and they quickly arranged for a distant cousin of the Luo family, Luo Jianchang, to receive the master and his companions. By this time, Luo Jinyan had already been taken care of by Xia Zhi and was freshening up in her own chamber.

The Luo family's ancestors were prosperous farmers in Changping. By the time of Luo Shaogreat-grandfather, they were one of the most prominent families in Changping. When Luo Shaogreat-grandfather was alive, the Luo family officially split into branches, dividing the family estate equally.

The eldest branch took over the family's shops in the capital and sold the ancestral estate in Changping to the third branch, moving the entire family to the capital.

Although the second branch remained in Changping, the two sons were addicted to gambling and incurred huge debts. It was thanks to the third branch's assistance that they were able to overcome their difficulties. However, the family estate was also squandered, and now only a two-courtyard house in Changping remained, where Luo Jianchang, who worked on the Luo family's estate, resided.

In the early years, the third branch bought the ancestral estate in Changping from the eldest branch. Later, when the second branch was in dire straits, they bought a portion of their land at a high price. As a result, the third branch became the wealthiest branch of the Luo family. Luo Shao's father was an only child, and Luo Shao was also an only child, so he was the sole heir to the vast family estate. He was often away on official business and had to rely on capable people to manage the estate.

This time, he was transferred to Longxi. Given the current situation in the court, even if his three-year term was completed, it would be difficult for him to return to Beizhili. The ancestral estate in Changping could not be sold, so he had to come back this time to give proper instructions to the various managers.

Luo Jinyan had only stayed in Changping for one night when she was four years old before going to the capital for medical treatment.

This time, her chamber was the same one she had stayed in before, and her father had obviously arranged it carefully.

There were lake-green Xiangbei, pink porcelain teacups, peacock-blue Zhangrong bedding, and sweet white porcelain flower vases with red plum blossoms. On the dressing table, there was a half-foot-tall Western mirror.

A brazier burned in the room, warming it, and several pots of narcissus were placed on the windowsill in celadon porcelain vases. Even the faint fragrance of the flowers made the room feel warm and cozy.

Seeing Luo Jinyan looking at the pots of narcissus, a young woman in a chestnut-colored cotton jacket fidgeted nervously, "I was going to light some incense for you, but the master said you couldn't stand the usual incense, so I took the liberty of bringing in some pots of narcissus. They're not rare varieties. If the young lady doesn't like them, I'll remove them."

Luo Jinyan smiled as she looked at her. The woman was around twenty, with delicate features, but slightly dark skin and slicked-back hair, wearing a pair of silver earrings with a touch of oil.

"...The flowers...are very...nice," Luo Jinyan's voice was very soft, but only she knew how much effort she had put into speaking.

With her father bedridden, their trip to Longxi would have to be postponed. They would have to stay in Changping for at least three or four months.

Just from the formation when they entered, it was clear that Changping was much more complicated than Xing Tang in terms of personnel. With her father bedridden, she not only had to care for him but also had to take care of the daily affairs. Most of the women and maids here were born into the family, and the situation was complex. From this moment on, she had to speak as much as possible and not let people really think of her as a mute.

Hearing Luo Jinyan's slightly hesitant and muffled voice, the young woman was surprised. It turned out that the young lady was not mute, just not very articulate. But since the young lady was only seven years old, as she grew up and spoke more, she might improve.

The head of our household is called Changgui. He is in charge on the other side of Xifeng Mountain. His wife only knows a few characters, so the master asked her to serve the young lady. The head of our household only comes back once every ten days, and the two children are taken care of by their parents. If the young lady doesn't mind, the wife can also take the night shift if needed.

Seeing her articulate, Luo Jinyan nodded and smiled, then glanced at Xia Zhi. Xia Zhi understood and took out a silver hairpin from the box and gave it to her.

Changgui's wife kept thanking them and then brought in four maids, two of them were thirteen or fourteen years old, and the other two were eight or nine years old.

Obviously, Changgui's wife, along with these four maids, were temporarily selected by her father to serve her.

Luo Jinyan breathed a sigh of relief, glad that she wasn't being attended to by those old women. She had really been worried that her father would assign a steward mother to her.

She changed into a small jacket with a pink pomegranate branch pattern, with white fur trim on the collar and cuffs, which set off her face, as fair as a pear blossom, making Changgui's wife stare in amazement, "Miss, you are so beautiful, I have never seen anyone so beautiful before."

Her expression was sincere, without flattery.

Luo Jinyan smiled gracefully and generously, and asked Xia Zhi to give her two small velvet flowers.

She looked in the mirror again, making sure there was no sign of fatigue from the journey, before getting up to see her father.

From childhood to adulthood, her father couldn't bear to see her suffer even a little bit.

Just as she walked onto the corridor, a little maid ran in, "Miss, the Third Nephew Young Master said that the military officer and several honorable guests have been arranged in the guest rooms, and have already been reported to the master. They will have tea and then come over. Also, Cui Qi and that thief have been locked up in the woodshed."

Luo Jinyan nodded, and followed Changgui's wife to see her father, Luo Shao.