The county office of Yao County was not far from the city gate. Before the procession had covered half the distance, they saw an official in his thirties rushing towards them.
"Xuan Niang, Xuan Niang!"
Upon hearing the call, Madam Cheng lifted the carriage curtain and told Er Lang, "Stop quickly."
Er Lang immediately halted the carriage. Before he could even ask what was happening, Madam Cheng had already jumped out of the carriage, completely disregarding her appearance.
"Husband!"
As Jiang Wan poked her head out of the carriage, she saw Madam Cheng and her husband embracing each other excitedly, oblivious to the onlookers.
Chen Yuezhi even felt a bit embarrassed and turned her face away. Seeing Jiang Wan staring with wide eyes, she quickly covered Jiang Wan's eyes.
Jiang Wan's forehead was covered in black lines.
It was just a hug, what was there to be shy about?
Madam Cheng and Magistrate Cheng quickly calmed down and then briefly recounted their experiences along the way.
After hearing the account, Magistrate Cheng hurried forward to Jiang Pan and bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Brother Jiang, for saving my wife and child's lives. Please accept my bow."
Jiang Pan quickly sidestepped to avoid the bow, "Your Excellency, this is not proper."
As a simple farmer, he could not possibly accept the bow of a court official.
Magistrate Cheng said, "Brother Jiang, my wife has just told me about your situation. It is late today, and everyone has been traveling, so it is not advisable to continue tiring yourselves. Please come with me to rest. Tomorrow, I will discuss with my colleagues in the county how to settle everyone, alright?"
Jiang Pan had never met such an amiable and approachable official, so he readily agreed.
Magistrate Cheng quickly ordered some men to escort the villagers of Xiaoshan Village to their accommodations.
Just as the villagers were about to leave, Madam Cheng suddenly spoke, "Wait."
Everyone turned to look. Madam Cheng pointed to a few people who had been cowering in the corner of the procession, "This family is not from Xiaoshan Village."
Zheng Dayou's family turned pale and hurriedly pleaded for mercy.
Madam Cheng calmly turned her face away. She was one of the few who knew about Er Lang being drugged.
She also strongly disliked people like Zheng Dayou.
Magistrate Cheng did not ask for details, merely saying to his subordinates, "Follow the regulations. If they do not have travel permits, they are to be expelled from the city."
Zheng Dayou's family immediately knelt on the ground begging for mercy, but no one paid them any attention. A few constables stepped forward, preparing to apprehend them, which scared the family into pushing their cart and fleeing outside the city.
Magistrate Cheng turned to Jiang Pan and said, "Brother Jiang, your family has shown great kindness to our Cheng family, so my wife and I wish to host you personally. Please follow me."
Both Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi wanted to decline.
As farmers, and having not seen much of the world, they felt rather awkward about being guests in someone else's residence.
Madam Cheng, just as she had been on the road, affectionately linked arms with Chen Yuezhi and took Jiang Wan's hand, "Why are you being so formal? You can't become distant from me just because I've returned home. That would break my heart."
Chen Yuezhi quickly said, "It's not about being distant, it's just..."
Madam Cheng pouted, "It's just that you think I'm an official's wife now and not worthy of being your friend anymore."
"Of course not!"
Chen Yuezhi hurriedly tried to explain but didn't know how to begin.
Jiang Wan smiled and said, "Mother, don't be so polite with Aunt Cheng. Aunt Cheng is not a snob."
Madam Cheng smiled and patted her chubby little face, "Wan Wan is right. This little girl seems to have lost some weight recently. Come, let's go back to the manor, and I'll have them prepare plenty of delicious food to help our Wan Wan gain some weight."
Upon hearing about delicious food, Jiang Wan's eyes immediately lit up.
This was something worth looking forward to!
The Cheng family did not live in the county office but had bought a residence nearby, where the entire family resided.
It was Jiang Wan's first time entering such a grand courtyard, and she felt that it was adorned with carved beams and painted pillars, exuding refinement everywhere.
Madam Cheng, pulling Chen Yuezhi along, said as they walked, "The rear quarters of the yamen were too small, and I wasn't used to living there, so I bought this residence. If nothing else, it's spacious to live in."
Jiang Wan said, "Spacious is an understatement! With such a large residence, and only the three of you masters, if you slept in a different room each night, it would take over a month to sleep in them all."
Madam Cheng burst into laughter, "You little girl, you're so funny when you talk."
Upon reaching a courtyard, Madam Cheng said to Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Pan, "Brother Jiang, Sister-in-law Jiang, you can stay here with Wan Wan. Da Lang and A Luo will stay in the courtyard behind, and Er Lang and San Lang will stay in Nian Er's courtyard."
Since they were already there, being too polite would seem insincere, so Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi accepted.
Madam Cheng called for Granny Tang, "Go and find a few efficient staff, and have the kitchen quickly prepare a banquet. Also, send some hot water and toiletries over."
Granny Tang received the instructions and hurried off to make the arrangements.
Madam Cheng took Jiang Wan's hand and led Jiang Pan and his wife into the courtyard, "Sister-in-law Jiang, please don't be reserved; make yourselves at home. You go into the room to rest first. Someone will bring water shortly for everyone to wash up. If you need anything, just tell them. I also need to go and freshen up. Make yourselves comfortable, and I'll come to find you later."
After Madam Cheng left, Chen Yuezhi finally let out a sigh of relief, "When we were on the road, I didn't feel anything, but now that we've arrived, I feel such a big gap between us. When I speak, my confidence falters."
Jiang Pan felt the same way.
Jiang Wan smiled and said, "Before, it was because Aunt Cheng needed our family's help, so you felt you were on the same level as her, or even slightly higher. Now that we are on her territory, her husband is the magistrate here, and the entire Yao County is under her husband's control. In other words, our family will have to live under their care from now on, so you're subconsciously nervous, afraid of making a mistake and offending someone."
Jiang Pan's eyes widened, "How do you know all this, you little girl?"
Jiang Wan spread her hands, "The old immortal told me, of course."
As they were speaking, Granny Tang entered with two maids, "Master Jiang, Madam Jiang, these are Xia Xiang and Xia Yue. Feel free to ask them to do anything you need."
She then said to the two maids, "These are the benefactors of Madam and Young Master. Serve them well and do not be negligent!"
The two maids quickly stepped forward to greet the trio, "Greetings, Master Jiang, Madam Jiang, Miss Jiang."
Jiang Pan and Chen Yuezhi quickly said, "No need for such formalities, please rise."
With the maids standing by, the couple felt extremely uneasy.
Jiang Wan, however, was quite at ease. In her past life, she had servants around her.
Seeing her parents' restless demeanor, Jiang Wan said to the two maids, "You can wait outside. We'll call you if we need anything."
The two maids bowed and withdrew.
After they left, Chen Yuezhi wiped her face, "People say that life with maids serving is extremely comfortable, but I feel as if I have thorns all over me; I'm just not at ease."
Jiang Pan remained silent; he had the same thought.