Old Man Yun, who was sitting in the yard cleaning carp, looked up when he heard the commotion. He saw Zhao Guihua striding in with two boxes of pastries...
Yun Daman followed behind, his face full of resentment.
"Guihua, what are you shouting about in broad daylight? Did something auspicious happen to our ancestors' graves?" Old Man Yun asked curiously.
Zhao Guihua was beaming, her smile reaching her eyes as she approached Old Man Yun. "Dad, our family's days are going to get better and better from now on..."
Old Man Yun: "???"
Anyone could see that the Yun family's life was better than others. Did she even need to say that?
"Dad, Mom, you're back..." Yun Jinhe greeted them.
Yun Daman shot Zhao Guihua a glare and said in a muffled voice, "Yeah, we're back!~"
This blockhead Guihua, he had already told her he didn't want to be a county magistrate, so why was she making such a fuss as soon as they got home...
Gu Shi shooed away the hens perched on the windowsill, then swept the chicken droppings off with a broom. She asked Zhao Guihua, "Eldest daughter-in-law, what's the matter with you two coming back this time?"
Seeing how happy she was, it must be something good...
Zhao Guihua ignored Daman's expression and said with a smile, "Dad, Mom, Daman is going to be an official, and a high-ranking one at that. From now on, the county and all the surrounding villages will be under his sole jurisdiction!~"
As soon as she said this, everyone was dumbfounded...
If all the surrounding villages were under his jurisdiction, wouldn't he become the county magistrate?
Yun Siman, sitting on the well curb, was equally astonished. "Sister-in-law, although my elder brother is literate and knowledgeable, it's unlikely he'd become a county magistrate, right?"
Could it be that after Governor Chen was promoted, His Highness the Crown Prince asked his elder brother to fill the vacancy?
Zhao Guihua's smile was radiant, and she rubbed her hands excitedly. "Yes, he's the county magistrate, he's the county magistrate! Look, this is a personal letter from Young Master Xiao. It clearly states that Daman is to act as county magistrate, receive a salary, and collect allowances. The benefits and treatment are excellent..."
Yun Daman: "..."
This blockhead, he really couldn't stand to look at her.
If people didn't know better, they'd think she was the one who became the county magistrate.
"Well, well, that's good news!~" Old Man Yun scratched his face and looked at Yun Daman. "As ordinary commoners, who wouldn't want to get promoted, get rich, and become a county magistrate? Why do you look so glum?"
Although a county magistrate was just a minor official, the gifts and small sums of money received annually far exceeded the salary from the court...
"Oh, Dad!~" Yun Daman looked at Old Man Yun with extreme helplessness, his heart filled with reluctance. "I don't want to be that damned county magistrate. Whoever wants to be it can be it. If you really can't, Dad, you can take my place and be the county magistrate!"
Old Man Yun: "..."
With these old bones, he'd tremble all over if he sat in an official position. He wouldn't go through that suffering.
"Daman!" Gu Shi carefully read the letter, sighing softly. "What are your own thoughts on this?"
She wanted to hear her son's opinion...
Yun Daman sat down next to Siman by the well, casually rolled a piece of dried tobacco, and took a few puffs. "Mom, you know, the reason we can live such a good life now is all thanks to our sister, isn't it?"
"Including Young Master Xiao, he takes such good care of our family, helping us build houses and letting me be the county magistrate, isn't it all because of our sister?"
"Dad, Mom, if I, a grown man, still have to rely on my sister to fight for things for me, I... I'm too much of a failure..."
His thoughts were similar to Yun Erman's; he had a strong sense of self-esteem and cared a lot about his reputation.
If he relied on his sister for everything, his reputation would be shattered.
Old Man Yun snorted upon hearing this. "You blockhead, you have the nerve to say that now? Let me ask you, is Yun Gui Fang opened by your sister?"
Yun Daman: "..."
He knew what his old dad was going to say, so it was best not to interrupt him now, lest he get scolded.
"Are those dairy cows raised by your sister?" Old Man Yun asked again.
Yun Daman rubbed the dirt balls on his palms and remained silent...
"Everything in our home relies on your sister, including this big house we're in now. Without her, our entire family would have been sleeping on the streets long ago!~"
Old Man Yun was quite angry. He filled his pipe and took a few strong puffs. "Whether you're a failure or not, I don't know. But this matter was entrusted to you by Young Master Xiao. Since he trusts you and has handed such a heavy responsibility to you, you must do a good job, show your abilities and skills, and don't disappoint Young Master Xiao..."
Actually, Old Man Yun felt that Young Master Xiao's decision had little to do with Xi Tian.
Daman was his own son, and he understood him well.
From childhood, this child had a natural leadership and cohesion. Although he seemed foolish and simple-minded usually, in matters of great importance, he was calmer than anyone else in the family...
Yun Daman was utterly despairing. "Dad, can I say something?"
"What else do you have to nag about?" Old Man Yun shot him a glare. "This matter is settled. Didn't Guihua just say that Governor Chen wants you to report to the county yamen tomorrow morning to handle the handover procedures? You absolutely must not refuse their good intentions..."
Yun Daman was completely speechless.
This was like forcing a duck onto a perch.
Zhao Guihua rolled her eyes and looked around. "Mom, isn't Miss Murong home?"
Every time she came back, she saw Jinhe and Murong Qing chatting and laughing, which made Zhao Guihua very annoyed.
Gu Shi: "..."
Here we go again.
"What does it matter to you whether she's home or not?" Gu Shi retorted. "Did Miss Murong do anything to you to make you dislike her so much?"
"Oh, Mom..." Zhao Guihua linked her arm with Gu Shi's and said with a wry smile, "I didn't say anything. Why are you so anxious?"
Gu Shi snorted and pulled her arm away. "Eldest daughter-in-law, let me tell you, if you dare to cause trouble for Miss Murong again, don't blame me for being impolite..."
She was experienced and had seen many people. Of course, she knew that Murong Qing was a considerate, sensible, intelligent, and wise girl.
But in Zhao Guihua's eyes, Murong Qing had become a vixen trying to seduce her son.
Yun Jinhe glanced at Zhao Guihua and sighed. "Miss Murong went to see Sister Fang'er. She plans to stay in the county for a few more days..."
"Oh, oh, it's better if she doesn't come back. May she never come back, hum!~" Zhao Guihua said.
Yun Jinhe: "..."
Gu Shi: "..."
This person was truly unreasonable, utterly hopeless.