Chen Beiguo stared at the man before him. He was a complete stranger.

Village Chief Xu said nothing, his eyes fixed on the man. There was something vaguely familiar about him.

After a moment of careful thought, he suddenly spoke.

"Xia Qiuming?"

The county magistrate heard this and quickly chimed in, "This is Officer Xia Qiuming. He’s just returned from a mission and is here to visit his family."

Visiting family.

’Right.’

’Xia Qiuming’s parents had passed away long ago, and his only sister was gone as well. Now, his only remaining relative was his nephew, Leng Yuan.’

’It was only natural for him to come and see Leng Yuan.’

’Still, with a relative like this, Leng Yuan’s future was bound to change.’

Village Chief Xu’s gaze fell on the two bars and four stars on Xia Qiuming’s shoulder. His heart skipped a beat. ’Leng Yuan’s life really is going to change.’

Xia Qiuming turned his head, a smile on his face.

"It’s been seven years, Village Chief Xu. You haven’t changed a bit."

Village Chief Xu let out a rare, wistful sigh. "I’ve gotten old."

"You, on the other hand, have become much more mature and composed."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt they were inappropriate. The Xia Qiuming of today was not the same man he had been seven years ago. To speak to him so familiarly felt a bit presumptuous.

Xia Qiuming, however, didn’t seem to mind. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

’He himself had never imagined that when he left, he would be gone for a full seven years.’

"Does Leng Yuan live here? I want to see him first!"

He had returned this time specifically for Leng Yuan, and his heart grew heavy as he recalled the information his investigation had turned up.

’To think that in the years he was away, his sister and brother-in-law had both passed away, while the Leng Family seized their property and drove his own nephew out.’

’He’d like to see just how capable the Leng Family thought they were.’

The brigade leader, Chen Beiguo, was baffled. He scratched his head and asked in a hushed voice.

"Uncle Xu, who is this guy?"

Chen Beiguo was in his late thirties, while the village chief’s son was already thirty. Whenever he needed advice, Chen Beiguo always called him Uncle Xu.

But when it came to official business, he would switch to "Village Chief Xu."

Village Chief Xu knew his quirks and couldn’t be bothered to make an issue of it.

"Officer Xia Qiuming. He’s Leng Yuan’s biological uncle, and it looks like he came back specifically to see him."

Chen Beiguo’s face was a mask of shock.

’He knew Leng Yuan had an uncle.’

’But hadn’t they said Xia Qiuming died on the battlefield?’

’How did he suddenly show up alive?’

Before Chen Beiguo could ask, Xia Qiuming had already spotted Leng Yuan in the crowd.

The young man was tall and well-built, with an uncommon handsomeness.

He had his mother’s handsome eyes and brows, and his father’s tall, sturdy frame.

’His sister used to say that young Leng Yuan really knew how to grow, taking all the best features from both her and her husband.’

As Xia Qiuming’s gaze found Leng Yuan, Leng Yuan looked back at him.

Their eyes met—one man authoritative, the other serene.

Reunited after seven years, both men were filled with complex emotions.

Xia Qiuming’s expression softened. He strode over to Leng Yuan and clapped him on the shoulder, his face a picture of gratification.

"Well, look at you. A few years go by, and now you’re even taller than your uncle."

A single sentence was all it took to shatter the barrier created by their seven-year separation.

Emotion swirled in Leng Yuan’s dark eyes. He studied the man before him for a long moment before finally saying, "Uncle."

Hearing the word "Uncle," Xia Qiuming stiffened for an instant before slowly relaxing. He gave a steady, affirming response.

"Yes."

His gaze then fell on Gu Jiaojiao, who was standing to the side. ’This girl is beautiful. A perfect match for my nephew.’

’Come to think of it, their family did have a thing for good looks. His sister had married Leng Yuan’s father because he was handsome, and now Leng Yuan had also married a beauty. He was a true descendant of the Xia family, through and through.’

Without another word, he pulled a red envelope from his inner pocket.

"You must be Jiaojiao! Your uncle couldn’t make it back for the wedding, but I’m glad I made it for the banquet. I’ll be sure to have a few extra drinks today."

Gu Jiaojiao glanced at Leng Yuan before replying sweetly, "Please, Uncle, drink as much as you want. There’s plenty to go around."

The aide accompanying him wanted to say something, but seeing his superior looking so happy, he held his tongue.

’He’d never seen his superior this happy.’