"Here they come, here they come!"

Little Lai Fu, holding Sanlang’s hand, ran madly from the outskirts of the village, shouting excitedly as they went.

Da Lang and Second Lang, waiting in front of the stationery factory, trembled all over when they heard, and immediately ran back to the village entrance.

Then they heard Second Lang shouting, "Uncle Ah Wang, my mother and father are back!"

Ah Wang and Yin Le, studying under the village copper bell, immediately stopped and stood up abruptly.

Ah Wang rang the bell to alert the villagers to gather.

Yin Le quickly picked up the banner from the stone table, holding one side and tossing the other to Ah Wang.

The two of them stepped apart left and right, and with a swish, a banner made from red cloth slowly unfurled.

Seeing the villagers swiftly carrying big drums and holding copper gongs as they gathered, the two exchanged a glance and raised the banner to greet them.

"Wife, did you hear something?"

On the mountain ridge, Liu Ji, sitting on the shaft of the cart, perked up his ears and asked doubtfully over his shoulder.

Qin Yao, resting with her eyes closed in the cart, opened her eyes at the sound and listened closely; the sound of drums and gongs was loud and getting closer.

A moment later, as the cart exited the mountain ridge, two rolls of firecrackers fell from the sky, startling all three people and the horse with the crackling sound.

Qin Yao leaned out of the carriage, raising her eyes toward the source of the clamor, and her eyes widened instantly.

In front, human figures bustled about, and judging by the scene, it seemed the entire Liu Family Village had come out, young and old alike.

The first thing that caught her eye was a bright red banner, which read: Welcome Scholar Liu Ji Back Home!

Beneath the banner was a large drum Qin Yao had never seen before, with Da Lang standing behind it; seeing her gaze over, he let the wooden hammer fall with a "boom boom," like thunder.

Behind the drum were people from the Liu Family’s old house, waving colorful fabric energetically.

The remaining villagers all surrounded behind them, loudly chanting the words on the banner: "Welcome Scholar Liu Ji Back Home!"

The resounding voice first stunned Liu Ji for a moment.

Soon after, he couldn’t suppress the crazed smile spreading across his face, and almost without thought, he stood up instinctively from the cart shaft, waving his arms in enthusiastic response: "Folks, Liu Laosan is back!"

Receiving a response, the crowd became even more excited, seemingly ready to wave their colorful fabric to shreds.

Song Yu quickened the pace of the cart to reach the crowd, while Si Niang, embracing a large bunch of wildflowers, rushed out, laughing as she handed them to her father, then without so much as a look at her father’s open arms, she jumped directly onto the cart and into her mother’s embrace.

Qin Yao patted her little head, looked at Ah Wang and Yin Le holding up the banner, and forced a smile to deal with the villagers’ enthusiasm while gritting her teeth to quietly ask:

"Whose idea was this?"

Si Niang leaned close to inform her mother: "It was everyone’s idea, but Grandfather took the lead."

"Mother, the house is already set up for a feast; yesterday we didn’t wait for you all but had a round already; Aunt, Aunt Second, and relatives from Grandmother’s family have all come!"

As she spoke, she pointed to her big brother striking the booming drum, saying, "This big drum was borrowed from Aunt Second’s village."

"Mother, is Father really a scholar?" Si Niang asked with bright, expecting eyes full of surprise.

Qin Yao nodded, her smile deepening a bit, "Yes, the last place."

Si Niang didn’t care what rank, as long as Mother said so, it meant Father really was a scholar now!

The little girl leaned against her mother’s chest, smiling as she watched the tall figure being surrounded by villagers heading into the village, suddenly feeling that today her father finally seemed like her father.

"Village Chief, congratulations, congratulations! You are now the wife of a scholar!"

Liu Dafu stepped out from the crowd, came to the cart, and congratulated with a smile.

Many villagers who were quite familiar with Qin Yao also came over to offer their congratulations, and soon the cart was surrounded tightly.

Unlike Liu Ji’s ease in his element, Qin Yao was utterly terrified in such crowded situations, barely responding to a few sentences before signaling Song Yu to drive the cart home quickly.

However, only upon reaching the front door did she realize what Si Niang meant when she said the house was set up with a feast.

The backyard had been expanded, and the walls already built; half of the house was constructed, leaving wide open space.

Currently, a long string of banquet tables was set up in the front yard, and that wasn’t all; the backyard was even more exaggerated, with three rows of banquet tables, leaving Qin Yao stunned.

"Ah! The Liu Family Village Chief is here!"

Someone called out, causing Qin Yao, who had just escaped from the village entrance, to be surrounded again by out-of-village relatives left in the yard.

Si Niang glanced at her mother’s stiff smile, chuckled to herself, slipped off the cart, and went for reinforcements.

As Qin Yao rushed the carriage, she was faster than Liu Ji and the main group from Liu Family Village, who were still behind.

By tradition, Liu Ji was pulled by Old Liu to the ancestral hall, first to kneel and pay respects to the ancestors; after completing the ritual, the crowd headed towards Qin Yao’s home.

"Father!" Si Niang, using her small size, slipped through the crowd to her father’s side, who was lost in delight, firmly tugging at his sleeve, bringing him back to his senses.

Si Niang didn’t say much, just announced, "Mother’s calling you!"

The old father instantly sobered, repeatedly declining the villagers’ invitations to drink at their home, while reaching out to push aside brothers blocking his path, as he ran towards home, shouting:

"Let’s go, let’s go, everyone to my place; I’ll bring out the good wine from home, tonight we won’t leave until we’re drunk!"

The crowd laughed and followed grandly.

The children were the happiest, with Da Lang and Jinbao leading, followed by a long train of little ones, darting here and there in the yard, missing no delicious treats.

Once everyone was present, He and Mrs. Li swung the big ladle, and the feast began!

The half pig bought by Qin Yao wasn’t even needed; Old Liu pulled out all his savings to buy a whole fat pig, ensuring enough meat dishes.

Mrs. Zhang, although complained about the frenzy, admitted Liu Ji really brought pride to the whole family this time, letting them enjoy the madness for a few days.

The night Qin Yao was elected village chief wasn’t even as lively as today, and though she hadn’t a single worry about the feast, she remained in a dazed state throughout.

Until midnight, when everyone left and the yard quieted down, leaving it in a mess all over, did she finally come to her senses.

Liu Ji was already drunk beyond recognition, and Ah Wang carried him to the study, painstakingly cleaned and groomed the handsome and elegant master, before retreating.

The leftover pots and pans from the feast were cleared by Ah Wang in the front yard, Mrs. Li handled the backyard, with Song Yu and Little Lai Fu helping, otherwise it wouldn’t be done.

The Da Lang brothers and sisters, leading village children, had played themselves exhausted, not even seeing their mother upon return. Now their energy was entirely depleted, lying asleep in their rooms.

After all, it was the first time they felt the genuine positive attention from their father.

Villagers who once despised and belittled them now praised them to high heaven.

Facing such an abundance of care and goodwill suddenly, even a mature adult might be tempted into vanity, let alone a few previously marginalized children.

Qin Yao glanced at the bright crescent moon outside the window, smiled faintly, and placed the bought candied fruits by the children’s pillow, kissing each on the forehead: "Goodnight."