Started as a thatched house and ended up as a female figure

The birthday celebration group meandered through the wind and snow. Cheng Wan rode a horse at the front of the team, paving the way for everyone.

On both sides of the team were officials carefully selected by Liangzhou Governor Guo Xiangsong to assist Cheng Wan in managing the people.

The wind and snow were blinding and the cold was penetrating to the bones, but the people of Liangzhou in the birthday celebration group, who were wearing brand new thick cotton-padded jackets and sturdy waterproof cotton boots, were not listless or complaining. Instead, they were all in high spirits, with their faces filled with uncontrollable excitement and enthusiasm.

In the middle of the team, a man shrank his neck, but couldn't help stretching it to look forward, with an incredible glint in his eyes.

He poked an older man beside him, whose face was also red from the cold but who looked very energetic. His voice was low, but it couldn't hide the excitement bubbling from his chest: "Hey, brother, pinch me, does it hurt? We...we are really not dreaming, are we? Are we really going to the capital to see the emperor?"

The person next to him laughed, puffing out a puff of white air, and also lowered his voice, but his tone was firm:

"Fake? Look at these officials, each one standing straight, their swords shining, how could they be fake?

Look at the guy in front riding a tall horse!"

He nodded towards the front of the team:

"That's Marquis Zhaoping! The one and only Marquis Zhaoping in the entire world! Can she put on a show for us?"

After hearing this, the man lowered his head and rubbed his brand new indigo cotton jacket vigorously. He then stepped on the sturdy boots that could wade through the snow without getting his feet wet. His throat was dry and his nose was sore with excitement:

"Really... I can't even imagine it!

In my life, Wang Er, a farmer who made a living, can wear new clothes and shoes and go to the capital to see the emperor!

The family also earned a lot of money!

This time... this time when I go back, my Wang family's ancestral graves will really be filled with smoke!"

"Of course!" The man next to him slapped his thigh, his voice unconsciously rising a little, causing the officer next to him to glance coldly. He quickly retracted his neck, but his eyebrows were still flying with joy, and he lowered his voice again:

"Look at those people in the surrounding villages who didn't get selected, their eyes are red!

When we return from the capital, no matter where we go, we must carry this!"

He proudly raised his thumbs up and said, "We're the ones who celebrated His Majesty's birthday! Let alone others, the standards for finding a partner for our children in the future will have to be three points higher!"

Similar whispers and longings occurred in various places in the team.

Even in modern times, not every ordinary citizen has been to the capital.

And it is even rarer for ordinary people to have seen the great leaders.

In ancient times, imperial power was supreme and transportation was inconvenient.

For ordinary people in the local area, being able to go to the capital, meet the emperor, and personally congratulate the emperor on his birthday is an honor that can be passed down from generation to generation and remembered forever.

With this experience, not only will you and your family be proud, but even the marriages of your children and grandchildren will be more successful.

What's more, by being selected for the birthday celebration group, not only will the family have no worries about money, but I will also get a full set of brand new warm clothes!

Countless people are vying for this spot.

Yes, the superiors made it clear in advance: the road is long and dangerous, there may be wind and frost, bandits, and even life-threatening situations.

But so what?

If you win, you will bring honor to your family and your poor family will have a chance to turn things around.

If you lose, you'll just lose your life, but your family will get enough money to feed and clothe themselves.

In this world where the lives of ordinary people are worthless or even less than grass, countless poor people have calculated the risks and benefits clearly, and are willing to gamble, even enjoying it.

It’s worth it to exchange a bleak life for such hope and future!

But Cheng Wan always wanted to try harder to keep everyone safe.

"Jinjin, can you contact Him? I'd like to ask Him to exchange all supplies other than the four books 'Barefoot Doctor's Handbook,' 'Friends of Dual-Use Military and Civilian Talents,' 'Militia Military Training Manual,' and 'The Exploitation of the Works of Nature,' as well as future opportunities to obtain items from the modern world, for expanding your surveillance range."

"Sorry, master, I don't have this ability." Jin Jin's voice was full of guilt.

Cheng Wan pursed his lips and sighed helplessly in his heart.

"Master, you don't have to feel so burdened.

According to my monitoring, these people are not completely unaware of the risks on the road.

They voluntarily and eagerly await this opportunity for the huge returns.”

Cheng Wan looked at the vast white road ahead, her eyelashes trembling:

“I don’t have any psychological burden, Jin Jin, I’m not that good…that great.

I just think every life is precious, and I want every one of them to go home safely."

She grew up under the red flag and received education in the new era. The belief of respecting and cherishing everyone's life has long been engraved in her bones and integrated into her blood.

This is also the most fundamental difference between her ideas and those of many "upper class people" of this era.

Jin Jin was silent for a moment, and then a voice so calm it could be described as cold and ruthless rang out in Cheng Wan's mind: "If you were them, would you let go of this opportunity that could almost change the fate of your entire family?"

Cheng Wan was stunned.

"They scrambled to join the birthday celebration group, just like soldiers scrambled to win merit.

If it weren't for you, Gu Yan wouldn't have come up with the idea of the birthday group, and they wouldn't have had the opportunity to climb up through the birthday group.

Their lives are indeed precious, but when the opportunity arises, they have the right to decide to use everything they have, including their lives, to exchange for what they want."

Cheng Wan remained silent.

“With huge gains come huge risks, and they need to be responsible for their choices.

You are just an ordinary person. There is no need and no ability for you to carry their lives on your shoulders.

And you have to believe that even if you tell them again that they might die on the way to the capital, they will still choose to move forward."

Cheng Wan was about to retort when Jin Jin's voice rang out again.

“Gu Yan is not someone who cares about the lives of ordinary people.

The people in the birthday celebration group must have been selected by Gu Yan."

Cheng Wan shut his mouth.

Of course she believed Gu Yan.

"Owner……"

"Jinjin, you don't have to persuade me anymore." Cheng Wan sighed softly in his heart, but his eyes became firmer: "I won't think too much about it. I will respect their wishes and do my best to reduce the difficulties on the road."

Cheng Wan stared at the long and winding road ahead, where the wind and snow were raging. He felt the biting chill of the cold wind blowing across his cheeks, and the huge rock in his heart seemed to be pried open by reason, creating a crack.

"I will no longer blame myself for having to bear the responsibility of everyone's life, but I will not retreat from what I should do and what I should shoulder.

If danger really comes, I will stand at the front and fight for their chance of safety!"

Jin Jin was silent for two breaths, then said, "Master, you said it very well, but I just wanted to say that your wish has come true. My monitoring range has been expanded to a radius of 300 meters, but you will no longer be able to obtain modern items. Master, you have a kind heart towards the people, and He has a partiality for you."