The anti-Qing movement began with the looting of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

"Who's here, Tie Niu!" came the old woman's voice from the inner room.

"Mother, Second Grandmother and Stone are here!" Zhang Tieniu got up and called out to the inner room.

"Oh! It's Second Aunt!" Tie Niu's mother groped her way out. Looking at her now, Tie Niu couldn't understand how his mother had been so quick and efficient just now.

"Tie Niu, quickly pour your mistress a bowl of water."

"Okay, mother!"

Next, Second Grandma went on to tell Iron Bull's mother about what had just happened!

"Oh, Auntie, let them go now that things have come to this! The children are all grown up and have their own ideas. I've come to terms with it; a family like ours has no other choice but to go out and try our luck!"

“Yes! Second Grandma, Shitou is so clever. He might just make something of himself. You can just wait to enjoy the good life! I even saw some important people praising Shitou!” Zhang Tieniu chimed in from the side.

"Oh! Really!" Second Grandma looked at Tie Niu happily. After receiving an affirmative answer, Second Grandma's wrinkles seemed to lessen considerably with joy.

"Grandma, you believe me now! Humph!" Stone proudly raised his chin.

"Good, good, Grandma believes in you! Our grandson is going to be successful. Hehe!"

The young woman finished making the dough fish and came over, standing to the side without daring to make a sound.

"Second Grandma, Stone. We just made some noodle fish, why don't we all have a bowl here?" Zhang Tieniu invited politely.

"That won't do!" Grandma quickly stood up. These days, everyone has a hard time, so it's not appropriate to eat at someone else's house.

Before leaving, Second Grandma held Zhang Tieniu's hand and said, "Tieniu! You watched Shitou grow up, he's still young. Please take good care of him in the army camp."

Zhang Tieniu readily agreed, and in the end, his second grandmother said she would prepare a feast to thank him the next day. Zhang Tieniu couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to agree.

Back inside, seven large bowls were already laid out on the tattered table. A few drops of lard dripped onto the snow-white noodles in each bowl, and a sprinkle of chopped scallions adorned the surface. The aroma was irresistible, and Zhang Tieniu couldn't help but sniff.

"Mom, you're all eating! Why are you looking at me like that!"

"Let's eat!" At the old lady's command, the children immediately buried their heads in their bowls and frantically shoveled food into their mouths.

Zhang Tieniu also picked up his bowl and started eating. Although there was only a little salt and a few drops of oil in it, he ate it with great relish.

After finishing half a bowl of noodles, Zhang Tieniu finally felt a little better. "Mother," he said, "don't be stingy with the two bolts of cloth I bought. Make two sets of clothes for everyone! The weather is getting colder and colder!"

"Yay! I have new clothes to wear!" Little Cow Girl cheered happily. The little girl had grown up and naturally had a love for beauty. Before, when she saw others wearing new clothes, she could only secretly envy them. Today, she was finally going to have new clothes herself!

"You little devil! This big bowl of noodles and fish can't shut you up. Hurry up and thank your brother!" the old lady scolded.

"Thank you, brother!" Erniu also raised his head and said.

"Yes!" Zhang Tieniu nodded happily.

"Dad, the noodle fish is so delicious! I wish I could have it every day!" Ya Ya looked up, her face covered in soup.

"Silly girl! What's so delicious about noodles? Tomorrow, have your mother and you steam some buns. Those white buns are soft and fragrant. That's what's really delicious!" Zhang Tieniu said, wiping the soup off his daughter's face.

Hearing about the white steamed buns, the children, even though their stomachs were full, couldn't help but swallow hard.

After the couple finished tidying up, the children were already asleep. Zhang Tieniu took a porcelain box out of his pocket and handed it to his wife, saying softly, "Wife, look what else I brought back for you?"

"Ah! Rouge!" the young woman exclaimed excitedly, taking the box and examining it carefully. Heaven help her; she had been married into the Zhang family for seven years, and this was the first time she had ever applied rouge on her wedding day.

For the past seven years, the daily grind of cooking and cleaning had left her physically and mentally exhausted. She had no energy left to think about dressing up. But after all, she was only twenty-three this year, the age for university in modern times. And who doesn't like rouge?

"Thank you! My dear husband!"

"My wife, you've suffered so much these past years!" Zhang Tieniu gently pulled his wife into his arms. Back then, his wife was a renowned beauty for miles around, but she hadn't had a single day of happiness after marrying him. Thankfully, it wasn't too late!

The young woman leaned against her husband's chest, feeling incredibly content. However, she soon noticed that her husband's hands were starting to wander.

"You've been traveling all day and you're covered in sweat! Go wash up." Even though the young woman was already a mother of two, she still felt a little shy about this kind of thing.

"Okay, okay!" Zhang Tieniu agreed and hurried to the kitchen, only to find that his mother had already prepared hot water for him.

After quickly washing up, Zhang Tieniu returned to the room. He saw that his wife was already in bed, covered with a blanket, and had her eyes closed. However, her eyelids were still moving, so she was clearly not asleep yet.

Seeing the young woman's clothes hanging on the bedside table, Zhang Tieniu grinned crookedly. He blew out the oil lamp with a "poof" and climbed onto the bed.

Soon after, the creaking of the wooden bed could be heard from inside the room. The moon in the sky seemed ashamed and hid behind the clouds.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The next day, Zhang Tieniu got up early and tidied up the yard with his younger siblings. They also climbed onto the roof to repair some damaged thatch.

His family's thatched huts were passed down from his grandfather, and over time, many parts have begun to decay.

If only he could be selected as a soldier! That way, he'd get five taels of military pay every month, enough to replace his thatched roof with a tiled one in a year. Zhang Tieniu secretly vowed to train hard and be selected as a soldier so his family could live in a big tiled house.

The young woman and her mother-in-law sat by the door doing needlework, occasionally glancing up at the children playing and laughing in the yard, feeling utterly at peace. Even the passing north wind seemed gentler. Life was good! If only it could stay this way forever!

Around noon, Shi Tou came to invite them. Zhang Tie Niu tidied himself up, said goodbye to his mother and mother-in-law, and prepared to leave. Although they were treating, he couldn't go empty-handed. Zhang Tie Niu brought a small jar of wine, which he had asked Er Niu to buy in town that morning.

The children didn't bother him; they were all waiting at the kitchen door! They were steaming buns inside.

Upon arriving at Shi Tou's house, Zhang Tieniu noticed four sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table and casually asked, "Is anyone else coming?"

"Yes, we invited the village chief. I don't know if he'll do us the honor!" Grandma Er nodded and said.

Zhang Tieniu didn't say much, but sat down on a stool and started drinking tea. Realizing he didn't have any tea at home, he figured he'd have to buy some.

A short while later, a tall, thin old man dressed in a snow-white long robe walked in carrying a paper bag.

This man was the village chief of Zhangjiaba Village, and also Zhang Tieniu's distant second uncle.