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

"Let's go!" Zhang Tieniu picked up his son, Xiao Niu, and walked into the house.

Back inside, Zhang Tieniu took out the items one by one. Besides fifty catties of flour, he also bought twenty catties of rice. He also bought half a carcass of pork.

"Mother, here's a piece of floral fabric for you. Make two outfits for your little sister and Yaya. They're all grown up now, they can't wear those coarse cloth anymore."

"Ah! I'm going to have a flowery dress!" Ya Ya clapped her hands and shouted happily, and Niu Xiao Mei was also overjoyed.

The children's laughter broke the serious atmosphere in the room.

"Honey, you looked so scary just now!" the young woman whispered.

“I don’t want this either, but I’m a soldier now, and an officer at that. The instructor said we must lead by example, otherwise how can we lead the troops!” Zhang Tieniu nodded and said.

The news of Zhang Tieniu and Shi Tou's return spread throughout Zhangjiaba Village in no time. The villagers were especially excited when they heard that Zhang Tieniu had become an official.

Soon, the village chief's second uncle arrived with a jar of fine wine and some fruit. In Zhang Tieniu's memory, this distant second uncle had never visited their home before. Even when Tieniu's father passed away a few years ago, he had never shown up.

"Hahaha! Tie Niu, you've really made something of yourself! You've become an official so quickly. You've really brought honor to our Zhang family."

"Hey! He's just a squad leader, and a temporary one at that. Second Uncle, don't listen to Shi Tou's nonsense." Zhang Tieniu quickly invited the village chief into his house.

Fortunately, he had bought tea leaves this time and quickly asked his wife to brew them.

"Don't be modest. I heard you've become a ninth-rank official. You're the only person in our Zhangjiaba Village with an official title. It's truly a blessing from our ancestors!"

"Tie Niu, when you become successful in the future, don't forget your family. If you can lend a hand, you should."

"Yes, yes, definitely! I will never forget the help my family has given us."

The two chatted for a while, and seeing that it was time for Tie Niu's family to eat, the village chief walked away with his hands behind his back, satisfied.

"Hmph! What good can come of a night owl coming to the door?" After the village chief left, Tie Niu's mother came out from the inner room.

"Mother! Don't say that. Our family still lives in the village. Let's not make things too tense!"

That evening, the Zhang family prepared a table full of dishes. Watching the children, bundled up in thick cotton coats, sitting upright on their stools, Zhang Tieniu nodded with satisfaction and took a sip of his wine.

"Tie Niu, you must be tired from serving in the army! Have a piece of pork knuckle to nourish yourself." Tie Niu's mother picked up a piece of pork knuckle and put it in Tie Niu's bowl.

"Mom, although I train every day in the army, it's not hard at all. I have meat to eat every day, so you should eat it!" Tie Niu picked up a pork knuckle and prepared to put it back for his mother.

"Nonsense, who eats meat every day! Even the village chief's family wouldn't dare to be so wasteful," said Tie Niu's mother, covering her bowl with her hand.

Zhang Tieniu shook his head and didn't say much. If he hadn't been selected for Lord Shen's new army, he wouldn't have believed that anyone could eat meat every day.

"Wife! While I was away, you took care of everything at home. Thank you for your hard work!" Zhang Tieniu placed the braised pork knuckle into his wife's bowl.

"Thank you, my husband!" The young woman's eyes reddened slightly, and she quickly lowered her head.

"Mom, then have some pig liver! Pig liver can replenish blood and energy." Zhang Tieniu put a piece of pig liver on his mother's plate. Tieniu's mother accepted it with a smile.

"Second brother, you're at the age where you're growing. Here, have this pork knuckle!" Zhang Tieniu put the remaining half of the pork knuckle into his younger brother's bowl.

"Thanks, brother!" Erniu nodded and buried his head in his food.

"Eat up, everyone! Do you want me to serve you some?" Zhang Tieniu called out to the children. The group of children quickly picked up their chopsticks and started eating.

Although the Zhang family's life has improved a lot, they still dare not eat meat often. Today there was plenty of meat and vegetables, and everyone ate with their mouths full of oil.

That evening, after their passionate encounter, the young woman lay on Tie Niu's broad chest, a hint of spring still on her face. "My dear husband," she said, "life is so good now! I can hardly believe it, I'm afraid it's all just a dream."

"Hehe! This is just the beginning! There are many good days ahead! The instructor said that Lord Shen said he would ensure that the people of Taiwulin Road would have enough to eat and wear from now on," Zhang Tieniu said proudly.

"Lord Shen is truly the best official in the world. You must listen to Lord Shen and do your best in the army. I'll take care of everything at home!" the young woman said, stroking her husband's chest.

"Lord Shen is indeed the best official in the land; without him, we wouldn't have the good life we ​​enjoy today. I won't let you down!" Zhang Tieniu nodded.

Tie Niu recalled a poem his instructor had taught him: "To repay your kindness on the golden platform, I would gladly die for you, wielding the jade dragon!"

If Lord Shen required him to die, he wouldn't hesitate. Even if he did die, he believed the Lord Shen wouldn't mistreat his family. Perhaps he would even secure a future for his son.

In Linqing City, the General's Mansion was bustling with activity. Today was the last day before the New Year, and the Shen family was distributing New Year's gifts to their servants and tenants according to custom.

After winter set in, Master Shen Hu's health deteriorated, and after forcing himself to attend his son's wedding, he finally collapsed and fell into bed.

She is now sitting on a recliner covered with a thick quilt, wearing a mink coat, under the eaves watching her son distribute New Year's gifts.

This year has been a year of great joy for the Shen family. Their young master, Shen Lian, became a Daotai (a high-ranking official), and he also married a young mistress. Their two factories are also thriving. Naturally, the New Year's gifts are much more generous than in previous years.

The servants in the house all received bonuses ranging from three to five taels of silver. Even the children in the backyard received two taels of silver each as pocket money.

After everyone had finished distributing the gifts, Shen Lian told Uncle Fu to quickly call the tenants in, as the old man was not in good health and could not stay outside for too long.

The first to enter were four or five elderly people with gray hair. The one in the lead was a tall, thin old man with a limp, leaning on a cane. The others were mostly disabled, some missing an arm and others blind.

"Greetings, young master!" Several old men came before Shen Lian and knelt down straight down.

"Uncle De, Uncle Sanzi! Please get up quickly!" Shen Lian hurriedly went up to help the elderly men up.

He dared not be arrogant; these were all former guards of his father. After the Taiping Rebellion was quelled, his father, Shen Hu, took in some wounded and homeless soldiers from his ranks and settled them on a farm outside the city.

They helped them find wives and settle down, and over the years it has grown into a large estate with several hundred people. When he had some free time, Shen Lian even had Uncle Fu accompany him there once.

More than twenty young men from the village joined the new army training this time. They were mostly assigned by Shen Lian to his personal guard company and reconnaissance company.

"Our Shen family is becoming more and more prosperous, all thanks to your excellent management, young master!" Uncle De and the others said happily.

"I'm still young, and there are things I might not do well. Please point them out to me!"

"Hahaha! Everyone in Shandong knows the young master's reputation. We old folks wouldn't dare to talk nonsense." Uncle De and the others exchanged pleasantries with Shen Lian for a while before hurrying off to pay their respects to Shen Hu.