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

"Husband, I'm sorry! Over the years, our Ge family has suffered a lot of bullying in the village. I..." Nen said, sitting in the carriage with her head down.

"It's alright! My wife, you've suffered!" Zhang Tieniu put his arm around his wife and let her lean on his shoulder. It had been many years since his wife had called him "husband," so hearing it again suddenly made him quite excited.

"Father, Mother, Big Tree, I'm back!" The carriage arrived at the Ge family's gate, and the young mother shouted into the courtyard. She carried her two children out of the carriage.

Zhang Tieniu noticed that when his daughter lowered her head to get out of the car, she revealed the silver lock around her neck. It was a gift from his maternal uncle when he was born, and his mother had always kept it well hidden. He never expected her to wear it today.

Thinking about it, it's been a few years since I last visited my maternal grandfather's house, and my mother hasn't mentioned it either. It seems like I should make a trip this time.

"Hey, Mom, you're here! Oh, Yaya, Xiao Niu! My darlings, come here quickly so Grandma can see you." Hearing the commotion, the old lady hurried out.

With the Zhang family's support, the Ge family's life became much easier. The old lady's complexion also improved significantly.

“Grandma, her name is Wanru!” Yaya pouted, dissatisfied. “Yes, Grandma. I have a name too, my name is Juncai!” Xiao Niu chimed in from behind.

"Good, good! Our little Yaya has grown up and it's time to call her name." Grandma Ge said happily.

"Mother, where are my father and the big tree?" the young woman asked as she picked up her things.

"Those two are still in the field! I'll have Xiaohua go and call them back later. Tie Niu, let me carry this. Don't get your clothes dirty!" The old lady said as she went to take the things. Although she was called an old lady, she was actually only in her forties. It was just that her family's circumstances were so poor that she looked older.

"It's alright, Mom!" Tie Niu picked up a bag and walked inside.

This time, Tie Niu's family brought them ten catties of wheat flour, twenty catties of corn flour, a piece of pork, some dried fruit, and a bolt of cotton cloth.

Nen Niang's sister-in-law, Xiao Hua, also rushed over to help, and together they carried the things inside.

"Tie Niu, Nen Niang! Why did you bring so much stuff this time? It's too much. This isn't good; we've already taken too much from you." Old Lady Ge seemed a little flustered when she saw so much stuff.

She was worried that if her daughter brought too many things over, her mother-in-law would blame her, which would be troublesome.

“It’s alright, Mother! Now that Tie Niu is an official, he gets twenty taels of silver a month in military pay, so we can take better care of you.” The young woman said with a happy expression.

"Really? Tie Niu, you've become an official?" The old lady looked at her son-in-law in disbelief, and her daughter-in-law, Xiao Hua, also looked at him in shock.

"Yes, Mom. I've been promoted to platoon leader!" Zhang Tieniu scratched his head sheepishly.

"Although he's just a platoon leader, he's still equivalent to a ninth-rank military officer!" the young woman said proudly.

"Oh my! It's truly a blessing from our ancestors! Our family has produced officials! Xiaohua, quickly go and call your father and Dashu back!" The old lady clapped her hands and shouted loudly.

"Okay, Mom!" Xiaohua hurriedly ran out.

"Tie Niu, come sit down! Look, this room is a mess, there's not a clean spot anywhere." The old lady hurriedly tidied up, wiping the stool again and again.

Zhang Tieniu shook his head and glared fiercely at the young woman.

"Grandma, where's Gou Dan? I brought him some candy!" Xiao Niu looked around the house and couldn't find his little cousin, so he ran in and asked.

"You've gone to the fields with your uncle and the others. Little calf, wait a moment! We'll be back soon." The old lady lovingly patted the calf's head, then quickly pulled back to check if there were any stains on her hands.

"Sister, brother-in-law, you're here!" Just as the atmosphere in the house was getting a little awkward, a voice came in. Immediately afterward, Da Shu, covered in sweat and mud, ran in.

"Look at what you're thinking! Hurry up and go wash your clothes, or you'll get your brother-in-law's family's clothes dirty," the old lady scolded.

"Hehe! I heard my brother-in-law got a government position! I rushed back and forgot to wash my hands and feet." Da Shu raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

"Brother-in-law, please have a seat! I'll go wash up." Ge Dashu said, then quickly turned and left.

"Brother Niu, Brother Niu!" A little mud monkey ran in a moment later.

"Oh dear, look at you covered in mud!" The old lady got up, grabbed her grandson, and carried him outside. Normally, she didn't think it was a problem for a child to be a little dirty, but today, for some reason, she couldn't stand it.

"Grandma, I want to play with Brother Little Cow..." Tie Dan kept twisting his body.

The old lady slapped his bottom twice; "Look how dirty you are! Don't get your little brother Niu's clothes dirty. Go wash up first!"

The old lady dragged the wailing Tiedan out of the house.

"Look what you've done!" Tie Niu glared at the young woman.

"I didn't expect them to react so strongly!" ?0?9 Niang flicked her bangs with her little finger.

"Father's back!" The young woman stood up quickly when she saw her father come in.

"Dad, have a smoke!" Zhang Tieniu quickly took out a cigarette and handed it to him. Da Shu also came in at this time. Zhang Tieniu handed him one as well.

Old Ge smiled and nodded, wiped his hands on his clothes, and accepted the cigarette with both hands.

"Brother-in-law, is this a cigarette? I've heard them say that only rich people smoke it. I've never tried it before! Hehe!" Big Tree took the cigarette and chuckled.

Zhang Tieniu lit a match for the two men and then lit one for himself. He also wanted a lighter, but they cost ten taels each, which he couldn't bear to spend.

"Brother-in-law, Xiaohua said you became an official? What kind of official? She didn't explain clearly." Ge Dashu took a puff of his cigarette and asked impatiently.

"Hey! I'm just a platoon leader, don't listen to your sister's bragging!" Zhang Tieniu waved his hand and said.

"Hehe! A ninth-rank official isn't a small position. I've heard there aren't many officials with that rank in the county! Now that someone in our family is an official, let's see who dares to bully us. Humph!" Ge Dashu said, raising his head.

As outsiders who fled famine, the Ge family was often bullied by the locals. He had long had enough, and now that his brother-in-law had become an official, he wanted everyone to know.

"Don't say that! From now on, let's live an honest life. We won't bully others, but we don't need to be afraid of anyone either." Zhang Tieniu nodded.

During the months of suppressing the bandits, he met with many local officials. Even the prefect was very polite to them, which naturally made him arrogant.

The instructor had also said privately that Lord Shen had given instructions: as long as his soldiers didn't break the law or violate regulations, they shouldn't be afraid of any officials. Any matter could only be handled by Lord Shen.