After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

The horse's hooves clattered, carrying the scholar home.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, Xue Xu finally delivered his two little benefactors, "Ahu" and "Abao," to Xinghe Prefecture.

It was getting late, and everyone was starving.

Xue Xu was unfamiliar with Xinghe Prefecture, so he wanted to see if there were any decent restaurants along the way so he could treat his benefactor to a good meal.

The carriage traveled slowly through the streets for a short while before it came into view a rather grand-looking restaurant with a sign that read "Zui Xiang Lou" (Drunken Fragrance Restaurant).

Xue Xu was overjoyed and asked Uncle Wang to stop the car, intending to take Ah Hu and Ah Bao inside.

"Young Master Xue, there's no need to go to such trouble. We've already prepared a meal at home. If you eat before going home, your family will worry!"

"Yes, yes, if I don't go back, my mother and grandfather will probably keep waiting."

"Oh? Is that so? But how can I not treat you two to a meal? Your life-saving grace is greater than heaven; I must at least show my appreciation!"

Xue Xu's pale face turned even paler. He was afraid that his two little benefactors would disappear as soon as they got off the carriage. He could sense that they were not the kind of people who would take advantage of his kindness, but he couldn't be an ungrateful person.

"How about this, if Young Master Xue doesn't mind, why don't you come home with us for a simple meal? Of course, it certainly won't be as good as the chef's cooking at Zuixianglou, but it will be a quick and easy way to fill your stomach. We can start eating as soon as we get home."

"Huh? To your house?" How could I eat at my benefactor's house? He should be the one treating me.

"No, no! At Zuixianglou, we have to wait for a table during mealtimes. We're all starving, we can't wait any longer! Let's go, let's go, don't worry about these details!"

Xue Xu was shoved back into the carriage by two much stronger boys, while A Bao didn't even get into the carriage, but sat on the carriage shaft to give directions to Uncle Wang.

Well, since we're already here, let's make the best of it and try the food at the hunters' homes. It'll broaden our horizons.

I usually only interact with scholars, but now that I'm meeting martial artists, perhaps a different kind of scenery awaits me.

The carriage traveled for another quarter of an hour before stopping. Uncle Wang wanted to turn around and ask the boy beside him if he had given the wrong directions. This was hardly a hunter's house; the streets here were clearly wider, cleaner, and more impressive than those of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.

"Uncle Wang, why are we stopping here? Keep going!" Xue Xu saw through the carriage window that the carriage had stopped in front of a wealthy family's house and assumed that his driver had taken the wrong route.

"Um, young master, we've arrived. That's what our benefactor said we've arrived at! This is it!"

Xue Xu, helped down from the carriage by his page, asked, "The Jiang residence?"

This……

Before he could react, the two benefactors nimbly jumped off the carriage. Before they could even knock, the gatekeeper respectfully came out to greet them.

"Young Master, Second Son-in-law, you're finally back! Dinner is already set out in the hall. Please change your clothes and come straight there."

"Alright, we also have friends with us. Have someone arrange for our friends' carriage, along with their page and coachman, to go down and have a meal."

"Don't worry, young master, I understand."

Xue Xu stood in front of the Jiang family's gate. After listening to the gatekeeper's words, he turned his gaze to the two people who had saved him. It seemed that "Ahu" and "Bao" must be aliases.

"Mr. Xue, please!"

"Hmm." Xue Xu remained remarkably calm. In any case, he was a grown man and wouldn't be kidnapped. Such a large mansion was probably too expensive for human traffickers to afford.

Although Ayun and Uncle Wang were confused, they were not worried when they saw that their young master was very calm. They followed the servant to arrange the carriage.

Xue Xu followed the two into the house, suppressing his doubts and keeping his eyes glued to the house, memorizing its layout out of the corner of his eye.

This Jiang residence looks exceptionally wealthy; it must be the home of a merchant. Judging from the lintel, there must have been a scholar living there.

"Mingfei, why are you back so late?" Lin Yueniang tapped her son's forehead, not too hard, for fear of hurting him.

Xue Xu wanted to control himself and not look at what was indecent, but this seemed to be his benefactor's elder? Was she an elder? Or perhaps a married sister?

"Haha, Mother, there was a little mishap, but my senior brother and I have resolved it. We even brought some friends home for dinner. This is Young Master Xue Xu, who is also a new scholar who passed the provincial examination this year."

"Also?" Xue Xu caught the key word in his little benefactor's words.

Could it be that someone in your household has also passed the imperial examination this year? If so, we really should make acquaintances with them.

But this beautiful woman is actually the mother of my little benefactor! I really can't tell! No wonder, no wonder my little benefactor has such exquisite features, he probably inherited them from his beautiful mother.

"Scholar Xue, please come in and have a seat. We were unaware of our guests. The meal is simple, so please don't find it offensive."

Xue Xu quickly bowed and said, "Madam, you are too kind. It is already inappropriate for us to disturb your esteemed residence. Madam, you must not say such things." After saying this, he followed the others into the hall.

The hall still had separate tables for men and women, separated by a screen. Of course, these tables were moved up from Li Haisheng and Dong Jin's residence after they had been eating there for the past few days.

When it's just family members at home, the screen isn't used. It's only when there are other men present that a screen is placed between two tables to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Jiang Xiaoqi and Li Haisheng reintroduced themselves to Xue Xu, saying, "Brother Xue, we used aliases because we don't know who we are from outside. We hope you will understand."

"It's nothing serious, no need to worry about it. But since this is my real name, I won't introduce myself again."

Li Haisheng scratched his head sheepishly, exchanged a glance with his junior brother, and thought that this Young Master Xue was a good person, at least not petty, and worth befriending.

As soon as they sat down, a refined-looking scholar approached. Jiang Mingfei quickly introduced him, "Brother Xue, this is my elder sister's husband, Dong Jin, who is also a successful candidate in this year's provincial examination."

Xue Xu understood immediately; it seemed that the person in this family who had passed the imperial examination was not a member of the Jiang family, but rather the son-in-law of the Jiang family.

The two scholars exchanged pleasantries, but neither of them mentioned their rankings in the provincial examination.

Dong Jin felt ashamed of being last in the rankings, and besides, he knew the Xue Juren in front of him, who ranked fifth in the provincial examination, second only to his wife's grandfather, Jiang Changshou.

Because Jiang Changshou and Jiang Wenqing went to the residence of the Tongzhifu (also known as Jiang Changqing's residence) today to gather with several members of the Jiang family who had also passed the imperial examinations, there were no elders at the men's table; the table was full of peers, and everyone ate comfortably.

When Xue Xu mentioned the danger he encountered outside the city, Dong Jin couldn't help but think of how his wife had saved his parents. As the conversation flowed freely, he also brought it up at the table.

"Brother Dong's wife is a remarkable woman. But then again, with such an outstanding brother, how could his sister be any less so?"

Xue Xu's casual remark received overwhelming approval from Dong Jin and Li Haisheng, who immediately launched into a chorus of praise, declaring that the Jiang family's young ladies were simply unparalleled.

For some reason, Xue Xu did not feel annoyed this time, and did not feel the irritation and resentment he had when he was being pressured into marriage by various wealthy families in the provincial capital.

Perhaps it was because the Jiang family didn't mean it that way, or perhaps Brother Dong and Brother Li were just praising their wives and fiancées, and he, as an observer, could simply listen, nodding occasionally in agreement, without feeling any pressure.