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

December has arrived, marking the end of the year.

The wind and snow were getting stronger on the road.

The carriage moved slower and slower.

In nearly a month, the Xue family's convoy had only covered most of the distance.

The three women of the Xue family squeezed into a carriage, sitting together to keep warm. They took out all the available quilts and spread them out or wrapped themselves in them.

"Mother, how much longer until we arrive? Will we be able to celebrate the New Year in the capital?"

Madam Xue estimated that at the current pace, it might not be able to catch up.

"If the snow continues, I'm afraid I won't make it in time and will have to spend the New Year on the road."

There was nothing they could do; they had already tried to minimize their rest and were traveling day and night.

But while the people could endure it, the horses couldn't either. Several horses had already been changed along the way, as southern horses really had a hard time adapting to the northern climate.

They were the same; winters in Puyang weren't this cold.

"It's alright, Mother. A few days later is fine. My eldest brother is staying at the Jiang family's house now, so he won't be spending the New Year alone."

With elders around during the Lunar New Year, my older brother and future sister-in-law can meet at the New Year's banquet, giving them more opportunities to spend time together, right?

Although Xue Yu was also anxious, she thought that her older brother was currently living in the Jiang family's house, so the marriage was a sure thing.

"That's true. Sigh, the Jiang family has really been in trouble these past few days. Not to mention how much effort it takes to take care of a candidate, not everyone gets the opportunity to discuss scholarship with the top scholar."

Although his son Xu'er is quite good, he's still several places below the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"Yes, Mother, who would have thought that both of my elder brother's brothers-in-law are successful candidates in the imperial examinations? If they serve in the same court in the future, wouldn't they be a family helping each other?"

"More than that! Old Master Jiang and Master Jiang are also scholars who passed the imperial examinations. Once your eldest brother's matter is settled, there will be five scholars helping each other!"

Madam Xue became happier and happier as she thought about it, feeling that Miss Jiang was truly a match made in heaven.

Once her daughter-in-law marries into the family, she must treat her well and be a responsible mother-in-law so that the daughter-in-law doesn't feel wronged.

She understands that her son can only be well if her daughter-in-law is doing well.

She didn't want her daughter-in-law to experience the hardships and grievances she had suffered in her youth.

The principle of "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you" is probably just that.

Aunt Li sat silently to the side. She was happy that her son had found a good match, but her status was awkward and she was afraid that it would make her son lose face.

All the way there, she kept thinking that she would just continue to be invisible and do whatever the lady asked her to do.

Behave properly as a concubine and do not overstep your bounds.

As they were talking, the carriage slowly came to a stop. The coachman called out from outside, "Madam, Miss, there seems to be an accident ahead; the road is blocked."

Madam Xue hurriedly said, "A-Yuan, go and see what's going on."

The manager and coachman, A Yuan, immediately stopped the carriage and went to the front, only to see that it was his own lead carriage that was stuck in the snow.

It's not a big problem; the family guards and a few bodyguards can pull it out with a little help.

"Madam, the lead carriage is stuck. It will probably delay us for a while. We've already sent someone to help get it out."

Madam Xue nodded after hearing this, "It's alright, just resolve it as soon as possible."

Before long, the carriage started moving again.

By the time they arrived in the city and found lodging, it was already completely dark.

After everyone entered the inn and settled into their rooms, they gathered together for a meal.

On the dining table, the mutton hot pot was bubbling and steaming.

"Northerners really know how to eat. In this kind of weather, everything is cold. Hot pot is much better, because it's always warm."

"Yes, Madam, the bodyguards downstairs have also been arranged so that everyone can warm up."

A-Yuan was not only the coachman, but also the only steward that Madam Xue brought with her this time.

This person was clever and efficient; without needing much explanation, he could arrange things perfectly according to the master's wishes, making him very capable.

"Well, well done."

Madam Xue wasn't stingy; she arranged hot pots for everyone on the team.

In this freezing weather, she made sure everyone was well-fed and warmly dressed, which was the most basic thing.

In the small inn, the Xue family had booked all seven or eight tables.

It's not that the Xue family is domineering, but rather that fewer people go out in winter, and even fewer go out as the year draws to a close.

Nowadays, the inns in this small county town are only occupied by the Xue family, and they are packed to capacity.

Traveling in the freezing cold is difficult everywhere, but there is one good thing: there are fewer bandits.

However, the Xue family still hired the largest security escort agency in Puyang, which dispatched two-thirds of its personnel.

Madam Xue's thinking was simple: there were bandits who hibernated in winter because they were afraid of the cold, and there were also those who were not afraid of the cold and were hardworking. This was a matter of life and death, and we couldn't gamble on it!

It was already close to the end of the year, and the bodyguards at the escort agency all wanted to stay indoors for the winter, especially since the New Year was approaching, so they didn't really like going out.

However, the Xue family gave so much that what difference would it make if I spent one less year with my family?

Is silver not pretty enough, or is gold not dazzling enough?

When the time comes, I'll make a gold bracelet for my mother and wife, and a small silver lock for each of the children. Wouldn't that bring a smile to their faces if they just spent time with each other for free?

After this job is done, and I hand over my duties and return to Puyang from the capital, the old building of the escort agency will be rebuilt seven or eight times over.

This is a classic case of "a generous reward will surely bring forth brave men." Moreover, the journey was peaceful, though the heavy snow made travel difficult and slowed things down. They did not encounter any villains.

However, after so many years as a bodyguard, he still has basic professional ethics. He can eat meat in large bites, but he can't drink alcohol in large or small sips.

Despite the freezing weather, drinking alcohol was a way to warm up, and no one in the escort team made an exception.

Madam Xue felt that the money was well spent. Although it was five times the usual price, she could buy peace with the money, so it was not a waste.

The next day, the snow gradually subsided.

The Xue family's caravan continued on its journey, but this time, before setting off, each carriage's wheels were tied with a layer of straw.

The wheels rolled on the thick snow, thankfully without sinking most of the way in.