Liu Jin paused for a moment upon hearing this, a strange look appearing in his eyes as he gazed at Wen Shu.
This man was probably older than Aunt Zhao, yet he was still expected to call her 'Aunt'.
He shook his head, a slight smile on his face, and said nothing!
The carriage began to move towards the west city street.
A moment later, dozens of carriages, escorted by over a hundred cavalrymen, stopped outside a dilapidated courtyard.
The neighbors around them were all stunned by this sight.
They were extremely shocked, never expecting so many people to arrive in this run-down alley.
Moreover, they were all mounted soldiers, clad in armor, with sharp blades at their waists, looking imposing and majestic.
The surrounding common folk were so scared they trembled, no one daring to approach, only pointing and discussing from afar.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Liu Jin stepped out, looking at the familiar scene around him, deeply moved.
He had grown up in this alley, and his memories were still very vivid.
Zhao Teng quickly ran over at this moment, his eyes unconsciously welling up as he looked at his familiar front door.
Liu Jin immediately patted Zhao Teng on the shoulder and said!
"Now that we're back, we'll bring Aunt Zhao to live a good life, never to leave."
Zhao Teng nodded, his heart filled with longing, and strode towards the broken door in front of him.
He picked up the wooden board on it and knocked, shouting loudly inside!
"Mother!"
"Ergou is back!"
He called out several times, but there was no response from inside.
Zhao Teng's heart skipped a beat, and he became anxious, immediately preparing to push open the door.
Just then, a middle-aged woman in coarse clothes, looking somewhat frightened, still came out and asked in a low voice!
"Are you Ergou?"
Zhao Teng heard this, turned around, and saw the middle-aged woman. Looking at her familiar face, he pondered for a moment, then quickly asked!
"Are you Aunt Li from next door?"
Aunt Li's heart brightened upon hearing this, and she quickly said!
"Oh my!"
"It really is you, Gouwa! How did you become an official after half a year?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding neighbors were all astonished.
They looked at Zhao Teng, who was burly, handsome, clad in armor, and had a sharp blade at his waist.
Especially the bronze seal and black ribbon he wore, signifying an official of the thousand-stone rank, which dazzled their eyes. Many exclaimed!
"It's really Zhao Ergou from Zhao Widow's family!"
"I didn't expect him to look like this after half a year!"
"Judging by his clothes and aura, he's clearly a general!"
"Unbelievable, unbelievable!"
"I never thought Zhao Widow's family would rise!"
A cacophony of voices continuously rose, and Aunt Li, standing nearby, stared intently at Zhao Ergou, her gaze incredibly fervent.
Rubbing her hands, she said with a chuckle!
"Ergou, I always knew you were a dragon among men, and your future achievements would definitely be extraordinary."
"Sure enough, you're now a Han general, my eyesight is truly good."
"Coincidentally, you used to like my Xiaocui. I've decided, I agree to your marriage. Let's pick an auspicious day and get married soon, so your mother can hold her grandson early and not have to wait bitterly."
Zhao Teng's face darkened upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but recall when his mother had taken him to Aunt Li's house to propose marriage.
Before they even reached the door, the mother and son were chased away, and Aunt Li cursed them out!
"Your Gouwa is uneducated, spends all day cockfighting and dog-walking, doesn't even have a good skill, and he dares to marry my Xiaocui?"
"Get lost as far as you can, and if you dare to come to my house again, don't blame me for disregarding our neighborly affection."
Thinking of this, Zhao Teng's face showed a hint of displeasure. He waved his hand, interrupting the animated Aunt Li.
He asked!
"Why isn't my mother home? Do you know where she is?"
Aunt Li thought for a moment, then slowly said!
"Ergou, I know."
"Little Sister Zhao has been helping the Li family wash clothes these days."
Liu Jin, standing nearby, frowned upon hearing this and asked Zhao Teng!
"De Hu, didn't I tell you to send some money home to help Aunt Zhao?"
"How did she end up washing clothes for others?"
Zhao Teng looked a bit bewildered upon hearing this and mumbled!
"Big Brother, every time I write a letter home, I send some money, and I also told Mother that we are no longer short of money."
Liu Jin waved his hand and looked at Aunt Li, asking!
"Aunt, where is this Li family located? Could you tell me?"
Aunt Li couldn't help but scrutinize Liu Jin, a little surprised.
She asked doubtfully!
"You…are you that lone sprout?"
Liu Jin's face darkened upon hearing this. Although both his parents had died, leaving him as the only child, he didn't expect to be given such a nickname.
Aunt Li, seeing his darkened face, realized she had said the wrong thing. She quickly covered her mouth and hastily said!
"Little Jin, I know where the Li family is. I'll take you there."
Liu Jin nodded, then immediately led everyone towards the so-called Li family.
The surrounding neighbors looked at the departing procession, their eyes filled with shock.
They never expected that two important figures would emerge from their dilapidated alley.
It was truly unbelievable; back then, Liu Jin and Zhao Ergou were just loafers, achieving nothing but cockfighting and dog-walking.
Unexpectedly, they had transformed into officials beyond their reach.
These people around them gnashed their teeth, filled with extreme envy, which was even more unbearable than being killed; they wished it was their own son returning home in glory.
In Zhuo Commandery City, the Li family residence!
In a laundry room next to the front yard, several middle-aged women were washing clothes in the cold water, chatting with each other.
One of the women in green clothes smiled and said to another woman next to her!
"Hey!"
"Little Sister Zhao, didn't I hear that your son went to join the army, and it seems he even got a good official position?"
"Logically speaking, he should have sent back a lot of money, so why are you still coming to the Li family to wash clothes and earn a few wages?"
Zhao Widow heard this, a kind smile on her face, her hands continuously scrubbing the clothes, and she softly said!
"Ergou did send some money back through someone, but I've saved it all for him. He'll need a lot of money to build a house and marry a wife in the future, so I can't spend it carelessly."
The woman in green clothes heard this and teased her!
"Little Sister Zhao, you just don't know how to enjoy yourself."
"Since Ergou has made something of himself, you should just rest at home. Why are you still coming to wash clothes in this cold winter?"
"If my son were as successful as Ergou, able to make a name for himself outside and send money back, I would have been lying at home enjoying myself long ago."
The other women heard this and all nodded, thinking that the woman in green clothes made sense.
